Learn the essential 7-10 day spring hive inspection schedule. Monitor brood patterns, food stores, and space to prevent swarming and ensure colony health.
Learn to prevent robbing in your apiary with strategic feeding, entrance reducers, and efficient hive inspections. Protect your colonies from devastating attacks.
Discover how an entrance reducer protects beehives from pests like mice, wasps, and robbing bees by strengthening colony defense and conserving energy.
Learn how to securely attach a metal clip using screws, including critical steps to avoid common installation pitfalls and ensure a reliable connection.
Learn the correct way to assemble beehive sides for structural integrity, weatherproofing, and proper bee space. Step-by-step guide for commercial apiaries.
Learn why proper coverage in beekeeping shoes is critical to prevent bee stings and ensure safety during hive inspections. Essential reading for beekeepers.
Learn the recommended number of small hive beetle traps per hive, from routine maintenance to active infestation control, for effective apiary management.
Learn about the small hive beetle, an invasive pest not native to North America or Europe, and how to protect your honey bee colonies from destruction.
Discover why starting with two beehives is crucial for new beekeepers. Learn how it provides comparison, resource sharing, and insurance against colony loss.
Learn how entrance reducers can trap heat and moisture on warm winter days, leading to mold, condensation, and colony loss. Essential beekeeping insights.
Learn the critical advice for proactive Varroa mite management: regular monitoring, early spring checks, and data-driven treatment to prevent colony loss.
Compare solid vs. screened bottom boards for beehives. Learn the pros and cons for insulation, ventilation, and Varroa mite management to make the best choice.
Learn to identify key swarm signals like queen cells and congestion. Prevent swarming and manage colony reproduction effectively with expert beekeeping insights.
Discover the step-by-step process of honey bee swarming, from triggers like overcrowding to the final split into a new colony. Learn the risks and rewards.
Learn the 4 critical pieces of information needed for a safe bee swarm capture: identification, location, height, and timeline. Plan your equipment and approach.
Discover the essential features of safe beekeeping footwear: sting-proof materials, ankle coverage, slip-resistant soles, and ergonomic support for long hours.
Learn essential beehive cooling strategies like shade, ventilation, and water sources to help your bees maintain a healthy 95°F brood nest temperature.
Learn why only 15-20% of Varroa mites are visible in summer, and how the hidden 80-85% in brood cells dictates effective beekeeping treatment strategies.
Learn the key traits of a solid bottom board for beehives, including benefits for heat retention, cost, and how to choose the right one for your climate.
Discover how the Cypress Screened Bottom Board aids Varroa mite management, improves hive ventilation, and serves as a key tool for modern beekeeping IPM strategies.
Learn how hive type (Langstroth, Top Bar, Warre) dictates bottom board choice for optimal bee health, ventilation, insulation, and Varroa mite management.
Discover the key features of the 8/10-frame entrance reducer, including its adjustable design and scientifically-backed Seeley entrance for optimal hive defense.
Discover how frames and foundations create a modular hive for easy inspection, honey harvesting, and colony health management. Essential for beekeepers.
Learn why starting with a stable foundation, essential components, and a second hive is critical for new beekeepers to ensure colony survival and growth.
Discover how the CO2 injection method for varroa monitoring offers lethal-wash accuracy while safely returning bees to the hive. Learn the pros and cons.
Learn how the Varroa EasyCheck device standardizes Varroa mite monitoring for beekeepers, enabling precise data collection and timely treatment decisions.
Learn how to add top ventilation to a beehive without an inner cover using simple methods like shims or a quilt box to prevent moisture and condensation.
Discover how plastic foundation prevents comb blowouts in extractors, enabling faster, reusable honey harvesting vs. destructive crush and strain methods.