News

Please read and circulate the attached letter.  Thank you for your help in funding these great projects! Excerpt: However, at this time we need an infusion of unrestricted funds to continue our comprehensive research program.  We especially want to fund recent proposals received, including Dr. Reed Johnson’s Dimilin research ($134,640), Maryann Frazier’s pesticide cost share Continue Reading »

by Eric Mussen From March/April 2013 University of California at Davis, Bee News For many years, beekeepers and environmentally interested individuals have expressed the opinion that the use of neonicotinoid insecticides (“neonics”) have interfered with the ability of honey bees and native bees to conduct their life activities properly. Since laboratory studies have detailed the Continue Reading »

Due to the long, harsh winter experienced across Canada, many beekeepers are finding a larger than average percentage of winterkill in their apiaries. Not all numbers are known at this time as some beekeepers still cannot access their hives, however unofficial reports are as high as 50% winterkill. As a result, we have received numerous Continue Reading »

by Dennis vanEngelsdorp1*, Nathalie Steinhauer1, Karen Rennich1, Jeffery Pettis2, Eugene J. Lengerich3, David Tarpy4, Keith S. Delaplane5, Angela M. Spleen3, James T. Wilkes6, Robyn Rose7, Kathleen Lee8, Michael Wilson9 , John Skinner9 , and Dewey M. Caron10 for the Bee Informed Partnership. Note: This is a preliminary analysis. A more detailed final report is being Continue Reading »

In early March the Florida citrus groves experienced an acute foliar poisoning that resulted in severely damaged colonies. Oranges had an early bloom this year, and were still blooming near the end of April.  One beekeeper’s bees suffered due to the drift application of Montana 2F from a neighboring grove.  1000-1500 colonies were killed, while Continue Reading »

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released a comprehensive scientific report on honey bee health. The report states that there are multiple factors playing a role in honey bee colony declines, including parasites and disease, genetics, poor nutrition and pesticide exposure. “There is an important Continue Reading »

A new study led by Illinois professor of entomology May Berenbaum shows that some components of the nectar and pollen grains bees collect to manufacture food increase expression of detoxification genes that help keep honey bees healthy. Credit: L. Brian Stauffer Research in the wake of Colony Collapse Disorder, a mysterious malady afflicting (primarily commercial) Continue Reading »

by Kathy Keatley Garvey UC Davis Dept. of Entomology Eric Mussen DAVIS, CALIF.–Honey bee guru Eric Mussen, Extension apiculturist and member of the UC Davis Department of Entomology faculty since 1976, has received scores of awards during his career, and now he’s received one from his alma mater. Mussen has been named the recipient of Continue Reading »

California’s 2012 almond acreage is estimated at 870,000 acres, up 4 percent from the 2011 acreage of 835,000. Of the total acreage for 2012, 790,000 acres were bearing and 80,000 acres were non-bearing. Preliminary bearing acreage for 2013 is estimated at 810,000 acres. Nonpareil continued to be the leading variety, followed by Butte, Carmel, Monterey Continue Reading »

Ants foraging on nectar transmit yeasts that change sugar-chemistry and may affect subsequent pollinator visitations and plant fitness.   Ant pollinators (Crematogaster auberti) foraging on a female flower of Cytinus hypocistis. Credit: Courtesy of Clara de Vega and Carlos M. Herrera. Ants play a variety of important roles in many ecosystems. As frequent visitors to Continue Reading »