Central State students are buzzing about campus this summer conducting research on honey bees.
“My main goal is to understand the behavior of bees as it pertains to their fighting mechanisms against mites,” Sophomore Kaila Young said.
Three students are working with Research Professor of Entomology Dr. Hongmei Li-Byarlay. “My team is focused on the research of honey bee health,” Li-Byarlay said. “We’re particularly interested in honeybee breeding and selection.”
Li-Byarlay said that bees are important insects. “Plants use insects to pollinate,” she said. “Among all the insect pollinators, bees are the most dominant.”
Li-Byarlay said that bees are in a decline in Ohio due to pollution, pesticides, habitat loss, and the spread of parasitic mites.
Young said she typically works in the lab, where she examines mites under a microscope. She also organizes samples and keep records of tests. Sophomore Xaryn Cleare said that his work days are unpredictable. “I may be doing research in the lab one day,” he said. “Another day I may be at a bee apiary or even building bee frames.”
The bee research is funded by the state of Ohio and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Students work up to 40 hours a week and are paid. “My main goal is for my paper to be published,” Cleare said. Xaryn Young is excited to learn outside the classroom. “It gives me pride knowing that I’m a part of important research,” he said.
The research project will run from May 13 to late July. Students who are interested in participating in next summer’s program should visit Dr. Li-Byarlay in room 251 in the CENS building.
By Reginald Gibson
Contributing Writer
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