Beekeeping Today Podcast

In this in-depth episode, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman welcome back Chip Taylor and Gard Otis to continue a wide-ranging discussion that began last summer on queen mating behavior, drone congregation areas (DCAs), and Africanized honey bees.
The conversation revisits what science actually tells us about where and how queens mate, challenging the long-held assumption that mating occurs exclusively at DCAs. Chip and Gard explain how radar and genetic studies suggest a far more dynamic system, with drones moving through landscapes and queens exerting more control over mating than previously believed.
They explore common misconceptions about mating signs, drone behavior, and pheromonal cues, drawing on classic experiments and more recent research to explain why much of honey bee mating biology remains unresolved. The discussion also highlights how drone density, landscape features, and seasonal changes influence mating success.
The episode then turns to Africanized honey bees and their impact on North American beekeeping. Rather than a simple "takeover," Chip and Gard describe how colony density, climate, feral European bees, and genetic mixing have shaped the spread and behavior of Africanized populations over time. They explain why outcomes in the United States differ from those observed in South America and how these dynamics continue to evolve.
The conversation closes with reflections on resilience—both in bees and beekeepers—and a preview of a future episode focused specifically on swarming behavior.
Websites from the episode and others we recommend:
Gard's Paper in Apidologie, "Where Do Honey Bees Mate": https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13592-025-01237-1

Beekeeping Today Podcast - Chip and Gard, Queens, Drones and DCAs: https://www.beekeepingtodaypodcast.com/queens-drones-and-dcas-with-chip-and-gard-342/ 

Project Apis m. (PAm): https://www.projectapism.org
Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org
The National Honey Board: https://honey.com
Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com
 
Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC
 
 
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Betterbee is the presenting sponsor of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Betterbee's mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

This episode is brought to you by Global Patties! Global offers a variety of standard and custom patties. Visit them today at http://globalpatties.com and let them know you appreciate them sponsoring this episode! 
 

Thanks to Strong Microbials for their support of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Find out more about their line of probiotics in our Season 3, Episode 12 episode and from their website: https://www.strongmicrobials.com

HiveIQ is revolutionizing the way beekeepers manage their colonies with innovative, insulated hive systems designed for maximum colony health and efficiency. Their hives maintain stable temperatures year-round, reduce stress on the bees, and are built to last using durable, lightweight materials. Whether you're managing two hives or two hundred, HiveIQ's smart design helps your bees thrive while saving you time and effort. Learn more at HiveIQ.com.

Thanks for Northern Bee Books for their support. Northern Bee Books is the publisher of bee books available worldwide from their website or from Amazon and bookstores everywhere. They are also the publishers of The Beekeepers Quarterly and Natural Bee Husbandry.
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We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments in the show notes of this episode or: [email protected]
Thank you for listening! 
Podcast music: Be Strong by Young Presidents; Epilogue by Musicalman; Faraday by BeGun; Walking in Paris by Studio Le Bus; A Fresh New Start by Pete Morse; Wedding Day by Boomer; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; Red Jack Blues by Daniel Hart; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott.
Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC
** As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases
Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

Listener questions drive some of the most practical and wide-ranging conversations on Beekeeping Today Podcast, and this episode is packed with thoughtful questions from beekeepers at every stage. Jeff and Becky work through a full slate of listener submissions covering mentorship, overwintering decisions, feeding practices, hive tools, monitoring systems, and a few persistent beekeeping myths.
The episode opens with a listener question about mentorship—how to make it effective, sustainable, and rewarding for both mentors and new beekeepers. Jeff and Becky discuss setting expectations, encouraging hands-on learning, and building confidence without overwhelming volunteers.
From there, the conversation moves into common beginner challenges, including surviving a rough season, dealing with small hive beetles in warmer climates, and improving queen-finding skills without unnecessarily stressing colonies. Jeff and Becky emphasize regional context, local support, and learning from both success and failure.
Several feeding-related questions follow, including overwintering with honey supers, the use of fondant as insurance feed, and whether supplemental feeding can contaminate honey supers. Becky offers clear guidance on keeping brood nests intact, avoiding supplemental feed when honey supers are present, and making peace with sacrificing honey for colony survival when necessary.
The episode also tackles practical yard questions, like how to stop losing hive tools and whether electronic hive monitoring systems make sense for smaller apiaries. Jeff and Becky share real-world strategies and tools that simplify inspections and improve efficiency.
Finally, they address one of the more unusual questions circulating in beekeeping circles—feeding bananas to bees—exploring where the idea came from, what limited research suggests, and why caution and timing matter.
It's a wide-ranging, honest, and practical episode shaped entirely by the questions beekeepers are asking right now.
Websites from the episode and others we recommend:
Beekeeping Today Podcast Bananas for Bees: https://www.beekeepingtodaypodcast.com/bananas-for-bees-with-katharina-davitt-s3-e25/

Research articles mentioning bananas:  
- https://doi.org/10.3389/frbee.2024.1386799
- https://www.researchgate.net/profile/El-Kkazafy-Taha/publication/281578975_Importance_of_banana_Musa_sp_Musaceae_for_honeybee_Apis_mellifera_L_Hmenoptera_Apidae_in_Egypt/links/560fe06a08ae6b29b49a8220/Importance-of-banana-Musa-sp-Musaceae-for-honeybee-Apis-mellifera-L-Hmenoptera-Apidae-in-Egypt.pdf

Project Apis m. (PAm): https://www.projectapism.org
Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org
The National Honey Board: https://honey.com
Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com
 
Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC
 
 
______________

Betterbee is the presenting sponsor of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Betterbee's mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

This episode is brought to you by Global Patties! Global offers a variety of standard and custom patties. Visit them today at http://globalpatties.com and let them know you appreciate them sponsoring this episode! 
 

Thanks to Strong Microbials for their support of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Find out more about their line of probiotics in our Season 3, Episode 12 episode and from their website: https://www.strongmicrobials.com

HiveIQ is revolutionizing the way beekeepers manage their colonies with innovative, insulated hive systems designed for maximum colony health and efficiency. Their hives maintain stable temperatures year-round, reduce stress on the bees, and are built to last using durable, lightweight materials. Whether you're managing two hives or two hundred, HiveIQ's smart design helps your bees thrive while saving you time and effort. Learn more at HiveIQ.com.

Thanks for Northern Bee Books for their support. Northern Bee Books is the publisher of bee books available worldwide from their website or from Amazon and bookstores everywhere. They are also the publishers of The Beekeepers Quarterly and Natural Bee Husbandry.
_______________
We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments in the show notes of this episode or: [email protected]
Thank you for listening! 
Podcast music: Be Strong by Young Presidents; Epilogue by Musicalman; Faraday by BeGun; Walking in Paris by Studio Le Bus; A Fresh New Start by Pete Morse; Wedding Day by Boomer; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; Red Jack Blues by Daniel Hart; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott.
Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC
** As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases
Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

In this inaugural episode of Bee Science with Dewey Caron, PhD, Dewey takes a close look at one of the most fundamental — and often misunderstood — aspects of honey bee winter biology: clustering.
Why do honey bees form a winter cluster, and what actually determines whether a colony survives until spring? Dewey explains how clustering is not simply about staying warm, but about energy efficiency, colony organization, and collective behavior. He walks listeners through how cluster size, food placement, colony population, and environmental conditions interact throughout the winter months.
This episode also explores common misconceptions, including the idea that tighter clusters are always better, and how beekeeper interventions — intentional or accidental — can influence winter outcomes. Dewey emphasizes what beekeepers can realistically observe, what remains hidden inside the cluster, and why patience and preparation often matter more than mid-winter hive checks.
As the first installment of this new monthly bonus series, Bee Science with Dewey is designed to give beekeepers a reliable, science-based touchpoint they can count on throughout the year. Each episode focuses on a single topic, grounding current beekeeping questions in research, biology, and decades of field experience.
New episodes of Bee Science with Dewey will be released on the third Wednesday of each month as a bonus feature of the Beekeeping Today Podcast.

Links and references mentioned in this episode:
Science Insights Article on Temperature Effects on Honey Bees: https://scienceinsights.org/what-temperature-is-too-cold-for-bees/
Journal of the Royal Society Interface: Mitchell, Derek. 2023. Honeybee cluster—not insulation but stressful heat sink. J R Soc Interface (2023) 20 (208): 20230488 . https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2023.0488
Beekeeping Today Podcast #293:  Etienne Tardif - Hive Insulation and Overwintering - https://www.beekeepingtodaypodcast.com/hive-insulation-and-overwintering-with-etienne-tardiff-293/
Beekeeping Today Podcast #368: Etienne Tardif - Cold Climate Beekeeping - https://www.beekeepingtodaypodcast.com/368-cold-climate-beekeeping-winter-feeding/
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Brought to you by Betterbee – your partners in better beekeeping.
 

Betterbee is the presenting sponsor of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Betterbee's mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com
_______________
We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments in the show notes of this episode or: [email protected]
Thank you for listening! 
Podcast music: Be Strong by Young Presidents; Epilogue by Musicalman; Faraday by BeGun; Walking in Paris by Studio Le Bus; A Fresh New Start by Pete Morse; Wedding Day by Boomer; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; Red Jack Blues by Daniel Hart; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott.
Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC

** As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases
Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

In this episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman welcome back cold-climate beekeeper and data-driven researcher Etienne Tardif, joining the conversation from Canada's far north. Etienne keeps bees in the Yukon—well above the 60th parallel—where winter temperatures routinely reach extremes few beekeepers ever experience.
The discussion begins with a listener question about queen genetics and whether mating across multiple bee lines can combine desirable traits like winter hardiness, rapid spring buildup, and large populations. Becky explores the realities of bee breeding, emphasizing selection over time, the value of diverse genetics within an apiary, and why no single "perfect bee" exists across all environments.
From there, the conversation turns to Etienne's recent observations on winter feeding—particularly how late-season fondant feeding can unexpectedly trigger brood rearing. Drawing on extensive sensor data, including temperature, humidity, and CO₂ levels inside his hives, Etienne explains how even small changes in feed availability can shift colony behavior, energy use, and risk during winter.
The episode dives deep into practical wintering strategies, including insulation, volume reduction, feeding timing, moisture management, and why mixing wintering methods can sometimes work against the bees. Etienne also explains how debris trays, hive sensors, and even basic microscopy can help beekeepers better understand what's happening inside the colony without opening hives in cold weather.
Whether you keep bees in Alaska, Minnesota, or milder climates, this episode offers a thoughtful, science-informed look at winter preparation, feeding decisions, and how understanding bee biology—rather than reacting to fear—leads to better overwintering success.
Websites from the episode and others we recommend:
Etienne's Website: https://www.northof60beekeeping.com 
Etienne's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@etiennetardif/


Project Apis m. (PAm): https://www.projectapism.org
Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org
The National Honey Board: https://honey.com
Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com
 
Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC
 
 
______________

Betterbee is the presenting sponsor of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Betterbee's mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

This episode is brought to you by Global Patties! Global offers a variety of standard and custom patties. Visit them today at http://globalpatties.com and let them know you appreciate them sponsoring this episode! 
 

Thanks to Strong Microbials for their support of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Find out more about their line of probiotics in our Season 3, Episode 12 episode and from their website: https://www.strongmicrobials.com

HiveIQ is revolutionizing the way beekeepers manage their colonies with innovative, insulated hive systems designed for maximum colony health and efficiency. Their hives maintain stable temperatures year-round, reduce stress on the bees, and are built to last using durable, lightweight materials. Whether you're managing two hives or two hundred, HiveIQ's smart design helps your bees thrive while saving you time and effort. Learn more at HiveIQ.com.

Thanks for Northern Bee Books for their support. Northern Bee Books is the publisher of bee books available worldwide from their website or from Amazon and bookstores everywhere. They are also the publishers of The Beekeepers Quarterly and Natural Bee Husbandry.
_______________
We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments in the show notes of this episode or: [email protected]
Thank you for listening! 
Podcast music: Be Strong by Young Presidents; Epilogue by Musicalman; Faraday by BeGun; Walking in Paris by Studio Le Bus; A Fresh New Start by Pete Morse; Wedding Day by Boomer; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; Red Jack Blues by Daniel Hart; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott.
Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC
** As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases
Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

Join us for a special series of episodes recorded live from the floor of the North American Honey Bee Expo in Louisville, KY, January 8–10, 2026. Jeff and Becky bring you the latest beekeeping insights, trends, and innovations directly from one of the biggest beekeeping events of the year.
Tune in as we chat with industry leaders, researchers, and beekeepers from across the country. Whether you're attending in person or catching up from home, these episodes will keep you connected to the hive buzz at NAHBE!
Stay tuned for insights into the hottest topics in beekeeping, new product launches, and live Q&A from the Expo floor!
Listen Today!
Websites we recommend:
Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org
The National Honey Board: https://honey.com
Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com
 
Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC
 
 
______________

Betterbee is the presenting sponsor of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Betterbee's mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

This episode is brought to you by Global Patties! Global offers a variety of standard and custom patties. Visit them today at http://globalpatties.com and let them know you appreciate them sponsoring this episode! 
 

Thanks to Strong Microbials for their support of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Find out more about their line of probiotics in our Season 3, Episode 12 episode and from their website: https://www.strongmicrobials.com

Thanks for Northern Bee Books for their support. Northern Bee Books is the publisher of bee books available worldwide from their website or from Amazon and bookstores everywhere. They are also the publishers of The Beekeepers Quarterly and Natural Bee Husbandry.
_______________
We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments in the show notes of this episode or: [email protected]
Thank you for listening! 
Podcast music: Be Strong by Young Presidents; Epilogue by Musicalman; Faraday by BeGun; Walking in Paris by Studio Le Bus; A Fresh New Start by Pete Morse; Wedding Day by Boomer; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; Red Jack Blues by Daniel Hart; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott.
Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC
Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC