Beekeeping Today Podcast

On today’s episode, we talk with Newfoundland beekeeper, Peter Armitage and Dr. David Peck, a Professor from Cornell University, David Peck. Those of us south of the Canadian border tend to mispronounce the name of that big Island off the east coast of Quebec and just north of Prince Edward Island. We tend to slur it, saying ‘Newfundlund’ instead. But that is wrong. How do you say it right? “Understand New Found Land”. Onomatopoeia to the rescue! (One of the cohost’s still can’t get it right...)

The good people who live on Newfoundland Island have managed to keep this rather inhospitable island completely free of Varroa mites. Not one mite. And Newfoundlanders are determined to keep it that way, using their Varroa Action Plan.

There’s only one way to get to Newfoundland and that’s by boat, so they have some control on what gets onto their island. But they are in no way taking any chances. They have established the Plan to keep varroa off the island, educate the beekeepers all about varroa, and continuously monitor colonies for any accidental, or even illegal, incursion.

Learn about the Newfoundland Varroa Action Plan and more on this informative episode!

Links and websites mentioned in this podcast:

• Newfoundland Varroa Action Plan - https://www.nlbeekeeping.com/varroa-action-plan
• Research paper detailing how varroa will transfer from flower to bee - https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0167798
• YouTube video of a mite vaulting onto a bee from a flower petal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oij1HOxD3iU

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Thanks to Strong Microbials for their support of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Find out more about heir line of probiotics in our Season 3, Episode 12 episode and from their website: https://www.strongmicrobials.com

This episode is brought to you by Global Patties! Global Patties is a family business that manufactures protein supplement patties for honey bees. Feeding your hives protein supplement patties will help ensure that they produce strong and health colonies by increasing brood production and overall honey flow. Global offers a variety of standard patties, as well as custom patties to meet your specific needs. Visit them today at http://globalpatties.com and let them know you appreciate them sponsoring this episode!

We want to also thank 2 Million Blossoms as a sponsor of the podcast. 2 Million Blossoms is a quarterly magazine destined for your coffee table. Each page of the magazine is dedicated to the stories and photos of all pollinators and written by leading researchers, photographers and our very own, Kim Flottum.

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We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments: [email protected]

Thanks to Bee Culture, the Magazine of American Beekeeping, for their support of The Beekeeping Today Podcast. Available in print and digital at www.beeculture.com

Thank you for listening!

Podcast music: Young Presidents, "Be Strong", Musicalman, "Epilogue"

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Winter bees, those bees that emerge during the cold winter months when there is little to no exposure to the world outside, are very different from summer bees, which emerge during the hectic and exposed to everything bees are exposed to in their environment. In today’s episode, we talk with Drs. Mohamed Alburaki and Miguel Corona, two USDA-ARS entomologists researching these differences and specifically the effects of the neonaticide imidacloprid on developing bee larvae.

The environment for winter bees is almost exclusively limited to what happens inside the hive. They live months longer than summer bees. Summer bees, on the other hand, live very short lives. Summer bees are either nurse bees or foragers, or maybe both, so they are exposed to all the things their environment has to offer. One of those is exposure to pesticides, the most common is imidacloprid.

It turns out, summer bees tend to prefer food given to them that has some small amount of this pesticide in it. The speculation is that the taste is what they are used to – all summer long they ate food tainted with this pesticide. Meanwhile, winter bees, who never foraged or fed bees with nectar or pollen exposed to this pesticide, didn’t like it at all and would avoid it at all costs.

What this means for beekeepers is that managing your bees to avoid pesticides is the best option you can have. If you can’t avoid it, be aware of your bee’s tendency to favor the pesticide taste, if that is what they were raised on. It’s a complicated and toxic world out there. Be aware. You can read this very well thought out USDA paper by clicking on the link provided. You may have to read it twice. We had to read it more than that, but it was well worth the time.

We hope you enjoy the episode. Leave comments and questions in the Comments Section of the episode's website.

Thank you for listening!

Links and websites mentioned in this podcast:

• Research Papers: Imidacloprid and bee phenotype: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13592-022-00922-9
• Research Papers: Polyurethane vs Wooden hives: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00218839.2021.1999578
• Honey Bee Obscura - https://www.honeybeeobscura.com

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This episode is brought to you by Global Patties! Global offers a variety of standard and custom patties. Visit them today at http://globalpatties.com and let them know you appreciate them sponsoring this episode!

We welcome Betterbee as sponsor of today's episode. Betterbee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

Thanks to Strong Microbials for their support of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Find out more about heir line of probiotics in our Season 3, Episode 12 episode and from their website: https://www.strongmicrobials.com

Thanks for Northern Bee Books for their sponsorship of Bee Books: Old & New with Kim Flottum. Northern Bee Books is the publisher of bee books available worldwide from their website or from Amazon and bookstores everywhere. They are also the publishers of The Beekeepers Quarterly and Natural Bee Husbandry.

