All speakers will present via zoom, so everyone will also have the option of attending via zoom if you do not wish to attend in person. No drinks or snacks will be provided, but you may bring something for yourself or to share.

Mini Presentation:

Roger Thomas- Melapona beekeeping in Cuba - a brief look at a species of Neotropical stingless bee, their unusual natural history, and some of our research in the field

Main Topic:

Kaira Wagoner - Hygienic Behavior - A Sustainable Solution to the Honey bee Health Crisis

Kaira Wagoner is graduate of Guilford College, earned her masters and doctorate degrees from the University of North Carolina Greensboro (UNCG), and served five years as a post-doctoral fellow in the UNCG social insect lab. Dr. Wagoner currently serves as a Research Scientist, splitting her time between UNCG and Optera, a Greensboro-based start-up focused on improving honey bee health that was co-founded by Dr. Wagoner in 2020. Dr. Wagoner’s research focuses on honey bee pests and diseases, particularly as they relate to the immune mechanism hygienic behavior, the ability of adult honey bees to detect and remove unhealthy brood from the hive. Dr. Wagoner is currently using natural honey bee stress signals to develop UBeeO, a pheromone-based tool to facilitate apiary management and improve selection of disease and pest-resistant honey bees. When not in the lab or apiary, Dr. Wagoner enjoys traveling, playing games, and spending time in the great outdoors with her husband and three nature-loving boys