Educational Resources
Penn State Extension Beekeeping Resources (revised 7Feb2025)
Online Classes:
Beekeeping 101: online beekeeping basics course ($159)
https://extension.psu.edu/beekeeping-101
Beekeeping 102: online course about organic honey bee colony management ($139)
https://extension.psu.edu/beekeeping-102
Books:
Beekeeping Basics Book (2007 version; $10):
https://extension.psu.edu/beekeeping-basics
New version coming in 2025
A Field Guide to Honey Bees and their Maladies ($12.00; bulk pricing offered)
https://extension.psu.edu/a-field-guide-to-honey-bees-and-their-maladies
Accompanying pocket guide (free downloadable pdf, but prints very nicely via Penn State for $1.80)
Webinars:
BeeCheck: A Communication Tool to Keep your Bees Safe (free on-demand)
https://extension.psu.edu/beecheck-a-communication-tool-to-keep-your-bees-safe
2020 Pollinator series
Mason Bee Management for Orchard Pollination
https://extension.psu.edu/pollinator-series-mason-bee-management-for-orchard-pollination
Bee Biodiversity in Pennsylvania
https://extension.psu.edu/pollinator-series-bee-biodiversity-in-pennsylvania
Queen Rearing Basics
https://extension.psu.edu/pollinator-series-queen-bee-rearing-basics
Bumble Bee Biology and Management for Pollination
https://extension.psu.edu/pollinator-series-bumble-bee-biology-and-management-for-pollination
2025 Beekeeping Around the World Series
Beekeeping in France - February 6 - Register here
Beekeeping in the Yukon - February 13 - Register here
Elephants and Bees in Kenya - February 20 - Register here
Beekeeping in Turkey - February 27 - Register here
Beekeeping in India - March 6 - Register here
Stingless bees in Brazil - March 13 - Register here
2024 Beekeeping Around the World Series
Beekeeping in Ukraine –Watch Now
Beekeeping in Thailand – Watch Now
Beekeeping in Lesotho – Watch Now
Beekeeping in Mexico – Watch Now
Beekeeping in Sweden –Watch Now
Beekeeping of Apis cerana in the Himalayas – Watch Now
Beekeeping World Traveler – Watch Now
2023 Beekeeping Around the World Series
Apimondia – Watch Now
Beekeeping in Australia – Watch Now
Beekeeping in China – Watch Now
Beekeeping in Switzerland – Watch Now
Beekeeping in Argentina – Watch Now
Beekeeping in East Africa – Watch Now
Beekeeping in the Canadian Prairies – Watch Now
Videos:
Why are bees important? (2:55)
English: https://extension.psu.edu/why-are-bees-important
Spanish: https://extension.psu.edu/por-que-son-importantes-las-abejas
Varroa mite monitoring via alcohol wash (2:42)
https://extension.psu.edu/learn-now-video-how-to-do-an-alcohol-wash
Varroa mite monitoring via sugar roll (2:38)
https://extension.psu.edu/organic-honey-bee-colony-management-how-to-do-a-sugar-roll
Varroa mite integrated pest management (25:07)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YespRN38Wx6GihajvJoSQkKTtQbf-JtN/view?usp=sharing
Varroa mite resistance intro (1:16)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8RhCGOq1Lc&t=3s
Colony division: an easy method to split a colony
https://extension.psu.edu/colony-division-an-easy-method-to-split-a-colony
Installing packaged bees
https://extension.psu.edu/installing-packaged-bees
Fact Sheets (each link takes you to a page where you can download a pdf or place an order for a hard copy):
Alcohol wash for varroa mite monitoring
English:
https://extension.psu.edu/alcohol-wash-for-varroa-mite-monitoring
Spanish:
https://extension.psu.edu/monitoreo-de-varroa-con-lavado-de-alcohol
Getting started
https://extension.psu.edu/beekeeping-honey-bees
Or
https://lopezuribelab.com/beekeeping-where-to-begin/
A Quick Reference Guide to Honey Bee Parasites, Pests, Predators and Diseases https://extension.psu.edu/a-quick-reference-guide-to-honey-bee-parasites-pests-predators-and-diseases
Orchard pollination: honey bees
https://extension.psu.edu/orchard-pollination-honey-bees
Pesticides and pollinators
https://extension.psu.edu/pesticides-and-pollinators
Beekeeping Integrated Pest Management
https://lopezuribelab.com/ipm/
Honey Bee Management Throughout the Seasons
English: https://extension.psu.edu/honey-bee-management-throughout-the-seasons
Spanish: https://extension.psu.edu/manejo-de-abejas-de-miel-a-traves-de-las-estaciones
Honey Bee Viruses
English: https://extension.psu.edu/viruses-in-honey-bees
Spanish: https://extension.psu.edu/virus-en-abejas-de-miel
An Organic Management System for Honey Bees https://extension.psu.edu/an-organic-management-system-for-honey-bees
A Bear Fence Design
https://extension.psu.edu/hive-protection-bear-fence-design
Methods to Control Varroa Mites
English: https://extension.psu.edu/methods-to-control-varroa-mites-an-integrated-pest-management-approach
Spanish:
Oxalic acid application
https://lopezuribelab.com/oxalic-acid-treatment-protocols/
American Foulbrood
English: https://extension.psu.edu/honey-bee-diseases-american-foulbrood
Spanish: https://extension.psu.edu/enfermedades-de-la-abeja-de-miel-loque-americana
Pollinator Declines
https://extension.psu.edu/pollinator-declines
Tracking the Health of Feral Honey Bees in PA
https://extension.psu.edu/tracking-the-health-of-feral-honey-bees-in-pennsylvania
Queen Bee Development
https://extension.psu.edu/an-introduction-to-queen-honey-bee-development
Queen Cell Production
https://extension.psu.edu/queen-cell-production-grafting-and-graft-free-methods
Cell Builder Basics
https://extension.psu.edu/beekeeping-cell-builder-basics
An Introduction to Honey Bee Breeding Program Design
https://extension.psu.edu/an-introduction-to-honey-bee-breeding-program-design
Baking with honey
https://extension.psu.edu/baking-with-honey-the-sweetener-not-your-sweetheart
5-step decision support system: nesting bees and wasps near homes
https://extension.psu.edu/five-step-decision-support-nesting-bees-and-wasps-near-homes
Common social bees and wasps of PA
Spotted lanternflies and beekeeping
https://extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternflies-and-beekeeping
Varroa mite resistance: Testing for hygienic behavior
https://extension.psu.edu/varroa-mite-resistance-testing-for-hygienic-behavior
Varroa mite resistance: Testing for mite biting behavior
https://extension.psu.edu/varroa-mite-resistance-testing-for-mite-biting-behavior
Varroa mite resistance: Testing for varroa sensitive hygiene
https://extension.psu.edu/varroa-mite-resistance-testing-for-varroa-sensitive-hygiene
Honey bee genetics basics
https://extension.psu.edu/honey-bee-genetics-basics
Honey bees: from genotype to phenotype
https://extension.psu.edu/honey-bees-from-genotype-to-phenotype
Who are our pollinators?
https://extension.psu.edu/who-are-our-pollinators
Pollinator myths
https://extension.psu.edu/pollinator-myths
Pollination and pollinators
https://extension.psu.edu/pollination-and-pollinators
Northern giant hornets
https://extension.psu.edu/northern-giant-hornets
Also check out:
The Center for Pollinator Research: https://ento.psu.edu/research/centers/pollinators
MAAREC: Mid-Atlantic Apiculture and Extension Consortium
· List of Basic Resource Books
· beginning-beekeeping-everything-you-need-to-make-your-hive-thrive
· 093-Oertel--History of Beekeeping in the US
· An-Apiary-Guide-to-Swarm-Control-2nd-edition
· Anatomy_of_the_honey_bee_colored
Online Virtual Classes
· University of Maryland Bee Squad
· Ohio State Beekeepers Association
Training Videos
Working with Bees
· Stinging
· Introducing a Nucleus Colony
Working with Queens
Colony Management
· Feeding Bees and Overwintering
· Dealing with Deadouts (Part 1)
· Dealing with Deadouts (Part 2)
· Managing Towards Gentle Behaviour
Abnormal Colony Conditions
· Abnormal Conditions Part 1 – Failed Queens and Chalk Brood
· Abnormal Conditions Part 2 – Wax Moth, Monitoring Mites, and Antibiotics
· Abnormal Conditions Part 3 – Laying Workers and Sacbrood
Pest Management
Double Nucleus Colonies
· Making Double Nucleus Colonies Part 1
· Making Double Nucleus Colonies Part 2
· Fixing Problem Double Nucleus Colonies
· Transferring Double Nucleus Colonies
Queen Rearing
· Grafting
· Making Mini Nucleus Colonies
· 4-Way Mating Nucleus Colonies
Honey Harvesting and Processing
Activities and Information for Children
Crafts
Kid's Craft Created by Charlie & Cathy Vorisek
Finger Puzzle (Bee)
Finger Puzzle (Honey)
Finger Puzzle (Pollination)
Finger Puzzles (all of above in zip archive)
Coloring
Coloring Sheet Set (9 pages)
Coloring Sheet (Welcome to our Apiary)
Info
Bee Houses
Bees and Plants
Busy Bee
Dance
Honey
Sting
Inside the Hive
What Bees See
Honey Bee Trivia
Links to offsite information:
www.beeculture.com/category/bee-life/kids/
www.abfnet.org/?page=16
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/facts/honeybee
https://climatekids.nasa.gov/bees/
www.buzzaboutbees.net/Bee-Themed-Educational-Resources.html
https://www.honey.com/the-bees/educational-materials (activity sheets & posters)
Social Media Links
