bees

Propolis – Your Sticky Medicinal!

January 4, 2018 by admin Leave a Comment

Propolis

As a new beekeeper when the summers gets warmer and the bees are growing, you wonder where all that sticky substance is coming from. The proposis sticks to everything and opening the hive becomes sometimes difficult because everything is sticking together.

After opening the brood boxes, you notice the bees have glued the frames solid. When this occurs it sometimes can be difficult to do a quick inspection, but for the bees propolis is a vital substance and their first line of defence against infections and other pathogens. [Read more…] about Propolis – Your Sticky Medicinal!

Honey Bee Pheromones – How Honey Bees Communicate

January 2, 2018 by admin Leave a Comment

Bee senses

Bees are very sensitive beings, when i started to read about communication within the hive and among different bees. You start to wonder “how is this all possible?” and “How do bees communicate?” You will soon discover bees can almost be seen as superhero’s with extraordinary senses and powers. Such a small insect, with such amazing abilities.

Within the hive there are different ways to communicate. Communication is done by vibration, the flower dance and most importantly pheromones. [Read more…] about Honey Bee Pheromones – How Honey Bees Communicate

Bee cycle – Bee activity through the year

December 27, 2017 by admin Leave a Comment

Honey Bee Activity Cycle – Yearly

For beekeepers a normal bee year is from september till august the following year. I tried to make a short overview for myself. This calendar is based on the climate in the netherlands. I live near amsterdam so if you check a map of the earth you can see we have a tempered climate. A beekeeping season for someone who lives in a tropical climate is different than somebody who lives in norhtern europe. But nonetheless you can get a image on how the hive behaves during a year. [Read more…] about Bee cycle – Bee activity through the year