The weather has been SUPER unpredictable: fluctuating temperatures and weekly precipitation has been quite challenging .
This cold snap has pushed pause on the swarms. I am predicting loads of swarms as soon as it warms up. What a crazy Maryland Spring!
Apiary Inspectors and inspections are now in FULL swing. We had fewer nuc inspection requests this year, and I am unsure whether Maryland colonies overwintered better or worse. I only heard of a few large losses.
It seems like colonies took longer to gear up coming out of winter ... again, Crazy Maryland weather.
We have swarm traps and baited invasive species traps out at several locations at both the Port of Baltimore and at BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport. The swarm lures and sugar bait are refreshed bi-weekly.
We are looking for any invasives either of the Asian Hornet variety or a honey bee pest or pathogen, like Tropilaelaps Or the Asian honey bee Apis cerana.
We have had 1 swarm on the tarmac near the Southwest and Fedex terminals, and the swarm was eradicated.
Georgia and South Carolina are still dealing with finding, trapping and eradicating the Yellow Legged Hornet.
I encourage local Beekeeping associations and all beekeepers to enter Club displays and educational exhibits in The Maryland State Fair. The Maryland State Fair exhibits will be accepted NEW for 2025 ONLY!!! Honey exhibits will be received in the 4-H & FFA/Home Arts Building (the farm and garden building has been torn down and being rebuilt) on Sunday, August 17th from 3PM-8PM and Monday, August 18th from 9AM-7PM. Honey judging will take place on Tuesday 8/19/2025.
The MD State Fair will be open on 3 weekends: August 21-24, August 28-September 1, and September 4-7. Take the summer to prepare your entries for The State Fair.
Apiary Inspector Changes, Positions
Gregg Gochnour, the regional Apiary Inspector for Prince George's, Montgomery and Howard counties has retired after 35 years of stellar service.
MDA's Apiary inspection service currently has 4 open positions. These positions require 5 years successful overwintering beekeeping experience, with varroa and disease knowledge. Candidates must live in one of the counties they will be covering.
- Washington, Alleghany, Garrett
- Prince Georges, Montgomery, Howard
- Upper Eastern Shore Queen Anne's, Talbot, Caroline
- Lower Eastern Shore Dorchester, Wicomico, Worcester, Somerset
Mack the Inspector Dog Featured in Children's Book!
Mack, our retired AFB detection dog, has had had a children's book written about him!
The Dog Who Saved The Bees by Stephanie Gibeault and David Hohn from Sleeping Bear Press will be available for purchase August 1st. The book's authors describe the story as, "When an overworked beehive inspector seeks a detection dog to protect bees from a deadly disease, she teams up with a lonely dog who needs a loving home and a purpose."
The book is meant for kids from 6-10, and can be pre-ordered, list price $18.99.
The Dog Who Saved the Bees will be available August first, https://cherrylakepublishing.com/shop/show/54288
Tukka the honeybee disease detector dog is now on VACATION relaxing and hanging out on the farm: .thinking warm thoughts so he can soon be swimming in the pool.
Cybil Preston
Chief Apiary Inspector
State Apiarist
EAS Certified Master Beekeeper
Certified Maryland Honey Judge
Maryland Department of Agriculture
50 Harry S. Truman Parkway
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
cybil.preston@maryland.gov
(410) 841-5920(O)
(410) 562-3464 (M)
Website
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