Scientific Beekeeping https://scientificbeekeeping.com/ Beekeeping Through the Eyes of a Biologist Sat, 06 Apr 2024 14:04:40 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Domain names held https://scientificbeekeeping.com/domain-names-held/ Sat, 06 Apr 2024 14:04:40 +0000 https://scientificbeekeeping.com/?p=8446 Hi, I registered these three domain names in the hope that some regenerative farming nonprofits might wish to use them. I’d be happy to give them to an organization promoting regenerative farming that, unlike “certified organic,” accepts precision-bred (Crispr-edited) plant cultivars, and synthetic eco-friendly pest control methods. earthfriendlyfarming.org workwithnature.org backtonatural.org If you’re interested, you can […]

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]]> My first letter to the EPA https://scientificbeekeeping.com/my-first-letter-to-the-epa/ Tue, 20 Feb 2024 18:25:03 +0000 https://scientificbeekeeping.com/?p=8409 Letter to Linda pdf

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]]> Selective Breeding Progress Report 2023 https://scientificbeekeeping.com/selective-breeding-progress-report-2023/ Sat, 30 Dec 2023 11:14:46 +0000 https://scientificbeekeeping.com/?p=8355 Selective Breeding Progress Report 2023 Randy Oliver ScientificBeekeeping.com First published in ABJ September 2023 In 2017 I proposed a simplified method for commercial queen breeders to select for varroa-resistant stock, and then undertook a demonstration project to see if it would work. After six years of strong selection, we appear to be making substantial progress! […]

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]]> Drones and Varroa: Part 2 https://scientificbeekeeping.com/drones-and-varroa-part-2/ Sat, 30 Dec 2023 10:51:22 +0000 https://scientificbeekeeping.com/?p=8347 Contents Testing Hypothesis #2. 2 Let’s Do the Calcs! 11 Conclusions 11 Why Would Mites Prefer  Drones?. 12 Acknowledgements. 12 Citations and Notes 12     Drones and Varroa Part 2 Randy Oliver ScientificBeekeeping.com First Published in ABJ November 2023         In the May issue of this journal, Dr. Zac Lamas presented some findings of […]

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]]> Drones and Varroa: Part 1 https://scientificbeekeeping.com/drones-and-varroa-part-1/ Sat, 30 Dec 2023 10:23:12 +0000 https://scientificbeekeeping.com/?p=8328 Contents The Proposed Hypotheses 2 Monitoring of the Mite Infestation. 3 How Best to Obtain a Representative and Consistent Sample?. 3 Testing Hypothesis #1. 4 Field Observations. 5 Results. 9 The Take Home. 15 Citations and Notes 16     Drones and Varroa Part 1 Randy Oliver ScientificBeekeeping.com First Published in ABJ October 2023   […]

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]]> The Status of Our Industry Regarding Varroa Management and What Can We Do About It? https://scientificbeekeeping.com/the-status-of-our-industry-regarding-varroa-management-and-what-can-we-do-about-it/ Mon, 16 Oct 2023 21:11:03 +0000 https://scientificbeekeeping.com/?p=8306 The Status of Our Industry Regarding Varroa Management and What Can We Do About It? Part 2 First Published in ABJ August 2023 Randy Oliver ScientificBeekeeping.com   CATCH UP Last month I wrote about the options (legal or unapproved) that beekeepers are taking to deal with varroa as it evolves resistance to amitraz. In this […]

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]]> A Study on Bee Drift and Mite Immigration: Part 6 https://scientificbeekeeping.com/a-study-on-bee-drift-and-mite-immigration-part-6/ Mon, 16 Oct 2023 21:00:28 +0000 https://scientificbeekeeping.com/?p=8294 A Study on Bee Drift and Mite Immigration Part 6 Randy Oliver ScientificBeekeeping.com First published in ABJ July 2023     In our 2018 study in the California foothills, we confirmed that bees indeed drift from collapsing colonies to other hives, even to those at considerable distance. And that drifting can result in a substantial […]

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]]> How to use Randy’s Handy mite wash cup https://scientificbeekeeping.com/how-to-use-randys-handy-mite-wash-cup/ Sat, 14 Oct 2023 00:08:23 +0000 https://scientificbeekeeping.com/?p=8291 Tips for Using the XXX cup for Monitoring Varroa TAKING THE SAMPLE Use an 18-quart dishwashing tub and a stainless-steel half cup (125 mL) measuring cup (for measuring live bees, a deep cup is more accurate than a shallow cup). Take the bee sample from a frame (or frames) adjacent to the broodnest, but not […]

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]]> First year beekeeping https://scientificbeekeeping.com/first-year-care-for-your-nuc/ Tue, 26 Sep 2023 16:48:52 +0000 https://scientificbeekeeping.com/?p=207 Updated 8 Jan 2023.  I continually update this page, so please refer to the current version.  For mite treatment options, search “Varroa Mite Management” Beekeeping in a Nutshell I’ve attempted to distill 50 year’s of beekeeping experience into a short set of instructions for starting out with bees in the Sierra Foothills.  This page provides […]

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]]> The Status of Our Industry Regarding Varroa Mgmt and What Can We Do About It? https://scientificbeekeeping.com/the-status-of-our-industry-regarding-varroa-mgmt-and-what-can-we-do-about-it/ Mon, 25 Sep 2023 16:35:11 +0000 https://scientificbeekeeping.com/?p=8284 Contents Introduction: A Reality Check on the American Beekeeping Industry’s Varroa Control Predicament 2 The Lead Up. 2 The Elephant in the Room.. 2 Our Conundrum.. 3 Our Predicament 3 A Personal Note. 4 Rationalization and Lack of Unreasonable Risk. 4 How the EPA Can Help Us 4 Our Current Arsenal: The Registered Varroacides 5 […]

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