The goal of the USDA-ARS Areawide program is to increase colony survival and availability for pollination and thus increase the profitability of beekeeping. A comprehensive bee management system is taking shape, centered around the following objectives.
Photo by Jeff Pettis, USDA-ARS
- Increase colony strength for pollination of almonds and subsequent crops.
- Demonstrate that resistant bee stocks reduce operating costs and increase survivor-ship.
- Demonstrate improved parasitic mite control with proper timing of application.
- Improve the content and delivery methods for carbohydrate and protein diets.
- Improve the integrated use of controls for pests and diseases including non-chemical beekeeping methodology.
Participating ARS labs
- Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics and Physiology Research Unit: Baton Rouge, Louisiana bee lab
- Bee Research Laboratory in Beltsville: Beltsville, Maryland bee lab
- Carl Hayden Bee Research Center Tucson, Arizona bee lab
- Honey Bee Research Unit (HBRU) at Kika de la Garza Subtropical Agricultural Research Center: Weslaco, Texas bee lab
While studying honey bee nutrition, pollen is collected in traps installed under honey bee colonies. This pollen can then be taken to the lab in examined for species of origin, pesticide contamination, and nutritional elements. Photo by Nathan Rice.