Vermont Beekeepers Association

Apiology

Apiology – (from Latin apis, "bee"; and Ancient Greek -λογία, -logia) is the scientific study of honey bees.

Altering social cue perception impacts honey bee aggression with minimal impacts on aggression-related brain gene expressionGene expression changes resulting from social interactions may give rise to long term behavioral change, or simply reflect the acti

Gene expression changes resulting from social interactions may give rise to long term behavioral change, or simply reflect the activity of neural circuitry associated with behavioral expression. In honey bees, social cues broadly modulate aggressive behavior and brain gene expression.

More:Bee Social Cue Perception

A pan-European epidemiological study reveals honey bee colony survival depends on beekeeper education and disease control

Reports of honey bee population decline have spurred many national efforts to understand the extent of the problem and to identify causative or associated factors. However, our collective understanding of the factors has been hampered by a lack of joined-up trans-national effort.

More: Colony Survival

Etruscans Transported Bees by Boat to Reach the Best Flowers!

The discovery of an ancient Etruscan honey harvesting workshop at Focello in Italy, and the analysis of charred remains unearthed at the site, has let archaeologists to propose a remarkable hypothesis. Of all the Etruscan techniques, skills, and social norms discovered to date, Etruscan bee boats are a unique beekeeping and honey manufacturing system and a testament to humanity’s obsession with honey.

More:Bee Boats

Control of the microsporidian parasite Nosema ceranae in honey bees (Apis mellifera) using nutraceutical and immuno-stimulatory compounds

nosema ceranae is a microsporidian parasite that causes nosemosis in the honey bee (Apis mellifera). As alternatives to the antibiotic fumagillin, ten nutraceuticals (oregano oil, thymol, carvacrol, trans-cinnmaldehyde, tetrahydrocurcumin, sulforaphane, naringenin, embelin, allyl sulfide, hydroxytyrosol) and two immuno-stimulatory compounds (chitosan, poly I:C) were examined for controlling N. ceranae infections.

More: Nosema

Mite bombs or robber lures? The roles of drifting and robbing in Varroa destructor transmission from collapsing honey bee colonies to their neighbors

When honey bee colonies collapse from high infestations of Varroa mites, neighboring colonies often experience surges in their mite populations. Collapsing colonies, often called “mite bombs”, seem to pass their mites to neighboring colonies. This can happen by mite-infested workers from the collapsing colonies drifting into the neighboring colonies, or by mite-free workers from the neighboring colonies robbing out the collapsing colonies, or both.

More: mitebomb

Colony Size, Rather Than Geographic Origin of Stocks, Predicts Overwintering Success in Honey Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in the Northeastern United States

Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) are key pollinators of agricultural crops. However, approximately 30% of managed colonies die each winter in the United States. There has been great interest in breeding for ‘locally adapted stocks’ which survive winter conditions in a particular region.

More:Local Stock

Varroa destructor: A Complex Parasite, Crippling Honey Bees Worldwide

Varroa is also a highly efficient vector of honey bee viruses and drives changes in virus distribution, prevalence, and virulence.

More:Varroa Vector

Beekeeping in Vermont

Registration & Health Certificates

Apiary Registration

As required by Vermont Statute, Title 6, Chapter 172, § 3022 & 3023. A person who is the owner of any bees, apiary, colony, or hive in the State shall register with the Secretary in writing on a form provided by the Secretary...and shall pay a $10.00 annual registration fee for each apiary location.

Registration for Apiaries starts on July 1st of each year. Renewal period is open from June 1st through June 30th each year.

Apiary Registration Form

Apiary Health Certificate

As required by Vermont Statute § 3028. Traffic in bees; inspection; certification. A person engaged in the rearing of bees for sale shall have his or her apiary inspected by the Secretary

VBA's Fred Putnam included this picture in an email sent to prospective buyers of his nucs. What a great idea! New beekeepers especially may not be aware of the importance of disease containment and how the Vermont Apiary Inspection program can help prevent the spread of disease. Please ask to see your provider's certificate before handing over your payment.

Details: Last Updated: 20 June 2020 20 June 2020

USDA to Measure Quarterly Colony Loss

In July, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will be collecting information about colony loss in the honey industry throughout the United States. The Quarterly Colony Loss survey will be conducted over the period of June 2020 through July 2020. This survey collects information about colony inventory and loss from more than 400 producers with honey bee colonies in the Northeastern Region of the United States.

Details: Last Updated: 19 June 2020 19 June 2020

AFB Update from the Bee Inspector

Hello Everyone -

I appreciate that you all are taking this very seriously. Being the only inspector in VT currently (hiring freeze due to Covid) and with the announcement of AFB - the calls and requests for inspections have increased greatly. While I have been able to prioritize inspections thus far, I know there are many anxious beekeepers in the state at the moment. This is where I see help from the local clubs coming in - If you are able to familiarize yourselves with AFB symptoms and utilize field tests when any suspect or questionable signs appear, this will greatly help us ALL prioritize the mitigation process. I recommend the clubs to purchase AFB and EFB Field test kits- The company will sell these in bulk- boxes of 40- for wholesale- I think $6 vs $15 retail- https://www.vita-europe.com/beehealth/products/afb-diagnostic-test-kit/.

Details: Last Updated: 16 June 2020 16 June 2020

Swarm Management and Control Techniques Workshop Online

If you missed our Zoom workshop on June 10, 2020, Andrew Munkres, VBA Vice-President presented on swarm management. Scott Wilson and Fred Putnam moderated.

To view the presentation recording, look on the VBA website under the Become a Beekeeper menu, then Education, Classes & Workshops for our recorded webinars. (Or, to make things easier simply go to www.vermontbeekeepers.org/webinars - login required.) All VBA webinars are also available for view.

Details: Last Updated: 10 June 2020 10 June 2020

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