Beekeeping Buddies

Welcome to episode 41 where we talk a bit about the weather, but because we don't have a lot going on in the yard, we are going to run down our gift buying guide for 2026! We hope everyone has an excellent holiday season.   Randy Oliver 2025 Research Roundup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DT2HTyF2-k North American Honeybee Expo: https://www.nahbexpo.com/ Discord Server: https://discord.gg/Jk6hyZAY Randy Oliver Mite Calculator Calendar: https://scientificbeekeeping.com/randys-varroa-model/ How RRA Makes Fondant: https://youtu.be/CAiOF3onmBQ The American Bee Journal: https://americanbeejournal.com/ Project Apis m. Bee Survey Video 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOCis4ZPfp8 Project Apis m. Website: https://www.projectapism.org/events/i8yr94doxarjvh453lchfhr0xf3bvq Riverview Road Apiary Nucs: https://riverviewroadapiary.com/products/spring-2025-nuc Heart of Illinois Beekeeping Club: https://hoibees.org/ Dalan Animal Health Queens: https://bluetoad.com/publication/?m=5417&i=830245&p=38&ver=html5 Beekeeping Buddies Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/beekeepingbuddies/ Fruit and Vegetable Pollination Handbook: https://www.ars.usda.gov/arsuserfiles/20220500/onlinepollinationhandbook.pdf

I know, two episodes in two weeks? Well, episode 40 is here, and this one is big. We sat down with Dr. Jeff Pettis, former President of Apimondia and one of the world's leading honey bee researchers, for an in-depth conversation about the Tropilaelaps mite—the parasitic threat looming over global beekeeping. In this episode: • What Tropilaelaps mites are and how they differ from Varroa • Why they spread so rapidly and how countries currently battling them (like South Korea) are coping • What would happen if Tropilaelaps arrived in the United States—the realistic short- and long-term impacts • Early detection, containment strategies, and the U.S. preparedness gap • What beekeepers can do right now to stay informed and ready This is one of our most important interviews to date, offering clear-eyed insight from a scientist who has studied global bee health for decades. Tune in, learn what's coming, and help shape the conversation about protecting honey bees in North America.   Apimondia Tropilaelaps Mite Talk: https://www.apimondia.org/mites-webinar.html North American Honeybee Expo: https://www.nahbexpo.com/ Discord Server: https://discord.gg/Jk6hyZAY Randy Oliver Mite Calculator Calendar: https://scientificbeekeeping.com/randys-varroa-model/ How RRA Makes Fondant: https://youtu.be/CAiOF3onmBQ The American Bee Journal: https://americanbeejournal.com/ Project Apis m. Bee Survey Video 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOCis4ZPfp8 Project Apis m. Website: https://www.projectapism.org/events/i8yr94doxarjvh453lchfhr0xf3bvq Riverview Road Apiary Nucs: https://riverviewroadapiary.com/products/spring-2025-nuc Heart of Illinois Beekeeping Club: https://hoibees.org/ Dalan Animal Health Queens: https://bluetoad.com/publication/?m=5417&i=830245&p=38&ver=html5 Beekeeping Buddies Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/beekeepingbuddies/ Fruit and Vegetable Pollination Handbook: https://www.ars.usda.gov/arsuserfiles/20220500/onlinepollinationhandbook.pdf

This week we dig into some of the most important tasks heading into the colder months. We cover practical fall preparation, what to expect with late-season cutouts, and how to price and install an observation hive for schools, businesses, and homeowners. Whether you're tightening up your hives for winter or planning new educational opportunities for next year, this episode offers clear, experience-based guidance you can put to work right away. Listen now and stay ahead of the season.   North American Honeybee Expo: https://www.nahbexpo.com/ Discord Server: https://discord.gg/Jk6hyZAY Randy Oliver Mite Calculator Calendar: https://scientificbeekeeping.com/randys-varroa-model/ How RRA Makes Fondant: https://youtu.be/CAiOF3onmBQ The American Bee Journal: https://americanbeejournal.com/ Project Apis m. Bee Survey Video 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOCis4ZPfp8 Project Apis m. Website: https://www.projectapism.org/events/i8yr94doxarjvh453lchfhr0xf3bvq Riverview Road Apiary Nucs: https://riverviewroadapiary.com/products/spring-2025-nuc Heart of Illinois Beekeeping Club: https://hoibees.org/ Dalan Animal Health Queens: https://bluetoad.com/publication/?m=5417&i=830245&p=38&ver=html5 Beekeeping Buddies Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/beekeepingbuddies/ Fruit and Vegetable Pollination Handbook: https://www.ars.usda.gov/arsuserfiles/20220500/onlinepollinationhandbook.pdf

It's the Beekeeping Buddies Halloween Special! Luke and Steve dive into the spookier side of beekeeping from bees starting WW3, to the mornful swarm, frakenbees and more! We'll talk about our fall preparations and some interesting chunk comb we were able to sample, and answer some Honeybee Hotline questions. We hope you'll tune in as our buddy this episode!   North American Honeybee Expo: https://www.nahbexpo.com/ Discord Server: https://discord.gg/Jk6hyZAY Randy Oliver Mite Calculator Calendar: https://scientificbeekeeping.com/randys-varroa-model/ How RRA Makes Fondant: https://youtu.be/CAiOF3onmBQ The American Bee Journal: https://americanbeejournal.com/ Project Apis m. Bee Survey Video 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOCis4ZPfp8 Project Apis m. Website: https://www.projectapism.org/events/i8yr94doxarjvh453lchfhr0xf3bvq Riverview Road Apiary Nucs: https://riverviewroadapiary.com/products/spring-2025-nuc Heart of Illinois Beekeeping Club: https://hoibees.org/ Dalan Animal Health Queens: https://bluetoad.com/publication/?m=5417&i=830245&p=38&ver=html5 Beekeeping Buddies Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/beekeepingbuddies/ Fruit and Vegetable Pollination Handbook: https://www.ars.usda.gov/arsuserfiles/20220500/onlinepollinationhandbook.pdf

We have broken 4,000 listens and want to thank everyone for taking some time to listen to us talk about our passion, honey bees. For this episode we take a break from the normal format of the show to interview a Beekeeping Buddy of our own, Randy McCaffrey better known as the 628 Dirt Rooster! We talk about beekeeping, how different areas do things, and learn the important lesson of how hobby beekeeping is a way... of... life! We hope you all enjoy this special episode and thanks again for being a buddy! 628 Dirt Rooster Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@628DirtRooster North American Honeybee Expo: https://www.nahbexpo.com/ Discord Server: https://discord.gg/Jk6hyZAY Randy Oliver Mite Calculator Calendar: https://scientificbeekeeping.com/randys-varroa-model/ How RRA Makes Fondant: https://youtu.be/CAiOF3onmBQ The American Bee Journal: https://americanbeejournal.com/ Project Apis m. Bee Survey Video 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOCis4ZPfp8 Project Apis m. Website: https://www.projectapism.org/events/i8yr94doxarjvh453lchfhr0xf3bvq Riverview Road Apiary Nucs: https://riverviewroadapiary.com/products/spring-2025-nuc Heart of Illinois Beekeeping Club: https://hoibees.org/ Dalan Animal Health Queens: https://bluetoad.com/publication/?m=5417&i=830245&p=38&ver=html5 Beekeeping Buddies Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/beekeepingbuddies/ Fruit and Vegetable Pollination Handbook: https://www.ars.usda.gov/arsuserfiles/20220500/onlinepollinationhandbook.pdf