What accounts for more than 90% of a honeybee’s disease protection? Image credit: Aljaž Kavčič, Unsplash The answer lies in the honeybee’s exoskeleton, known scientifically as the integument. Far more than a hard outer shell, this highly specialized system serves as the bee’s primary barrier against pathogens, helps prevent water loss, provides the structural framework for muscle attachment and flight, and supports essential sensory functions that allow the bee to navigate a

Swarm in Montana Spring marks a fundamental shift for the honeybee colony. After surviving winter, the colony’s primary objective becomes reproduction. Because honeybees function as a superorganism , reproduction occurs at two levels. At the individual level, the queen reproduces by laying eggs. At the colony level, reproduction occurs through colony fission , commonly known as swarming—when one colony divides to form two independent colonies. This timing is intentional. Unli

Many beekeepers assume that if a Varroa treatment worked previously, it should continue to work in the future. In practice, this is not always the case. Resistance to synthetic acaricides develops through natural selection. When an acaricide is applied to a colony, susceptible mites are killed, while a subset of mites may survive due to naturally occurring traits that allow them to tolerate the chemical. These surviving mites reproduce and pass those traits to subsequent gene

Strong 5 frame "nuc" with local bees & queen (Three Fat Queens, LLC) Beekeeping can be rewarding, but it isn’t simple. Bees don’t follow instructions or checklists—especially ones that don’t fit your region, goals, or values. Starting smart means slowing down, making good basic decisions, and paying attention to what’s actually happening in the hive instead of constantly trying to “fix” things. Why Beekeeping Is Worth It Most people start beekeeping for honey, pollination, or

Honey bees only produce wax during a natural nectar flow; feeding sugar syrup or honey water does not trigger wax production but can support the metabolic cost once wax production is underway. One of the most common questions in beekeeping is how to get bees to draw more comb. Beekeepers are often told to feed 1:1 sugar syrup to “stimulate wax production,” yet we also hear that bees only make wax when they have honey. That apparent contradiction leads to a reasonable question

Every winter, beekeepers debate how much ventilation a hive really needs. At The Beekeepers Academy , we are very clear on this: ❌ No top ventilation. Here’s why. Different ways to insulate When a colony is inside a well-insulated cavity, it creates a heat envelope  around the cluster. Warm air rises to the top and stays trapped inside, allowing the bees to maintain a stable internal climate. At the edges of that envelope—where warm and cool air meet— water droplets naturally

Mating season begins in the starter colonies. Beekeeping doesn’t require brute strength. It requires timing, awareness, and good decision-making. Yes, there’s lifting and equipment involved, but managing bees well has far more to do with finesse than muscle. I hear a lot of women say they’re interested in beekeeping but worry about the physical side of it. That concern usually comes from what beekeeping looks like from the outside, not what it actually requires day to day. Be

Apply at www.TheBeekeepersAcademy.com . The Beekeepers Academy is bringing real-world and transformation to the screen — helping struggling beekeepers and those ready to expand, one yard at a time. There’s a quiet movement happening in backyards, barns, and bee sheds across the country — and soon, it’s coming to the screen. Earlier this year, an idea we’d been turning over for a while finally started taking shape — a television project that brings real beekeeping to life

"Helping you build confidence, one question at a time"   Beekeeping FAQ #2 : How Do I Check If My...

"Helping you build confidence, one question at a time"   Beekeeping FAQ #1: When Should I Start...

Professor Scott Debnam and I had the opportunity to teach the University of Montana’s Small-Scale Queen Breeding Course  this summer. The...

We’ve just wrapped up the first year of our multi-year research project on cell builder efficiencies , and we’re thrilled to share a...

When you come across a sluggish colony in midsummer, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is whether to boost it or requeen....

Finally, a bee suit made for women—by a woman beekeeper. I couldn’t wait to share this with you. I just tried on the Jeometry Beewear...

Brood view through the "Hive Window" We’re excited to share some big news—Dr. Scott Debnam, co-owner of The Beekeepers Academy, has just...

At The Beekeepers Academy, research isn’t just something we talk about—it’s something we do. Today marks the official start of a new...

If you’ve followed our series so far, you know that Nosema isn’t just a seasonal nuisance—it’s a parasite that slowly chips away at your...

Discover the hidden risks of feeding bees organic sugar—and what to use instead. From The Beekeepers Academy. It might sound...

In the mid-2000s, beekeepers across the U.S. began reporting something strange. Colonies weren’t just dying—they were vanishing. One day...

Part 1: What It Is, Where It Came From, and Why It Matters Most beekeepers know to watch for Varroa mites—but there’s another microscopic...