Research Updates
A Test of Using Synthetic Pheromones to Initiate Midwinter Broodrearing
Research Note A Test of Using Synthetic Pheromones to Initiate Midwinter Broodrearing Randy Oliver ScientificBeekeeping.com First published in ABJ July 2010 Objective: to determine if the addition of either ethyl oleate (EO) or synthetic brood pheromone (BP) to colonies prior to the winter solstice would stimulate broodrearing, with the potential practical application towards producing stronger...
The Bee Convention Circuit 2009
The Bee Convention Circuit 2009 Randy Oliver Scientificbeekeeping.com First Published in ABJ in March 2009 Winter brings us beekeeper conventions, both at the state and national levels. Conventions present scientists the opportunity to present their current research, marketers of new products to make their pitches, and for beekeepers to share their practical experiences. The...
Tips for Citizen Scientists
Tips for Designing Bee Research Projects Beekeepers are known for being of curious and experimental minds. Since factors affecting beekeeping are continually changing, new unanswered questions are bound to arise; the beekeeper “citizen scientist” can often answer them himself by performing a well-designed experiment, and then share those results to the benefit of everyone. But...
Suggested protocol to determine amount of mite immigration
Suggested protocol to determine amount of mite immigration Credit to Eva Frey for coming up with this protocol: Frey E, Rosenkranz P. Autumn invasion rates of Varroa destructor (mesostigmata: Varroidae) into honey bee (hymenoptera: Apidae) colonies and the resulting increase in mite populations. J Econ Entomol. 2014:107(2):508–515. https://doi.org/10.1603/ec13381 Frey E, Schnell H, Rosenkranz P. Invasion...
Refining the Mite Wash: Part 2 – Mite Release
Refining the Mite Wash- Part 2 Mite Release Randy Oliver ScientificBeekeeping.com First Published in ABJ in August 2020 The high efficacy of hand dishwashing detergent at getting mites to release their grip on bees bestirred me to investigate this finding more deeply. What I’ve come to realize is that there are four steps involved between...
Walking the Walk Selective Breeding for Mite Resistance; 2022 Update, Part 1
Contents Resistance vs. Tolerance or “Survival” 1 Managed apiaries vs. natural evolution. 2 Background. 3 The necessity of Mechanical Agitators 3 The resistant colonies 6 So what’s our progress so far?. 10 A built-in lag inherent in open mating programs 13 Exhibit A: Mite-count tracking for our 2022 breeders 14 Coming. 16 References. 16 ...
Testing Cotton Matrices for OAE
Contents The Fabrics to Test Preparation A Field Trial Results Discussion TESTING COTTON MATRICES FOR OAE Randy Oliver ScientificBeekeeping.com First published in ABJ January 2023 I continue to look for improved methods for application of extended-release oxalic acid (OAE), and thought that perhaps there might be an inexpensive, fully biodegradable all-cotton fabric that...
A Study on Bee and Mite Drift: Part 2
Contents Questions to Answer 1 Materials and Methods 2 Placement of the hives 2 Preparation of the Mite Donor Colonies. 3 Tagging the bees 3 The Control Group. 7 Preparation of the Mite Receiver Hives 7 Eliminating the mites. 7 Magnetic tag recovery. 9 The stickyboards. 10 The hive scales. 10 Layout of the Donor...
A Study on Bee Drift and Mite Immigration: Part 3
Contents The Donor Colonies 1 Tagging. 1 Results and Discussion. 2 Did the Tagged Bees Behave Normally?. 2 Progress of the Colonies. 4 Answering our Questions 4 Observations from the Donor Hives. 5 Correlation With Varroa Infestation. 6 Tag Recovery by Date. 8 Timelines of Recovery of Drifted Bees 9 Relevance to Mite Immigration. 10...
A Study on Bee Drift and Mite Immigration: Part 4
Contents Distance that Worker Bees will Drift 1 Effect of Distance upon Bee Drift 4 Hive-to-Hive Variation in Captured Tags 7 Validating our Methodology. 8 Mite Immigration: Results of the Stickyboard Counts. 10 Cumulative Mite Immigration. 11 Next Month. 12 Acknowledgements. 13 Citations and Notes 13 A Study on Bee and Mite Drift:...
Drones and Varroa: Part 1
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 ...
Drones and Varroa: Part 2
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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