Vermont Beekeepers Association

Apiology

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

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

Effect of Bodily Fluids from Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Larvae on Growth and Genome-Wide Transcriptional Response of the Causal Agent of American Foulbrood Disease (Paenibacillus larvae)

Paenibacillus larvae, the causal agent of American Foulbrood Disease (AFB), affect honey bee health worldwide.

More:AFB

Efficacy in the Varroa Mite, Varroa destructor, within commercial beekeeping operations

The parasitic mite Varroa destructor and the associated viruses it transmits are responsible for most instances of honey bee colony losses in the United States. As such, beekeepers utilize miticides to control Varroa populations. Widespread resistance has developed to the miticides fluvalinate and coumaphos. However, Varroa has largely maintained susceptibility to amitraz despite a long and extensive use history.

More:Amitraz

Coronavirus stings world's top honey makers with China beekeepers locked down

BEIJING (Reuters) - Beekeepers in China, the world's top honey producer, are bracing for a bleak start to the key spring pollinating season as travel curbs aimed at containing a coronavirus outbreak keep them at home while their bees go without food for weeks.

More: CoronaVirus

Functional Properties of Honey, Propolis, and Royal Jelly

Honey, propolis, and royal jelly, products originating in the beehive, are attractive ingredients for healthy foods. Honey has been used since ancient times as part of traditional medicine.

More: Propolis

Beekeeping in Vermont

$500K UVM donation dedicated to bee research

Details: Last Updated: 22 May 2019 22 May 2019

VBA Amendments to H.205 - Feb. 26, 2019

UPDATE: After submitting our comments to the House Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, VBA President Jack Rath DVM has been invited to testify to the committee tomorrow, Thursday, February 28.

Details: Last Updated: 27 March 2019 27 March 2019

ACBA Begins Season Talking Mites

VBA President Dr. Jack Rath presented to 42 beekeepers on the Varroa mite and how to manage Varroa to maintain healthy honey bees.

The occasion was the kick off meeting for the 2019 Addison County Beekeepers Association beekeeping season.

Beekeepers from Lamoille Chittenden and Rutland counties were there as well as some from New Hampshire. 10 students from The UVM honeybee club also attended .

Details: Last Updated: 22 May 2019 22 May 2019

VBA's Testimony on H.205 - Feb. 20, 2019

VBA's initial testimony on H.205 - Regulation of Neonicotinoid Pesticides - is presented here for your review. (PDF file.)

VBA member Chas Mraz reports the committee was receptive to working with VBA to improve the bill. The board of directors will continue to meet on this issue and will publish their suggestions when finalized.

VBA member Bill MAre's testimony is also provided for your review.

Details: Last Updated: 21 February 2019 21 February 2019

WCB Organizational Meeting

Forty people attended Saturday afternoon’s organizational meeting of the new Windham County Beekeepers!

Great discussion, great plans and a great start for what looks to be an important addition to local ag!

Congrats to Jeff Battaglini and Lesley Weisbrot for organizing this and to all who attended! (Jeff and the crowd pictured.)

Details: Last Updated: 17 February 2019 17 February 2019

VBA 2019 Winter Meeting Minutes Posted

VBA Members: The minutes and program summary from the 2019 Winter Meeting meeting have been posted in the Members Only area of the VBA website. Please check them out!

Details: Last Updated: 16 February 2019 16 February 2019

Beekeeping in Oaxaca, Mexico

Help Oaxaca Escuela Secondaria Tecnica No. 14

Paul Yanus passed this note along concerning an effort Mike Palmer is supporting.

"Mike Palmer is trying to raise money to help Oaxaca, Mexico students buy beekeeping equipment that he personally saw that was needed by them.
Mike writes “The school is trying to educate these children, with few resources. The bee boxes are rotten. The extractor is a rust bucket. They’re handling Africanized bees with falling apart bee suits and veils with rotten screens.

Details: Last Updated: 14 February 2019 14 February 2019

Risk Management Programs

Vermont Beekeepers 2019 Crop Year

Jake Jacobs, Crop Insurance Education Coordinator at UVM's Department of Community Development and Applied Economics presented at the VBA's 2019 Winter Meeting.

She provided us with the attached handout describing how beekeepers in Vermont have a number of options available to help manage risk.