The fuel for a bee smoker can vary, but commonly includes natural materials such as burlap, pine needles, wood chips, or untreated cotton fibers. These materials, when smoldering inside the smoker, produce a cool, thick smoke that masks alarm pheromones released by the bees. This smoke helps to pacify the bees, making them less likely […]
The Best Bee Smoker Fuel: A Guide to Optimal Choices Read More »
Beehives are ingeniously constructed by bees using beeswax, which they secrete from special glands in their abdomen. Worker bees skillfully mold this wax into hexagonal cells, creating a highly efficient, space-saving structure known as honeycomb. These combs are then used to store honey, pollen, and to house their larvae, forming the intricate and bustling environment
This Is How Bees Make Hives in Nature Read More »
Adding honey supers is typically done during the nectar flow, a period when bees are actively collecting nectar. This usually occurs in the spring or early summer, but the exact timing can vary depending on local climate and the blooming patterns of plants. It’s essential to monitor the hive’s progress closely. Supers should be added
When Should You Add Honey Supers? Read More »
Ideally, a beehive should be placed at least 10 feet away from a house to ensure safety and minimize disturbances to both bees and humans. This distance helps reduce bee traffic near living areas and lowers the chances of human-bee interactions, allowing the bees to thrive and perform their ecological roles effectively. Additionally, it’s important
How Far From The House Should A Beehive Really Be? Read More »
To split a beehive, also known as hive division, you first identify a strong, healthy colony. Then, in early spring or late summer, you move several frames with eggs, larvae, and bees, including nurse bees, into a new hive box. Ensure the new hive has enough resources like honey and pollen. Introduce a new queen
How to Split a Beehive and Create a Second Colony Read More »
Before we get onto the best bee suits, an introductory paragraph is in order. Beekeepers wear bee suits because they frequently get up close and personal with thousands of stinging insects – it is really that simple. While honey bees are well known for their essential placidity (being some of the least aggressive stinging insects
These Are The Best Beekeeping Suits for 2025 Read More »
Setting aside the possibility of building your own mason bee house, what are the best ones on the market right now and what should you look for when selecting a mason bee house? The best mason bee houses should offer ample space for the bees but also a series of tube openings which vary in
These Are The Best Mason Bee Houses For 2025 Read More »
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The basic principle behind the honey extractor has remained unchanged for as long as they have existed. For sure, some new high-tech models might have been released down the years – and within the field of industrial beekeeping, different honey extractors suited for industrial quantities are used –
These Are The Best Honey Extractors for 2025 Read More »
Beekeeping is a fascinating hobby that requires dedication and care to ensure the health and well-being of a hive. Unfortunately, despite a beekeeper’s best efforts hives may occasionally fail and bees might die. When this happens, it is essential to know how to handle the situation properly to prevent any negative impacts on the surrounding
Dead Beehive: Here Are Some Innovative Ideas For Repurposing Read More »
When purchasing a beekeeping suit, the material is certainly something to consider; you will also want to think about what gloves are best for your beekeeping needs. However, neither of these are the component that beekeepers lose sleep over. The one part of the beekeeping suit that is the most varied and the most indispensable
The 12 Best Beekeeping Veils For 2025 Read More »