SBGMI Virtual Winter Conference 2024

The treasures that benefit our industry come out of small commercial apiaries. It is here beekeepers can be engaged in a multifaceted management scheme adapted to their bees and environment. It is also here I believe innovation for the future of our bees will result in breeding schemes that can solve some of the biggest issues we face.

I will share with you what I have learned and how I currently manage my apiary with this approach in mind. I will also discuss management for breeding, honey production, and raising the next generation of honey bees for replacement and sale. Today’s economy has enough challenges and like my bees – this is how I’ve learned to adapt!

In this presentation on the science of cell starters, Ang Roell of They Keep Bees delves into the intricate world of honey bee biology, focusing on the critical role of cell starters in beekeeping. Ang, an experienced beekeeper, queen producer and passionate advocate for sustainable apiculture, explores the fascinating dynamics within a honey bee colony as it prepares to raise a new generation of bees.

Through a lens of curiosity, Ang Roell sheds light on the intricate process of selecting and nurturing cell starters while emphasizing the importance of genetic diversity and robust health in these foundational units.

For decades, beekeepers have continued to control Varroa populations by the use of chemicals and other invasive methods. However, throughout Africa and most of South and Central America mite-infested colonies survive without any form of mite-control. This has been linked with poor mite reproduction, although what causes this has remained unknown. Throughout, Europe the USA and Wales an increasing number of naturally evolved, mite-tolerant colonies are being discovered. The talk will discuss the various tolerant mechanisms and how honey bee populations in Brazil, Cuba, Africa, USA and UK all appear to have evolved similar ways to combat the Varroa mite.

Our management is one of the environmental factors that impress upon our bees.

Learning how our management and stewardship within a hive and surrounding landscapes affects our bees can help us to better decipher what we observe and how we select. There is a synergy as we begin to better understand how genetics, environment, and stewardship interact.

This presentation will share insights into emerging methodologies and applications of bee breeding selection based on these synergistic interactions.

Feral bee colonies are intriguing in the way they choose their dwelling patterns. They often seek out secluded and protected locations, such as tree hollows, abandoned structures, or occupied dwellings to establish their hives. Understanding the preferences of feral colonies can provide us with valuable insights.

In this talk, we will take a look at feral colonies and their dwelling patterns to determine what draws them to these habitats. We will discuss how we can use that information to implement improved management strategies and bee health in our apiaries.