Dr. Frank Rinkevich

Dr. Frank D. Rinkevich is a Research Entomologist at the USDA-ARS Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics, and Physiology Laboratory in Baton Rouge LA. Frank has extensive training in insect toxicology, biochemistry, molecular biology, and genetics. The goal of Dr. Frank's research is to devise effective management practices to reduce the infestation of the honey bee parasite, Varroa destructor. A major focus of Dr. Rinkevich’s research is amitraz resistance in Varroa destructor. This project works on determining the prevalence and distribution of amitraz resistance in Varroa destructor, developing an international cooperative network for resistance monitoring with bioassays and genotyping, understanding the amitraz use patterns that lead to amitraz resistance, evaluating management practices to overcome amitraz resistant Varroa, and identifying new miticides. Additionally, Frank focuses on selective breeding and evaluating the performance of honey bee stocks selected for low Varroa populations via Varroa sensitive hygiene (VSH) in commercial beekeeping conditions. He works with queen breeders and producers to increase the level of VSH in their operations through selective breeding and stock distribution to disperse Varroa resistant genetics in honey bee populations across the US.

Other research interests include determining the benefits of propolis to colony performance, evaluating the effects of pesticide exposure on colony survivorship in commercial beekeeping operations, assessing metabolic detoxification of insecticides, and establishing the effects of fungicides on colony health.

 

 

Ross Conrad

Ross Conrad of Middlebury, Vermont learned his craft from the late Charles Mraz, world renowned beekeeper and promoter of apitherapy along with his son Bill.  Conrad is a former president of the Vermont Beekeeper’s Association, a regular contributor to Bee Culture magazine, author of Natural Beekeeping: Organic Approaches To Modern Apiculture Expanded and Revised 2nd Edition, and co-author of The Land of Milk and Honey: A History of Beekeeping in Vermont.  Ross has given bee related presentations and led organic beekeeping workshops and classes throughout North America for three decades. His beekeeping business, Dancing Bee Gardens, supplies friends, neighbors with honey and candles among other bee related products, has 5-frame nucleus bee colonies available each June, and provides bees for Vermont pollination in spring.

​

​

​

​​​​

​

​

​

 

 

​

​

​