Summer Episodes

Hot Weather can be hard on beekeepers—but how hard is it on the bees? In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Dr. Jim Tew welcomes Anne Frey of Betterbee for a practical discussion about managing honey bee colonies during periods of hot weather. Together they explore the differences between beekeeper discomfort and colony stress, why opening colonies during the hottest part of the day may disrupt carefully regulated hive temperature and humidity, and why simply observing the hive entrance can often be more valuable than another quick inspection. Jim and Anne also discuss bearding behavior, ventilation, water needs, and the challenges of moving colonies during hot weather. A major focus of the conversation is how temperature affects Varroa treatment choices. Anne explains that different mite control products have different upper temperature limits and encourages beekeepers to become familiar with the available options so treatments can be matched to seasonal conditions rather than habi…

During an exceptionally hot Ohio summer day, Dr. Jim Tew discusses how extreme temperatures affect both honey bees and beekeepers, why he avoids unnecessary hive inspections during heat waves, the surprising ecological role ants may play around bee colonies, and how his approach to beekeeping has evolved with age toward a more natural, lower-impact style of apiary management.

Summer heat brings a familiar sight to many beekeepers: honey bees clustered outside the hive entrance, hanging from the landing board, and covering the front of the colony. In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew reflects on what beekeepers often call “bearding” and shares memories from decades of working bees in the heat of the Deep South.

In this archived Honey Bee Obscura conversation, Jim Tew and the late Kim Flottum discuss Working Bees in the Heat and the challenges of managing colonies during the hottest part of summer. From hydration and shade to recognizing heat exhaustion and heat stroke, they share practical advice for staying safe while working bees in demanding weather conditions. The discussion also highlights the importance of planning ahead, working smart, and knowing when to stop before heat-related illness becomes a serious risk.

In this thoughtful episode, Jim dives into the often-overlooked aspects of beekeeping that extend beyond the bees themselves. He reflects on the countless hours spent on tasks that, while essential, don't directly involve handling bees—like managing...

In this episode we delve into the concept of "supering," a term unique to beekeeping that has emerged over the past century. To those outside the beekeeping community, the term might sound like something out of a superhero comic, but for beekeepers,...

It’s the time of year when summer is nearly over, but the fall flow hasn’t started. Colonies are big, there’s lot of foragers, and not much to forage on, yet. A colony that is ripe for being robbed is usually small, weak, and not able to defend...

In this episode, Kim and Jim discuss the pros and cons of mid-summer splits. Are they good or are they bad? It can go both ways. Mid-summer splits are used to divide a colony for swarm prevention, colony expansion, or the equalization of colony...

How does a beekeeper deal with the seasonal population shifts, weather and resulting needs of the honey bees in their care. How does a beekeeper balance the needs of the colony with the needs of the beekeeper? The middle of that Venn Diagram is a very...