June 2025 Mini-conference

Our Bees are Dying from Stress, Let's Look at the Effects of Heat

Presenter: Duane Combs, Arizona Beekeepers LLC

Thursday, June 26th, 2025, 7:00 PM (Mountain Daylight Time), 1:00 AM UTC 

Presentation Summary: You know how the cold of winter can affect your hives but what about the heat of summer. A sunny summer day with a high of 90 degrees can lead to ground temperatures of 120 degrees or more. Come learn how a desert beekeeper deals with 160 degree ground temperatures and his struggle to keep his hives alive.

Bio: Duane Combs is a certified master beekeeper (UMT) living in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona. His company, Arizona Beekeepers llc, sells honey and 200 nucs a year in the Arizona market.

For over 4 years he has studied overcoming the effects of excessive summer heat in the desert and this year is supporting a study with the Carl Hayden Bee Lab which will compare 3 hive designs.