A growing honeybee industry is buzzing on the horizon. Guam state entomologist Christopher Rosario’s efforts in protecting these little things that run the world recently featured in a global entomology article.  Here's what all the buzz is about. 

Christopher Rosario is Guam’s first native state entomologist.  He’s proud to represent the island’s growing honeybee industry on a global platform.  "It’s quite an honor, actually", he said humbly. "I’ve looked at the past articles in Entomology Today and I guess I’m the first Guam person to be on Entomology Today."

His efforts combatting invasive species and protecting honeybees was recently featured in entomology today, which is published by the Entomological Society of America.  It’s the largest organization in the world sharing insect science. 

"Now the entomology community is looking at Guam as a place to start keeping bees," Rosario said. But it wasn’t easy getting there, from changing career paths, as he said, "I went from wanting to be a veterinary doctor to now becoming an entomologist," to getting his master’s degree at the University of Guam.

"You know, from collecting date, to be able to analyze data, to knowing what to do when a pest is first discovered," he said. "I can definitely say it was a very tough journey."

His perseverance led him to use the National Honey Bee Survey as his research project. From there along with his professor and peers, Rosario eradicated a highly invasive parasite, helped to form the Beekeepers Association and built our apiculture industry. 

"People wanted to get rid of bees in their house, but people also wanted to keep bees. So it was a harmony. I was able to take bees where they were unwanted and put them in places where they were wanted," he explained.

And many of them ended up becoming beekeepers - about 115 to date. 

Now, Rosario envisions a much bigger future for these little things that run the world. "In terms of the long term goals associated with beekeeping on Guam, I’m seeing more than just the sale of honey. I’m looking at Guam being able to export queen bees," he said.

He adds our tropical island is the perfect environment to produce honeybees, where their reproduction won’t be bound by changing seasons.