https://simplecast.com The Walrus and the Honey Bee A friendly, informative space for both new and seasoned beekeepers, offering practical advice, personal storytelling, and an emphasis on responsible care for honey bees. Steve Donohoe is a bee farmer, author, and magazine editor based in Cheshire, UK. He works alongside his son, Alex. 2017 - 2025 Steve Donohoe en Wed, 24 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0000 Wed, 24 Sep 2025 07:00:14 +0000 https://the-walrus-and-the-honey-bee.simplecast.com The Walrus and the Honey Bee https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/35d67927-cd8f-43a8-a4ee-a7e1cd81f066/836742e0-5345-4160-9b83-01e1b1b39f8f/3000x3000/steve-and-alex-donohoe.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://the-walrus-and-the-honey-bee.simplecast.com episodic A friendly, informative space for both new and seasoned beekeepers, offering practical advice, personal storytelling, and an emphasis on responsible care for honey bees. Steve Donohoe is a bee farmer, author, and magazine editor based in Cheshire, UK. He works alongside his son, Alex. Steve Donohoe false https://feeds.simplecast.com/EBG_4VWU bee farming, beekeeping, healthy bees heavy hives, honey bees, honey farming, honeybees, interviews with beekeepers Steve Donohoe s.donohoe@me.com 5e75835f-0466-4da1-ac43-3496c05bc3f0 Non-Treatment Sanity Check Wed, 24 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0000 s.donohoe@me.com (Steve Donohoe) https://the-walrus-and-the-honey-bee.simplecast.com/episodes/non-treatment-sanity-check-XlTgdVig Non-Treatment Sanity Check Steve Donohoe 00:41:16 Steve Donohoe gives a quick review of the beekeeping season, then plunges into the topic of non-treatment beekeeping, that is , not treating colonies for varroa mite infestation. He tries to understand why so many beekeepers are following this trend, and sounds a warning. Steve Donohoe gives a quick review of the beekeeping season, then plunges into the topic of non-treatment beekeeping, that is , not treating colonies for varroa mite infestation. He tries to understand why so many beekeepers are following this trend, and sounds a warning. treatment-free beekeeping, varroa mite false full 19 2d11f5e3-6888-4d1e-8a41-c247c3729f8e Open Mating Queens Thu, 17 Jul 2025 00:50:58 +0000 s.donohoe@me.com (Steve Donohoe) https://the-walrus-and-the-honey-bee.simplecast.com/episodes/open-mating-queens-wAIuYxcW Open Mating Queens Steve Donohoe 00:53:23 Whether you are raising queen honey bees or just dealing with colonies that have swarmed or superceded, the success of the mating of the new queen is a matter of some importance. Steve Donohoe talks about what can go wrong, and some strategies for increasing your success. Whether you are raising queen honey bees or just dealing with colonies that have swarmed or superceded, the success of the mating of the new queen is a matter of some importance. Steve Donohoe talks about what can go wrong, and some strategies for increasing your success. raising queens, queen mating, beekeeping false full 18 7749c193-7091-4564-91d1-6d59e123858b Walrus Wobbles (beekeeping blunders) Wed, 18 Jun 2025 23:22:55 +0000 s.donohoe@me.com (Imogen AI, Steve Donohoe) https://the-walrus-and-the-honey-bee.simplecast.com/episodes/walrus-wobbles-beekeeping-blunders-NSJmgvta Walrus Wobbles (beekeeping blunders) Imogen AI, Steve Donohoe 00:14:03 Some of the many things that can and do go wrong when beekeeping, and what to do about them Some of the many things that can and do go wrong when beekeeping, and what to do about them false full 17 89d6ffb5-08a1-4141-9faa-3def4c8fd6fb Beekeeping: Myth Busting Thu, 29 May 2025 20:36:10 +0000 s.donohoe@me.com (Steve Donohoe) https://the-walrus-and-the-honey-bee.simplecast.com/episodes/beekeeping-myth-busting-XNO_bLUk Beekeeping: Myth Busting Steve Donohoe 00:36:38 Steve Donohoe discusses the beekeeping season so far, as well as some beekeeping myths, and ideas on intensive versus extensive farming methods. Steve Donohoe discusses the beekeeping season so far, as well as some beekeeping myths, and ideas on intensive versus extensive farming methods. truth about bees, beekeeper knowledge, are honey bees really dying out?, beekeeping podcast, honey bee misconceptions, beekeeping myths, honey bee facts, bee myths debunked, myth busting beekeeping, beekeeping science, beekeeping facts vs fiction false full 16 880a5361-c065-4617-94d0-e5a8fe11771e Beekeeping Twilight Zone Sun, 18 May 2025 23:52:12 +0000 s.donohoe@me.com (Imogen AI, Steve Donohoe) https://the-walrus-and-the-honey-bee.simplecast.com/episodes/beekeeping-twilight-zone-cabbhxQH Beekeeping Twilight Zone Imogen AI, Steve Donohoe 00:12:21 Some strange and unexpected things can happen in beekeeping - here are some of them Some strange and unexpected things can happen in beekeeping - here are some of them fighting queens, absconding bees, beekeeping false full 15 6fd4da0b-f888-4e69-9254-487bedc3c548 Swarming Hurts Your Honey Crop Sun, 4 May 2025 07:00:00 +0000 s.donohoe@me.com (Steve Donohoe, Imogen AI) https://the-walrus-and-the-honey-bee.simplecast.com/episodes/swarming-hurts-your-honey-crop-IsMcaIlJ Swarming Hurts Your Honey Crop Steve Donohoe, Imogen AI 00:11:06 A little about how much honey you might lose if your bees swarm, and some ways to prevent swarming or reduce the honey lost. A little about how much honey you might lose if your bees swarm, and some ways to prevent swarming or reduce the honey lost. honey, beekeeping, swarming false