Library buzzing for Vermont Bee Lab visit on June 23

June 12, 2022 | By Waterbury Public Library 

What’s the buzz about? Why is there a honey bee hive outside the library? What is bee testing? And why are bees at risk?  

On Thursday, June 23, Sydney Miller, a lab/field technician at the University of Vermont’s Bee Lab will visit at the Waterbury Public Library to talk about honey bees, beekeeping in Vermont, and what exactly they do in the lab. Find out what is driving global pollinator decline of both managed and wild pollinators.

The hive located outside the library was once used by a Vermont beekeeper to house a honey bee colony. Now it is used as a “drop box” for bee samples. UVM’s Vermont Bee Lab provides free testing for beekeepers to help keep their bees healthy and learn what pests their bees may carry.

Did you know that bees are responsible for one in every three bites of food that you eat?  This is done through pollination. There are over 20,000 species of bees on the planet and over 300 have been documented in Vermont.  

There are many threats to bees, including climate change, habitat loss, parasites, diseases and insecticides, but there are also many things you can do to help bees. 

A bee garden is simply a garden full of plants rich in pollen and nectar.  Plants with hollow stems such as raspberry and sumac provide nesting sites for native bees. Trees also provide nectar for bees and dead trees provide nesting habitats. A bird bath or a simple bowl of water with pebbles gives bees a place to drink. Keep your weeds and you’ll provide a great food source for bees, too. 

The presentation is for all ages and starts at 6:30 p.m.