rachel cunning – Keeping Backyard Bees

Varroa Mite Treatment for Package Bees

Rachel Cunning — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 18:00:48 +0000

Varroa mites can weaken your colony and make your hive susceptible to secondary pests. Oxalic acid is one of the best ways to manage your varroa populations in your hive. Oxalic acid kills 90-99% of the phoretic mites in your beehive. To reach these levels of effectiveness, however, the colony must be broodless. Your beehive […]

The post Varroa Mite Treatment for Package Bees appeared first on Keeping Backyard Bees.

The Backyard Beekeeper: A Book Review for Beekeepers

Rachel Cunning — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 11:40:36 +0000

I wish that the first book I had ever read on beekeeping was The Backyard Beekeeper: An Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Keeping Bees in Your Yard and Garden. Kim Flottum’s expert advice is a comprehensive introduction to getting started with your own backyard hives. Although I am not an absolute beginner, I still gleaned useful […]

The post The Backyard Beekeeper: A Book Review for Beekeepers appeared first on Keeping Backyard Bees.

Prairie Blazing Star: Native Plant Review

Rachel Cunning — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 15:02:37 +0000

Prairie Blazing Stars are spectacular spiky, towering flowers that, to my imaginative mind at least, look like fireworks exploding across the prairie. These native flowers attract a plethora of native insects and honeybees for their nectar sources. If you are considering adding additional native flowers to your pollinator garden this year, Prairie Blazing Stars can […]

The post Prairie Blazing Star: Native Plant Review appeared first on Keeping Backyard Bees.

Persevering Through Hive Losses

Rachel Cunning — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 22:08:03 +0000

My beehive died again this year. The death of this hive marks the third year (and the fourth hive) that I’ve failed to shepherd one through the winter. I have attended multiple beekeeping classes and workshops, a mentoring session, and read several books on beekeeping. I am by no means a novice. For the last […]

The post Persevering Through Hive Losses appeared first on Keeping Backyard Bees.

Moving from Beetle Blasters to Beetle Jails: Small Hive Beetle Management

Rachel Cunning — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 13:51:43 +0000

Moving from Beetle Blasters to Beetle Jails: Small Hive Beetle Management Small hive beetles are a pest and a terrible nuisance, but as we learned oh so painfully, they can destroy a weakened hive if they become established and do as they are wont to do: reproduce prolifically. I’ve never had a sadder (or more disgusting) […]

The post Moving from Beetle Blasters to Beetle Jails: Small Hive Beetle Management appeared first on Keeping Backyard Bees.