Join us for an online presentation by Dr. Garett Slater as we explore the vital but often overlooked role of honey bee drones. While queen bees receive much of the attention, drones are indispensable for mating, queen quality, and overall colony health. Dr. Slater sheds light on how drones contribute to queen performance and colony success, and delves into the factors influencing drone reproductive quality. This talk highlights why drones deserve more recognition and understanding, offering a deeper appreciation of their essential functions within the hive.

SPEAKER DETAILS:

Dr. Garett Slater

B.S. North Dakota State University

M.S. North Dakota State University

Ph.D. Purdue University

Garett Slater, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor and Apiculture Extension Entomologist at Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension in Overton, TX. He has 18 years of beekeeping experience. He obtained a BS and MS in Biology from North Dakota State University in 2014 with a thesis focused on nutrition and Queen Quality. He then worked as a scientist and technician with the Bee Informed Partnership at the University of Minnesota for two years, directly supporting 30 commercial beekeepers in North Dakota and Texas. In 2022, he obtained his PhD from Purdue University with a thesis focused on applying modern genetic tools to honey bee breeding. He was then a USDA-ARS Postdoctoral Fellow from 2022-2024 at the Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics, and Physiology Lab at Baton Rouge, LA.  In 2024, he became an Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University as the state’s Apiculture Extension Specialist. Garett’s current research focuses on developing cheap genomic tools to help beekeepers select bees for natural defenses towards Varroa, pathogens, and other diseases. Additionally, Garett will provide extension support to beekeepers across the state.

He has also a long history of communication and involvement with beekeepers via webinars and presentations, specialized courses, and articles. The topics of these communications ranged broadly, including fundamental scientific concepts (e.g., genetics, breeding, reproductive biology) and practical areas of interest (e.g., integrated pest management, queen production, disease management).