From SYSAM@UACSC2.ALBANY.EDUMon May 22 07:17:30 1995 Date: Mon, 22 May 95 08:37:41 EDT From: Aaron Morris To: dicka@cuug.ab.ca ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 3 Feb 1992 15:41:00 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Stephen J. Clark" Subject: Opalith numbers Q: are Opalith numbers the ones that some researchers have glued to the backs of bees? Can you tell me how to get ahold of some? Steve Clark Vassar College ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 3 Feb 1992 16:42:00 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: di5 Subject: Re: Opalith numbers In-Reply-To: <9202032120.AA17662@umailsrv0.UMD.EDU> Opalith-Plattchen (with an umlaut over the second 'a') are made by: Chr. Graze KG Fabrik fuer Bienenzuchtgerate (umlaut over last 'a') 7056 Weinstadt-Endersbach Bei Stuttgart Germany telephone 0 71 51 6 11 47 telex 7 262 213 apig d fax 7151-609239 As of 13 September 1991 tags were DM 22.50 for a kit with 500 tags (100 each of 5 colors), plus DM 5.00 for airmail shipping. The tags are also available from retailers, including: Gustav Nenninger 8741 Saal A. Saale Germany Bienen Mathys AG 3762 Erlenbach i. S. Switzerland This information is from the appendix on supplies for pollination biologists, in a book called Techniques for Pollination Biologists, to be published by University Press of Colorado later this year. Carol A. Kearns and David W. Inouye, authors. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 3 Feb 1992 16:45:00 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: di5 Subject: source of pollen traps? Can anyone recommend a source of pollen traps for honeybee hives? David Inouye Department of Zoology University of Maryland ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 4 Feb 1992 06:40:43 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Greetings from Meindert de Jong Subject: Re: source of pollen traps? >Can anyone recommend a source of pollen traps for honeybee >hives? >David Inouye >Department of Zoology >University of Maryland I suppose (?) that you need a Tauber trap based on the sedimentation principle. You can use it in out of the way places, without using electricity. It's a not volumetric trap that results in "semi-quantitative" data. You can identify the pollen grains with help of the light microscope. I don't know where you can buy it. (BTW, spore trapping is one of the subjects of the disciplin of Aerobiology. Recently, I wanted to start an AEROBIO-List, but it didn't succeed. If you want documentation about this, e-mail me at Vlinders@rcl.wau.NL) Regards, Meindert de Jong ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 4 Feb 1992 08:22:27 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Peter Subject: Re: source of pollen traps? In-Reply-To: Message of Tue, 4 Feb 1992 06:40:43 -0500 from I suspect that pollentraps are available from the bee equipment suppliers, such as Dadant and Root. The ads in Amrican Bee Journal or Gleanings in Bee Culture will give you phone nos. etc for those companies in the USA ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 4 Feb 1992 12:44:17 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Danilo Fonseca Subject: Re: source of pollen traps? In-Reply-To: Message of Tue, 4 Feb 1992 06:40:43 -0500 from What's the problem? I received your message 27 (!!!) times on my e-mail. Danilo Fonseca ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 4 Feb 1992 13:32:27 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: MILNE@WSUVM1.BITNET Tuesday, February 4, 1992 Fellow BEE-L listeners; Sometime in the past year I read an article on the 'overwintering' home of Apis laboriosa (probably). It had some nice color pictures of these bees clustered on some low branches in dense brush. I thought it was in National Geographic, but I can't find it. Does anyone else remember the reference? Thanks for the help! Chuck Milne MILNE@WSUVM1 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 4 Feb 1992 13:46:18 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Tom Leone Subject: Re: source of pollen traps? I didn't send you any e-mail. Please check your "To" line. Tom Leone ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 4 Feb 1992 20:24:03 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Edward E Southwick The article with color photos of A laboriosa in bushes was in The Smithsonian, I think. Around December 1990. I will find the exact ref if this dosn't work. ================================================================== º Edward E. Southwick Department of Biology º º Phone 716-395-5743 State University of New York º º FAX 716-395-2416 Brockport, New York 14420 º º BITNET SOUTHWIK@BROCK1P U.S.A. º ================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 5 Feb 1992 10:43:32 CST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Bee Surgeon Chuck, There was an article on how laboriosa overwinter in the valleys, and with clu ster temperature actually lower than ambient in the day, by Underwood. I think it is on Natural History. sometime in 1991. I also remember reading about the same bee in Nat His. during the meeting of New Orleans, so maybe Dec 1990, or Jan 91, but I am not sure if that is the on e about migration during winter. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 5 Feb 1992 20:05:29 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Edward E Southwick NATURAL HISTORY it was (for laboriosa by Underwood) Dec 1990 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 7 Feb 1992 18:09:00 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: di5 Subject: 1993 International Symposium on Pollination in Tropics The first announcement of this meeting, 8-13 1993 in Bangalore, India, is out. Symposia will include: Flower biology in relation to pollination Insect behaviour in relation to pollination Pollination by insects and other animals in natural communities Insect pollination in commercial production of seeds and fruits Pollination problems in tropical crops Conservation and management of pollinating insects Population dynamics of pollinators To receive the second circular, write to: Dr. K. N. Ganeshaiah, Secretary International Symposium on Pollination in Tropics Dept. of Genetics and Plant Breeding University of Agricultural Sciences G.K.V.K. Campus Bangalore 560 065 India ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1992 11:03:40 TUR Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Yavuz Darendelioglu Subject: Re: source of pollen traps? In-Reply-To: Message of Tue, 4 Feb 1992 06:40:43 -0500 from Another source for pollen traps is in TURKEY. The adress is; Turkiye Kalkinma Vakfi Entegre Aricilik Tesisleri Kazan/ANKARA TURKEY Yavuz Darendelioglu. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1992 14:25:33 WET Reply-To: MunnPA@cardiff.ac.uk Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Dr P A Munn 92 Subject: 5th Int. Conf. on Apicult. in Tropical Climates THE 5TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON APICULTURE IN TROPICAL CLIMATES DATE: 7-12 September 1992 VENUE: Trinidad and Tobago Think of two things we all enjoy ---- BEES and visiting exotic places !!! Well, you can combine both of these if you come to the 5th International Conference on Apiculture in Tropical Climates. The programme will cover all aspects relating to tropical bees and the sustainable development of beekeeping. There will be technical visits to apiaries. Social activities will be encouraged by official events, informal gatherings and local and regional tours for delegates and accompanying persons. Trinidad and Tobago offers a friendly tropical venue for this conference. The beekeeping is interesting: Africanized bees were first identified in Trinidad in 1979, but the bees in Tobago are still European. The beekeeping industry is expanding, with increasing production of honey and other bee products. Why not join us ? Delegates at our last conference (in Cairo, 1988) included entomologists, research scientists, agroforesters, aid agency personnel, beekeepers, conservationists, extension staff, government representatives, project workers and zoologists. There was much lively discussion ! E-mail, fax, phone, or (if you must!), write for more details and the second circular to : Conference Steering Committee IBRA, 18 North Road Cardiff CF1 3DY, UK. E-mail on INTERNET: MUNNPA@CARDIFF,AC.UK or JANET: MUNNPA@UK.AC.CARDIFF Fax: (+44) 222 66 55 22 Phone: 0222 372 409 WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU TO THE CONFERENCE ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1992 17:03:00 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Malcolm (Tom) Sanford, Florida Extension Apiculturist" Subject: February issue of APIS FILENAME: FEBAPIS.92 Florida Extension Beekeeping Newsletter Apis--Apicultural Information and Issues (ISSN 0889-3764) Volume 10, Number 2, February 1992 REMOVING BEES FROM BUILDINGS With the arrival of the African honey bee there continues to be increased interest in the art of removing honey bee nests from buildings. Dr. Jon Williams at the USDA Bee Laboratory, Baton Rouge, LA is attempting to locate persons who are in this specialized business. He is interested in experimenting with various means to remove bees from difficult places without the use of pesticides. If you have or wish to gain experience in this, contact Dr. Williams, ph 504/766-6064. LYME DISEASE The maples are blooming in north Florida and soon the bee season will be in full swing. Besides bees, other arthropods will also become active, including ticks, which transmit Lyme disease. Lyme disease was identified in 1975, after a high frequency of arthritis was found in three adjacent communities in Connecticut: Old Lyme, Lyme and East Hadden. It also is distributed in Europe, Asia, Australia, Japan and China. The disease has been expanding its range in the United States and has been identified in many western states and along much of the Atlantic seaboard. Outbreaks of Lyme disease are rare, but increasing, in Florida. Some 43 cases were diagnosed in 1989 and it is reported officially endemic in four counties (Hillsborough, Orange, Santa Rosa and Volusia). Alachua county also has documented cases. Most experts are predicting more cases of the disease will appear. Although anyone outdoors can catch it, beekeepers are considered prime candidates because they often work in areas where ticks are prevalent. The organism causing Lyme disease is the spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, associated with various species of ticks. There is controversy concerning the role of species carrying this spirochete and the specific tick responsible for cases in Florida has yet to be identified. It was first found associated with species of the hard tick in the genus Ixodes. The potential species that experimentally transmit the disease or harbor the spirochete, however, are large in number. It has also been found in deer and horse flies, as well as mosquitoes. Unfortunately, most of these host organisms are found for extended seasonal periods in Florida. There are several main reservoirs of Lyme disease in nature. The white-tailed deer and white-footed mouse are primary hosts. Other mammals which may harbor the disease are chipmunks, raccoons, rabbits, horses, cows and dogs. Again, the specific animals responsible for maintaining the disease as endemic in Florida have not been established. A major problem with Lyme disease is difficulty in diagnosis. Because it is such a new disease, many physicians may not yet be familiar with the symptoms, which are not clear cut and can be delayed. In addition, symptoms can mimic other conditions or worse, not be present at all in the early stages of the disease. The makes it incumbent on the victim to recognize tick bites, and bring to the attention of physicians the link between symptoms and tick bites. Typically, there are several phases of Lyme disease. The first symptom may be erythema chronicum migrans (ECM), an enlarged ring of redness surrounding a central puncture, the site of the tick bite. It usually disappears after four weeks, but can last for months. Although most commonly circular, the rash can be other shapes, including S-shaped. It usually does not itch, but may feel warm to the touch and is often followed within a week or two by flu-like symptoms including muscle and joint aches, fever and night sweats. Several weeks to months later, the second phase of the disease occurs in about 60 percent of cases and usually consists of joint pain (commonly in the knees), but also may involve neurological disturbances: headaches, meningitis, paralysis of facial muscles. Heart problems, dizziness and fainting may occur in some patients. The final and most serious stages may be observed several months to years after the initial tick bite. These include arthritis, intellectual deterioration or psychiatric disease. If any of the above symptoms appear, a test is in order. Unfortunately, diagnostic tests are not 100 percent accurate. Antibodies in the blood do not appear in quantity until four to six weeks after being bitten. Antibiotics taken by the patient will also interfere with diagnosis. New tests are being developed, however, to test urine or spinal fluid for confirmation of Lyme disease. The best course of action in the fight against Lyme disease is controlling tick populations and protecting oneself against bites. Areas inhabited by deer (prime sources of mites) are to be avoided. Clothing should be buttoned and as little bare skin exposed as possible while working bees. Never sit on the ground in bushy areas and keep brush cleared and burned in well-travelled areas. After prolonged periods outdoors, carefully examine your body for ticks. Ticks embedded in the skin should be gently removed by using tweezers as close to the mouth, where they are attached, as possible. It is better to remove a small amount of skin near the attachment than to break off the tick, leaving its mouthparts still attached to the skin. The latter can result in secondary infection and prolonged possibility of transmitting the spirochete. Standard insect repellents can protect exposed skin, but ticks will often crawl to untreated areas. Ticks are seasonal and using chemical control to kill populations is difficult, requiring expertise for each possible species present. It is not recommended for the amateur. For more detailed information on Lyme disease, see "Tick (Acari: Ixodidae) Vectors of Lyme Disease Organisms (Borrelia burgdorferi) in Florida," by J.F. Butler and H.A. Denmark, Entomology Circular No. 326, Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Plant Industry, January, 