Beekeeping Today Podcast - Presented by Betterbee

Pests And Predators Episodes

Sept. 5, 2025

[Bonus] Short: Varroa Treatments - ApiLife Var and Apiguard

In this Varroa Treatment Short, Jeff and Becky are joined once again by Dr. David Peck of BetterBee to discuss two thymol-based mite control options: ApiLife-Var and Apiguard . Both products rely on the essential oil thymol, ...

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Aug. 29, 2025

[Bonus] Short: Varroa Treatments - HopGuard 3

In this Varroa Treatment Short, Jeff and Becky are joined by Dr. David Peck of BetterBee to discuss HopGuard 3 , the latest version of this organically derived mite control option. The conversation covers the product’s evolut...

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Aug. 18, 2025

Dr. Lewis Bartlett - The Evolving Challenges Beekeepers Face (347)

Dr. Lewis Bartlett returns to Beekeeping Today Podcast to share the latest science on honey bee health, pest management, and the evolving challenges beekeepers face worldwide. In this wide-ranging conversation, Lewis dives in...

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Aug. 13, 2025

[Bonus] Short: Varroa Treatment Options - Formic Acid

In this Varroa Treatments short, Jeff Ott and co-host Dr. Becky Masterman welcome Dr. David Peck from Betterbee to discuss formic acid—a powerful tool in the fight against varroa mites. David explains how Formic Pro, the most...

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Aug. 6, 2025

[Bonus] Short: Dr. Dewey Caron - Mite Management and Bee Learning Bre…

In this Beekeeping Today Podcast Short, Dr. Dewey Caron returns with his monthly audio postcard—this time focused on August mite management and a remarkable discovery about honey bee learning. Dewey reminds beekeepers that Au...

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Aug. 4, 2025

Yellow Jackets with Dr. Richard Zack (345)

Late summer brings not just honey harvests but also the return of yellow jackets. For many beekeepers, their sudden appearance can spark concern—or outright dread—around the bee yard. In this episode, Jeff and Becky sit down ...

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Aug. 1, 2025

[Bonus] Short - Varroa Treatment Options: Oxalic Acid (OAV and Dribbl…

In this installment of the Varroa Treatment Series, Jeff and Becky welcome Dr. David Peck of BetterBee to discuss oxalic acid treatments, one of the most widely used organic options for controlling Varroa mites. The conversat...

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July 25, 2025

[Bonus] Short - Varroa Treatment Options: Amitraz aka Apivar

In this BTPS Varroa Treatments short, Jeff and Becky are joined again by Dr. David Peck of Betterbee to explore amitraz—known commercially to most U.S. beekeepers as Apivar. As a synthetic miticide, Apivar has long been a cor...

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July 21, 2025

Dr. Steve Pernal: Varroa Mite Research (343)

In this episode, Jeff and Becky speak with Dr. Steve Pernal, research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, about his team’s recent work monitoring Varroa destructor populations and treatment efficacy across Canada...

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July 18, 2025

[Bonus] Short - Varroa Treatments: Apistan & Checkmite+

In this Varroa Treatments Short, Jeff and Becky are once again joined by Dr. David Peck of Betterbee to examine two early weapons in the war against varroa: Apistan and CheckMite+. These synthetic miticides—fluvalinate and co...

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July 11, 2025

[Bonus] Short - Varroa Treatment Options: Varroxsan

In this episode of our BTP Shorts series on varroa treatments, Jeff and Becky welcome back Dr. David Peck of Betterbee to explore VarroxSan—an extended-release oxalic acid strip used to manage varroa mites. David explains how...

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July 9, 2025

[Bonus] Short - Varroa Treatment Options: Series Introduction

In this first episode of our Beekeeping Today Podcast Shorts series on varroa mites, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman are joined by Dr. David Peck of Betterbee to lay the foundation for an important multi-part series. Varroa mite...

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June 23, 2025

Regeneron STS Finalist, Atreya Manaswi - SHB (339)

In this episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast, we welcome an inspiring young voice in honey bee research—Atreya Manaswi, a high school senior and top 40 finalist in the 2025 Regeneron Science Talent Search. Atreya shares the fa...

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April 28, 2025

Tropilaelaps and Varroa Update with Dr. Samuel Ramsey (331)

Dr. Samuel Ramsey returns to the podcast with jaw-dropping updates from his global research into Tropilaelaps and Varroa mites. In this fast-paced and eye-opening conversation, Sammy shares the latest findings from his Honey Bee-nome Project,...

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Jan. 6, 2025

Beekeeping Hot Topics and Trends in 2025 (315)

Kick off 2025 with an insightful conversation featuring Dr. David Peck, Director of Research and Education at Betterbee, as he joins Jeff and Becky to discuss the year’s hottest trends and challenges in beekeeping. From cutting-edge varroa control...

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Sept. 16, 2024

Honey Bee Veterinarians with Tracy Farone, DVM (296)

In this episode, Jeff and Becky sit down with Dr. Tracy Farone, a large animal veterinarian who has applied her expertise to honey bees. Tracy shares her journey from caring for cows and horses to becoming a go-to resource for honey bee health. She...

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Aug. 12, 2024

Dr. Jeff Pettis and Carlos Perea: New Varroa Treatment (291)

In this episode, Jeff and Becky are joined by Dr. Jeff Pettis and Carlos Perea to discuss some groundbreaking developments in varroa mite control. Dr. Pettis, a renowned research scientist with over 20 years of experience at the USDA and...

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Aug. 5, 2024

USDA-ARS Bee Lab Updates with Dr. Jay Evans (290)

In this episode, Jeff and Becky welcome Dr. Jay Evans from the USDA-ARS Beltsville Bee Lab. Jay shares his vast experience and insights into honey bee research, focusing on the critical issues affecting beekeepers today. From his beginnings studying...

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June 3, 2024

All New AFB Vaccine with Dalan Animal Health (S6, E51)

In this episode, Jeff and Becky delve into the groundbreaking development of the first American Foulbrood (AFB) vaccine for honeybees with Annette Kleiser, co-founder of Dalan Animal Health, and Tim Ferris, a commercial beekeeper based in Pennsylvania...

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May 13, 2024

Honey Bee Viruses with Dr. Michelle Flenniken (S6, E48)

(#277) In this episode, we delve into the intricate world of honey bee virology with Dr. Michelle Flenniken from Montana State University. As a seasoned researcher specializing in honey bee viruses, Michelle brings a wealth of knowledge that's both...

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April 15, 2024

Managing Varroa in Your Colonies with Dr. Kirsty Stainton (S6, E44)

(#273) In this enlightening episode, we delve into the complex world of Varroa management with the insightful Dr. Kirsty Stainton. As beekeepers eagerly set up their new colonies, the specter of Varroa destructor looms large, threatening the health...

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April 8, 2024

Dr. Erika Plettner: Using Chemoreceptor Confusion Against Varroa (S6,…

(#272) In the latest episode of the Beekeeping Today Podcast, we dive into the pressing issues facing beekeepers today with our guest, Dr. Erika Plettner from Simon Fraser University. As beekeepers, we are all too familiar with the challenge of...

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March 18, 2024

Beekeeping and Varroa Downunder with Liz Frost (S6, E40)

(#269) In this episode, Becky and her guest cohost and Bee Culture writing partner, Bridget Mendel, take you on a journey with Liz Frost, an American beekeeper turned technical specialist in honeybees for the New South Wales Department of Primary...

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March 11, 2024

How To Get Started With Bees in 2024, Part 4 of 4 (S6, E39)

(#268) In the concluding episode of our four-part series on "How To Get Started With Bees," we explore the crucial topics of parasites, pathogens, predators, and pesticides—from this point on, to be collectively known as the “four Ps of...

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