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Laidlaw Facility / Events

Photo: Honey Bee heading for Christmas cheer

Honey bee heading for Christmas cheer. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Events

News relating to the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility and the UC Davis Department of Entomology.

See list of California beekeeping clubs. See list of state beekeeping associations.

Susan Cobey classes:

SPECIALIZED CLASSES TO PROMOTE STOCK IMPROVEMENT, taught by Susan Cobey, will be offered at the Harry Laidlaw Honey Bee Research Facility at UC Davis. These classes will also be offered at Washington State University, dates to be announced.

Due to the high interest, spring 2012 classes are full. We also will  be offering these in Washington state, so please send in the application and let us know of your interest and if you would like to attend a summer class in Washington.

1. THE ART OF QUEEN REARING WORKSHOP
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
The intensive one-day workshop is designed to provide hands on instruction in what it takes to rear high quality queens. Basic biology and principals of queen rearing will be presented.  Beekeepers will be involved in the various steps of the process including setting up cell builders, grafting, handling queen cells and establishing mating nuclei. The importance of drone production and establishing mating areas will also be presented. The class will consist of a combination of classroom and hands on beekeeping. Two basic queen rearing systems will be demonstrated, a queen right system and a queen less system. Registration: $150. Optional Queen Tour:  $50.

Optional Queen Tour, Wednesday, March 28, 2012
For class participants who would like to see large scale commercial queen production, an optional one day tour will be offered following the workshop. We will visit northern California producers during their busy spring season. You will observe a diversity of techniques and systems involved in queen production. Optional Tour: $50.

2. INSTRUMENTAL INSEMINATION & BEE BREEDING WORKSHOP
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, April 17, 18 & 19, 2012

This three-day day class is designed for commercial beekeepers who are involved in a breeding program and for laboratory personnel requiring the skill for research purposes. A practical hands-on approach to instruction is provided with emphasis on individual attention, therefore classes are kept small. Detailed instruction of semen collection and insemination of queens will be emphasized and facilitated with the use of a video camera. Various types of insemination instruments are displayed and reviewed. The preparation and care of virgin queens and drones will be presented. Basic bee genetics and various breeding systems will be reviewed. Demonstration materials, virgin queens and drones will be provided for the class. Practical beekeeping and queen rearing skills are a pre-requisite.  Provision of your own insemination equipment is required.  Microscopes will be provided for use upon request. Registration:  $500.

3. ADVANCED WORKSHOP ON INSTRUMENTAL INSEMINATION
Wednesday and Thursday, April 25 & 26, 2012  
This two-day class is for researchers and beekeepers with some experience in Instrumental Insemination with a focus on perfecting insemination techniques and solving related problems in the laboratory and in the field. Demonstration materials, virgin queens and drones will be provided. Provision of your own insemination equipment is required. Microscopes will be provided for use upon request. Registration:  $425.

For Information:
Susan Cobey       
scobey@mac.com
http://entomology.ucdavis.edu/
http://archive.beebiology.ucdavis.edu/
University of California, Davis
Department of Entomology
Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility
367 Briggs Hall
One Shields Ave.
Davis, CA. 95616-8584
Telephone: 530-754-9390
Fax: 530-754-7757