Dan works to improve the health of his hives in other ways too. He is currently the President of the Russian Honeybee Breeders Association and raises Queen Russian Honeybees to supply beekeepers all over the country. Warm Colors is the only source of “certified” Russian queens in New England. These Russian bees have been bred to improve their tolerance to mites and immunity to diseases, which reduces the amount of chemical treatments necessary to maintain healthy hives. This is part of what makes Warm Colors’ honey so unique and high quality; it is pure and uncontaminated by chemicals. Dan Conlon is thrilled to be a part of this innovation and shared, “I enjoy the involvement with the sciences and that we are discovering things that are going to benefit future generations. That is the pinnacle of my career - participating in things that will make a difference long after I am gone.” |
- Plant flowers to support wild bees and butterflies. Bees and other pollinators eat the nectar from flowers, and you can make a difference by planting native species on any land you have access to.
- Be aware of the chemicals you apply to your land and follow the instructions on chemical labels. Chemicals can be the most problematic when they are used improperly.
- Learn to live with stinging insects. If stinging insects aren’t directly in your way, they are actually beneficial to your space. For example, yellow jackets eat fly larvae which can decrease the amount of flies on your property. Wasps can control garden pests by hunting insects that harm vegetable crops.
-Dan Conlon
Photo credit: Keith Toffling