Extreme weather conditions in North America have had a dramatic effect on the bee population this past winter. The annual loss rose to 37.7% The highest since records started 13 years ago. This Washington Post article makes interesting reading and shows the difference in beekeeping in other countries. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/07/05/last-winter-saw-highest-honeybee-colony-losses-record/?utm_term=.22cc2f18581d   

Comb Honey Production:  Is this the new honey boom after Manuka? Comb honey is honey contained within the original hexagon-shaped beeswax cells.  It has recieved no processing, filtering or manipulation therefore as a result it is the pure work of the bee.  Both the honey and wax are edible and this provides us with a […]

How to use a Silicon Candle Mould Have you ever wondered what to do with that leftover beeswax from your pre-loved candles? Visit Hiveworld  Candlemaking Products to order your very own candle making supplies.  This will enable you to create uniquely beautiful recycled wax candles for either yourself or to gift to someone special.   […]

Is there such a thing as Killer Bees? In 1956, Scientists in Brazil imported the African honey bee (Apis mellifera scutellata).  This was an  attempt to improve the European honey bee that was poorly adapted for their tropical conditions. In 1957 26 Queens accidentally escaped from quarantine and bred with European honeybees and the Africanised […]

Checking for Varroa Destructor: It is most important that your bees start winter with low levels of varroa. Although the queen will slow down laying or even stop in colder areas (meaning varroa levels will not increase over winter), as soon as it starts getting warmer in early spring the levels will surge dramatically as […]

Far North honey producers say the Ministry of Primary Industries’ regulatory definition, published a year ago, excludes up to 50 percent of their honey.  This is  based on just one chemical marker – even in areas where the bees have nothing but mānuka to feed on. This problem has just come to life as this […]

Wasp Trapping: There is a lot to think about when you are considering setting up wasp traps.  Because wasps and bees are closely related they are attracted by similar baits and repelled by similar substances.  This makes choosing a suitable bait quite tricky. Traditionally, we have understood that wasps are attracted to protein baits and […]

Beekeeping Hygiene Bees are a food producing “creature” so it is important to maintain basic beekeeping hygiene practices to prevent contamination of honey and the spread of disease. Contamination can come from improper use of varroa treatment, contamination of comb between removal from the hive and packing and from Tutin. Disease can be spread by […]

New findings on Varroa Destructor have turned research into their treatment on its head.  The varroa destructor mite is the greatest single problem for honeybees (and beekeepers) worldwide.  Scientists have now challenged what we thought we knew. It turns out for the last 50 years we have been wrong about the Varroa Destructor! The varroa […]

Keeping Your Honey – Part 2 Crystallization Firstly, let me make this important point:  crystallized honey is not spoiled or of inferior quality. Why does honey crystallize? Honey is a super-saturated solution of two sugars – glucose and fructose and as such, it is a natural process that some of the sugar will separate from […]

Keeping Your Honey – Part 1  Avoiding Spoilage Strange as it may seem, you need to treat honey direct from the hive carefully to ensure it will keep well.  Keeping your honey – part 1 helps you understand the reasons for this. Because honey is composed primarily of sugars and water, it will therefore degrade […]

The Chemistry of Honey Have you ever wondered what honey is made up of? Here is a simple explanation of the chemistry of honey: When bees collect nectar they store it in their honey stomachs. (This is separate from their normal stomach. )  Inside the honey stomach, nectar mixes with enzymes thus breaking down the […]