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May Thursday free bee seminars
Free webinars on three Thursdays in May: EFB, biosecurity and Irish bee genetics
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A tale of two colonies – spot the difference
Two colonies side by side – can you spot the difference?
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Changing of the guard
Is the population change in a hive very gradual? The observation hive activity suggests not.
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Looking for a Zoom speaker?
Would your group like to hear a Zoom talk from a Vita speaker? Here’s how to place your request for a free talk.
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Vita Bee Health 2021 calendar and winners
Bee bringing back pollen. Photo: Lewis Turner
The overall winner of the 2020 Vita Bee Health international photographic competition is Lewis Turner of Suffolk, UK, for his stunning, head-on eyeline shot of an approaching honey bee.
Featured photographers – in calendar month order – are:
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Vita at the virtual 2020 National Honey Show
Watch short video clips of Vita Bee Health personnel speak about recent developments
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Moving Apiguard production in times of coronavirus
Apiguard, the UK’s most popular varroa control treatment, is back in full production despite lockdown restrictions when manufacturing of the gel was moved to Northern Italy earlier this year.When Vita Bee Health decided to begin producing Apiguard, its near-natural varroa-control treatment, in Italy, the company knew that logistical challenges were inevitable and had therefore stockpiled several month’s reserves to ensure that the supply chain would not be disrupted. Then came covid-19 and lockdowns, first in the new production centre in Northern Italy and then at headquarters in the UK. This presented a novel set of experiences, but customers knew nothing of the dramatic behind-the-scenes activity.
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Drone congregation areas revisited – podcast
A podcast on revisiting the spot where the first documented drone congregation area was heard by the Rev Gilbert White, a pioneering 18th century naturalist.
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Vita Bee Health 2020 photographic competition
The ninth annual Vita Bee Health international photo competition is now open for entries. Each year Vita invites photographs of anything related to honey bees and beekeeping – with a hint that any image that fits a particular month for the resulting limited-edition calendar is of particular interest.
The outright winner of the competition will receive a cash prize and eleven others will also appear in the 2021 Vita Bee Health limiteddition calendar and feature in Vita’s monthly email newsletters. All winners receive a copy of the desk calendar.
The deadline for entries is 25 October 2020. Entrants may submit up to four photos (at least 2 MB in size and preferably as attachments) by emailing them to . Photos may be on any relevant topic relating to honeybees and beekeeping.
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New biological wax moth control for USA
Wax moth damage
Beekeepers in the USA can now save many millions of dollars each year by using B402, a new biological treatment to control wax moth. As a result of rapid and innovative development of the product by honey bee health specialists Vita Bee Health in collaboration with Valent Biosciences Corporation, B402 is now becoming available across the USA.
The new wax moth control product, B402 (also known as Certan), uses Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a bacterium commonly found in nature that selectively kills wax moths at the larval stage. The moths, which can destroy honey bee wax combs and even the structure of hives, cause widespread damage and even colony losses for beekeepers. B402 offers efficacy of up to 100% against wax moth larvae.
B402 has recently been approved for use with honey bee colonies by the USA Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and many individual states have already confirmed that registration, so stock is now being shipped to distributors across the country. B402 is safe to use and harmless to beneficial insects and pollinators. It leaves no chemical residues in wax or honey, and only a single application is necessary to provide complete protection.
Read more…