Honey batch coding and traceability: a practical guide
How to identify honey batches, link drums and jars to reliable records, and understand the difference between practical batch coding and Spanish labelling requirements.
Protein supplementation for bees [Complete guide]
![Protein supplementation for bees [Complete guide] - HONEY](https://www.latiendadelapicultor.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/mmmnn-1024x853.png)
In a world where climate change and environmental degradation are becoming increasingly evident, bees face unprecedented challenges to their survival. Phenomena such as global warming, unusually warm winters, forest fires and pollution have drastically altered the availability and quality of the essential food for these tireless workers: pollen and nectar. This situation leads us to […]
Beekeeping Protection: Everything You Need to Know About Beekeeper Suits
Beekeeper suits not only protect beekeepers from aggressive bees but also help them stay cool on hot days. Combined with a smoker and experience, the risk of being stung is significantly reduced. If you are new to hive inspections, this guide to beekeeper suits is essential for you. We will explore how they work, the […]
Do honey bees sleep? How, when and where they rest
Honey bees sleep, but nurses and foragers keep different schedules. Learn the signs of sleep, where workers rest and how sleep loss affects the waggle dance.
Honey bee antennae: anatomy, senses and communication
Explore the scape, pedicel and flagellum, how honey bees sense odours and air movements, and why antennal grooming matters for colony life.
Honey bee vision: five eyes and a different view of colour
Honey bees have two compound eyes and three ocelli. Explore ultraviolet vision, visual learning and what their use of landmarks means for the apiary.
Honey bee festooning: chains, comb building and unanswered questions
What festooning looks like, four proposed functions, what wax-secretion research actually shows, and how to distinguish bee chains from bearding and washboarding.
Queen rearing: a step-by-step guide to get started
A practical guide to begin queen rearing: preparing queen-rearing hives, larval transfer, calendar of queen cells, mating nuclei and errors to avoid.
Beehive insulation, condensation and winter ventilation
How to balance heat loss and moisture in winter hives. Compare upper ventilation with an insulated top, understand condensation and choose a setup suited to your colony.
Plastic frames or beeswax foundation: which should you choose?
Compare plastic frames, plastic foundation and beeswax sheets for acceptance, preparation, extraction, comb renewal and practical apiary management.
Cleaning and disinfecting frames and beekeeping equipment
Disinfecting beekeeping equipment helps limit disease transmission between hives and seasons. Methods for wood, plastic and polystyrene—caustic soda, bleach, steam, flame and acids—with source dosages and contact times, plus the full caustic-soda procedure.
How to paint beehives: types of paint, colours and alternatives
Painting the hive protects the wood, regulates its temperature and helps bees find their own hive. But what determines the choice of paint is the material: a standard varnish dissolves polystyrene. Comparison of the six types, how to mix linseed oil and ochre, and alternatives.
The honey bee gut microbiota: digestion, immunity and colony health
The specialised microbes in a honey bee’s gut help process its diet and influence its defences. Discover how workers acquire them and what the evidence says about probiotics.
How to make beeswax candles: rolled, moulded and dipped
Make rolled, moulded and hand-dipped beeswax candles. Learn how to choose a wick, warm sheets, melt wax carefully and release a candle from its mould.
Mead: how to control fermentation and avoid defects
Learn how to control mead fermentation through density, temperature, yeast, nutrients, and practical diagnosis of the most common defects.
