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What's the Buzz This Year? |
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Dear Wisconsin honey bee and pollinator enthusiasts:
Happy New Year! We hope you are enjoying the Wisconsin winter. As the previous year passes on and the new year rolls in, we hope that this quarterly update from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection’s (DATCP) Apiary Program finds you and your family happy, healthy, and hopeful. This newsletter shares seasonal news, resources, and reminders to support apiary and pollinator health. If there is a topic you would like us to cover in a future issue, please contact us at DATCP...@wisconsin.gov.
2025 Apiary Program Summary
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This past year, our apiary program coordinator, Brooke, welcomed a baby boy to the world; Patrick, our western apiary inspector, got married; and we introduced Zac as the eastern apiary inspector, who is exploring the possibility of going into law school. Our team's wonderful life changes never slowed us down as we:
- provided 204 free, voluntary inspections requested by beekeepers
- opened 781 hives for voluntary inspections and 664 hives for migratory inspections
- issued 47 Wisconsin Certificates of Inspection for 27 migratory beekeepers
- certified 34,500 colonies for interstate movement
- Mostly going to California and Texas for pollination
- collected 24 samples for the National Honey Bee Survey
- 14 beekeepers sampled once during the season
- Five beekeepers sampled twice during the season (longitudinal)
- received 38 Wisconsin Honey Bee Import Reports comprising:
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27,754 bee hives
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21,954 packages
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7,812 nucs
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7,490 queens
- attended 24 outreach events reaching ~922 attendees
- submitted 33 samples from nine beekeepers to the National Agricultural Genotyping Center for molecular diagnostic testing, including confirmation of American foulbrood in 20 (2.18%) hives across five counties.
- Observed deformed wing virus in 5.91% of hives (6.93% in 2024); chalkbrood in 3.01% of hives (4.26% in 2024); small hive beetle in 3.28% of hives (1.86%in 2024) and European foulbrood in 2.49% of hives (1.33% in 2024).
The primary purpose of our free, voluntary inspections is to look for honey bee pest and disease issues and talk to beekeepers about best management practices. If you would like to request an apiary inspection during the 2026 season, fill out this form here.
For the 15th year, Wisconsin participated in the USDA APHIS National Honey Bee Survey (NHBS) to examine a subset of colonies for Varroa mites,
Tropilaelaps mites, Nosema levels, viral pathogens, and other exotic pests. Samples were also taken to be analyzed for pesticide residues. To date, no Wisconsin samples have ever tested positive for Tropilaelaps spp., Apis mellifera capensis, or Slow Bee Paralysis Virus.
You can view the results of the NHBS data here: US Bee Data - APHIS Survey State Reports.
The Importance of Migratory Beekeepers for U.S. Crop Production
Pollination services for over 90 U.S. grown crops (many fruits, almonds, and some vegetables) are the bread and butter of a migratory beekeeper’s year. Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Services reports that in 2024, paid pollination acreage totaled 1.723 million acres. Almond pollination alone generated $325.8 million, comprising approximately 81% of the total U.S. pollination service receipts.
Since 2022, beekeepers have reported making more income from pollination services than honey production, with 2024 reports stating beekeepers received $361.5 million in honey production revenue while producers estimate they spent greater than $400 million on pollination services, paying an average of $181 per colony for almond pollination and $66 per colony for all other crops.
Fulfilling pollination services may look different for each beekeeper depending on their operation. Queen breeders and package/nuc producers may move their hives from California after almonds to Texas for colony building and then to North Dakota for honey production. Another beekeeper may follow crops for pollination services and visit Maine for blueberry pollination in the spring, Wisconsin cranberries in early summer, North Dakota for canola and sunflowers in late summer, and then California for almonds in February.
For apiary inspectors, providing a Certificate of Apiary Inspection is crucial for the interstate movement of these honey bees colonies. In Wisconsin, we generally issue these certificates between September and October after beekeepers have pulled their honey and consolidated their hives into their holding yards. Each state is different, however. Once a migratory beekeeper has left the state with their truckload(s) of honey bees, they are required to submit a Honey Bee Import Report (HBIR)and a Certificate of Apiary Inspection before they bring their honey bees and beekeeping equipment back into Wisconsin. In 2025, Wisconsin apiary staff processed 31 HBIRs received from beekeepers in the spring and performed 27 migratory inspections in fall, issuing 47 certificates for approximately 34,500 colonies for interstate movement.
Watch "Honey Bee Pollination Migration," based on National Geographic Magazine's "Bees on the Move" for the most common colony migration routes, and check out our Moving Bees Into Wisconsin webpage for more details on Wisconsin's import requirements.
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The dashed lines in the map represent the trajectory of beekeepers carrying truckloads of migratory honey bee colonies and moving between regions to a variety of agricultural fields for pollination. Pollinated crops are represented by the fruits or vegetables they produce, or by the flowers that produce oil. - Project Apis m.
New Approved Miticide: Norroa™ - An RNA-based Varroa Control
Good news for beekeepers! Norroa – an RNA interference (RNAi) based miticide that employs a new active ingredient known as Vadescana was recently approved for Varroa mite control. Norroa™ targets a specific protein known as calmodulin in varroa mites that ultimately stops their reproduction for up to 18 weeks. Note: DATCP does not endorse this product or company nor have experience using the product.
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Norroa™ is single-use pouch placed directly in a brood box for the selective control of the mite, Varroa destructor, with optimal timing for use during spring build-up or after splitting colonies.
For best results, use when open brood is present, mite numbers are low, and food resources are available for the colony. Specifically, treat when mite counts indicate varroa mite densities are approaching the pest management threshold, but before the threshold is reached. The current economic or action threshold for varroa is <1%, or one mite per 100 honey bees in the spring; and <2% or, two mites per 100 honey bees in the fall.
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According to GreenLight Biosciences, their product:
- Uses a novel mode of action which makes it a good tool for integrated pest management (IPM). Where possible, rotate the use of Norroa™ with other miticides that have different modes of action.
- Boosts winter survival by almost twice the winter survival rate in field trials.
- Leaves no negative observed impacts on larvae, adult bees, or queens.
- Effectively keeps foundress mites from producing offspring when exposed to active ingredient vadescana. Vadescana inhibits the production of the protein calmodulin when ingested. Calmodulin is a calcium-modulated protein; specifically, a multifunctional intermediate calcium-binding messenger protein. The function of this protein is to regulate calcium which is important for fertilization and regulates pathways between body cells, so they communicate with each other.
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The Latest Buzz on the Yellow-Legged Hornet
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 Photo by Gilles San Martin licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
The yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina), native to Southeast Asia, has become an invasive species in parts of Europe and the United States. First detected in Savannah, Georgia in August 2023, and later detected in South Carolina in November 2023, this predatory wasp poses a significant threat to honey bees and other pollinators (and, by extension, all agriculture.)
Yellow-legged hornets (YLH) are social wasps that build large, paper-like nests in trees or elevated structures. These nests can house up to 6,000 workers, forming large colonies. The hornets are identified by their dark brown or black bodies, yellow abdominal bands, and distinctive yellow color on the bottom half of their legs.
What sets the yellow-legged hornet apart is its aggressive behavior toward honey bees. These hornets attack hives, picking off bees as they enter or exit, and they have the potential to destroy entire colonies. Predation by this emerging invasive species is another strike against honey bee populations, which have also been impacted by varroa mites and other pests, poor nutrition (due to lack of forage), climate change, pesticides, and habitat loss.
Efforts to control the spread of yellow-legged hornets focus on early detection and nest removal. Embryo nests, often the size of a tennis ball, are built by queens in spring. By removing embryo nests, queens are prevented from establishing new nests. This is crucial in reducing the spread of this invasive species. In South Carolina, for example, there were 11 embryo, 22 primary, and 43 secondary nests found in 2025; only 16 nests were found in 2024.
Major YLH eradication efforts in Georgia and South Carolina in 2025 included the following:
- The Georgia Department of Agriculture eradicated 58 nests and set 854 new traps which captured 2,766 hornets (as of 11/12/2025). For details, review Georgia’s Yellow-Legged Hornet Eradication Map and sign up for the Yellow-Legged Ledger here.
- Clemson University’s Department of Plant Industry (DPI) and U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors eradicated 76 nests and placed 1,389 traps which captured 17,941 hornets. For details, review the Clemson Yellow-Legged Hornet Eradication Map and read Clemson’s Hornet Herald updates here.
Despite these efforts, YLH is expanding its geographical range and threatening beekeepers in the southeastern United States and globally. Yellow-Legged Hornet has now been detected in New Zealand, with 24 confirmed queens and 14 nests found as of November 26, 2025. In December 2025, YLH was found in York County, South Carolina, more than 150 miles from where the nearest yellow legged hornets have been found.
While we have other similar wasps in Wisconsin, we have never had a report of YLH in the state. Any suspected YLH adults or nest locations should be photographed and reported to DATCP...@wisconsin.gov. Public awareness and vigilance are key to preventing the establishment of this invasive species. Learn more from the Yellow-legged Hornet Factsheet.
Missing Your Bees This Winter? Check Out the UW-Madison Beekeeping Short Course and Beekeeping Podcasts
Intended audience: Beginning and intermediate beekeepers interested in building or growing their beekeeping business.
Cost: $350 general, or $150 student early bird registration (ends Jan. 13)
$400 regular, or $200 student registration (final deadline is Feb. 8).
SPACE IS LIMITED! Sign up here today!
Accommodations: A block of rooms have been reserved at the nearby Springhill Suites for course participants at a reduced rate of $110/night including breakfast and parking. To reserve a room, please use this link.
Questions? Please contact Dr. Hannah Gaines Day, hga...@wisc.edu
Another way to augment your honey bee knowledge during the winter is through podcasts. Below are descriptions of several that provide updates on research, industry trends, and more!
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Two Bees in a Podcast
Two Bees in a Podcast is hosted by members of University of Florida's Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory. Learn about honey bees, beekeepers, researchers, and specialists from around the world in educational, fun, yet practical episodes!
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Beekeeping Today Podcast
The podcast for the latest beekeeping news, information, and entertainment for today's beekeeper. Hosts Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman bring you conversations with researchers, beekeepers, and industry leaders to help you become a more informed and knowledgeable beekeeper.
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Beekeeping for Newbees
Beekeeping for Newbees is a top 1.5% podcast with over 600,000 downloads, helping new and experienced beekeepers grow stronger colonies and make smarter decisions through every season. Listen weekly for practical guidance, swarm stories, and honest takes on what works and what does not in real-world beekeeping.
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Honey Bee Obscura
Join Dr. Jim Tew as he takes a deep dive into the fascinating world of honey bees, beekeeping, and the nuances of hive management. Jim explores the art and science of beekeeping in plain talk style, from practical techniques to the hidden wonder of the hive. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned beekeeper, Honey Bee Obscura offers insightful discussions, expert interviews, and thought-provoking perspectives on beekeeping.
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Find more information about the DATCP Apiary Program and the Wisconsin Pollinator Protection Plan via the DATCP Beekeeping and Pollinators webpage.
Division of Agricultural Resource Management | Bureau of Plant Industry
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