Randy,s Posts
Testing of Bee Feed Syrups for Neonicotinoid Residues
Testing of Bee Feed Syrups for Neonicotinoid Residues Eric Mussen1 and Randy Oliver2 First Published in ABJ in August 2012 The widespread adoption of the systemic neonicotinoid insecticides has led a number of beekeepers to question whether the commercially available corn, beet, or cane sugar syrups might be contaminated with residues of those insecticides. Introduction...
Neonicotinoids: Trying To Make Sense of the Science – Part 2
Neonicotinoids: Trying to Make Sense of the Science Part 2 Randy Oliver ScientificBeekeeping.com First published in ABJ September 2012 “Scientists have largely remained silent when the public discussion turns to the trade-off of benefits and risks from chemicals. They are often unwilling to engage controversial issues that could endanger their funding and research…The public interprets...
Sick Bees Part 18C: Colony Collapse Revisited – Environmental Factors
Sick Bees Part 18c: Colony Collapse Revisited Randy Oliver ScientificBeekeeping.com Originally published in ABJ October 2012 Beekeeper Management Practices Environmental Factors Ozone and Air Pollution HAARP (The High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program) Cell Phones/Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR) Geomagnetic Flux Chilling WEATHER AND CLIMATE CHANGE HABITAT CONVERSION Summary So Far Acknowledgements Further Reading Citations Sorry for...
Sick Bees – Part 18D: Colony Collapse Revisited – Agricultural Exposure
Updates Geomagnetic Flux Driftwatch Back to the Suspects for CCD Ag Exposure A Pesticide-Free Control Group CRP Lands Good News Acknowledgements References Sick Bees Part 18D: Colony Collapse Revisited Agricultural Exposure Randy Oliver ScientificBeekeeping.com Originally published in ABJ November 2012 “It’s what you know for sure that keeps you from learning.” And I’m all about...
Sick Bees – Part 18E: Colony Collapse Revisited – Genetically Modified Plants
Genetically Modified Plants What Is Genetic Modification? There’s Nothing New About Transgenics GMOs An Odd Series of Connections The Vilifying of Monsanto What Are They Up To? Practicality Overrides Principle Hold the Hate Mail The Changing Face of Agriculture Bt Crops Roundup Ready Direct Effects of Roundup Use Indirect Effects of Roundup Use The Future...
Nosema Ceranae and Honey Production in Healthy Colonies
Nosema Ceranae and Honey Production in Healthy Colonies Randy Oliver and Brion Dunbar ScientificBeekeeping.com First Published in ABJ in November 2012 There is considerable scientific and practical debate about the degree of impact that Nosema ceranae infection has upon the honey bee colony. It is reasonable to assume that there would be noticeable impairment,...
“Fried Eggs” Identified!
“Fried Eggs” Identified! Randy Oliver ScientificBeekeeping.com First Published in ABJ in Feb 2012 I mentioned in my previous article that I’ve been seeing an unidentified organism that looked like “fried eggs” in the guts of bees from my operation in the California foothills (Figure 1). I sent out requests to a number of researchers for...
Sick Bees – Part 18F1: Colony Collapse Revisited – Pesticide Kills
Sick Bees Part 18F1 Colony Collapse Revisited Pesticide Kills Randy Oliver ScientificBeekeeping.com First Published in ABJ in January 2013 Pesticides A Bit of History Nailing Down the Guilty Party Keep ’em Honest! Pesticides and CCD Making the Link Acknowledgements References As long as I’ve been keeping bees, one of our worst fears has been that...
Simple Early Treatment of Nucs Against Varroa
Simple Early Treatment of Nucs Against Varroa Randy Oliver ScientificBeekeeping.com First published in ABJ April 2013 Starting the season with a low level of varroa allows a colony to get a jump on the mite and its associated viruses. I tested a simple method for incorporating varroa management into nuc production. Introduction When I try...
