What could that "other" slice be for everyone? We will look into creating a way to organize and group what people filled out for that! But in the mean time, you guys really don't like mite washing!

 

 

Why Some Beekeeping Tasks Are the "Least Favorite" and How Lorob Bees Is Helping

At LorobBees, we understand that certain beekeeping tasks can feel more like a chore than a rewarding experience. Whether you're a hobbyist or a commercial beekeeper, the time and effort spent on certain tasks can take the joy out of working with your hives. Through ongoing surveys and direct feedback from our community of beekeepers, we’ve gained valuable insights into what tasks rank as the least favorite—and how we can help make them easier. Here's a look at some of those tough tasks and the solutions LorobBees is developing to help.

Mite Washing: Necessary but Time-Consuming and Stressful

One of the most dreaded tasks among beekeepers is mite washing. While it’s an essential procedure to monitor varroa mite levels, it is often messy, time-consuming, and can feel emotionally uncomfortable. The process involves shaking a sample of bees to dislodge and count the mites, often using alcohol or powdered sugar. This method, while effective, can stress or harm the bees, which is a major concern for beekeepers who are focused on their hive’s health.

• Stress on Bees: For many, the idea of handling bees roughly to obtain an accurate mite count feels unnatural and unsettling. As necessary as this task is, it still ranks as the least favorite.

• Complicated Process: Mite washing is not just one quick step—it’s a multi-phase process that requires precision. You must scoop bees, add a solution, shake, filter, and then count the mites. For those new to beekeeping, the learning curve can feel like an added burden.

• Time-Consuming: If you have multiple hives, performing mite washes on each one can take up much of your time, especially in the busy peak season. The necessity of doing this regularly means it's a repetitive task that many wish could be simplified.

At LorobBees, we’re addressing this by investing in better tools and equipment to reduce the time spent on mite treatment. For example, our InstantVap 18V Oxalic Acid Vaporizer allows beekeepers to treat multiple hives in a fraction of the time it used to take. With more efficient tools, you can spend less time on mite control and more time tending to your hives.

Lifting Honey Supers: Heavy Lifting with Risk of Injury

Another major pain point for beekeepers is the heavy lifting involved in harvesting honey. Honey supers—the boxes where bees store their honey—can weigh between 40 to 90 pounds depending on the size of the hive. The physical strain of repeatedly lifting these heavy boxes, especially when working with multiple hives, makes it one of the least favorite tasks for many.

• Physical Strain and Injury: Repeatedly lifting these heavy boxes can lead to back and shoulder pain, especially for those who aren’t in peak physical condition. Beekeepers often work in awkward positions, with the added stress of wearing protective gear and working in hot weather.

• Cumbersome Handling: Navigating the bee yard with a heavy, sticky box full of honey can be a clumsy and exhausting task. The risk of injuring yourself or damaging frames makes this task even less appealing.

At LorobBees, we’re developing solutions to reduce the strain of lifting heavy honey supers. We’re building a lifting mechanism that will help beekeepers easily move honey supers, making the process safer and more efficient. Our goal is to reduce the physical labor involved in harvesting honey, so you can focus more on the rewarding aspects of beekeeping.

Treating for Varroa Mites: Time-Intensive and Often Unpleasant

Treating for varroa mites is another necessary but highly disliked task. Varroa mites are a leading cause of hive loss, and controlling their population is vital to keeping your bees healthy. However, the treatments required to manage mites are often time-consuming and complicated.

• Multiple Steps: Effective varroa treatment usually involves multiple rounds of treatment or a detailed regimen that includes timing, proper dosing, and following strict temperature conditions. This adds to the complexity and frustration of the task.

• Time Commitment: Mite treatments often require a significant amount of time, especially when you have multiple hives. For example, using oxalic acid vaporization with older equipment could take days to treat all your hives. Our customers have told us that a task that used to take “2 to 3 days” now takes “less than 2 hours” thanks to our efficient solutions.

• Unpleasant Chemicals: The chemicals involved in mite treatments, such as formic acid, can cause discomfort for both the beekeeper and the bees. Beekeepers need to take precautions to avoid inhaling fumes or irritating their skin, which adds to the task’s unappealing nature.

To make mite treatment easier, we’re continuously developing and refining more efficient, safe, and effective tools. Our InstantVap vaporizer is designed to deliver quick, effective mite treatment with less hassle. By streamlining the process and reducing the need for harsh chemicals, we’re working to make varroa management a less burdensome task.

How Lorob Bees Is Addressing the Toughest Beekeeping Tasks

At LorobBees, we’re committed to helping beekeepers make their jobs easier and more enjoyable. We actively listen to feedback from our community and use that input to develop solutions that address common pain points in beekeeping.

• Customer Feedback: Our ongoing surveys and direct conversations with customers allow us to identify key areas where beekeepers need assistance. We’ve used this feedback to innovate better tools, like the InstantVap vaporizer, which makes mite treatment faster and more efficient. We’re also working on a lifting mechanism to help beekeepers move heavy honey supers without injury or strain.

• Product Development: We understand that every beekeeper’s needs are different, so we’re constantly refining our products based on real-world use. Whether it's designing lighter, more ergonomic hives or creating more efficient treatment options, our goal is to make beekeeping tasks as manageable as possible.

• Education and Community: We also offer a wealth of educational resources through our blog and YouTube updates. By sharing tips and best practices, we help beekeepers approach tough tasks with more confidence and efficiency.

Conclusion: Making Beekeeping More Enjoyable, One Task at a Time

Beekeeping is a rewarding hobby and profession, but it also comes with its share of hard work. While tasks like mite washing, lifting heavy honey supers, and treating for varroa mites are unavoidable, they don’t have to be miserable. At LorobBees, we’re dedicated to making beekeeping easier and more enjoyable by continuously developing innovative solutions based on customer feedback. Our goal is to reduce the strain of physical labor, simplify complex procedures, and help beekeepers focus on what really matters: the health and success of their hives.

By creating tools that save time and effort, we aim to turn the least favorite tasks into manageable, efficient parts of the beekeeping process. With our ongoing commitment to innovation and community-driven problem solving, we’re making sure that beekeeping stays as enjoyable as it is rewarding.

Lorob Bees: Innovation for Beekeepers, by Beekeepers.