Our speaker will be Dr. Dewey Caron, Emeritus Professor of Entomology & Wildlife Ecology, Univ of Delaware. The topic will be What's Your Varroa Mite Control Strategy?

Varroa mites are one of the 3 major challenges to successfully keeping honey bees. Keeping ahead of their population increase with stock and early season (April/May) control of reproduction phase plus late season control of dispersal phase mites on adult honey bees to allow colonies to produce enough winter bees requires a season-long plan.

Our speaker will be Dr. Geoff Williams, Associate Professor in the Entomology department at Auburn University. The topic will be Tropilaelaps mites: a looming threat on the horizon?

Akin to Varroa destructor, Tropilaelaps mercedesae is parasitic mite of honey bees in Asia. Recent detections of tropilaelaps in eastern Europe has shone a very big spotlight this mite. But, should beekeepers in western Europe and the Americas fear it?

Our speaker will be Dr. Daniel Swain, Climate Scientist at the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. He'll speak about climate change in California, outlining what we know with high certainty, discussing some of the more speculative and uncertain aspects, and concluding with thoughts on what adaptations would be commensurate with the changes ahead.

Our speaker will be Ferhat Ozturk on Honeybee Products and Apitherapy. In this presentation, Dr. Ozturk will explore the fascinating world of honeybee products and apitherapy. From the golden elixir of honey to the healing properties of bee venom, this presentation explores the myriad benefits of these natural wonders. Discover the rich history of apitherapy, dating back centuries, and unlock the secrets of its modern applications in holistic wellness. Embark on a journey of exploration and enlightenment, as you uncover the incredible potential of honeybee products and apitherapy in enhancing your health and well-being.

Nicola Twilley is the author of the book Frostbite.

We all know how important bees are for pollination and our food supply. She'll give a talk on what she learned about food while writing her book about food refrigeration -- including a piece of bee-related refrigeration history that she didn't share in the book.