Bee Breeding Expertise - Honey Bee Insemination Service
HBIS, based in Washington State is an acknowledged, trusted source of information and training dedicated to honey bee stock improvement. Our mission is to provide the tools, training and the resources for instrumental insemination. Controlled mating is an essential element for selection and breeding purposes. Breeding programs based upon selecting and maintaining a large, genetically diverse breeding population are recommended.
Susan Cobey
Susan is an acknowledged international authority on instrumental insemination and honey bee breeding. She established and has maintained the New World Carniolan Closed Population Breeding Program for 40 generations — a recognized industry standard and model program for teaching sustainable bee breeding. Many current bee breeding programs across the U.S. utilize this stock as a foundation. Her specialized insemination classes attract researchers and beekeepers worldwide. Susan’s experience includes managing Honey Bee Research Laboratories at Ohio State University and University of California, Davis, and working with the Washington State University bee team to import germplasm to enhance the US honey bee gene pool. Her background includes co-founding and operating a commercial queen production business, Vaca Valley Apiaries, in California.
Tim Lawrence
Tim supports beekeeping, queen rearing, and stock evaluation. He is Professor Emeritus, having served as County Director for Washington State University Extension in Island County, WA. and adjunct with the WSU Department of Entomology Honey Bee Health Program. His Ph.D. work focused on environmental sciences impact on human dimensions; how human interaction influences the natural environment. His background includes 20 years’ experience as a commercial beekeeper. He enjoys fishing, wood working and his big dogs, a Great Pyrenees and bull mastiff.
