Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility:
Specialized Classes to Promote Stock Improvement

Key Information: Index Page (below) Art of Queen Rearing Workshop (link to more information and application) Instrumental Insemination and Bee Breeding Workshop (link to more information and application) Advanced Workshop on the Technique of Instrumental Insemination (link to more information and application) Registration Form (PDF) Area Hotels Directions and Map Susan Cobey's CV Journal Article: Comparison studies of instrumentally inseminated and naturally mated honey bee queens and factors affecting their performance (PDF) Eversion of the Drone Endophallus (PDF) Semen Collection (PDF) Insemination of the Queen (PDF) Field Dissection of the Spermatheca (PDF) See News Article on Susan Cobey Photos from 2011 Class ~ Tour of Koehnens ~ Tour of Strachan Apiaries Photos from 2009 Class Photos from 2007 Class

SPECIALIZED CLASSES TO PROMOTE STOCK IMPROVEMENT
Instructor: Susan Cobey
Location: Harry Laidlaw Honey Bee Research Facility at UC Davis.

UC Davis classes are full for 2012. Please inquire to get on the wait list, or for information on the WSU Classes offered in June at Mt. Vernon and Pullman campuses

1. THE ART OF QUEEN REARING WORKSHOP
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
The workshop provides hands-on instruction in rearing high quality queens. Beekeepers will be involved in the various steps: setting up cell builders; grafting; handling queen cells; establishing mating nuclei. A queen right and a queen less system will be demonstrated.
Registration: $150. Optional Queen Tour:  $50. Link to Art of Queen Rearing Workshop for application

Optional Queen Tour, Wednesday, March 28, 2012. 
Class participants will visit large scale commercial queen producers during their busy season. A diversity of techniques and systems will be observed. Tour: $50.

2. INSTRUMENTAL INSEMINATION & BEE BREEDING WORKSHOP
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, April 17, 18 & 19, 2012.
The class is designed for commercial beekeepers involved in a breeding program and for researchers requiring the skill. Instruction is hands-on with individual attention, facilitated with the use of live video. Various types of insemination instruments are displayed and reviewed. Demonstration materials, virgin queens and drones are provided for the class. Practical beekeeping and queen rearing skills are required.  Provision of your own instrument is required.  Microscopes will be provided for use upon request.
Registration:  $500. Link to Instrumental Insemination and Bee Breeding Workshop for application

3. ADVANCED WORKSHOP ON INSTRUMENTAL INSEMINATION
Wednesday and Thursday, April 25 & 26, 2012  
The class is focused on perfecting insemination techniques and solving related problems in the laboratory and in the field. Experience in Instrumental Insemination is required. Demonstration materials, virgin queens and drones are provided. Provision of your own insemination equipment is required. Microscopes will be provided for use upon request.
Registration:  $425. Link to Advanced Workshop on Instrumental Insemination for application

Photos from the "Art of Queen Bee Rearing" class, March 23-24, 2011 ~ Class in Laidlaw Facility ~ Tour of Koehnen & Sons, Glenn ~ Tour of Strachan Apiaries, Yuba City

UC Davis registration form: download PDF or Word

For UC Davis information and registration, contact:
Susan Cobey       
swcobey@ucdavis.edu
http://entomology.ucdavis.edu/
http://beebiology.ucdavis.edu/
University of California, Davis
Department of Entomology
Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility
367 Briggs Hall
One Shields Ave.
Davis, CA. 95616-8584

Washington State University These classes (above) also will be offered in June through Washington State University. Please inquire for more information.    scobey@mac.com  THE ART OF QUEEN REARING WORKSHOP  Friday, June  8, 2012, Mt. Vernon, Wash. THE ART OF QUEEN REARING WORKSHOP Friday, June 15, Pullman, Wash. INSTRUMENTAL INSEMINATION & BEE BREEDING WORKSHOP    June, 2012. ( Date to be announced)