DIANA SAMMATARO
Email: diana.sammataro@ars.usda.gov
USDA-ARS Carl Hayden Honey Bee Research Center
2000 E. Allen Road, Tucson, AZ 85719-1596
Work Phone: 520 670 6380 ex 121; Fax 520 670 6493, Cell: 520 975 4122
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EDUCATION
Ph.D. Entomology, 1995. The Ohio State UniversitY, Dept. Entomology, Columbus, OH, 43210.
Adjunct with Department of Entomology, University of Arizona 2007
M.S. Urban Forestry, 1977 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48104.
B. S. Landscape Architecture, 1970 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
HONORS and AWARDS
1995 Eastern Apiculture Society Certificate of Excellence for Outstanding Graduate Student in Apiculture.
1995 The Ohio State University Dept. Entomology Service Award.
1999 Silver Medal Winner - Apimondia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
1999 Gold Medal Winner - Apimondia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Honey Bee Pests, Predators and Diseases. 3rd Edition Chapter 8 – Insects: Dipteran Pests of Honey Bees.
2004 First recipient of Hoopingarner Award for Best Scientific Presentation Am. Bee. Fed., St. Augustine, FL.
2005 Acarology Research Award, for outstanding contributions; International Journal Acarology.
2006 Exceptional Service Award (outstanding work in Apicultural Research), Apiary Inspectors of America.
2007 Adjunct Status, Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson AZ.
Grants Awarded
BARD-USDA grant, 1995-1998
Eastern Apiculture Society Research Foundation, 1994 & 1997 Harry S. Mesloh Scholarship Fund, June 1995
National Assn. Strawberry Growers, 1997 North Dakota Beekeepers Assn. 1997-1998
Ohio Fruit Growers Society, 1996 & 1997 Ohio Rural Rehabilitation Program, 1997
Ohio Vegetable Growers Assn. 1996 & 1997 OSU Service Award, Dept. Entomology, 1995
Tri-County (OH) Beekeepers Assn. 1997 Iowa State Beekeepers Assn. 1998
NM State Beekeepers Assn. 1999 CA Queen (Honey Bee) Breeders Assn. 1999
S.A.F.E. Technologies, 1999 PMAP (co-PI) 2000
CRADA with Cerexagri 2002-3 California State Beekeepers Association, 1992, 1993, 1997-1999, 2003
National Honey Board, 2005; Almond Board of California, 1997, 2003, 2004-08
Project Apis m. 2007 CRADA with PIMA Research and USDA (Dr. J. Hooper) 2003-7
Organizations and Committees
· Entomological Society of America, Section B secretary 2006-7
· President, Western Apiculture Society 2006-7
· Adjunct, Univ. Arizona, Dept. Entomology 2006
· Scientific Member of the Center for Insect Science, University of Arizona
· American Assn. Professional Apiculturists
· Acarological Society of America, Executive Board 2007 • Acarology Development Foundation
· Safety Committee, USDA-ARS Carl Hayden Bee Research Center 2002-06
· Eastern Apiculture Soc., Life Member • American Beekeeping Federation
· American Honey Producers • Am. Museum of Natural History • Tucson Botanical Gardens
• Tucson Cactus and Succulent Soc. • Tucson Quilters Guild • Native Seeds/Search
Scientific work
1. Benoit, J. B., J. A. Yoder, D. Sammataro and L. W. Zettler. 2004. Mycoflora and Fungal Vector Capacity of the Parasitic Mite, Varroa destructor (Mesostigmata : Varroidae) in honey bee (Hymenoptera :Apidae) colonies. International J. Acarology. 30(2): 103-106.
2. Finley J. and D. Sammataro. 2008. Single-Frame Method to Obtain Several Age-Specific Immature Worker or Drone Honey Bee Cohorts, Apiacta. 43: 1 – 11.
3. Loper, G.M., D. Sammataro, J. Finley and J. Cole. 2006. Feral honey bees in Southern Arizona, 10 years after Varroa infestation. Am. Bee J. 146:6): 521-524.
4. Needham, G.R., U. Gerson & D. Sammataro. 1999. Introduction. In: Mites of the Honey Bee. Webster T.C., K.S. Delaplane, ed. Hamilton, IL: Dadant & Sons.
5. Ostiguy, N., D. Sammataro. 1999. A Simplified Technique for Counting Varroa Sticky Boards. Apidologie, 31: 707-16.
6. Robacker, D.C., P.K. Flottum, D. Sammataro and E.H. Erickson, Jr. 1983. Effects of climatic and edaphic factors on soybean flowers and on the subsequent attractiveness of the plants to honey bees. Field Crops Res. 6: 267-78.
7. Sammataro D, E.H. Erickson, Jr. & M.B. Garment. 1985. Ultrastructure of the sunflower (Helianthus) nectary. J. Apicultural Research 24(3): 150-160.
8. Sammataro D, G. Degrandi-Hoffman, G.R. Needham and G. Wardell. 1998. Some volatile plant oils as potential control agents for varroa mites (Acari:Varroidae) in honey bee colonies (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Amer. Bee J. 138: 681-685.
9. Sammataro D, G. Degrandi-Hoffman, N Ostiguy, G. Wardell and J. Finley. 2004. Testing a combination of control strategies to manage Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) population levels in honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colonies. International J. Acarology. 30:71-76.
10. Sammataro D, J. Finley & S. Camazine. 1999. Shipping conditions of honey bee queens. Amer. Bee J. 139: 713-16.
11. Sammataro, D., and J. Finley. 2007. The Developmental Changes of Immature African and Four Lines of European Honey Bee Workers. APIACTA (42): 64 – 72
12. Sammataro D, M.B. Garment & E.H. Erickson, Jr. 1985. Anatomical features of the sunflower floret. Helia (FAO, Romania):25-31.
13. Sammataro D, N Ostiguy and M. Frazier. 2002. How to use a PSU/ IPM Varroa board. Amer. Bee J. 142: 363-366.
14. Sammataro D, S. Cobey, B.H. Smith and G.R. Needham. 1994. Controlling tracheal mites (Acari: Tarsonemidae) in honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) with vegetable oil. J. Econ. Entomol. 57(4): 910-916.
15. Sammataro D, U. Gerson and G.R. Needham. 2000. Parasitic Mites of Honey Bees: Life History, Implications and Impact. Ann. Rev. Entomol. 45: 517-546. ParasiticMitesOfHoneyBees.pdf
16. Sammataro D. 1996. Mechanisms of bee resistance/tolerance to varroa mites. Amer. Bee J. 136: 567-68.
17. Sammataro D. 1996. Tracheal mites can be suppressed by oil patties. Amer. Bee J. 136: 279-282.
18. Sammataro D. 1997. Report on parasitic honey bee mites and disease associations. Amer. Bee J. 137: 301-302.
19. Sammataro D. 2004. Tropilaelaps infestation of honey bees (Troplilaelaps clareae, T. koenigerum). In OIE Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals, 5th ed. Office Internat. Epizoot. Paris, France. Vol. 2: 992-995.
20. Sammataro D. 2006. An Easy Dissection Technique for Finding Tracheal mites (Acari: Tarsonemidae) in Honey Bees (with Video link). International J. Acarology, 32:339-343.
21. Sammataro D. 2006. Mites of the Honey Bee. Bee Craft, 88:14-19.
22. Sammataro D. and G.R. Needham. 1996. Developing an integrated pest management (IPM) scheme for managing parasitic bee mites. Amer. Bee J. 136: 440-443.
23. Sammataro D. and G.R. Needham. 1996. Host-seeking behaviour of tracheal mites (Acari: Tarsonemidae) on honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Exp. Appl. Acarology, 20: 121-136.
24. Sammataro D. and G.R. Needham. 1996. How oil affects the behavior of tracheal mites. Amer. Bee J. 136: 511-514.
25. Sammataro D., M. B. Garment and E. H. Erickson, Jr. Anatomical features of the sunflower floret. Helia (FAO, Romania) (8): 25-31. 1985.
26. Sammataro D., P. Untalan, F. Guerrero and J. Finley. 2005. The Resistance of Varroa Mites (Acari: Varroidae) to Acaricides and the Presence of Esterase. International J. Acarology, 31:67-74.
27. Sammataro, D. and J. Finley. 2004. Observations of the ectoparasitic bee mite Varroa destructor in honey bee (Apis mellifera) cells infected with chalkbrood (Ascosphaera apis). J. Apicultural Research, 43 (1): 28-30.
28. Sammataro, D. J. Finley. 2007. The Developmental Changes of Immature African and Four Lines of European Honey Bee Workers. Apiacta. 42:64 - 72
29. Sammataro, D. J. Finley. 2007. Tucson Bee Lab to test High Fructose Corn Syrup. Am. Bee J. 147: 1007-8.
31. Vásquez A., Olofsson T.C. and D. Sammataro. 2008. A scientific note on the lactic acid bacterial flora discovered in the honey stomach of Swedish 1 honeybees – a continuing study on honeybees in the USA. Apidologie, on line.
32. Yoder, J. and D. Sammataro. 2003. Potential to control of Varroa mites (Acari: Varroidae) using chemical ecology. Internat. J. Acarology. 29: 139-143.
33. Yoder, J., D. Sammataro, J.A. Peterson, G.R. Needham and W.A. Bruce. 1999. Water requirements of adult females of the honey bee parasitic mites, Varroa jacobsoni. (Acari: Varroidae) and implications for control. Internat. J. Acarology. 25: 329-335.
34. Yoder J. A., B. S. Christensen, T. J. Croxall, J. L.Tank, D. Sammataro. 2008. Suppression of growth rate of colony-associated fungi by high fructose corn syrup feeding supplement, formic acid, and oxalic acid. Journal of Apicultural Research 47(2): 127–131.
Manuscripts in Review or Preparation
Sammataro, D., J Finley, R. Underwood, A. Nanetti. 2008. Improving oxalic acid treatments for varroa control-Part I: feeding experiments. In prep.
Sammataro D., A. Vásquez, and T.C. Olofsson. 2009. Preliminary study on the effect of artificial diet on the lactic acid bacterial flora in the honey stomach of honeybees. In prep
Sammataro D., J. Finley, B. LaBlanc, G. Wardell and F. Ahumada-Segura. 2009. Feeding Honey Bees (Apis mellifera L.) Essential Oils and 2-Heptanone as Potential Varroa mite (Varroa destructor) Controls: Detected by SPME (Solid Phase Micro Extraction) fibers. J. Econom. Ent. In review.
Videos and Web page
VARROA MITES: Life Cycle, Detection and Control. 1999. Penn State University AV Dept. D. Sammataro, producer/writer. Second place winner at 1999 Apimondia Conference, Vancouver, B.C.
TRACHEAL MITES 1994. Dissecting mites using the tracheal pull method and 1995 Host-seeking behavior of tracheal mites on honey bees. D. Sammataro, producer/writer. R. Smith, Vesta Video Productions, Toledo, OH.
ANIMAPS Institute of Mathematical Geography, Sandra L. Arlinghaus, William D. Drake, and John D. Nystuen (University of Michigan and Community Systems Foundation) with data and other input from Audra Laug, Kris S. Oswalt, Diana Sammataro; University of Michigan; Community Systems Foundation; Carl Hayden Bee Research Center, (respectively). Animated map of the spread of the varroa mite: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~copyrght/image/solstice/sum07/varroaupdate2007.html
WORK EXPERIENCE
1. Research Entomologist, Carl Hayden Honey Bee Research Lab. Dates Employed: 03/2002 to present. Duties: Work on developing a novel approach to managing bees and parasitic mites, including new mite controls (using bee and mite volatiles and new natural products) and research on pollination problems.(Supervisor: Gloria Hoffman).
2. Research Assistant, Dept. Entomology, Penn State University, 501 ASI Bldg., University Park, PA 16802. Dates Employed: 06/1998 to 03/2002. Duties: Applied research on IPM controls of bee mites. Conduct experiments, collect data, write results and give presentations. Worked with an IPM program for managing honey bee mites. Developed easier monitoring boards for Varroa mites; photographed bee plants for web page; looking to alternative pollinators for important commercial crops and native plants; explored the effects sub-lethal pesticides may have on these pollinators. For six months, worked part-time in the Plant Pathology Department working with the Plum Pox Virus of Stone Fruits. Helped write and publish ID guides, extension and public outreach information.
3. Ohio State University/ OARDC, 1680 Madison Ave, Wooster, OH 44691. Dates Employed: 09/1995 to 04/1998. Duties: Worked as a post-doc at the Bee Lab. I was working under the BARD grant (under Dr. Needham) on the IPM bee mite program.
4. Ohio State University, Dept Entomology, 103 B & Z Bldg., Columbus, OH 43210-1220. Dates 09/1991 to 06/1995. Duties: Teaching assistant for biology, then a post doc. Developed a sugar/oil patty to control tracheal mites. Dr. Glen Needham.
5. Sales Manager, Bee Supplies. A.I. Root Company, 623 W. Liberty Street, Medina, OH 44256. Dates Employed: 06/1988 to 09/1991. Duties: Manage beekeeping equipment and supply sales, dealers and customer service; write ads, bee literature and equipment instructions; maintain company hives, give tours, and R&D for new equipment.
Other Bee Related jobs
09/1981-06/1983 Research Assistant. USDA Honey Bee Research Lab. Madison, WI. Assist in research of floral UV patterns for sunflowers; SEM and TEM of flower and honey bee structures; field and work; teach labs and classes, give demonstrations.
1978–1981 Peace Corps Volunteer. Honey Bee Specialist; Philippines. Wrote teaching handbook, conducted seminars, field research on Varroa mites, taught entomology at local university, assisted in cottage industries development.
job-related courses
2008 Coaching Skills for Managers and Supervisors, Fred Pryor Seminars
2006 Teambuilding and Leadership Training, Skillpath
2006 Laboratory Safety Training Certificate, U of Arizona, Tucson
2005 Summer Program for Acarology, Introduction to Acarology, Ohio State Univ., (OSU) Columbus, OH
2005 Presenting Data and Information, Edward Tufte; Phoenix, AZ
2001 Master Gardener’s Course, Penn State University, Univ. Park, PA
2000 Forensic Entomology, K.C. Kim, Penn State
1995 Summer Program for Acarology, Mites/ticks of medical and veterinary importance, (OSU)
1994 Instrumental Insemination of Honey Bee Queens, Susan Cobey, instructor OSU
1992 Summer Program for Acarology, Agricultural Mites, OSU
Publications: Books
Flottum, P.K. & D. Sammataro. 1988. The New Starting Right with Bees. A.I. Root Co., Medina OH.
Sammataro, D. & A. Avitabile. 1998. The Beekeeper’s Handbook. 3rd ed. Cornell University Press, Ithaca: NY currently working on 4th edition.
Sammataro, D. 1997. Diptera (Flies). R.A. Morse, ed. Honey Bee Pests, Predators and Diseases, 3rd edition. pp 145-160. The A.I. Root Co., Medina OH.
Sammataro, D. 1995. Studies on the control, behavior and molecular markers of the tracheal mite (Acarapis woodi [Rennie]) of honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Ph.D. dissertation. The Ohio State University, Columbus OH.
