Extension Service Site Publications

• (2026) Clover seed bee protection protocol Bees help pollinate Oregon's clover seed crop but are vulnerable to pest control measures. Learn how to protect bees while maintaining yields.
• (2026) Oregon blueberry bee protection protocol Growers depend on honey bees to pollinate their crop, but bees are vulnerable to many pest-control products. Learn how growers and beekeepers work together to safeguard bees when applying pesticides.
• (2025) Dissecting honey bees for tracheal mites Tracheal mites (Acarapis woodi) infest and breed in the tracheae of honey bees. (Tracheae are fine tubes in the insect’s body that convey air to the tissues.) It’s not possible to diagnose a tracheal mite infestation without microscopic dissection. In this video, we demonstrate the dissection of a honey bee worker for tracheal mite infestation. This technique is based on that of Dr. Diana Sammataro of USDA-ARS.
  
  The best time to sample for tracheal mites is early spring or when symptoms appear and you suspect an infestation. A dissecting microscope with good lighting is necessary, as are very fine forceps for dissection.
  
  Colony level symptoms are not reliable for diagnosing tracheal mite infestation. That said, symptoms may include failure to thrive, bees crawling in near the entrance of the colony, and wings in a “K” formation. Symptoms also may be confused with other colony level problems such as parasitic mite syndrome or pesticide exposure.
  
  Knowing the levels of tracheal mites in your apiary and understanding the effects of their presence will enable you to make an educated decision on your treatment plan. Keeping pests and pathogens in check is necessary for strong, healthy honey bee colonies. For help with a diagnosis, please contact the Oregon State University Honey Bee Lab for more information: (541) 737-1447 | http://honeybeelab.oregonstate.edu
  
  References
  Sammataro, D. 2006. An easy dissection technique for finding the tracheal mite, Acarapis woodi (Rennie) (Acari: Tarsonemidae), in honey bees, with video link. Internat. J. Acarol. 32 (4): 1-5.
• (2025) The impact of beekeeping on native bees in urban settings Does keeping honey bees in urban areas have impact on native bees? Find an overview of the arguments and suggestions on how to help native bees.
• (2016) Nosema Analysis in Honey Bees Nosema is a microsporidian parasite that infects the gut of a honey bee. (Microsporidia are spore-forming fungi.) Nosema affects protein metabolism in honey bees and causes them to starve. In this video, we demonstrate how to process a sample of honey bees for microscopic diagnosis of Nosema for both its presence or absence and number of spores. Colonies with Nosema may show no symptoms, and the only way to confirm presence of Nosema is through microscopic analysis.
  
• (2023) 239 - Oregon Master Beekeeper Field Day
• (2018) Protecting honey bees from yellowjacket wasps Yellowjackets seek protein and carbohydrate to feed their developing larvae. A honey bee colony offers an abundance of both. Beekeepers can protect their honey bees from yellowjackets by keeping strong colonies, reducing hive entrances, installing robbing screens and maintaining a tidy apiary.
• (2022) Bee protection protocol for Western specialty seed crops Growers of specialty seeds in western Oregon rely on beekeepers to provide bees to pollinate their crops. Growers and beekeepers formed a Bee Protection Protocol to strengthen their mutually beneficial relationship. The protocol addresses pollination, pest management and communication.
• (2022) Northern Giant Hornet: A Potential Threat to Honeybee Colonies in Oregon The northern giant hornet was detected in British Columbia and Washington in 2019. This publication outlines the identification, life cycle, and predatory habits of the northern giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) for beekeepers. It also provides recommendations for reporting a suspected sighting in the Pacific Northwest.
• (2019) Combating Bee Colony Loss: Ramesh Sagili Dr. Ramesh Sagili, Associate Professor-Apiculture at Oregon State University. He works with stakeholders in the bee industry, the public through Extension, and students to help create a healthy and sustainable environment for bees. He is working to educate and train beekeepers to create healthier bee colonies.
• (2018) Residential Beekeeping: Best-practice guidelines for nuisance-free beekeeping in Oregon This publication outlines guidelines for best practices for beekeeping in residential areas. It outlines the steps residential beekeepers can take to operate their bees in nuisance-free manner.
• (2016) The small hive beetle: A potential pest in honey bee colonies in Oregon The small hive beetle has been a menace in many states and poses a threat to Oregon through migratory and purchased bee colonies. Learn to identify the beetle and potential damage it can cause.
• (2016) Nurturing Mason Bees in Your Backyard in Western Oregon An overview of mason bee basic biology and life cycle, and detailed descriptions of what is needed to start keeping mason bees, including desirable plants, nesting sites and types of nests, and caring for the cocoons over fall and winter. There are many helpful color photos throughout.
• (2015) Overwintered honey bee nucleus colonies: big solutions in small packages Commercial and backyard beekeepers can minimize colony losses by establishing nucleus colonies. Nucleus colonies can quickly resolve many beekeeping problems.
• (2011) Evaluating honey bee colonies for pollination Commercial growers who rent honey bees for pollination and beekeepers who provide pollination services can learn about evaluating honey bee colony strength, the average number of colonies needed for pollination, basic honey bee biology and pollination contracts.
• (2019) Pollination and seed set in meadowfoam Learn the characteristics of meadowfoam and best practices for managing honey bees.