UC Davis Offers 2 Beekeeping Courses

DAVIS, CA — The UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology is offering two all-day beekeeping courses, one on Saturday, March 23 and the other on Sunday, March 24. Extension apiculturist Elina Lastro Niño will be teaching the classes with her colleagues.

The first course, "Planning Ahead for Your First Hives," is set from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility, located on Bee Biology Road, west of the central campus.

Participants will have the opportunity to learn about— and practice — many aspects of what's necessary to get the colony started and keep it healthy and thriving, Niño said. At the end of the course, participants will be knowledgeable about installing honey bee packages, monitoring their own colonies. and possibly challenges with maintaining a healthy colony.

Lecture modules will cover honey bee biology, beekeeping equipment, how to start your colony, and maladies of the hive.

Practical modules will cover how to build a hive, how to install a package, inspecting your hive and monitoring for varroa mites.

The course is limited to 25 participants. Participants should bring their bee suit/veil if they have one. The $95 registration fee covers the cost of course materials (including a hive tool), lunch and refreshments. The last day to register is Friday, March 22. For more information, see Cambp.ucdavis.edu/continuingeducation/firsthives032319 or contact Wendy Mather at wmather@ucdavis.edu.

A separate course on "Working Your Colonies" will take place on Sunday, March 24. This is an all-day course from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility. The last day to register is Friday, March 22.

Participants will have the opportunity to learn about — and practice — many aspects of what is necessary to maintain a healthy colony and exploit products of the hive.

Lecture modules will cover advanced honey bee biology, honey bee integrated pest management (IPM) and products of the hive. Practical models will cover queen wrangling, honey extraction and splitting/combining colonies, and monitoring for varroa mite.

The $150 registration fee covers the cost of course materials, lunch and refreshments. Participants should bring their bee suit/veil if they have one.

For more information, see Cambp.ucdavis.edu/events/working-your-colonies or contact Wendy Mather at wmather@ucdavis.edu.

— By Kathy Keatley Garvey, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology