Definitions

Africanized Honey Bee. Any Honey Bee identified by a Department approved lab to be classified as Apis mellifera scutellata. American Foulbrood. The contagious bacterial disease of Brood which is caused by Paenibacillus larvae. Apiary. Any place, or location where one, or more Colonies, Hives, or associated equipment is kept. Beekeeper. Any person who owns, keeps, manages, or oversees Colonies, Hives, or Apiaries. Brood. Any Honey Bee in the egg, larval or pupal life stage of development prior to emergence as adults from their cells. Certificate. A document of inspection issued by the inspector of apiaries or other officer charged with similar duties in that state in which the Honey Bee, Hive, Colony, Package, Comb or equipment originates, indicating the presence, or absence of Honey Bee Disease, Parasite, or Pest in a Colony, Hive, or Apiary equipment. Chalkbrood. The contagious fungal disease of Brood which is caused by Ascophaera apis. Chief Apiary Inspector. The person designated by the Commissioner to perform the duties of the Department relative to the inspection and control of Honey Bees and to enforce, along with Inspectors, M.G.L. c. 128, §§ 32 through 38. Colony. The Hive, Honey Bees, Brood, Comb, Honey, nectar, pollen, bee bread, and propolis. Comb. Any structure composed of wax cells which may contain Brood, Honey, nectar, pollen, bee bread, and propolis. Commissioner. The Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. Department. The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. Disease. Any infectious, contagious, harmful disease, or disease agents including, but not limited to, American Foulbrood, European Foulbrood, Chalkbrood, Nosema, viruses, or any other abnormal condition of Brood, or adult life stages of Honey Bees. European Foulbrood. The contagious bacterial disease of Brood which is caused by Melissococcus pluton. Hive. Any box, or other receptacle, or container, natural, or artificial, or any part thereof, which shall be used, or employed as a domicile for Honey Bees. Honey. The natural food product made by Honey Bees from nectar collected from a flower's nectaries, or a plant's extrafloral nectaries. Honey Bee. Any life stage of the insect belonging to Apis mellifera. (Mass. Register #1469 5/13/22) Inspector. Any person designated by the Chief Apiary Inspector to inspect Honey Bee Hives, Colonies, Apiaries, or any other used equipment, or materials in order to determine conditions of Honey Bee Disease, Parasite, or Pest infestation, and to enforce M.G.L. c. 128, §§ 32 through 38. Nosema. The contagious fungal disease of Honey Bees which is caused by Nosema apis, or Nosema ceranae. Order. An enforceable document issued by the Department with instructions on certain corrective actions, or to refrain from an activity. Package. Any Combless and Broodless shipping container of Honey Bees with or without a queen. Parasite. Any parasitic mites, or insects including, but not limited to, the Tracheal Mite (Acarapis woodi), Varroa Mites (Varroa destructor, Varroa jacobsoni), Tropilaelaps Mites (Tropilaelaps clareae, Tropilaelaps mercedesae), or any other external, or internal parasite of Honey Bees. Person. An individual, association, partnership, corporation, company, business organization, trust, estate, the Commonwealth, or its political subdivisions, administrative agencies, public, or quasi-public corporation of body, or any other legal entity, or its legal representative, agent, or assign, or a group of persons. Pest. Any pest mites, or insects including, but not limited to, the Small Hive Beetle (Aethina tumida), wax moths (Galleria mellonella, Achroia grisella), Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa mandarinia), or any other pest of Honey Bees. Robbing. The removal of Honey, nectar, pollen, or bee bread from a Colony, or Hive by Honey Bees not belonging to that Colony, or Hive. Super. Any box, or other receptacle, or container, natural, or artificial, or any part thereof, which shall be used, or employed for honey production. Supplier. Any Person selling a Honey Bee Package, Colony, Hive, or used beekeeping equipment, or Comb in the Commonwealth.