Apiology

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

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

What You Need to Know (And What We’re Working to Find Out) About Products Containing Cannabis or Cannabis-derived Compounds, Including CBD

You may have noticed that cannabidiol (CBD) seems to be available almost everywhere, and marketed as a variety of products including drugs, food, dietary supplements, cosmetics, and animal health products.

More:Cannabis

A mathematical model of honey bee colony dynamics to predict the effect of pollen on colony failure

The decline in colony populations of the honey bee, known as the Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), is a global concern. Numerous studies have reported possible causes, including pesticides, parasites, and nutritional stress.

More: Pollen Model

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:Microclimate

'Intensive' beekeeping not to blame for common bee diseases

More "intensive" beekeeping does not raise the risk of diseases that harm or kill the insects, new research suggests.

Intensive agriculture—where animals or plants are kept crowded together in very high densities—is thought to result in higher rates of disease spreading.

But researchers from the University of Exeter and the University of California, Berkeley found this is not the case for honeybees.

More:Intensive

Beekeeping in Vermont

VBA North & South Yard Workshops are Cancelled Until Further Notice

We are working on possible options to webcast outdoor workshops. Please watch the emailed VBA Update for news.

Details: Last Updated: 02 April 2020 02 April 2020

Minding My Own Beeswax

by Jeanne Davis

I’ve been thinking about the quality of beeswax for quite a while and I’d like to share some of my developing ideas here. I keep 10-15 colonies of bees in two bee yards in southwest Vermont. My colonies consist of 3 medium hive bodies and shallow honey supers. In 2008 I started thinking a lot about the nature of beeswax to act as a sponge, holding environmental and intentional (beekeeper applied) chemicals. I had already been rotating out older combs but now proceeded to do it more regularly. I marked each frame with the year it was first employed and this helped me see which ones to cycle out first. Over time I’ve pulled out old frames so that I am on a 4=5 year cycle of replacement.

Details: Last Updated: 26 March 2020 26 March 2020

Take Your Club to the Next Level

There are five needs that should be met by a bee club for its members: social, educational, financial, political, and promotional.

More:Bee Club

Details: Last Updated: 17 March 2020 17 March 2020

SABA Seminar Canceled

The Southern Adirondack Beekeepers Association (SABA) Annual Seminar at HVCC Tec Smart is canceled due to restrictions on HVCC and events at the facility.

Details: Last Updated: 19 March 2020 19 March 2020

March 4 Meeting Minutes Posted

VBA Members: Meeting minutes from the March 4 board of directors meeting are available in the Members Only area. (Login required.) There are a few issues being looked at, including honey adulteration, and the definition of local as it applies to honey and Vermont products.

Details: Last Updated: 11 March 2020 11 March 2020

Available Now - Order Online

The LAND of MILK & HONEY

Available Now - Order Today!

From a small state comes the big book of beekeeping history. "The Land of Milk and Honey" is here! Six members of the Vermont Beekeepers Association have gathered the geniuses and oddballs, inventors and saints of Vermont's 200 year history of beekeeping. That includes some of YOU.

You may buy the book online, at your local book store, or directly from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..