Author Archives: ljwestover

On Saturday, May 25, here in Fukuoka, Japan, I checked the bees in the hive I am trying to convert to small cell. To explain, during the past 100 years, honey bees have been “upsized” by various beekeepers and scientists … Continue reading →

We got a call today at the university about a swarm of bees. They said that the bees had already been sprayed and there was a big pile of dead bees, but there were survivors and they wanted to know … Continue reading →

This past Saturday I had the opportunity to visit Dr. Tashiro with my wife in Itoshima and talk to him about beekeeping in Japan. He is 90 years old now, and just started keeping native Japanese honey bees (Apis cerana … Continue reading →

Well, I’ve got some good news and I’ve got some bad news. I will mention the good news first. I have been able to collect 4 swarms of native Japanese honey bees since April 4 this year and put them … Continue reading →

I am just starting out making my first effort to do small cell beekeeping (inspired by hearing Sam Comfort’s talk at the ABF meetings in Hershey, and then reading on the Organic Beekeepers list which I joined after those meetings.) … Continue reading →

Today I put together frames and wired in foundation into beekeeping equipment I got here in Japan. It is for Apis mellifera bees, but I used wax foundation made for Apis cerana bees, which I think is 4.9 mm cell … Continue reading →

A poem by Suzanne Hayasaki, a friend who lives in Itoshima Honey Love Hey there busy bee! Let me take you home. I will be your honey bee If you will be my drone. I’m fresh as tulip pollen I’m … Continue reading →

At the beginning of the year, I attended the North American meeting of the American Beekeeping Federation Conference and Tradeshow held in Hershey, Pennsylvania. I flew there from Fukuoka, Japan, where I am still working as and associate professor teaching … Continue reading →

(Japan) Yesterday Kamitani sensei received a phone call about a swarm of bees on the side of a Pachinko Parlour in Nishijin, and he checked out a university vehicle and drove me over to see if we could pick them … Continue reading →

(Japan) I apologize for not having any photographs, but I neglected to bring my camera to work. Yesterday I checked my native Japanese honey bee hive on the roof of Agriculture Building #1, Hakozaki Campus, Kyushu University and saw that … Continue reading →