Bee Diversity and Blueberry production

Researchers from NC State have found that increased wild bee diversity enhances the productivity and stability of blueberry plants, emphasizing the trend that increased in bee diversity provides a multitude of ecosystem services.

Tiny flying robots being built to pollinate crops

Check out how a team of researchers from Harvard University are developing RoboBees- bee sized robots that could eventually be used to supplement the declining bee population in the pollination of flowering plants.

Nature’s Dying Migrant Worker

This insightful article discusses the value of Honey bees to the farming industry, and discusses why the great losses that are being seen in Honey bee populations will be harmful in the near future.  The full article by Josephine Marcotty is available here via the Star Tribune.

Worcester Honey Farms Bee Survival Survey

Pollinate Your Life

More information on the University of Delaware’s “Pollinate your Life” seminar series can be found under the “Pollinate your Life” tab on the homepage of the MAAREC website.  Each seminar has a page with a brief description of the event for those who are interested in attending.

Lower Eastern Shore Beekeepers Association Guest Speaker Elizabeth (Izzy) Hill

Lower Eastern Shore Beekeepers Association

Salisbury, Maryland

The Lower Eastern Shore Beekeepers Association is pleased to announce that Elizabeth (Izzy) Hill with the Center for Urban Bee Research and the Mid-Atlantic Apicultural Research and Education Consortium (MAAREC) will speak to the association at their monthly meeting on June 11, 2014 at 7:00 pm.  Meetings are held at the University of Maryland Extension Office for Wicomico County, 28647 Old Quantico Road, Salisbury, Maryland.

Hill will speak on the use of nematodes to control small hive beetles (“SHB”).  Used appropriately in proper conditions studies have shown that the use of beneficial nematodes can reduce SHB pupae in the soil by over 85% (Ellis et al, 2010).

Attendees will be taught which species of nematodes have been most successful in controlling SHB, how to raise their own nematodes and how to utilize them to control SHB.  They will also be given the opportunity to participate in a research project on the efficacy of utilizing nematodes to combat SHB in the field.

Those that choose to participate will be given the needed research materials including nematodes.  All who participant will receive information on how their results compare to other beekeepers in the study.

The Lower Eastern Shore Beekeepers Association meets on a monthly basis the second Wednesday of every month to educate and mentor its members and the public on beekeeping, to promote the importance of honey bees and responsible, sustainable beekeeping.  All meeting are open to the public and anyone interested in honeybees and beekeeping is invited to attend.

For more information please visit our website at lowershorebeekeepers.org.