Located at the UMD Beltsville Environmental Research Center. The hive is oriented toward the SE adjacent to a wooded area, facing an agricultural field (corn and soybeans). Woodland is mixed deciduous forest and wetlands. The hive is one of 40 used in a study of sublethal effects of pesticides on colony health.
Scale is a Fairbanks 17 by 22 in. platform, 1000 lb capacity, 0.25 lb increments, leveled on a 2 by 8 ft. base, exposed to weather but with a cover over the beam. Equipped with NASA electronic logger, Version 1, recording at 10 min. intervals.
Colony and hive consist of a three pound package installed in early May 2009 in a single deep hive body. A second hive body was added on May 28.
Forage is primarily tulip poplar, black locust, clover, aster, goldenrod and basswood.