OUR BEES

Our mission, Furthering Michigan Bees, means we believe in bees (and queens) kept and cultivated in Michigan. Michigan’s unique climate and plant community require bees with genetics proven to thrive. Our bees are produced at our two Shiawassee County apiaries.

To us, Furthering Michigan Bees reflects a commitment to the sustainability of Michigan’s beekeeping community, Michigan’s land and water, and local food systems.

Our commitment to using local products even extends to the glass that houses our honey and our beekeeping equipment.

Varroa Treatment

Management to reduce the abundance of varroa mite, a tenacious pest of honey bees, is critical for honey bee and beekeeping sustainability. For a beekeeper to have no management plan for varroa is unethical and poor animal husbandry.

Bellewether Bees are treated with an organic compound called oxalic acid. Oxalic acid is an organic acid found in many plants, including Oxalis.

Oxalic acid is common in plants because it acts as a repellent to herbivores. It doesn’t have any negative affects on honey bees, but sure does some damage on Varroa destructor. We utilize a method that vaporizes the acid to treat uncapped brood.

In 2014, the FDA registered oxalic as an acceptable treatment for honey bee colonies - a decision in-line with President Obama’s pollinator health initiative.