Contributing Author. ABC & XYZ of Bee Culture, 41st Edition. A.I. Root Co. 2007.
Bee Culture Magazine Articles
1979 Sept. Vol. 114, pp. 458-9: Beekeeping in the Philippines.
1986 May pp. 251-253: Landscaping for home and hive; Aug. pp. 422: Landscaping for home and hive, II; Sept. pp. 461-2: Collecting Honey Bee Stamps; Nov. p. 584: Early Winters: Antique Equipment.
1987 Jan. Vol. 115 pp. 42: Bee Flora: The Milkweeds.
1988 March Vol. 116 pp. 139-141: Apiphilately; Dec. pp. 700-1,709, 722: Res. Review.
1989 Jan. Vol. 117 pp. 10-15, 54: May the Forest Be With You; Wax Flowers (20-21); Feb. pp. 108-11: Package Primer (w/ K. Flottum); March pp. 160-163: Package Primer II; April pp. 226-7: Package Primer III; May pp. 297, 303: Raising Waxies; July pp. 406-7: Duct Tales. (w/ K. Flottum); Aug. pp. 477-479: Simply Wax; Sept. pp. 532-3: Making Molded Candles.
1990 Jan. Vol. 118 pp. 20-6: Deserts, Droughts and the Drying of the American West; April pp. 220-22: Ukrainian Easter; Tracking Tracheal Mites (206-8); May pp. 284-6: Long Live the Queen; Aug. p. 493: Stamps in the News; Oct. pp. 596-9: Making Craftwax and Foundation Candles; Nov. pp. 663-5: Honey Candy.
1991 Jan. Vol. 119 pp. 32-38: Erosion.
1992 July Vol. 120 pp. 393, 396-400: Conducting a honey bee emergency demonstration (now a video).
1993 July Vol. 121 pp. 393-5: Perfect rounds.
1994 Jan. Vol. 122 pp. 30-39: Races. w/PK Flottum
1995 Feb. Vol. 123. pp. 80-81: 9th International Congress of Acarology: A honey bee mite round table. w/ E. Sugden & K. Williams
Other Popular Articles
Sammataro, D. 2002. Honey bees are your swimming pool: not a good mix. August Master Gardner’s Newsletter, Tucson AZ.
Sammataro D, N Ostiguy, M. Frazier. 2002 How to use a PSU/ IPM Varroa board. Am. Bee Journal. 142:363-366
presentations
2009
January: American Beekeeping Fed., Am. Honey Producers (Fresno, CA)
Feb. AIA and Am. Assoc. Professional Apiculturists, Gainesville FL; Chester County Beekeepers Assoc. PA
March: Southeastern MI Bee. Conference, Livonia MI
2008
January: Joint meetings American Beekeeping Fed., Am. Honey Producers and Am. Assoc. Professional Apiculturists; Sacramento.
April: Sonoran Arthropod Studies Institute, Tucson AZ.
July: Better Bee Field Day (invited, 200 participants), Greenwich, NY.
Sept. Prevention of honeybee COLony LOSSes conference in Belfast, UK, 6-8.09.2008 (invited) not attending.
Dec. Almond Board of CA. Modesto
2007
February: Indiana Beekeepers Assoc. (invited); 400 attendees.
May: American Museum of Natural History, NYC: Bees: Sweetness and Mites.
July: Western National Parks Association, Oro Valley, AZ.
August: Eastern Apicultural Society, Delaware; Western Apicultural Soc., Tucson.
September: Tucson Botanical Gardens
December: Entomological Soc. of Amer. National Meetings, San Diego, CA.
2006
January: National meetings: American Honey Producers, Houston, TX; American Beekeeping Federation Louisville, KY.
Feb: NC State Beekeepers, Asheville NC
March: KS/MO beekeepers, Overland Park, KS; Michigan State Univ. ANR week, E. Lansing MI; 24th Annual Science and Math Conf. for 7-12th grade women in S. Arizona, Un. of AZ, Tucson (panel).
