From MAILER-DAEMON Sat Feb 28 08:10:36 2009 Return-Path: <> X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.1.8 (2007-02-13) on industrial X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-83.5 required=2.4 tests=ADVANCE_FEE_1,ADVANCE_FEE_2, AWL,MAILTO_TO_SPAM_ADDR,SPF_HELO_PASS,USER_IN_WHITELIST autolearn=disabled version=3.1.8 X-Original-To: adamf@IBIBLIO.ORG Delivered-To: adamf@IBIBLIO.ORG Received: from listserv.albany.edu (unknown [169.226.1.24]) by metalab.unc.edu (Postfix) with ESMTP id 2FCB74854D for ; Sat, 28 Feb 2009 08:10:36 -0500 (EST) Received: from listserv.albany.edu (listserv.albany.edu [169.226.1.24]) by listserv.albany.edu (8.13.8/8.13.8) with ESMTP id n1SDAZcm011456 for ; Sat, 28 Feb 2009 08:10:35 -0500 (EST) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 08:10:35 -0500 From: "University at Albany LISTSERV Server (14.5)" Subject: File: "BEE-L LOG0210D" To: adamf@IBIBLIO.ORG Message-ID: Status: RO Content-Length: 41990 Lines: 932 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 21 Oct 2002 22:25:17 -0400 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: BEE-L@listserv.albany.edu From: Ted Hancock Subject: UPC I am looking for some information on universal product codes (UPC) This has nothing to do with beekeeping but lots to do with marketing honey so I hope some of you will respond. First I'd like to tell you how much I don't know about the subject. The system of using bar codes was perfected by the food handling industry and was first used on June 26, 1974 ( Marsh Supermarket in Troy, Ohio scanned a 10-pack of Wrigley's Juicy Fruit). In Canada the system of bar codes is administered by the Electronic Commerce Council of Canada (ECCC) which is made up of big wigs in the grocery/manufacturing industry. Before 1997 bar codes were assigned to those who requested them, free of charge. As of 1997 the ECCC began to charge producers and manufacturers for the codes. The initial fee is $245.00 (plus tax) with an annual maintenance fee of $550.00 if your company's gross sales are less than five million and $795.00 (plus tax) if your company's gross sales are more than five million. The ECCC calls itself a not-for-profit organization but "... estimates that by eliminating typing errors and making the checkout process more efficient, UPCs save the food industry alone $17 billion a year." (Canadian Press Newswire, August 19 2002) In a conversation with the ECCC I was told that its counter part in the U.S.A. ( the Uniform Code Council or UCC) will also begin to charge for UPCs. The ECCC also plans to begin "attacking" companies in Canada that were grandfathered in before 1997 and forcing them to start paying the yearly fee. My question to beekeepers in various countries is, do you have to pay this fee? By the way the UCC estimates it will run out of 12 diget codes as of 2005. Then they and the ECCC would like everyone to reprint their labels with a 13 diget code so that the North American system becomes compatible with the European system. Also being developed is a radio transmission chip that can be put on a label so that it will tell the customer all sorts of things about your product( eg. date it was packed, phase of the moon when it was packed, how to use it, colour of your bees, etc.). My concern is that these fees and label changes will become so exorbitant that the average beekeeper will no longer be able to afford them. This will restrict access to a large part of our market. Many beekeepers in this country have so far managed to ignore these councils and simply get a printing company to create a UPC for them. These work well in a local geographical area but you always run the risk that they may conflict with someones 'official' code. And I don't like the sound of the ECCC attacking non-compliance. Any corrections, enlightenment or suggestions would be much appreciated. Ted ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 22 Oct 2002 09:53:00 -0500 Reply-To: mws@frontiernet.net Sender: BEE-L@listserv.albany.edu From: Mike Stoops Subject: Re: Heat stroke MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; x-mac-type="54455854"; x-mac-creator="4D4F5353" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit In reference to Billy Smart's incident with heat stroke, be aware that once incurred, the susceptibility to a reoccurrence of heat stroke is greatly enhanced. I worked in a national guard unit based in Houston, Texas and participated in a number of active duty tours (two weeks) during the summer in Texas and Louisiana. Initially the unit I was with incurred numerous incidents of heat stroke with unit members who were not acclimated to the hot conditions. We were continuously warned that if we had previously had an incident of heat stroke we were a lot more likely to have a reoccurrence unless we closely monitored ourselves. It was only after the second summer of annual training that the unit really began to push hydration before the two week summer camp. That meant drinking copious amounts of water starting several weeks before we were due to go to camp and to continue the water intake during the two weeks of camp. After that emphasis, incidents of heat stroke and other heat related incidents dropped to almost nothing. Conclusion: From my observation, heat related injuries dropped significantly only after individuals were made aware of the dangers and practiced preventive measures, i.e. drink a lot of water and continuously monitor your body's condition for abnormal heat stress. Mike Stoops 1/2 way between Montgomery & Mobile, Alabama ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 22 Oct 2002 23:52:55 +0200 Reply-To: Jorn_Johanesson@apimo.dk Sender: BEE-L@listserv.albany.edu From: Jorn Johanesson Subject: Re: Honey house windows In-Reply-To: <200210212355.g9LNgxQb021227@listserv.albany.edu> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > Hello all, > > We are in the process of framing a honey house in in a larger building. normaly a top-hinged window is opened so that the window go out from bottom. Use a buttom-hinged window that open out from the top simpel turn the hinged window up down. this will allow the bees to escape, and keep most bees out. remeber to put light along the wall on the ceiling and not in the mittel of the room to avoid bees dropping down from the light source into your clothes. Best regards Jorn Johanesson Multilingual software for beekeeping since 1997 hive note- queen breeding and handheld computer beekeeping software Updated 04-08-2002 Added grouping and colouring of hives + a lot more. all you need and a little more. being a little beekeeper or a big queen breeder free of charge up to 10 hives. Language added : Dutch, Pourtuguise, French, Russian home page = HTTP://apimo.dk e-mail Jorn_Johanesson@apimo.dk ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 22 Oct 2002 22:06:14 EDT Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: BEE-L@listserv.albany.edu From: Michael Housel Subject: Re: Honey house windows MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit The windows in a honey house work best if the frames that have brood are placed on book frame that holds a few frames at the top of the window. This also will gather the bees to be removed at the end of the day or days of extracting. It is a nice new hive that has settled the problem of the flying bees in the house. Michael Housel Orlandobee ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2002 03:08:54 -0400 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: BEE-L@listserv.albany.edu From: Mark Walker Subject: Abnormal Autumn Conditions Effect on Winter Prep Hello All... On the West Coast of Canada (Vancouver), we have been experiencing some rather abnormal dryness and warm conditions that have me wondering if this is going to cause problems with our colonies. Being that Vancouver is situated in a temperate rain forest climate, we ususally start to get rain for extended periods in October, accompanied by much cooler temps (not below freezing). These rains and cool temps continue throughout the Winter, and does it ever rain!! Seattle is a sunny paradise compared to Vancouver at this time of year!!! Anyhow, this year Vancouver has received little to no rain for 4 months and there has been nothing more that a drizzle for several days in October. Although, the evenings are cool and misty, the outdoor temps - both day & night - have been much warmer than ususal. In fact, I still see quite a few drones hanging about the hive entrances, when they should have been long evicted. Also, given the warm temps the bees are extrordinarily busy bringing large quantities of pollen (bright yellow-dandelion, I surmise). I've already done the winter preparations and am still feeding with 2:1 Sugar syrup and the bees are lapping it up as fast as it can be supplied. All the hives are winter wrapped in 1/2 polystyrene and Roofing tar paper and entrances reduced to 2" with 1/4" hardware mesh over the entrance. The upper entrance on the inner-board is also open. My concerns are as follows; 1/... Given the warm temps and dry weather, will the winter wrap give the hive a false sense weather and they don't properly go into winter prep mode. Will they go into another brood cycle that could overcrowd the hive with young bees for the winter and possibly strain winter stores? 2/... I've noticed that the Varoa drop is starting to increase again and that there are still capped Drone brood in most of the hives. Will these abnormally warm temps create a mite "bloom" late in the season, after the Aug/Sept treatements? 3/... Should I have waited till the temperature actually dropped and rains set-in before wrapping the hive against the harsh realities of the winter rains and cold? 4/... Do bees consume more food when they are cold or warm over the winter period? Given these weather conditions, and the extremely active hive behaviour I am concerned that the colonies might be fooled into thinking that winter is much furhter away than it is... I'm sure that what I've written above is naive, however, any clarity or explanations about the concerns I have expressed above would be much appreciated. Cheers, Mark Walker Vancouver, Canada ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2002 07:03:50 -0400 Reply-To: michael palmer Sender: BEE-L@listserv.albany.edu From: michael palmer Subject: Re: Abnormal Autumn Conditions Effect on Winter Prep MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > Hello All... > My concerns are as follows; > 1/... Will they go into another brood cycle that could overcrowd the hive > with young bees for the winter and possibly strain winter stores? Overcrowd the hive with young bees? I hardly think so. The more young bees the better. > > 2/... Will these > abnormally warm temps create a mite "bloom" late in the season, after the > Aug/Sept treatements? Possibly so. I've seen this happen before. You may have to treat in the spring. > > 3/... Should I have waited till the temperature actually dropped and rains > set-in before wrapping the hive against the harsh realities of the winter > rains and cold? How would you know? Such weather is nothing you can predict. > > 4/... Do bees consume more food when they are cold or warm over the winter > period? The warmer temps alone won't effect the amount of stores eaten. If the bees continue to raise brood then certainly more stores will be consumed. Over the last three or four years, I have seen this very thing happen twice. Warm autumn and winter....increased brood rearing....very strong colonies going into winter....very strong colonies in spring....very low winter loss. In both instances the bees ate much more honey due to increased brood rearing. Watch them in the spring for needed food. Also...Bill Mraz took his miticide out early during one of these events, and was re-infested....possibly from neighboring bee yards, or because there was still brood with mites that hatched, never getting rid of the mites. Mike ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2002 12:33:10 -0400 Reply-To: DONALD M CAMPBELL Sender: BEE-L@listserv.albany.edu From: DONALD M CAMPBELL Subject: Re: Concern about stings MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bob Harrison" To: Sent: Thursday, October 17, 2002 2:14 PM Subject: Re: [BEE-L] Concern about stings > Karen, > Karen wrote: > > I believe the problem to which Lloyd referred, is those that use the > Epipen when the only "symptoms" are a little pain, redness or swelling. In > these cases, the added epinephrine could kill (with certain underlying > conditions) and will at least stress your system. > Hi all, This Epi-pen stuff is really getting heavy!.. I am a beekeeper, a Pharmacist, an ex-medic and an Epi-pen carrier. But not for bee stings. I have a severe allergy to sesame seeds and all its relatives (sesame oil, paste and other stuff used in fancy cooking). So far I have never used the Epi-Pen, because I have not gotten to the point where my breathing was severely impaired, nor felt like passing out from hypotension. As soon as allergic symptoms show (itchy, flushing tightness in the mouth, and that strange feeling that my head is going to explode) I drink an ounce of liquid Benadyl, if it gets worse in 15 minutes another ounce. I also use Medrol (Rx drug) tablets if real bad. I always have the Epi-pen with me but would only use it when all else fails. I'd try to make it to an emergency room first. Don't get me wrong, if I couldn't breath or was passing out-I'd use it. Its important, also, to go find someone to help you if you are having any reaction. That someone can drive you, give you the shot if needed, call 911, save your life, ect. Hope this helps. Bee well, Don ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2002 15:39:05 -0400 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: BEE-L@listserv.albany.edu From: LLOYDSPEAR Subject: MARK'S QUESTIONS ON WINTERING Paraphrased, Mark's questions and some of my thoughts are: 1. Hives are wrapped and hole in inner cover is open...ok? If the hole referenced is only that in the center of the inner cover, this is not sufficient. In a climate like Vancouver (and in most climates) you must have an upper opening directly to the outside. Use beer or soda caps under the front corners of the inner cover, a 1 inch hole in the top super, or something similar. If you do not do so you are likely to kill your hive this coming winter! 2. Will the wrap extend the brood cycle? Probably. If you are not all ready doing so, next year use Carniolans, which tend to shut down the brood cycle better than Italians. If it were me, I'd take the wrap off. If you don't want to do that, watch feed levels every two weeks by lifting the hive. Feed if necessary. 3. Get a Varroa increase along with the increase in brood? Yep. However, try to go at least 4 months before treating again. 4. Did I wrap too early? Yep. Either wait until the nights are always below freezing or, better yet, do not wrap at all. COLD DOES NOT HURT BEES. Moisture and lack of food hurts and kills bees. They can stand periods of 3-4 months of severe cold without any wrapping at all. 5. Bees consume more feed when cold or warm? Bees consume much more feed when warm, as then they produce brood. The best winter conditions are severe cold and Carniolan bees. These conditions combine to shut down brood production, while insuring rapid spring buildup. If your bees are going to be 'fooled' it will not be that winter is too close...it will be because they will be too warm and will continue brood production. COLD DOES NOT HURT BEES, I'd say it 25 more times if I thought it would really help. Good luck...there are some really good beekeepers on the Island. Look for their honey in the stands, contact them, and get their advice... Best of luck, Lloyd Lloyd Spear, Owner of Ross Rounds, manufacturer of comb honey equipment for beekeepers and Sundance pollen traps. http://www.rossrounds.com Lloyd@rossrounds.com ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2002 23:25:59 -0400 Reply-To: "jfischer@supercollider.com" Sender: BEE-L@listserv.albany.edu From: James Fischer Subject: Re: Honey house windows MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit All you need is an 2nd window screen for the window that faces the daytime and evening sun, which would be the window bees buzz against in attempts to leave. You want some metal wire screen, not the plastic stuff. (The screen in the window could be plastic or wire, but I like using metal wire for the window too.) Take a small piece of wire screen, and cut it into a square roughly 5 inches on a side. You are going to make a cone-shaped bee escape from the wire screen, so if you have one of the plastic ones, use it as a standard for comparison. If not, here is what they look like: http://www.dadant.com/catalog/images/items/M00911l.jpg Drill a 1-inch or larger hole into a 2x4 scrap to make a work surface. Take a bluntly pointed object about the size of a fountain pen, and, holding the screen flat on the wood, press the tool into the screen. You are making the "pointy" part of the cone. Press slowly, and you will see the cone form. When you are done, you have a cone with a flat area of screen around the base. Take a pencil, and insert it into the tip of the cone to make the exit hole just large enough for a worker bee to squeeze out. After you have made and discarded about 6 of them, you will be able to make a few that are decent. Cut holes in the screen mounted in the frame, and pulling a few of the "horizontal" wires at the flat edges of the screen cones, leaving individual wires that radiate out from the base of the cone about an inch. Weave them into the window screen around the holes to create a secure mechanical mount for the cones. Oh yeah, the cones must point OUT, not in. :) When it is extracting time, remove the normal screen and insert the "escape-equipped" screen. Bees will leave, and bees attracted by the smell of a metric ton of honey will not get in. You will have to fiddle with them, and the plastic ones would work just as well if you drilled small holes in the bases, and wired them to the window screen, but the wire-mesh versions are invisible, do not block your view, and don't look tacky. A complicated description, but I have seen old guys make perfect ones in seconds, so maybe your best solution is to find a beekeeper with significant gray hair. jim ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 24 Oct 2002 15:51:26 -0400 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: BEE-L@listserv.albany.edu From: Patrick Larsen Subject: fyi: Maine applies for use of thymol on varroa MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Subject: Thymol and Eucalyptus Oil; Receipt of Application ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [OPP-2002-0267; FRL-7276-2] Thymol and Eucalyptus Oil; Receipt of Application for Emergency Exemption, Solicitation of Public Comment AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: EPA has received a specific exemption request from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Resources to use the pesticide thymol and eucalyptus oil (CAS numbers 89-83-8 and 8000-48-4, respectively) to treat up to 13,000 hives of honey and beeswax to control Varroa mite. The Applicant proposes the use of the new chemical, eucalyptus oil which has not been registered by EPA and the Applicant proposes a first food use of thymol. EPA is soliciting public comment before making the decision whether or not to grant the exemption. DATES: Comments, identified by docket ID number OPP-2002-0267, must be received on or before November 8, 2002. ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted electronically, by mail, or through hand delivery/courier. Follow the detailed instructions as provided in Unit I. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Madden, Registration Division (7505C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 305-6463; fax number: (703) 308-5433; e-mail address: Sec-18-Mailbox@epamail.epa.gov< /A>. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ...SNIP... II. Background A. What Action is the Agency Taking? Under section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) (7 U.S.C. 136p), at the discretion of the Administrator, a federal or state agency may be exempted from any provision of FIFRA if the Administrator determines that emergency conditions exist which require the exemption. The Maine Department of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Resources has requested the Administrator to issue a specific exemption for the use of thymol and eucalyptus oil on honey and beeswax to control Varroa mite. Information in accordance with 40 CFR part 166 was submitted as part of this request. As part of this request, the Applicant asserts that Varroa mites were first detected in Maine in November of 1987. Since 1988, beekeepers have treated their colonies with fluvalinate to control Varroa. Varroa mite resistance to fluvalinate is widespread in Maine. In 1999, a section 18 emergency exemption was granted by EPA for the treatment of Varroa and the small hive beetle. During the fall of 2001, a Florida-Maine migratory beekeeping operation was determined to have Varroa with resistance to coumaphos and fluvalinate. Maine produced 231,000 pounds of honey in 2000 valued at $173,000 wholesale. The honey bee and beekeeping industry is essential for crop pollination. Maine is the primary producer of blueberries in the world, an industry that contributes $75 - 100 million to the state's annual economy. Honey bees also pollinate the state's apple crop and other fruits and vegetables with an estimated value of over $30 million per year. The Applicant proposes to treat 13,000 hives in late summer or fall at least 5 months prior to harvesting the honey. A maximum of 26,000 tablets weighing 11 grams each will be used. This notice does not constitute a decision by EPA on the application itself. The regulations governing section 18 of FIFRA require publication of a notice of receipt of an application for a specific exemption proposing use of a new chemical (i.e., an active ingredient) which has not been registered by EPA, as well as a first food use of a chemical. The notice provides an opportunity for public comment on the application. The Agency, will review and consider all comments received during the comment period in determining whether to issue the specific exemption requested by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Resources. List of Subjects Environmental protection, Pesticides and pests. Dated: October 6, 2002. Debra Edwards, Acting Director, Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs. [FR Doc. 02-27129 Filed 10-23-02; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-S ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 24 Oct 2002 18:53:52 -0700 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: BEE-L@listserv.albany.edu From: dan hendricks Subject: Abnormal Autumn Conditions Effect on Winter Prep MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Mark, may I make some comments from Seattle? I don't use winter wrap but I do tape the joints between boxes to guard against wind chilling. I think the hazard is moisture not cold so I leave the entrance completely open (though with mouse guards). My queens always reduce their egg laying in the late fall and have again this year. I always worry about late fall increase in varroa - I never measure the drop - so I apply apistan very late, 42 days before my last inspection in the first week of November. Dan --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Y! Web Hosting - Let the expert host your web site ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 24 Oct 2002 13:53:50 -0400 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: BEE-L@listserv.albany.edu From: "Yoon Sik Kim, Ph.D." Subject: Re: Concern about stings A good way to go crazy is to keep bees and get stung occasionally while constantly worrying about the D-day. ;) Yoon ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 25 Oct 2002 09:23:26 +0100 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: BEE-L@listserv.albany.edu From: Dave Cushman Subject: Thymol and Eucalyptus Oil MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hi All I have just spent an hour searching the net on this topic and I am no wiser for it. Can someone point me in the right direction for the formulation of this product, the supplier and intended method of application? > The Applicant proposes to treat 13,000 hives in late summer or fall > at least 5 months prior to harvesting the honey. A maximum of 26,000 > tablets weighing 11 grams each will be used. The above clip is all I know Best Regards & 73s... Dave Cushman, G8MZY Beekeeping & Bee Breeding Website... http://website.lineone.net/~dave.cushman ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 26 Oct 2002 00:51:40 -0400 Reply-To: "jfischer@supercollider.com" Sender: BEE-L@listserv.albany.edu From: James Fischer Subject: Maryland (USA) Hearings on Live Bee Imports Oct 29th MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Just in time for Halloween, something scary... On Tuesday, Oct 29th, there will be a public hearing at the Beltsville, MD USDA facility starting at 9am to review the risk assessment associated with New Zealand and Australia's requests to market queens, packages, and germplasm to US beekeepers. Now that people alleged to have been practicing their marksmanship in the area no longer have access to a rifle, it may be possible for those in the area to consider attending, if for no other reason than to show that beekeepers are aware of the issue, and care about bee pests, bee diseases, and USDA decisions regarding them. Instructions about how to get there are here: http://www.ba.ars.usda.gov/loc/location.html (The only trick is to remember to take US 1 NORTH off the Beltway, not US 1 South. After that, it's easy.) Any person attending the meeting may "register at the door" before 9 am to speak their mind on the issues at hand, but this discussion is not about "trade" or "economic" issues. This hearing is focused solely on pests, diseases, and the risks posed by queens and packages bees being shipped from the other side of the planet, direct to the beekeeper without any port of entry inspection. One must do one's homework before contributing one's thoughts to the discussion, as the issues are complex. But there is some potential good news in all this. The "good news" is that the USDA may now be receptive to the idea that existing paperwork requirements for germplasm imports do nothing but delay scientific progress, and what is needed is a standard protocol for the requests of legitimate researchers, rather than the current ad-hoc "case-by-case" multi-year maze that scientists are forced to navigate. The bad news is that the prospective live-bee exporters at hand happen to live fairly near to Tropiaelaps and the Cape Bee, and want to sell live bees to anyone who will pay in US dollars (overwhelmingly voted the most popular currency on the planet every year for over two centuries). So, we have suspense, drama, high-stakes poker over international trade, newly-written WTO sanitary standards yet to be field-tested anywhere, a delicate blend of epidemiology, entomology, epistemology, and etymology, plus Latin and Greek names for pests so obscure that most of us cannot even pronounce their names! (Of course, not long ago, "Varroa destructor" and "Aethina tumida" were also nothing more than obscure pests on the other side of the planet with difficult to pronounce names...) If you can't come to the meeting, and you are a US citizen, you can send your comments to regulations@aphis.usda.gov, using "Docket No. 98-109-1" in the subject line. No attachments allowed, plain text only, just like this discussion group. Include your name and postal address to verify that you are a US Citizen. Comments will be accepted until Nov 18, 2002. (Multiple entries per person and household permitted. No purchase required to enter. Offer void outside the United States. Odds of winning depend on the total number of eligible entries received, and the merit of each argument offered. Citizens, employees, or agents of "New Zealand", "Australia", and their respective parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, licensees, directors, officers, agents, independent contractors and advertising/promotional agencies, the members of their immediate families, or those persons living in the same household of such individuals are ineligible to enter. Your mileage may vary. Objects in mirror are closer than