Eric Mussen in 1976
Eric Mussen in 2019
A celebration of life for celebrated Cooperative Extension apiculturist emeritus Eric Mussen, an internationally identified 38-year California Cooperative Extension apiculturist and a useful member of the UC Davis Division of Entomology and Nematology school, will happen from 4 to six p.m., Sunday, Aug. 28 within the Putah Creek Lodge, UC Davis campus.
Dr. Mussen, referred to as “Eric,” died Friday, June 3 of liver most cancers at age 78.
Household, mates, colleagues and associates are RSVP’ing at https://
Eric joined the UC Davis entomology division on July 1, 1976. Though he retired in 2014, he continued his many actions till just a few weeks previous to his dying. For almost 4 a long time, he drew reward as “the honey bee guru,” “the heart beat of the bee trade” and as “the go-to individual” when customers, scientists, researchers, college students, and the information media sought solutions about honey bees.
Born Might 12, 1944 in Schenectady, N.Y., Eric obtained his bachelor’s diploma in entomology from the College of Massachusetts (after declining a suggestion to play soccer at Harvard) after which obtained his grasp’s diploma and doctorate in entomology from the College of Minnesota in 1969 and 1975, respectively. Mussen credit his grandfather with sparking his curiosity in bugs. His grandfather, a self-taught naturalist, would take his younger grandson to the woods to level out wildlife.
Bees turned his life, and Eric totally loved his profession. For almost 4 a long time, he wrote and printed the bimonthly e-newsletter, from the UC Apiaries, and quick, topical articles referred to as Bee Briefs, offering beekeepers with sensible info on all elements of beekeeping. His analysis targeted on managing honey bees and wild bees for max subject manufacturing, whereas minimizing pesticide injury to pollinator populations.
Gene Brandi, the 2018 president of the American Beekeeping Federation, remembers presenting him with the prestigious Founders’ Award from the Basis for the Preservation of Honey Bees on the seventy fifth annual American Beekeeping Federation convention in Reno in 2018. “Eric obtained a well-deserved rousing standing ovation!” mentioned Brandi, extolling him as “an impressive liaison between the tutorial world of apiculture and real-world beekeeping and crop pollination.”
“Eric was a legend within the beekeeping world who was at all times prepared to go the additional mile to assist beekeepers and bee trade organizations take care of points pertaining to honey bee well being, rules, and numerous threats to the trade,” Brandi mentioned. “He additionally helped agricultural organizations, authorities officers, and most of the people higher perceive the worth of honey bees to the world. Eric was an amazing advocate for the honey bee and beekeepers. He was really a nationwide treasure.
“Eric served on the California State Beekeepers Affiliation Board of Administrators for 39 years as apiculturist, however he additionally was the parliamentarian for a few years, and as a result of his lengthy tenure, was fairly the historian as nicely,” Brandi added. “He co-founded the Western Apicultural Society and served as president for six phrases. He based the American Affiliation of Skilled Apiculturists and was both president of secretary/treasurer for the primary ten years.”
“Along with his work with the aforementioned organizations, Eric was the UC Honey Bee Liaison to California Division of Meals and Agriculture, California Division of Pesticide Regulation, EPA, California Farm Bureau Federation, Almond Board of California, Nationwide Honey Board, California Bee Breeders’ Affiliation, and others. Eric was at all times prepared to assist the beekeeping trade by testifying at hearings or writing letters to assist the bee trade on numerous points. He obtained many awards from quite a few organizations, however the ones with which I’m most acquainted are the California State Beekeepers Affiliation Distinguished Service Award in addition to the Beekeeper of the Yr Award. The Basis for the Preservation of Honey Bees honored Eric in 2018 with the coveted Founders; Award.
Brandi associated that “Eric additionally carried out quite a few analysis tasks over time together with analysis on sacbrood virus, results of medfly sprays on honey bees, results of antibiotics of honey bee brood, potential of Neem as a varroa management, results of chosen fungicides on honey bee brood, results of antibiotics, and results of high-fructose corn syrup on packaged bee growth. Eric’s “From the UC Apiaries” e-newsletter was a famend publication which contained useful details about present occasions within the beekeeping world which beekeepers wanted to know. There’s a lot extra that may be mentioned about Eric and his many contributions to the beekeeping world.”
When Mussen was nominated (and obtained) the 2013-14 Distinguished Service Award for Excellent Extension from the UC Agriculture and Pure Sources (UC ANR), MacArthur Genus Awardee Professor Marla Spivak, Distinguished McKnight College Professor Apiculture/Social Bugs on the College of Minnesota, wrote: “With out query, Eric is the No. 1 Extension individual coping with honey bees within the nation, if not the world. Analysis colleagues, beekeepers and the general public are all very fortunate to have him.”
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