Queen Health and Colony Survival with Dr. Jeff Pettis

Queens are the heart of a honey bee colony, but they often are not living 2-3 years as they once did. This talk explores the impact of shipping temperature on queen sperm viability within queens and subsequent impacts at the colony level on colony growth and survival. Dr. Pettis discusses various factors that can impact queen health and longevity, queen supersedure, and how beekeepers can improve queen survival.

SPEAKER DETAILS:

Dr. Jeff Pettis

Research Scientist and Consultant, Pettis and Associates LLC

Dr. Pettis is an Entomologist who specializes in Apiculture and honey bee health. As former research leader of the USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory in Beltsville, MD and now an independent consultant, Dr. Pettis has focused on improving colony health by limiting the impact of pests, diseases and pesticides on honey bees.  His research areas include: IPM techniques to reduce the impacts of parasitic mites and disease, effects of pesticides, pathogens, and temperature on queen health and longevity, host-parasite relationships and bee behavior. Dr. Pettis is the current President of Apimondia, the International Federation of Beekeeper’s Associations and serves on several international committees including the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and with more than 35 years of research experience conducted in more than 15 countries; he is frequently interviewed by the media for his opinions on worldwide pollinator declines and honey bee health. Dr. Pettis received undergraduate and MS degrees in Entomology from the University of Georgia and his doctoral degree in Entomology from Texas A&M University in 1992.