Propolis: how to harvest it and make tincture step by step
To prepare a propolis tincture it is advisable to start with clean propolis, cool it to make it brittle for chopping, mix it with food-grade ethanol, allow it to macerate in the dark and filter it. The quality of the result depends equally on the raw material, the solvent and the process: a dark colour […]
Becoming a beekeeper in Spain: registration and legal requirements
A practical guide to registering a beekeeping holding in Spain, with separate checks for sites, health, hive transport, honey sales, tax and Social Security.
Oxalic acid and glycerine against Varroa: safe use
What you need to know about oxalic acid and glycerine against Varroa: why to avoid homemade recipes, what distinguishes an authorised strip, and how to apply it safely.
Formic acid against Varroa: safe and authorised use
What formic acid does against Varroa, when it may be suitable, what temperature and ventilation are required, and why only authorised veterinary medicinal products should be used.
Oxalic acid against Varroa: safe and authorised use
How oxalic acid works against Varroa, why brood reduces its effectiveness, and what to check in dribbling, sublimation, strips, and authorised veterinary medicinal products.
How to choose a honey extractor: radial, tangential and self-turning models
Compare honey extractors by frame size, honey type and workload. Understand radial, tangential and self-turning baskets, safe operation and the limits of hive-count guides.
Beekeeping calendar: seasonal tasks for your apiary
Plan winter checks, spring build-up, summer harvests and autumn preparation around your bees and local conditions, with clear guidance on Spain’s Varroa rules.
How to inspect a beehive: external and internal checks
Plan a purposeful hive inspection, interpret entrance activity and brood signs, assess food and queen status, and recognise when specialist diagnosis is needed.
Wax moth: prevention and control in stored comb
Recognise greater and lesser wax moth, protect stored frames and understand the limits of freezing, sulphur and biological comb treatments.
American foulbrood: signs, diagnosis and what to do
Recognise suspicious brood changes, understand the limits of field tests and contain American foulbrood without spreading it through your apiary.
Asian hornet: identification and protecting your hives
Identify the yellow-legged hornet, understand its annual cycle and protect your apiary with suitable guards, careful monitoring and evidence-based measures.
How to prepare bee feed: ingredients and protein patties
Choose suitable bee-feed ingredients, assess pollen shortages and prepare protein patties with a documented recipe and sensible hygiene precautions.
Chalkbrood: how to recognise it and help the colony recover
Recognise chalkbrood mummies, understand the role of brood chilling and colony stress, and use sound husbandry, nutrition and hygienic stock to support recovery.
Small hive beetle: recognise Aethina tumida and report it
How to recognise small hive beetle adults and larvae, distinguish them from wax moth, and report a suspected infestation in Spain. Includes the official 2026 Lazio update.
Farrar’s rule: why strong colonies can produce more honey
Understand the link between colony strength and honey production, what Farrar’s original research actually showed, and how to time healthy populations to a nectar flow.
