Melittology

A bee drinking water

Melittology (from Greek μέλιττα, melitta, "bee"; and -λογία -logia) is a branch of entomology concerning the scientific study of bees. Melittology covers the species found in the clade Anthophila within the superfamily Apoidea, comprising more than 20,000 species,^[1] including bumblebees and honey bees.

Subdivisions

• Apiology - (from Latin apis, "bee"; and Ancient Greek -λογία, -logia) is the scientific study of honey bees. Honey bees are often chosen as a study group to answer questions on the evolution of social systems.

• Apidology is a variant spelling of apiology used outside of the Western Hemisphere, primarily in Europe; it is sometimes used interchangeably with melittology.

• Apicology - the study of honey bee ecology.

Melittological societies

Melittologists and apiologists are served by a number of scientific societies, both national and international in scope. Their main role is to encourage the study of bees and apicultural research

• International Bee Research Association
• National Bee Association of New Zealand
• British Beekeepers Association
• German Beekeepers Association

Melittological Journals

• Apidologie
• American Bee Journal
• Journal of Apicultural Research
• Journal of Melittology

List of notable melittologists and apiologists

• Freiderich August Bechly (Fred Bechly), (1835-1916), was a correspondent for the American Bee Journal.
• Charles Butler, (1560-1647), early English beekeeper and researcher.
• Charles Dadant, (1817-1902), Modernized beekeeping.
• Jan Dzierzon, (1811-1906), Discovered parthenogenesis among bees, proposed first sex determining mechanism for any species.
• Savannah Foley, studies genetics and communication over long distances at the University of South Florida, leading a team investigating recent dropping numbers of honey bees.
• Michael S. Engel, (b. 1971), studies honey bee and other bee taxonomy and paleontology at the University of Kansas.
• Karl von Frisch, (1886-1982), Nobel Prize winner, studied honey bee communication.
• Robert A. Holekamp, (1848-1922), Early urban apiculturalist and advocate.
• Jay Hosler, Professor at Juniata College, Author of the award-winning comic Clan Apis.
• Karl Kehrle (aka "Brother Adam") (1898-1996), Benedictine monk, beekeeper, and an authority on bee breeding, developer of the Buckfast bee.
• Warwick Estevam Kerr, (b. 1922), Studies genetics and sex determination in honey bees. Responsible for introduction of Africanized bees to America.
• William Kirby, (1759-1850), Author of the first scientific treatise on English bees.
• L. L. Langstroth, (1810-1895), Modernized American beekeeping.
• Martin Lindauer, (1918-2008), studied communication systems in various species of social bees including stingless bees and honey bees.
• Sir John Lubbock (the 1st Lord and Baron Avebury) (1834–1913), wrote on hymenoptera sense organs.
• Robert E. Page, Jr., Studies population genetics and the evolution of complex social behavior at Arizona State University.^[2]
• Petro Prokopovych, (1775–1850), Ukrainian beekeeper, founder of commercial beekeeping.
• Moses Quinby, (1810-1875), Early American commercial beekeeper. Invented modern bee smoker.
• Gene E. Robinson, Studies mechanisms of bee-havior at the University of Illinois.^[3]
• Amos Ives Root (1839 – 1923), Innovator in honey harvesting techniques. Published first account of Wright brothers flight in his beekeeping journal.
• Grace Sandhouse^[4]
• Justin O. Schmidt, Studies bee nutrition, chemical communication, physiology, ecology and behavior. Created Schmidt Sting Pain Index.
• Thomas D. Seeley, Studies group organization using the honey bee as a model system at Cornell University.^[5]
• Robert Evans Snodgrass, (1875-1962), Author of one of the first comprehensive books on honey bee anatomy and physiology.
• Stephen Taber III, (1924-2008), Innovator in the practice of artificial insemination of queen bees for the purpose of developing disease resistant and gentle bee colonies.
• Mark Winston, Studies life history, caste structure, and reproduction in social insects and pheromones of honey bees at Simon Fraser University.^[6]

See also

• Bee
• Honey bee
• Beekeeping
• Entomology
• I Have a Bee
• Vespology
• Melissopalynology

References