full 14 6063b40c-32fc-47de-bebc-3ab012806db4 The Best Queen Cells Mon, 21 Apr 2025 06:00:00 +0000 s.donohoe@me.com (Steve Donohoe, Imogen AI) https://the-walrus-and-the-honey-bee.simplecast.com/episodes/the-best-queen-cells-zIZXzluH The Best Queen Cells Steve Donohoe, Imogen AI 00:14:56 Steve Donohoe walks through his method for making the best queen cells he has ever seen. It's the same method as used by Brother Adam, back in the day, and by Mike Palmer, and others. Steve Donohoe walks through his method for making the best queen cells he has ever seen. It's the same method as used by Brother Adam, back in the day, and by Mike Palmer, and others. raising queens, queen cells, queen rearing, beekeeping false full 13 5f6ca678-4c59-4ac4-ab82-7fc280035fc8 Varroa: Why Treat? by Kirsty Stainton Sun, 13 Apr 2025 07:00:00 +0000 s.donohoe@me.com (Imogen AI, Steve Donohoe) https://the-walrus-and-the-honey-bee.simplecast.com/episodes/varroa-why-treat-by-kirsty-stainton-0aq8_tAq Varroa: Why Treat? by Kirsty Stainton Imogen AI, Steve Donohoe 00:22:59 A balanced and detailed look at the science surrounding the issue of non-treatment of honey bees, including a comparison between the two main approaches: selective breeding and using survivor stock. A balanced and detailed look at the science surrounding the issue of non-treatment of honey bees, including a comparison between the two main approaches: selective breeding and using survivor stock. varroa tolerance, varroa destructor, deformed wing virus, kirsty stainton, bee farming, varroa resistance, beekeeping false full 12 a5220e89-ef89-487d-887c-fdba03f6e77d Beekeeping Essentials: The Critical Spring Period Tue, 25 Mar 2025 22:42:51 +0000 s.donohoe@me.com (imogen, Steve) https://the-walrus-and-the-honey-bee.simplecast.com/episodes/beekeeping-essentials-the-critical-spring-period-3bDeiqNf Beekeeping Essentials: The Critical Spring Period imogen, Steve 00:15:27 From Steve Donohoe's blog post of the same title, this covers all of the important beekeeping things that matter during the springtime. It covers feeding bees early on, then providing space, dealing with colonies of different sizes, equalisation, reversing boxes, difference between drawn comb and foundation, and even a little nod towards early queen rearing. From Steve Donohoe's blog post of the same title, this covers all of the important beekeeping things that matter during the springtime. It covers feeding bees early on, then providing space, dealing with colonies of different sizes, equalisation, reversing boxes, difference between drawn comb and foundation, and even a little nod towards early queen rearing. swarm prevention, honey bees, reversing boxes, adding supers, springtime, drawn comb, bee farming, beekeeping false full 11 7eb3e8db-492e-4caf-8d21-6b04e81a04c5 Interview With Jolanta Mon, 10 Mar 2025 08:00:00 +0000 s.donohoe@me.com (Steve Donohoe) https://the-walrus-and-the-honey-bee.simplecast.com/episodes/interview-with-jolanta-tnmrgu1d Interview With Jolanta Steve Donohoe 00:21:16 Taken from a chapter in Steve Donohoe's book, Interviews With Beekeepers, this covers a conversation between Steve, Jolanta, and Murray McGregor in 2017. Jolanta is the head of the queen rearing unit at Denrosa Apiaries, and she explains how she makes her queens. Denrosa is the largest commercial beekeeping operation in the UK. Taken from a chapter in Steve Donohoe's book, Interviews With Beekeepers, this covers a conversation between Steve, Jolanta, and Murray McGregor in 2017. Jolanta is the head of the queen rearing unit at Denrosa Apiaries, and she explains how she makes her queens. Denrosa is the largest commercial beekeeping operation in the UK. honey bees, jolanta, raising honey bee queens, queen rearing, bee farming, interviews with beekeepers, beekeeping false full 10 6476f26e-db5b-4025-8b19-c96926acf6d0 Beekeeping Essentials: Introducing Queens Sat, 1 Mar 2025 08:00:00 +0000 s.donohoe@me.com (Steve Donohoe, Imogen AI) https://the-walrus-and-the-honey-bee.simplecast.com/episodes/beekeeping-essentials-introducing-queens-FZFO4yZN Beekeeping Essentials: Introducing Queens Steve Donohoe, Imogen AI 00:17:45 Imogen reads from Steve's blog post, in which sets out his latest learnings and understanding of this sometimes tricky subject. How to introduce a new queen into a colony that has lost it's own. Imogen reads from Steve's blog post, in which sets out his latest learnings and understanding of this sometimes tricky subject. How to introduce a new queen into a colony that has lost it's own. queen bee, introducing queen honey bee, bee farming, honey farming, beekeeping false full 9 ae5e5fc5-c38d-471b-af18-cb501c986d47 Early Spring 25 Update Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:16:25 +0000 s.donohoe@me.com (Imogen AI, Steve Donohoe) https://the-walrus-and-the-honey-bee.simplecast.com/episodes/early-spring-25-update-1A3lkXYW Early Spring 25 Update Imogen AI, Steve Donohoe 00:09:19 As we move from winter into spring here in England, Steve Donohoe discusses over-wintering success, feeding colonies, and plans for once the season kicks off. As we move from winter into spring here in England, Steve Donohoe discusses over-wintering success, feeding colonies, and plans for once the season kicks off. honey bees in winter, nucleus colonies, feeding bees, spring beekeeping, healthy bees heavy hives, bee farming, the walrus and the honey bee, beekeeping false full 8 83c20165-38dc-4140-8cf6-e2d0560f9c6b Room For All Types Of Beekeeper Intro

