The Apiarist
@theapiarist.org
I used to be a scientist and a beekeeper, but now I'm just a beekeeper who writes (and talks) ... about bees and science. I promote local bees and honey, and responsible, sustainable beekeeping.
https://theapiarist.org
https://theapiarist.org
[New post for sponsors] Thoughts on exploiting midseason brood breaks (partial or complete) to control mites, so avoiding the need for a late summer treatment. Opportunities for those after late season nectars (heather, balsam) and/or wanting to avoid hard chemicals.
theapiarist.org/midseason-mi...
theapiarist.org/midseason-mi...
Midseason miticide musings - part 1
Strategies to exploit midseason partial or complete brood breaks to control mites without needing to also treat in late summer. These may offer advantages to those keen to abandon 'hard' chemicals,…
theapiarist.org
November 8, 2025 at 10:02 AM
[New post for sponsors] Thoughts on exploiting midseason brood breaks (partial or complete) to control mites, so avoiding the need for a late summer treatment. Opportunities for those after late season nectars (heather, balsam) and/or wanting to avoid hard chemicals.
theapiarist.org/midseason-mi...
theapiarist.org/midseason-mi...
Sloppy journalism in @the-independent.com, mixing Asian giant hornets and Yellow legged hornets (which used to be termed Asian hornets). The latter are in the UK, the former (fortunately) not.
www.independent.co.uk/asia/southea...
#notbeekeeping #pedantry
www.independent.co.uk/asia/southea...
#notbeekeeping #pedantry
Father and son killed by swarm of hornets while ziplining in Laos
Daniel Owen, 47, and his 15-year-old son Cooper, died just hours after they were taken to hospital
www.independent.co.uk
November 5, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Sloppy journalism in @the-independent.com, mixing Asian giant hornets and Yellow legged hornets (which used to be termed Asian hornets). The latter are in the UK, the former (fortunately) not.
www.independent.co.uk/asia/southea...
#notbeekeeping #pedantry
www.independent.co.uk/asia/southea...
#notbeekeeping #pedantry
[New post] The tedium of jarring & labelling honey gives me time to think. I ponder how to safely store and carry lots of heavy jars, or label them informatively for customers, or where the bees foraged to collect all that nectar in the first place.
theapiarist.org/idle-thought...
#beekeeping
theapiarist.org/idle-thought...
#beekeeping
Idle thoughts and busy foragers
The tedium of jarring and labelling honey gives me time to think about other things. I ponder how to safely store and carry lots of heavy jars, or label them informatively for customers, or where the…
theapiarist.org
November 2, 2025 at 10:02 AM
[New post] The tedium of jarring & labelling honey gives me time to think. I ponder how to safely store and carry lots of heavy jars, or label them informatively for customers, or where the bees foraged to collect all that nectar in the first place.
theapiarist.org/idle-thought...
#beekeeping
theapiarist.org/idle-thought...
#beekeeping
Reposted by The Apiarist
Interesting new paper on supersedure and the role of virus infections in suppressing pheromone production.
DWV and BQCV both reduce methyl oleate production. Lots of graphs and lipidomic analysis (😱) so I'll try to write a more digestible account in a future […]
[Original post on theapiarist.org]
DWV and BQCV both reduce methyl oleate production. Lots of graphs and lipidomic analysis (😱) so I'll try to write a more digestible account in a future […]
[Original post on theapiarist.org]
October 28, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Interesting new paper on supersedure and the role of virus infections in suppressing pheromone production.
DWV and BQCV both reduce methyl oleate production. Lots of graphs and lipidomic analysis (😱) so I'll try to write a more digestible account in a future […]
[Original post on theapiarist.org]
DWV and BQCV both reduce methyl oleate production. Lots of graphs and lipidomic analysis (😱) so I'll try to write a more digestible account in a future […]
[Original post on theapiarist.org]
[New post] Some beekeeping chores are best done in the cooler temperatures of autumn — rationalising frames, defeating wax moths and preparing soft set honey — before the onset of winter.
theapiarist.org/autumn-chores/
#beekeeping
theapiarist.org/autumn-chores/
#beekeeping
Autumn chores
The beekeeping season might be over, but the beekeeping chores never stop. Some are best done in the cooler temperatures of autumn — rationalising frames, defeating wax moths and preparing soft set…
theapiarist.org
October 27, 2025 at 10:02 AM
[New post] Some beekeeping chores are best done in the cooler temperatures of autumn — rationalising frames, defeating wax moths and preparing soft set honey — before the onset of winter.
theapiarist.org/autumn-chores/
#beekeeping
theapiarist.org/autumn-chores/
#beekeeping
[New post for sponsors] Discussion of the Varroa treatment (Norroa/vadescana) that has recently been licensed. How does it work, and — as it doesn't kill mites — is it likely to be useful? Plus toxicity for werewolves in one of the many footnotes 😉.
theapiarist.org/norroa-a-sil...
#beekeeping
theapiarist.org/norroa-a-sil...
#beekeeping
Norroa™️ : a silver bullet or costly non-essential?
Vadescana (marketed as Norroa™️) is a radically different new mite treatment. How does it work? How well does it work? Is it the silver bullet that 'solves' the problem of Varroa, or is it misnamed…
theapiarist.org
October 18, 2025 at 9:02 AM
[New post for sponsors] Discussion of the Varroa treatment (Norroa/vadescana) that has recently been licensed. How does it work, and — as it doesn't kill mites — is it likely to be useful? Plus toxicity for werewolves in one of the many footnotes 😉.
theapiarist.org/norroa-a-sil...
#beekeeping
theapiarist.org/norroa-a-sil...
#beekeeping
[New post] How much water does a colony need, which bees collect it, and where do they collect it from? As the climate changes, how can you ensure your bees have access to enough water?
All that … and a shockingly bad title.
theapiarist.org/temperatures...
#beekeeping
All that … and a shockingly bad title.
theapiarist.org/temperatures...
#beekeeping
Temperatures high and l'eau
Water is essential for colony survival, particularly when temperatures are high. How much water does a colony need, which bees collect it, and where do they collect it from? As the climate changes,…
theapiarist.org
October 11, 2025 at 9:02 AM
[New post] How much water does a colony need, which bees collect it, and where do they collect it from? As the climate changes, how can you ensure your bees have access to enough water?
All that … and a shockingly bad title.
theapiarist.org/temperatures...
#beekeeping
All that … and a shockingly bad title.
theapiarist.org/temperatures...
#beekeeping
[New post (well, it was on Friday 😉 )] Autumn is here, so time for some comparisons of fondant and reflections on 'local' beekeeping.
theapiarist.org/mists-and-me...
#beekeeping
theapiarist.org/mists-and-me...
#beekeeping
Mists and mellow fruitfulness
Autumn is here. Time for some final pre-winter hive management, comparisons of baker's and beekeeper's fondant, the impact of 'local' on beekeeping, unusual sightings in the apiary and heather honey…
theapiarist.org
October 8, 2025 at 9:02 AM
[New post (well, it was on Friday 😉 )] Autumn is here, so time for some comparisons of fondant and reflections on 'local' beekeeping.
theapiarist.org/mists-and-me...
#beekeeping
theapiarist.org/mists-and-me...
#beekeeping
Reposted by The Apiarist
(Honey bee) Waggle dance followers expect landscape features as well as distance/vector information. I wonder if it's the optic flow rate/regularity that they 'match' to ensure the distance travelled is correct? More amazing insights into the language of bees […]
Original post on theapiarist.org
theapiarist.org
September 30, 2025 at 7:34 AM
(Honey bee) Waggle dance followers expect landscape features as well as distance/vector information. I wonder if it's the optic flow rate/regularity that they 'match' to ensure the distance travelled is correct? More amazing insights into the language of bees […]
[New post for sponsors] Repeated oxalic acid vaporisation. How do dose, frequency and duration determine whether the treatment works? And why current approved methods — if they exist — do not work.
theapiarist.org/repeated-oxa...
#beekeeping
theapiarist.org/repeated-oxa...
#beekeeping
Please, sir, I want some more
Repeated oxalic acid vaporisation is often recommended without discussion of the related importance of dose and application frequency. The method works … if you use enough OA, at appropriate…
theapiarist.org
September 27, 2025 at 9:02 AM
[New post for sponsors] Repeated oxalic acid vaporisation. How do dose, frequency and duration determine whether the treatment works? And why current approved methods — if they exist — do not work.
theapiarist.org/repeated-oxa...
#beekeeping
theapiarist.org/repeated-oxa...
#beekeeping
[New post] Sugar, sugar … as well as being an ineffective way of controlling Varroa mites, an icing sugar shake for mite counts reduces survival of the exposed bees. Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind …
theapiarist.org/being-cruel-...
#beekeeping
theapiarist.org/being-cruel-...
#beekeeping
Being cruel to be kind
Sugar shake or dusting is promoted as a good way to dislodge mites for counting or Varroa control. However, recent evidence suggests it reduces the survival of exposed bees, which raises some…
theapiarist.org
September 20, 2025 at 9:02 AM
[New post] Sugar, sugar … as well as being an ineffective way of controlling Varroa mites, an icing sugar shake for mite counts reduces survival of the exposed bees. Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind …
theapiarist.org/being-cruel-...
#beekeeping
theapiarist.org/being-cruel-...
#beekeeping
[New post] Apivar advice … positioning and repositioning the strips, wax solubility, re-using comb, and the detection and avoidance of resistance.
theapiarist.org/apivar-advice/
#beekeeping
theapiarist.org/apivar-advice/
#beekeeping
Apivar advice
Used properly, Apivar is an excellent miticide. How and why do you position and reposition the strips in the hive? How long do you treat for, and how do you detect and avoid resistance? Don't expect…
theapiarist.org
September 16, 2025 at 9:02 AM
[New post] Apivar advice … positioning and repositioning the strips, wax solubility, re-using comb, and the detection and avoidance of resistance.
theapiarist.org/apivar-advice/
#beekeeping
theapiarist.org/apivar-advice/
#beekeeping
[New post for sponsors] Abductive reasoning, the law of parsimony, and Occam's Razor … all useful tools to help solve beekeeping puzzles. If the solution involves lots of assumptions, it's probably wrong.
theapiarist.org/occams-razor...
#beekeeping
theapiarist.org/occams-razor...
#beekeeping
Occam's Razor and beekeeping
Most beekeeping puzzles can be solved with some careful thought, good hive records, and a basic understanding of honey bee biology. If the solution makes lots of assumptions, it's probably wrong.
theapiarist.org
September 6, 2025 at 9:02 AM
[New post for sponsors] Abductive reasoning, the law of parsimony, and Occam's Razor … all useful tools to help solve beekeeping puzzles. If the solution involves lots of assumptions, it's probably wrong.
theapiarist.org/occams-razor...
#beekeeping
theapiarist.org/occams-razor...
#beekeeping
[New post] Don't rush. Take your time. The memories from these last few weeks of the beekeeping season will have to last you until early next spring.
theapiarist.org/bittersweet-...
Follow me on @social.theapiarist.org.ap.brid.gy to get new post announcements automagically
#beekeeping
theapiarist.org/bittersweet-...
Follow me on @social.theapiarist.org.ap.brid.gy to get new post announcements automagically
#beekeeping
Bittersweet memories
Enjoy the sights, sounds and smells from the last of your beekeeping this season. There's still much to do, but it's going to be a long time until you can work with the bees again, so make time to…
theapiarist.org
August 30, 2025 at 9:02 AM
[New post] Don't rush. Take your time. The memories from these last few weeks of the beekeeping season will have to last you until early next spring.
theapiarist.org/bittersweet-...
Follow me on @social.theapiarist.org.ap.brid.gy to get new post announcements automagically
#beekeeping
theapiarist.org/bittersweet-...
Follow me on @social.theapiarist.org.ap.brid.gy to get new post announcements automagically
#beekeeping
Reposted by The Apiarist
Moving hives in the gloaming last night., the apiaries full of the sounds and smells of honey being ripened. Wonderful, but a sure sign that the season is almost over.
#beekeeping #honey #notenoughofeither
#beekeeping #honey #notenoughofeither
August 26, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Moving hives in the gloaming last night., the apiaries full of the sounds and smells of honey being ripened. Wonderful, but a sure sign that the season is almost over.
#beekeeping #honey #notenoughofeither
#beekeeping #honey #notenoughofeither
[New post] Here's something I made earlier 😉. 3D printing for beekeeping enables you to make things that are better (and cheaper) than can be bought. This is an introduction to the technology, and example of some things you can make.
theapiarist.org/3d-printing-...
#beekeeping #3Dprinting #3Dprint
theapiarist.org/3d-printing-...
#beekeeping #3Dprinting #3Dprint
3D printing for beekeeping - part 1
Using 3D printing you can inexpensively produce items for your bees and beekeeping that are useful, and either unavailable elsewhere or costly. Here is an introduction to the technology, and a guide…
theapiarist.org
August 23, 2025 at 9:02 AM
[New post] Here's something I made earlier 😉. 3D printing for beekeeping enables you to make things that are better (and cheaper) than can be bought. This is an introduction to the technology, and example of some things you can make.
theapiarist.org/3d-printing-...
#beekeeping #3Dprinting #3Dprint
theapiarist.org/3d-printing-...
#beekeeping #3Dprinting #3Dprint
Reposted by The Apiarist
Aínda se poden ver as colmeas tradicionais (cortizos, trobos ou covos) en áreas rurais. Esta clase de colmeas fixistas foi a predominante en Galicia ata a década de 1980 #historiaagraria #apicultura #beekeeping #mel #abellas #patrimonio theconversation.com/asi-se-han-m...
Así se han modernizado las colmenas empleadas en apicultura durante los últimos siglos
Las colmenas que observamos mayoritariamente hoy en día son muy diferentes de las que predominaban a finales del siglo XIX.
theconversation.com
August 19, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Aínda se poden ver as colmeas tradicionais (cortizos, trobos ou covos) en áreas rurais. Esta clase de colmeas fixistas foi a predominante en Galicia ata a década de 1980 #historiaagraria #apicultura #beekeeping #mel #abellas #patrimonio theconversation.com/asi-se-han-m...
New post announcements appear automagically on ActivityPub, and only here if I remember 😉.
[New post] Brinkmanship and risk management
theapiarist.org/brinkmanship...
Why taking risks is sometimes worth it …
#beekeeping
[New post] Brinkmanship and risk management
theapiarist.org/brinkmanship...
Why taking risks is sometimes worth it …
#beekeeping
Brinkmanship and risk management
Strong colonies are much more productive, easier to manage and survive better. Maintaining them means risking the loss of a swarm, which requires risk management. This and other beekeeping risks are…
theapiarist.org
August 18, 2025 at 9:04 AM
New post announcements appear automagically on ActivityPub, and only here if I remember 😉.
[New post] Brinkmanship and risk management
theapiarist.org/brinkmanship...
Why taking risks is sometimes worth it …
#beekeeping
[New post] Brinkmanship and risk management
theapiarist.org/brinkmanship...
Why taking risks is sometimes worth it …
#beekeeping
A reminder (and a nice picture of hives at the heather) that new post and other announcements will be from @social.theapiarist.org.ap.brid.gy … assuming I'll forget to repost them, it might be wise to follow me there as well 😉.
I'm not sure which was more enjoyable … adding a second super to my hives at the heather, or watching a local peregrine falcon 'jousting' overhead with the ravens for 15 minutes. An idyllic spot 😄.
August 16, 2025 at 9:15 PM
A reminder (and a nice picture of hives at the heather) that new post and other announcements will be from @social.theapiarist.org.ap.brid.gy … assuming I'll forget to repost them, it might be wise to follow me there as well 😉.
A reminder that my website now 'speaks' ActivityPub and can be followed directly at @social.theapiarist.org.ap.brid.gy … I'll repost when I remember 😉. Here's some YLH news …
The National Parks and Wildlife Service yesterday confirmed the sighting and subsequent capture of a Yellow legged 'Asian' hornet in Cork, Ireland (https://www.npws.ie/news/government-response-underway-following-confirmed-sighting-asian-hornet). This is not the first time Vespa velutina has been […]
Original post on theapiarist.org
theapiarist.org
August 14, 2025 at 11:56 AM
A reminder that my website now 'speaks' ActivityPub and can be followed directly at @social.theapiarist.org.ap.brid.gy … I'll repost when I remember 😉. Here's some YLH news …
My @ghost.org software includes ActivityPub interaction which means I can post to Bluesky directly … but you have to follow me on the instantly unmemorable handle @social.theapiarist.org.ap.brid.gy. I'll repost some things, but please follow me there directly 😄👍. Thank you
I've spent 15+ years making frames using shonky gimp pins … it's taken until today to discover how much better quality the Challenge brand nails are. Uniform, black japanned, very sharp, and not in the slightest bit shonky! Twice (or more) the price, but […]
[Original post on theapiarist.org]
[Original post on theapiarist.org]
August 11, 2025 at 10:53 PM
My @ghost.org software includes ActivityPub interaction which means I can post to Bluesky directly … but you have to follow me on the instantly unmemorable handle @social.theapiarist.org.ap.brid.gy. I'll repost some things, but please follow me there directly 😄👍. Thank you
[New post for sponsors] Winter preparations should start during late-summer colony checks. With thorough preparation, the right colonies, low levels of pathogens and ample stores, losses should be very low, giving the bees a flying start the following spring.
theapiarist.org/preparing-fo...
theapiarist.org/preparing-fo...
Preparing for winter
Winter preparations should start during late-summer colony checks. With thorough preparation, the right colonies, low levels of pathogens and ample stores, losses should be very low, giving you — and…
theapiarist.org
August 9, 2025 at 9:02 AM
[New post for sponsors] Winter preparations should start during late-summer colony checks. With thorough preparation, the right colonies, low levels of pathogens and ample stores, losses should be very low, giving the bees a flying start the following spring.
theapiarist.org/preparing-fo...
theapiarist.org/preparing-fo...
[New post] Provisional observations on a free-living colony, the timing of the onset of swarming, and comments on a recent Citizen Science survey of free-living bees.
theapiarist.org/did-they-not...
#beekeeping #freelivingbees
theapiarist.org/did-they-not...
#beekeeping #freelivingbees
Did they not read Seeley?
Provisional observations on a free-living colony, the timing of the onset of swarming, and comments on the validity of a recent Citizen Science survey of free-living bees.
theapiarist.org
August 3, 2025 at 9:02 AM
[New post] Provisional observations on a free-living colony, the timing of the onset of swarming, and comments on a recent Citizen Science survey of free-living bees.
theapiarist.org/did-they-not...
#beekeeping #freelivingbees
theapiarist.org/did-they-not...
#beekeeping #freelivingbees
[New post for sponsors] The queen does not walk randomly around the brood comb. How might this explain why shook swarms (and recently hived swarms) do so well?
theapiarist.org/walk-this-way/
#beekeeping
theapiarist.org/walk-this-way/
#beekeeping
July 31, 2025 at 9:02 AM
[New post for sponsors] The queen does not walk randomly around the brood comb. How might this explain why shook swarms (and recently hived swarms) do so well?
theapiarist.org/walk-this-way/
#beekeeping
theapiarist.org/walk-this-way/
#beekeeping
[New post] Wasps shouldn't be a problem for strong hives, but can quickly overrun weak or unbalanced colonies. How to prevent wasps from becoming an issue, stop them accessing your hives, trap them, and find, and destroy, their nests.
theapiarist.org/waspageddon/
#waspkeeping #beekeeping
theapiarist.org/waspageddon/
#waspkeeping #beekeeping
Waspageddon
Wasps shouldn't be a problem for strong hives, but can quickly overrun weak or unbalanced colonies. How to prevent wasps from becoming an issue, stop them accessing your hives, trap them, and find,…
theapiarist.org
July 26, 2025 at 9:02 AM
[New post] Wasps shouldn't be a problem for strong hives, but can quickly overrun weak or unbalanced colonies. How to prevent wasps from becoming an issue, stop them accessing your hives, trap them, and find, and destroy, their nests.
theapiarist.org/waspageddon/
#waspkeeping #beekeeping
theapiarist.org/waspageddon/
#waspkeeping #beekeeping