The Back Yard Beekeepers Association in Connecticut will present Dr. Diana Cox-Foster, a research leader and entomologist at USDA-ARS Pollinating Insects Research Unit in Utah, as guest speaker on Feb. 25 at Norfield Congregational Church, 64 Norfield Road in Weston. The meeting is in person and the speaker will be joining virtually.
There is not an option for participants to join virtually. Please join the gathering at 7 p.m. to allow time to socialize and chat with other members of the club. The virtual speaker presentation will begin at 7:30. Even though the event is free, guests are asked register at https://backyardbeekeepers.com.
Join the Beekeepers Association for this exciting deep dive into the fascinating world of bees! The presentation will showcase groundbreaking data from a three-year study exploring the dynamic interactions between honey bees, bumble bees and solitary bees — an investigation that addresses a critical question: How does a honey bee apiary impact native bee populations?
“Through innovative cage experiments with limited forage, we created competition between the three bee types, examining how they affect each other’s reproduction and behavior on flowers,” Cox-Foster said. “This research included experiments on how a large apiary with 48 colonies influences the reproduction of sentinel bumble bee colonies and cavity-nesting solitary bees. We also kept a close eye on local endemic bee species and flowers, all while assessing the impact of viral pathogens on these essential pollinators.”
Cox-Foster will present additional data on the impacts of viral pathogens in the blue orchard bee (Osmia lignaria), shedding light on how these health challenges affect bee populations.
With climate emerging as a key player in the results, she will discuss how the carrying capacity of an area significantly impacts bee health, revealing how various factors interact to shape the well-being of our pollinators.
Don’t miss this chance to hear about cutting-edge bee research and its profound implications for biodiversity and conservation. Questions? Send a message to BYBA’s Paula Wolf at paulawolf@email.com.
The Back Yard Beekeepers Association (BYBA) is one of the nation’s largest regional clubs for beekeeping hobbyists with over 400 members. Some of the members are just getting started as beekeepers, and some have enjoyed this hobby for years. All share an interest in the wonderful and remarkable world of the honey bee. The mission of BYBA is to provide the membership with a forum for sharing knowledge and mutual interests in beekeeping, and to educate and promote the benefits of beekeeping to the public. For more information, visit backyardbeekeepers.com