00:25 New book by Dorian Pritchard on conservation of native bees

01:10 Argument for conservation of native bees, legally protected areas should be created

02:40 Is the black bee really the best bee for all people? I think not, but each to their own. 

04:40 Sue Coby's New World Carniolan project could be a template to follow

05:00 Examples of human interference in nature to domesticate wild animals into farming livestock. Also BEAGLES!

07:20 Modern commercial bee farming, selective breeding of honey bee queens

08:15 Good things about bee farming, pollination increasing crop yields

09:15 Some negative things about bee farming: miticides, reduced diversity, competition with wild pollinators, spread of pathogens

11:20 EU policies to assist apiculture and pollinators

11:50 Selective breeding - objectives and methods, isolated mating, instrumental insemination

12:55 Natural selection - survivors pass on resilience

14:10 Advantages of natural selection

15:00 Downside to natural selection, low honey, unpredictable temperament, short term high losses

15:55 Conclusion - we can have both

 

 

 

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]]> Mon, 27 Jan 2025 08:00:00 +0000 s.donohoe@me.com (Imogen AI, Steve Donohoe) https://the-walrus-and-the-honey-bee.simplecast.com/episodes/room-for-all-types-of-beekeeper-FjL6RXAa Intro

00:25 New book by Dorian Pritchard on conservation of native bees

01:10 Argument for conservation of native bees, legally protected areas should be created

02:40 Is the black bee really the best bee for all people? I think not, but each to their own. 

04:40 Sue Coby's New World Carniolan project could be a template to follow

05:00 Examples of human interference in nature to domesticate wild animals into farming livestock. Also BEAGLES!

07:20 Modern commercial bee farming, selective breeding of honey bee queens

08:15 Good things about bee farming, pollination increasing crop yields

09:15 Some negative things about bee farming: miticides, reduced diversity, competition with wild pollinators, spread of pathogens

11:20 EU policies to assist apiculture and pollinators

11:50 Selective breeding - objectives and methods, isolated mating, instrumental insemination

12:55 Natural selection - survivors pass on resilience

14:10 Advantages of natural selection

15:00 Downside to natural selection, low honey, unpredictable temperament, short term high losses

15:55 Conclusion - we can have both

 

 

 

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]]> Room For All Types Of Beekeeper Imogen AI, Steve Donohoe 00:17:49 Imogen reads from Steve's blog post of 26th January 2025, called "Room for all types of beekeeper". It is a look at the differences between commercial beekeeping and conservation, and between selective breeding and natural selection. Imogen reads from Steve's blog post of 26th January 2025, called "Room for all types of beekeeper". It is a look at the differences between commercial beekeeping and conservation, and between selective breeding and natural selection. selective breeding, conservation, black bees, commercial beekeeping, native honey bees, apis mellifera mellifera, natural selection false full 7 f96074bc-cfda-4938-ab74-5de73dc63dce Swarm Prevention Strategies Intro

including reference to Ian Steppler YouTube video just posted on varroa treatments, using Randy Oliver spreadsheet model. https://youtu.be/Z2FLoAq6LDc

02:20 Recent apiary inspection of nucleus colonies

03:50 What causes swarming? 