1990. Copies are available from Mr. Harold Denmark, P.O. Box 147100, Gainesville, FL 32614-7100, ph 904/372-3505, Ext. 186. EFFECTIVE NUTRITION As the active bee season approaches, many beekeepers will begin to feed bees to stimulate their population growth. The traditional food is sugar syrup or high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). I have written before in this newsletter that beekeepers should not neglect the protein side of nutrition when feeding honey bees. The value of a "total" nutritional approach was recently called to my attention by an article in the October, 1991 issue of Florida Grower and Rancher, called "Effective Nutrition Uppermost." This article states, "Effective nutrition management may yield a greater return to livestock producers ...than any other aspect of a total herd health program," according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Livestock producers have long recognized energy and protein needs as critical nutrition factors, the article contends, but veterinarians today are focusing on nutrient content as well to minimize disease problems, improve body condition and increase weight gains. Dr. T. Noffsinger, D.V.M. is quoted as saying, "As veterinarians, we try to bolster the immune system to protect animals from respiratory illnesses...without proper nutrition, the immune system is not effective in protecting against these diseases." Part of this is the importance of trace minerals in the diet, including zinc, iron, selenium and copper, all necessary to combat potential virus infections. A nutritionally balanced diet is also important in preventing stress from taking huge tolls on livestock. It is the single most important economic factor affecting profitability, according to J.E. Sears, D.V.M. He concluded: "If you cut back on nutrition in cutting costs...increase in disease problems will cost livestock producers a lot more in the long run." Is it too much of a leap of faith for the beekeeper to take these thoughts to heart? I don't think so. Bees may not be mammals, but they are nevertheless livestock and their nutritional management is just as critical. The beekeeper is at somewhat of a disadvantage because less is known about how to manage the protein, mineral and trace elements in the bees' diet. The classic method used by beekeepers to feed protein is pollen supplement, an artificial diet with some percentage of pollen added. The pollen stimulates the bees to consume the diet. A substitute is a totally artificial diet. Commercially prepared supplements/substitutes are available from bee supply houses. It is also possible to make an artificial diet using expeller processed (not solvent extracted) soybean flour with fat content of 5-7 percent (higher fat content is toxic to bees), brewer's yeast (Saccharomyces sp.), Wheast (R) or whey yeast (Saccharomyces fragilis), and torula yeast (Candida utilis). The following diets have been tested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture bee laboratories in Tucson, AZ; Madison, WI; and Beltsville, MD. Protein Source Parts by weight Dry Mix Patty Supplement Formula #1 Soybean flour:pollen (3:1 weight/weight) 1 Sugar:water (2:1 weight/weight) 2 Supplement Formula #2 Wheast (R) or brewer's yeast:pollen (3:1 weight/weight) 1 Sugar:water (6:1 weight/weight) 2 Substitute Formula #1 Brewer's yeast 2 3 Sugar 3 3 Water (to make a dough-like consistency) 2.5 Substitute Formula #2 Soybean flour 2 3 Sugar 3 3 Water (to make a dough-like consistency) 2.5 Substitute Formula #3 Wheast (R) 3 Sugar 3 Water (to make a dough-like consistency) 4 Source: L.N. Standifer, F.E. Moeller, N.M. Kauffeld, E.W. Herbert, Jr. and H. Shimanuki. Supplemental Feeding of Honey Bee Colonies, Ag. Information Bull. No. 413, June, 1978. Supplements with pollen added will almost invariably be better accepted by bees. Diets can be fed as a dry mix or in patty form. Never feed pollen from an unknown source; it can be a vector for most brood diseases. Pollen pellets should first be dissolved in water (one-third gallon of water/pound of pellets). Sugar is then stirred in followed by the soybean flour, Wheast (R), brewer's or torula yeast. Finally for patties, water is added to make a dough-like consistency. It will take some experimenting to adjust the water based on environmental conditions. Cakes of diet of about a pound and a half are wrapped in wax paper to retard drying and placed on top of the brood nest. Cakes should be replaced before the previous one is consumed; about every week or 10 days. It is important that once colonies are fed, they continue to be fed until abundant pollen is found in the field. A substitute has been developed using both yeast and lactalbumin. This is commercially available as the Beltsville Bee Diet (R). It is named for the laboratory that developed and tested the diet. Results using this commercial preparation are mixed, depending on beekeeping region. This is the case for other commercial preparations as well, the reason that supplements are usually preferred by beekeepers. 