UC Davis Honey Bee Guru Receives National Award

For 38 years, Extension apiculturist Eric Mussen did everything he could to help the honey bees. “I am basically all pro-bee; whatever I can do for bees, I do it,” Mussen told the American Bee Journal in a two-part interview published in 2011. “It doesn't matter whether there is one hive in the backyard or 15,000 colonies. Bees are bees and …

Honey Bee Research Funding Proposals Requested

Research proposals are requested that focus on honey bee health and productivity which provide practical and tangible solutions to the beekeeping industry. The National Honey Board and Project Apis m. reinforce their commitment to the future of bees through an investment of $10 million by 2020 in bee health projects, through the financial support of successful research proposals. The goal of this …

Coal Miners Shift to Beekeeping

University of Delaware researcher helps establish socioeconomic growth program for displaced miners in West Virginia University of Delaware Former coal miners or citizens whose lives have been shaped by the coal mining industry in southern West Virginia spent their summer learning how to establish and operate bee colonies thanks to help from the University of Delaware's Debbie Delaney. Delaney, associate professor of entomology in …

The Bee Nutrition Challenge: An Innovation Award

Courtesy of Calling all honey bee and animal nutrition enthusiasts! The Honey Bee Health Coalition is excited to announce the launch of the 2017 Bee Nutrition Challenge: An Innovation Award. The Problem Our honey bees are in trouble, partly because they don’t have enough to eat. Thanks to researchers, we’ve learned a lot about the nutrients bees need in order to thrive. However, there’s …

Local Collaboration Key to Protecting Pollinators While Managing Ticks, Mosquitoes

Cross-disciplinary group urges community-level connection among vector-control, pollinator experts Entomological Society of America Annapolis, MD -- Managing mosquito and tick populations and protecting the health of pollinators are growing concerns on a global scale, but success in both requires teamwork on the local level. A coalition of entomologists and other scientists specializing in both disease-vector management and pollinator protection suggest professionals in these …

Study Finds Parallels Between Unresponsive Honey Bees, Human Autism

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Honey bees that consistently fail to respond to obvious social cues share something fundamental with autistic humans, researchers report in a new study. Genes most closely associated with autism spectrum disorders in humans are regulated differently in unresponsive honey bees than in their more responsive nest mates, the study found. The findings, reported in …

Get Ready for the Mite-A-Thon

Courtesy of Varroa mites are one of the greatest threats to honey bee health, honey production, and pollination services. The Honey Bee Health Coalition has been proud to equip beekeepers with the information, tools, and resources they need to detect, monitor, and manage these destructive mites. We are proud now to share information about the first ever Mite-A-Thon, supported by the Pollinator …

Apiculture Insurance Expanded to More States

Increased safety net available to beekeepers in 48 states. USDA News Release WASHINGTON, July 27, 2017 – Crop insurance for beekeeper operations has been expanded to include 19 additional states and now spans the entire 48 contiguous states. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) today announced changes to the Apiculture Pilot Insurance (API) plan, ensuring greater protection for …