Scientific Beekeeping

This is not a “How You Should Keep Bees” site; rather, I’m a proponent of “Whatever Works for You” beekeeping.  I’m a “data over dogma” guy, and I implore my readers to correct me on any information at this website that is out of date or not supported by evidence. - Randy Oliver

Beekeeping Through the Eyes of a Biologist

  1. Testing Cotton Matrices for OAE

    Contents The Fabrics to Test Preparation A Field Trial Results Discussion   TESTING COTTON MATRICES FOR OAE Randy Oliver ScientificBeekeeping.com First published in ABJ January 2023   I continue to look for improved methods for application of extended-release oxalic acid (OAE), and thought that perhaps there might be an inexpensive, fully biodegradable all-cotton fabric that […]

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  2. A Survey on Robbing at Collapse

    Contents Robbing is Governed by Olfaction Back to what happens upon colony collapse A Survey on Whether Robbing Takes Place at Collapse My Conclusions From the Survey Responses Relationship to Bee and Mite Drift A humorous anecdote regarding training bees to a scent Acknowledgements Citations and notes   A SURVEY ON ROBBING AT COLLAPSE Randy […]

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  3. eHarmony go around

    About me I’m a healthy, youthful, happy, and loving guy, who could be the dream partner in a dream life for the right woman.  I’m not looking for a date — I’m looking for a new life partner to share my exciting and joyful days with.  That said, I and my lifestyle would not be a […]

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  4. Thymol — A new application method? Part 2

    Contents Extended-release thymol 1 The optimal release rate and placement of thymol 1 What’s The Optimal Dose?. 2 Our Field Testing. 3 The Dose-Response Curve. 12 Discussion. 12 Citations and notes 13   Thymol — A new application method? Part 2 First published in ABJ in December 2022 Randy Oliver ScientificBeekeeping.com   I do a […]

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  5. Thymol — a New Application Method? Part 1

    Contents “Off-Label” use of thymol 4 Thymol products for varroa control 5 Understanding Thymol 6 Reaction to the delivery matrix by the bees 6 Thymol in Shop Towels. 7 Removal and dispersion of thymol matrices by the Bees 9 Extended-Release Thymol?. 11 A Thicker Matrix. 11 moving ahead to 2022. 15 Citations and notes 15 […]

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  6. Formic Pro in Hot Weather — Slowing the rate of vapor release

    Contents Hard “Flash Treatment” vs Slow-Release. 1 Flash Treatments 1 Extended-release application. 2 our Follow-up experiments. 3 But did the wrapped strips kill mites?. 8 Discussion. 9 Citations and notes 9   Formic Pro in Hot Weather — Slowing the rate of vapor release First published in ABJ in October 2022 Randy Oliver ScientificBeekeeping.com   […]

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  7. Formic Pro and Queens in Hot Weather

    Contents Formic for mite management 1 A trick for using formic pro on weak colonies 2 Queen loss in hot weather 5 Why would queens be more susceptible to formic than workers?. 6 A test of queen loss in tiny colonies. 7 Taking advantage of opportunity. 10 Trial #1 — Would foil covers reduce queen […]

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  8. Selective Breeding for Mite Resistance, Part 3; Shifting the Genetics of a Breeding Population

      Selective Breeding for Mite Resistance, Part 3 Shifting the Genetics of a Breeding Population Randy Oliver ScientificBeekeeping.com   The alleles necessary for varroa resistance already existed in my stock of bees, so I didn’t need to “create” anything new. What I’m attempting to do via strong selective pressure is to (1) eliminate from our […]

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  9. Selective Breeding for Mite Resistance, Part 2; Mite Resistance and Genetic Expression

    Contents The Achilles’ heel of varroa. 2 Genotype vs. Individual- or colony-level phenotype. 2 gene regulation. 3 An example of the differential expression of genes in the honey bee. 4 What Is our own bees’ mechanism(s) for Resistance?. 6 Testing for Uncapping behavior 9 Is there a Cost to the colony for resistance?. 10 Our […]

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  10. Walking the Walk Selective Breeding for Mite Resistance; 2022 Update, Part 1

    Contents Resistance vs. Tolerance or “Survival” 1 Managed apiaries vs. natural evolution. 2 Background. 3 The necessity of Mechanical Agitators 3 The resistant colonies 6 So what’s our progress so far?. 10 A built-in lag inherent in open mating programs 13 Exhibit A: Mite-count tracking for our 2022 breeders 14 Coming. 16 References. 16   […]

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