Samantha Murray, education and garden coordinator of the UC Davis Bee Haven and a bee specialist, has just received a grant from the El Dorado Beekeepers (EDB) to support her research on how nutritional supplements affect honey bee health and colony performance.
Jim Guilliams, president of EDB, and his wife, Debbie Katz, secretary of EDB, recently toured The Haven — the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology’s half-acre public demonstration garden on Bee Biology Road — and presented her with a check.
“I’ll be investigating how different dietary supplements influence the health and survival of caged honey bees, with the goal of generating insights that can be applied to colony-level management,” Murray said. “The project will track bee health, survival, and feed intake. Findings will be shared with beekeepers and used to help improve practical beekeeping strategies that enhance colony health, productivity, and resilience against environmental and disease-related stressors.”
Guilliams, a 30-year beekeeper who has achieved the journey level of CAMBP, the second highest level, said, “Promoting science driven education is very important to our bees and beekeepers. Too much unproven information is being dispersed throughout our communities which increases mortality among all our bee populations. We are happy to support projects from the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, the leader in our region in the field of entomology and bee research.”
Guilliams described Murray’s grant submission as “outstanding,” adding that “her research topic is centered on nutritional supplements and how they affect honey bee health. The outcome of this research will contribute to healthier colonies with higher survivorship. We are happy to award our 2025 research grant for $1000 to Samantha, and we thank her for doing this important work.”
The UC Davis Bee Haven, installed by ENT in the fall of 2009, is known as a vital resource for pollinator education, research, and conservation. More than 200 native plants thrive in the garden, which is located next to the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility. UC Davis Distinguished Emeritus Professor Robbin Thorp (1933-2019) recorded more than than 80 species of native bees at the site. They range from the yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenskii, to the metallic green sweat bee, Agapostemon texanus.
The Haven’s only financial support is through public donations, which can be made through the website at https://beehaven.ucdavis.edu/donate or by contacting DuBois-Wright at (530) 752-6971 or caduboiswright@ucdavis.edu.
— Kathy Keatley Garvey