they appear. Wear your seatbelts. Do not remove this tag under penalty of law. Close cover before striking match.) jim ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 26 Oct 2002 01:49:46 -0400 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: BEE-L@listserv.albany.edu From: Robert Williamson Subject: Re: Thymol and Eucalyptus Oil Comments: To: Dave Cushman Hey Dave, I can't seem to find it again either. About a year ago I did some prodding around different european varroa products and found one that utilized thymol, eucalyptus oil, camphor, and menthol. It was in a dry tablet form and was to be placed in the hive. I'm still trying to remember the name, but anyway I contacted the company and they would have nothing to do with me since their product wasn't approved for use over here. I have a similar formula from "beekeep" on another newsgroup who says it was developed by the USDA Beelab in beltsville. I haven't tried it yet but here it is 25 cheap sponges cut in half 1 - 125gr jar of thymol add 1/2 ounce menthol to jar add 1/2 ounce camphor to jar add eucalyptus oil to fill jar let stand 24 hours til dissolved In a bucket pour over the sponges http://www.vita.demon.co.uk/products.htm you might find this link interesting as well. Robert www.texasdrone.com ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 26 Oct 2002 12:49:30 -0400 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: BEE-L@listserv.albany.edu From: LLOYDSPEAR Subject: Import of live bees into the US I am glad Jim brought this hearing to our attention. I, for one, will write and say that I am not opposed to importation of germplasma but am opposed to importation of live bees. While neither New Zealand or Australia have Tropiaelaps or the Cape Bee, both are, as Jim says, very close in geographic terms. Especially Australia and Tropiaelaps. BTW, Tropiaelaps has successfully migrated from Dorsata to Mellifera in Asia and I am advised that its destructive capability make Varroa look like lambs! We got ourselves into this with one of the trade treaties we signed. Basically, we no longer can ban imports without a very good reason. Since neither country has either of the pests mentioned, it is legally questionable whether we can ban live animal imports based solely on their being nearer to the pests home than ourselves. Lloyd Lloyd Spear, Owner of Ross Rounds, manufacturer of comb honey equipment for beekeepers and Sundance pollen traps. http://www.rossrounds.com Lloyd@rossrounds.com ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 27 Oct 2002 10:14:18 +0200 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: BEE-L@listserv.albany.edu From: Roger White Subject: Name MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-7" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable The name is Tropilelaps - not Tropiaelaps. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 1 Jan 1999 16:53:28 +1000 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: BEE-L@listserv.albany.edu From: T & M Weatherhead Subject: Re: Maryland (USA) Hearings on Live Bee Imports Oct 29th MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > The bad news is that the prospective live-bee exporters at hand happen > to live fairly near to Tropiaelaps and the Cape Bee, and want to sell live > bees to anyone who will pay in US dollars. Might live nearer to Tropilaelaps but we have managed to keep it and Varroa destructor and tracheal mites and small hive beetle out of our country through our quarantine systems. We must be doing something right. I doubt that we would be much closer than you to the Cape Bee. I like to get paid in good old Aussie dollars when I export although I have nothing personal against your dollar. We let in your Californian table grapes; now keep your word. Trevor Weatherhead AUSTRALIA ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 27 Oct 2002 08:20:20 -0500 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: BEE-L@listserv.albany.edu From: DONALD M CAMPBELL Subject: Re: Import of live bees into the US Lloyd, You wrote: >BTW, Tropiaelaps has successfully migrated from Dorsata to Mellifera in Asia >and I am advised that its destructive capability make Varroa look like >lambs! This is the first time I've heard of these "tropiaelaps". What are they? Can you point me to some info! Thanks, Don Westchester, NY ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 27 Oct 2002 06:50:07 -0800 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: BEE-L@listserv.albany.edu From: Mike Tooley Subject: Re: Import of live bees into the US In-Reply-To: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > > We got ourselves into this with one of the trade treaties we signed. > Basically, we no longer can ban imports without a very good reason