From SYSAM@UACSC2.ALBANY.EDUMon May 22 07:15:51 1995 Date: Mon, 22 May 95 08:35:38 EDT From: Aaron Morris To: dicka@cuug.ab.ca ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Jul 91 11:02:59 BST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "J. Bayle" Subject: Chipmunks Okay, I know, wrong list. This is a bee discussion list, but I can't find a chipmunk discussion list that is active. I have two questions that I would be grateful if anyone could answer/pass on: 1. Is there an active chipmunk discussion list? If no, then: 2. What is the best combination for keeping non-breeding chipmunks? (e.g. 1 lonely chipmunk - no thanks, or 2 male chipmunks - do they fight?, 2 females - do they fight more tham males?, or a pair - how do you stop them mating? I can't find any info on chipmunk birth control...) Thanks if anyone can help. John Bayle johnb@kbss.bt.co.uk Ipswich UK ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Jul 91 15:31:48 TUR Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: YAVUZ DARENDELIOGLU Subject: Re: Chipmunks In-Reply-To: Message of Mon, 1 Jul 91 11:02:59 BST from I wish, I could help you. But I know nothing about Chipmunks. If you were asking help about our subject, I would really be helpful. I'm sorry that I cannot help you. Yavuz Darendelioglu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Jul 91 16:06:18 TUR Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology Comments: Resent-From: YAVUZ DARENDELIOGLU Comments: Originally-From: Revised List Processor (1.6e) From: YAVUZ DARENDELIOGLU Subject: Output of your job "BEE-L" ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Your mail file (3473) was successfully DISTRIBUTEd to list BEE-L. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Jul 91 16:07:19 TUR Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology Comments: Resent-From: YAVUZ DARENDELIOGLU Comments: Originally-From: Revised List Processor (1.6e) From: YAVUZ DARENDELIOGLU Subject: Rejected posting to BEE-L@ALBNYVM1 ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Your message is being returned to you unprocessed because it seems to have been already sent to the BEE-L list. That is, a message with identical body (but possibly different headers) has been posted to the list recently, either by you or by someone else. If you have a good reason to resend this message to the list (for instance because half of the outbound spool files were lost in a disk crash at some intermediate node), please alter the message text in some way before resending it. Note that altering the "Subject:" line or adding blank lines at the top or bottom of the message is not sufficient; you should instead add a line at the top explaining why you are re-sending the message, for the benefit of the list membership. ------------------------- Rejected message (15 lines) ------------------------- Received: from TRMETU.BITNET by ALBANY (Mailer R2.08) with BSMTP id 4150; Mon, 01 Jul 91 08:38:50 EDT Received: from TRMETU (BIOYAVUZ) by TRMETU.BITNET (Mailer R2.07) with BSMTP id 0401; Mon, 01 Jul 91 15:35:13 TUR Date: Mon, 01 Jul 91 15:31:48 TUR From: YAVUZ DARENDELIOGLU Subject: Re: Chipmunks To: Discussion of Bee Biology In-Reply-To: Message of Mon, 1 Jul 91 11:02:59 BST from I wish, I could help you. But I know nothing about Chipmunks. If you were asking help about our subject, I would really be helpful. I'm sorry that I cannot help you. Yavuz Darendelioglu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 1 Jul 91 09:00:32 CST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Dr. James H. Hunt" Subject: Re: Chipmunks In-Reply-To: Message of Mon, 1 Jul 91 11:02:59 BST from An experienced chipmunk keeper is Dr. Zuleyma T. Halpin, normally of my department but currently on leave at Department of Ecology and Systematics, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045 U.S.A. I am unaware of an e-mail address for her. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Jul 91 11:31:03 TUR Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: YAVUZ DARENDELIOGLU Subject: Bee-L has a problem... Dear Sir, I am a subscriber of this list for about two years. Witin this time period I tried to send one mail last year, and another mail this week. What is going wrong, I do not know. Both the mails returned back to me. The error or message is saying 'You have sent the same message before etc.' Is there anybody who cares about this problem of the list BEE-L. Because, I don't want to receive mails only. I want to send my ideas and answers,too. Yavuz Darendelioglu Dept Of Biol. Middle East Technical Universty, ANKARA. TURKEY. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Jul 91 11:01:00 GMT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Seosamh Mac Carthaigh Subject: RE: Bee-L has a problem... Hi Yavuz, I got your mail ok, yesterday. This morning I received the same messages as yourself about your message not going out 'cos it "had gone out before". So the error message was an error. Annoying though. Seosamh Colaiste na hOllscoile, Gaillimh | University College, Galway Eire | Ireland ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 2 Jul 91 14:00:00 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: MTS@IFASGNV.BITNET Subject: June Issue of APIS--please acknowledge receipt to MTS@IFASGNV.BITNET FILENAME: JUNAPIS.91 Florida Extension Beekeeping Newsletter Apis--Apicultural Information and Issues (ISSN 0889-3764) Volume 9, Number 6, June 1991 TRACHEAL MITE ENIGMA There are a good many beekeepers and scientists scratching their heads about tracheal mites. Nobody seems to be able to reconcile why high mite levels last fall did not necessarily translate into large colony losses this spring. Informal reports from California to Michigan reveal this quandary. Dr. Roger Hoopingarner in his last B-Plus, the beekeeping report from Michigan State University, summed it up: "I still have not figured out the tracheal mite...A year ago one of the colonies that survived the winter was headed by a daughter queen from the Lonesome Hive (a colony Dr. Hoopingarner keeps in his yard). It had a tracheal mite level of about 80% at that time. It still has the same queen this year, and yet the tracheal mite levels have dropped from 33 to 45% in the two samples that we have examined this winter. At the inspection yesterday (April 18, 1991), I had to divide the colony since it had five hive bodies (3/4 depth supers) full of bees. They were starting queen cells!" Other pieces of evidence add to the confusion. It seems that researchers in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, where the first detection of Acarapis woodi occurred in 1984, are unable to keep mite levels high enough to do effective research on the critter. Early studies in Florida were also plagued with very large variation in mite populations that confounded investigators. Some California beekeepers had high mite levels in their colonies last fall and were expecting the worst, but in contrast to previous years' experience, most hives came through the winter with flying colors. Beekeepers in Florida's panhandle have not experienced losses similar to those in 1986-1988, which many attributed to tracheal mites. Some colonies in Florida have traditionally had high mite infestations, but never suffered the devastation visited on those in the panhandle. All this is not surprising considering the tracheal mite literature and its subsequent introduction into the United States. It may be instructive, therefore, to review the history of this controversial parasite. Great losses of bee colonies on the Isle of Wight in the British Isles during the years 1901-1905 were correlated with the eventual discovery of the Tracheal mite, Acarapis woodi, by Dr. J. Rennie in 1919. Dr. Leslie Bailey, a renowned authority on bee diseases, called the "Isle of Wight Disease," presumably caused by the tracheal mite, a myth (L. Bailey, "The 'Isle of Wight Disease': The Origin and Significance of the Myth," Bee World, Vol. 45, pp. 32-37, 1964). Dr. Bailey said a primary reason for the notoriety of "Isle of Wight Disease" was sensationalized press releases which caught beekeepers' attention. His observations on the issue include: 1. Major symptoms described, such as bees with distended abdomens or crawlers, are indicative of many kinds of diseases, including nosema. Prior to discovery of the mite, nosema was in fact diagnosed as the problem. Crawlers were often not as infested with mites as were normal individuals. 2. The disease correlated with a time of disastrous winter weather; there were at the same time no losses in other beekeeping areas from mites. 3. The assumption that all parasites cause "serious damage" is not valid. Although tracheal mites shorten infested bees' lives, according to Dr. Bailey, it is only by a "relative amount." Dr. Bailey's conclusion was that the mite was a scapegoat for large colony losses. He also stated that beekeepers did not understand the disastrous effects of their own actions including experimental treatments, moving bees and especially transferring bees from skeps to moveable-frame hives. Finally, he said that beekeepers were not aware of all possibilities and were searching for specific answers to a complex problem. After detection in the United States, Dr. Bailey stuck to his guns and predicted the mite would not be a problem here. There is another side to the tracheal mite issue. Brother Adam, a monk at Buckfast Abbey, disagreed with Dr. Bailey's ideas on "Isle of Wight Disease." (B. Adam, "'Isle of Wight' or Acarine Disease: Its Historical and Practical Aspects," Bee World, Vol. 49, pp. 6-18, 1968). He concluded that it was a new disease and the spread was very rapid since many incidences were reported on the British Isles when infested bees were moved in. Weather factors were not contributive; honey flows were better than average; nor were beekeeping practices at fault. With reference to the latter, Brother Adam said, a transition period from skeps to moveable-frame hives did occur, but beekeepers did not lack skills or experience. In addition, symptoms of nosema disease, Brother Adam said, were different than those found in "Isle of Wight disease." They were more like "disappearing disease" and the queen was usually not affected, which is the case in nosema. When the tracheal mite (Acarapis woodi) was first detected in the United States, several hundred bee colonies were destroyed by Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in an effort to control the mites; however, this policy was soon abandoned. Whether or not tracheal mites were a "problem" for beekeepers took on many of the same dimensions as described above for "Isle of Wight Disease." Six years after its introduction, the arguments continue. This brings us back to Brother Adam. His answer to tracheal mites has been breeding resistant bees. He reported the mites reached Buckfast Abbey in 1915, when crawling bees were seen and even though all colonies produced excellent spring clover and heather crops, some 30 died that winter. Only Italian bees survived; all British bees died. The surviving stock became the nucleus of the Abbey's breeding program. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal touts Brother Adam's work in developing resistant bees, calling his Buckfast queen, the "Breakthrough Bee Bred by a British Monk." According to the article, the U.S. Department of Agriculture brought in 15 Buckfast queens; one died enroute, but the remaining 14 survived a six-month quarantine on a Louisiana island. They are now being propagated on a large scale; it is hoped the descendants will produce disease resistant colonies in areas of the U.S. As Brother Adam concludes, according to the article, "Americans have always taken the health of their bees for granted. Now they must pull up their socks--or lose their colonies." Presumably this means using his "disease resistant" stock. Unfortunately, the tenor of the article is more journalistic jargon than anything else. There is no mention of controversy surrounding either introduction of the stock itself or the methods used by Brother Adam to determine resistance. Nor is his long-standing debate with Dr. Bailey referred to. The fact remains that, like many beekeeping issues, the tracheal mite story is too long to fit in a prescribed number of column inches in any newspaper. Several major gaps in our knowledge lead one to be skeptical about experiments with and claims for tracheal mite resistance. The mite's life cycle is not fully understood; nor is its population dynamics in a bee colony. There are no recommended mite thresholds above which it is suggested to treat colonies. The one material currently registered for treatment is tricky to apply and thus, its reliability is always in question. Research on tracheal mites is confounded by a lack of statistically valid sampling procedures and the problem that detection is destructive of bees and the required dissections are extremely labor intensive. Perhaps the biggest unknown is how the tracheal mite actually damages a bee colony. According to the article mentioned above, mites "...clog the breathing tubes of bees,...leaving millions of honey bees gasping for breath." This scenario is possible considering the packed condition of many heavily infested tracheae. However, holes are also punctured through the tracheae and hemolymph is probably sucked up by mites. Secondary infections of fungus or virus are always possible. Finally, it is almost impossible to isolate the effects of tracheal mites on a colony, especially when other ailments (foulbrood, chalkbrood, nosema) might also be present. Until much of the above information is known, the tracheal mite enigma will continue. The tracheal mite situation parallels many disease and pest situations in beekeeping which appear to ebb and flow through the years. For example, I now have reports of an extreme chalkbrood epidemic in Israel and the Brazilian-Argentinean border continues to be affected with an outbreak of American foulbrood. It seems that beekeepers are not immune from situations that plague other agriculturalists. Prevailing environmental conditions will favor certain disease or pest problems each year in ways that are often not predictable. It's the kind of thing that causes beekeepers, and in spite of Brother Adam's protests to the contrary as reported in the Wall Street Journal, bee scientists, to have sleepless nights. DISEASE DIAGNOSIS A new booklet has just been published by the USDA's Agricultural Research Service. It is Agriculture Handbook 690, written by Drs. H. Shimanuki and D. Knox and entitled: Diagnosis of Honey Bee Diseases. The purpose of the publication is to acquaint readers with laboratory techniques used to diagnose diseases and detect and identify parasites, pests, and other abnormalities of the honey bee. The handbook accomplishes its objective very well. Several methods of detection for brood diseases are described and accompanied with helpful line drawing. A table of comparative symptoms for American and European foulbrood, sacbrood and chalkbrood is also included. Adult diseases pests, parasites and predators are also described in some detail in the publication. Nine methods are shown to detect tracheal mites. Diagnosis of both Varroa jacobsoni and Tropilaelaps clareae are detailed. Finally, there is a section on Africanized honey bees and pesticide poisoning. Although the information is excellent in the 57-page booklet, getting a copy looks to be a potential headache. Inside the cover it states that copies are available from the National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Rd., Springfield, VA 22161. However, phone calls (703/321-85470) to the service have resulted in the agency not being able to find the publication. A problem appears to be that the handbook is so new (April, 1991) that it is not yet in the system. Maybe by the time this newsletter gets to you, the publication will be ready for sale to the public. APIMONDIA MEETING ON In spite of the troubles in Yugoslavia, the organizing committee has decided to go ahead with the 33rd International Congress of Apiculture (Apimondia). It will meet in Split September 29 through October 4, 1991. I have copy of the "First Circular" which advertises the event as well as other materials. If you wish any of this information, give me a call. The Congress promises to be an exciting one. Its general theme is "Apis mellifera carnica from Anton Jansa Onwards." Yugoslavia is the home of the Carniolan or Gray bee. The country has a long and distinguished beekeeping history. Perhaps the most famous Yugoslavian apiculturalist was the pioneer, Anton Jansa (1734-1773), and the Congress has his likeness as its official insignia. The registration fee is $220 and should be sent to the General Secretary of Apimondia, Corso Vittorio Emanuele 101, 1-00186, Rome, Italy. Tel 6-6512286 or FAX 6-6548578. Other information on the beekeeping expo, contests and hotel accomodations should be addressed to the National Organizing Committee, C/O UNIONDALMACIJA, Congress Dept., Prilaz XXVI, Dalmatinske Divizije 4, Post Box 385, YU-58000 Split, Yugoslavia. NATIONAL HONEY BOARD REFERENDUM The long-awaited referendum on the Research, Promotion and Consumer Information Order for honey will be held this August, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service. The referendum period will be August 1 through August 31, 1991. All ballots must be postmarked by August 31 and received by September 6. Two questions will be on the ballot: Question No. 1: Do you favor a continuation of the Research, Promotion and Consumer Information Order for Honey? A "YES" vote on question No. 1 means you are in favor of the continuation of the order. A "NO" votes means you are opposed to its continuation. Question No. 2: Do you favor termination of the refund of assessment provisions of the Research, Promotion and Consumer Information Order for Honey? A "YES" vote on question No. 2 means you are in favor of the termination of the refund provision. A "NO" vote means you are opposed to the termination of the refund of assessments. Both questions will be tabulated independently. Voters should respond to both questions. Questions left unanswered will not be counted. Eligibility to vote is limited to any person who produced or imported honey into the U.S. duirng the period January 1, 1990 through December 31,1990 and who is now a producer or importer of honey. For further information on eligibility, contact your local ASCS Office. BEEKEEPERS INSTITUTE You should soon be receiving the information brochure concerning the Beekeepers Institute to be held at 4-Camp Ocala, August 23-25. 1991. This year's event will concentrate on information concerning mites (tracheal and Varroa) and the African honey bee which has now been detected in the U.S. The first official stinging incident by these bees was recently recorded in Texas. Fortunately, it was a fairly minor event, but portends of what is to come. If you have not received the Institute brochure by the last part of July, please give me a call. Deadline for late registration, for which there is a hefty fee, is August 9, 1991. Sincerely, Malcolm T. Sanford 0740 IFAS, Bldg 970 University of Florida Gainesville, FL 32611-0740 Phone (904) 392-1801, Ext. 143 FAX: 904-392-0190 BITNET Address: MTS@IFASGNV INTERNET Address: MTS@GNV.IFAS.UFL.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Jul 91 10:03:09 EST Reply-To: ENTOMO-L DISCUSSION LIST Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology Comments: Resent-From: Peter Comments: Originally-From: Ed Beary From: Peter Subject: Re: GENETIC ENGINEERING: AN ETHICAL QUESTION ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- The one problem I see with resistent honeybees, is that honey could become contaminated with pesticides more than it is at the present. At least now, some pesticides will kill foragers in the field before they recruit the hive to a pesticide contaminated area. Conversations at various meetings indicate that wax is already comtaminated with some pesticides and that bees are becoming resistant to some insecticides. I would like to know if anyone has looked at the extent of the contamination of honey and wax by pesticides and how extensive it is. Ed Beary BEARY@GENESEO.BITNET ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Jul 91 09:13:24 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: macphil Subject: More on "African Killer Bees" I read two (I think) more articles this weekend on Africanized bees. Unfortunately, I forgot to bring them in /c me today. I'll try to post them from home either tonight or tomorrow morning... MacPhil | iqti400@indycms.bitnet | iqti400@indycms.iupui.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 8 Jul 1991 19:04:57 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: MILNE@WSUVM1.BITNET Regarding the genetic engineering comments posed by Ed Beary on ENTOMO-L and BEE-L. You raised several different issues. Many honey bees die from some insecticides in the field and do not transport it back to the hive. This serves to keep the 'clean food' aspect of honey intact. Unfortunately, some insecticide does get back to the hive and can get into the wax and honey. Many colonies are probably contaminated with insecticides during the year and insecticides may appear in the honey. I am aware of no evidence that honey bees anywhere are becoming resistant to insecticides. Selection programs to increase the insecticide resistance of bees have consistently failed. Resistance to insecticides in insects, including the bee, can take several forms. The target of the insecticide can be altered to make it less sensitive to the chemical. The cuticle of the insect can be altered to reduce penetration of an insecticide. Finally, the enzymatic machinery of the insect can be altered to degrade the insecticide into nontoxic molecules. If honey bees acquire resistance by the first two mechanisms, then increased insecticide contamination of honey or wax may occur. However, if insecticide resistance is brought about by the third mechanism, then the honey will actually have LESS insecticide contamination. This will happen because the enzyme will actively degrade any insecticide collected. Genes such as these are being sought for transfer into the bee through genetic engineering. A recent article by myself presents the case for genetic engineering of bees more fully - American Bee Journal 131:188-189 Charles Milne Department of Entomology Program in Genetics and Cell Biology Washington State University Pullman, WA 99164-6432 (509) 335-2141 FAX (509) 335-1009 BITNET: MILNE@WSUVM1 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Jul 1991 17:07:16 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: MILNE@WSUVM1.BITNET Fellow BEE-Lers; I need to build some dead bee traps for some research. Does any one have any plans that I can use to build them? I'm especially looking for plans for a Todd bee trap, but will consider any others. Please FAX me the plans (509-335-1009) or send me any references to published work by BITNET. Thanks for the help!! Charles Milne MILNE@WSUVM1 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 9 Jul 1991 19:29:05 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Geary Wong Subject: q q q  ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Jul 1991 07:07:01 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Aaron Morris Subject: Dead bee trap? I have never heard of a dead bee trap and it makes me wonder, how does one trap a dead bee? I imagine that the trap would not have to be very strong, I mean, how aggressively would a dead bee try to escape? Seriously, what is the purpose of trapping dead bees? Is the trap like a pollen trap to collect dead bees that are being removed from the hive? Wouldn't it be easier to trap live bees and cause them to become dead? The live ones would certainly be more likely to come to the trap. It seems that a dead bee trap would have to come to the bee. Or is it the trap itself that is dead? As opposed to a live bee trap? A skunk perhaps? I'm confused. Who's on first? ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Jul 1991 09:19:00 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: KWADDING@UMIAMI.BITNET Subject: Re: Dead bee trap? Speaking of dead bee traps---at UM we use a dustpan, a broom, and sometimes a small vacuUM cleaner. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 10 Jul 1991 16:59:57 TUR Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: YAVUZ DARENDELIOGLU Subject: Re: q In-Reply-To: Message of Tue, 9 Jul 1991 19:29:05 -0700 from What is q? ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Jul 1991 18:19:14 GMT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: sbambara@NCEXTC.CES.NCSU.EDU The easiest and most effective way to trap dead bees is to get an old burlap bag. Go out in the woods at night and hold the bag open low to the ground. Sooner or later the dead bees will start flying in by the hundreds. Don't give up if it doesn't work the first night. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 11 Jul 1991 16:40:44 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Paul Chi-Jen Cheng Subject: Smoker's cough... Does anyone know of conclusive evidence that beekeepers have a higher rate of lung cancer or respiratory problems and a lower rate of arthritis? It would seem to me that being around the smokers day in and day out would be pretty bad for one's lungs. We use pine chips, and they really irritate my nose. As for apitherapy, does it really work? Anyone tried it? Why does it work? Paul Cheng ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 12 Jul 1991 20:13:31 CDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: ZHIYONG@UIUCVMD.BITNET Now, guys, quit dead-bee-trap-bashing. At U of I here we use a design by the g adget man Norman Gary. I believe he published the plans on J. Econ. Entomol. If chuck needs more details, sent me a private mail. A dead bee trap is used to discourage the 'undertakers' -- bees that speciali zed in removing corpses -- from removing them and drop into the trap. this is usually used to know the mortality of, say, newly introduced painted or marked bees, A thing probably only bee-men would do. As a matter of fact, I was cursi ng all day today, because it took me 4 hours to collect 10 painted undertakers. It seems that some colonies removes corpses faster than others, who knows if t hey have more undertakers or just enjoys more undertaking. The trap uses simple aerodynamics -- a bee carrying a dead needs a runway t o take off, just like a plane, so by forcing bees to take off straight off, the y usually end up dropping the dead in a plastic bag fitted under the screen 'cliff'. -zhiyong ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 15 Jul 1991 11:48:00 PST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: KIRK VISSCHER Subject: bee traps The reference for the dead bee trap Norm Gary designed is A trap to quantitatively recover dead and abnormal honey bees from the hive. J. Econ. Ent. 53:782-785. I used this trap sucessfully in my studies of undertaker bees. The main problems I encountered were that the vaseline which prevents undertakers with corpses from walking out of the trap needed to be reapplied periodically, and that foraging yellow jackets would fly into the trap, cut up the corpses, and carry them away. However, Norm himself no longer uses these traps, and he would be the best person to contact as the pros and cons of different designs. One caution: it is considerably easier to build the Gary trap than some of the other designs. Good trapping. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 16 Jul 1991 09:20:00 EET Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "SEPPO KORPELA TEL. 916-88576 FAX 916-88584" Subject: bee traps Another reference for the dead bee trap is: Gary, N.E. & Lorenzen, K. 1984. Improved trap to recover dead and abnormal honey bees from hives. Environmental Entomology 13: 718-723. This trap should be much more effective than earlier designs. The only disadvantage of the trap admitted by the authors in the article is its complex design (slow to assemble, not expensive). ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Jul 1991 10:20:00 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: MTS@IFASGNV.BITNET Subject: JULY ISSUE OF APIS, PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT TO MTS@IFASGNV.BITNET FILENAME: JULAPIS.91 Florida Extension Beekeeping Newsletter Apis--Apicultural Information and Issues (ISSN 0889-3764) Volume 9, Number 7, July 1991 MOSQUITO SPRAYING ON THE RISE Hot weather and lots of rain are producing mosquitos. This means telephone calls to mosquito control agencies which often result in pesticide application. I have had several reports of bee kills resulting from spraying this summer. It is incumbent on beekeepers to get to know their mosquito control agency and find out how and where it operates. Most bee kills as a result of spraying for mosquitos have to do with (1) aerial spraying; (2) blooming nectar plants; and (3) daylight hours. All three put together is guaranteed to be a disaster for colonies in an area. Eliminating any of the above factors greatly reduces the risk of subsequent bee kill. Many small counties in Florida have no aerial spraying capability, but large outbreaks of mosquitos might mean contracting with an independent applicator that does. This on-again, off-again arrangement is the most dangerous for beekeepers because contractors may not be familiar with bee locations or in close communication with the employing mosquito control agency. Most mosquito control agencies are aware that application affects colonies and will work with beekeepers to avoid kills. If, in spite of efforts to communicate with mosquito control agencies, bees are killed, the only recourse may be through the legal system. An article in American Bee Journal (Vol. 131, No. 7, July, 1991, pp. 437-439) by D. Mayer and E. and C. Johansen provides some tips on handling these situations: 1. Perform frequent inspections for bee kills in apiaries located in high risk areas. 2. If a bee kill is suspected, contact a state apiary inspector and the state department of agriculture for assistance. 3. Take photos of anything associated with the kill. 4. Obtain dead bee samples and have them chemically analyzed to determine insecticide residues. Also collect duplicate samples. 5. If a bee kill is substantial, consider retaining an expert consultant for investigative purposes. 6. Contact persons in the vicinity for information they might have on pesticide application procedure. 7. When chemical analysis tests positive for an insecticide, find out as much as possible about the material. Get a copy of the label to determine how it can be legally applied and compare it with field reports either by the organization doing the application or eye witnesses to the event. 8. Finally, contact a lawyer with expertise in these types of cases to help with discussions concerning settling the case out of court. If these discussions fail, consider filing a lawsuit. Haste is all important when collecting evidence of a bee kill by insecticide. The most critical part is collecting the samples. Bear in mind that samples of freshly dead or actively dying bees are much more likely to have detectable pesticide residues. Samples should be frozen immediately and be collected by an independent THIRD PARTY (such as the bee inspector, or Cooperative Extension Service agent), NOT by the beekeeper. Finally, it is extremely important that the testing facility be provided with some idea about the specific pesticide used. Without this information, it is almost impossible for any laboratory to find the culpable chemical. Given what has to be done when a bee kill occurs, many beekeepers simply write off the loss to experience. In most cases it costs more to pursue a claim than the loss itself. The cheapest, most effective course of action continues to be prevention. This may require only a small effort to communicate with potential applicators and the potential dividends are enormous. FORMIC ACID FOR MITE CONTROL There's been a lot of information recently on use of formic acid for mite control. The material has several things going for it including the fact that it is a natural product, fairly inexpensive and is effective against both tracheal and Varroa mites. However, my colleague at the University of California in Davis, Eric Mussen, laments that some facts have been left out in all the folderol. First of all, the material doesn't have a label and so cannot be legally used. Second, its potentially dangerous to users. Here's what he writes in his newsletter, From the UC Apiaries. Formic acid is the simplest carboxylic acid with a formula of H-C-OOH. It has a molecular weight of 46.03 and is described as a "colorless, fuming liquid with a pungent, penetrating odor." It boils at 216 degrees F, melts at 35 degrees F, has a specific gravity of 1.2, a vapor pressure of 23 mm Hg at 20 degrees C, mixes well with water, alcohol, ether and glycerol, and has an odor threshold at 21 ppm. Vapor-air mixtures of 18-57% are explosive, if the ambient temperature is at or above 122 degrees F and the mixture is ignited by a spark. The vapors are heavier than air and may travel a considerable distance to source of ignition and flashback. However, fire is not a major concern. 1. Organic acids are dangerous materials to handle. If you spill formic acid on your skin, expect severe pain, brown or yellowish stains, burns that usually penetrate the full thickness of the skin, have sharply defined edges, and heal slowly with scar tissue formation. If you spill it on your clothes and don't wash it out, chronic exposure can lead to dermatitis (rash), protein precipitation, and red blood cells in urine. 2. Splashed into eyes, formic acid causes pain, tears, blurred vision and photosensitization (lights are too bright). In severe cases, conjunctival edema (swelling around eyes) leads to destruction of corneas. 3. If someone accidentally drank formic acid, it would cause severe burning pain in the mouth, throat and abdomen; followed by vomiting, watery or bloody diarrhea, tenesmus (painful straining during urination), retching, hemolysis (ruptured blood cells), hematuria (blood cells in urine), anuria, liver and kidney damage with jaundice, hypotension (low blood pressure), collapse, convulsions, coma and paralysis. 4. The most subtle effects involve inhalation. Opening a container of formic acid in an enclosed space liberates fumes. At 100 ppm, the fumes are immediately dangerous to life and health. Inhalation at low concentrations causes tearing, rhinorrhea (runny nose), coughing, throat irritation, and headache. Higher concentrations may produce the previous symptoms, followed in six to eight hours by pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs), tightness in the chest, difficulty breathing, dizziness, frothy expectoration and cyanosis (bluish or purplish skin discoloration due to lack of oxygen in the blood). Breathing only a little at a time over prolonged periods can lead to erosion of the teeth, local tissue death in the jaw, bronchial irritation with chronic cough, frequent attacks of bronchial pneumonia and gastrointestinal disturbances. If there is any good news in the story, it is that formic acid does not appear to be carcinogenic. It is a mutagen (causes mutations in genetic material). Use of proper protective equipment is a must when handling formic acid. The chemical container should be opened only in a room with powerful exhaust ventilation. The acid is strong enough to eat through some forms of plastics, rubber and coatings. Employees must wear appropriate protective clothing and equipment to prevent any possibility of skin contact with this substance, including appropriate gloves, splash-proof or dust-resistant safety goggles and faceshield. If a person is going to be in an atmosphere where there are 100 ppm (0.01%) formic acid, one of the following must be worn: A. Chemical cartridge respirator with an organic vapor cartridge and a full face mask. B. Dust, mist and fume respirator. C. Gas mask with an organic vapor canister (chin-style, front- or back-mounted canister). D. Supplied-air respirator with a full face piece, helmet or hood. E. Self-contained breathing apparatus with full facepiece. We hope this information is convincing. Formic acid MUST be handled with care. TROPICAL BLOSSOM IN THE SPOTLIGHT Tropical Blossom Honey Co. in Edgewater, Florida was recently featured in Insight, the newsletter of the Southern United States Trade Association (SUSTA). Mr. Dave McGinnis began the company in 1940 with $250.00. Tropical Blossom now has sales in twenty foreign countries and is the leading independent U.S. exporter of honey. As an example of the possibilities in the honey export market, the article describes a "Quid pro Quo" arrangement with a Swedish importer, Curt Strandberg. In exchange for Mr. Strandberg's representation in Scandinavia, Mr. McGinnis would assist in securing U.S. distributors for Strandberg's jams and jellies. In addition to Scandinavia, Tropical Blossom has expanded its exporting to Asia, Europe, the Caribbean and the Middle East. Honey exporting has had its ups and downs. Tropical Blossom entered the business in the 1960s, but lost much of its sales during the mid 1980s when price supports were in place and the dollar was strong. Creation of the National Honey Board, however, along with the government's "Buy-Back" program, have allowed processors to purchase domestic honey at world prices while protecting the producer. Thus, perseverance has paid off for Mr. McGinnis, quoted in the article as saying that trade regulations and barriers are not exclusive to the honey industry. But the effects can be minimized by joining trade associations like SUSTA, attending trade shows and getting to personally know your foreign customers. SUSTA is headquartered in New Orleans. It works to promote export sales of agricultural and food products from fifteen southern states and Puerto Rico by helping producers and distributors target potential overseas markets, and administers federal funds for international market development. For more information, write SUSTA, 2 Canal St., Suite 1540, New Orleans, LA 70130-1408, ph 504/568-5986 or FAX 504/568-6010. BEE DISEASE DIAGNOSIS I reported on the availability of Agriculture Handbook 690, Diagnosis of Honey Bee Diseases, last month, but was unable to find out how to order it. Information from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) indicates that the order number is #TS PB91193813/LL and the publication will be available by July 1. The shocker, however, is the price of $17.00. If you want a copy, I suggest sending a check for $6.00 to Department of Entomology- Nematology, University of Florida (see address below signature) and we'll send you a Xerox of the original. BEEKEEPERS INSTITUTE You should have received the flyer for this year's Beekeepers Institute at 4-H Camp Ocala with last month's edition of this newsletter. It is scheduled for August 23-25, deep in the heart of the Ocala National Forest. If you wish registration information, please let me know. AFRICAN BEE STATUS The African honey bee invasion is now well underway in Texas, according to an article in Bee Science, Vol. 1, No. 3, May, 1991. Swarms (latest count is over 70) have been found from Brownsville to Laredo. Between 20 to 25% of swarms captured are testing Africanized, a larger percentage than expected, says Elba Quintero, APHIS project manager, who also predicts the percentage will rise to 50% by 1992. The article reports one estimate of three swarms uncaptured for every one found in a bait hive. A number of governmental agencies as well as beekeepers are collecting swarms and twelve counties in southern Texas are under quarantine. Information in both Spanish and English is reaching the general public which is diligently reporting swarms, the article says. The message is "Don't Bug the Bees." Health department officials don bee suits and use soapy water to destroy swarms. In addition, the article discusses the first stinging attack on a Brownsville man who was not seriously injured. The bees were established in a concrete drainage pipe, part of a residential driveway. The article concludes that the bees are 50 miles north of the border and making a strong push northward. They aren't expected to reach San Antonio in 1991. GEORGIA NEWS There have been some recent apicultural developments in our neighboring state of Georgia. Dr. Keith Delaplane was hired as the extension apiculturist and his program is getting off the ground. He writes the monthly column "Strictly for the Hobbyist," in the American Bee Journal, and has recently published a beginners book on bees. Entitled: Honey Bees and Beekeeping, the 23 page pamphlet describes everything from honey bee biology to dealing with unwanted colonies. Limited copies of the publication are available from Georgia Cooperative Extension offices or for $.30 by contacting Carol Nimmons, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, ph 404/542-8944. The first edition of Dr. Delaplane's newsletter dedicated to Georgia beekeeping is also out. The Georgia Bee Letter, dedicated to promoting good bee practices must be obtained from the Cooperative Extension Offices in Georgia. Unlike this newsletter, it is not mailed out from the University. Dr. Delaplane's efforts are fine additions to the southeastern extension honey bee educational effort. Should you want to meet him up close and personal, he has kindly consented to attend this year's Florida Beekeepers Institute. MORE ON ORGANIC LABELLING I have had some questions concerning the standards I published last month for organic certification. The state has yet to identify any third party certifiers according to Richard Gunnels, Director of Organic Certification Program, Rm 431 Mayo Bldg., Tallahassee, FL 32399-0800, ph 904/488-9682. In the next month or so, he will have the names of some certifiers. Persons with interest in being certified should contact Mr. Gunnels directly. Others with information on the certification process include Mark Ketchel, Organic Crop Improvement Association, Rt. #3, Box 326, Alachua, FL 32615, ph 9094/462-1302 or Robin Lauriault, a member of the Organic Food Advisory Council, ph 904/475-2037, Melrose, FL. Sincerely, Malcolm T. Sanford 0740 IFAS, Bldg 970 University of Florida Gainesville, FL 32611-0740 Phone (904) 392-1801, Ext. 143 FAX: 904-392-0190 BITNET Address: MTS@IFASGNV INTERNET Address: MTS@GNV.IFAS.UFL.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 19 Jul 1991 14:48:48 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Doug Cutler Subject: July Florida newsletter. Please could someone out there forward me a copy of the Florida Extension Newsletter for July, I inadvertently deleted it while reading it! I blame that one on working with a different keyboard layout :-) Please send it directly to UNCDWC@UNCVM1. Thanks, Doug. Cutler Office of Information Technology, VM Systems Programmer University of North Carolina. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 23 Jul 1991 09:18:14 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Peter kevan Subject: dead bee traps Good for you, Zhiyong. Yes, the dead bee trap bashing was amusing but not exactly informative. The most important use of dead bee traps has been in the field monitoring of pesticide poisoning on honeybees. The methods outlined in the papers cited by Kirk and Seppo for the construction of such traps are sufficient to have a competent sheet-metal worker make them up. We have had quite a few made up here for pesticide trials on crops in Ontario and they have worked well. These traps also collect Psithyrus "hotelling" in honeybee hives. Peter Kevan ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 23 Jul 1991 09:31:50 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Aaron Morris Subject: Dead Bee Bashing Hey guys, lighten up! I had never heard of a dead bee trap before, and there is humor in the English language. I asked a question about a topic I knew nothing about (thanks Peter for the explanation) and I asked the question in what I thought was a funny manner. If I have offended anyone by my attempt at levity, I most humbly apologize. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1991 08:51:13 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Paul Chi-Jen Cheng Subject: None of your beezwax... Hello again, Since I didn't get any responses re. my smoker's cough article, I am going to switch subjects. We are going to try to make beeswax candles and also cold cream, and would like to ask the net for a good technique for cleaning beeswax. We are currently running it through a Kleenex(R) filter, but I don't think it could clear up wax that's a little darker. Thanks for any advise not on dead bee traps... Paul Cheng =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= >< Paul Chi-Jen Cheng, Genetics >< Computing Services, Student Operator >< >< "Eggs and sperm are my life." >< University of California, Davis >< =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1991 05:02:00 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Quelle barbe! Subject: RE: None of your beezwax... Paul, Put your wax in a container with water, stick it in the microwave and zap it until it melts. The best wax will float and cool on the top. Then do it again...and again...and again. Til you like the result. Clint ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1991 10:06:00 N Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology Comments: This message was sent with PMDF 3.2 From: PVE@KUB.NL Subject: Re: None of your beezwax... Paul, /Since I didn't get any responses re. my smoker's cough article, I am going to /switch subjects. We are going to try to make beeswax candles and also /cold cream, and would like to ask the net for a good technique for cleaning /beeswax. To try out: A cheap and simple technique I know is to warm up the wax in a little water, till it melts. Then you pour it into a cloth (kind of jute) and wring it out immediatly above a bucket. The pollution in the wax stays in de bag. To have more output you have to wear rubber gloves. Now can use more power to wring and it is less painfull because of the warm/hot wax. The result is 'clean'. / We are currently running it through a Kleenex(R) filter, but I /don't think it could clear up wax that's a little darker. /Thanks for any advise not on dead bee traps... What is a Kleenex(R) filter? and cold cream? --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clint writes: /Paul, Put your wax in a container with water, stick it in the microwave and /zap it until it melts. The best wax will float and cool on the top. Then do /it again...and again...and again. Til you like the result. "The best wax ..." What do you mean with 'best wax'. I don't think that you can separate 'good' or 'bad' wax, by warming up. "...will float and cool on the top". Does this mean that the pollution sinks, and that you have to remove 'the top' after cooling down, melt it and remove the top after cooling down, again.. and again..etc. Besides it is very labour-intensive, does it have a great 'clean' output? Peter van Empel ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1991 09:33:00 CDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: JT01@SWTEXAS.BITNET Subject: RE: June Issue of APIS--please acknowledge receipt to MTS@IFASGNV.BITNET ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT THANKS ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1991 09:34:00 CDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: JT01@SWTEXAS.BITNET Subject: RE: JULY ISSUE OF APIS, PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT TO MTS@IFASGNV.BITNET ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1991 21:00:00 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Quelle barbe! Subject: Re: None of your beezwax... Yup, Paul, that's what I meant. It IS labor-intensive and no doubt a filter cheesecloth or something similar would be quicker; but the fact is, the dross tends to sink and the clearest wax is on the top when it cools. :)> ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1991 17:53:33 CDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Merry Makela Subject: None of your beezwax... In-Reply-To: Paul Chi-Jen Cheng's message of Tue, 30 Jul 1991 08:51:13 -0700 <9107301628.AA00274@kelsun1.tamu.edu.tamu.edu> I'm a real novice at this but I like my technique for cleaning beeswax cause I sorta made it up... more likely I stole it from somebody and just have forgotten. Put bees wax in water in a microwavable container - preferabley an expendable one. get a clean wide mouth jar or can and stretch a knee high nylon stocking over the top so the toe part acts as a filter. An old pair of pantyhose may also be used. Heat the water & wax mixture in the microwave til the wax melts. Pour water and wax through the nylon into the jar. Remove the nylon with the impurities. Let the water & wax mixture cool undisturbed. You may have to break the wax block to remove it after it has hardened. If you have a lot of wax to clean use a queen size pair of pantyhose. The wax will be fairly clean but will smell like honey and be yellow in color if you use new comb wax. the older the wax the darker it will be. You may get cleaner wax if you repeat the process since more of the soluable impurities will remain in the water fraction. Good luck. ========================================================== Merry Makela | makela@kelsun1.tamu.edu Knowledge Engineering Lab | Department of Entomology Texas A&M University | ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1991 15:59:00 PST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: KIRK VISSCHER Subject: reply to none of beeswax Some years back Roger Morse and Bill Cogshall were running some experiments extracting wax from slumgum (the highly technical term for the bee cocoons, dead bees, and other dross remaining after wax is melted from combs). They got some remarkable results of bright yellow wax with very high efficiency extraction from adding some detergents while heating the mess with water. I don't know if this was ever published, nor exactly which detergents to use. Perhaps you could contact Morse at Dept of Entomology, Cornell U, Ithaca, NY 14853 for more detail. Aside from this, a standard method of cleaning up wax to some extent is to melt it with water, so that any honey dissolves, some insoluble material sinks to the bottom, and the wax floats. It can be melted in a solar oven, a microwave, or on a stove. Be very careful, though, as hot wax is VERY flammable! Wax can also be sun bleached to some extent, and this is used commercially at times to get a whiter wax.