The Weapon of Mass Destruction... That is Killing Honey Bees
Follow the link to see new close-up images of one of the mites responsible for killing billions of honey bees around the world.
The magnified photographs of the pinhead-sized mite, aptly named Varroa destructor, were captured by Dr. Jonathan Salvage of the University of Brighton (UK), using a state-of-the-art scanning electron microscope (SEM).
Dr. Salvage, a Research Fellow in the University’s School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, has been working with Adam Leitch, a Master Beekeeper, on both a study of plant pollen that honey bees pollinate and aspects of honey bee pest anatomy
Dr. Salvage said: “The mite, with its ice-axe-like weapon of attack, the palptarsi claws, is a major threat to honey bees globally. It is involved in the mass destruction and deaths of billions of bees, which, in turn, threatens crop pollination and food production.”
More: American Bee Journal
Catch the BUZZ : More Bees Means more and Bigger Plums.
The production areas of Chinese plums are located in Meishan, Sichuan; Maoming, Guangdong; Gutian, Fujian; and Guizhou province. Under regular weather conditions, the plum production season in Meishan begins every year in June and ends at the beginning of July. The production volume of 2017 showed a great increase in comparison with the production volume of 2016. This was in large parts due to the production volume increase by around 30% for the trees that were pollinated. This is according to Mr. Yang Qi of Sichuan Top Grade Modern Agriculture Co., Ltd.
More: Bee Culture
Catch the Buzz : Draft Guidance for Industry: Declaration of Added Sugars on Honey, Maple Syrup, Etc.. Comments Wanted!
How to Comment
The comment period opens March 2, 2018. Although you can comment on any guidance at any time (see 21 CFR 10.115(g)(5)), to ensure that FDA considers your comment on this draft guidance before we begin work on the final version of the guidance, submit either electronic or written comments on the draft guidance within 60 days from when the comment period opens.
Submit electronic comments to https://www.regulations.gov to docket number FDA-2018-D-0075
Submit written comments to:
Dockets Management Staff (HFA-305)
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061
Rockville, MD 20852
All comments should be identified with the docket number FDA-2018-D-0075.
Home Sick: Effects of Migratory Beekeeping on Honey Bee Disease
A group of UVM researchers are collaborating with a local beekeeper to study the role of migratory beekeeping in bee disease. Crop pollination by migratory beekeeping operations presents a highly concentrated convergence of bees where diseases may be transmitted and spread as hives are transported throughout the US. To test if migratory operations contribute to the spread of disease, they are planning to conduct an experiment and need your help! They are crowdfunding to raise money for this important project.
The Vermont Beekeepers Association has committed to helping fund this important and valuable research with a $500.00 donation. If you would be interested to find out more information about their proposal and help support this effort, please click the link below.
The Caffinated Lives of Bees
Caffeine improves learning and memory in bees, as it does in people. Scientists know that. But, one might wonder, what do these laboratory findings mean in terms of the actual lives of bees? It’s not as if a flower meadow is sprinkled with coffee shops.
Tools For Varroa Management
A Guide To Effective Varroa Sampling & Control
The Honey Bee Health Coalition has released a reference guide to help beekeepers sample and control varroa mite levels in their colonies. Now that we are in the month of August, the traditional treatment month for Vermont beekeepers, the relase of this reference guide is very timely.
Click Here to Download: Tools For Varroa Management
