Post Updated on May 24, 2016

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Hi this is Episode fifty of our beekeeping podcast, This week we are talking about Bee Friendly Plants, Scientific findings and Wasps Everywhere.

You can download the podcast directly HERE, or click on the play button above. Feel free to share it with your friends.

Welcome To the kiwimana buzz…

Hi, it’s Gary and Margaret here, We are beekeepers from the hills of the Waitakere Ranges in West Auckland, New Zealand. Our podcast is about beekeeping, Gardening and bit of politics about environmental issues. We also have been known to go off on tangents about other issues.

What’s happening at kiwimana

Gary

• Wow almost got to 10,000 downloads on the podcast in May!!!
• Google “Beekeepers Hangouts”?, you can find the next one HERE, watch the last one HERE.
• Season ending soon, Winter break starts today 🙂

Margaret

• Hives closed down for winter, lots of robbing going on…
• We have lost hives due to Robbing Incidences
• Season very strange this year in New Zealand
• Check Your Bees Food Levels
• Ensure your hives are leaning forward to stop any puddles forming in your hives
• Ensure you check your mite levels over the winter month

Blog Recap

1. Beekeeper Linda – We chat with Linda Tillman – KM047
2. Megan Paska – The Rooftop Beekeeper – KM048
3. How To Move A Beehive

Special Mention:-
Michael Bush – Treatment Free Beekeeping – KM049

News Topics

How do I become…a beekeeper

An article from the Guardian in the UK about how Camilla Goddard got started with Beekeeping.
Camilla Goddard was sitting in a deckchair when she experienced what most people would frantically air slap away, but she took it as a career omen. “As I was chatting to my friend, a honeybee landed on one hand and a bumblebee on the other.
How do I become…a beekeeper

Researchers identify bee friendly plants

Researchers identify bee friendly plants Researchers have made big strides in identifying the plants and trees that provide the best food for bees. Beekeepers, farmers and farm foresters are catching up with the latest developments at the second trees for bees conference which happened back in May.
Researchers identify bee friendly plants

You can find the Tree for Bees site HERE.

This New Finding Explains Why Bees Are Disappearing

The secret is out – bees have been disappearing for now, and scientists are scrambling to understand why. almost a decade Some sources relay that the colonies all across the world are vanishing due to pesticides, electromagnetic frequencies, mites, and even GMO crops, but what researches have recently found to be the cause of the bee catastrophe will shock you.
This New Finding Explains Why Bees Are Disappearing

Save the bees, but maybe not this way

An article from Amy Parachnowitsch about here views on new Avaaz.org campaign

Amy writes…I’m all for saving bees. Heck they’re some of the most important players in the plant systems I study. No bees means no sex for my plants, so there’s that. And I generally have a soft spot for bees. While I was an undergraduate my first real experience in research was working in Mark Winston’s bee lab. I was one of those all round research assistants who moved between projects as the need arose. It was a great experience and the fact that I’m still doing research speaks to that. Maybe it is why I have gone on to study mainly bee-pollinated plants but that is speculation for another day.
Save the bees, but maybe not this way

Do you agree with Amy, please comment below:-

Huge wasp numbers concern

MARTIN DE RUYTER/Fairfax NZ Entomologists are frantically trying to drum up increased funding to fight a huge wasp problem that has been made even worse by the recent arrival of another invader. Warm and dry weather stretching back well over a year is one reason for the large numbers of wasps this summer and early autumn.
Huge wasp numbers concern

Honey industry to benefit from new three-in-one manuka test

New Zealand honey industry to benefit from new three-in-one manuka test New Zealand’s honey industry can now test manuka honey faster and more cost effectively than ever before thanks to a new three-in-one test introduced by the country’s leading analytical testing laboratory, Hill Laboratories.
Honey industry to benefit from new three-in-one manuka test

Questions from you…

• Do bee hives keep wasps away? Raymound – Virginia, United States
• How to deal with wasp in your honey bees? – Kat – Wellington, New Zealand
• What to do when your beehive is overrun with wasps? – Eliot – British Columbia, Canada
• Do robbing screens work? – Alicia – Auckland, New Zealand

If you have a question, email [email protected] and the team at kiwimana will do our best to answer it. Feel free to also email us MP3 files of your questions.

Rik Mayall Passing

Rik Mayall from Young Ones fame passed away this week 🙁

Blog Post Coming Soon

• Beekeeping Courses Coming up
• New Zealand based Podcasts

Feedback from you guys!!!

Sue

Really interesting, really helpful to have reminders about what needs doing.

Itunes Review and Stitcher Reviews

HoneybeesinJapan (Japan) – Great Podcast Guys !!!

Rating: 5 Stars

I’m an American living in Japan and I really enjoy listening to your podcast. As a fourth year beekeeper in Japan, I really appreciate the interesting topics and the fun light-hearted atmosphere. I also enjoy hearing your New Zealand accents. I have six hives now and am hoping for a great honey flow this year. Thanks for your great podcast.

Snow*Cloud (Great Britain) – Brilliant and relevant world-wide

Rating: 5 Stars

Superb beekeeping podcast from this pair of beekeepers talking about their experiences in beekeeping, collecting swarms, dealing with other beekeepers and their views on beekeeping topics – I am in the UK and even though their beekeeping season is in reverse to mine, their content is great and their presentation is cheery and informative. Often they have good guests too, from around the world, adding their experience to the show. Really worth a listen.

From Stitcher:-

Mark D. Rea · West Virginia University

Phenomenal podcast about the important topic of bees. Presented with engaging conversations and great tips for beginners! Highly recommend for the serious or hobbyist or interested beekeeper!

Please review our podcast on itunes? https://kiwimana.co.nz/iTunes.

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