Apiology

The study of honeybees...

'Intensive' beekeeping not to blame for common bee diseases

More "intensive" beekeeping does not raise the risk of diseases that harm or kill the insects, new research suggests.

Intensive agriculture—where animals or plants are kept crowded together in very high densities—is thought to result in higher rates of disease spreading.

But researchers from the University of Exeter and the University of California, Berkeley found this is not the case for honeybees.

More:Intensive

RNA virus spillover from managed honeybees (Apis mellifera) to wild bumblebees (Bombus spp.)

The decline of many bumblebee species (Bombus spp.) has been linked to an increased prevalence of pathogens caused by spillover from managed bees. Although poorly understood, RNA viruses are suspected of moving from managed honeybees (Apis mellifera) into wild bumblebees through shared floral resources.

More:Bombus

Seasonal variation of pollen collected by honey bees (Apis mellifera) in developed areas across four regions in the United States

For honey bees (Apis mellifera), colony maintenance and growth are highly dependent on worker foragers obtaining sufficient resources from flowering plants year round. Despite the importance of floral diversity for proper bee nutrition, urban development has drastically altered resource availability and diversity for these important pollinators.

More: Pollendiversity

Toward Audio Beehive Monitoring: Deep Learning vs. Standard Machine Learning in Classifying Beehive Audio Samples

Electronic beehive monitoring extracts critical information on colony behavior and phenology without invasive beehive inspections and transportation costs. As an integral component of electronic beehive monitoring, audio beehive monitoring has the potential to automate the identification of various stressors for honeybee colonies from beehive audio sample

More:AudioMonitoring

Reduced density and visually complex apiaries reduce parasite load and promote honey production and overwintering survival in honey bees

Managed honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies are kept at much greater densities than naturally occurring feral or wild colonies, which may have detrimental effects on colony health and survival, disease spread, and drifting behavior (bee movement between natal and non-natal colonies).

More:HoneybeeDrift

Catch the Buzz

General Beekeeping News...

Beekeeping in Vermont...

H.205 UPDATE

VBA Members: As we've been telling you, H.205 is an important piece of legislation that could change beekeeping in Vermont. We ask you to read the following and take action. A good summary of the bill was recently the subject of a VPR commentary by VBA's Bill Mares.

Order Now! - Summer Release

The LAND of MILK & HONEY

Order Now in Time for the Summer Release

Learn how several thousand beekeepers and several billion bees made history in the small state of Vermont. This book vividly describes two hundred years of beekeeping practices and innovation by Vermonters just like you. Read how they joined the world-wide search for improved ways to harvest world-class honey, maintain these vital pollinators and save them from pathogens, pesticides, pollution, loss of forage and climate change.

Hardcover, approx. 200 pages. List price $30 + $6 shipping ($36 total)

$500K UVM donation dedicated to bee research

VBA Amendments to H.205 - Feb. 26, 2019

UPDATE: After submitting our comments to the House Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, VBA President Jack Rath DVM has been invited to testify to the committee tomorrow, Thursday, February 28.

ACBA Begins Season Talking Mites

VBA President Dr. Jack Rath presented to 42 beekeepers on the Varroa mite and how to manage Varroa to maintain healthy honey bees.

The occasion was the kick off meeting for the 2019 Addison County Beekeepers Association beekeeping season.

Beekeepers from Lamoille Chittenden and Rutland counties were there as well as some from New Hampshire. 10 students from The UVM honeybee club also attended .

VBA's Testimony on H.205 - Feb. 20, 2019

VBA's initial testimony on H.205 - Regulation of Neonicotinoid Pesticides - is presented here for your review. (PDF file.)

VBA member Chas Mraz reports the committee was receptive to working with VBA to improve the bill. The board of directors will continue to meet on this issue and will publish their suggestions when finalized.

VBA member Bill MAre's testimony is also provided for your review.

WCB Organizational Meeting

Forty people attended Saturday afternoon’s organizational meeting of the new Windham County Beekeepers!

Great discussion, great plans and a great start for what looks to be an important addition to local ag!

Congrats to Jeff Battaglini and Lesley Weisbrot for organizing this and to all who attended! (Jeff and the crowd pictured.)

VBA 2019 Winter Meeting Minutes Posted

VBA Members: The minutes and program summary from the 2019 Winter Meeting meeting have been posted in the Members Only area of the VBA website. Please check them out!

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