Apiology

The study of honeybees...

Drone and Worker Brood Microclimates Are Regulated Differentially in Honey Bees, Apis mellifera

Honey bee (Apis mellifera) drones and workers show differences in morphology, physiology, and behavior. Because the functions of drones are more related to colony reproduction, and those of workers relate to both survival and reproduction, we hypothesize that the microclimate for worker brood is more precisely regulated than that of drone brood.

More:Microclimate

'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

The North American Pollinator Protection Campaign Scientists Report on Honey Bee Stressors

The North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC) is a collaborative group of scientists, government agencies, NGO’s, private industries and agricultural and environmental concerns that work together to bring the plight of pollinators to national attention and to be the most trusted resource for information and behaviors in support of pollinating animals and the plants with which they interact.

More:Pollinator Protection

Beekeeping in Vermont

Call a Beekeeper, Not an Exterminator

This is the time of year when Vermont homeowners are likely to find swarms of bees in trees, or even within the walls of houses or barns. While frightening to those unfamiliar with it, it is a natural part of a bee's reproductive cycle. Swarming is the process by which a new honey bee colony is formed when the queen bee leaves the colony with a large group of worker bees - usually to alleviate over-crowding in a hive. When that happens: Call a beekeeper to remove a swarm of bees, not an exterminator.

Details: Published: 05 June 2019 05 June 2019

H.205 Signed by Governor

H.205, the "Neonics" legislation the Vermont Beekeepers Association has been following, was signed into law by Governor Phil Scott on Tuesday, May 28 and will take effect July 1, 2019.

VBA thanks all Vermont beekeepers who worked with us on getting it passed.

Details: Published: 30 May 2019 30 May 2019

Mentors Needed

The Vermont Beekeepers Association Mentor Program is always looking for experienced beekeepers willing to mentor newcomers. We are especially in need of mentors to help cover these areas around the state: Stowe, Moretown, Johnson, Eden, St.Johnsbury, Tunbridge, Westmore and Hartland.

To learn more about the program and what the requirements are for participation as a mentor, please read the qualifications page on our website. If you have any questions, please address them to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Mentoring is a great way to share your skillset with other beekeepers while promoting best management practices in Vermont.

Details: Published: 01 May 2019 01 May 2019

Mares: The Bee Bill

VBA's Bill Mares recently explained H.205 on Vermont Public Radio.
Please, spread the word!

Details: Published: 22 April 2019 22 April 2019

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.

Details: Published: 15 April 2019 15 April 2019

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)