April: Ulster Beekeepers’ Assoc. (N. Ireland) and 24th Annual Science and Math Conf. (WISE), Un. of AZ, Tucson (panel).
July: Western Apiculture Society, Buelton, CA (Now President)
August: International Acarology Congress, Amsterdam.
Oct: Oregon State Beekeepers, Newport.
Nov: Empire State Beekeepers, Syracuse NY, and S.E. New England Beekeepers, Hamden, CT.
Dec: Almond Board of California, National Meeting and Entomological Soc. Am.
2005
January. National meetings: American Honey Producers, Tucson, AZ, American Beekeeping Federation and American Assoc. Professional Apiculturists, Reno NV.
July: Heartland Apiculture Assoc., Edwardsville, IL July 7-9.
August: Apimondia (Dublin, Ireland); and Apimondia XXXIX 2005, Dublin. Ireland. Poster on bee volatiles; Chair an OIE workshop on Tropilaelaps, World Organization of Animal Health.
Oct: Oregon State BKA.
Nov: Entomol. Soc. Am. Ft. Lauderdale FL. Moderator, (POSTPONED); TX State BKA, Corpus Christie.
Dec. Almond Board of CA, report on Oxalic research
2004
January: National meetings: American Honey Producers and American Beekeeping Federation.
April: Mass. State Beekeepers; Rhode Island State Beekeepers
June: Master Gardeners, Tucson AZ
July: North Carolina State Beekeepers, Charlotte
September: First European Conference of Apidology, and European Group for Integrated Varroa Control http://web.uniudd.it/eurbee/ Udine, ITALY
November: Idaho Honey Industry Assoc., and Entomological Soc. of Am. Salt Lake City, UT; Acarology Section
December: Colorado State Beekeepers, Denver
2003
January. National meetings in Baton Rouge, LA (American Honey Producers) and Kansas City, (American Beekeeping Federation).
February: Alabama In-Service Training Workshop on Pollination Biology; and AL Beekeepers Assoc. Symposium.
March: Kansas Honey Producers 100th Anniversary Meeting, keynote speaker
August: IL Beekeeping Short Course.
October: MO State Beekeepers meeting; and Entomol. Soc. of Am. Meeting, Cincinnati OH. Varroa mite resistance to pesticides in honey bee colonies.
2002
May 11. Arivaca Library. How to handle Problem Bees
August 5-9. Eastern Apiculture Society, Ithaca, NY: Short course instructor, workshop and conference presenter. Honey Plants, Mite ID, IPM of Bee Mites.
Nov. 1-2. Oregon State Beekeepers Pest and Disease Workshop, Hood River OR.
Dec. Entomology Society of America, National meetings 2002, Invited Speaker at Acarology Conference.
2001
Feb 19. Penn. Assoc. for Sustainable Agriculture Penn State University. How to Manage Problems in Honey Bee Colonies.
March 3.Tri-County Beekeepers Assoc. Annual Meeting, Wooster, OH
March 10. Western PA Beekeepers Assn., Beaver Co. PA
March 13. 29th Annual Apiary Inspectors Workshop, Beltsville, MD. All talks on IPM.
August 6-9. Eastern Apiculture Society, Bourne, MA: Short course instructor, conference presenter. IPM of Bee Mites.
August 31. Millbrook Marsh Nature Center. Honey bees: Sweetness and Mites.
Sept. 16. Centre Co. Beekeepers. Demonstration.
Oct. 2. Northeast Agro Forestry/Carbon Conference, Binghamton, NY. Honey from Trees
Oct. 12. Tennessee State Beekeepers Assoc. Nashville (workshop and lecture).
Nov. 10. PA State Beekeepers Assoc. Lewisberg.
Nov. 18. Three B’s and a C Bee Club banquet, Williamsburg, PA.