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: Tue, 25 Feb 1992 09:58:01 CST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Bee Surgeon Here is the question: When does spring come to the great Midwest ? Well it is already here. The bees told me so. Last saturday, (Feb. 22) it was 64 F here, and I wondered what bees would do, so checked them out. They are not only flying, they are foraging for water, and even bringing in pol len ! I caught about 30 pollen foragers in 1 hr. The next day about 40 forage rs in half an hour. It had never occured to me that there would be pollen thi s early, in Feb. Anyway, an early field season is awaiting again. Regards to all bees and bee-liners! ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 25 Feb 1992 13:11:51 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Doug Cutler In-Reply-To: Message of Tue, 25 Feb 1992 09:58:01 CST from On Tue, 25 Feb 1992 09:58:01 CST Bee Surgeon said: >I wondered what bees would do, so checked them out.They are not only flying, >they are foraging for water, and even bringing in pollen ! I caught about 30 >pollen foragers in 1 hr. The next day about 40 foragers in half an hour. I had been observing my bees for a few weeks now, waiting for good weather on a weekend to look inside. It looked as if they were just taking "orientation" flight but last weekend it was warm so I looked in a hive. There were lots of bees carying pollen, yellow, green and red!!, can give me a clue as to where these colors come from, it must be trees because I don't see any flowers. Doug. Cutler Office of Information Technology, VM Systems Programmer University of North Carolina. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 25 Feb 1992 13:28:00 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: BATSON@FRMNVAX1.BITNET Subject: pollen colors Someone asked about pollen colors....I'm pretty new at it, but can't help noticing lots of red maples blooming in NC and SC....could that be the red pollen reported in NC? ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 25 Feb 1992 21:13:47 CST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Bee Surgeon The pollen I observed bees bringing were mostly yellow, supposedly from a low bush with yellow flowers (Cokrus ? no clue how to spell it). I did find 2 bees just with some saw-dust like stuff on their corbiculae, so maybe they are real deparate ? just like us ? ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 26 Feb 1992 01:34:00 GMT Reply-To: rodders@cix.compulink.co.uk Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Rod Ellery ZHIYONG writes > When does spring come to the great Midwest ? >Well it is already here. The bees told me so. Last saturday, (Feb. 22) >it was 64 F here, and I wondered what bees would do, so checked them out. >They are not only flying, they are foraging for water, and even bringing in >pollen Pollen has been arriving here (London,England) for about 2 weeks now but in fairly small amounts. Temperature yesterday was recorded peaking at 59 F. Mind you they only stopped collecting in November. (last recorded pollen foragers sighted on 29th November). If only I knew where they're getting it from! Wishing all bee-liners a prosperous bee-keeping year. Rod Ellery. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 26 Feb 1992 08:09:38 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Stephen Bambara Subject: pollen colors A few of the early spring plants are maples, willows, dandelion, bulbs (crocus, dandelion). There are others, especially horticultural plants which may be blooming. These plants will vary with your geographic area. Maple pollen is greenish-grey. Willow is somewhat yellow and dandelion is more yellow orange. The best way to learn these colors is to know when the plants are blooming and observe bees with loaded pollen baskets while on the flowers. You can also collect the pollen as it comes into the hive and try to identify it. This can be difficult. Dorothy Hodges's "Pollen Loads of Honey" has the only color chart for pollen in publication of which I am aware. It is an incredible feat to have produced such a chart. Before you get too excited, it only covers British plants, so if the same species does not grow in the US, you have to presume that similar genera might have similar colors- a presumption which may not be valid. Also, pollen color changes from when it is on the anthers, compared to when it is in the pollen baskets, to when it is in the cells. Part of this change is due to time and part to light reflection so keep a color range in mind rather than an exact color. To be a good beekeeper, I maintain that you have to be a bit of a botanist, also. Learn the plants which are important in your area and when they bloom. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 26 Feb 1992 09:40:41 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Slow, Children@Play" Subject: fyi-article on africanized bees The March/April issue of _The Sciences_ has an article on page twenty-two entitled "Honey, They're Here!" / (Learning to cope /c Africanized bees) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ When ambidextrous people can't do it right, we do it left. MacPhil / iqti400@indycms.bitnet / iqti400@indycms.iupui.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 27 Feb 1992 10:22:00 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Aaron Morris Subject: Early pollen sources Seems that there is a round of discussion along this line each spring and the usual problem is the ease there is in overlooking the international nature of this list - plants that grow in Illinois may or may not grow in London, and if they do happen to grow in both places, they may not have the same common names. This lead to a suggestion from somewhere in Germany (I forget where and by whom) that the Latin names for the plants be used to avoid any confusion. Unfortunately, I speak no Latin. In my area (Upstate New York) the earliest source of pollen is skunk cabbage. I don't know what colour pollen the plant produces, but I can describe the plant, which grows wild in moist wooded areas. It flowers well before the plant itself grows (I have never actually seen the flowers). The plant (when it grows) resembles a head of cabbage (again, I'm not sure if there is a realtion with the cabbage family or not). The plant has a most unpleasant odor resembling that of a skunk. Hence the plant's common name. If you have ever stumbled across this plant there is no mistaking it! If foragers are bringing in pollen and the maples and crocus have not yet bloomed, skunk cabbage is a good bet. Dandelions come a few weeks after the maples and it is at this bloom that I add honey supers. Incidently, it's still hard winter here. I envy those who are already into the foraging season. I expect my bees do also! ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 27 Feb 1992 16:41:57 CST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: JERRY PELIKAN Subject: SUBSCRIPTION I WOULD LIKE TO SUBSCRIBE TO YOUR MAILING LIST. JERRY PELIKAN ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 28 Feb 1992 08:48:00 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jeffri H Frontz +1 614 860 2797 Subject: Breed of bees for a novice Hi... Does anyone have any recommendations about the best breed of bees for a novice? I've never kept bees before, but I bought a hive this winter and have it assembled, painted and waiting in my garage. I've been reading Gleanings, ABC-XYZ, and the Hive and the Honeybee. >From what I can tell, if I want a gentle race, I should probably go for Midnight or Ruckfast, right? I've talked to a couple of people in the local beekeepers association, and they suggested that I might want to buy an established hive from someone in the area. I was kind of uncomfortable about this, since I wasn't sure if I would know what race I'd be getting. I figured that it would be best to deal with someone advertising for the kind of bees that I want. Am I worrying over nothing? Oh, I should probably mention that I live in central Ohio, in the middle of a rural area. There're lots of woods, corn, soybeans, tomatoes, pasture, etc. growing nearby. We also have a pond and a stream (the latter dried up during last years drought, but it's now flowing again). Thanks in advance for any advice/info. Jeff --- Jeff Frontz Work: +1 614 860 2797 AT&T-Bell Labs (CB 0A-119) Cornet: 353-2797 att!jeff.frontz jeff.frontz@att.com Home: +1 614 924 2205 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 28 Feb 1992 09:03:18 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Doug Cutler Subject: Re: Breed of bees for a novice In-Reply-To: Message of Fri, 28 Feb 1992 08:48:00 EST from On Fri, 28 Feb 1992 08:48:00 EST Jeffri H Frontz +1 614 860 2797 said: >Hi... > >Does anyone have any recommendations about the best breed of bees >for a novice? Not really, but I have established colonies three times due to moving, two of the were Midnight and the third Italians. They were all started from 3 lb packages with queen and with a good dose of inital feeding did quite well. Any differences between the types was not apparent and probably due to local conditions, floweres, trees, etc. > Am I worrying over nothing? I won't touch that one with a barge pole !!!!!!! Doug. Cutler Office of Information Technology, VM Systems Programmer University of North Carolina. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 28 Feb 1992 09:13:45 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Richard.Alan.Haver@DARTMOUTH.EDU Subject: Re: Breed of bees for a novice i suspect every race of bees will get some votes. let me chime in with a good experience of my own: i usually get italians. a coupla years ago i got a box of Starlines (which i believe is a variety of italians). they are the most gentle and productive bees i've ever had. i suspect that soon now the queen will be superceded and i'll be back to italians. requeening is apparently not a simpler matter (i've never done it--the descriptions and possible pitfalls imtimidate me--i have too many problems with overwintering kills to want to add the complications of requeening). a box of italians i got last spring, on the other hand, was the most cranky bunch of bugs i've had the displeasure of owning. i hope their second year is more pleasant. gentility is, of course, only one factor to consider--overwintering ability, spring build-up, tendency to propolize, disease resistance, and productivity are more important in my opinion. if the AHB ever gets established in the north, you'll laugh about difference in temperament between itialians and, say, caucasians. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 28 Feb 1992 11:19:03 CST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Merry Makela You think you Yanks are having an early spring. I understand it never stopped in South Texas (thats south of Del Rio and San Antonio). Anita Collins in the Rio Grande Valley said she was getting swarms in December. And its been wet. A beekeeper friend in Kerrville (central Texas) said he'd measured 22 inches of rain this year by mid February. The average annual total is only 28 for that area. Our rains last Christmas are legendary. But the sun has been shining for a few days now. Dandelions, elms, henbit (or dead nettle), ornamental quince, and ornamental prunus spp. were blooming since mid January. Now the redbuds, cottonwoods, oaks, peaches, chicksaw plums, and ashes are in full bloom. Its sunny and 70 degrees. Not that I want to make you envious. Our earliest pollen plants are dandelion, henbit and elms. Dandelion pollen is golden, elm pollen is pale yellow. Henbit I have no idea. A pink pollen is put out by spring beauty, which is a little white flower that blooms early on golf courses. It has conspicuous scarlet veins. The pollen in the bees baskets tends to be a salmon pink but is quite distinct. The latin name is Claytonia virginica in the Portulacaceae. It was blooming in mid February as far north as Wichita Falls on the Red River. Yes, it is a wet, early spring in Texas and we will build a gargantuan feral Africanized honey bee population ready for delivery at our borders sooner than previously anticipated. Cheers. ========================================================== Merry Makela | makela@kelsun1.tamu.edu Knowledge Engineering Lab | Department of Entomology Texas A&M University | ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 28 Feb 1992 14:33:52 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Tom Fisher Subject: Re: Breed of bees for a novice In-Reply-To: <9202281358.AA27411@fieldofdreams.npirs.purdue.edu>; from "Jeffri H Frontz +1 614 860 2797" at Feb 28, 92 8:48 am > > Hi... > > Does anyone have any recommendations about the best breed of bees > for a novice? I've never kept bees before, but I bought a hive > this winter and have it assembled, painted and waiting in my garage. > I've been reading Gleanings, ABC-XYZ, and the Hive and the Honeybee. > >From what I can tell, if I want a gentle race, I should probably > go for Midnight or Ruckfast, right? > > I've talked to a couple of people in the local beekeepers association, > and they suggested that I might want to buy an established hive from > someone in the area. I was kind of uncomfortable about this, since > I wasn't sure if I would know what race I'd be getting. I figured > that it would be best to deal with someone advertising for the kind of > bees that I want. Am I worrying over nothing? > > Oh, I should probably mention that I live in central Ohio, in the middle > of a rural area. There're lots of woods, corn, soybeans, tomatoes, > pasture, etc. growing nearby. We also have a pond and a stream (the > latter dried up during last years drought, but it's now flowing again). > Jeff: I live out in the country about 10 miles from Lafayette, IN. From your description, I'd say we live in very similar geography (farm country). I started my first bee colony last april (1991) and I went with Buckfast variety which I bought from Weaver's Apiary in Navasota, TX. I've been real pleased thus far. The bees are gentle and I actually harvested two supers full of honey last fall (this really surprised me - everything I had read led me to believe that there wouldn't be much surplus honey during the first season). Hope this helps. Good luck! ==================================================================== Tom Fisher tfisher@ceris.purdue.edu | "...if by chance we find each Phone (317) 494-6616 | other, it is beautiful." - F. Perls