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CORVALLIS, Ore. - A taste of local honey and a look into a working beehive await attendees on Monday, April 11, at this month's Corvallis Science Pub.

Ramesh Sagili, assistant professor in the Oregon State University Extension Service and Department of Horticulture, will discuss the status of honey bee health and numerous challenges facing honey bees and the beekeeping industry.

Honey bee pollination is estimated to be worth more than $20 billion in the United States, but in the last 60 years, the number of U.S. honey bee colonies has declined by more than half, from nearly 5 million to 2.4 million. Further compounding these losses, U.S. beekeepers have reported annual declines of about 30 to 35 percent over the last five years - losses that are considered unsustainable.

At the same time, the demand for pollination of fiber, fruit, vegetable and nut crops has increased.

Sagili will describe research efforts at OSU and at other bee research laboratories across the nation, and he will offer simple suggestions to home gardeners who want to foster honey bees.

Corvallis Science Pub begins at 6 p.m. at the Old World Deli, 341 2nd St. in downtown Corvallis. It is free and open to the public. Sponsors include Terra magazine at OSU, the Downtown Corvallis Association and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.

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