Interested In Honey Bees? Upcoming UC Davis Seminar Could Be For You

DAVIS, CA – PHOTO: Francis Ratnieks in borage field at Plumpton College, Plumpton, East Sussex, England.

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By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Francis Ratnieks, professor of apiculture, University of Sussex, United Kingdom, will speak on "How Can We Help Bees Via Research? The Sussex Plan for Honey Bee Health and Well Being" at the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology seminar, set from 4:10 to 5 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 7 in 122 Briggs Hall.

He is a leading researcher on kin selection and social evolution. Ratnieks will be introduced by assistant professor Brian Johnson, who studies the behavior, evolution, and genetics of honey bees.

Ratnieks focuses his research on honey bees and social insects and addresses both basic and applied questions.

One current area of research is aimed at helping bees by carrying out research with practical benefits to bees and beekeepers:

• (1) the control of honey bee diseases, including natural disease resistance via hygienic behavior in honey bees and stingless bees and the setting up of a research spin-off business, LASI Queen Bees, to supply bees bred for high levels of hygienic behavior to beekeepers
• and (2) how to improve foraging, including using the honey bee waggle dance to investigate foraging ecology and how to put the process of recommending bee friendly plants onto a stronger scientific basis.

The seminar is open to all interested persons.

It will be recorded for later viewing on UCTV (see http://seminars.uctv.tv/Host.aspx?hostID=17)

ALSO SEE:

• UC Davis Announces Upcoming Beekeeping Courses - From Novice to Advanced
• In Memory of Oscar Gray Bacon: Noted UC Davis Entomologist