The Rothenbuhler Bee Lab is a space dedicated to educating growers and educators on how to implement integrated pest management in fruit and vegetable crops commercially and locally, as well as providing timely information on pests as the seasons progress. Research is also conducted on honeybees, with projects such as understanding pesticide toxicity in pollinating insects and how this conflicts with the need to have pollinators in the field.
A major partnership of Waterman is with the Central Ohio Beekeepers Association (COBA). This 21-year partnership allows programs such as the 1st year Bee Yard to exist. Here, individuals learn hands-on beekeeping techniques and are connected to the beekeeping community throughout Ohio. Similarly, COBA also partners with Waterman to provide "Bee Schools" for individuals interested in furthering their knowledge and skills in beekeeping.
The department of Entomology also utilizes the Rothenbuhler Bee Lab to make "Buckeye Honey," which is produced, harvested, and bottled by students. This provides the opportunity for students to not only learn about beekeeping but also analyze pollen and plants that produce nectar for the honeybees. This honey is then sold in limited amounts to the public, which can be found here: https://entomology.osu.edu/shop
At Waterman, the department of Entomology also houses the BUGmobile, a mobile vehicle that allows the department to educate the public on types of insects, feature different bugs, and provide educational programs across the state.
For more information about the bee lab, visit https://entomology.osu.edu/