Apiology

The study of honeybees...

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

Population growth of Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) in honey bee colonies is affected by the number of foragers with mites

Varroa mites are a serious pest of honey bees and the leading cause of colony losses. Varroa have relatively low reproductive rates, so populations should not increase rapidly, but often they do.

More:VarroaGrowth

Busy Bees Take a Break During Total Solar Eclipses

The 2017 North American eclipse gave researchers an inside look at how bees respond to light—with the help of a few hundred elementary-schoolers.

More:Eclipse

Pollen trapping and sugar syrup feeding of honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) enhance pollen collection of less preferred flowers

Honeybees are well adapted to collect and transfer pollen and thus are the most commonly used crop pollinators.

More:Pollen

Catch the Buzz

General Beekeeping News...

Beekeeping in Vermont...

Is there added sugar in Honey?

You may have heard about the FDA and their intent to label honey and other products as containing added sugar.

The draft guidance is found by clicking here. Please take the time to read it and submit comments as you see fit.

Fred Putnam Jr. speaking at Killington Town Office

If you happen to bee in Killington on August 8, 11:00 A.M. buzz on over to the Killington Town office to hear Fred teach kids about honeybees, beekeeping, culminating with a fabulous Vermont honey tasting.This is part of the Town of Killington kids summer camp organized by the Town of Killington Recreation Director, Cathy Foutch.

Longtime VBA Member David Prior Passes

David Robert Prior, 59, of Shelburne, Vermont, passed away on Friday, April 27, after an eight year battle with cancer. An active member of the Vemont Beekeepers Association, David is known for dprior his love of family,friends, antiques, bees, Hermit Island (Maine), and his dogs, Cooper and Eli. He took great pride in being able to return to live in Vermont after many years away. He is survived by his wife, Kristin, who has been an amazing caregiver throughout his illness and his beloved son, Lynden.

Take a Brief Survey

What are you reading? Take a moment to let us know by answering our brief survey that asks about your beekeeping reading.

The survey is available to the right under VBA Surveys and will be open for a few weeks. Results will be be posted here and in the next VBA Update.

Mentoring Program Update

A message from Scott Wilson regarding the VBA mentoring program

VBA Marketplace Updates

Looking for Northern-raised queens or nucs? Supplies are limited but you might want to check with suppliers listed on our revamped Marketplace listings (on the top menu). We're rearranging things a bit to emphasize northern honeybee providers. We've also separated the listings so beekeeping equipment has its own listing.

And we're working on establishing a web store so you can buy VBA hats and books in addition to paying your membership dues online.