Why Did My Bees Leave the Hive? Absconding vs. Swarming and Colony Loss
You open a hive that was occupied recently and find almost no bees. The obvious question is: why did my
Why Are Bees Bearding Outside the Hive? What It Means and When to Worry
Seeing bees bearding outside hive entrances can look alarming, especially when hundreds or thousands of workers cover the front of
Spotty Brood Pattern in Honey Bees: Causes, What It Means, and What to Check
A spotty brood pattern can be unsettling. You pull a brood frame expecting a fairly continuous patch of capped worker
Why Are There Dead Bees in Front of My Hive? Normal vs. Warning Signs
Finding dead bees in front of hive entrances can be alarming, but the sight alone does not tell you what
Laying Worker Bees vs. a Drone-Laying Queen: How to Tell the Difference
Finding multiple eggs, scattered drone brood, or raised drone cappings in worker-sized cells can make a hive look seriously wrong.
Queen Cells in a Beehive: Swarm, Supersedure, or Emergency?
Finding queen cells during a hive inspection creates an immediate question: What are the bees trying to do? They may
Robbing Bees: How to Tell If Your Hive Is Being Robbed and How to Stop It
If you suddenly see heavy bee traffic around a hive, robbing bees may be your first concern. But a crowded
How to Tell If a Beehive Is Queenless: Signs, Diagnosis, and What to Do Next
A queenless hive can be difficult to diagnose because the most obvious clue—failing to find the queen—is also one of
Tropilaelaps Mites in Honey Bees: Identification, Symptoms, Spread, and Management
Tropilaelaps mites are parasitic mites of honey bees that deserve close attention from beekeepers—even in places where they have not
Deformed Wing Virus in Honey Bees: Symptoms, Varroa Link, and Management
Deformed wing virus in honey bees is best known for producing workers with shriveled, shortened, or malformed wings. However, the