He is an experienced beekeeper, has studied bees in 5 continents and is author of 120 scientific articles on bees and social insects. Currently, there are three other PhD scientists, five PhD students, undergraduates and visitors. LASI is equipped with 4 apiaries, bee hives, observation hives, microscopes, video, insemination apparatus, tropical ant room, computers, and workshop. LASI has strong links to UK beekeepers and to labs in 15 countries. LASI's mission is to establish an international centre of research excellence, to train the next generation of bee scientists and to be a resource for UK beekeepers.
Hygienic bees uncap and eject dying brood from cells.
LASI is screening colonies of British black bees for hygienic behaviour. These will be used in queen rearing. LASI is also using mathematical techniques to model the spread of bee diseases. Results indicate that treated nucs abscond less frequently on being set up. It is small enough to use as a queen rearing nuc but large enough to overwinter.