Beekeepers Blog

Beekeepers anywhere in Texas or neighboring states are likely to have opened a hive at some point and caught sight of a small dark beetle scurrying about like a minuscule rat across the inner cover. For the lucky beekeeper, a...

By James & Chari Elam The topic of “how to treat” for Varroa mites has been one that has dominated bee clubs, beekeeping seminars and online blogs for many years. With so many options and opinions, one would likely be...

Also read: What does a good vs bad brood pattern look like?  A poor brood pattern can be caused by many things. Below I’ve outlined the common causes, and how to fix them: A failing queen- As queens age, they...

Utilizing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for Varroa mite control takes the pressure off any single method by combining multiple strategies to improve overall success. From mite-resistant queens and brood breaks to drone trapping and knowing when chemicals really matter, IPM pulls the best from each approach to increase long-term success.

Screened bottom boards are one of those beekeeping tools that spark a lot of debate. Some beekeepers swear by them, others keep things simple with solid bottoms—and both can work just fine. In this article, we’ll break down the pros, cons, and a few things to consider before deciding what’s best for your hives.

This is not a very uplifting topic for sure, but one of the most important skills in beekeeping is to learn from our mistakes, of which we all make many! The average annual hive loss rate is up to 44%....