Honey Bee Health Coalition: Part 2 - Pests and Predators (S4, E4)

We continue this week exploring the work of the Honey Bee Health Coalition we started on the March 29th, Season 3, Episode 44, with Matt Mulica. The HBHC has several goals, tasks and programs it is pursuing and the one we are exploring today, with Dr. Dewey Caron, Representing the Western Apiculture Society and Mary Reed, Texas Apiary Inspector and Secretary to the HBHC organization. Together they represent the Pests and Predators arm of the Hive Management group.

Of course, Varroa, and the viruses they transmit, are at the top of the list, and Dewey and Mary have several suggestions to help beekeepers handle this pest. First, certainly, is sampling for mites often enough, and then acting on the results of the sample just taken.

Another aspect of the HBHC actions is a concerted effort, working with the USDA’s Animal, Plant, Health Inspection Service, APHIS, looking for pests that are not yet in the US, and to make sure they find them before they become established. They are drawing up the fundamentals for this right now so they know what to look for, and what to do when and if they do find any of these invasive pests, before it’s too late.

Perhaps what’s really an eye opener for beekeepers, is what climate change is doing, and going to do to bees and beekeeping and the plants both need to stay in business. They are looking at honey bee nutrition and climate change, and what will extreme weather events do to how, and where bees can be kept. They are also looking into what changes can we expect in the environment because of all this.

Dr. Dewey Caron, and Mary Reed and the Honey Bee Health Coalition. Don’t miss this one.

Links and websites mentioned in this podcast:

• The Honey Bee Health Coalition - https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org 
• Bee-ing Diverse - Bee Culture October Event: https://store.beeculture.com/beeing-diverse-inspiring-leaders-in-beekeeping-october-2021/
• Honey Bee Obscura Podcast - https://www.honeybeeobscura.com

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We welcome Betterbee as sponsor of today's episode. BetterBee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, BetterBee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

Thanks to Strong Microbials for their support of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Find out more about heir line of probiotics in our Season 3, Episode 12 episode and from their website: https://www.strongmicrobials.com

This episode is brought to you by Global Patties! Global Patties is a family business that manufactures protein supplement patties for honey bees. Feeding your hives protein supplement patties will help ensure that they produce strong and health colonies by increasing brood production and overall honey flow. Global offers a variety of standard patties, as well as custom patties to meet your specific needs. Visit them today at http://globalpatties.com and let them know you appreciate them sponsoring this episode! 

We want to also thank 2 Million Blossoms as a sponsor of the podcast. 2 Million Blossoms is a quarterly magazine destined for your coffee table. Each page of the magazine is dedicated to the stories and photos of all pollinators and written by leading researchers, photographers and our very own, Kim Flottum.

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We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments: [email protected]

Thanks to Bee Culture, the Magazine of American Beekeeping, for their support of The Beekeeping Today Podcast. Available in print and digital at www.beeculture.com

Thank you for listening! 

Podcast music: Young Presidents, "Be Strong"; Musicalman, "Epilogue". Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott

Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC