Research | Outreach | Education
Our Team
Ethel M. Villalobos, Ph.D.
Ethel is the lead researcher for the group. She is currently working on examining Varroa resistance on the local bee population and finishing up a project with Africanized bees in Arizona. In addition, she assists the Hawaii Invasive Species Council in monitoring airports for Africanized bees.
Scott Nikaido
Scott is a long time contributor to the project. Scott used to be the Apiary Manager for the program. He continues to participate in ongoing research projects including biosecurity issues in Hawaii with an emphasis on Africanized bees and other pests and viral diseases.
Zhening Zhang, Ph.D.
Zhening received his Ph.D. from the University of Hawaii and his thesis involved the interaction of diet and bee health, and the seasonal prevalence of Deformed Wing Virus strains in Hawaiian honey bee colonies . He is currently assisting the lab with ongoing research projects relating to bee health and biosecurity.
Jessika Santamaria
Jessika obtained her M. Sc . from the University of Hawaii. She worked on DWV spillover in Hawaii.
Current International Research Collaborators
Stephen J. Martin, Ph.D.
Dr. S.J. Martin from Salford University in the UK has worked in Hawaii since the arrival of Varroa in 2007. He was the driving force behind the development of our laboratory. We continue to collaborate on the evolution of bee-mite-virus interactions across the Hawaiian archipelago.
Micaela Buteler, Ph.D.
Dr. Buteler is a researcher based in Patagonia, Argentina. We have collaborated on aspects of small hive beetle management. In particular, the impact of the use of microfiber sheets as a trapping system for A. tumida. We are also currently, working on the impact of Africanized bees in Latin America.
Emanuel Miranda MSc.
Emanuel is a long-time collaborator based in Costa Rica. He obtained his MSc in Tropical Apiculture at CINAT Costa Rica. Our current joint projects include management of the small hive beetle Aethina tumida in tropical regions and the impact of Africanized honeybees in Latin America.