Level One Beekeeping Certificate Online

Start Your Beekeeping Journey: 50-Hour Online Certificate Open for Enrollment!

Diutinus Unveiled: Exploring Winter Bees

Outcomes Gain an understanding of the unique characteristics and adaptations of Diutinus bees.   Key Takeaways    Diutinus bees, also known as winter bees, exhibit unique physiological traits that set them apart from summer bees, including lower levels of juvenile hormone, higher levels of vitellogenin, and larger hypopharyngeal glands, enabling them to perform essential tasks […]

Supplemental Feeding

Outcomes Learners will gain insight into the timing and scenarios for effective feeding, and recognize different supplementation options.    Key Takeaways  Responsible feeding practices are essential for maintaining bee colony health and vitality, emphasizing proper nutrition over past practices. Timing is critical when deciding when to feed honey bees, with specific considerations for colony establishment, […]

Cleansing Flights

Outcomes Learners  will understand the importance of cleansing flights for bees during winter.   Key Takeaways    Bees engage in cleansing flights during winter to defecate and maintain hive cleanliness, with some bees waiting up to 80 days before taking these flights. Hive placement and understanding the difference between cleansing flights and normal hive cleaning […]

Creating a Biosecurity Plan

Outcomes Learners will gain an understanding of the significance of biosecurity and recognize a wide range of biosecurity practices. Key Takeaways  Beekeeping biosecurity is vital for safeguarding bee colonies against diseases, pests, and contaminants that threaten their health and the environment.  Key practices include sourcing bees and equipment from reputable suppliers, regular inspections, proper disposal […]

Social Immunity and Propolis

Outcomes Learners will develop a comprehensive understanding of the principles underlying social and individual immunity in honey bees.  Key Takeaways  Honey bees, like many social insects, have collective behavioural defences called “social immunity” to help defend and protect the colony against pathogens and parasites. Propolis is known to have many antimicrobial proprieties against bacteria, fungi, […]

Combining Mating Nucs

Outcomes Learners will be able to effectively prepare and combine mating nucs to ensure thriving colonies during the winter season.   Key Takeaways    Optimal Winter Preparation: Focus on achieving the right winter weights and cluster size by reviewing weight requirements and assessing brood frame numbers for strong winter clusters, regardless of your hive setup. […]

Sampling for Varroa

Outcomes Learners will gain an understanding of the significance of regular sampling for Varroa mites in beekeeping. They will be able to recognize and differentiate between effective treatment methods.    Key Takeaways    Early Detection and Prevention: Regular sampling for Varroa mites is crucial for detecting infestations early, preventing colony failure, and mitigating the spread […]

Controlling Varroa with IPM

Outcomes Students will have gain an awareness of various strategies for managing varroa mites and the differing levels of efficacy associated with these strategies.   Key Takeaways    There are 5 strategies for applying IPM: Prevention, Cultural, Mechanical, Biological, and Chemical.  Prevention is all about decreasing the risk of contact with diseases which are rated […]

Chalkbrood

Outcomes Learners will be able to recognize the signs of chalkbrood in honeybee colonies, understand effective prevention strategies, and comprehend appropriate treatments to mitigate its impact. Key Takeaways  Chalkbrood is a fungal disease affecting honeybee larvae, caused by Ascosphaera apis, and can be transmitted through ingestion of spores. Infected larvae undergo mummification, resulting in chalky-white […]

American Foulbrood

Outcomes Learners will be able to identify AFB’s clinical signs and employ early detection methods   Key Takeaways    American Foulbrood (AFB) is a highly contagious bacterial disease affecting honey bee colonies. Its resilient spores, ability to kill healthy hives independently, and easy transmission make it a formidable threat. Recognizing AFB’s clinical signs, such as […]