Extension Service Site Publications

• (2016) Dissecting Honey Bees for Tracheal Mites Knowing the levels of tracheal mites in your apiary and understanding the effects of their presence will enable you to make an educated decision on your treatment plan. In this video, we demonstrate the dissection of a honey bee worker for tracheal mite infestation.
• (2016) Nosema Analysis in Honey Bees Nosema is a microsporidian parasite that infects the gut of a honey bee. (Microsporidia are spore-forming fungi.) Nosema affects protein metabolism in honey bees and causes them to starve. In this video, we demonstrate how to process a sample of honey bees for microscopic diagnosis of Nosema for both its presence or absence and number of spores. Colonies with Nosema may show no symptoms, and the only way to confirm presence of Nosema is through microscopic analysis.
  
• (2023) 239 - Oregon Master Beekeeper Field Day
• (2018) Protecting honey bees from yellowjacket wasps Yellowjackets seek protein and carbohydrate to feed their developing larvae. A honey bee colony offers an abundance of both. Beekeepers can protect their honey bees from yellowjackets by keeping strong colonies, reducing hive entrances, installing robbing screens and maintaining a tidy apiary.
• (2022) Bee Protection Protocol for Western Specialty Seed Crops Growers of specialty seeds in western Oregon rely on beekeepers to provide bees to pollinate their crops. Growers and beekeepers formed a Bee Protection Protocol to strengthen their mutually beneficial relationship. The protocol addresses pollination, pest management and communication.
• (2021) How can I keep bees away from my hummingbird feeder?
• (2022) Northern Giant Hornet: A Potential Threat to Honeybee Colonies in Oregon The northern giant hornet was detected in British Columbia and Washington in 2019. This publication outlines the identification, life cycle, and predatory habits of the northern giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) for beekeepers. It also provides recommendations for reporting a suspected sighting in the Pacific Northwest.
• (2019) Combating Bee Colony Loss: Ramesh Sagili Dr. Ramesh Sagili, Associate Professor-Apiculture at Oregon State University. He works with stakeholders in the bee industry, the public through Extension, and students to help create a healthy and sustainable environment for bees. He is working to educate and train beekeepers to create healthier bee colonies.
• (2016) Sampling for Varroa Mites from a Honey Bee Brood Nest Varroa destructor, a parasitic mite, is the most serious pest of a honey bee colony. Left unchecked, varroa mites can severely damage the colony and lead to collapse. Visual inspection of honey bee adults is not a reliable way to monitor for varroa. This video demonstrates two methods for sampling a colony for varroa mites: the alcohol wash and the powdered sugar shake.
  
  Varroa mites feed on the hemolymph of honey bees, transmitting viruses and affecting the growth and development of larvae. (Hemolymph is a fluid equivalent to blood in honey bees.)
  
  Regular monitoring of varroa mite levels in their colonies can guide beekeepers in their treatment decisions. Keeping pests and pathogens in check is necessary for strong, healthy honey bee colonies. For help with a diagnosis, please contact the Oregon State University Honey Bee Lab for more information: (541) 737-1447 | http://honeybeelab.oregonstate.edu
• (2019) OSU teaches Oregonians to raise honeybees as hives struggle More than 1,300 have enrolled in the Oregon Master Beekeeper Program
• (2021) OSU Honey Bee Lab helps keep pollinators healthy and thriving The lab focuses its research, Extension, and teaching efforts on three key areas: honey bee health, honey bee nutrition, and honey bee pollination.
• (2018) Residential Beekeeping: Best-practice guidelines for nuisance-free beekeeping in Oregon This publication outlines guidelines for best practices for beekeeping in residential areas. It outlines the steps residential beekeepers can take to operate their bees in nuisance-free manner.
• (2016) Small Hive Beetle identification card The small hive beetle is an invasive and damaging pest of honey bee colonies. This card will help people identify the beetle and distinguish it and its larvae from similar-looking beetles and larvae.
• (2016) The Small Hive Beetle: A Potential Pest in Honey Bee Colonies in Oregon Although no significant damage has been reported from this pest in Oregon and it is not clear whether this beetle can thrive in this state, the beetle has been a menace in many states and poses a threat to Oregon through migratory bee colonies and from package bees and queens purchased from regions where the beetle is well established, such as Southern California, Georgia, Florida, and Texas.
• (2016) Nurturing Mason Bees in Your Backyard in Western Oregon An overview of mason bee basic biology and life cycle, and detailed descriptions of what is needed to start keeping mason bees, including desirable plants, nesting sites and types of nests, and caring for the cocoons over fall and winter. There are many helpful color photos throughout.
• (2015) Overwintered honey bee nucleus colonies: big solutions in small packages Commercial and backyard beekeepers can minimize colony losses by establishing nucleus colonies. Nucleus colonies can quickly resolve many beekeeping problems.
• (2011) Evaluating honey bee colonies for pollination Commercial growers who rent honey bees for pollination and beekeepers who provide pollination services can learn about evaluating honey bee colony strength, the average number of colonies needed for pollination, basic honey bee biology and pollination contracts.
• (2019) Pollination and seed set in meadowfoam Learn the characteristics of meadowfoam and best practices for managing honey bees.