06:40 Impossible to eliminate, but we can influence

07:10 Genetics, personal experience, Paul Horton's bees, sub-species

11:25 Queen pheromones, age of queens

12:35 Brood nest congestion

15:10 Climate and weather

16:30 Poor weather in spring 2024 reduced swarming

18:20 Prevention rather than control of swarming

20:20 Selective breeding, selective pressure - leaving a single queen cell in a swarmed colony pushes it in the wrong direction, using cells/queens from breeding program is better, using over-wintered queens

24:55 Re-queening, younger queens are less likely to swarm

26:20 Gruff Rees YouTube interview "No Weekly Inspections" with David Wainwright - a less intensive style of beekeeping

28:40 Regular hive inspections 7 to 10 day rotation, checking for eggs, space for bees, space for queen to lay, swarm cells

30:50 Space for bees, brood, and stores. Staying ahead of the bees. Supering.

33:15 Frame swapping, making splits or cell builders, space in a Langstroth brood box

37:20 Reversing boxes, double brood, brood and a half

40:00 Adding a brood box of foundation overhead, then splitting, combined with oxalic mite treatment

43:55 Demaree, adding space while keeping the colony together - not a split. Lots of heavy lifting, might be problematic with foundation in the bottom box and the changeable UK weather

49:00 What works for one person may not work for the next person

49:40 Checkerboarding, small book on the subject published by Northern Bee Books

53:45 Summary

 

 

 

 

 

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]]> Wed, 15 Jan 2025 14:48:26 +0000 s.donohoe@me.com (Steve Donohoe) https://the-walrus-and-the-honey-bee.simplecast.com/episodes/swarm-prevention-strategies-u2U9CLuY Intro

including reference to Ian Steppler YouTube video just posted on varroa treatments, using Randy Oliver spreadsheet model. https://youtu.be/Z2FLoAq6LDc

02:20 Recent apiary inspection of nucleus colonies

03:50 What causes swarming? 

06:40 Impossible to eliminate, but we can influence

07:10 Genetics, personal experience, Paul Horton's bees, sub-species

11:25 Queen pheromones, age of queens

12:35 Brood nest congestion

15:10 Climate and weather

16:30 Poor weather in spring 2024 reduced swarming

18:20 Prevention rather than control of swarming

20:20 Selective breeding, selective pressure - leaving a single queen cell in a swarmed colony pushes it in the wrong direction, using cells/queens from breeding program is better, using over-wintered queens

24:55 Re-queening, younger queens are less likely to swarm

26:20 Gruff Rees YouTube interview "No Weekly Inspections" with David Wainwright - a less intensive style of beekeeping

28:40 Regular hive inspections 7 to 10 day rotation, checking for eggs, space for bees, space for queen to lay, swarm cells

30:50 Space for bees, brood, and stores. Staying ahead of the bees. Supering.

33:15 Frame swapping, making splits or cell builders, space in a Langstroth brood box

37:20 Reversing boxes, double brood, brood and a half

40:00 Adding a brood box of foundation overhead, then splitting, combined with oxalic mite treatment

43:55 Demaree, adding space while keeping the colony together - not a split. Lots of heavy lifting, might be problematic with foundation in the bottom box and the changeable UK weather

49:00 What works for one person may not work for the next person

49:40 Checkerboarding, small book on the subject published by Northern Bee Books

53:45 Summary

 

 

 

 

 

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]]> Swarm Prevention Strategies Steve Donohoe 00:55:37 Steve Donohoe discusses swarm prevention strategies, bringing together as much information as he can into one place. Useful information for beekeepers who want to reduce the swarming of their honey bee colonies. Steve Donohoe discusses swarm prevention strategies, bringing together as much information as he can into one place. Useful information for beekeepers who want to reduce the swarming of their honey bee colonies. swarm prevention, honey bees, demaree, maximise your honey crop, healthy bees heavy hives, bee farming, honey farming, beekeeping, swarming false full 6 d1ff4538-ca03-4ac4-9ed2-b7994da7c60f Latest Advice On Varroa 00:30 Importance of both good queens and low mite levels

01:40 How Steve's thinking on varroa treatment regimes evolved from 2 times per year to three.