The Birds and the Bees
I was greatly concerned when I read that news item that the neonicotinoid seed treatments might be causing the decline of bird populations. I don’t know whether you read the referred paper (http://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/policy/toxins/Neonic_FINAL.pdf), which was earnest and detailed. Unfortunately, it was mostly speculative, as opposed to being based upon field evidence. The authors themselves, in...
The Harvard Study on Neonicotinoids and CCD
A recent press release by the prestigious Harvard School of Public Health claims that one of their researchers has found that Colony Collapse Disorder was caused by a common insecticide used on corn. As an informed beekeeper and environmentalist, I feel that this study calls for standard scientific scrutiny to see whether their claims actually...
Zombie bees
A parasitic fly was recently discovered to be infesting honey bees– the press wildly extrapolated it into being the cause of CCD. I’ve kept in touch with the researchers in San Francisco, and with beekeepers in the affected areas. The study is ongoing. The fly is a native parasite that normally parasitizes bumblebees and paper wasps....
Sick Bees – Part 18F2: Colony Collapse Revisited – Plant Allelochemicals
Sick Bees Part 18f2: Colony Collapse Revisited Plant Allelochemicals First published in ABJ February 2013 Randy Oliver ScientificBeekeeping.com Nature Is Not Nice Toxic Pollen and Nectar Definitions Have You Ever Noticed Plant Toxic Effects? What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger An Unintended Effect on Varroa? Self Medication Tritrophic Interactions Bee Detoxification of Allelochemicals Acknowledgements...
Sick Bees – Part 18F3: Colony Collapse Revisited – Keeping A Leaky Boat Afloat
Sick Bees Part 18f3: Colony Collapse Revisited Keeping A Leaky Boat Afloat First published in ABJ March 2013 Randy Oliver ScientificBeekeeping.com the leaky boat analogy. 1 Why would bees collect toxic pollen?. 2 Almond pollen. 4 colony-to-colony variation. 5 bee genetics or gut endosymbionts?. 5 summary (so far). 6 Acknowledgements References The Leaky...
Sick Bees – Part 18F4: Colony Collapse Revisited – Environmental Toxins
Sick Bees Part 18f4: Colony Collapse Revisited Environmental Toxins First published in ABJ April 2013 Randy Oliver ScientificBeekeeping.com New Chemicals in the Environment Fear of Chemicals – It Ain’t Just Pesticides Irrational Fear of “Chemicals” Manmade Chemicals General Environmental Pollutants Natural Elements Those Danged Bees! Poor Colony Survival Reality Check Acknowledgements References and Notes Randy...
ScientificBeekeeping is a not-for-profit enterprise, and I’m happy to receive notes of thanks for how information on this site has contributed to my readers’ success at beekeeping (and sometimes saved them hundreds or thousands of dollars). It is your support that allows me to devote my life to this site. All donations go towards website maintenance, bee research costs (typically tens of thousands of dollars per year), re-donations to fund research by others, and a small amount to partially offset the huge number of hours that I spend in research and writing. I guarantee that every penny is pinched and well spent!
Your donations not only support our own research; we redirect a substantial proportion of donations to Scientific Beekeeping to organizations who we see making the most impact towards helping pollinators – notably those who work with farmers and landowners, or preserve critical habitat.
I appreciate the notes of support that I receive from all over the world. Seeing who is donating, their locations, and the little notes that come with contributions help to let me know how I should direct my research and writing. In appreciation, and in order to show who is supporting my research and writing, I honor below those who have recently made substantial donations:
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Ross Honey Company
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Bill’s Bees
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Aaron Bergman, Florida
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Everything on this website is open access and freely given to beekeepers and researchers worldwide, on a not-for-profit basis. I gladly accept supportive personal gifts of appreciation from my readers. You can donate via Paypal below (or better yet via Venmo as a gift to @RandyOliverBeekeeper). I will treat all Paypal donations as “gifted grants to be applied towards beekeeping research” given by you with “detached and disinterested generosity out of affection, respect, admiration, charity or like impulses,” and not in the expectation of any goods or services. Since I am not a 501(c)(3), your gifts are not tax deductible.
