News

by Dewey M. Caron, Communications and Content Specialist for the Oregon Master Beekeeper Program Guidebook Supports Pollinator-Friendly Utility-Scale Solar Projects The Honey Bee Health Coalition has released a new guidebook, Guidelines for Developing Pollinator-Friendly Utility-Scale Solar Projects. This comprehensive guide is designed to help solar developers and project stakeholders integrate pollinator health and habitat benefits into … Read more

by Dewey M. Caron, Communications and Content Specialist for the Oregon Master Beekeeper Program Fall in the apiary Most beekeepers know that being in nature is “good for you”. Not only for the eyes but also for the smells and for the sounds. We can “feast “ our eyes on our bee hives with foragers … Read more

by Dewey M. Caron, Communications and Content Specialist for the Oregon Master Beekeeper Program News from WSU Steve Sheppard has retired: Dr. Steve Sheppard is no stranger to Oregon beekeepers. He regularly attends the OSBA annual meeting as speaker on the program and usually helps get up to open wallets in the auction. A 1986 … Read more

by Dewey M. Caron, Communications and Content Specialist for the Oregon Master Beekeeper Program Asian bees slap away invading ants Scientists in Japan have demonstrated that guards of Asian honey bees (Apis cerana) can use their wings to knock ants away from their colony entrance. Smaller bodied ants are more easily knocked away than the … Read more

by Dewey M. Caron, Communications and Content Specialist for the Oregon Master Beekeeper Program We knew it would happen…. The Ectoparasitic mite Tropilaelaps mercedesae, a potential devastating pest of Apis mellifera, has been confirmed outside of Asia. An established population has been documented in the Krasnodar region of Russia by researchers in a far eastern … Read more

by Dewey M. Caron, Communications and Content Specialist for the Oregon Master Beekeeper Program Blue-green algal diet Have you heard about a new bee diet of blue-green algae? It reportedly helps in control of Deformed Wing virus (DWV). DWV reaches epidemic levels when varroa mites feed on adult fat body and developing bee pupae and … Read more

Opportunities for in-hive education Compiled by Dr. Dewey Caron There are three monthly in-hive opportunities that Master Beekeepers members might wish to join. All include open hive and great opportunity to ask questions. OSU Friday in the Apiary – at Oak Creek Apiary, Corvallis. On OSU campus with OSU Bee Lab personnel. Off 36th avenue … Read more

by Dewey M. Caron, Communications and Content Specialist for the Oregon Master Beekeeper Program Why do bees have a queen? Why do bees have queens? asks Rhylie, age 8, Rosburg, Washington.  [CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com] Well beekeepers know most bees, the roughly 20,000 described species, do not have queens while our backyard colonies usually have one in resident … Read more

by Dewey M. Caron, Communications and Content Specialist for the Oregon Master Beekeeper Program Hangry bees Walsh, Liz, et.al. 2023. Hangry bees: Pollen deprivation affects temper in Pol-line honey bees (Apis mellifera). 2023 ABRC Bee Culture April 2023.  DOI: https://doi.org/10.55406/ABRC.23. The American Association of Professional Apiculturists (AAPA) hosted its annual meeting, the American Bee Research Conference … Read more

Bee Schools around our region Compiled by Dr. Dewey Caron More information can be found by visiting the club websites – a listing can be found here: https://orsba.org/affliliated-associations/ March 9th Central Oregon Beekeepers Association COBKA 8:30-3:30 March 16, 9-4. Klamath Basin KBBA March 18, 19 and 21st evenings TVBA joined by Columbia Co  Columbiacountyoregonbeekeepers@gmail.com SOBA … Read more