DOI: 10.5061/dryad.0k6djhbbq
title: Survey questionnaire and data of health management strategies of resilient honey bee stock throughout Southern California

description: The dataset includes two primary components: (1) a survey questionnaire,
 which outlines the full set of questions designed to investigate
 beekeeping practices, colony health management strategies, and
 environmental conditions; and (2) the corresponding survey data,
 containing anonymized responses from 121 participants, primarily hobbyist
 beekeepers across Southern California. The data capture key variables such
 as colony origin, disease management practices, spending patterns, and
 perceptions of colony health. The dataset is structured to facilitate
 efficient analysis, with coded responses and clearly defined variables. It
 holds significant reuse potential for researchers examining honey bee
 health, sustainable apiculture practices, and the economic implications of
 different management strategies. Additionally, these data may benefit
 stakeholders in environmental policy, sustainable agriculture, and
 beekeeping education. Ethical considerations were carefully addressed,
 with data anonymization ensuring participant confidentiality. All
 participants provided informed consent, and the study was conducted in
 compliance with University of California Institutional Review Board (IRB)
 protocols (HS 22-135).
description: The data were collected via a Qualtrics-based online survey
 distributed to participants during the 2023 University of California
 Riverside Center for Integrative Bee Research (CIBER) Honey Bee Health
 Conference. The survey featured multiple-choice, ranking, and open-ended
 questions to explore beekeeping practices and colony management
 strategies. Data were systematically coded and reviewed for accuracy
 before analysis. This dataset provides a valuable
 resource for future research exploring the resilience of stress-tolerant
 honey bee genotypes and the socioeconomic factors influencing beekeeping
 practices. Researchers are encouraged to reference the associated
 manuscript for detailed insights into the study's findings and
 analysis.
description: # Survey questionnaire and data of health management strategies of
 resilient honey bee stock throughout Southern California Dataset DOI:
 [10.5061/dryad.0k6djhbbq](10.5061/dryad.0k6djhbbq) ## Description of the
 data and file structure This dataset was collected as part of a study
 investigating the health management strategies of stress-tolerant honey
 bee stocks in Southern California. The research aimed to compare the
 beekeeping practices, disease management strategies, and economic
 implications associated with three honey bee colony types: commercial,
 Californian, and Mixed stock (both commercial and Californian). Data were
 collected through a Qualtrics-based survey administered to beekeepers
 during the 2023 University of California Riverside Center for Integrative
 Bee Research (CIBER) Honey Bee Health Conference. The survey included 35
 questions covering key topics such as colony origins, disease management
 practices, pest deterrents, and annual costs associated with maintaining
 bee colonies. The dataset comprises two primary components: * Survey
 Questionnaire – A comprehensive list of the survey questions designed to
 gather detailed information on beekeeping practices and colony health
 management. * Survey Data – An anonymized dataset containing responses
 from 121 participants, representing a diverse group of hobbyist, sideline,
 and commercial beekeepers. This dataset offers valuable insights into
 sustainable beekeeping practices, economic considerations, and the
 potential advantages of stress-tolerant honey bee stocks. It holds
 significant value for researchers studying apiculture, pollinator
 health, environmental stress tolerance, and agricultural economics. ###
 Files and variables #### Survey_Questionnaire.pdf **Description:** The
 complete set of questions used in the study. This document outlines the
 structure, question logic, and wording used in the survey. ####
 Survey_Data_DryadCleaned.csv **Description:** The anonymized dataset
 containing participant responses. Variables are coded and described in the
 accompanying CVS file.  **Variables Description:** Answer choices can be
 found in the Survey_Questionnaire.pdf * Question 1: How long have you been
 beekeeping? * Question 2: How would you characterize your beekeeping
 activities? * Question 3: How many hours a week are you dedicating to your
 beekeeping activities? * Question 4: How many colonies do you have? -
 Selected Choice * Question 4_8_TEXT: How many colonies do you have? -
 Other: - Text * Question 5: Where are your colonies located? * Question
 5.1: List specific location (City, State, Country) * Question 6: What is
 the origin of the colonies you keep? - Selected Choice * Question 6
 \_4_TEXT: What is the origin of the colonies you keep? - Other - Text *
 Question 6.1: Do you notice a difference in disease/ parasite load between
 your colonies? * Question 6.2: Do you notice a difference in heat
 tolerance between your colonies? * Question 6.3: Do you notice a
 difference in honey production between your colonies? * Question 7: Do you
 have swarms or removals? - Selected Choice * Question 7 \_3_TEXT: Do you
 have swarms or removals? - If Yes, where were they originally located?(
 ex. Irrigation box, tree, etc.) - Text * Question 7.1: If you have swarms
 or removals, which behaviors do they exhibit? (list all) - Selected Choice
 * Question 7.1_11_TEXT: If you have swarms or removals, which behaviors do
 they exhibit? (list all) - Other - Text * Question 7.2: How do you manage
 queen loss? - Selected Choice * Question 7.2_8_TEXT: How do you manage
 queen loss? - Other - Text * Question 7.3: Do you requeen your colonies
 with purchased stock? - Selected Choice * Question 7.3_3_TEXT: Do you
 requeen your colonies with purchased stock? - Other - Text * Question
 7.3.1:How often do you requeen your colonies? - Selected Choice * Question
 7.3.1_3_TEXT: How often do you requeen your colonies? - Other - Text *
 Question 9: What diseases do you think you currently have in your colony?