Thank you and happy beekeeping!
Randy
Supporters
ScientificBeekeeping is a not-for-profit enterprise, and I’m happy to receive notes of thanks for how information on this site has contributed to my readers’ success at beekeeping (and sometimes saved them hundreds or thousands of dollars). It is your support that allows me to devote my life to this site. All donations go towards website maintenance, bee research costs (typically tens of thousands of dollars per year), re-donations to fund research by others, and a small amount to partially offset the huge number of hours that I spend in research and writing. I guarantee that every penny is pinched and well spent!
I appreciate the notes of support that I receive from all over the world. Seeing who is donating, their locations, and the little notes that come with contributions help to let me know how I should direct my research and writing. In appreciation, and in order to show who is supporting my research and writing, I honor below those who have recently made substantial donations:
REGULAR SERIOUS DONORS
Tracy Fasanella
Brandon Hertel
* Homestead in the Hood, Colorado
DaleLesser, Michigan
Conway Veterinary Hospital
Matthew McLean, Colorado
Jim & Paulette Lynn, Iowa
Jean Knudsen
Yumei Xiong
Thomas Kirwan
Madeline Mead
Jill Lambie-ponce
RECENT MAJOR SUPPORTERS
Tualatin Valley Beekeepers, Oregon
Denis Watts
Kebin Duesman
James Jakim, Pennsylvania
Los Angeles County Beekeepers
Justin Ray
Alameda County Beekeepers Association, CA
Santa Clara Valley Beekeepers Guild, CA
Ihor Skrypka
Mike Tooley
Chatham County Beekeepers Association
Darren Tressider
Charles Clark
Victorian Apiarists’ Association
Peter Krey
Chrisensen Family Apiaries, Michigan
Nebraska Beekeepers Assoc.
Hiatt Honey LLC
Miller Honey Farms, California
Paul Hosticka, Washington
Tualatin Valley Beekeepers Association, Oregon
Merrimack Valley Beekeepers, NH
Colorado State Beekeepers Assoc.
Alameda County Beekeepers Assoc, Calif
New Mexico Beekeepers Assoc
Colonial Beekeepers Assoc, Virginia
Help Save the Bees Foundation, Nevada
James Jakim, Pennsylvania
RECENT $100+ SERIOUS SUPPORTERS
Rick Hyde
Ron Morrison
Susan Ament
Richard Reid
San Mateo Bee Guild, California
Zach Suddaby
Cara Ching, California
Vincent Aloyo, Pennsylvania
Rick Anderson, Kansas
Perry County Beekeepers Club
Lawrence Huba
Charles Reichert
Charles Clark
Charlean Andes
Always Summer Herbs, Florida
Bill Hall
David George
Dean Christie
Roy Manicke
Jersey Cape Beekeepers Association
Kansas Honey Producers Association
New Hampshire Beekeepers Association
Chester County Beekeepers Assoc, Pennsylvania
Debbie Hewitt, Maryland
Mile Hive Bee Club, Colorado
Dale Lesser, Minnesota
Santa Clara Valley Beekeepers Guild, California
Stevan Huffman, Alaska
Flower Street Farm
Cara Ching, California
Terry Barrett
Robert M Simonson
Vincent Aloyo, Pennsyvania
Byron Godard
Southern Oregon Beekeepers Association
Lawrence Chismar
Middlesex Beekeepers Association, Massachusetts
Montgomery County Beekeepers, Maryland
Charles Clarke, California
Andrew Dewey
Ralph Carter, California
Barnstable County Beekeepers Association
