Podcast Summary
Beekeeper's Daily Routine and Tragic Discovery: Beekeeping requires consistent care and vigilance to protect bees from threats and ensure their survival.
Beekeeping involves regular care and communication with the bees. Ted McFall, a hobby beekeeper, shares his daily routine of calming the bees with smoke and checking their needs. He even talks to them, acknowledging their queen's importance and potential threats. However, during a routine check in November 2021, McFall discovered a horrific scene - thousands of decapitated bees in front of one of his hives. This tragic event underscores the vulnerability of bee colonies and the importance of vigilance in beekeeping. Despite the romanticized idea of bees recognizing their keeper, the reality is that bees depend on their keepers to protect them from predators and ensure their survival.
Asian Giant Hornets: The Deadly Invaders: Asian Giant Hornets pose a threat to honeybee populations and agriculture, decapitating bees to feed their young with a pheromone trail. Their arrival in the US is believed to be due to international trade.
The Asian Giant Hornets, also known as "murder hornets," are a dangerous invasive species that have made their way from Asia to the United States. These hornets are known for their voracious consumption of honeybees, using a pheromone to locate hives and decapitating the bees to feed their young. The mechanics of their attack are brutal, with each hornet able to kill a bee every 14 seconds. The exact method of how these hornets arrived in the US is still unclear, but it's believed to be related to international trade. These hornets can cause significant damage to honeybee populations, which could have larger implications for agriculture and the environment. Despite being a peacekeeper for many years, encountering these hornets left one individual baffled and disturbed.
First US sighting of Asian giant hornet traced back to homeowner's YouTube video: Homeowner's recognition of hornet from YouTube video led to first US confirmation of invasive Asian giant hornet species, but queens had already hibernated, making location difficult, and new colonies pose threat to honeybees and insects in spring.
The first official sighting of the Asian giant hornet in the United States was discovered by a homeowner who had seen a YouTube video about the hornet and recognized the one he found in his yard. This discovery led to the confirmation of two worker hornets in December 2020, but the queens had already gone into hibernation for the winter, making it difficult to locate them. However, when the queens emerge from hibernation in the spring, they will start building new colonies and expanding their populations, posing a threat to honeybees and other insects in the region. The homeowner's awareness and quick action in reporting the sighting to the authorities were crucial in confirming the first sighting of this invasive species in the US.
Tracking down murderous hornets with traps: Authorities use large traps filled with attractants to lure murderous hornets and eliminate entire colonies by following their trail back to the nest.
This spring season is a critical moment to tackle the murderous hornet infestation. Authorities in Washington are employing various strategies to catch these hornets, including using large traps made from clear fruit jugs filled with orange juice, rice wine, or fermented milk protein. The goal is to track them back to their nests and eliminate the entire colony, rather than just one hornet. The traps work by luring the hornets in and allowing them to escape, so that their trail can be followed back to their nest. These hornets, which can grow up to 2 inches long with a wingspan similar to a dragonfly, have a striking appearance with tiger stripes and large, ferocious eyes. Once a nest is discovered, the ideal situation is to attack at night when all the hornets are in the nest, ensuring the elimination of the entire colony.
Asian giant hornets threaten US honeybee populations: Asian giant hornets could disrupt ecosystems and collapse honeybee populations if they establish themselves in the US, as European honeybees lack the defense mechanism against them.
The Asian giant hornet poses a significant threat to honeybee populations in the United States, and eradication efforts are underway to prevent the spread of this invasive species. However, if these efforts fail, the hornets could quickly establish themselves in new areas, potentially leading to the collapse of honeybee populations and disrupting ecosystems. It's important to note that Japanese honeybees have evolved to defend themselves against Asian giant hornets, but European honeybees, which are the most common pollinators in the US, do not have this defense mechanism. If a hornet approaches a hive, Japanese honeybees surround it and produce heat to cook the hornet to death. Unfortunately, this defense mechanism does not exist in European honeybees. The consequences of a hornet infestation in the US could be severe, as honeybees play a crucial role in pollinating crops and maintaining ecosystems.
Discovery of Asian Giant Hornet in US threatens honeybees and food sources: The discovery of the Asian Giant Hornet in the US poses a significant threat to honeybee populations and food production. The hornets have already been found in Washington State and could spread further, potentially leading to a major decline in pollination and food sources.
The discovery of the Asian Giant Hornet in the United States poses a significant threat to honeybee populations and, by extension, to human food sources. The hornets have been found to kill honeybees in large numbers, and if they continue to spread, it could lead to a major decline in pollination and, consequently, food production. This situation is particularly concerning since one-third of all food relies on honeybee pollination. The researchers have noted that the hornets do not have the same instincts or abilities to fight back as their Asian counterparts, suggesting that if they begin targeting hives across the US, it could result in a series of massacres. The situation is further complicated by the fact that the hornets have already been found in Washington State and are poised to spread further. The parallels between the arrival and potential spread of the Asian Giant Hornet and the COVID-19 pandemic have also been noted, with both originating in Asia and posing significant threats to public health and food production. The importance of addressing these threats cannot be overstated, as both the loss of honeybee populations and the continued spread of the coronavirus could have serious consequences for humanity.
DOJ Drops Criminal Case Against Michael Flynn: The DOJ dropped the criminal case against Michael Flynn, raising questions about the FBI's justification for interviewing him and offering hope for those wrongfully accused.
The Department of Justice dropped its criminal case against Michael Flynn, former national security adviser to President Trump, who had pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents about his communications with Russia. This decision was seen as a relief and vindication for Flynn, who supporters believe was wrongfully accused. The FBI's justification for interviewing Flynn in the first place is now being questioned. Meanwhile, the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic continues to be felt, with over 33 million Americans having filed for unemployment since the start of the crisis. This represents over a quarter of the workforce in some states. Despite these challenges, Flynn's case offers a reminder that there is a chance to correct past mistakes and ensure justice is served.
Back about 100 years ago, there was so much adulterated honey for sale that people were reluctant to buy it at all. Comb honey was seen as being different because that couldn’t be adulterated, right? Well, A. I. Root put up an award looking for fake comb honey because he was sure it couldn’t be done.
So, can you make fake comb honey? Well, perhaps. Tune in and listen to Kim and Jim examine these old and new rules about comb honey, and see what the world is up to with these newfangled inventions.
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Jim has finally taken to heart the old saying, “Plant a flower - Feed a bee” and wants to add some plants to his yard that will not only feed bees, but add beauty to his landscape. But Jim’s a hard-core entomologist and hasn’t spent a lot of time studying the how’s and why’s and where’s of creating his semi-urban plain old lawn into a Garden of Earthly Delights.
This time of year, experienced and new beekeepers are receiving their packaged bees and nucs. Only a few of these packages and nucs are going home to new equipment. Many will go home to equipment left over from last year's failed colonies. Is it safe to use this equipment?
Jim's answers may surprise you.
In this episode, we're joined by Monica Schmitt, Director of Mission Beelieve, an organization dedicated to using beekeeping as a therapeutic and vocational resource for veterans and first responders. Monica, talks about how her enjoyment of beekeeping led her to discover how beekeeping can be used as an therapeutic tool, aiding in the mental health and well-being of those who have devoted their lives to serving our country.
Protecting pollinators and improving the habitat for honey bees often entails planting nectar and pollen rich plants. In this episode, Kirsten talks with Calvin Ernst, founder of 
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