Welcome to the University of Georgia Bee Program
The objectives of the UGA bee program are to increase humanity's knowledge of bee biology, bee management, and crop pollination and to deliver that knowledge in the most effective manner to interested users. The program strives to develop research and extension initiatives that are locally responsive while globally relevant. We are also training the next generation — both undergraduate and graduate students — in practical beekeeping, bee biology, and the scientific methods of critical thinking and analysis.
Facilities
The UGA Bee Program is located at the University Horticulture Farm, 1221 Hog Mountain Road, Watkinsville. All bee-related research programs are coordinated from the offices onsite. The bee program also hosts students from the Entomology Course "Bees, Beekeeping and Pollinator Conservation" along with occasional UGA Extension programs for beekeepers and the public.
Main lab: This building is fully furnished with restroom facilities, a kitchenette, a general laboratory, and the new molecular laboratory suite featuring multiple PCR (polymerase chain reaction) machines, environmental controls, a fume hood, and an ultra-low freezer. There are also the standard tools for conducting general research and teaching, including digital scales, microscopes, dissecting scopes and equipment, a centrifuge, refractometers, queen bee artificial insemination (AI) equipment, three environmental chambers, a freezer and refrigerator, and an insect specimen repository.
Auxiliary lab: This building has indoor and outdoor accommodations for the equipment and tools needed to house, handle and feed honey bees: woodworking power equipment and supplies, painting equipment, cane sugar, medicines, miticides, bee hive components and materials, veils, bee suits, gloves, smokers and fuel, hive tools, bottles, buckets and brushes, and various bee hive accessories such as pollen traps, pest control apparatuses, weighing cages, and queen rearing equipment. There are two additional storage buildings used for bulk research containers and specialized devices, as well as five farm vehicles, permanently assigned to the program.
UGA horticulture farm: The farm hosts about 50 bee colonies and numerous nucleus colonies. The program utilizes between 10 and 20 outlying apiary locations at any given time, based on the current research program parameters, access to which is voluntarily donated to the University by local landowners.
