Episode 23: Best Management Practices and Factors That Determine a Worker vs a Queen

In this episode we discuss the five best and worst commercial beekeeping management practices with Dan Aruell and Matt Hoepfinger from the Bee Informed Partnership (BIP). Then we hear from Dr. Julia Bowsher, to learn about her research on the factors that determine whether a female larvae will become a worker or queen bee. Q&A includes: I have a hive with screen bottom boards. I coat the removable, plastic bottom boards with canola oil or vegetable oil to collect ‘all the good stuff’ that falls to the bottom: varroa, small hive beetle, etc. I’ve heard of others who use diatomaceous earth or small hive beetle traps instead. What are the pros and cons of diatomaceous earth versus oil? How does someone recognize the forage sources around them and are there resources for determining what kind of forage is around you? Are there quantitative measures?