OSU Honey Bee Lab

Bee trouble? You can send a sample of bees to the OSU Honey Bee Lab for pest and disease diagnostics. We welcome samples from anyone, OSBA members or not. No charge.

Collecting Samples for Analyses

Sampling
  1. When you head out to the hive/apiary to collect your sample(s), bring with you a small, lidded plastic container for every hive you plan to sample.
  2. Sample at least 300 live workers from a brood frame.
  3. Once you have made sure the queen is not on your chosen frame, you may scoop bees directly off the frame into your sample container or shake bees into a plastic tub, then scoop bees into container.
  4. Label the container with a hive name or number and the date. Use a permanent marker and write directly on the container. (Stickers sometimes fall off.)
  5. Immediately place the sample(s) in the freezer.
Shipping
  1. When you are ready to ship, pack up your securely sealed samples in a box and include a note on the colony/apiary history.
  2. Please tell us about your concerns, and please tell us your last mite count and your mite management regime.
  3. Include your name, email address, and phone number.

Ship to this exact address:

Honey Bee Lab

OSU Horticulture

2750 SW Campus Way; ALS 4017

Corvallis, OR 97331

Lab Members

Carolyn BreeceCarolyn Breece
Priya ChakrabartiPriya Chakrabarti
Emily CarlsonEmily Carlson
Ellie ChapkinEllie Chapkin
Hannah LucasHannah Lucas
Ellen TopitzhoferEllen Topitzhofer

From top left: Carolyn Breece, Priya Chakrabarti, Emily Carlson, Ellie Chapkin, Hannah Lucas, and Ellen Topitzhofer