Apiology

The study of honeybees...

Trophallactic interactions in the adult honeybee (Apis mellifera L.)

Abstract - Trophallaxis, the transfer of food by mouth from one individual to another, occurs among adults of honeybee colonies. The drones and the queen consume but do not donate, while the workers are recipients and donors.

More:Trophallaxis

Measuring biological age to assess colony demographics in honeybees

Honeybee colonies are increasingly exposed to environmental stress factors, which can lead to their decline or failure.

More:Demographics

Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab

The USGS Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Program designs and develops large and small-scale surveys for native bees. As part of that program, we also develop identification tools and keys for native bee species. One aspect of creating those tools is creating accurate and detailed pictures of native bees and the plants and insects they interact with.

More:Bee Inventory

The behavioral regulation of thirst, water collection and water storage in honey bee colonies

This study investigated how a honey bee colony develops and quenches its collective thirst when it experiences hyperthermia of its broodnest..

More:Thirst

Home sick: impacts of migratory beekeeping on honey bee (Apis mellifera) pests, pathogens, and colony size

Honey bees are important pollinators of agricultural crops and the dramatic losses of honey bee colonies have risen to a level of international concern. Potential contributors to such losses include pesticide exposure, lack of floral resources and parasites and pathogens.

More:homesick

Catch the Buzz

General Beekeeping News...

Beekeeping in Vermont...

VBA Now Offers Student Memberships

In an effort to encourage new beekeepers to join the Vermont Beekeepers Association, the VBA membership approved a bylaws change authorizing a new student membership category at the organization's annual meeting this past Saturday in Swanton.

Individual high school and college students are eligible for membership at the reduced rate of $5.00 per year. Students may join online or by mail to take advantage of the VBA's programs.

VBA Summer Meeting

Thanks to the Franklin County Beekeeping Club for hosting another successful summer meeting of the Vermont Beekeepers Association.

Fred Putnam Jr. of Brandon joins the board as VBA's Recording Secretary.

Watch for a write-up and photos from the meeting...

North Yard Workshop Photos

Great weather at today's ACBA workshop where "Talking Bees with Chaz Mraz" was the program. Chaz covered many topics including making nucs, recognizing types of queens cells, mite monitoring, and treatment options as well as wide-ranging questions on Spring and Fall hive management. Pics (provided by Fred Putnam) are available on the VBA website gallery.

Mares on Bee Democracy

VBA's Bill Mares on VPR recently discussing democracy as practiced by honeybees - with a nod to Thomas Seeley's Honeybee Democracy.

(VBA's Twitter feed also features the link and can be followed with RSS on our newsfeed page.)

VBA May Board of Director Meeting Minutes

Minutes from the May 9th VBA Board of Directors meeting (held via conference call) are now available online. VBA members may read the minutes by logging in to the site and selecting Meeting Minutes under the Members Only top menu heading.

Great Weather, Great Information

The group (pictured here) attending the May 12th North Workshop presented by the ACBA's Scott Wilson and Fred Putnam enjoyed good weather and a wealth of information. Topics included how to perform a beehive post-mortem following what has turned out to be a concerning winter for Vermont beekeepers with higher than usual losses reported and management of Varroa - of course.