Removing Varroa Mites from Honey Bees Without Chemicals
About this episode
Eric Bennett interviews beekeeper Stuart Roweth about innovative, chemical-free methods for managing varroa mites in honey bees.
Host Eric Bennett reaches out all the way to Gloucestershire, England to have a discussion with Stuart Roweth, beekeeper and inventor of Bee Gym and Bee Gym Slim. Stuart is on a mission to help bees fight back against varroa without chemicals. He walks us through his beekeeping journey, from receiving his first swarm in a cardboard box to developing the Bee Gym, a mechanical device that encourages bees to groom varroa mites off themselves using small flippers, spikes, and wires. The episode also features an Inside the Hive segment exploring how bees regulate summer heat through evaporative cooling, collecting water and fanning it across the comb in a system that predates human air conditioning by millions of years. Whether you're new to beekeeping or a seasoned pro, this episode is packed with practical wisdom. Stuart and Eric discuss the importance of staying open-minded when it comes to varroa management — testing before and after any treatment, combining mechanical tools like the Bee Gym with other IPM practices, and knowing when a chemical miticide may still be the right call. Stuart also shares a memorable story about performing a massive bee cutout from a Bristol rooftop…
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