 (Select all you have) - Selected Choice * Question 9_9_TEXT: What diseases
 do you think you currently have in your colony? (Select all you have) -
 Others - Text * Question 10: How often do you evaluate your colony for
 diseases and parasites? * Question 11: Do you use any diagnostic tools to
 check for Varroa mites? - Selected Choice * Question 11_11_TEXT: Do you
 use any diagnostic tools to check for Varroa mites? - Other - Text *
 Question 11.1: Do you treat against Varroa mites? * Question 11.2: How
 often do you treat your colonies against Varroa mites? - Selected Choice *
 Question 11.2_15_TEXT: How often do you treat your colonies against Varroa
 mites? - Other - Text * Question 11.2.1: Which treatments do you use
 against Varroa mites? (list all) - Selected Choice * Question
 11.2.1_18_TEXT: Which treatments do you use against Varroa mites? (list
 all) - Other - Text * Question 11.2.1.2: If you listed more than ONE
 treatment against Varroa mites, how do you apply them? - Selected Choice *
 Question 11.2.1.2_0_TEXT: If you listed more than ONE treatment against
 Varroa mites, how do you apply them? - Api Life Var Interchangeably
 (please explain) - Text * Question 11.2.1.2_1_TEXT: If you listed more
 than ONE treatment against Varroa mites, how do you apply them? - Rotate
 based on season (please explain) - Text * Question 11.2.1.2_12_TEXT: If
 you listed more than ONE treatment against Varroa mites, how do you apply
 them? - Other (please explain) - Text * Question 12: Do you use any
 diagnostic tools to check for Nosema? - Selected Choice * Question
 12_12_TEXT: Do you use any diagnostic tools to check for Nosema? - Others
 - Text * Question 12.1: Do you treat your colonies against Nosema? (Fungal
 diseases that causes diarrhea in honeybees) * Question 12.1.2: How often
 do you treat Nosema? - Selected Choice * Question 12.1.2_22_TEXT:  How
 often do you treat Nosema? - Other - Text * Question 12.1.3: Which
 treatments do you use for Nosema? (list all) - Selected Choice * Question
 12.1.3_24_TEXT: Which treatments do you use for Nosema? (list all) -
 Extracts and supplements - Text * Question 12.1.3_25_TEXT: Which
 treatments do you use for Nosema? (list all) - Microbial supplements -
 Text * Question 12.1.3_26_TEXT: Which treatments do you use for Nosema?
 (list all) - Others - Text * Question 12.1.4: If you use multiple
 treatments how do you apply them? (pick one) - Selected Choice * Question
 12.1.4_0_TEXT: If you use multiple treatments how do you apply them? (pick
 one) - Interchangeably (please explain) - Text * Question
 12.1.4_1_TEXT: If you use multiple treatments how do you apply them? (pick
 one) - Rotate based on season (please explain) - Text * Question
 12.1.4_20_TEXT: If you use multiple treatments how do you apply them?
 (pick one) - Other (please explain) - Text * Question 13: On average how
 much would you say you spend yearly on disease and pest treatments? (ex.
 Apivar, fumagilin, formic acid) * Question 14: On average how much would
 you say you spend yearly on disease diagnostic tools and materials? (e.
 mite sugar shakes, alcohol wash, rapid virus tests, microscopes) *
 Question 15: On average how much would you say you spend yearly on pest
 deterrents?(ex. Ant baits and poisons, hive beetle traps)? * Question
 16: On average how much would you say you spend yearly on disease
 preventatives? (ex. Probiotics, supplements, vitamins) * Question 16.1: Do
 you feel that your treatment efforts are effective? - Selected Choice *
 Question 16.1_20_TEXT: Do you feel that your treatment efforts are
 effective? - Somewhat (explain) - Text * Code/software - The dataset is
 provided in `.csv` format, compatible with commonly used data analysis
 tools such as: * **Microsoft Excel** * **Google Sheets** * **SPSS** *
 **R** for advanced statistical analysis - The survey questionnaire is
 provided in `.pdf` format for reference. ## Access information The dataset
 is openly accessible via Dryad under the **CC0 Public Domain
 Dedication** license. Users may freely access, share, modify, and utilize
 the data without restrictions. ### Recommended Citation: Webb, J.,
 Chong-Echavez, G., Maciejovsky, B., & Baer, B. (2025). Survey
 questionnaire and data of health management strategies of stress tolerant
 honey bee genotypes throughout southern California. Dryad Digital
 Repository.
 [doi.org/10.5061/dryad.0k6djhbbq](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.0k6djhbbq)
 ### Contact Information: If you have any questions about the dataset or
 require additional support, please contact the corresponding authors:
 **Dr. Boris Baer** **Email:** [borisbar@ucr.edu](mailto:borisbar@ucr.edu)
 **Genesis Chong** **Email:** [gchon004@ucr.edu](mailto:borisbar@ucr.edu)
 ## Human subjects data This dataset contains anonymized survey data
 collected from beekeepers who participated in a study on honey bee health
 and management practices. All participants provided explicit informed
 consent for their anonymized responses to be shared in the public domain.
 Identifiable information such as names, contact details, and precise
 geographic locations has been removed to ensure participant
 confidentiality. The dataset complies with the University of California
 Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocols (HS 22-135) and Dryad's
 human subjects data standards.