Though this guy seems to have more shop tools than many have at their disposal, it is a nifty idea. Thanks to Prince William Regional Beekeepers for pointing us to this video. … [Read more...]
Marking Queens by Hand with Michael Palmer
April 23, 2013 by
Thanks to Prince William Regional Beekeepers for pointing us to this video. … [Read more...]
Reading Rainbow – The Life Cycle of the Honeybee
October 19, 2012 by
In 1987 Tony Jadczak, Maine’s State Apiarist and David Smith of Sparky's Apiaries, were featured on the Reading Rainbow television show The Life Cycle of the Honeybee. It is a a terrific educational piece. Kudos gentlemen. The segment where Tony appears begins at 5:55. The Life Cycle of the Honeybee from WVPT on Vimeo. Where does honey come from? And how is it made? … [Read more...]
Guidance: How to Deal with Bears and Bees
July 22, 2012 by
from information provided by Judy Camuso, Wildlife Biologist, MDIFW Bears are often hungry in the spring (there is less food available and the females are feeding their young), and spring is when we typically get the most “nuisance” bear complaints. Our primary recommendation to people is pretty basic: remove the food source, so… take down bird feeders, feed pets … [Read more...]
Dennis vanEngelsdorp Speaking at the 2011 Annual Meeting
December 30, 2011 by
Morbidity and Mortality in the Bee Yard.... and what to do about it? PART I Dennis vanEngelsdorp Speaking at the Maine State Beekeepers Association Annual Meeting Saturday, October 15, 2011 Lewiston, Main … [Read more...]
Swarm Catching: A Fun [Club] Opportunity?
May 27, 2011 by
![Swarm Catching: A Fun [Club] Opportunity?](http://mainebeekeepers.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/geoff-maclean-swarm-catching-5-125x150.jpg)
We're now just a month away from the kickoff of our honey bee swarm season in Maine. With a little preparation, and the right attitude, we can have fun rescuing some of Mother Nature's most healthy, robust colonies. Without our help, they are probably in for a short lifespan as a feral colony in a small tree, your neighbor's attic, or even worse, stuck out in the open come late … [Read more...]
Nuc Transportation & Installation
April 30, 2011 by
Prior to nuc pickup, the empty hive (i.e. bottom board, hive body, five or six frames of foundation and/or comb, entrance reducer, inner cover, outer cover, empty hive body, sugar syrup, feeder) should be assembled and prepared for installation. The hive should be located at the apiary site in accordance with the MSBA’s “Best Management Practices for Beekeeping” found at … [Read more...]
How to Mark a Queen Bee
April 26, 2011 by
Erin MacGregor-Forbes of Overland Apiaries Demonstrates Marking a Queen Bee at a Nuc Making Workshop of the Cumberland County Beekeepers Association. It is common practice to mark the queen with a small spot of paint on her back (thorax). A color code exists within the beekeeping industry to indicate the year the queen was introduced. International Queen Marking Color … [Read more...]
Spring Management
March 28, 2011 by
Wintered honey bee colonies should be checked by early or mid-March for the amount and position of honey stores. Remove the outer cover and note the position of the cluster. In moderate temperatures, strong hives will often have bees present on the inner cover, chewing and/or drinking the water from the insulation material that was placed above the inner cover the previous fall. In cold … [Read more...]
When Disaster Strikes
In late winter, beekeepers often find themselves thinking about their bees. Apprehension is most common when the previous fall had dismal honey production and when houses creak and snap on bone-chilling nights during January and February. Unfortunately, there isn’t much northern beekeepers can do during the dead of winter. At best, newspaper can be added on top of fiberboards of live hives that … [Read more...]