Choosing between Italian and Carniolan bees comes down to various characteristics. You might favor the Italian’s calmer disposition or the Carniolan bee’s stronger disease resistance. Each species has its differences, pros, and cons that can cater to your requirements and beekeeping skill level. For instance, novice beekeepers will likely prefer working with Italian bees for …

Carniolan vs. Italian Bees: Differences, Pros, and Cons Read More »

Many beginner beekeepers ask the question: Are Italian bees aggressive?  The answer is no. Italian bees are far from being aggressive. Contrary to that, they’re gentle and calm. This makes them easy to handle, even for first-time beekeepers.  However, this bee species has pros and cons that every beekeeper should be aware of! In this …

Are Italian Bees Aggressive? An In-Depth Look at the Species Read More »

One of the most destructive beekeeping pests, small hive beetles damage honey, pollen, comb, and bee larvae. Small hive beetles can result in massive losses for the beekeeper as they feed on/ferment the honey, eat honey brood, decrease the conductivity of your honey bees, weaken the colony, and eventually cause stressed bees to swarm away …

Dryer Sheets for Small Hive Beetle: A Guide to Getting Rid of Small Hive Beetles Read More »

Mason Bees are one of the world’s most efficient pollinators. Their furry bodies allow them to transport a lot of pollen all at once.  Because of that, these critters are incredibly beneficial for the ecosystem. They can help plants grow and maintain biodiversity by cross-pollination.  As you can imagine, that means having these bees in …

Best Flowering Plants for Mason Bees Read More »

Mite infestations pose a grave risk to your honey bee hive. These parasites can come from various ways. Imagine this, a colony already collapsing from being overrun by mites while bees from other hives rob the weaker hive’s honey. Somewhere along the way, a Varroa mite hitched a ride and found its way to greener …

Apivar vs. Formic Pro: Comparisons, Pros, and Cons Read More »

Bees are some of the most fascinating creatures on the planet. They’re also some of the most important for the world’s ecological diversity. As many beekeepers can attest to, some bee species are more aggressive than others.  This may get you wondering: are Russian bees aggressive? Russian bees are considered a moderately aggressive species. While …

Are Russian Bees Aggressive? Read More »

Whether you’re into beekeeping or you have a garden that bees frequent, it’s important to know the different types of bees. Two of the most popular types you’ll come across are bumble bees and mason bees. So, what’s the difference between them? Various distinctions set bumble bees apart from mason bees. For starters, bumble bees …

Bumble Bee vs. Mason Bee Read More »

Mason bees are a solitary species that create their nests from mud-rich clay, lay their eggs there, and then a new population emerges from those cocoons.  So, do you have to harvest mason bee cocoons? The short answer is yes. We know the prospect of harvesting cocoons might seem scary to first-timers, but this step …

Do You Have to Harvest Mason Bee Cocoons? Read More »