[Bonus] Short - Hive Debris Analysis with Dr. Dewey Caron

In this December Beekeeping Today Short, Dr. Dewey Caron offers a fascinating look at what our bees communicate through something we often ignore: hive debris. This episode continues Dewey’s ongoing monthly exploration of honey bee communication—bridging bee science, beekeeper decisions, and the bees’ own intricate signals.

Drawing from his upcoming American Bee Journal review and the new book Bottom-Up Beekeeping by Ray Baxter, Dewey explains how debris boards can reveal far more than mite counts. From colony size and cluster position to brood activity, queen events, moisture issues, pollen usage, and even pest signatures, hive “trash” becomes a rich source of insights. Dewey also highlights practical techniques taught by Christine Kurtz, the “Petaluma Bee Lady,” whose debris-reading presentations have inspired many beekeepers to add this tool to their regular management.

The episode closes with a deep dive into undertaker bees—how they detect death inside the hive, the chemical cues involved, and the essential role these workers play in colony hygiene.

This Short offers a thoughtful preview of what listeners can expect when Dewey launches his new monthly mini-series Bee Science with Dr. Dewey Caron in January. It’s practical, insightful, and rooted in research—perfect for beekeepers looking to understand their colonies from the bottom up.

Links and references mentioned in this episode:

• Petaluma Bee Lady:  https://www.alamedabees.org/event/april-2024-meeting/

• Paul Seifert Hive Recordings: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0247323

• Ray Baxte, Bottom-Up Beekeeping: Learning from the Debris on the Hive Floor, 2025 Northern Bee Books. https://amzn.to/3XNuCrT

• Undertaker Bee Study: https://www.science.org/content/article/how-undertaker-bees-recognize-dead-comrades 

Brought to you by Betterbee – your partners in better beekeeping.

______________

Betterbee is the presenting sponsor of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Betterbee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

** As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases

Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC