Bees

Overview

Honey bees have been a subject of teaching and inquiry at the University of Georgia for decades. These marvelous insects are manageable and used to produce honey and pollinate crops. They are practical models of biological organization and social behavior.

Honey bee research at the University of Georgia emphasizes sustainable bee health management as well as more basic questions about bee pollination and foraging ecology. In all its initiatives, the UGA Honey Bee Program aims to develop research, teaching and Extension initiatives that are locally responsive while globally relevant.

Publications

Commercial and Professional Publications

• Bee Pollination of Georgia Crop Plants

General Publications

• Bee Conservation in the Southeast
• Pollination of Vegetable Crops

To see other publications, go to the CAES Publications site or the FACS Publications listing.

News

For the latest news about Extension, visit Georgia FACES. News you can use about Georgia family, agricultural, consumer and enviromental sciences.

• Beekeeper to give introduction to the craft at Sept. 20 field day
• UGA to help solve nationwide honeybee problems
• Researchers honing in on bee colony collapse disorder
• Georgia man's death confirms presence of Africanized honeybees

Websites

UGA-affiliated sites

• Bees: Identification, Benefits and Controls
  Describes several varieties of bees and the benefits they provide.
• Buzz Kill: Grant Funds Multi-University Research to Find Solutions to Colony Collapse Disorder
  Southscapes magazine article that describes how researches are using a $4.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to find solutions to Colony Collapse Disorder among managed bee pollinators.
• Impact Statements: Bees
  Descriptions of Extension efforts to improve knowledge and practices related to bees.
• UGA Honey Bee Program
  Information on beekeeping in Georgia, honey bee research and graduate studies.

External sites

• American Beekeeping Federation
  A national organization with about 1,000 members that continuously works in the interest of all beekeepers, large or small, and those associated with the industry to ensure the future of the honey bee. Included are links to education opportunities and events, membership information, news and publications, legislative activities, resources, and a photo gallery.
• Georgia Beekeepers Association
  Information concerning upcoming events, junior beekeepers, Africanized bees, products and services, local clubs, national clubs, and other pertinent topics.
• Georgia Department of Agriculture Apiary Inspections
  List of frequently asked questions pertaining to apiary plants in an effort to promote the highest quality and integrity of plants and plant products produced by the Georgia green industry while ensuring consumer protection.
• USDA Bee Research Laboratory
  Site providing information about the Bee Research Laboratory, located in Beltsville, Maryland, where research is conducted on the biology and control of honey bee parasites, diseases, and pests to ensure an adequate supply of bees for pollination and honey production.

Training

Cooperative Extension offers training within local communities on a wide array of topics. To see if there are training events in your area, please visit our calendar.

• Georgia Master Beekeeper Program
  An intensive four-step program designed to provide participants the opportunity to increase their knowledge about all things dealing with bees and beekeeping.