02:20 Alcohol wash on all colonies as per Randy Oliver, treatment threshold

03:15 What to do with infested colonies in summer when supers are on, what causes outlier colonies with more mites than the others, benefits of winter oxalic acid treatment

04:50 Shook swarm - the drastic option

05:50 Treatment free approach, for optimists and people in isolated locations, or people who have a closed population of bees 

06:50 The problems with a "live and let die" approach

07:30 Randy Oliver's method for breeding resistant bees that are good bees for commercial bee farming

08:50 Quotes from Randy regarding going treatment free

09:40 Progress towards resistance is still a win, fewer chemicals, lower costs

10:30 Latest advice on dealing with varroa in honey bee colonies, below 2% infestation and below 1,000 mites total

11:30 Importance of continual monitoring for treatment-free beekeepers, natural mite drop problems, alcohol wash

12:30 Survival versus thriving bees, compare traditional to treatment free

Latest science on treatment-free:

Mondet, F., Beaurepaire, A. McAfee, A., Locke, B., Alaux, C., Blanchard, S. and LeConte, Y. (2020) Honey bee survival mechanisms against the parasite Varroa destructor: a systematic review of phenotypic and genomic research efforts. International Journal for Parasitology, 50.

DOI:doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.03.005

 

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]]> Thu, 9 Jan 2025 16:05:55 +0000 s.donohoe@me.com (Steve Donohoe, Imogen AI) https://the-walrus-and-the-honey-bee.simplecast.com/episodes/latest-advice-on-varroa-gGzC2f0o 00:30 Importance of both good queens and low mite levels

01:40 How Steve's thinking on varroa treatment regimes evolved from 2 times per year to three.

02:20 Alcohol wash on all colonies as per Randy Oliver, treatment threshold

03:15 What to do with infested colonies in summer when supers are on, what causes outlier colonies with more mites than the others, benefits of winter oxalic acid treatment

04:50 Shook swarm - the drastic option

05:50 Treatment free approach, for optimists and people in isolated locations, or people who have a closed population of bees 

06:50 The problems with a "live and let die" approach

07:30 Randy Oliver's method for breeding resistant bees that are good bees for commercial bee farming

08:50 Quotes from Randy regarding going treatment free

09:40 Progress towards resistance is still a win, fewer chemicals, lower costs

10:30 Latest advice on dealing with varroa in honey bee colonies, below 2% infestation and below 1,000 mites total

11:30 Importance of continual monitoring for treatment-free beekeepers, natural mite drop problems, alcohol wash

12:30 Survival versus thriving bees, compare traditional to treatment free

Latest science on treatment-free:

Mondet, F., Beaurepaire, A. McAfee, A., Locke, B., Alaux, C., Blanchard, S. and LeConte, Y. (2020) Honey bee survival mechanisms against the parasite Varroa destructor: a systematic review of phenotypic and genomic research efforts. International Journal for Parasitology, 50.

DOI:doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.03.005

 

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]]> Latest Advice On Varroa Steve Donohoe, Imogen AI 00:13:34 Steve Donohoe rounds up everything he has to say on varroa mites, a serious parasite of honey bees, including treatments and trying to breed varroa-resistant stocks. Steve Donohoe rounds up everything he has to say on varroa mites, a serious parasite of honey bees, including treatments and trying to breed varroa-resistant stocks. honey bees, varroa destructor, bee parasite, varroa mite, healthy bees, beekeeping false full 5 86c11051-7928-417d-93e5-064ebba6f10b Rapeseed Oil and Offshoring 0:00 When oilseed rape (OSR) first arrived in the UK

00:50 The UK has moved from being a net exporter to net imported of rapeseed oil, costing the UK economy £1 billion

01:10 List of the main cooking oils ranked by healthiness

03:10 Rapeseed oil is the most consumed oil in the UK

04:00 OSR is useful to arable farmers as a rotation crop

04:40 OSR downsides, cabbage stem flea beetle, neonics

05:20 The neonic ban in the UK, lower crop yields

05:50 Sources of rapeseed oil imports

06:15 EU emergency derogations (the loophole)

07:20 Emergency derogations are also allowed for so-called organic crops

07:50 Offshoring of neonic usage 

08:20 OSR Reboot - plans for the future by the main stakeholders in the industry

 

 

 

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]]> Mon, 6 Jan 2025 08:00:00 +0000 s.donohoe@me.com (Imogen AI, Steve Donohoe) https://the-walrus-and-the-honey-bee.simplecast.com/episodes/rapeseed-oil-and-offshoring-DMRT1s9v 0:00 When oilseed rape (OSR) first arrived in the UK

00:50 The UK has moved from being a net exporter to net imported of rapeseed oil, costing the UK economy £1 billion

01:10 List of the main cooking oils ranked by healthiness

03:10 Rapeseed oil is the most consumed oil in the UK

04:00 OSR is useful to arable farmers as a rotation crop

04:40 OSR downsides, cabbage stem flea beetle, neonics

05:20 The neonic ban in the UK, lower crop yields

05:50 Sources of rapeseed oil imports

06:15 EU emergency derogations (the loophole)