2000
NJ Apiary Inspectors of America, Beltsville, MD
March 11: Beaver Co. Beekeepers; March 23: Centre Co. Beekeepers (PA)
April 10-12: 2nd International Conf. on African Bees and Bee Mites; Tucson: Moderator, presenter
May 4: Philadelphia Soc. for Promoting Agriculture: Honey Bees, Sweetness and Mites
May 13 Capital Area Bee Beekeeping Short Course
May 18 PA State Bee Inspectors
June 3: NE KS State Beekeepers Annual Meeting, Kansas City
June 17: Carroll Co. Beekeepers, OH
August 31. Millbrook Marsh Nature Center. Important Pollinators.
Oct 11: Centre Co. Beekeepers, PA and Millbrook Marsh Nature Center
Nov. 2 Oregon State Beekeepers Assn. Hood River, OR. IPM of bee mites.
Nov 13 PA State Beekeepers Assn. Lewisburg, PA. State Meeting
OTHER PRESENTATIONS
Beekeeping Meetings, Lectures and Short Courses: State & County
1999 Apimondia 99, Vancouver B.C. International Bee Meeting: Presented two papers— IPM of Bees and Water Balance of Bee Mites; co-authored two other papers; Varroa video presentation (2nd place winner).
Medieval Festival Bee Display on campus; Penn State Bee Short Course, State meetings in: GA, NY, VT, TN, PA, Western CT, York Co. PA
Nov. 19-20: USDA-ARS meeting for bee researchers and stakeholders
1998: MD, SC, OH, MI, CA, CT, NM, NY, PA, VT and GA State Beekeepers
1997: Feb. Ohio Fruit Growers Assn.; March: Michigan State Un. ANR Week; Tri-County BK; Scarlet-Oaks Bee Meeting; April: OH Apiary Inspectors; OH Pickle Growers; June: OH Teachers Assn.; Georgia State BK; MSU Mite Symposium; Aug: Western Apiculture Soc., Tucson; (Oct) MA state BK & Iowa BK; Nov: PA State BK; Dec: Almond Board of California
1996: Feb.10: Archbold Biological Sta., FL for NY Empire State BK; Feb.12: Ohio Fruit Growers Assn.; Mar. 10: Michigan State Un. ANR Week; June 7: Ohio State BK (OSBA) July 19-21: BiOhio OSU, Wooster, OH; July 27: Ohio State BK (OSBA); July 29-31: Eastern Apiculture Society, Harrisonburg, VA.; Sept.19: Farm Science Review, Ohio State University; Oct. 11-13: North Dakota State BK; Oct. 18-20: Michiana BK; Oct. 25-27: Indiana State BK; Nov. 1-3: Arkansas State BK; Nov. 8-10: Empire (New York) State BK; Nov. 11-13: California State BK; Dec. 8: Ent. Soc. America, Louisville, KY.
1991 & 1990, 1994, Urban Geography classes Dr. J. Nystuen, Un. Michigan, Ann Arbor: Importance of Honey Bees in Ag Food Systems.
Eastern Apiculture Society 1989-1999 & 2001-02. Short Course instructor, workshop and conference presenter.
Entomology Society of America, National meetings 1992 & 1993, Organizer of Informal Symposium on Bee Mites. 1993, Invited Speaker at Formal Acarology Conference; 1994, Organizer of Informal Symposium.
Ohio State Fair, 1994 Judge for 4-H show: Exploring our Insect World
Insect Fair, Penn State Un. 1998 -2001 Helped set up and organize Honey Bee Display; attendance 5,000
Apiary Inspectors of America (AIA): 1994 (all inspectors), 1997 (Ohio inspectors), 1998 & 2001 (PA inspectors).
