Apiculture

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Honey bees are known to be the strongest link in the chain between food producers and consumers. They contribute nearly $20 billion to the crop industry by providing pollination services all over the United States, and Florida's honey industry is ranked among the top five in the nation. There are nearly 5,000 registered beekeepers in the state of Florida, managing approximately 630,000 colonies. Unfortunately, high colony loss rates of honey bees have been reported throughout the world. Stressors, such as Varroa destructor, queen quality, and nutrition are just some of the reported factors associated with this decline. Researchers have been working to identify best management practices to mitigate these losses. All recommendations in these publications are based on scientific literature about honey bees in Florida and around the world.

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Related Topics: Apiculture, Pest Management, Animal Health

Bees

Insect members of the superfamily Apoidea, found almost everywhere, particularly on flowers. About 3500 species occur in North America. They differ from most wasps in that their young are fed honey and pollen rather than animal food.

Honey

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Honey and Bee Products

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Publications

Showing 22 of 22 Publications

Best Management Practices for Live Bee Removals in Florida: A Beekeeper's Guide

Mary Bammer, Jamie Ellis, Eric Baxter, Krista Butler, John Coldwell, B. Keith Councell, Kevin Easton, Brendhan Horne, Brandi Stanford, and Amy T. Vu

Florida Honey Bee Plants

Mary Christine Bammer, William H Kern, and Jamie D. Ellis

Several factors influence the flora throughout Florida, including annual freezes, average temperature, annual rainfall, and soil composition. Because of these variations, plants that grow well in one region may not grow well in another. Climate, plant communities, and timing of floral resources differ significantly between the three main regions in Florida: North Florida, Central Florida, and South Florida. While many plants are acceptable pollen producers for honey bees, fewer yield enough nectar to produce a surplus honey crop. As such, the tables in this document list the nectar-bearing plants that are present to some degree in each region and the plants' respective bloom times.

The Benefits of Pollen to Honey Bees

Amanda Ellis, Jamie D. Ellis, Michael K. O'Malley, and Catherine M. Zettel Nalen

Using Nucs in Beekeeping Operations

James D. Ellis

The Social Organization of Honey Bees

Ashley N. Mortensen, Bryan Smith, and James D. Ellis

Preserving Woodenware in Beekeeping Operations

J. D. Ellis, W. H. Kern, and C. M. Zettel Nalen

Building Bear Fences for Your Apiary

Kimberly K. Post and Cameron Jack

Swarm Control for Managed Beehives

Sara DeBerry, John Crowley, and James D. Ellis

Florida Bears and Beekeeping

Malcolm T. Sanford and James D. Ellis

Minimizing Honey Bee Exposure to Pesticides

J. D. Ellis, J. Klopchin, E. Buss, L. Diepenbrock, F. M. Fishel, W. H. Kern, C. Mannion, E. McAvoy, L. S. Osborne, M. Rogers, M. Sanford, H. Smith, B. S. Stanford, P. Stansly, L. Stelinski, S. Webb, and A. Vu

A UF/IFAS numbered peer reviewed Fact Sheet. Published by Integrated Pest Management

Overwintering Honey Bee Colonies in Northern Climates

James D. Ellis and Katherine Hammons

A UF/IFAS numbered publication. in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: Animal Systems

Monitoring for Amoebic Disease (Malpighamoeba mellificae) in Honey Bee Colonies

Hannah N. Gurland, James C. Fulton, Marley E. Iredale, Amy Vu, and Julia St. Amant

Digestive health is an overlooked but vital component of the success of Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies. Viral, bacterial, fungal, and protozoal infections can inhibit nutrient uptake and waste elimination by the honey bee digestive tract. Active management requires monitoring honey bee health on an individual and colony basis, providing adequate nutrition, and controlling for other pests and diseases. One organism that has gained recent attention is Malpighamoeba mellificae. This publication describes how to detect M. mellificae in A. mellifera colonies.

Florida Beekeeping Management Calendar

James D. Ellis, Mary C. Bammer, and William H. Kern

A UF/IFAS numbered publication. in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: Integrated Pest Management

European Honey Bee Apis mellifera Linnaeus and subspecies (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Ashley N. Mortensen, Daniel R. Schmehl, and Jamie Ellis

This document provides an overview of the European honey bee, Apis mellifera, detailing its natural distribution, subspecies, and introduction to the Americas. It covers the biology, life cycle, and social structure of honey bee colonies, emphasizing the roles of workers, drones, and queens. The article also discusses the economic importance of honey bees in pollination and honey production, as well as management practices and challenges, including pests and diseases. The information is intended for both laypersons with some biological knowledge and academic audiences.

Keeping Bees in Florida

Tomas A. Bustamante, Jamie Ellis, and Mary Bammer

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet. in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: Integrated Pest Management

Welcome to the Apiary! Honey Bee 4-H Project Book

Written by Megan Hammond, Amy T. Vu, Natalie Parkell, Mary Bammer, Emily Helton, Karen Henry, Jessica Sullivan, and James D. Ellis

The purpose of this publication is to offer a follow-up 4-H curriculum to Chapter 1: Welcome to the Hive! The text is most appropriate for junior-, intermediate-, and senior-aged youth (about 8–18 years old) and may serve as a guide for prospective and beginner beekeeping.

Theft, Vandalism, and Other Related Crime in the Beekeeping Industry: A Guide for Beekeepers

C. M. Zettel Nalen and James D. Ellis

A UF/IFAS numbered Organism ID.

Welcome to the Hive! Honey Bee 4-H Project Book

Megan Hammond, Amy T. Vu, Mary Bammer, Emily Helton, Karen Henry, Jessica Sullivan, and James D. Ellis

The purpose of this publication is to provide a 4-H project book that discusses honey bees and their importance to our nation’s agriculture. The intent is to introduce the world of honey bees to youth ages 8 to 12, with or without any previous beekeeping background or knowledge. This book consists of six sections that familiarize youth with the honey bee’s basic anatomy and life cycle, the three members of the honey bee colony, their roles and responsibilities, and colony communication. Each section has been designed to give youth a brief introduction to a topic and offers activities building on that topic. Written by Megan Hammond, Amy T. Vu, Mary Bammer, Emily Helton, Karen Henry, Jessica Sullivan, and James D. Ellis; 56 pp.

Robbing Behavior in Honey Bees

Ryan Willingham, Jeanette Klopchin, and James Ellis