Notes from Dewey – October 2024

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 coming and going. It is a feast as well with the smell of the hive when we open it and the buzzing sounds of the bees that further our appreciation of our bees and nature. Fall is a favorite time in the apiary.

In a new book Good Nature, Kathy Willis, professor of Biochemistry at St Edmund Hall University in London explores  what happens in our brains and our bodies when we interact with nature. For example, individuals recovering from gall bladder surgery recovered three times faster and needed  less pain medication when they could view a natural, green landscape compared to those whose view was of a brick wall.

When we look at nature our heart rate and blood pressure falls according to Ms. Willis. Our stress hormones like adrenalin fall and our brainwave activity is heightened. We are calmer and more clear-minded. I suspect we would see the same effects for beekeepers those days we visit our bees, whether merely to watch the bees come and go or we open and inspect a colony.

According to her research the “best” landscape is the open meadow with a few trees. And that happens to be one well suited for our bees as well. Not necessarily a landscaped area but one with the irregularness of nature. Our eyes apparently like to pick up the complexity of the natural world. The author explains how smells such as pollen affect our body in positive ways and she even says we have a hidden sense for nature. Implications of how we can bring nature into our cities an our live make this an interesting read.

Supersedure revisited

Research on honey bee reproduction has focused on swarming behavior and nest site selection. One significant gap in our knowledge of the collective decision-making process regarding  reproduction is how daughter queens simply replace old or failing queens (=supersedure) rather than being reared for the purposes of colony fission (=swarming) or queen loss (=emergency queen rearing). In a new ‘concept’ modeling paper in the journal Insect Science, David Tarpy of NC State . He argues that queen supersedure is not caused by the poor quality of queens per se but instead is prompted by the workers’ perception of her reproductive potential. He postulates queen supersedure in honey bees is a symptom of environmental factors (both social of the honey bee and abiotic factors in the environment) within the colony rather than simply an honest signal of a given queen’s reproductive potential.

Tarpy, David. 2024.  Collective decision-making during reproduction in social insects: a conceptual model for queen supersedure in honey bees (Apis mellifera). Current Opinion Insect Science 66:101260

IPM Plans

Xerces recently presented a zoom on IPM.  It was in connection with Bee City and Bee Campuses USA. They have specific information that might be used by communities. IPM plans are offered in three parts: Part I: Developing Your IPM Plan and Part II: IPM Plan Checklist. The Part III section: IPM Plan Examples & Case Studies references the City of Eugene and their IPM plan for city properties along with the Portland Community College’s IPM plan.

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 the design and management of utility-scale solar (USS) projects.

“This new guidebook is a significant resource aimed at integrating multiple environmental benefits when pollinator habitat and health considerations are incorporated into the rapidly growing field of utility-scale solar projects,” said Pete Berthelsen, president of Conservation Blueprint and principal author of the guidebook. “By providing detailed guidelines that are based on practical experience and advice, the Honey Bee Health Coalition aims to foster projects that support both renewable energy and pollinator conservation efforts.”

The Guidelines for Developing Pollinator-Friendly Utility-Scale Solar Projects aims to support the creation of projects that not only contribute to renewable energy goals but also enhance pollinator health and habitats. As the United States transitions to more renewable energy sources, it is estimated that over 10 million acres of solar projects will be installed between 2023 and 2033. These projects present a unique opportunity to address pollinator health and habitat needs, benefiting honey bees, native bees, butterflies, grassland songbirds, and other wildlife.

I served on the technical review committee for this guidebook.  The Guidelines for Developing Pollinator-Friendly Utility-Scale Solar Projects is available for free on the Habitat and Nutrition page of the Honey Bee Health Coalition’s website.