We want to also thank 2 Million Blossoms as a sponsor of the podcast. 2 Million Blossoms is a regular podcast featuring interviews with leading bee and insect researchers in the world of pollination, hosted by Dr. Kirsten Traynor.

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We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments in the show notes of this episode or: questi...

(#268) In the concluding episode of our four-part series on "How To Get Started With Bees," we explore the crucial topics of parasites, pathogens, predators, and pesticides—from this point on, to be collectively known as the “four Ps of beekeeping”. Our hosts, along with guest, Jim Tew and David Peck, tackle these challenges with optimism, aiming to equip new beekeepers with strategies to protect their colonies.

From the pervasive threat of Varroa mites to the nuances of local beekeeping challenges, this episode offers a comprehensive overview of bee health management. Practical advice on monitoring and treatment options is shared, emphasizing the importance of integrated pest management and community support. The conversation underscores the necessity of ongoing education and proactive measures in maintaining healthy hives.

This episode serves as a vital resource for beginner beekeepers, offering guidance and encouragement in navigating the complexities of bee health.

Links and websites mentioned in this episode:

• How To Get Started in Beekeeping Episode Collection Page: https://beekeepingtodaypodcast.com/htgs
• Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org
• Betterbee Quick Start Guide: https://www.betterbee.com/instructions-and-resources/how-to-be-a-beekeeper.asp
• University of Minnesota Bee Squad - Gentle Beekeeping: https://beelab.umn.edu/person-mentoring-apiary
• USDA Bee Lab: https://www.ars.usda.gov/northeast-area/beltsville-md-barc/beltsville-agricultural-research-center/bee-research-laboratory/
• Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com

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Betterbee is the presenting sponsor of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Betterbee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

This episode is brought to you by Global Patties! Global offers a variety of standard and custom patties. Visit them today at http://globalpatties.com and let them know you appreciate them sponsoring this episode!

Thanks to Bee Smart Designs as a sponsor of this podcast! Bee Smart Designs is the creator of innovative, modular and interchangeable hive systems made in the USA using recycled and American sourced materials. Bee Smart Designs - Simply better beekeeping for the modern beekeeper.

Thanks to Strong Microbials for their support of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Find out more about heir line of probiotics in our Season 3, Episode 12 episode and from their website: https://www.strongmicrobials.com

Thanks for Northern Bee Book...

(#277) In this episode, we delve into the intricate world of honey bee virology with Dr. Michelle Flenniken from Montana State University. As a seasoned researcher specializing in honey bee viruses, Michelle brings a wealth of knowledge that's both enlightening and essential for understanding the health challenges our bees face.

This episode is packed with insights on how honey bees combat viruses through their immune systems and the significant impact of environmental factors on their health. Listeners will gain a deeper appreciation of the complex interplay between bee biology and viral pathogens, highlighting the critical role of beekeepers in managing hive health.

Michelle’s research focuses on the immune responses of honey bees to various viral infections and explores potential strategies for enhancing bee health through genetic and environmental interventions. Her work is pivotal in paving the way for future advancements in beekeeping practices and viral mitigation techniques.

Whether you're a new or long-time beekeeper, this episode offers valuable lessons on the importance of monitoring hive health, understanding the signs of viral infections, and implementing effective management strategies to support robust and resilient bee colonies.

So, tune in to enrich your knowledge and equip yourself with the tools to better protect your bees against the ever-present threat of viruses. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn from one of the leading experts in the field of honey bee health.

Links and websites mentioned in this episode:

• Montana State University Pollinator Lab: http://www.montana.edu/pollinators/
• Honey Bee Health Coalition Varroa Management: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org/resources/varroa-management/
• Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com

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Betterbee is the presenting sponsor of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Betterbee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

This episode is brought to you by Global Patties! Global offers a variety of standard and custom patties. Visit them today at http://globalpatties.com and let them know you appreciate them sponsoring this episode!

Thanks to Bee Smart Designs as a sponsor of this podcast! Bee Smart Designs is the creator of innovative, modular and interchangeable hive systems made in the USA using recycled and American sourced materials. Bee Smart Designs - Simply better beekeeping for the modern beekeeper.

Thanks to Strong Microbials for their support of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Find out more about heir line of probiotics in our Season 3, Episode 12 episode and from their website: https://www.strongmicrobials.com

Thanks for Northern Bee Books for their support. Northern Bee Books is the publisher of bee books available worldwide from their website or from Amazon and bookstores everywhere. They are also the publishers of The Beeke...

Today we talk with Dr. Gloria DeGrandi-Hoffman. Gloria is the Research Leader at the Carl Hayden Bee Research Center in Tucson, Arizona.