In this episode of 2 Million Blossoms, host Dr. Kirsten Traynor is joined by Dr. Marla Spivak, a renowned bee scientist and MacArthur Genius Award recipient. Together, they delve into the pivotal changes in beekeeping ushered in by the Varroa mite's arrival and explore the ongoing challenges it poses.

Dr. Spivak shares insights from her decades of experience, particularly on the impact of Varroa on bee health and the subsequent adaptations in beekeeping practices. The conversation also covers innovative strategies for managing these challenges, including minimizing chemical treatments and fostering bee resilience through selective breeding.

As a passionate advocate for bees, Dr. Spivak discusses the broader issues affecting bee populations, such as pesticide exposure and habitat loss, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable practices. This episode not only sheds light on the complexities of modern beekeeping but also inspires with solutions that can lead to healthier bee populations and ecosystems.

Listen today!

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Thanks to Betterbee for sponsoring today's episode. Betterbee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios; Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott; Faraday by BeGun;

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

Copyright © 2024 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

In this captivating episode of 2 Million Blossoms, host Dr. Kirsten Traynor sits down with Dr. David Peck, Director of Research and Education at Betterbee, to explore the intricate world of bees and the persistent challenge posed by varroa mites. Peck shares insights from his groundbreaking research, including his astonishing discovery of varroa mites' ability to jump onto honeybees from flowers, showcasing the agility and adaptability of these parasites.

This discussion delves into varroa mites' evolutionary prowess, their impact on bee colonies, and effective strategies for managing this persistent threat. Through engaging storytelling and expert analysis, this episode sheds light on the sophisticated behaviors of varroa mites and underscores the importance of integrated pest management in safeguarding bee populations.

Join us to uncover the dynamic between bees and their most formidable adversary, the varroa mite, in a conversation that is both enlightening and essential for anyone invested in the health of pollinators.

Link to David's video of a varroa jumping onto a foraging honey bee: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2016/12/devastating-mites-jump-nimbly-flowers-honeybees

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Thanks to Betterbee for sponsoring today's episode. Betterbee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios; Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott; Faraday by BeGun;

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

Copyright © 2024 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

In this episode of 2 Million Blossoms, host Dr. Kirsten Traynor sits down with Flemming Vejsnæs, a bee biologist and beekeeper from Denmark, to delve into bees and beekeeping in Denmark. Drawing on their long-standing friendship and Flemming's extensive experience, they explore the evolution of beekeeping, emphasizing the importance of global collaboration and knowledge exchange in overcoming challenges like the varroa mite and the small hive beetle.

Flemming shares his journey from a budding biologist fascinated by pollination to a pivotal figure in Denmark's beekeeping community. His career, spanning over three decades with the Danish Beekeepers Association, underscores the significance of adaptive strategies and international cooperation in advancing beekeeping practices and pollinator protection.

Kirsten and Flemming talk about his role and plans for Apimondia, 2025, in Denmark. Flemming and the Apimondia team are deep in the plans for this world-wide conference, featuring the top bee researchers from around the world, vendors and the largest honey show, featuring 500 to 600 different honeys.

Listeners will be captivated by the passion and expertise that Flemming brings to the discussion, offering valuable insights and practical advice for both new and experienced beekeepers. His vision for a future where beekeeping adapts to changing environmental and market conditions, supported by a strong community of informed and engaged beekeepers, is both hopeful and motivating.

Don't miss this deep dive into the heart of beekeeping in Denmark and the lessons it holds for pollinator protection worldwide.

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Thanks to Betterbee for sponsoring today's episode. Betterbee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios. Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

Copyright © 2024 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

Welcome back to the 2 Million Blossoms Podcast! In this special relaunch episode, host Kirsten Traynor sits down with Jeff Ott from the Beekeeping Today Podcast. They delve into Kirsten's recent adventures in Germany and the fascinating honey bee research she's been involved in.

During the tumultuous times of the Covid pandemic, Kirsten seized an exciting opportunity to advance her research in apiculture and moved to Germany. Now based at the University of Hohenheim in Baden-Württemberg, she serves as the Director of the State Institute of Bee Research. In her conversation with Jeff, Kirsten shares insights into the groundbreaking research she and her team are conducting, offering a glimpse into the world of honey bee science.

This week marks a special occasion as Kirsten returns to the United States to attend the American Beekeeping Federation Annual Conference. She will also be presenting with her students at the American Bee Research Conference, showcasing their latest findings.

Tune in to this episode to catch up with Kirsten and gear up for the upcoming episodes of the 2 Million Blossoms Podcast, where the world of pollinators is explored like never before!

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Thanks to Betterbee for sponsoring today's episode. Betterbee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios. Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

Copyright © 2024 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

Adrian Fisher has been investigating the impacts of fungicides on honey bee health. Fungicides are often considered bee safe, because they don’t outright kill adult bees. But Adrian has found some troubling sub-lethal effects, especially on honey bee lifespan. In today’s show we chat about how Pristine, a common pesticide used in almonds leads to precocious foraging and shorter-lived bees.

We also delve into his earlier research where he investigated how varroacide residues in beeswax reduce the sperm viability of the drones reared in those cells.

Finally, we talk about some of the hurdles minorities face when trying to enter the field of science and Adrian gives kudos to the many mentors, who have helped him make a career in science and how he has used his postdoc time to become a more well-rounded scientist.

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We thank Betterbee for their sponsorship of today's episode. BetterBee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios. Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

Have you ever wondered what goes on in the mind of a bee? How they perceive the world and learn to understand the landscape? On today’s episode, Kirsten talks with noted neurobiologist and bee scientist Lars Chittka from the University of London, whose new book The Mind of a Bee is a fascinating exploration of how bees think. They delve into how the barren landscape outside Berlin let him manipulate the landscape and see that bees could count. Bees are fast learners and can gleam details about how to survive from watching other bees.

Also in today’s show, Kirsten and Lars delve into the darker side of science and the toll it can take on human lives when career expectations and reality collide. Preorder your copy of the book today, set to release late in July, 2022.

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We thank Betterbee for their sponsorship of today's episode. BetterBee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios. Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

Today’s episode features Jess Vickruck, a wild bee scientist working in New Brunswick in Canada. In addition to converting the sunny spots in her garden into bee habitat, she studies competition in wild bee communities. She’s studied carpenter bees in detail, finding that when nest sites become rare, competition drives females to share nests. But there’s a unique catch. They preferentially select unrelated females.

She also investigates the important role that grasslands play in maintaining the function of wild bee diversity across Canada. We chat about her career in pollinator science and how her work with conservation groups has allowed access to unique long-term data about changes in habitat.

Tune in to learn more about the importance of nesting sites and how bees help shape our landscapes.

Jess Vickruck on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jessvickruck

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We thank Betterbee for their sponsorship of today's episode. BetterBee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios. Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

In this episode, podcast host Kirsten Traynor reflects on what are the characteristics of a great scientist and the mentors, who have helped her succeed in her own career. She discusses some of her early failures, how she questions her own place in science, how women face certain biases, and why she is once again switching jobs. Additionally, she digs into a recent paper on pesticide residues in urban and suburban environments.

To read the Twitter moment mentioned in the episode, where a male and female colleague swap email signatures for two weeks with (un)surprising results, visit:  https://twitter.com/i/events/839950218099576832

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We thank Betterbee for their sponsorship of today's episode. BetterBee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios. Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC