For as long as can be remembered, mites have been a threat to honeybees and their colonies, and these mites include the parasitic Tropilaelaps mercedesae. Research recently published in GigaScience has revealed the genome of the T. mercedesae has been greatly affected by its interaction with honeybees. The research was done by a team at…
It’s a well known fact that horses can be easily startled. One ranch horse named Gunner, after being startled by a pair of bunnies, kicked into a guardrail and tore his hind leg to the bone. Gunner’s veterinarian, Andrea Arbuckle, began to look for ways to help treat the horse’s wound safely. “In the process…
In an effort to give bees the space they need to roam and gather pollen, Cedar Rapids, Iowa is setting aside 1,000 acres of land. During this spring season, at least 188 acres are being seeded with native prairie grasses and wildflower plants, which should prevent invasive weeds while nourishing pollinators. The project has secured…
It’s well known that honeybee and other bee populations are decreasing globally and alarmingly quick. Because of the possibility of bee extinction, while very far off, is a possibility nonetheless, researchers from the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in Japan are developing pollinating drones since human beings rely heavily on bees…
A company based in Western Australia aims to harness a strong global demand by developing a “Manuka Province” in the southwest area of the state, something that can effectively compete against New Zealand’s global honey industry. The company has chosen the Yarloop area, which was devastated by a bushfire a year prior, as its choice…
Frank Drummond, professor at the University of Maine, is the last person known to have held a Maine-originated rusty patched bumblebee. Drummond, who admits to being foggy on the details, believes it was around summer 2009 when he found the bee. During that time, he and his students were busy collecting specimens in Stockton Springs.…
If you’re the type who likes to cook for their significant other on Valentine’s Day, this decadent meal offers a savory taste that’s almost as sweet as dessert thanks to the ever-reliable Manuka honey. This homemade pasta with lemon, herbs, and Manuka honey may sound like too much of a challenge, but making your own…
Research into recent hot weather in Queensland and New South Wales, Australia is showing that the weather could lead to far more pest problems for apiarists than originally thought. Dr. Diana Leemon, Queensland’s Department of Agriculture, suggests beekeepers should keep an eye out for the small hive beetle (SHB). These tiny pests could reduce honey…
For those that enjoy sweets but want to stay true to an all-natural product the best option is honey but not just anything that you can buy off the store shelves but rather a truly unique and tasty product that exceeds all expectations. Raw Manuka honey comes directly from New Zealand beekeepers that spend their…
A recent study by a global agrochemical company, which concluded there was only a low risk to honeybees from the widely used popular pesticides neonicotinoids, has been called “misleading” in new research published by statisticians from Scotland’s University of St. Andrews. Neonicotinoids, also called neonics, may be implicated in honeybee losses and that of other…
Down in New Zealand, the home of Manuka honey, poor Manuka nectar flow is expected to result in a 70-80 percent drop this season in Manuka honey production across the country. “Indications so far are there will be a considerable drop in supply,” says Ben Stewart, manager of Gisborne’s First Light Honey processing and packing…
Honeybees have been serving as pollinators for millennia, and today they support a multi-billion dollar agriculture industry. However, honeybee health has never been more precarious. Misuse of pesticides, pests within the hive, and climate change are among the threats they face. Most honeybee populations in the U.S. and Europe are showing signs of stress—that is,…
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) acknowledged that three of the nation’s most popular neonicotinoid pesticides pose risks to commercial honeybees. However, in a recent second decision, the agency refused to restrict the use of any deadly pesticides despite evidence of their harm to pollinators. The EPA analysis indicated that honeybees can be harmed by…
A chemical that has widely been considered safe and used on various crops has been discovered to make honeybees susceptible to a deadly virus, as per researchers at Penn State and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “In the lab, we found that the commonly used organosilicone adjuvant, Sylgard 309, negatively impacts the health of honeybee…
Pennsylvania honeybees are experiencing trouble as hives begin to deplete. “Statewide, we are holding our own, but we have to replace our bees frequently,” said Charlie Vorisek, president of the Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Association (PSBA) from 2012 to 2016. “We probably bring in over $1 million worth of honeybees from the south every spring to…
Douglas Johnson, a beekeeper from Northeast Washington, taught locals in Ghana about beekeeping. Johnson works as a facilitator with Steele Apiaries, which is a commercial beekeeping organization in Idaho, and his job is to assure the safety of the yards. There are 25 bee yards that contain around 600 total colonies. In return for his…
Get the best Manuka honey on the market at exceptionally affordable prices from a great online resource, where you can read all about the many benefits of this all-natural product. You’ve likely seen Manuka honey advertised, whether on television, on the internet, in a magazine, or somewhere else. This honey is well-known around the world…
Safety tests submitted to European regulators by chemical companies will be revealed soon and could have a major impact on the debate around the number of global bee deaths. The decision has been hailed by environmental groups, which have insisted on transparency relating to how pesticides are regulated. Neonicotinoid pesticides, including those manufactured by Bayer…
Honeybee broods, the hive’s larvae and pupae, have great potential as a food source in the future. In many countries, such as Mexico, Thailand, and Australia, bee brood is eaten as a delicacy. According to those who have tried this unusual food source, the dish has a nutty flavor and a crunchy texture. Often, honeybee…
Filmmaker Renan Ozturk traveled into the Nepalese jungle to follow a group of climbers who harvest honey while hanging from cliffs 300 feet off the ground and “being attack by bees.” Ozturk is an expedition climber, landscape artist, and also a described “adventure filmmaker.” A member of the North Face athlete team, Ozturk travels around…
According to Dr. Anna O’Brien, a veterinarian, a study was conducted at the University of Glasglow, and it led researchers to the conclusion that various types of honey have antimicrobial properties that could help inhibit the growth of bacteria often found in horse leg wounds. Also, another Glasglow study claims to have discovered agents in honey…
Light therapy may offer protection to honeybees that have been exposed to neonicotinoid pesticides, according to new research from University College London. In a recent study, UCL scientists studied the effects of light therapy and pesticides on commercial honeybee hives. Two out of the four studied hives were exposed to neonicotinoid pesticides for 10 days.…
The holidays is the one time of year where baking and creating delectable sweets is at an all-time high throughout the year. Everyone is busy making apple pies, custards, cookies and many other delicious desserts for the various parties and get-togethers that happen over the span of a couple of months. In order to make…
Heavy rains in South Australia are delaying plants from blossoming and leaving beekeepers without honey. The rainfall seems to be slowing down production, especially in Adelaide Hills. It is ironic considering lack of rain and dry seasons are usually the greatest concern with most farms, as a proper balance of rainfall and dryness being an essential…
In Doubtless Bay, New Zealand, at least tens of thousands of bees or 300 hives were killed. The owners of Daykel Apiaries and the lost hives believe the cause of death may have been poisoning. So far, no one knows what happened to the bees, but many believe the deaths were a form of sabotage…
The honeybee’s cousins are gaining more attention this week due to new research from the University of California Riverside. Wild bee species are quickly becoming more important to the pollination and honey-making process due to the growing increase in colony collapse disorder (CCD), which is negatively affecting millions of honeybees all over the world. Bearing…
If beekeepers are looking to have healthier colonies this year and many more to come, a new study out of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln suggests they put pesticides down—or at least the highly popular classes of nicotine-based pesticides that hold great similarities to neonicotinoid pesticides, which have largely come under scrutiny in recent years. According to this…
For those of us who grew up with images of animated bears obsessed with honey and acquiring more of it (Winnie the Pooh, of course), we’ve learned to associate the image of bears and honey with the ideal picture of cuteness and adoration. While this image is reminiscent of our childhood days, when the situation…
By January 2017, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will begin requiring beekeepers who need antibiotics to treat their hives—which can be up to thousands—to have them treated by a veterinarian, rather than beekeepers simply buying antibiotics over the counter. “Beekeepers are going to need a veterinarian now,” said Don Hoenig, a former Maine veterinarian.…
Most have heard that within nature, animals can form symbiotic relationships with other animals, plant life, and so forth, with some being commensal, mutualistic, or parasitic. In northern Mozambique, a southern African country across the channel from Madagascar, the village of Mbamba and its surrounding plains is the home to a mutualistic relationship many believed…
It’s unfortunately become common to hear about theft of beehives not only in the states, but especially in New Zealand, where Manuka honey is produced thanks to the ever-present Manuka bush. Being a successful industry, Manuka honey has encouraged many to take the easy route by stealing beehives in the middle of the night. During…
In recent months, there have been legislative efforts in various US states to place restrictions on pesticides (specifically neonicotinoids) that are believed by some experts to be harmful to honeybees and other pollinators. Maryland in particular has led the charge by its General Assembly passing the first statewide consumer restriction on neonicotinoids earlier this year,…
No matter your drink preference, it’s hard to deny that whiskey has grown in popularity in recent years or even decades, from micro-distilling, experimental grains, a revived cocktail culture, and an all-around growing appreciation of the brown spirit. Such facts can be said about US whiskeys as wells as that of Australia and New Zealand…
In the United States, there have already been some efforts to place limits on pesticides called neonicotinoids, which are believed to the have deadly effects on honeybees and other pollinators, with honeybees specifically having large declines in the last ten years due to a number of likely reasons that include neonicotinoids. Some states have passed…
The word ‘Honey’ typically generates thoughts of bees and natural sweet goodness on hot biscuits with warm tea served in the afternoon. However, this unique ingredient can also be used to sweeten your daily beauty routine to provide additional moisture to hair and face for amazing results. You want to ensure that you do the…
The impact the Manuka honey industry has made on New Zealand and the world is hard to believe, considering the Manuka bush was once thought of as some invasive species to be rid of back in the 1950s. It is now considered one of the most valuable niche products out there, with many rural communities…
How Food Irradiation Can Make Honey Safer Given the panic and fear that comes from botulism, salmonella, and other diseases born of contaminated food, many food producers and distributors have had safety precautions put in place to protect themselves from lawsuits and the public from these diseases, whether it’s by pasteurizing milk, purifying water, and…
We all likely watched episodes of old black-and-white TV shows, and if the series featured a traditional family in a suburb where nothing burned, no one had bathrooms, and generally nothing bad ever happened—more often than not, if the series ever featured firemen, they were not putting out fires but rescuing cats stuck in trees.…
It’s hard to not get nervous whenever coming upon a honeybee hive in the woods or in the backyard. Given honeybees’ ability to protect themselves with their best defense mechanism (that painful stinger), your first reaction would understandably be to assume they are the aggressive stuff of nightmares and to run the away, which as…
We all have our favorite foods, but Michael Geraghty, the Irish body coach and fitness guru who’s made a splash on social media in recent months, has reminded us of the distinction between regular food and superfood, which is a marketing term for foods with supposed health benefits. As someone with a strong take on…
