Interview with Stephen Repasky, Author of Swarm Essentials, Ecology, Management, Sustainability...

Рет қаралды 3,443

25 күн бұрын

Let's talk about swarms with the man who wrote the book on them.
Welcome to another Interview in the series of Interviews With Experts.
If you understand swarm management, you can expand an apiary or restore existing colonies and much more.
This is an affiliate link to Swarm Essentials: amzn.to/4coEM8a
You can also get it from Wicwas Press LLC.
Swarm Commander has many uses. This is an affiliate link: amzn.to/3XILnWb
You can also get it directly from The Blythewood Bee Company. Please tell them Fred sent you so you can pay the same as everyone else :)
We discussed a couple of Bee Vacs, I've posted reviews on the ones I use:
The Colorado Bee Vac: • Colorado Bee Vac Compl...
The Everything Bee Vac: (Steve's declared favorite) • Bee Vacuum, PORTABLE, ...
This is Stephen Repasky's Website: meadowsweetbees.com/
Steve sells bees: "2024 Queens -Our locally mated queens are raised from proven stock. They are Carniolan based and open mated with local drones. This year, we will have daughter queens raised from breeder queens with lineage of Purdue Mite Biters, New World Carniolan, VSH queens and local survivor stock. Color will vary as we select for survivorship, productivity and mite resistance. Prices include marking if desired. Shipping is NOT available.
It is usually best to plan ahead if you can when ordering queens so that you know that we will have them available, although there will be times where accidents happen and you need a queen NOW! Meadow Sweet Apiaries can help you with any of those circumstances! Mated queens will be available starting mid-May. Contact us for availability. Prices are $35 for mated queens."

Пікірлер: 45

@josevelazquez-feliciano1613 20 күн бұрын

This one touched my soul Fred. I'm a pest control technician and I love my work but I strongly dislike the corporate industry. I hope more companies like this pop up.

@oneshoo 20 күн бұрын

Outstanding interview! I also think it is your best one yet! I read Repasky’s book and thought it was very helpful. At NAHBE after one of Larry Conner’s lectures I walked up to him wanting to ask him a question. As I started to speak to him, he completely ignored me and began another conversation with someone he knew. As opposed to Fred Dunn who stood there with me for 20 minutes listening to me babble about bee related stuff! 👍👍

@dotmiller6382 21 күн бұрын

What a great interview/discussion. My copy of Swarming Essentials is coming tomorrow and I’m excited for the book on single brood chambers.

@kevinkaplan7050 15 күн бұрын

I really enjoyed watching this conversation, thank you both!

@FrederickDunn 14 күн бұрын

Thanks, Kevin! :)

@richmiller6284 11 күн бұрын

I agree. I think we are in 1 of the best spots in America. We don't really get any dearth except through winter. We always have something in bloom being around the lake and all the big creeks, ponds, and wet lands around.

@saf729 6 күн бұрын

Thanks for another great informative interview. It's great to have the video exposure to the experts.

@FrederickDunn 6 күн бұрын

Thank you for taking a moment to comment :) You're very welcome.

@jasonseaward8506 19 күн бұрын

I love how blunt Randy Oliver is, he's so straight forward, you always know where you stand with him.

@FrederickDunn 18 күн бұрын

I think we all need to be called out to explain our stance on many beekeeping practices. Randy just doesn't have the time to fiddle about. I was amazed that he read that book right away and provided valuable feedback. It's the questions and challenges that keep us honed in on what works and doesn't. Thanks for commenting :)

@kennith. 21 күн бұрын

Thank you Fred. Great interview filled with knowledge. It is sad that the newer beekeepers don't recognize the legends.

@FrederickDunn 21 күн бұрын

I'm always thrilled to meet those individuals at conferences and beekeeper gatherings... you're right, we need to spot light them more :)

@Catherine-jv9os 21 күн бұрын

Thank you Fred... Fun interview

@thomasplummer2673 23 күн бұрын

Hi Fred, this interview is great,from the beginning to the end. The first part drew my interest. Being a Penn State graduate, my wife and I worked in Mifflin County mapping department as students and we were doing the cave layer for 911. We visited many caves and seeing lots of bats was fun. This was In 2000-2001. Great interview.

@FrederickDunn 23 күн бұрын

Thank you so much, and also thanks for sharing your story :)

@garyfriend5526 16 күн бұрын

Very interesting practicle interview. I have found that a small pump up yard sprayer is great for pushing swarms into the hive traps for collection. I usually collect in the late evening. I have actually found it to be more effective than smoke.

@garyfriend5526 16 күн бұрын

Using only water that is

@FrederickDunn 16 күн бұрын

Interesting!

@guiart4728 23 күн бұрын

Yet another great interview! Thanks 😊

@Steve-pf2ph 22 күн бұрын

Thank you Fred for doing this interview and all the pearls of wisdom given by Steve and you. I'm reading about the OTS method of raising queens and that one of the claimed benefits is that it controls swarming of hives? It seems to make sense and be well credentialed and valid but I've been wondering about it trying to think of any downsides and if that is another "experiment" to try it and see.

@jasonseaward8506 19 күн бұрын

The only downside (which could be an upside depending on context like a brood break for example) is the amount of time it takes to make said queen, her to emerge, harden off, go for her mating flight(s), start laying, and the 1st round of brood to emerge. It's a minimum of probably 40 days or so. The brood break is good for mites but bad if you are trying to build up colony strength.

@framcesmoore 21 күн бұрын

Good video really enjoyed it hope u have a blessed week.

@FrederickDunn 21 күн бұрын

Thank you! You too!

@benschmitt5619 22 күн бұрын

It's my favorite interview to date. Great job by both of you

@FrederickDunn 22 күн бұрын

Wow, thank you!

@weregonnabzzz4648 23 күн бұрын

Very interesting and informative! This book has been on my wish list for a while. I really enjoyed hearing from the author. Thanks!

@FrederickDunn 23 күн бұрын

It's a very good resource. Lots of information for a small book. :) I hope you get one.

@Peter-od7op 23 күн бұрын

Love the interviews

@FrederickDunn 23 күн бұрын

Thanks, Peter! Happy Friday :)

@raymschmidt6032 23 күн бұрын

Nice interview. I liked the comments concerning Randy Oliver. You, Dr Tom Seeley, Randy Oliver, and Dr Leo, are probably the 4 I most respect and pay attention too. I had the privilege of meeting Randy in person at his place last month.

@jamesbarron1202 22 күн бұрын

Same. I started beekeeping after I saw Dr. Leo’s horizontal hive videos. I have regular Langstroth also and I’m phasing them out. I can see them being better if your transporting them. Mine never move.

@FrederickDunn 22 күн бұрын

Wow, I'm impressed that you were able to visit Randy Oliver's apiary! And thank you for such a nice compliment :)

@waynebecker7565 22 күн бұрын

I use swarm comander every spring

@srae1503 23 күн бұрын

Great interview!

@sonofthunder. 20 күн бұрын

Nice,I have the book swarming its control and prevention by L.E SNELGROVE😊

@jamesbarron1202 23 күн бұрын

Arachnophobia was John Goodman. Dan Conner, Rosannes husband. I’m having hive beetle phobia. I put beetle barns, oil traps and Swiffer Sheets on some hives today. They’re getting bad here. I put 5 traps per hive. 2 oils, 2 beetle barns and 1 Swiffer. You’re so lucky you don’t have to deal with them.

@anthonymuma4602 23 күн бұрын

Have you tried grub x under and around your hives? I've heard people have success with it but I havent had enough trouble with beetles to do it

@jamesbarron1202 22 күн бұрын

@@anthonymuma4602 I’m going to build sandpaper traps to catch larvae when I get some free time and see if those work. I don’t see many larvae. It’s mostly adults in my newer weaker hives. Hives I’ve rescued or swarms I’ve caught. I’ve never purchased bees.

@FrederickDunn 22 күн бұрын

Please get the swiffer sheets out as soon as you can. They get measurable micro-plastics into the honey, comb, and bee gut. Any micro-fiber style plastic cloth should be kept out of reach of any of your bees. Bad news... beetle barns, jails etc... are a go, but any "frizzed up cloth" like swiffer should be avoided. The published study was alarming to say the least.

@jamesbarron1202 21 күн бұрын

@@FrederickDunn I don’t take any honey off my bee’s because there’s not a lot of forage in my area. It’s mostly a monoculture of Bermuda grass for cattle and I’m near a big lake so that limits forage also. I wonder if that would really harm the bees that much since they have such a short lifespan anyways. The Queen has a long life but would she accumulate any harmful material by being fed by the younger nurse bees? I just started using the Swiffer this week because my bees always block the openings in my Beetle Barns and Oil Traps with propolis. They apparently don’t like the smell of what’s inside them. This would be a good subject to bring up on your show because so many beekeepers are using microfiber towels.

@seanrichardson881 21 күн бұрын

People making videos that don't know what they're doing is okay as long as they finish the video with, well this is how I screwed up, this is what I learned, if I were to do it over again I would do this differently.

@FrederickDunn 21 күн бұрын

Yes, it's important to provide follow ups when another method is learned or improved. Thanks for sharing. :)

@aaronparis4714 21 күн бұрын

I am very interested in the bats they are indanger up in Nova Scotia there was a spot when we were kids they take you down into the caves and see the bats and I say bats there were millions and now they shut the attraction down as there are no more bats 😢

@FrederickDunn 21 күн бұрын

I wish we could win over more of the population when it comes to bat conservation. They are not liked by many people and information can help overcome that prejudice. :)