Texas A&M University Apiculture

Via the BVBA bee school organizing committee: Folks: The Brazos Valley Bee School is a tad short of volunteers. Please see Lynn's note below regarding the opportunity to get a complimentary pass to the school by volunteering 3 hours of your time.

Karl Cottrell

______________________________________________________________________

As you know, the BVBKA Bee School is just around the corner. Our school is scheduled for Saturday, September 14th, at First Baptist Church - Bryan!

We are now recruiting volunteers for the day of the school and we need your help! Volunteers who sign-up and work at least three (3) hours in various time slots and duties, as well as purchase lunch (or you may bring your own instead), will receive a complimentary registration to attend classes at the school when not scheduled for your volunteer commitment. However, to take advantage of this opportunity, you must register!

Please check this link to register as a volunteer
https://bvbeeks.org/events/bee-school/bee-school-volunteer-registration-1/
Step 1 takes you to the signup sheet by job
Step 2 allows you to sign up yourself and others
Step 3 of the registration allows you to click a link to take you to a page to order and pay for items such as lunch, tee shirts and caps, raffle tickets, and hives at a discount.
There is also a link on the page that will take you to vendor specials.

Questions? Please let us know!
Thank you for considering attending and helping out at this event!

Sincerely,
Lynn Burlbaw, 2024 School Director
and the 2024 School Committee

BVBeeks.org

Bee School – Volunteer Registration-1 – Brazos Valley Beekeepers Association BVBeeks Bee School - Volunteer Registration Thank you for helping BVBeeks in educating and supporting our current and future beekeepers! ▪ Registration: Please complete a separate form below for each volunteer. ▪ 3 Hours: Volunteers must work three (3) hours in order for their registration fee t...

It’s big, but it’s not a 'murder hornet.' Many Texans mistakenly identify cicada killer wasps, a common large wasp in Texas, as the Northern giant hornet. But the sightings are nothing more than mistaken identity--Northern giant hornets are not in Texas.

Summer months are the normal time for the cicada killer wasp to be seen. They typically start showing up in June as their offspring’s main food source – cicadas – emerge. Experts across Texas A&M AgriLife shared education on the differences between the species and facts about the commonly seen cicada killer: tx.ag/CicadaKillers

Announcing A Winner of the PAm Bellows Competition: Garett Slater, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension!

In honor of National Honey Bee Day, we are thrilled to announce Garett Slater as one of this year's Bellows Competition winners for his video, "The Causes of Honey Bee Male Infertility." Garett's research focuses on understanding the causes of honey bee drone infertility to increase honey bee queen quality and help reduce the 45% annual colony losses.

Watch the video here: https://loom.ly/AZFeTZs

Learn more about Garett here: https://loom.ly/DbtOPyE

The next Central Texas Beekeepers Association and Friends monthly meeting will be held on Thursday, August 22nd in the VIP Building of the Washington County Fairgrounds, starting at 5:30pm. Come listen from Rangel Lab Ph D student Keegan Nichols about native bees and their biology!. The agenda for the evening attached.

Congratulations to soon to be Dr. Jordan Twombly Ellis for passing her dissertation defense with flying colors!!

Dear all, we would like to invite you to watch the live dissertation defense of our own Jordan Twombly Ellis tomorrow:

15, August 2024

11AM

121 Kleberg Center

“Determining the mechanism and impact of honey bee (Apis mellifera) premature hive exiting behavior”

https://tamu.zoom.us/j/96615599251

Congratulations to Dr. Garett Slater who was recently interviewed by The Texas Standard on his work on honey bees:

Honeybee numbers soar in Texas, but hive health still a challenge Texas A&M’s first honeybee specialist hopes to improve Texas beekeeping.

Dr. Jeff Pettis’s video won our honorable mention as the “most informative video with actionable results!” He is a beekeeper and also a researcher. While at U.S. Department of Ag, he and others have shed light on a critical issue: queen failure in honey bee colonies. As the heart of the hive, poor queen health is a major contributor to colony losses. His research identifies temperature extremes—both hot and cold—as factors that can impact the s***m inside queens. Beekeepers should be especially cautious when temperatures exceed 100°F or drop below 50°F to protect their queens from damage.

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/Xjzg3EonrUI?si=Ju1boko4QPvRF534

Learn more about Chesapeake Honey : https://loom.ly/GnpDbbA

Dear Rangel lab followers: Our phone numbers have changed. If you need to reach our laboratory, please call 979-321-5784. Thank you!

