LACBA Speaker March 5 - Dr. Jessica Maccaro
Tropical Stingless Bees of South America and Other Native Bees
Dr. Jessica Maccaro got her PhD in the CIBER (Center for Integrative Bee Research) lab and department of entomology at the University of California, Riverside. Her scientific research has centered around symbiotic relationships between microbes and bees. Specifically she studied the evolution of chalkbrood disease and the microbiome of vulture bees. After taking up insect macro photography she became passionate about combining the arts with science. She just published the second edition of her book "Meeting the Bees Face to Face" with natural history and macro photography of 28 different groups of bees (highlighting their cute faces). Email her at j.joy.maccaro@gmail.com if you are interested in a copy!
Dr. Maccaro's talk will introduce you to the world of non-honey bee bees through macro-photography, scientific research and natural history. She will focus mainly on tropical stingless bees and native bees in Southern California. Her talk will give you a taste of all the major bee families in your area, then narrow in on some very unique bees in South America. She will interweave her research on the importance of the microbial relationships in bee health and the ways microorganisms open up new dietary capabilities for bees.
LACBA Speaker February 2 - Dr. Marta Guarna
From Varroa Treatments to Forage and Queen Health: Project Apis m.–Funded Projects
Project Apis m. (PAm) mission is to drive science that delivers innovation for healthy bees and sustainable bee businesses. By investing in research projects and extension programs, PAm is dedicated to addressing unmet industry needs. This presentation will describe projects focused on Varroa management, forage, and queen health, particularly the effects of temperature on queen fertility and colony performance as well as a novel non-destructive method for assessing queen health. It will also describe other focus areas, including emerging threats, and highlight available resources through Project Apis m. and the Bee Health Collective.
Dr. Marta Guarna is the Research Program Director at Project Apis m (PAm), an organization dedicated to driving and supporting science to deliver innovation for healthy bees and bee businesses.
LACBA Speaker January 5, 2026 - Los Angeles County - Agricultural Commissioner Speaker
California Apiary Registration for 2026
In Los Angeles County, all beekeepers are required to:
• Register their hives annually with the County Agricultural Commissioner / Weights & Measures office by completing the Annual Apiary Registration form. (FAC § 29044)
Speakers from the Agricultural Commissioner / Weights and Measures will be attending in-person to provide information and updates needed to complete your hive registration before the deadline on January 31, 2026. Join us for help finding your city beekeeping ordinances, registering your bee removal services, and navigating the process of apiary registration!
Los Angeles County - Agricultural Commissioner / Weights & Measures
