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Dr. Samuel Ramsey & Erin MacGregor-Forbes (EAS Certified Master Beekeeper)
We are honored to have two such knowledgeable presenters sharing their research, wisdom & experience with our Club.
Dr. Sammy's award-winning research on Varroa destructor has changed the standing paradigm on how the parasite feeds upon, and ultimately kills, honey bees. At the forefront of this scientific inquiry, he has had many opportunities to share his work internationally. You won't want to miss this opportunity to learn from him in person! (www.drsammy.online)
Dr Sammy will be doing two presentations:
Tropilaelaps Mites: A Fate Worse Than Varroa (50 minutes) Tropilaelaps mites are spreading across the globe at a rate very similar to that of Varroa in the 1960’s, roughly 20 years before they arrived in the US. If they continue to spread this way, it’s possible that they could be here just as quickly. These mites are much more destructive than Varroa with faster population growth, greater mobility, and no pesticides currently labeled for their treatment. There’s a lot to learn about them. This presentation details what we already know and what we still need to figure out. Varroa destructor Feeds on Bee Blood and Two Other Alternative Facts (1 hour) Varroa destructor feeds exclusively on the hemolymph (or blood) of immature bees". It's considered to be such an obvious fact that it often goes without citation now in scientific papers. But there is very little if any experimental support for this universally accepted conclusion. My thesis work, in partnership with the USDA and Project Apis m, has shown that Varroa are actually feeding on a very different tissue, the fat body, leading to a diverse combination of health impacts that have never been fully explained by feeding on hemolymph alone. With a better understanding of how this parasite impacts its host, we can develop novel forms of control and new methods to remediate the health issues common to infected colonies.
Tropilaelaps Mites: A Fate Worse Than Varroa (50 minutes)
Tropilaelaps mites are spreading across the globe at a rate very similar to that of Varroa in the 1960’s, roughly 20 years before they arrived in the US. If they continue to spread this way, it’s possible that they could be here just as quickly. These mites are much more destructive than Varroa with faster population growth, greater mobility, and no pesticides currently labeled for their treatment. There’s a lot to learn about them. This presentation details what we already know and what we still need to figure out.
Varroa destructor Feeds on Bee Blood and Two Other Alternative Facts (1 hour)
Varroa destructor feeds exclusively on the hemolymph (or blood) of immature bees". It's considered to be such an obvious fact that it often goes without citation now in scientific papers. But there is very little if any experimental support for this universally accepted conclusion. My thesis work, in partnership with the USDA and Project Apis m, has shown that Varroa are actually feeding on a very different tissue, the fat body, leading to a diverse combination of health impacts that have never been fully explained by feeding on hemolymph alone. With a better understanding of how this parasite impacts its host, we can develop novel forms of control and new methods to remediate the health issues common to infected colonies.
Erin MacGregor-Forbes is an EAS Certified Master Beekeeper & owner of Overland Apiaries in Portland, Maine. She will present on “brood factories” – how to integrate that concept into a smaller operation.
**NOTE: Seating for this event is limited, so please register now. We have invited area clubs to join us for this wonderful opportunity so register for your seat today!**
A schedule & details will be posted in the coming weeks.
Bristol County Beekeepers Association, Inc. is a 501(c)6 non-profit organization. P.O. Box 286, North Dighton, MA 02764
Bristol County Beekeepers Association