Apimondia 2025 Highlights

Apimondia is the World’s Largest Beekeeping Conference. It is only held every two years. This year it was held in Copenhagen, Denmark. The 2025 Conference saw over 8,000 beekeepers in attendance from over 124 different countries.

The conference covers various topics related to beekeeping, such as honey production, bee health, and the impact of beekeeping on the environment. It is a great opportunity for beekeepers from around the world to come together, share knowledge, and learn from each other. The conference also includes workshops, seminars, and exhibitions, making it a valuable experience for anyone involved in the beekeeping industry.

Honey Bee Genetics

I attended several workshops and seminars during my time at Apimondia 2025. On the first day of presentations, I attended the Bee Biology Symposium on Bee Genetics. I learned about the challenges researchers have in studying and understanding the Honey Bee genome due to the diversity of the genetics. Essentially, it is difficult to map specific alleles to the phenotypes you are studying because of the complexity of the genome itself. For instance, the VSH trait has diverse genetic makeup so it is hard to detect through genomics.

The various genetic lineages of Honey Bees found in Europe was discussed. These include the M, C, O, and A groupings of honey bee lineages. Also, two new lineages have been discovered – the Y and U groupings. In Europe, there appears to be a great deal of movement from the C lineage regions to the M lineage regions due to the movement of bees by man.

To study and track the various lineage groups the researcher used “Deep Wings” software. “Deep Wings” is a program used to analyze wing shape variations in honey bees in order to study and track the various lineage groups. This software allows researchers to determine genetic lineage based on the wing shape of the bees. It is important to note, however, that actual genetic analysis is more accurate than wing shape analysis for colony data. “Deep Wings” provides a valuable tool for researchers studying honey bee genetics and lineage.

Complementary Sex Determiner Genes

Dr. Chao Chen from China presented an analysis of the complementary sex determiner (csd) genes in Apis Cerana. He noted that by monitoring the csd gene alleles he was able to minimize hive damage that would have been caused by diploid drone removal for the genetic analysis.

Dr. Chao Chen discovered that there is no relationship between genetic distance and geographic distance in Apis Cerana. Furthermore, he concluded that there are approximately 174 to 414 distinct csd alleles in Apis Cerana. Some other notes of interest to Honey Bee genetics researchers are that midgut extraction is more useful than hindgut extraction for sequencing. Also, alcohol is okay to use for short-term preservation of DNA samples.

Micro-CT Scans of Honey Bees

An interesting study using Micro-CT scans of the Honey Bee brain was presented by Dr. Shang Jui Fu from Taiwan. Micro-CT, or micro-computed tomography, is a non-invasive imaging technique that uses X-rays to create detailed 3D images of an object’s internal structure. It is commonly used in scientific research to study the internal structures of various organisms, including insects like honey bees.

Dr. Fu analyzed the brains of developing worker bees to see how Age Polyethism (the division of labor based on age) relates to changes in the brain structure of the bees. He was able to produce and map detailed images of the honey bee brain using Micro-CT and AI segmentation. He concluded that there were observable changes in the brain structure of the bees that correlated to the tasks they were performing. The study demonstrates the potential of Micro-CT in understanding the neurological development and behavior of insects, and its applications in various fields of research.

e-RNA Sampling from Honey Bees

Kaitlin Deutsch from the University of Florida presented a lecture on using eRNA to detect and characterize Honey Bee viruses from hive samples. She determined that it is possible to use various sampling techniques to detect Honey Bee viruses using eRNA analysis. She took samples from various locations including the top bars, bottom board, and hive tool. When analyzing these samples using next-generation sequencing she was able to detect a number of viruses including deformed-wing virus, israeli acute paralysis virus, black queen cell virus, and more.

Global Honey Bar

One of the highlights of Apimondia this year was the Global Honey Bar. Here you could sample honey from around the world and taste the unique charcteristics of each location. There were many types of honey I had not discovered yet. I especially enjoyed the various creamed honey’s from Scandanavia.

The Beauty of Copenhagen

Of course, the highlights of Apimondia 2025 wouldn’t be complete without me mentioning the host country, Denmark. During my stay the weather was beautiful. 

Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, is a vibrant and historic city with a lot to offer. The city is known for its beautiful architecture, rich history, and efficient public transportation system. With its numerous bike lanes and pedestrian-friendly streets, Copenhagen is a great city for exploring on foot or by bike.

The city is also known for its delicious food, including traditional Danish dishes and a thriving culinary scene. I enjoyed Biksmead for dinner, which is a traditional meal that was eaten by the Vikings. I also visited the city’s many parks, museums, and cultural attractions. Overall, Copenhagen is a great destination for anyone interested in history, culture, and good food.

The real heros of Apimondia 2025 were the many volunteer beekeepers from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden – who made visitors feel welcome at the conference. I attended a morning walk with one such volunteer beekeeper who led us through the city center of Copenhagen on a one hour tour. She took us to some of the most popular sites in Copenhagen including Nyhaven, the King’s Palace, the King’s Garden, and the Observatory. The tour was free and our host did and outstanding job.

The King’s Palace, a must-see attraction for visitors to Copenhagen. The palace is an architectural marvel, with its beautiful gardens and exquisite interior design. Visitors can take a guided tour of the palace, learning about its rich history and the royal family who once lived there.

The surrounding King’s Garden is a peaceful oasis in the heart of the city, perfect for a leisurely stroll or a relaxing picnic. Additionally, the nearby Observatory offers breathtaking views of the city and is a great spot for taking in the beauty of Copenhagen. A visit to the King’s Palace and its surrounding attractions is a must for anyone exploring this vibrant city.