BIO
Diana Sammataro, co-author of the Beekeeper’s Handbook, began keeping bees in 1972 in Litchfield CT, setting up a package colony in her maternal grandfather’s old bee hive equipment. From then on, she decided that her B.S. in Landscape Architecture (Un. of Michigan, Ann Arbor), would not be a career, but that honey bees would. After a year of independent studies on floral pollination with Dr. Bert Martin at the Mich. State Un. Bee Lab (East Lansing, MI), she earned an M.S. in Urban Forestry (Un. of Michigan, Ann Arbor). In 1978 she joined Peace Corps and taught Beekeeping in the Philippines for 3 years. On returning, she worked at the now closed USDA Bee Lab in Madison, WI under Dr. Eric Erickson, studying the effects of plant breeding and flower attraction of bees in sunflower lines. When Dr. Erickson moved to be head of the Tucson Bee Lab, she eventually went to work at the A.I. Root Company, as Bee Supply Sales Manager in Medina OH. In 1991 she was accepted at the Rothenbuhler Honey Bee Lab at OH State University (Columbus, OH) to study for a Ph.D. with Dr. Brian Smith and Dr. Glen Needham. The title of her dissertation was: Studies on the control, behavior, and molecular markers of the tracheal mite (Acarapis woodi (Rennie)) of honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae). In 1995, she worked as a post-doctoral assistant at the Ohio State Un. Ag. Research Center in Wooster OH, with Dr. James Tew and in 1998 at the Penn State University Bee lab (State College, PA, with Maryann Frazier. Early in 2002, she was invited to join the USDA-ARS Carl Hayden Honey Bee Research Center in Tucson AZ. Her current position is a Research Entomologist with Dr. Gloria DeGrandi-Hoffman and staff. Her work at the lab includes developing a novel approach to managing parasitic mites of bees using bee and mite chemical compounds and natural products, research on bee nutrition problems, microflora of bees (beneficial bacteria) and current pollination problems. She is currently working on the 4th edition of the Beekeeper’s Handbook.
ABSTRACT of Dissertation
Title: Studies on the control, behavior, and molecular markers of the tracheal mite (Acarapis woodi (Rennie)) of honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Abstract: The endoparasitic mite, A. woodi (Rennie), a pest of honey bees Apis mellifera L., infests most bee colonies in the United States and has been responsible for 60% of colony losses. Under field conditions, patties made from solid vegetable shortening and white sugar, with or without the addition of an antibiotic, depressed mite populations when applied continuously to bees. Treatment was significant (Site 1, F2,165=14.95; P<0.001; Site 2, F2,96=5.541; P<0.001). To understand why shortening/sugar patties gave bees some protection, mite behavior was videotaped on callow bees (<4 days old), dead bees and bees exposed to an oil patty. Two behaviors were observed and more closely studied. “Habitat-seeking” behavior, when mites seek out a new oviposition site, was disrupted on both dead and oil-treated bees. “Questing” behavior, associated with mite transfer between hosts, increased on dead and oily bees. Both questing (F2,66 =7.88; P<0.001) and habitat-seeking (F2,66=21.28, P<0.001) behaviors were significantly different between all three treatments. Oil-treated bees gained protection from habitat-seeking mites because the normal behavior of the mites is interrupted. Questing behavior increased significantly on dead and oily bees, thus exposing the mites for a longer time and increasing the chances of desiccation. In the decade since its introduction here, the lethal effects of this mite seem to diminish. To determine if this was a change in the lethality of mite populations, infested bees from several states were collected and the mites dissected. RAPDs was used to track possible shifts in genetic markers. Problems of reaction protocols, contamination and clean negative controls were mostly solved by using HPLC water that was not treated to UV light. PCR parameters where annealing temperatures ranged from 38-45C also produced good results. However, because of extremely low mite DNA concentrations, the results were inconclusive. By testing a dilution series using one bee, it was found that as the concentration of DNA diminished to 0.038ng/ul, more bands in the gel appeared. RAPDs was not a good method of choice; this question still needs to be explored as future techniques are refined.
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