07:20 Emergency derogations are also allowed for so-called organic crops

07:50 Offshoring of neonic usage 

08:20 OSR Reboot - plans for the future by the main stakeholders in the industry

 

 

 

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]]> Rapeseed Oil and Offshoring Imogen AI, Steve Donohoe 00:09:35 Imogen reads from Steve's blog post of 16th December 2024, which is about the rise and fall of oilseed rape (canola) growing in the UK. We have moved from exporters to importers of rapeseed oil, and the countries that we import from use a loophole to allow them to treat with neonicotinoids, which are technically banned. Imogen reads from Steve's blog post of 16th December 2024, which is about the rise and fall of oilseed rape (canola) growing in the UK. We have moved from exporters to importers of rapeseed oil, and the countries that we import from use a loophole to allow them to treat with neonicotinoids, which are technically banned. canola, neonicotinoids, osr reboot, oilseed rape, emergency derogation false full 4 2ff404fb-ab05-4c9e-9b2d-1906510b007e Stress Testing Varroa Treatment Regimes Based on post of 19 November 2024 on thewalrusandthehoneybee.com

01:30 The damage caused by varroa mites - leading cause of colony losses worldwide

03:30 Learning to keep bees alive 

04:00 Current trend among hobby beekeepers for going treatment-free

06:00 USA honey bee colony losses, deformed wing virus

07:45 Using an alcohol wash to monitor mite infestation

09:00 Randy Oliver spreadsheet model

10:20 Available mite treatments, using them properly, resistance to treatment

14:00 Extended release oxalic acid - not yet approved in UK

15:40 Mechanical methods, drone comb removal, caging queens - brood break

20:00 Samples of bees don't always give accurate results, what to do if mite numbers are high in June

24:00 Trying different scenarios in the spreadsheet model, one treatment per year - not sustainable

26:30 deciding on the starting number of mites to use in the model

26:50 The four measures I look for when evaluating a treatment regime: starting mites, ending mites, peak number of mites, number of mites in September (winter bees)

30:15 Two treatments per season - autumn and winter. Timing of oxalic acid treatment in winter, when are they broodless. 

31:45 The two treatment regime does ok. The only problem is that there is not a huge amount of leeway, so if the winter oxalic was not fully effective the starting number of mites would be potentially high enough to cause problems before the autumn treatment.

33:00 Three treatments per season, spring amitraz, autumn formic, winter oxalic - this regime is bulletproof and pretty well guarantees control of varroa mites throughout the season. The difference between three treatments versus two is massive.

36:15 Balancing damage by mites against putting chemicals in hives

37:00 Importance of keeping the good genetics in our honey bees, such as gentle, low swarming, high honey production. By not treating I lose most of my bees and most of those favourable genetics, is it really worth it to have varroa resistant bees that have lost the traits that I want

39:30 Most bee farmers will treat for varroa and not raise varroa resistant bees. The only way to successfully breed varroa resistant bees will be to find a place far away from any bee farmers - very hard to do in the UK

40:30 Downside of three treatment regime - no point doing alcohol wash, cannot spot the queens that have varroa resistant bees in their colonies

42:00 Stress testing as above but with a brood-break due to caging the queen. Three treatments per season still wins. My conclusion is that the brood break strategy is not worth the effort, but it may work for others, especially countries with more stable weather.

44:45 Thymol effect on laying rate of queens, oxalic acid trickle versus sublimation

 

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]]> Sat, 4 Jan 2025 08:00:00 +0000 s.donohoe@me.com (Steve Donohoe) https://the-walrus-and-the-honey-bee.simplecast.com/episodes/stress-testing-varroa-treatment-regimes-bzb0nnox Based on post of 19 November 2024 on thewalrusandthehoneybee.com

01:30 The damage caused by varroa mites - leading cause of colony losses worldwide

03:30 Learning to keep bees alive 

04:00 Current trend among hobby beekeepers for going treatment-free

06:00 USA honey bee colony losses, deformed wing virus

07:45 Using an alcohol wash to monitor mite infestation

09:00 Randy Oliver spreadsheet model

10:20 Available mite treatments, using them properly, resistance to treatment

14:00 Extended release oxalic acid - not yet approved in UK

15:40 Mechanical methods, drone comb removal, caging queens - brood break

20:00 Samples of bees don't always give accurate results, what to do if mite numbers are high in June

24:00 Trying different scenarios in the spreadsheet model, one treatment per year - not sustainable

26:30 deciding on the starting number of mites to use in the model

26:50 The four measures I look for when evaluating a treatment regime: starting mites, ending mites, peak number of mites, number of mites in September (winter bees)

30:15 Two treatments per season - autumn and winter. Timing of oxalic acid treatment in winter, when are they broodless. 

31:45 The two treatment regime does ok. The only problem is that there is not a huge amount of leeway, so if the winter oxalic was not fully effective the starting number of mites would be potentially high enough to cause problems before the autumn treatment.

33:00 Three treatments per season, spring amitraz, autumn formic, winter oxalic - this regime is bulletproof and pretty well guarantees control of varroa mites throughout the season. The difference between three treatments versus two is massive.

36:15 Balancing damage by mites against putting chemicals in hives

37:00 Importance of keeping the good genetics in our honey bees, such as gentle, low swarming, high honey production. By not treating I lose most of my bees and most of those favourable genetics, is it really worth it to have varroa resistant bees that have lost the traits that I want

39:30 Most bee farmers will treat for varroa and not raise varroa resistant bees. The only way to successfully breed varroa resistant bees will be to find a place far away from any bee farmers - very hard to do in the UK

40:30 Downside of three treatment regime - no point doing alcohol wash, cannot spot the queens that have varroa resistant bees in their colonies

42:00 Stress testing as above but with a brood-break due to caging the queen. Three treatments per season still wins. My conclusion is that the brood break strategy is not worth the effort, but it may work for others, especially countries with more stable weather.

44:45 Thymol effect on laying rate of queens, oxalic acid trickle versus sublimation

 

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]]> Stress Testing Varroa Treatment Regimes Steve Donohoe 00:46:35 What is the most effective varroa mite treatment protocol for honey bees? Steve runs some tests, using Randy Oliver's spreadsheet model, to seek out the answer. What is the most effective varroa mite treatment protocol for honey bees? Steve runs some tests, using Randy Oliver's spreadsheet model, to seek out the answer. varroa mites, varroa, varroa treatments, bee farming, healthy bees, beekeeping false full 3 facb9d6a-2436-484e-8ec6-2d54e73ab6d0 Queen Rearing - Timings and Workflow Intro and reasons for not using an AI reader.

01:30 Reasons for making queens

02:35 Importance of being organised, knowing timings, mindset - sometimes things go wrong

03:19 Breeder queens, Steve's three breeder queens in 2024 and why these were selected

06:45 Keeping breeder queens in nucleus hives

07:40 Drones, open mating, using drone comb

08:20 Using BeeBase

09:20 Re-queening poor colonies

10:08 Cell builders, double nuc method compared to Brother Adam method

12:50 Grafting day, checking for queen cells 

14:50 Well fed larvae for grafting, two different grafting methods

17:50 Avoiding brace comb being build across queen cells

19:00 Removing queen cells and moving to the incubator

20:00 Effects of different incubation temperatures on queen development time and colour

21:30 Keeping the cell builder going through summer, bottlenecks in production

23:40 It's ok if you don't have an incubator

24:20 Mating nucs, Carricel portable incubator, cell protectors

25:20 Mini-plus hives and Kieler nucs, Steve much prefers Mini-plus and is phasing out the Kielers. Setting up a Kieler nuc for first use.

27:50 If queens don't get mated in 2-3 weeks they are replaced with a new cell

30:00 Advantages of Mini-plus, importance of letting queens mature for a month or more before introducing to a new colony

32:00 Over-wintering queens in nucs, re-queening production colonies after their second season, push-in cages

34:30 Failure to mate, drone laying queens

35:30 Making queens is very worthwhile, visit the blog post to view relevant images.

 

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]]> Thu, 2 Jan 2025 08:00:00 +0000 s.donohoe@me.com (Steve Donohoe) https://the-walrus-and-the-honey-bee.simplecast.com/episodes/queen-rearing-timings-and-workflow-ovcQd4OI Intro and reasons for not using an AI reader.

01:30 Reasons for making queens

02:35 Importance of being organised, knowing timings, mindset - sometimes things go wrong

03:19 Breeder queens, Steve's three breeder queens in 2024 and why these were selected

06:45 Keeping breeder queens in nucleus hives

07:40 Drones, open mating, using drone comb

08:20 Using BeeBase

09:20 Re-queening poor colonies

10:08 Cell builders, double nuc method compared to Brother Adam method

12:50 Grafting day, checking for queen cells 

14:50 Well fed larvae for grafting, two different grafting methods

17:50 Avoiding brace comb being build across queen cells

19:00 Removing queen cells and moving to the incubator

20:00 Effects of different incubation temperatures on queen development time and colour

21:30 Keeping the cell builder going through summer, bottlenecks in production

23:40 It's ok if you don't have an incubator

24:20 Mating nucs, Carricel portable incubator, cell protectors

25:20 Mini-plus hives and Kieler nucs, Steve much prefers Mini-plus and is phasing out the Kielers. Setting up a Kieler nuc for first use.

