It’s no secret that natural honey is a delicious treat, but did you know it can be kept in an airtight container for thousands of years without spoiling? Thanks to its acidity and low moisture content, honey has a virtually endless shelf life. Unspoiled honey has even been found by archaeologists in ancient Egyptian tombs.… Continue Reading
Harsh winters are no fun for anyone, but they can be especially tough on honeybees and other pollinators. Some bees start foraging for food as early as January, especially in regions where temperatures creep into the 40s and 50s during the winter. In the period from January to May, it can be difficult for bees… Continue Reading
When penicillin’s antibiotic properties were first discovered by accident in 1928, it revolutionized health care. Since then, scientists have been on a never-ending quest to find new antibiotic compounds that are capable of fighting emerging strains of infectious bacteria. In recent years, however, the bacteria have been winning the race against science. No new antibiotics… Continue Reading
Honeybees have faced their fair share of environmental threats in recent years, and no threat is greater than the one posed by the parasitic varroa mite. These mites infest honeybee colonies, latching themselves onto the bees and infecting them with a deadly virus. If beekeepers don’t intervene to stop an infestation, it can destroy an… Continue Reading
In large apiaries, bees from different hives will inevitably intermingle on their quest for pollen from time to time. Some drifter bees might even wander from one hive to another in search of a new home. Because hives have limited space and resources, it’s up to guard bees to determine who gets in and who… Continue Reading