Apiology

The study of honeybees...

The biology of the small hive beetle (Aethina tumida, Coleoptera: Nitidulidae): Gaps in our knowledge of an invasive species

Small hive beetles, Aethina tumida, are honeybee parasites native to Africa, where they are a minor pest only. In contrast, the beetles can be harmful parasites of European honeybee subspecies.

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The Buzz about Honey Bee Viruses

High annual losses of honey bees, as well as range reductions and local extinctions of wild and native pollinator species, are concerning because bees are important plant pollinators [1]. Approximately one-third of the typical Western diet requires bee pollination, and honey bees (Apis mellifera) are the primary pollinators of numerous food crops, including fruits, nuts, vegetables, and oilseeds [2].

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Comparison of Productivity of Colonies of Honey Bees, Apis mellifera, Supplemented with Sucrose or High Fructose Corn Syrup

Honey bee colony feeding trials were conducted to determine whether differential effects of carbohydrate feeding (sucrose syrup (SS) vs. high fructose corn syrup, or HFCS) could be measured between colonies fed exclusively on these syrups. In one experiment, there was a significant difference in mean wax production between the treatment groups and a significant interaction between time and treatment for the colonies confined in a flight arena.

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Chalkbrood disease in honey bees

Chalkbrood disease is typically most prevalent during the spring, given that fungal growth is enhanced in cool and humid (poorly ventilated) beehives (Mehr et al., 1976; Gilliam et al., 1978; Puerta et al., 1994; Flores et al., 1996; Borum and Ulgen, 2008).

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Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Queen Reproductive Potential Affects Queen Mandibular Gland Pheromone Composition and Worker Retinue Response

Reproductive division of labor is one of the defining traits of honey bees (Apis mellifera), with non-reproductive tasks being performed by workers while a single queen normally monopolizes reproduction.

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Catch the Buzz

General Beekeeping News...

Beekeeping in Vermont...

Honey Bees: USDA CCD Summary

The European honey bee ( Apis mellifera) is known for its importance for honey production. In addition to honey production, A. mellifera is the most commonly used species as a pollinator in the U.S. Honey bees are managed and used to pollinate over 100 crops grown commercially in North America. Although there are many hobbyist beekeepers, commercial beekeepers are responsible for providing the majority of pollination services to growers. Bumble bees ( Bombus), leafcutting bees ( Megachile rotundata), and to a lesser extent alkali bees (Nomia melanderi) and mason bees (Osmia spp) are also managed for use as pollinators in the U.S (National Resource Council of the National Academies 2007) .

More:USDA

Details: Published: 15 March 2018 15 March 2018

Fred Putnam Jr.....Some thoughts from the SABA meeting.

Fred Putnam Jr., a beekeeper from Brandon, VT spent March 10, 2017 at the Southern Adirondack Beekeepers Association meeting and shares some of what he learned.

FP: Some notable info. from today's 2018 Southern Adirondack Beekeeper's Association annual seminar in Malta, NY. "The Varroa problem is at epidemic proportions in this country."That said by Scott McArt, Assistant Professor of Pollinator Health at Cornell University. From Samuel Ramsey, Univ. of Maryland: "The number one most important thing that beekeepers can do to ensure the survival of their colonies is to manage the levels of Varroa mites." Mr. Ramsey is coming to our 2018 VBA summer meeting. He is a very engaging speaker with much new knowledge. Don't miss it.

Details: Published: 11 March 2018 11 March 2018

EAS 2018 August 13-17, 2018

Eastern Apiculture Society will deliver another amazing Honey Bee Conference in the summer of 2018. This year we will be at a conference center with plenty of space and all under one roof.

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Details: Published: 16 March 2018 16 March 2018

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

Details: Published: 09 March 2018 09 March 2018

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

Details: Published: 10 March 2018 10 March 2018

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.

From Bee Culture.