27:50 If queens don't get mated in 2-3 weeks they are replaced with a new cell

30:00 Advantages of Mini-plus, importance of letting queens mature for a month or more before introducing to a new colony

32:00 Over-wintering queens in nucs, re-queening production colonies after their second season, push-in cages

34:30 Failure to mate, drone laying queens

35:30 Making queens is very worthwhile, visit the blog post to view relevant images.

 

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]]> Queen Rearing - Timings and Workflow Steve Donohoe 00:36:28 Steve Donohoe talks through his queen rearing process, from breeder queens, cell builders, grafting, and mating nucs. Based on his blog post on 2nd July 2024. Steve Donohoe talks through his queen rearing process, from breeder queens, cell builders, grafting, and mating nucs. Based on his blog post on 2nd July 2024. raising queens, queen rearing, steve donohoe, bee farming, beekeeping false full 2 7b7aef72-9a5d-4cb3-ad33-eb32161d5fdd How To Increase Honey Production: Three Factors That Matter Most Imogen reads from Steve's blog post of 1st September 2024

00:53 Queens

The importance of the queen in a honey bee colony cannot be overstated

02:37 Gruff Rees reviewed "Healthy Bees, Heavy Hives" by Paul Horton and Steve Donohoe, calling it "the best beekeeping book ever". We'll take that.  

02:40 Comparison between colonies headed by my normal queens and four which contained queens made by Ivan Nielsen in Denmark. It turned out that the Nielsen queens made lots more honey. Nielsen says that the aim is for honey to be uniformly spread over all colonies, rather than have some monsters and some small ones.

04:40 What makes a good queen? Prolific queens will lead to bigger honey crops, but only if forage is available and the weather is good.

05:50 Starvation and having to feed syrup in early June.

06:00 Buying queens. Quality will vary, as with all natural things.

06:40 Making your own queens

07:15 Heavy queens tend to be better

07:30 Ideal conditions for making queens.

07:50 Controlling Disease and Parasites - the second important factor in producing a good honey crop. Chalkbrood, European foulbrood, varroa mites and associated viruses, chronic bee paralysis. The treatment protocol followed by Steve and Alex at Walrus Apiaries. Formic Pro. Thymovar. VarroMed.

10:38 Forage and Nutrition - the third important factor.

Fixed apiaries versus migratory beekeeping.

11:20 When to feed? Sugar and pollen substitute. Importance of pollen stores in Autumn.

13:00 Sugar contamination risks. Manley's thoughts on syrup feeding in May. Timing of feeding for winter stores.

14:20 Summary

The Walrus and the Honey Bee

 

 

 

 

 

 

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]]> Wed, 1 Jan 2025 11:32:00 +0000 s.donohoe@me.com (Imogen AI, Steve Donohoe) https://the-walrus-and-the-honey-bee.simplecast.com/episodes/how-to-increase-honey-production-three-factors-that-matter-most-5oy_urqA Imogen reads from Steve's blog post of 1st September 2024

00:53 Queens

The importance of the queen in a honey bee colony cannot be overstated

02:37 Gruff Rees reviewed "Healthy Bees, Heavy Hives" by Paul Horton and Steve Donohoe, calling it "the best beekeeping book ever". We'll take that.  

02:40 Comparison between colonies headed by my normal queens and four which contained queens made by Ivan Nielsen in Denmark. It turned out that the Nielsen queens made lots more honey. Nielsen says that the aim is for honey to be uniformly spread over all colonies, rather than have some monsters and some small ones.

04:40 What makes a good queen? Prolific queens will lead to bigger honey crops, but only if forage is available and the weather is good.

05:50 Starvation and having to feed syrup in early June.

06:00 Buying queens. Quality will vary, as with all natural things.

06:40 Making your own queens

07:15 Heavy queens tend to be better

07:30 Ideal conditions for making queens.

07:50 Controlling Disease and Parasites - the second important factor in producing a good honey crop. Chalkbrood, European foulbrood, varroa mites and associated viruses, chronic bee paralysis. The treatment protocol followed by Steve and Alex at Walrus Apiaries. Formic Pro. Thymovar. VarroMed.

10:38 Forage and Nutrition - the third important factor.

Fixed apiaries versus migratory beekeeping.

11:20 When to feed? Sugar and pollen substitute. Importance of pollen stores in Autumn.

13:00 Sugar contamination risks. Manley's thoughts on syrup feeding in May. Timing of feeding for winter stores.

14:20 Summary

The Walrus and the Honey Bee

 

 

 

 

 

 

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]]> How To Increase Honey Production: Three Factors That Matter Most Imogen AI, Steve Donohoe 00:14:55 If you keep bees, you will hopefully be harvesting a good honey crop at some point. In this episode we cover the three key factors that are most important for increasing honey production. If you keep bees, you will hopefully be harvesting a good honey crop at some point. In this episode we cover the three key factors that are most important for increasing honey production. honey production, maximise your honey crop, bee farming, honey farming, beekeeping false full 1