Dashon honey

  Introduction Swarming is one of the most remarkable behaviors in honey bee biology...   Introduction Swarming is one of the most remarkable behaviors in honey bee biology. It is the colony’s way of reproducing, ensuring survival and genetic diversity. However, for beekeepers, swarming can pose serious challenges: a substantial portion of the colony departs, honey yields decrease, and overall productivity suffers. Traditionally, beekeepers rely on inspections to anticipate swarming by looking for queen cells or congestion in the hive. While effective, this method is laborious and disruptive to bees. Recent advances in precision apiculture now allow for continuous, non-invasive monitoring of colonies using electronic hive scales. By recording hive weight trends in real time, these systems provide a clear signal of swarming events and sometimes even hints of impending swarms. This blog explains how weig...

Meta Title: Hive Humidity: Science-Based Insights for Brood, Honey, and Colony Health Meta Description: Discover how hive humidity affects honey bee health, brood development, and honey quality—plus science-backed tools to monitor and manage beehive moisture. How Moisture Levels Decide a Hive’s Fate Introduction Humidity inside a beehive is far more than a background environmental factor—it is a critical regulator of colony survival and productivity . Relative humidity (RH) influences everything from egg hatching success to honey fermentation risk and even the reproductive cycle of pests such as Varroa destructor . Honey bees ( Apis mellifera ) have evolved sophisticated behavioral and physiological mechanisms to regulate internal moisture, often counteracting extreme variations in outside weather. For beekeepers, understanding these processes and learning how to measure and manage humidity can mean the difference between a thr...

Introduction Beekeeping is vital in Africa as a source of income and for crop pollination. However, honey bee colonies face threats from various pests (excluding diseases) that can weaken or destroy hives. In Africa – including Kenya – the most economically important bee pests include small hive beetles, large hive beetles, wax moths, and the Varroa mite. These pests cause direct damage by attacking brood, comb, or adult bees, and some also inflict indirect harm by spreading pathogens. This article helps beekeepers identify the major honey bee pests in Africa, explains their impact, and outlines effective control methods, with an emphasis on Kenyan contexts. All information is drawn from scientific and agricultural sources to ensure accuracy and relevance. Varroa Mite (Varroa destructor) Identification & Impact The Varroa destructor mite is a tiny reddish-brown parasite (~1–1.5 mm) often seen on bees or within capped brood cells. It is considered one of the most devastating honey b...

Maintaining optimal hive temperature is critical for honey bee health, brood development, and honey production. Honey bees are remarkable in their ability to regulate internal temperatures, functioning collectively like a warm-blooded “superorganism” that maintains its brood nest between approximately 33 °C and 36 °C, even when outside conditions range from below freezing to extreme heat (Ellis, 2016; Stabentheiner et al., 2010). This article examines the ideal temperature ranges for bee activities, the biological mechanisms of thermoregulation, the consequences of temperature stress, scientific insights into bee physiology, and practical strategies for beekeepers to monitor and manage hive climate. Optimal Hive Temperature Ranges for Brood, Colony Activity, and Honey Production Brood rearing Honey bee brood requires a narrow temperature range for normal development. The optimal brood nest temperature is about 34.5 °C, with an acceptable range of 32 °C to 36 °C (Ellis, 2016; Stab...