Colony Collapse and Varroa, Plain Talk with Dr. David Peck (164)
Release Date: 02/01/2024
Plain Talk: Installing Tew Packages (230)
Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew takes listeners into the bee yard to share his experience installing two packages of bees. He discusses the realities of package season, including unexpected challenges like ants, and reflects on why starting with two colonies is often better than one. Jim compares two common package installation techniques: the fast “shake and dump” method and a slower, less disruptive approach where bees migrate into the hive on their own. He explains why he’s favoring the slower method this year and offers practical advice on preparing equipment, managing...
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Rosario Candelero: Student Bee Vet (229)
Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew welcomes special guests Rosario Candelero, a veterinary student at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and Jason Ferrell, a beekeeper and IT specialist. Together, they explore how beekeeping in Mexico differs from practices in the United States. Rosario shares insights from her veterinary training, where bee health is treated as part of veterinary medicine, not entomology. She describes common honey bee diseases in Mexico, including Varroa, American foulbrood, chalkbrood, and the rarer stonebrood. Jim and Rosario discuss how Mexican...
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Plain Talk: To Wire Frames or Not (228)
Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew revisits a seemingly simple question that sparked a surprisingly passionate response from readers and listeners alike: Do beekeepers still wire and embed their own wax foundation? After a passing remark in a recent article suggesting that the practice might be fading into history, Jim was met with a steady stream of replies from beekeepers who are very much keeping the tradition alive. Jim explores the reasons why many still choose to wire frames, reflecting on both the craftsmanship and the sense of satisfaction that come with building comb the...
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Plain Talk: The Evolution of Beekeeping (227)
Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, host Dr. Jim Tew takes listeners on a reflective and thought-provoking journey through the changing landscape of beekeeping practices over the decades. From his early experiences wiring frames and embedding wax foundation, to the rise of plastic components and convenience-driven innovations, Jim contrasts the hands-on craftsmanship of “traditional beekeeping” with the realities of modern hive management. Listeners will enjoy Jim’s personal anecdotes and insights as he explores what it meant—and what it now means—to be a “traditional”...
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Plain Talk: Thoughts on Queen Bees (226)
Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
In this reflective episode, Jim Tew shares an honest and personal conversation about queens—both the winged kind in the hive and the ones we buy in cages. Sitting among his thriving colonies, Jim weighs the pros and cons of letting bees raise their own queens versus introducing commercially produced ones. He explores the timing, risks, and costs of each approach and how personal priorities—like honey production, genetics, and even beekeeping stamina—factor into the decision. As spring builds, Jim considers the idea of walkaway splits, splitting strong colonies and letting the bees raise...
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Plain Talk: Exploring Bee Rooms (225)
Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
Have you ever heard of a bee room? In this episode, Jim Tew revisits a nearly forgotten practice of intentionally housing honey bee colonies inside homes—typically in attics or wall cabinets—during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Far from today’s observation hives or honey extraction rooms, these “bee rooms” featured free-hanging feral colonies living just above or beside the families who kept them. Jim shares vivid stories from his own experiences visiting these historical remnants with a former lab technician and reflects on how societal attitudes toward living with insects have...
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Plain Talk: A Bee Yard Stroll (224)
Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
Spring has finally arrived, and that means it’s time for a long-awaited bee yard visit! In this episode, Jim Tew heads out to check on his colonies after a tough winter. With a 30% winter loss, Jim reflects on the challenges of neglecting his hives for a couple of seasons and the surprising resilience of some colonies. From thriving survivor hives to weaker colonies barely hanging on, Jim evaluates their condition, anticipates potential swarms, and shares his thoughts on requeening, mite treatments, and colony splits. He also encounters deadouts being robbed—a natural, if ruthless, part of...
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Plain Talk: Tew Bee Tales (223)
Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
Beekeeping is full of unexpected moments—some hilarious, some humbling, and some downright painful. In this episode, Jim Tew takes a break from his usual beekeeping insights to share some of his most memorable stories from decades in the bee yard. These aren’t just stories; they’re lessons wrapped in humor and hindsight. From an ill-fated winter bee transport gone wrong to a bee finding its way up Jim’s nose (with disastrous results), these are the kinds of experiences that stick with a beekeeper for life. Ever wonder what happens when a bee disappears into someone’s ear? Jim’s got...
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Plain Talk: Mentoring Challenges (222)
Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
Every beekeeper starts somewhere, but how much guidance should an experienced beekeeper offer to a beginner? In this episode, host Jim Tew reflects on the challenges of mentoring new beekeepers and the lessons learned over decades of beekeeping. Jim shares a personal story about a new beekeeper looking to start hives alongside chickens and goats on his seven-acre property. He explores the delicate balance between providing essential advice and allowing new beekeepers to learn through experience—without overwhelming them with too much information too soon. From the rising costs of packages...
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Archive Special: Hive Finishes with Kim (221)
Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
In this special archive episode, Honey Bee Obscura revisits a classic conversation with the late Kim Flottum and host Jim Tew, as they explore the best ways to protect and extend the life of hive equipment. Whether you’re unpacking new woodenware or maintaining older boxes, the choices you make in finishing your equipment can have a lasting impact on your beekeeping operation. Kim and Jim discuss everything from traditional white latex paint to natural wood finishes, wax dipping, and even the controversial idea of painting the inside of hive boxes. They touch on the practicality of...
info_outlineIn today's episode, Jim is joined by Dr. David Peck, an expert in varroa mites, to delve into the critical issue of honey bee colony collapse linked to varroa infestation. This topic is different from Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), focusing instead on the impact of varroa mites and the diseases they introduce to both adult bees and larvae.
In today's episode, Jim is joined by Dr. David Peck, an expert in varroa mites, to delve into the critical issue of honey bee colony collapse linked to varroa infestation. This topic is different from Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), focusing instead on the impact of varroa mites and the diseases they introduce to both adult bees and larvae.The episode addresses a common frustration among beekeepers: the collapse of their strongest and most productive summer colonies. These hives, characterized by their daily activity, young queens, and abundant honey production, fall victim to the escalating varroa mite population. As the bee population increases over the summer, so does the number of varroa mites. This problem intensifies late summer and into fall, as the queen reduces her activity and 'winter bees' emerge in smaller and weaker numbers due to the overwhelming presence of varroa and the diseases they carry. By winter, these colonies are often too weakened to survive even the first cold spell, despite having ample honey reserves.
Complicating matters, these varroa-weakened colonies become targets for robbing, which facilitates the spread of varroa mites to other hives. This episode sheds light on the dual challenge modern beekeepers face: managing both the honey bee and the varroa mite. Tune in as Jim and Dave explore this complex and pressing issue in beekeeping.
Websites and links mentioned in the episode:
- Betterbee's "Collapse of a High Mite Hive" video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgZzIJgR69g
- Cervo et al. (2014) demonstrate that high mite populations change varroa mites' preference for bees of different ages, in a what that could facilitate mite spread through robbing and/or drift: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Federico-Cappa/publication/265133875_High_Varroa_mite_abundance_influences_chemical_profiles_of_worker_bees_and_mite-host_preferences/links/5416b1080cf2bb7347db6904/High-Varroa-mite-abundance-influences-chemical-profiles-of-worker-bees-and-mite-host-preferences.pdf
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Thanks to Betterbee for sponsoring today's episode. Betterbee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com
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