Deformed Wing Virus

Deformed Wing Virus Genetic Diversity in U.S. Honey Bees Complicates Search For Remedies

Dan Environment, Industry News Release, Pollinators, Research

(USDA/ARS) — Deformed Wing Virus (DWV), one of the leading causes of honey bee colony losses, is much more genetically diverse in the United States than previously thought, according to a study published by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists in PLoS Biology. The diverse lineages of this virus are all equally bad for bees, and they make it more complicated to …

new

New Tool Improves Beekeepers’ Overwintering Odds and Bottom Line

Dan Economy, Industry News Release, Pollinators

TUCSON, ARIZONA (ARS – September 18, 2019) — A new tool from the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) can predict the odds that honey bee colonies overwintered in cold storage will be large enough to rent for almond pollination in February. Identifying which colonies will not be worth spending dollars to overwinter can improve beekeepers’ bottom line. Beekeepers have been losing …

mexican sunflowers

Growing the Mexican Sunflower Attracts Pollinators

Dan Pollinators, This Land of Ours

Cathy Isom has a few tips, as well as the importance of growing the Mexican Sunflower. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The Mexican sunflower is an annual flower that has many names. It’s also known as the Bolivian sunflower, tree marigold, golden flower of the Incas, Japanese sunflower, and just Tithonia. Butterflies, bumblebees, hummingbirds, and other pollinators …