NHBA Research

The NHBA Research Committee works to promote honeybee health in NH.     This work takes two different forms – NH Honey Bee Health Citizen Science Projects   and donations to teams doing research to improve honeybee health.

Citizen Science Projects:

    1. Winter Hive Survey:  Since 2017, NHBA has run a Winter Hive Loss Survey to better understand the trends in our losses.The Winter 2019-20 Survival was 65% a 20 point improvement over the previous year!   You can see all of the survey results and analysis by downloading this file:   

2019-20 Winter Hive Survey Results

 

         Please follow these links to download survey results for each previous years:

2018-19 WInter Hive Survey Results

2017-18 Winter Hive Survey Results

2016-17 Winter Hive Survey results

2.   NH Healthy Hives 2020 :  “HoneyBee Nutrition – NH is Blooming”, is focused on honeybee nutrition and being led by Deb Slocum.   The goal of the project is to build a database of when plants, trees, shrubs, etc. are blooming and whether pollinators are collecting from them. 

In addition,  we are asking beekeepers to note the color of pollen being brought into the hives and submit those observations too.     We are  engaging garden clubs, school science programs, etc to help us collect as much information as possible through the year.
 
We have set up a website for this project:   https://www.nh-is-blooming.com/   where you will find:
   – sample observation spreadsheets
   – how to submit the info online,by email or usps mail
   – see what is blooming in your area
   – flower guides/references, etc.
 
We will begin accepting real observations on 4/1/2020.
 
Question about this project can be sent to :  nh.is.blooming@gmail.com
 

3.   Deadout CSI Data collection –  A key component to understanding our hive loss is so high is  to start collecting the observations people are making when they autopsy their deadouts.   We have put together a hive-side checklist to record what you see as you go through the dead hive.     Details and a checklist can be found at:  https://www.nh-honeybee-health.com/deadout-autopsy

 
 
4. NH Healthy Hives 2019 – This is a new multi-year initiative to promote healthy hive management.  Each year there will be a specific management theme to focus on.  The theme for April 2019- March 2020 is “Varroa Mite Testing”. The goal is to get more beekeepers (whether they treat or not) to do testing and make them more aware of their varroa situation. 
More Details about this program, the tracking spreadsheet, instructional videos and more can be found at:  https://www.nh-honeybee-health.com/mite-testing

 

Outside Research currently being funded by NHBA:

  1. Project Apis-M
    • Project Apis-M funds honeybee research ($340K in 2013). Past research has included:
      • Additional cost sharing for the pesticide testing
      • On line learning programs through the University of California
      • Many studies on migratory bees and the almond pollination
    • Their website: http://www.projectapism.org has education material (including videos), research reports and a lot of other interesting information.
    • You can sign up for their newsletter  at the web page: https://www.projectapism.org/pam-enewsletter.html
    •  
  2. Randy Oliver (http://www.scientificbeekeeping.com)
  3. Dr. Samuel Ramsey : Tropilaelaps Mite Research
  4. Bee Informed Partnership
  5. Zac Lamas, University of Maryland:  Nano-colony Research