Registration Deadline: April 1, 2026
The Maryland Sentinel Program
Bridging the gap between the art and science of beekeeping
The Maryland Sentinel Program is a University of Maryland Bee Lab initiative designed to help beekeepers monitor, anticipate, and manage colony health risks.
Participants follow a standardized sampling protocol over six months, generating local, real-time data on Varroa, Vairimorpha (formerly Nosema), and honey bee viruses that are shared back with participants and the local community so they can make data-informed management decisions.
The program combines beekeeper sampling, lab diagnostics, and extension support, creating a data-driven tool that helps inform local beekeepers. This contributes to long-term data sets that can help researchers better understand underlying causes of poor colony health in bees, and what beekeepers can do to maximize their impact on bee health.
Participants follow a standardized sampling protocol over six months, generating local, real-time data on Varroa, Vairimorpha (formerly Nosema), and honey bee viruses that are shared back with participants and the local community so they can make data-informed management decisions.
The program combines beekeeper sampling, lab diagnostics, and extension support, creating a data-driven tool that helps inform local beekeepers. This contributes to long-term data sets that can help researchers better understand underlying causes of poor colony health in bees, and what beekeepers can do to maximize their impact on bee health.
What's included in your Sentinel Kit
|
The Base Kit:
4 Colonies: $350 8 Colonies: $675
Viral Analysis: 2x Molecular Kit (May & October): $322 6x Molecular Kit (May thru October): $945
Acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV) Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV) Kashmir bee virus (KBV) Deformed wing virus-A (DWV-A) Deformed wing virus-B (DWV-B) Slow bee paralysis virus (SBPV) Chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV) Lake Sinai virus-2 (LSV-2) Vairimorpha ceranae (V. ceranae) Vairimorpha apis (V. apis) Apis mellifera Solinvivirus-1 (AmSV1) Bee Amoeba (Malpighamoeba mellificae) Black queen cell virus (BQCV) Sacbrood virus (SBV) Together, these data allow us to move beyond mite counts alone and understand why colonies succeed or fail under similar Varroa pressures. |
|
Participant requirements
- Maintain an apiary of 4 or 8 colonies (minimum), based on kit size
- Follow sampling protocol to perform monthly inspections and sampling of the same colonies
- Record inspection observations and colony health metrics on provided data sheets
- Ship/deliver samples and inspection data sheet to UMD Bee Lab post-sampling each month (shipping costs not included)
- Submit payment via check made out to "University of Maryland" for kit prior to April 1, 2026
- Clubs: Incorporate program tools and reports into your educational platform (we can help with this!)
What to expect after Registering
May: Receive your sample kit and invitation to the kick-off webinar.
May through October: Sample your colonies, deliver or ship samples and inspection datasheets to the UMD Bee Lab in College Park, MD, and receive monthly diagnostic reports via email. Participate in monthly webinars. Clubs: consider reaching out to request an in-person visit from our team for a sampling event.
April of the following year: Take a short survey indicating which colonies survived the winter.
May through October: Sample your colonies, deliver or ship samples and inspection datasheets to the UMD Bee Lab in College Park, MD, and receive monthly diagnostic reports via email. Participate in monthly webinars. Clubs: consider reaching out to request an in-person visit from our team for a sampling event.
April of the following year: Take a short survey indicating which colonies survived the winter.