Apiology

The study of honeybees...

List of Honey Bee Forage Species within Region 13 for the State of VT

The effects of age and behavioral development on honey bee (Apis mellifera) flight performance

A critical but seldom-studied component of life history theory is how behavior and age affect whole-organism performance. To address this issue we compared the flight performance of honey bees (whose behavioral development and age can be assessed independently via simple manipulations of colony demographics) between distinct behavioral castes (in-hive nurse bees vs outof-hive foragers) and across lifespan.

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Drone and Worker Brood Microclimates Are Regulated Differentially in Honey Bees, Apis mellifera

Honey bee (Apis mellifera) drones and workers show differences in morphology, physiology, and behavior. Because the functions of drones are more related to colony reproduction, and those of workers relate to both survival and reproduction, we hypothesize that the microclimate for worker brood is more precisely regulated than that of drone brood.

More:broodmicroclimate

Honeybee navigation en route to the goal: visual flight control and odometry

Recent research has uncovered a number of different ways in which bees use cues derived from optic flow for navigational purposes. The distance flown to a food source is gauged by integrating the apparent motion of the visual world that is experienced en route. In other words, bees possess a visually driven 'odometer' that is robust to variations in wind load and energy expenditure.

More:visualclues

How Honey Bee Colonies Survive in the Wild: Testing the Importance of Small Nests and Frequent Swarming

The ectoparasitic mite, Varroa destructor, and the viruses that it transmits, kill the colonies of European honey bees (Apis mellifera) kept by beekeepers unless the bees are treated with miticides.

More:Frequentswarm

Catch the Buzz

General Beekeeping News...

Beekeeping in Vermont...

VBA Policies Online

A new website category can be found under the Members Only area. The Policy menu choice includes VBA organizational policy notices and statements about issues affecting beekeeping in Vermont.

The first (new) notice posted is an explanation of guidelines, criteria and priorities for donations made by the Vermont Beekeepers Association.

Details: Published: 27 June 2018 27 June 2018

2018 Summer Meeting Minutes & Financials

VBA Members: The minutes and financial statement from the 2018 Summer Meeting have been posted online in the Members Only area of the VBA website. Minutes compiled by Steve Silverman with assistance from Lisa Newton.

Details: Published: 29 June 2018 29 June 2018

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.

Details: Published: 24 June 2018 24 June 2018

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...

Details: Published: 23 June 2018 23 June 2018

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.