Episode Details

In this episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast, we welcome an inspiring young voice in honey bee research—Atreya Manaswi, a high school senior and top 40 finalist in the 2025 Regeneron Science Talent Search. Atreya shares the fascinating journey that began with a fishing trip and led to a multi-year research project aimed at controlling one of the most damaging pests of honey bees: the small hive beetle.

Working under mentorship from the USDA and University of Florida, Atreya developed a new organic bait based on the volatile compounds found in beer. He didn't stop there—he designed a solar-powered, 3D-printed trap equipped with LED sensors and a Raspberry Pi to count beetles automatically and predict future infestations using artificial intelligence. His bait-and-trap system could offer a cleaner, more sustainable, and reusable alternative to traditional beetle traps.

Atreya also talks about his picture book The Bee Story, his outreach work with youth and beekeeping clubs, and his upcoming studies at Yale University. His dedication to pollinator health and science communication offers a hopeful glimpse into the future of bee research.

Whether you're a beekeeper dealing with small hive beetles or just curious about next-gen solutions, you won't want to miss this conversation.

Websites from the episode and others we recommend:

• Atreya on Regeneron-STS Website: https://www.societyforscience.org/regeneron-sts/2025-student-finalists/atreya-manaswi/
• Atreya's Website: https://www.atreyamanaswi.com
• Atreya's Book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Bee-Story-Atreya-Manaswi/dp/B0BMSZSR2H
• Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org
• The National Honey Board: https://honey.com

• Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com

Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

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Betterbee is the presenting sponsor of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Betterbee's mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

This episode is brought to you by Global Patties! Global offers a variety of standard and custom patties. Visit them today at http://globalpatties.com and let them know you appreciate them sponsoring this episode!

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