Mary Aho
Sonja Percival
New York Bee Wellness
Liz and Terry Huxter
David Ball
Paul W. Garges
Andrew Levi
Jim Veitch, California
Mark Simonitsch, Massachusetts
Kenneth Sallitt
Kelle Frymire
Tamiko Panzella, California
Rodd Hall, Wisconsin
James Baerwald
Jean Knudsen
Yosef Shochat, Israel
Nicolas Geant
Charles Clark
Merrimack Valley Beekeepers
Michael Cummings
Bryce Lord
Jersey Cape Beekeepers
Busy Bee Honey, Vermont
Rick Anderson
Steve Sweet, Idaho
Ulster County Beekeepers Association
Jan Lawson
Honey Bee Club of Stillwater, Minnesota
Black Hills Area Beekeeping Club, South Dakota
Richard Ozero, Alberta
Paul Yanus, Vermont
Suddabees Honey LLC
Dean Christie
New Hampshire Beekeepers Association
Jane Sebring
Vincent Aloyo
Connecticut Beekeepers Association
Jim Lyssy
Wyoming Beekeepers Association
Tualatin Valley Beekeepers, Oregon
Yosef Shochat
Dale Lesser
Jill Lambie-ponce
Deborah Corcoran
Justin Ray
Idaho Honey Producers Association
Capital Area Beekeepers Association, PA
Mark Simonitsch, MA
Central Maryland Beekeepers Association
Roy Manicke
Kansas Honey Producers Association
Charles Bailey Jr
Richard Reed
Gregory Quinn
John Allison
Joshua Sewell
Chris Abbot, Virginia
Owyhee Honey Company
Idaho Honey Ranch
Mount Diablo Beekeepers Association, California
Charles Bailey Jr
Raritan Valley Beekeepers Association
Mike Tooley
Los Angeles County Beekeepers Association
Santa Clara Valley Beekeepers Guild
Pamela Stegemerten
Vermont Beekeepers Association
Los Angeles County Beekeepers Association
Michael Kurtz
Dan Geer
Ross Honey Company
Steven Greenwood
Julie Spezia
Stephen Lamb, California
Pam Rogers, Indiana
El Dorado Beekeepers, California
Bill Mares, Vermont
Mike Stoops
Adam Bagerski, Oregon
Dorothy Hammett
Janine Cohen, California
Neil Nordquist, California
Richard Hyde, California
Bonnie Bee & Co., California
Merrimack Valley Beekeepers Association, New Hampshire
Laura Risk, Colorado
Capital Area Beekeepers Association, Pennsylvania
West Sound Beekeepers Association, Washington
Beekeepers’ Guild San Mateo, California
Omaha Bee Club, Nebraska
Joplin Area Beekeepers Association
Steve Sweet, Idaho
Bill’s Bees
Rich Blohm, New York
James Baerwald
Kip Glass, Missouri
Charles Vorisek
Carlos Perez, California
Debra Morey
Margaret Varney
Chester County Beekeepers Association, Pennsylvania
Thomas Dahl
Vince Aloyo, Pennsylvania
Charles Bureau
Help Save the Bees Foundation, Nevada
Aaron Bergman, Florida
Alan Herzfeld, Idaho
Eli’s Bees, California
Ghislain De Roeck, Belgium
Buncombe County Beekeepers, North Carolina
Robert Holcombe, Rhode Island
Alex Naumenko, Florida
Honey Bee Club of Stillwater, Minnesota
New Hampshire Beekeepers Association
Merrimack Valley Beekeepers, New Hampshire
Blossomwood Honey, Al
Bee Thankful Raw Honey
Skip Smith
Jean Knudsen
Jason Hough, Maryland
Tualatin Valley Beekeepers, Oregon
Craig Falls, New York
Michael Aaby, Maryland
Keith Scott
Randall Carter, Alabama
Thomas Kirwan
Nicolas Geant, California
Lee Bussy
Jean Knudsen
Andrew Dewey, Maine
Jason Wester, MIchigan
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