beekeeping basics...today’s discussion • honey bee biology • beekeeping basics • resources...

Beekeeping Basics

Randall Paul Cass Small Farms Conference February 2018

Extension and Outreach

About Me

• Extension Entomologist

• Support research

• Communicate findings to the public

• Worked with beekeepers in 5

countries

• Follow me on Instagram:

@iowastatebees 2


Today’s Discussion

• Honey bee biology

• Beekeeping basics

• Resources for getting started

3


• Bees in the Iowa landscape

• Best practices for Iowa

Beekeepers

Ongoing Research at Iowa State

Information for New Beekeepers

Why Become a Beekeeper?

4



• Pollination

5



• Pollination

• Honey

6



• Pollination

• Honey

• It’s fun

7


The Honey Bee

8


• Scientific Name: Apis

Mellifera

The Honey Bee

9



Mellifera

• One of few honey producing

species

The Honey Bee

10



Mellifera


species

• Most common varieties:

Italian and Carnolian

The Honey Bee

11



Mellifera


species

• Most common varieties:

Italian and Carnolian

• Around 5000 beekeepers in

Iowa today

The Honey Bee

• Worker

• Queen

• Drone

12


Three-Caste Society

Photos: University of Georgia

Honey Bee Pests and Disease

13


Photos: University of Florida,

• Varroa Mite

• Wax Moth

• Small Hive Beetle

• Chalk Brood

• American/European Foul

Brood

• Nosema

• Deformed Wing Virus

Finding the Right Place

• The City of Ames has no laws

prohibiting keeping bees

• But neighbors may disagree

14


Consider Local Laws

• Will the location be too hot or

too cold?

• Does the area experience

extreme wind?

• Are there raccoons??

Considering the Natural Elements

Finding the Right Place

15


Overwintering

• Apis Mellifera is bred to survive

cold winters

• Have a windbreak

• Ventilation is important

• Some beekeepers wrap their

hives for winter

Monitoring the Hive

Throughout the Year

Things to check for every 7-

10 days:

• If the Queen is present

• Signs of pest and disease

• Hive population/swarming

potential

• Honey stores

16


Equipment

17


Will I Get Stung?


• Only 1% of the population is

severely allergic

• Most species only sting when

they feel threatened

• When stung, avoid breaking the

venom sac

• Invest if in Epi-Pen

Resources for New Beekeepers in

Iowa

19


• Iowa Honey Producers Association

• State Apiarist: Andy Joseph

• ‘The Buzz’ Newsletter

• Spring Valley Honey Farms (Perry, IA)

• P & P Honey and Bee Supply

(Goodell, IA)

• Dadant Bee Supplies, Mann Lake Bee

Supplies

Local Resources

Purchasing Bees

Purchasing Equipment

Iowa State Research

Pollinator Conservation

• Funded by USDA/NIFA

• Focused on Soybean and Prairie

• Looking at impacts of major bee

stressors (The 3 P’s):

Pests and disease

Poor forage

Pesticide exposure

• Observing the effect honey bees

have on native species

20


Iowa State Research

USDA/NIFA Grant

21


Co PI’s:

Amy Toth, Adam Dolezal, Matt O’Neal,

and Erin Hodgson

Post-Doctoral Researcher:

Harmen Hendriksma

PhD Students: Ashley St. Clair and Ge Zhang

Iowa State Research Our Preliminary Research

22


Monitoring hive mass

in simple and

complex agricultural

landscapes

Iowa State Research Our Preliminary Research

23


-14

-12

-10

-8

-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

8

28-Jul 4-Aug 11-Aug 18-Aug 25-Aug 1-Sep 8-Sep 15-Sep 22-Sep

Mea

n c

han

ge

in m

ass

(K

g)

MOVED TO

PRAIRIE

PRAIRIE SITE

AGRICULTURAL SITE

**

*

Hive mass

after moving

hives from

soybean

fields to

prairie in late

summer

Iowa State Research

Our Preliminary Research

24


Iowa State Research

Best Practices for Beekeepers

25


• Monitoring hives regularly for

pests and disease

• Take forage availability into

consideration

• Communicate with nearby

farmers

Iowa State Research

Best Practices for Farmers

26


• Manage insecticide drift

• Manage off-dusting from treated

seed

• Establishing pollinator-friendly

habitat or enrolling in CRP

programs

• Utilizing an IPM plan

Iowa State Research

Best Practices for Farmers

27


• Follow the Iowa “Bee Rule”

“Farmers may not apply pesticides

labeled ‘toxic to bees’ between 8a.m.

and 6p.m. to blooming crops within 1

mile of registered apiaries”

Iowa State Research Driftwatch

28


Randall Paul Cass

Extension Entomologist, Honey Bees and Native Bees

Iowa State University, Ames IA

[email protected] | 515.294.2507 | Instagram:

@iowastatebees

https://www.ent.iastate.edu/pollinators/


Thank You

https://www.ent.iastate.edu/pollinators/

beekeeping basics...today’s discussion • honey bee biology • beekeeping basics • resources...

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