Bee Talks Recap | December 2025
Updated: Aug 26
In this episode of Bee Talks, we get into how to keep an eye on your bees when you can’t open the boxes. We talk about using thermal cameras in winter, how to read hot and cold spots on hives, what cluster position really tells you, and why brood nests often restart around the winter solstice even when it still feels cold outside.
We discuss broodless colonies, late season drones, and what those clues say about queen status heading into spring. We talk through Norroa™ as a new tool in the varroa toolbox, how it differs from knockdown treatments, where oxalic acid vaporization and dribble fit in, and why insulation and reduced ventilation can change how much honey a colony needs to get through the winter.
In this episode:
00:00:30 - Can I use thermal camera for winter monitoring (and which kind should I use)?
00:08:30 - Can a virgin queen overwinter in a colony, and will there be laying workers in the Spring?
00:14:50 - Why would a colony swarm in September?
00:16:38 - Is it normal to still see drones this late in the season?
00:18:20 - To put a bear fence up, I have to move my hives - What’s the best way to do this?
00:20:30 - Do we have feedback on local (Connecticut) efficacy of Norroa™ treatment?
00:28:21 - Does temperature determine how much oxalic acid should be used in a treatment?
00:31:15 - Are queen deaths associated with oxalic acid treatments?
00:32:45 - Has oxalic acid changed dosage?
00:33:31 - Will workers reseal their chamber if I break the seal?
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Bring your questions, ideas, and observations to the next Bee Talks, held the second Thursday of each month.
Each session includes a Q&A period and a discussion on a seasonally-appropriate topic, guiding beekeepers through the year. Open to all, regardless of experience or equipment, these sessions support your practice and provide essential information for success.
Bee Talks are led by Bill Hesbach, an Eastern Apicultural Society Certified Master Beekeeper and University of Montana Master Beekeeping Program graduate. He teaches bee biology and beekeeping methods at regional events and national seminars. Bill is on the Board of Directors for the Eastern Apicultural Society and is President of the Connecticut Beekeepers Association. His articles appear in Bee Culture, Bee Craft, and The American Bee Journal.
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