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Can resistant colonies give a good crop?

Strong Varroa resistant bee colonies Some suggest that one important trait for varroa resistance is smaller brood nest and less brood rearing. That may be so for some stock resulting in lower growth rate of varroa mites. It’s also resulting

Erik October 19, 2021 Disease resistance, Elgon, Featured, Treatment free, Varroa resistance, Virus Read more

Help for varroa resistance

Help for varroa resistance

Resistance against intruders One of my bee colonies (Elgon, combinationof Buckfast and Monticola) started to superseed their queen, but the new queen evidently got lost. The colony ended up with egg-laying workers. I discovered that in August. It had several

Erik August 29, 2021August 29, 2021 Breeding, Cellsize, Disease resistance, Elgon, Enemies, Featured Read more

Right time for monitoring varroa in spring

Right time for monitoring varroa in spring

Spring cleaning of varroa The most important time for monitoring the varroa levelis in spring. (Other times can also be important!) Last year I realized that the varroa level can differ quite a lot for the same colony just a week

Erik May 26, 2021May 26, 2021 Featured, Varroa level, Varroa resistance Read more

The road to varroa resistant bees

The road to varroa resistant bees

The local bee club in the small town of Hallsberg on 59°N 15°E invites to a meeting on breeding varroa resistant bees. Saturday Oct 24 at 10 am – 14 pm. Venue Garveriet, Bra & Begagnat in Hallsberg. WGS 84

Erik September 6, 2020September 7, 2020 Breeding, Buckfast, Cellsize, Featured, Microbiom, Treatment free, Varroa reinvasion, Varroa resistance, Virus Read more

Cooperation in the Elgon area

Cooperation in the Elgon area

Some years ago, varroa resistance had risen noticeably on my Elgon bees. Then I started to give away some breeder queens to the neighboring beekeepers. And they promised to graft from them to make new queens. In particular, Stig-Åke Gerdvall

Erik November 17, 2018May 25, 2020 Breeding, Elgon, Featured, Feral bees, Microbiom, Treatment free, Varroa level, Varroa reinvasion, Varroa resistance Read more

Darwinian beekeeping, cell size and fitness

Darwinian beekeeping, cell size and fitness

I respect and appreciate Tom Seeley and consider him a friend. He coined the expression Darwinian beekeeping. He has given us deeper understanding of the natural bee colony. But I don’t understand an expression of his in one of his

Erik September 26, 2018 Cellsize, Disease resistance, Featured, Feral bees Read more

The robber screen prevents reinvasion of Varroa mites

The robber screen prevents reinvasion of Varroa mites

Sibylle Kempf from Germany gives her thoughts about the use of robber screens when helping the bees to develop Varroa resistance. The apiary above where the hives are very close to each other is not one of hers. (If you

Erik February 13, 2018February 14, 2018 Featured, Management, Varroa reinvasion Read more

Resistance traits – VSH, VSHD, Grooming and more

Resistance traits – VSH, VSHD, Grooming and more

Sometimes, the term VSH is used as meaning the same thing as varroa resistance. I think it’s helpful to clarify what VSH is. It is one of several resistance characteristics that affect the bees’ resistance to the Varroa mite. VSH

Erik January 11, 2018January 11, 2018 Cellsize, Featured, Varroa resistance, Virus, VSH Read more

1500 Varroa Treatment Free

1500 Varroa Treatment Free

  South Dakota is Buffalo and Indian land in the northern part of the Midwest. I talked to Chris Baldwin some time ago. He is a commercial beekeeper running about 1500 bee colonies. In summer his bees are closer to his

Erik March 1, 2017March 24, 2017 Breeding, Featured, Management, Pollination, Treatment free, Varroa resistance Read more

Struggles for the survival of honey bees

Struggles for the survival of honey bees

SB is a relatively new and dedicated beekeeper in southern Germany. She is interested in different kinds of bees and their place in the ecological system. I asked her to tell her story and her struggles helping her bees to

Erik June 6, 2016 Breeding, Cellsize, Featured, Nature and man, Treatment free, Varroa resistance Read more
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