This may be true,but I keep wondering why anyone here in the USA would want New Zealand bees.Judging from reports coming from there,they are in the first stages of varroa and virus annihilation of their bee stocks.In a few years when they have some survivor stock,their bees could be a valuable asset.But for now,IMHO,imports should be limited to strains that can contribute something positive in the way of disease and pest resistance.We already have too many strains of susceptible bees here now.I think time has just about run out for easy control of varroa with strips. I also wonder if all their bee viruses have been identified,since varroa tends to turn any minor virus into an epidemic. ----Mike(who has seen way too many 'good' bees wiped out) ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 27 Oct 2002 16:46:04 -0800 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: BEE-L@listserv.albany.edu From: dan hendricks Subject: Abnormal Autumn Conditions Effect on Winter Prep MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Mark, Lloyd Spear's excellent answer to your post included an argument in favor of using carniolan queens. I would like to post an opposite point of view. In the suburb of Seattle where I live, half, more or less, of my annual crop comes from the first surplus nectar flow, that of maple and early fruit bloom. Therefore I want the largest possible population in the earliest spring which means I want the largest population in the late fall. That mean a queen which continues her egg laying into the late summer and fall. I am content to supply enough overwintering honey to accommodate by feeding syrup into the fall. If race of queen makes any difference at all, and I'm not convinced it does, then the popular wisdom specifies italian queens. I even go farther than that. As soon as my hive scale reveals that the second (and last) surplus nectar flow has ended, I split my hive and requeen. Then the last week of October I combine the two and remove the older queen. Thus the hive goes into winter with the progeny of two queens. Both italians. Dan --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Y! Web Hosting - Let the expert host your web site ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 27 Oct 2002 23:50:52 +0200 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: BEE-L@listserv.albany.edu From: Roger White Subject: name MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-7" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Tropilelaps is a synonym of TROPILAELAPS. I apologize for the error. Best regards Roger White Cyprus ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 27 Oct 2002 16:32:31 -0500 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: BEE-L@listserv.albany.edu From: Les Roberts Subject: Bee/Beehive photos wanted In-Reply-To: <200210270401.g9R3hKQV029984@listserv.albany.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed The Indiana State Beekeepers Association publishes the ISBA Journal bimonthly. I'm the editor, and I'm on the lookout for beekeepers who are also photographers. Particularly, I'm looking for color photos, very sharp, in high resolution. Such photos can grace the cover of our magazine, and give full credit to the photographer on the back cover. Right now, I'm looking for a December cover, and a February cover... both need to be winter scenes, perhaps with snow. If you have such photos, please provide me as close to the original file as possible. I can handle cropping and color correction, but I cannot undo the damage of a modified JPG file losing additional resolution. Contact me at webmaster@HoosierBuzz.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 28 Oct 2002 09:28:49 -0500 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: BEE-L@listserv.albany.edu From: LLOYDSPEAR Subject: Bee mite from Asia My apologies for the misspelling of Tropilaelaps. Interested persons can enter that name into Google and get lots of hits. Here is one very brief summary that discusses the successful transfer to Mellifera http://www.rirdc.gov.au/comp98/hb1.htm#DAQ-203A Unfortunately, many of the Google first page references are in German, but I couldn't take the time to go beyond the first page. My information comes from personal conversations with a well-known American bee researcher and author who has made study of Asian honeybees a specialty. As he has not published information on the transfer to mellifera, I hesitate to provide his name. However, if anyone is serious about learning more please contact me PRIVATELY and I will be glad to ask him if I can release the information. Lloyd Lloyd Spear, Owner of Ross Rounds, manufacturer of comb honey equipment for beekeepers and Sundance pollen traps. http://www.rossrounds.com Lloyd@rossrounds.com