Tennessee is one of 13 states participating in a national survey sponsored by the U.S. Departure of Agriculture. The survey will help scientists determine the prevalence of parasites and disease-causing microorganisms that may be part of the reason for the decline of the honey bee across the United States.

Tennessee apiarist Mike Studer said the pilot study is the first step in the federal government having the information it needs to close U.S. borders to import of honey bees from countries that have pests and diseases currently not in this country.

The majority of the pests and diseases American beekeepers are currently doing battle with were introduced into this country from other places around the world. The U.S. government is hoping to prevent the importation of additional problems.

“There’s a lot of worse stuff out there that we don’t want,” Studer said.

Studer randomly picked beekeepers from across the Volunteer State to take part in the study. The criteria for selection was that the beekeeper must have a minimum of 20 hives and counties included in the study could not be next to each other.

Of the three beekeepers from East Tennessee that picked for the study, Studer will take sampes from eight colonies. He is collecting live bees. Other bees preserved in alcohol. Scentists will be looking for mites and other internal parasites as well as genetic material.

Studer said that the 25 Tennessee beekeepers in the study probably will not hear back for up to a year.

Other states participating in the study include Alabama, California, Georgia, Indiana, Florida, Hawaii, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas and Washington.

For more information about the groundbreaking study, visit U.S. Department of Agriculture