Dr. Larry Connor earned his Ph.D. at Michigan State University upon completion of his dissertation on strawberry pollination, and assumed the position of extension apicultural entomologist at The Ohio State University in Columbus, OH. There his program attracted the attention of investors interested in moving the Dadant Starline and Midnite Hybrid Queen Program to Florida to establish the world’s first mass production facility for the instrumental inseminated queen honeybees. Seeking educational support for his learning-disabled son, Connor moved to Connecticut where he established the Beekeeping Education Service, offering educational program for beekeepers. Later he purchased Wicwas Press from Dr. Roger and Mary Lou Morse, and has published over a dozen titles dealing with bees, beekeeping, queen rearing and pollination.
Dr. Connor is currently a regular contributor to Bee Culture and the American Bee Journal magazines, with emphasis on queen and drone biology and management and beekeeper interviews. Recently he began a series of articles on the biological basis of beekeeping practices. He has authored a number of extension publications; a series of slides sets, a video program (which he also appeared in and directed), two scientific proceedings (as editor), and scientific articles. He served as editor of the EAS Journal, Honey Producer Magazine and Bee Science. He has written a book called Increase Essentials. He followed up this volume with Queen Rearing Essentials and Bee Sex Essentials.
His artwork and photography have been awarded prizes in local art shows. Dr. Connor is also a member of the theatrical hive, having appeared in, produced and or directed over thirty local community theater productions.