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What’s the Buzz? – Enthusiasts Can Engage in At Home Beekeeping: A Monthly Webinar Series
By Dr. Jennifer Tsuruda, Assistant Professor, UT Entomology and Plant Pathology Department
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Interest in beekeeping and pollinators has been on the rise for several years, both among the public and in agriculture. Researchers and educators have been actively providing their most up-to-date science-based information on management practices and recommendations. Many states, including Tennessee, have a state beekeeping association, as well as local associations. During the last year and a half, programming efforts by these associations have had to switch gears as several of their regular, in-person meetings and conferences have been canceled or have had very limited attendance. A large population of beginning and even experienced beekeepers remain eager to increase their beekeeping knowledge and maintain their sense of community within the beekeeping world.
To bridge the outreach gap and continue education and community scholarship, a small group of research and Extension honey bee professors and professionals from Alabama Extension, Auburn University, University of Florida, University of Georgia, University of Tennessee, and Texas A&M University joined together to organize and deliver an “At Home Beekeeping” webinar series for the Southeast [sidebar box]. Across time, these webinars have grown into a much larger collaboration, which now includes several others in the Southeast, including Mississippi State University, the Baton Rouge USDA Honey Bee Lab, Louisiana State University, Kentucky State University, and North Carolina State University. Participants log in from all over the U.S. and internationally. By working together to communicate science-based information, presenters share their insights and experiences that help increase the likelihood of success in beekeeping operations and maintaining healthy bee populations in our backyard (Photo 1) in managed agricultural fields.
PHOTO 1
SIDEBAR
WHEN: Last Tuesday of every month; 6:30 – 7:30 PM Central Time
WHERE: Live on Zoom & Facebook (recordings posted on Facebook for 2 weeks)
WHAT: Presentations on timely, science-based management and information about honey bee biology and beekeeping
WHO: Attendees: beekeepers and anyone wanting to learn more about honey bees Presenters: Southeast region researchers and Extension specialists from land-grant institutions and the USDA
•••••••••
Honey bees are fascinating animals with complex behavior and social structures, but they also face several challenges. The following themes are pertinent to beekeepers and non-beekeepers who interact with bees directly or indirectly. Therefore, the themes are frequently discussed in the webinars.
• Habitat and Nutrition. Beekeepers and non-beekeepers can help support honey bees and other pollinators through knowledge and practices, that include establishing and maintaining pollinator habitats. A webinar was held on establishing wildflower plantings, and an upcoming session will discuss honey bee nutrition to explore what is in a healthy honey bee diet. These topics relate to homeowners and growers who need pollination services or who just want to help support pollinators.
• Queens. While the workers (females) perform most of the foraging (Photo 2) and other duties in a honey bee colony, it is the queen (also female) (Photo 3) who is truly invaluable. Without her, the social structure of a colony can start to dissolve and unless a new queen is introduced, the colony will inevitably perish. Webinars have covered have covered aspects of queen health that are important for beekeepers to be aware of, but are of general interest to landowners and the public.
• Swarming. Swarming is a natural process – the behavior is how a colony reproduces. But swarming can be a challenge because a beekeeper’s investment flies away if preventative measures are not taken. The swarm typically clusters at a temporary location, such as a tree branch (Photo 4), and individual workers scout out permanent nest sites. It is during this temporary “hang out” when many homeowners and landscape professionals have close encounters with honey bees. If encountered, take a good photo and contact your local beekeeping association or Extension office to get in touch with a local beekeeper who can remove these bees.
• Pests, Parasites, and Disease. One of the major challenges in beekeeping is the parasitic Varroa mite. This mite feeds on immature and adult honey bees (Photo 5), and can vector several debilitating viruses. Monitoring and management are key for colonies to survive and thrive, but a simple recipe for success does not exist so we have had, and will continue to have several webinars on biology of and best management practices for Varroa as well as viruses and small hive beetles (a type of sap beetle), especially for the Southeastern region.
If these topics interest you or someone you know, please consider joining us!
• Preliminary surveys tell us that our average participants are women who are 55 – 64 years old and have kept bees for less than five years, but we are a diverse group and welcome all.
• Surveys also indicate 89% of attendees plan to implement practices presented during sessions; 5% do not plan to implement; 6% have no opinion
• 66% of attendees thought the information would save them money
• We have several attendees from Tennessee, but have only been the state with top attendance at one of 20 sessions so let’s try to knock it out of the park this year!
UPCOMING WEBINARS – (topics and dates may be subject to change):
– JANUARY 25 –The Many Facets of Honey Bee Nutrition with Dr. Priya Chakrabarti (Mississippi State University)
– FEBRUARY 22 –Integrated Pest Management in the Hive with Dr. Cameron Jack (University of Florida)
– MARCH 29 –Methods for Controlling Varroa that Work with Jennifer Berry (University of Georgia)
Contact your county Extension office or visit UT Apiculture’s website for more information: https://utextension.tennessee.edu https://tiny.utk.edu/apiculture
