MERCER COUNTY BEEKEEPERS

10/01/2026

06/19/2026

Registration Is Now Open for your bee colonies.

If you need an inspection or help with registration, give me a call at 304-687-9269.

If you are selling or giving away bees OR used equipment, you MUST be inspected.

If you are buying or being given bees or used equipment, please, please make sure they have been inspected by a State Apiary Inspector to ensure that your bees are disease free.

Send a message to learn more

06/02/2026

Honey bees use air flow and water evaporation to keep their hive internal temperature cool. Brood starts dying at 95 degrees. The wax starts softening and collapsing at 104 degrees. At 113 degrees the whole colony will die within 24 hours. Yet bees are kept in area’s where the outside temperature is above these thresholds. How do they do it?

Honeybees are masters at keeping their hives cool. The way they do it is with airflow and water evaporation. Many of your early 20th century high rise buildings us evaporative coolers to keep the internal temperatures in the 70 degree range even on 100 degree days.

Evaporative cooling is the same process that honeybees use in their hive. As long as you do not block the airflow and the bees have plenty of water for use in evaporating they will keep the temperature below the 95 degrees.

05/29/2026

🐝 JUNE MEETING 🐝

Monday, June 1st at 7 PM
We are hosting at the Fred Gilbert, Vietnam Veterans Center.
113 Straley Ave, Princeton, WV 24740

Agenda will include:

- possible guest speaker
- Mercer fair and Princeton Fall fest planning
- mentoring
- smoker giveaway
- managing hive splits

05/03/2026

🐝MAY MEETING🐝

Our Next meeting will be:
Monday May 4th at 7 PM
We are hosting at the Fred Gilbert, Vietnam Veterans Center. 113 Straley Ave, Princeton, WV 24740

04/28/2026

The Mercer County Beekeepers field day is going to be rescheduled. The 44 degree temperature on Saturday is too cold.

Send a message to learn more

04/05/2026

🐝APRIL MEETING🐝

Our Next meeting will be:
Monday April 6th at 7 PM
We are hosting at the Fred Gilbert, Vietnam Veterans Center. 113 Straley Ave, Princeton, WV 24740

Agenda will include:
Speaker presentation: Shanda King - WV state apiarist

02/23/2026

🐝MARCH MEETING🐝

Our Next meeting will be:
Monday March 2nd at 7 PM
We are hosting at the Fred Gilbert, Vietnam Veterans Center. 113 Straley Ave, Princeton, WV 24740

Agenda will include:
Speaker presentation: Dene Ryan from the Hives to Heroes Organization.

02/13/2026

Last month I sat in on a zoom call with David T. Peck, Ph.D., Director of Research & Education at Betterbee. Arranged by The Western Apiculture Society. This was a very informative program on Varroa mites and the management. He will be one off the speakers at the West Virginia Beekeepers Association later thismonth.

Send a message to learn more