Honey Bee Longevity with Dr. Anthony Nearman (S5, E45)

In today's episode, we talk with Dr. Anthony Nearman on his recently published research on honey bee longivity in the lab. In fact, his research indicates that caged bees in the lab are only living half as long as bees from 50 years ago.

Early in his research, he noted that bees used in research in the 1970's were living much longer than the bees in today's research. Anthony started to look deeper into the research of the standards used in the lab for the feeding and water provisioning of honey bees. There were many accepted practices, but nothing backed by research.

Anthony started to look closer at the water provided to bees - tap, distilled, sucrose, etc. and its effect on bee longevity. The results, may be sur

Along with the research on the water fed to bees, Anthony is investigating whether or not it is possible to determine a bee's age based upon physical characteristics, and how this changes based upon different hive and evironmental changes.

We hope you enjoy the episode. Leave comments and questions in the Comments Section of the episode's website.

Links and websites mentioned in this podcast:

• Bee Longevity Research: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-21401-2
• Beekeeping Today Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beekeepingtodaypodcast
• Kim's Climate Change Blog: https://www.growingplanetmedia.com/blog
• Honey Bee Obscura: https://www.honeybeeobscura.com

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This episode is brought to you by Global Patties! Global offers a variety of standard and custom patties. Visit them today at http://globalpatties.com and let them know you appreciate them sponsoring this episode!

We welcome Betterbee as sponsor 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

Thanks to Strong Microbials for their support of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Find out more about heir line of probiotics in our Season 3, Episode 12 episode and from their website: https://www.strongmicrobials.com

We welcome Blue Sky Bee Supply as a sponsor of the podcast! Check out blueskybeesupply.com for the best selection of honey containers, caps, lids, and customized honey labels. Enter coupon code PODCAST and receive 10% off an order of honey containers, caps, lids, or customized honey labels. Offer ends December 31, 2023. Some exclusions apply.

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.

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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!

Podcast music: Be Strong by Young Presidents; Epilogue by Musicalman; Walking in Paris by Studio Le Bus; A Fresh New Start by Pete Morse; Wedding Day by Boomer; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott

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