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...

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.

The Bee Informed Loss and Management Survey is live April 1st – 30th, 2018.

The BIP annual survey of honey bee losses is now live. If you have an interest in participating please click the link below.

More:Survey

A new app listens to the problems of bees

You might expect to hear an angry buzzing when honeybees have been disturbed. But some apiarists reckon they can also deduce the condition of their bees from the sounds they make. A steady hum could be the sign of a contented hive; a change in tone might indicate that the bees are about to swarm. That intuition is about to be put to the test. Soon, beekeepers will be able to try to find out what is troubling a colony by listening to the buzz using a smartphone app.

More:APP

Research focuses on varroa mite control

Because developing varroa mites are sealed inside a capped brood cell with developing bee larvae, they are protected from miticides. Artificially forcing the colony to become broodless for a short period would eliminate those hiding places and could offer better mite control with a single miticide treatment.

More: Varroa

United States Honey Production Down 9 Percent for Operations with Five or More Colonies in 2017

United States honey production in 2017 from producers with five or more colonies totaled 148 million pounds, downUnited States honey production in 2017 from producers with five or more colonies totaled 148 million pounds, down9 percent from 2016. There were 2.67 million colonies producing honey in 2017, down 4 percent from 2016. Yield per colony averaged 55.3 pounds, down 5 percent from the 58.3 pounds in 2016.

More: Honey