Nutrition, Microbiomes, and Colony Health with the Carl Hayden Lab Team (404)

What does honey bee health look like when researchers examine it from the inside out? In this episode, Jeff and Becky welcome three scientists from the USDA-ARS Carl Hayden Bee Research Center in Tucson, Arizona: Dr. Vanessa Corby-Harris, Dr. Kirk Anderson, and Dr. Mark Carroll. Their work spans insect physiology, nutrition, microbiomes, chemical ecology, Varroa, and the complicated ways multiple stressors influence colony health.

Vanessa explains why nutrition is one of the areas where beekeepers can directly influence colony health and how researchers use biomarkers—including the honey bee fat body—to connect individual bee physiology with brood production and colony performance.

Kirk describes research comparing colonies placed in diverse Conservation Reserve Program forage with colonies working canola and sunflower landscapes, then discusses a more recent case involving Varroa, amitraz resistance, viruses, nutrition, and agricultural exposure.

Mark explores another layer: how young workers interpret colony conditions and how pheromones such as β-ocimene may influence brood rearing during nutritional stress.

Together, the conversation shows why understanding colony health increasingly means looking beyond any single stressor—and why nutrition, physiology, microbes, pesticides, pathogens, and mites often need to be considered together.

Also in this episode, Jeff and Becky answer a Hive IQ listener question about preparing plastic foundation for bees.

Websites from the episode and others we recommend:

• Carl Hayden Honey Bee Research Lab: https://www.ars.usda.gov/pacific-west-area/tucson-az/carl-hayden-bee-research-center/
  
  
• Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org
• Project Apis m. (PAm): https://www.projectapism.org
• The National Honey Board: https://honey.com
• Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com

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HiveIQ is revolutionizing the way beekeepers manage their colonies with innovative, insulated hive systems designed for maximum colony health and efficiency. Their hives maintain stable temperatures year-round, reduce stress on the bees, and are built to last using durable, lightweight materials. Whether you're managing two hives or two hundred, HiveIQ's smart design helps your bees thrive while saving you time and effort. Learn more at HiveIQ.com.

We'd like to thank Vita Bee Health for supporting the podcast. Vita provides proven tools for controlling Varroa—from Apistan and Apiguard to the new VarroxSan extended-release oxalic acid strips—helping beekeepers keep stronger, healthier colonies.

Thanks for Northern Bee Books for their support. Northern Bee Books is the publisher of bee books available worldwide from their website or from Amazon and bookstores everywhere. They are also the publishers of The Beekeepers Quarterly and Natural Bee Husbandry.

Thanks to Bee Culture, the Magazine of American Beekeeping, for their support of Honey Bee Obscura. Available in print and digital at www.beeculture.com

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We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments in the show notes of this episode or: questions@beekeepingtodaypodcast.com

Thank you for listening!

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Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC