Discover the core similarities between migratory and backyard beekeeping, from queen management and hive inspections to nutrition and Varroa mite control.
Learn to cage queen cells before emergence to prevent losses. Use extra queens for splits, re-queening, or as insurance. A guide for commercial beekeepers.
Learn how to safely reuse queen cages to save costs and reduce waste. Essential guide on cleaning, sanitization, and disease prevention for beekeepers.
Learn the critical timeline for checking queen acceptance, from verifying release to confirming egg laying, ensuring your hive thrives post-installation.
Learn the safe, step-by-step process for introducing a new queen to a large, established hive using a cage to prevent rejection and ensure colony success.
Find queen cages at beekeeping suppliers. Learn the differences between JZ-BZ, Benton, and push-in cages to ensure safe queen introduction and colony health.
Learn the critical steps for queen bee pre-installation, from confirming a queenless hive to removing queen cells, to ensure colony acceptance and success.
Master the 3 stages of successful queen introduction: preparation, installation, and post-introduction support. Ensure your new queen is accepted by the colony.
Learn how to prevent queen rejection and escape during introduction. Key strategies for beekeepers to ensure successful hive requeening and colony health.
Learn how to diagnose queen bee rejection, the corrective actions to take, and the critical risks of releasing her too soon. Ensure a successful hive introduction.
Discover the JZ-BZ queen cage's key benefits: durable plastic, safe slow-release design, and integration with a full queen rearing system for beekeepers.
Learn the step-by-step push-in cage method for safely introducing a new queen bee. Maximize acceptance rates and protect your investment in commercial beekeeping.
Learn the key differences between requeening a hive and adding a queen to a queenless colony. Master proactive beekeeping strategies for better genetics and productivity.
Learn the critical steps to prepare a hive for queen introduction, from ensuring a queenless state to providing a stable, healthy environment for acceptance.
Learn the ideal 3-hour window to check for queen acceptance after installing a bee package, balancing confirmation with colony stability for beekeeping success.
Learn how varroa control thresholds help beekeepers prevent colony losses. Discover seasonal guidelines and monitoring methods for effective mite management.
Varroa mites were first detected in the US in 1987, triggering a permanent shift in beekeeping and posing the primary threat to honey bee colonies today.
Discover why hosting native bees boosts garden productivity and supports local ecosystems. Learn simple, low-maintenance strategies for a bee-friendly yard.
Learn key precautions for using a press-in cage: selecting the right comb, ensuring a secure seal, and avoiding common risks for a successful queen introduction.
Learn the optimal timing for caging sealed queen cells in the Nicot system, balancing protection with natural bee care for robust queen rearing success.
Learn how Varroa mites spread via drifting and robbing bees. Protect your apiary with proactive management strategies for commercial beekeeping success.
Learn the critical advice for proactive Varroa mite management: regular monitoring, early spring checks, and data-driven treatment to prevent colony loss.
Learn how the oxalic acid dribble method works for Varroa mite control, including timing, application steps, and key safety considerations for beekeepers.
Discover how queen mailing cages protect your queen during transit and ensure a successful introduction to the hive, preventing rejection and colony loss.
Learn the international queen bee marking color code system (White, Yellow, Red, Green, Blue) to easily identify queen age and manage hive productivity.
Discover how oxalic acid is used as a miticide to control Varroa destructor mites, including application methods, timing, and safety for honey bee colonies.
Discover the 3 primary oxalic acid application methods for Varroa mite control: vaporization, dribbling, and spray for package bees. Learn the pros and cons of each.
Learn how oxalic acid achieves 90-97% Varroa mite mortality. Discover the critical timing, application methods, and trade-offs for effective treatment.
Discover how organic pest control methods safeguard bee colonies from lethal pesticides, sublethal effects, and hive contamination for healthier pollinators.
Learn the critical timing for oxalic acid Varroa mite treatment. Achieve over 95% efficacy by targeting the natural broodless period in late fall or winter.
Learn essential safety steps for oxalic acid hive treatment, including PPE, temperature limits, and correct application to control Varroa mites effectively.
Learn why Varroa mite resistance to oxalic acid is highly unlikely due to its physical mode of action, ensuring long-term sustainability for beekeepers.
Discover why starting with two beehives is crucial for new beekeepers. Learn how it provides comparison, resource sharing, and insurance against colony loss.
Learn the critical steps after marking a queen bee, from ensuring paint dries to gentle reintroduction, to prevent colony rejection and ensure hive health.
Compare oxalic acid dribble vs. vaporization for varroa mite control. Learn which method is best for cold weather, bee safety, and beekeeper protocols.
Learn essential safety protocols for oxalic acid Varroa treatment, including PPE requirements and application methods to protect beekeepers and colonies.
Discover why oxalic acid is a superior Varroa mite treatment: no chemical residues in honey or wax, and no mite resistance issues compared to synthetic drugs.
Learn how to manage varroa mites in nucs using the natural brood break. Compare flash treatments like oxalic acid with extended-release strips like Apivar.
Discover why late fall oxalic acid application is a critical IPM tactic. Target Varroa mites during the broodless period for maximum efficacy and stronger spring colonies.
Learn the critical post-application steps for oxalic acid vapor treatment, including sealing the hive entrance for 10-15 minutes to maximize Varroa mite control.
Discover the benefits of oxalic acid for Varroa mite control: organic, protects wax comb, and highly effective when applied correctly for healthier hives.
Learn how a late fall oxalic acid application targets Varroa mites during a broodless period, dramatically reducing mite loads for healthier wintering bees.
Learn how the Bee Blanket's water-resistant, durable design makes it ideal for picnics, beaches, and casual outdoor use, while understanding its limits.
Learn the two primary queen bee marking methods: on-the-comb and off-the-comb. Choose the right technique based on your skill level to ensure queen safety.
Discover why marking a queen bee is essential for tracking her age, assessing health, and ensuring a productive, queenright hive for efficient apiary management.
Learn the 3 registered oxalic acid application methods for beekeeping: spray, dribble, and vaporization. Compare efficacy, safety, and cost for varroa mite control.
Discover the essential tools for marking queen bees, including non-toxic paint pens and specialized cages, to ensure safe and efficient hive management.
Discover how marking a queen bee simplifies inspections, tracks age, and enables proactive colony management for better productivity and swarm prevention.
Learn why oxalic acid is a top Varroa mite treatment. Understand its application methods, critical timing for a broodless period, and how to integrate it into a sustainable IPM plan.
Learn the key factors for successful brood rearing: quality pollen, ample honey, a healthy queen, and when beekeepers should intervene for optimal colony growth.
Discover the pros and cons of queen excluders for beekeeping. Learn how to use them to ensure pure honey, manage swarming, and boost hive productivity.
Discover the pros and cons of queen excluders for hive management, from clean honey harvests to potential impacts on honey production and bee behavior.
Discover how screened bottom boards enhance hive ventilation, reduce Varroa mite populations, and provide better temperature control for healthier colonies.
Discover the purpose of the hole in a beehive's inner cover. Learn how to use it for feeding, ventilation, and as an upper entrance for effective hive management.
Learn about the pre-trial preventative treatments of fumagillin and oxytetracycline used to create a controlled, disease-free baseline for honey bee research.
Compare bee packages vs. nucleus hives (nucs) for starting a hive. Learn about cost, risk, speed of development, and which is best for your beekeeping goals.
Learn the essential steps for installing a nucleus hive, from preparation and timing to frame transfer and post-installation care for a thriving colony.
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.
Learn to prevent robbing in your apiary with strategic feeding, entrance reducers, and efficient hive inspections. Protect your colonies from devastating attacks.