Vermont Beekeepers Association

Apiology

Apiology – (from Latin apis, "bee"; and Ancient Greek -λογία, -logia) is the scientific study of honey bees.

Control of the microsporidian parasite Nosema ceranae in honey bees (Apis mellifera) using nutraceutical and immuno-stimulatory compounds

nosema ceranae is a microsporidian parasite that causes nosemosis in the honey bee (Apis mellifera). As alternatives to the antibiotic fumagillin, ten nutraceuticals (oregano oil, thymol, carvacrol, trans-cinnmaldehyde, tetrahydrocurcumin, sulforaphane, naringenin, embelin, allyl sulfide, hydroxytyrosol) and two immuno-stimulatory compounds (chitosan, poly I:C) were examined for controlling N. ceranae infections.

More: Nosema

Mite bombs or robber lures? The roles of drifting and robbing in Varroa destructor transmission from collapsing honey bee colonies to their neighbors

When honey bee colonies collapse from high infestations of Varroa mites, neighboring colonies often experience surges in their mite populations. Collapsing colonies, often called “mite bombs”, seem to pass their mites to neighboring colonies. This can happen by mite-infested workers from the collapsing colonies drifting into the neighboring colonies, or by mite-free workers from the neighboring colonies robbing out the collapsing colonies, or both.

More: mitebomb

Colony Size, Rather Than Geographic Origin of Stocks, Predicts Overwintering Success in Honey Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in the Northeastern United States

Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) are key pollinators of agricultural crops. However, approximately 30% of managed colonies die each winter in the United States. There has been great interest in breeding for ‘locally adapted stocks’ which survive winter conditions in a particular region.

More:Local Stock

Varroa destructor: A Complex Parasite, Crippling Honey Bees Worldwide

Varroa is also a highly efficient vector of honey bee viruses and drives changes in virus distribution, prevalence, and virulence.

More:Varroa Vector

Effect of Bodily Fluids from Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Larvae on Growth and Genome-Wide Transcriptional Response of the Causal Agent of American Foulbrood Disease (Paenibacillus larvae)

Paenibacillus larvae, the causal agent of American Foulbrood Disease (AFB), affect honey bee health worldwide.

More:AFB

Efficacy in the Varroa Mite, Varroa destructor, within commercial beekeeping operations

The parasitic mite Varroa destructor and the associated viruses it transmits are responsible for most instances of honey bee colony losses in the United States. As such, beekeepers utilize miticides to control Varroa populations. Widespread resistance has developed to the miticides fluvalinate and coumaphos. However, Varroa has largely maintained susceptibility to amitraz despite a long and extensive use history.

More:Amitraz

Coronavirus stings world's top honey makers with China beekeepers locked down

BEIJING (Reuters) - Beekeepers in China, the world's top honey producer, are bracing for a bleak start to the key spring pollinating season as travel curbs aimed at containing a coronavirus outbreak keep them at home while their bees go without food for weeks.

More: CoronaVirus

Beekeeping in Vermont

Extracting Your Honey Crop

You're finishing your first successful beekeeping season and now it is time to learn how to harvest your honey crop! Join VBA Vice President Andrew Munkres, of Lemon Fair Honeyworks as he shares his expertise. We suggest you register early as this is a popular workshop.

Note: We are still working out details on how we present this workshop. It may be a live video program on Zoom or part of it may be pre-recorded then presented by Andrew who will take questions during the Zoom call. In any event, we will announce details as they become known. Since this workshop is being arranged on short notice we wanted to give you the opportunity to register for it as soon as it was scheduled!

Details: Last Updated: 10 August 2020 10 August 2020

Last Night's AMA Online

We've posted the recording from last night's AMA Zoom meeting where we discussed AFB and how it is being managed, along with a number of interesting topics. Take a listen (login required) and sign up for the next one...

Details: Last Updated: 07 August 2020 07 August 2020

AFB Reported in Hinesburg

Brooke Decker
Pollinator Health Specialist
State Apiculturist
Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets

American Foul Brood Announcement

July 30, 2020

American Foul Brood (AFB) ) Paenibacillus larva has been confirmed at an apiary located in Hinesburg, Vermont.

The multiple hives and associated equipment have been destroyed by fire. The remaining colonies are under quarantine and enhanced inspection protocols.

Details: Last Updated: 30 July 2020 30 July 2020

Vermont Bee Lab is Open

The Vermont Bee Lab is happy to announce that we are now open and ready to receive samples. We are currently offering tests for Varroa mites and Nosema.

Samples can be dropped off or mailed.

For more information on collecting and submitting samples, check out our FAQs on our website and view our video:

Details: Last Updated: 27 July 2020 27 July 2020

Italian Honeybee on Italian Parsley

5f11a7e6e9811 20200717 090310 Photo by Scott Wilson

Details: Last Updated: 17 July 2020 17 July 2020

American Foul Brood Reported in Additional Locations in Vermont.

Brooke Decker
Pollinator Health Specialist
Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
802-272-6688
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

American Foul Brood has been reported in 2 additional locations in Vermont.

On July 6th 2020, additional cases of American Foul Brood (AFB) Paenibacillus larvae, were self-reported to the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. The cases were located at 2 different apiaries, one in Jericho and one in Orwell, Vermont.

The colonies showing clinical symptoms of AFB were destroyed by fire and remaining colonies sampled for laboratory analysis.

Beekeepers should familiarize themselves with AFB symptoms and observe carefully when inspecting colonies and equipment. Any suspect findings should be reported immediately to Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets Pollinator Health Specialist, at 802-272-6688.

Details: Last Updated: 13 July 2020 13 July 2020