Via Entomological Society of America's Entomology Today: Combining Pest Treatments May Be Key to Helping Honey Bees Survive Winter

By Katie Bohn

Winters can be tough on managed honey bee colonies, with beekeepers in the United States reporting that one-third of their colonies die each winter. A new study by Penn State University researchers has found that using not one but multiple pest treatments may help bees make it to spring.

The researchers found that beekeepers who used a combination of treatments for Varroa mites—tiny parasites that can weaken and spread diseases to honey bees (Apis mellifera)—had higher winter colony survival than those who used only one type of treatment. The findings were published in May in the Journal of Insect Science, included in a special collection titled “Current Honey Bee Research: Investigating Micro and Macro Aspects of Health and Sociobiology.”

Additionally, while weather significantly impacted winter colony survival, beekeepers using these integrated pest management strategies—where multiple methods are used to control Varroa mites—had higher colony survival rates even in harsh weather conditions.

Darcy Gray, a global remote sensing manager at the One Acre Fund who led the study while completing her master’s degree at Penn State in the intercollege Ecology Graduate Program administered by the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, says she conducted this study to help provide beekeepers with the locally specific information they need to make decisions about how to best manage their colonies to combat these high colony losses during the winter.

“Honey bees pollinate various crops across North America, so it’s important to understand how they’re influenced by beekeeping strategies and their environment, particularly under increasing weather variability,” says Gray, who did her graduate research in the lab of Christina Grozinger, Ph.D., Publius Vergilius Maro Professor of Entomology in the College of Agricultural Sciences. “Understanding honey bees’ relationship to the environment can also shed light on and introduce new questions about native bees, which are also threatened by habitat loss and climate change.”

For the study, the researchers used data from an annual survey on winter honey bee colony loss and beekeeping management that has been sent to Pennsylvania beekeepers each spring for more than 15 years.

Data included information on pre- and post-winter colony numbers, how many years of experience the beekeeper had, whether and how they treated for Varroa mites, and whether and what they provided for supplemental feed. Beekeepers also had an option to submit their apiary coordinates, which allowed the researchers to precisely calculate the habitat quality of the landscape surrounding each beekeeper’s hives—including the availability of floral resources in the spring, summer and fall—and to obtain information on the weather conditions that the bees experienced over the previous year.

Grozinger, who also directs the Penn State Center for Pollinator Research, noted that, because habitat and weather are complex factors, a lot of data is needed to build statistical models for understanding exactly how they are impacting bees.

“We are so fortunate to be able to work with the Pennsylvania beekeepers, who every year answer a survey on their management practices, their bees’ winter survival and their apiary locations,” Grozinger says. “This provides a truly unique and valuable long term data set for this research.”

The study revealed that beekeepers who used treatments against Varroa mites in their apiaries had significantly higher bee survival than those who did not, and those who used multiple types of treatments had better survival than those who used a single treatment type.

The researchers also found no significant difference between “soft” and “hard” chemical treatments. Soft chemicals—naturally derived, organic compounds—were as effective at increasing winter survival as hard chemicals, which are synthetic chemicals that have been shown to leave long-term residue in colonies and may promote populations of Varroa mites that are resistant to treatment.

These results are consistent with previous studies conducted by Penn State researchers demonstrating that organic beekeeping methods were just as effective as more conventional methods.

Additionally, the researchers found that, while spring, fall, and winter precipitation was associated with increased bee survival, summer precipitation was associated with decreased colony survival. The researchers suggested this could be because many consecutive days of rain in the summer may reduce the amount of time bees spend foraging, leading to less food stored for the winter and lower brood production.

“This study, along with others from Penn State, shows that the weather conditions during the growing season are really important for honey bee survival and honey production, as well as wild bee species abundance,” Grozinger says. “This suggests that what we are seeing is an effect of weather on the flowering plants that bees depend on for pollen and nectar, and this in turn affects the bees.”

Gray says she hopes the findings will be useful to beekeepers while planning their apiary management strategies, as well as be a springboard for future studies.

“Our work introduces new questions about how colonies treated with an integrated pest management may be buffered from the worst effects of weather, which would have implications for climate change adaptation in beekeeping,” Gray says.

Beekeepers and others interested in exploring the land use and weather conditions and predicting flowering resources at their locations can use the Beescape tool on the Center for Pollinator Research website, which also offers resources on how to improve local habitats for bees, including the Penn State Master Gardener’s Pollinator Garden Certification Program.

The data used in this study can be accessed via the Bee Winterwise tool, and beekeepers also can obtain resources on managing Varroa mites and organic beekeeping practices from Penn State Extension.

Additional authors included Melanie Kammerer, an alumna of the Penn State Ecology Graduate Degree Program and currently an environmental data scientist at EcoData Technology, and Sarah Goslee, a research scientist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Research Service Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Unit.

The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture supported this research through its Food and Agriculture Cyberinformatics Tools (FACT) Program.

Combining Pest Treatments May Be Key to Helping Honey Bees Survive Winter A study by Penn State University researchers finds that using not one but multiple treatments to manage Varroa mites may help honey bees make it to spring.

PAm Bellows Award Runner-Up: Dr. Priyadarshini Chakrabarti Basu, Mississippi State University!

Dr. Basu is tackling the crucial issue of poor nutrition in pollinators, including honey bees. Her lab is developing two unique bee nutrition databases with the support of citizen scientists and small-scale beekeepers to better understand and create improved bee forage!

Watch the video here: https://loom.ly/0jBBPp0

Learn more about the work happening at the Mississippi State University Lab here: https://loom.ly/JMar2Fg

PCB Pollinator Health and Apiculture Lab

Jack’s video won our honorable mention as the “most entertaining” Bellows submission! Watch as Jack and his team creatively communicate the advantages of varroa-resistant bees and mite testing through a fun and engaging sing-along story.

Don't miss this unique and entertaining take on bee health! https://loom.ly/DwvCP-g

Get ready to celebrate! This week, we’re highlighting the amazing runner-up entries from the PAm Bellows Competition! Each day, we’ll share inspiring videos that showcase creativity and passion for honey bee health. Join us as we count down to the winner announcement on August 17th! Stay tuned and cheer for your favorites!

Rangel Lab graduate students Dickey and Jordan Twombly Ellis presented their research at the IUSSI-North American Section's meeting in Prescott, AZ!

Join us in welcoming Garett Slater, Ph.D. to the department as an Assistant Professor and Apiculture Extension Entomologist at Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension in Overton, TX. He leads the statewide Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Apiary Program and supervises the activities of three honey bee program specialists in Dallas, Angleton, and San Antonio. As the Honey Bee Extension Specialist at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, his primary role is to deliver extension services and applied research tailored to the needs of beekeepers, promoting sustainable practices and economic development of beekeepers. Additionally, he manages the Texas Master Beekeeper Program, which offers training modules for beekeepers across Texas. His one interest in extension and applied research focuses on honey bee breeding and genetics, which are key components of sustainable integrated pest management and honey bee population health. Presently, he is leading a study to develop modern breeding tools with the aim of helping breeders enhance the health and survival of honey bee colonies.

ABF and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension is launching a Webinar featuring past winners of the Practical Bee Award. These individuals have developed a practical beekeeping practice OR have a practical beekeeping idea.

Join us on Friday, August 9th from 7-8:30pm EST for a webinar featuring four past winners: James Lee, Kirk Kirksey, Peggy DeSanto, and David Miller. If you are unable to attend, the webinar will be recorded and sent to all registrants.

To register for this FREE event, please visit
27787d23-2c8b-456f-b6b2-6d5c1e9ddedd@9fd7580a-6472-4d9c-a142-d131d3a7a116" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/27787d23-2c8b-456f-b6b2-6d5c1e9ddedd@9fd7580a-6472-4d9c-a142-d131d3a7a116

Thanks!

Garett Slater
Assistant Professor and Honey Bee Extension Entomologist
Department of Entomology | Texas A&M AgriLife
1710 FM3053 | Overton, TX 75684
Ph: 701-928-0418 | [email protected]

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Join us today at the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History fot the annual Wish Upon a Butterfly event, 9am-noon

Via the Brazos Valley Beekeepers Association:

Howdy from the Brazos Valley!

Since you attended the Fall Bee School last year in Bryan, we wanted to take this opportunity to let you know our ninth annual school is returning to First Baptist Church Bryan, on Saturday, Sept 14th!!

We have a favor to request of you ...if you enjoyed the experience of the school, would you be willing to do two things for us?
1) Join us again to take those additional classes that you wanted to take but your schedule was already too full!?
2) Get the word out about this school to everyone you have talked bees with this past year? Please share on your social media, post on public bulletin boards, in your church, workplace, or school.
There are two flyers attached. One for sharing electronically via social media; and one for printing and posting anywhere possible!

Organizing a one-day educational experience such as this, is a huge undertaking for our committee. Therefore, we would love for as many people as possible to take advantage of the dedicated and consolidated efforts of hosting this opportunity!

Registration is now open and the school is just around the corner! We hope you will attend. Please sign-up as soon as possible at this link to take advantage of reduced rates!

Many thanks in advance for your help in sharing the school details with others. We appreciate your involvement, and hope to see you in September! If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, please let us know.

With our warmest regards,

~ Lynn Burlbaw, School Director
and the 2024 School Committee

Via Bee Culture Magazine:

INTO THE WILD WITH DR. JULIANA RANGEL POSADA

S2E4: Insect Pollination: It’s Not Just Bees!

In the last decade there has been a HUGE (& successful) push for people to appreciate bees & the work they do to pollinate not just flowers in the wild, but food crops to feed ourselves & it’s not surprise why the bee was chosen. They are fluffy. They are cute. They are…..sexy, BUT…

When it comes in insects that pollinate plants, again, including food crops, it’s more than just bees & in some cases…..it’s a lot more than just bees. Join Ryan & Nadia this month as they delve in to learn about some less sexy insects that are vital when it comes to keep flora alive.

Guest appearances from Kate Borchardt & Juliana Rangel Posada

Kate’s Paper on Wasps Here

Juliana’s Paper on Blowflies Here

AND to read more about joining the Royal Entomological Society’s Associate Membership, click here

If you’d like to say “cheers” to the Into The Wild team & help support the show, then you can do so on www.ko-fi.com/intothewildpod

To follow the hosts of the show, Ryan & Nadia, follow them at &

Here’s a link to the episode and the information on the papers. https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-vckz5-1623486
https://www.beeculture.com/into-the-wild-with-dr-juliana-posada/

S2E4: Insect Pollination: It's Not Just Bees! In the last decade there has been a HUGE (& successful) push for people to appreciate bees & the work they do to pollinate not just flowers in the wild, but food crops to feed ourselves & it's not surprise why the bee was chosen. They are fluffy. They are cute. They are.....sexy, BUT.......

There is a new resource that has just been announced by The Pollinator Partnership and the USDA Identification Technology Program (ITP) designed to help beekeepers quickly identify and address honey bee health concerns: The BeeMD!

The BeeMD offers:

🔍 An interactive identification key
📸 A filterable image gallery
📄 Illustrated fact sheets for 102 conditions
🐝 Helpful information on bees, hives, and beekeeping

Learn more here: https://loom.ly/0pEMmsI

Dear beekeepers,

As Tropical Storm Beryl approaches Texas, your safety and that of your loved ones are our top concerns. If you're safe and prepared, please take a moment to ensure your apiary is ready for the potential impact of heavy rain and winds.
Beekeepers should be mindful of securing hives and protecting bees from adverse weather conditions. Please share this important information with your fellow beekeepers in the area.
For any additional questions, please contact [email protected]

Cheers!

Garett Slater
Assistant Professor and Honey Bee Extension Entomologist
Department of Entomology | Texas A&M AgriLife
1710 FM3053 | Overton, TX 75684
Ph: 701-928-0418 | [email protected]

Balmy Days

Via Dr. Garrett Slater:

We are excited to launch a Monthly Webinar series hosted by both Texas Beekeepers Association and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Join us on Friday, July 12th from 6-7pm for a webinar featuring Dr. Garett Slater's talk, "The Forgotten S*x: The Importance of Drones for Colony Health". In this webinar, Garett will discuss the importance of honey bee drones, their role in colony health, and factors that impact drone reproductive quality.

To register for this FREE event, please visit

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Via PachaMama Bees:

Hello Dr. Rangel,
I'm reaching out to you to share that PachaMama Bees has open positions for Beekeepers and Assistant Beekeepers. If you know an experienced beekeeper in Travis, Hays, or Bastrop counties, please put them in contact with us.
Best regards,

Kate Gavancho

Owner/Operator
PachaMama Bees, LLC
www.pachamamabees.com
512-554-6757

PachaMama Bees Welcome to PachaMama Bees! PachaMama means “Mother Earth.” We provide safe, natural, and environmentally friendly apiary services in the Austin area. Learn about honey bees, hives, Texas agricultural exemptions, and extractions.  

New in the Journal of Insect Science: A special collection on state of the most current investigations on honey bee biology and apiculture in the U.S. and Canada. Published in partnership w/ the American and Canadian Associations of Professional Apiculturists. https://academic.oup.com/jinsectscience/pages/micro-macro-aspects-of-honey-bee-health