BOAH: Honeybees

In the past, veterinarians were rarely involved in working with honeybees. When the FDA’s Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) final rule went into effect in 2017, the need for veterinarians in bee medicine increased. VFD drugs include all medically important antibiotics for use in feed for food producing animals, including honey bees. This class of drugs is required to be under the oversight of a veterinarian through a VFD order with a valid veterinary-client-patient relationship.

Regulation of Honeybees in Indiana

The entomology division of the Indiana DNR is the regulatory body for honey bees and apiaries in Indiana. Inspectors check hives for disease, take samples for disease testing, and write export health papers.

Indiana Apiary News: Click here
Website for Indiana Apiary Regulations: Click here

Honeybee Resources

Honeybees: A Guide for Veterinarians from the AVMA
- Honey bee basics and discussion of common diseases

Diagnostic Tools for Honey Bee Diseases from Michigan State University
- Many pictures of disease signs and the tests used to diagnose honey bee diseases

National Veterinary Accreditation Program Modules for Renewal:
- Module #30: The Role of Veterinarians in Honeybee Health

FDA: Using Medically Important Antimicrobials in Bees: Questions and Answers
- Discussion of VFDs in honey bee medicine and the antibiotics approved for use in bees