Tiny bugs could be the key to saving honeybee populations | Al Jazeera America.

Hives one, two and four going great guns, probably due to the flow from the ivy.

All treated for varroa with Apiguard, now, but need to decide if I’m going to feed syrup. I don’t normally, however, I don’t like feeding refined syrup to the bees, preferring to supplement with fondant only if necessary.

I know this is schismatic, but I don’t clip my queen’s wings either, which is pure heresy out my way.

Treated these ladies with Apiguard yesterday and they didn’t like the initial smell one little bit.

All calmed down today, and getting along fine with the ivy flow.

Apiguard is a treatment against the varroa mite, which does a great deal of damage to honey bee colonies in the UK.

And if it wasn’t bad enough for bees, birds are also suffering from neonicotinoids, according to science journal Nature. 

Read the summary here.

They may be a nuisance at  this time of year, but wasps have a very important role to play in the local ecosystem, eating a lot of the bugs gardeners delight in spraying with poison.

Though it resulted in their undoing, take a look at the wonderful things they can make to house their colony. 

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/aug/27/giant-wasps-nest-single-bed-spare-bedroom-winchester

Multipurpose honey has beauty, health benefits according to an article in the Times of India.