The impacts of management on honey bee health: a comparison of three management systems

Dr. Robyn Underwood received her BSc in Entomology and Applied Ecology from the University of Delaware and her PhD in Entomology from the University of Manitoba.  As an Assistant Research Professor, her research program focuses on honey bee health and practical beekeeping considerations. Specifically, she is studying the impacts of honey bee colony management (COMB) and queen origin on colony health and productivity. Her ongoing projects include experiments that assess the practical implications of different types of beekeeping philosophies (conventional, organic and treatment free), performance of honey bee queens from various genetic lines, and how different types of feed impact honey bee health. These ongoing projects have been extramurally funded (totaling almost $1.5 million) and have generated several extension product outputs. She has been part of the creation of several extension articles and webinars, and is working on editing and updating Penn State’s Beekeeping Basics book, Penn State’s Beekeeping 101 online course as questions arise, and is planning many more activities, including intermediate and advanced beekeeping content and the creation of a web application to help beekeepers diagnose and respond to parasites, pests and pathogens in their hives. Her research and extension aspirations work hand in hand. Conducting scientifically sound research projects to study beekeeper-applied questions is critically important. Bringing the results of the projects to the beekeepers through extension products then improves the industry while making beekeeping a more successful venture.