From SYSAM@UACSC2.ALBANY.EDUMon May 22 07:19:10 1995 Date: Mon, 22 May 95 08:38:22 EDT From: Aaron Morris To: dicka@cuug.ab.ca ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1992 09:47:11 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Peter Subject: Re: biology In-Reply-To: Message of Thu, 20 Aug 1992 11:31:00 GMT from Dear Phil: Your message reached me in Canada. I presume that you are now on BEE-L. If you or anyone else at Queens wishes to subscribe to a general entomology notice board then send the following address: LISTSERV@VM.UOGUELPH.CA message: SUB ENTOMO-L and you're on. The to post messages, just send your messages to ENTOMO-L@VM.UOGUELPH.CA Cheers, Peter. Please spread the word ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1992 10:00:57 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Peter Subject: Re: Direction finding. In-Reply-To: Message of Thu, 20 Aug 1992 09:35:08 PDT from And the sun height in the tropics: Professor Cam Jay wrote on this subject in Journal of Apicultural Research a few years ago. You may want to write to him at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He retired a short while ago, but still receives mail there. Cheers, Peter ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 09:45:00 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Malcolm (Tom) Sanford, Florida Extension Apiculturist" Subject: August Apis FILENAME: AUGAPIS.92 Florida Extension Beekeeping Newsletter Apis--Apicultural Information and Issues (ISSN 0889-3764) Volume 10, Number 8, August 1992 BEEKEEPERS INSTITUTE--CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS This year's Beekeepers Institute at 4-H Camp Ocala was by any measure a success. Over seventy participants enjoyed presentations on queen instrumental insemination and certification, mite detection, honey cookery, basic bee management and the relationship between allergy and bee stings. In addition, the ever popular live bee open-hive demonstrations were well received. Perhaps the highlight of this year's event was a presentation by Mr. Michael O'Hara, Communications and Education Division Director, Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, on crisis communications. Using a video camera and sham interviews, Mr. O'Hara was able to clearly demonstrate the value of this kind of training, especially with reference to the African honey bee (AHB). The highlights of Mr. O'Hara's observations were: Individual Rights -- No one from the press has the right to violate your individual rights. Honesty -- Never mislead or lie to a reporter. If the situation is under litigation, say this is so; if there is a question about profits, dollars or proprietary information, you can defer/refuse answering based on not informing competitors in the marketplace. Buzz Words -- Never repeat an expression or inflammatory statement made by a reporter. As an example, if you are asked to what do you attribute this catastrophe, do not repeat the word "catastrophe." It then becomes attributable to you and you alone; you will "own" it. Hostility -- Never get angry; keep cool and remember the reporter always has the last word. Off the Record -- There is no such thing; if you don't want it reported, don't say it. Estimates -- Never make numerical estimates in time or dollars. Say that the incident is under investigation and you will provide accurate information when it becomes available. Reporter Verification -- Ask for identification, the purpose of a reporter's activities, media affiliation and telephone number. Bridging -- Try to bridge the gap between a reporter's wish to be negative and providing a positive statement about your activity. Statistics -- If you are not aware of statistics provided by a reporter, say so and ask for them in writing before commenting. Deadlines -- All reporters are on deadlines, but you are not. Take all the time necessary to avoid hasty comments. The fact that a microphone is stuck in your face doesn't mean you have to say something. Dead air time is not likely to appear on television. Finally, it is best to have a communications plan in place and persons trained in this area. Defer all questions to one or two designated (and trained) persons to avoid conflicting information. An offensively oriented public relations/communications plan is the best defense against sensationalistic reporting based on negativism. FIRE FIGHTERS AND STINGING INCIDENTS Several of Mr. O'Hara's interviews at the 1992 Beekeepers Institute indicated that beekeepers and others could/should work with 911 emergency services and/or fire-rescue units as part of their public relations/communications plan. According to an article entitled "Conducting a Honey Bee Emergency Demonstration," in the July 1992 issue of Gleanings in Bee Culture , fire fighters will more than likely be called in emergency situations with bees. Unfortunately, according to an accompanying piece ("Subduing Stinging Insects," by Eric Erickson and John Estes) in the same issue, "Most fire departments do not provide their personnel with training or specialized equipment needed to hand large populations of stinging insects." Thus, two scenarios are possible: (1) a major incident that cannot be quickly controlled, lives lost, rescue personnel injured and lawsuits filed or (2) the situation is controlled, no lives lost or lawsuits enjoined. The folks at Gleanings believe the latter is preferable and suggest that beekeepers take a proactive stance in contacting their local fire departments. Recently, I have done just that by sending a letter to both the City of Gainesville and Alachua County fire chiefs. The Dean here at the University suggested I send the same letter to chiefs in the major cities. However, there is no way I can send the same information to all fire departments (volunteer and otherwise) throughout the state. So, I am printing an edited version here in the hope that interested parties might take it upon themselves to contact their local department: Dear Chief : Enclosed please find an article reprinted from the beekeeping journal called Gleanings in Bee Culture. Although there is expected to be variation in municipal response to the presence of the bee, it is not too soon to begin planning for the insect's eventual arrival. Information from the Rio Grande Valley of Texas reveals that public knowledge of the presence of African or Africanized bees (what the press refers to as "killer bees") in an area results in large numbers of phone calls about stinging insects. In most cases, fire departments have been called upon to react to these "bee calls." Enclosed is an article describing this situation in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas ("Valley Resident Living in the Eye of AHB Swarm," The Speedy Bee, June, 1992). The enclosed information discusses techniques that will help fire fighters and others in handling nuisance bees and stinging attacks. I hope you will give it widest circulation within the local fire- rescue community. It is my understanding that this information will also appear in national fire-fighting magazines and that a how-to video is in production. Recently, Texas public television aired a program on what the Houston Fire Department is doing to prepare for the bee's arrival. The local fire-fighting community would do well to establish communications with the local beekeeping community early on as has been done in other areas. Reproducing the enclosed publication ENY-114, "Information on the African Honey Bee," published by the University of Florida and having it on hand for distribution to interested parties would be a beginning step. It suggests that beekeepers are expected to be a defense against African honey bees by keeping manageable colonies of European bees. I hasten to add that the African bee is not expected to be a major health hazard, but public hysteria driven by sensationalized mass communications could provide an unrealistic view of the "problems" associated with this insect. I am a local beekeeper and have contacts with the local beekeeping community. If I can help in any way, please call on me. Sincerely, The articles/publications mentioned above are available from me on request. You might also sensitize your local county extension office to these issues by asking them directly for the supporting materials. People in that office can then contact me and also mail out copies of what I send. SATELLITE BEEKEEPING BROADCAST A satellite video telecourse scheduled this fall is entitled: "Beekeeping: Exploring a Unique Industry." It will be aired every Wednesday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., September 2 through December 9 on Channel 5, Spacenet 1. Instructors are Dr. James E. Tew and Mr. David J. Heilman. The text is The Hive and The Honey Bee, Dadant & Sons, Inc., Hamilton, IL. The course has no pre-requisites and carries academic credit of 2 semester hours or 3 quarter hours. There is a final written examination. For further information, contact The Ohio State University, 1328 Dover Road, Wooster, Ohio 44691. Ph. (216) 264-3911, ext. 316 during work hours or (216) 264-3911, ext. 229 to get an answering machine. MORE ON EXTENDER PATTIES In response to my inquiries concerning other labels for antibiotic extender patties, Dick Bonney called me. He edits Connecticut's The Aware Beekeeper, and wrote in August, 1991 that directions for making patties are on the labels of two different formulations of Terramycin (TM-50D and TM-100D). According to Dr. Korb Maxwell, D.V.M., Technical Service Veterinarian, Animal Health Division, Pfizer Inc., 1107 S. 291 Hwy., Lee's Summit, MO 64081-2998, ph 816/524-5580, fax 816/525-7360, however, only the product TM-100D has such a label. This D indicates a sugar-based product and should not be confused with other products formulated on cellulose (for example, TM-10 without a D) which bees cannot use. Dr. Maxwell sent me the label which calls for first preparing an intermediate mixture by adding 7 lbs of TM-100D to 200 lbs of powdered sugar. The intermediate mixture then contains approximately 200 mg of oxytetracycline hydrochloride activity per ounce. Four (4) ounces of this mixture (800 mg oxytetracycline) is then mixed with 165 grams of vegetable shortening (Crisco or equivalent) and 330 grams of sugar. Dick Bonney's article quotes a Roy Davis of Pfizer (no address or phone given) who gives a recipe as follows: 800 mg TM-25 (TSP); 165 grams. shortening; 330 grams powdered sugar. According to Mr. Bonney, this translates into 4 level teaspoons of TM-25 (TSP); 3/4 cup shortening; 3 cups powdered sugar, and yields about one pound of mix which can be made into 2 or 3 patties 5 to 6 inches in diameter about 5/16 inch thick. This feeds one colony the prescribed dosage (replacing 3 to 4 feedings of dust or syrup of 200 mg at 4- to 5-day intervals) of Terramycin. Although the dosage appears to be translatable among Pfizer products, it is Dr. Maxwell's opinion that using TM-25 (TSP) in making extender patties rather than TM-100D is an "extra label" (unlawful) use. Unfortunately, the product comes in 100 pound bags and is unsuitable for small-scale beekeepers, as one bag will make an intermediate mixture in excess of 2,800 pounds! This presumably is the label that large-scale mixers like Mann Lake Supply can use in making patties for sale. The concern about adequately mixing the materials uniformly as I discussed in last month's APIS is also not addressed on the label. TIDBITS ON VARROA Research on Varroa mites is taking some interesting turns. Dr. Roger Morse in the August, 1992 issue of Gleanings in Bee Culture discusses the fact that bees resistant to Varroa exist. Beyond shorter developmental time (as seen in the African bee) and active grooming (as reported in Apis cerana), there is now evidence that some Carniolan bees actually mutilate mites by cutting their legs off, a fatal blow to most arthropods (mites, bees, spiders, etc.). Although resistance to Varroa by honey bees exists, Dr. Morse concludes, getting it to actively work for beekeepers will involve some hard work. One reason Varroa is difficult to research is that its development varies throughout the year. Dr. Ed Southwick in the January, 1992 American Bee Journal reports that preference for drone brood by mites increases rapidly as the percentage of drone cells increases, but will decrease as the drone-rearing season comes to an end. An Argentinean study (Apidologie, Vol. 23, 1992) showed that mites found in worker brood also vary with seasons (more in spring, less in autumn). Low level detection of Varroa is possible by examining hive debris within a few months after infestation according to a study by a cadre of scientists from Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark. (Experimental and Applied Acarology, Vol. 10, 1991). And in most cases, sampling of brood was more effective than sampling of live bees. Thus, it is reaffirmed, at least in that geographic region, that monitoring mites as they fall on the bottomboard works for detecting Varroa at low levels. Could Varroa control have something to do with the incidence of chalkbrood? Dr. Roger Hoopingarner (B-Plus, Summer, 1992) indicated that Taiwan is confronted with a good deal of chalkbrood even in the summer (95 degrees F). He asks if there might be any explanation. A newsletter from Argentina (Expreso de Cabana Apicola MALKA, Summer, 1992) also indicates an outbreak of this disease in that country as well as in Italy, Spain and Israel. A common element among these chalkbrood outbreaks is widespread use of wooden strips impregnated with fluvalinate, usually Mavrik (R) or Klartan (R). Thus, the editor suggests that this practice may be making colonies more prone to chalkbrood infestation. If this is so, the slow release of fluvalinate in the product used in the U.S. known as Apistan (R) may help in reducing future outbreaks of this here-to-fore relatively minor disease. SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL HONEY MONTH Don't forget that September has been declared National Honey Month by the Secretary of Agriculture. The fall season is usually the time that honey sales begin to pick up. Those interested in pumping up their sales campaigns might look into the National Honey Board's 1992 press kit which includes feature stories and photographs that can be used with press contacts. In addition to this, the National Honey Board is making available two brochures featuring the honey bear emblem. One is called "Invite Me to Your Next Party!" and contains six recipes for fall parties as well as other information. The other, entitled "Honey, Chances Are You'll Love Me Once You Get to Know Me," is full of information on honey from ideas for condiments and bread to heating honey to retard crystallization. The former is available in lots of 500 free to associations and Board supporters (they cost $.05 each). The latter is more expensive ($.50 each), but is printed on better quality paper and is longer. The National Honey Board has also released this month its PRIDE program. This includes an 8-minute video tape with the same name and an educational packet to help beekeepers work together in preserving honey's golden reputation. The key to the PRIDE program is using hazard analysis critical control points (HACCP) to improve quality control. The procedure is analyzed, and included in the packet are sample location logs, yard reports and a list of laboratories offering analytical services to the public. Finally, the summer, 1992 newsletter from the National Honey Board indicates reduced reporting requirements are now in effect for "low-volume" producer-packers. Those first handlers of less than 20,000 pounds of their own production can now report twice a year instead of monthly. This is not automatic, however, and interested producer-packers must apply to the Board to determine eligibility. For further information on this, the PRIDE program, brochures and the press kit mentioned above, contact Sherry Jennings, The National Honey Board, 421 21st Ave. #203, Longmont, CO 80501-1421, ph 303/776-2337, FAX 303/776-1177. 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, 4 Sep 1992 13:31:53 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Seal City (Liz Day)" Subject: yellow jacket populations Here near Chicago, there seem to be a goodly number of yellow jackets. But they are much smaller than normal. At first the workers look like syrphid flies, they are so small. Liz Day ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1992 04:50:07 -0400 Reply-To: MunnPA@cardiff.ac.uk Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Dr P A Munn 92 Subject: Varroa symposium Press release SCIENTIFIC TRUST AIDS BRITISH BEEKEEPERS Beekeepers in Britain, now facing the serious mite parasite Varroa jacobsoni, are being given a helping hand by a scientific information charity. Apiarists from all over the country will meet in London in November at a symposium entitled 'Living with varroa'. The meeting is being organized by IBRA, the International Bee Research Association, an independent trust which exists to provide quality information services for beekeeping and bee science worldwide. "The emphasis of the symposium is on how to remain a successful beekeeper despite the presence of this parasite", according to Andrew Matheson, the Director of IBRA. "We've invited speakers who are currently doing research on varroa and its control, and who can communicate their findings to beekeepers in plain English". Speakers from Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK will present a programme which is based on the latest science, but is of direct practical application to beekeepers. The symposium is being held in London on Saturday 21 November 1992. Registration forms are being distributed widely in the beekeeping community, and further copies are available from: IBRA 18 North Road Cardiff Fax: 0222 665522 CF1 3DY Phone: 0222 372409 - Ends - ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1992 13:00:26 NZST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Barry Donovan Subject: `Wasp' article in BEE WORLD `How does one go about biologically controlling wasps?' My upcoming article in BEE WORLD outlines our attempts to date, so for those who do not receive BEE WORLD, I believe that reprints could be purchased from IBRA. I don't want to deprive IBRA of business, but another possibility is that I could send copies to interested persons if they contact me. Regards to all, Barry Donovan. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 06:36:36 -0400 Reply-To: MunnPA@cardiff.ac.uk Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Dr P A Munn 92 Subject: Varroa symposium LIVING WITH VARROA 21 November 1992 Imperial College, London PROGRAMME 09.00 - 09.45 Registration Morning session Chairman, Dr Don Griffiths 09.45 - 09.55 Living with varroa Andrew Matheson, International Bee Research Association, UK 09.55 - 10.15 Varroa biology: a brief review Dr Ingemar Fries, Bee Division, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden 10.15 - 11.00 The damaging effects of Varroa jacobsoni infestation Brenda Ball, Entomology Department, Rothamsted Experimental Station, UK 11.00 - 11.30 Tea and coffee break 11.30 - 12.15 Chemical control: options and problems Dr Wolfgang Ritter, Bee Research Department, Institute for Veterinary Hygiene, Freiburg, Germany 12.15 - 13.00 Varroa in cold climates Dr Ingemar Fries 13.00 - 14.15 Lunch Afternoon session Chairman, Andrew Matheson 14.15 - 15.00 Varroa at the neighbours': ten years' experience in the Netherlands. Dr Aad de Ruijter, Research Centre for Insect Pollination and Beekeeping, Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands 15.00 - 15.45 What future for biotechnical control? Dr Wolfgang Ritter 15.45 - 16.15 Tea and coffee break 16.15 - 16.45 UK beekeeping in the age of varroa Medwin Bew, National Beekeeping Unit, Central Science Laboratory, Luddington, UK 16.45 - 17.00 The way ahead Dr Don Griffiths, Acarology Consultants Ltd, Aldershot, UK LOCATION Venue Lecture Theatre 220 Mechanical Engineering Department Imperial College Kensington London Access Main entrance, level 2 (ground floor) Exhibition Road Underground South Kensington (Piccadilly, Circle, District) Buses 9, 14, 30, 33, 45, 49, 52, 52A, 73, 74, 264 Parking NCP Hyde Park SPEAKER PROFILES Andrew Matheson has been Director of the International Bee Research Association since 1991. Before taking up this position he was a government apicultural specialist in New Zealand, with experience in extension, international consultancies and managing disease control programmes. Ingemar Fries is research leader at the Bee Division of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. Current research interests include the population dynamics of varroa in cold climates, and non-traditional control methods. Brenda Ball is head of the honey bee pathology section at Rothamsted Experimental Station, and carries out research on all aspects of honey bee pathology but especially virus diseases. For some years she has been part of a European collaborative research project, looking at relationships between varroa and pathogens. Wolfgang Ritter heads the Bee Research Department at Germany's Institute for Veterinary Hygiene. He has considerable research experience with varroa, and has advised many national and international organizations on varroa control. Aad de Ruijter has worked closely with the beekeeping industry in the Netherlands since the mite was first discovered in that country, and has also studied varroa in other European countries. He is currently Director of the Dutch Research Institute for Insect Pollination and Beekeeping. Medwin Bew is the UK's National Beekeeping Specialist, and has been at the forefront of the government's advisory and regulatory response to varroa since its discovery in April. Before that he spent a lot of time preparing for this event, with study visits to European countries. The National Bee Unit is now part of the Central Science Laboratory. Don Griffiths is a mite specialist of international renown, and has had a particular interest in varroa and the beekeeping industry. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS IBRA is grateful to the following organizations, which provided financial support for this symposium: * Commission of the European Communities * Zoecon Corporation * E H Thorne (Beehives) Ltd ARRANGEMENTS Registration Attendance at this meeting is open to those who have paid the registration fee and been issued with tickets. We urge you to complete the attached form without delay - space is limited and entry tickets will be issued as we receive registration forms. We cannot guarantee that there will be any spare tickets available on the day. Refreshments The registration cost includes tea and coffee in the morning and afternoon breaks. Lunch is not included in the price, but these options are available: * Hot buffet lunch for 8.90 per person - MUST be ordered and paid for on the registration form. * Several pubs, sandwich bars and restaurants are nearby. Proceedings The papers presented at the symposium will be edited by IBRA and published in a bound volume. This will be available for general sale, and at a reduced price to all who have registered for the symposium. Payment and refunds No refunds will be given after entry tickets have been paid for, but the tickets are transferable and may be used by someone else. Prices include VAT where applicable. VAT number 208134885. IBRA member's discount This discount is available to all current members of IBRA. Beekeeper association members may send two participants at the discounted rate, and corporate members three. REGISTRATION FORM * Complete your name and address Name .................................................... Address .................................................... .................................................... .................................................... * Fill in your options: Registration fee (includes light refreshments) Members of IBRA ............... @ 10 each: .. .................... (Membership number ..............) Other participants ............... @ 12 each: .. .................... Lunch at Imperial College ............... @ 8.90 each: .. .................... * Enclose payment _______ I enclose a cheque (in sterling, drawn on a UK bank) for  _______ * More details follow Return this form to: Varroa Symposium IBRA 18 North Road Cardiff CF1 3DY UK VARROA SYMPOSIUM London, 21 November 1992 Participants from outside the UK may pay by credit card. Please charge the sum of ______ to my Visa/Access/Mastercard/Eurocard (delete as applicable) Card number .................................. Expiry date .. ...................... Name on card .................................. Signature ....... ................. Address on card statements .................................................... .................................................... .................................................... ------------------------------------------------------------------- FOR OFFICE USE ONLY Registration number ........... Amount received ........... Date received ........... Number of participants ........... Admission ticket(s) sent ........... Lunch ticket number ........... Sent ........... Remarks............................................................ ................................................................... ................................................................... ................................ Additional copies of the registration form are available from: Varroa Symposium IBRA 18 North Road Fax (0222) 665522 Cardiff CF1 3DY Phone (0222) 372409 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 16 Sep 1992 16:00:05 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology Comments: Converted from PROFS to RFC822 format by PUMP V2.2 From: Michael Blankenstein Subject: Equipment From: Michael Blankenstein I am seeking information on manufacturers and/or suppliers of bee-handling safety equipment, i.e. head nets and smokers. Could someone provide me with this? Thanks in advance. Michael Blankenstein US Dept of Energy, Washington, DC u7530mb@doema.bitnet ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 16 Sep 1992 21:04:50 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "(Tom Fisher)" Subject: Re: Equipment In-Reply-To: <9209162015.AA07230@fieldofdreams.npirs.purdue.edu>; from "Michael Blankenstein" at Sep 16, 92 4:00 pm > > From: Michael Blankenstein > > I am seeking information on manufacturers and/or suppliers of bee-handling > safety equipment, i.e. head nets and smokers. Could someone provide me with > this? Thanks in advance. > > Michael Blankenstein > US Dept of Energy, Washington, DC > u7530mb@doema.bitnet > 1) Walter T. Kelley Co, Clarkson, KY - phone 502/242-2012 2) Dadant and Sons, Inc., Hamilton, IL - phone 217/847-3324 3) Western Bee Supplies Inc., Polson, MT - phone 406/883-2918 Hope this helps. Tom Fisher ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 23 Sep 1992 20:23:00 +1200 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: NICKW@WAIKATO.AC.NZ Subject: 23-09-92 20:15:38 BUZZWORDS 45, SEPTEMBER 1992 BUZZWORDS is the monthly newsletter of the National Beekeepers Association of New Zealand. Though some of the topics are of 'local' interest only, I post copies to the bee list for those who will find items of interest. ----------------------------------- Nick Wallingford Internet nickw@waikato.ac.nz ----------------------------------- FROM THE PRESIDENT As was arranged at the time of conference our executive officer Ted Roberts and I travelled to Taumaranui and met with members of the Manawatu Wanganui Regional Council and local pest destruction officers. This has turned out to be a very worthwhile exercise. Farmers have a serious problem in the threat to their exports caused by T.B. Likewise five beekeepers with a total of about 6,000 hives were having their livelihoods threatened. John Bassett, the local beekeeper spokesman was present at the meeting. It was a case of reaching a compromise. The outcome was very satisfactory to all concerned. The pest destruction officers are to use phosphorous baits until such time as testing of oxalic acid in jam baits has been completed. This means they are able to carry on with their planned programme of possum eradication. Beekeepers will be able to carry on without the need to shift out of the area. The battle over the import of heat-treated Australian honey is intensifying. Branches and individuals have reacted well followed by action from your executive. I have just received a letter from David Kay advising that the Honey Industry Trustees have agreed to a grant of $20,000 for the clinical testing of manuka honey. They have asked of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Auckland University, taht the methodology and personnel involved will ensure that the results of the trial will be acceptable to the medical profession and the Health Department. A big thank you to our trustees and we all hope the end result will be positive. QUOTES FROM CHAIRMAN FLOYD Here's a sampling of the wit and wisdom of marketing man Bill Floyd, from the talks he gave at this year's Hastings conference. We couldn't include them with the item on the NBA Marketing Programme in last month's Buzzwords due to space limitations: 'House brands are taking over the New Zealand retail honey market. Overall, house brands of honey have increased from 25% to 39.6% of the market in the last three years. In the South Island the figure is 53.5%!' 'We haven't had a lot of market research on honey in New Zealand, but all the studies which have been done show clearly that price is not the main factor in why people buy honey.' 'Small industries like honey need to hunt as a pack. Once the prey is on the ground, then you can fight between yourselves for the tender bits.' 'The Commerce Commission will not let you abuse your dominant position in the market place. That sounds like something out of the Kamasutra.' 'It is often said that 50% of money spent on advertising is wasted. Professionals don't come anywhere near that figure, but amateurs waste more like 70%.' 'Make it and hope' doesn't work.' 'In marketing, if you're not going to go all the way, don't start.' 'The more benefits you add to your core product, the more you differentiate that product.' 'If we market honey correctly, consumers will soon be seeking it out in products the way they now do for oat bran.' 'The honey industry needs to market like a commando group, not a large battalion. Use your competitors' environment and live off the land.' 'The innate goodness of honey is our number one competitive advantage.' BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS Practical Beekeeping in New Zealand, this country's most well- known beekeeping book, will once again be available, beginning this September. The book, written by International Bee Research Association director Andrew Matheson, has been completely revised and updated. Even the front cover will be new! The first edition of Practical Beekeeping in New Zealand was extremely popular, both with hobbyist beekeepers and the general public, and provided an informative introduction to the unique features of beekeeping in this country. The revised edition will make a welcome return for this important industry resource which has unfortunately been out of print for the last several years. The new edition, published by GP Publications, will retail at $29.95. Cliff Van Eaton and Peter Brunt, New Zealand's representatives for the International Bee Research Association, are having a big sale of books from their IBRA book shelves. The IBRA is the world's leading source of beekeeping information, and one of the important things the IBRA does is to provide a mail order book service for members. Their current catalogue lists over 250 different books and 120 reprints on all aspects of bees and beekeeping. As a help to New Zealand beekeepers, Cliff and Peter keep a selected number of titles so that they can fill orders quickly, and they have been given permission to offer discounts of 20 - 60% on these stocks for a limited time only. Bargains include the classic Honey: A comprehensive Survey, by Eva Crane, at $44.20 (25% off); Anatomy and Dissection of the Honey Bee, by Dade, at $36.80 (25% off); and Honey Bee Pests, Predators and Diseases, edition 1, by Morse at $26.20 (50% off). Great prices, but stocks are very limited. For a list of titles and prices contact either Cliff, c/- MAF, Private Bag, Tauranga, or Peter, c/- Nelson Polytechnic, Private Bag, Nelson. And in case you're wondering, the sale is definitely non-profit. All proceeds go directly to the IBRA (after all, they own the books!). Mention was made at this year's conference of an inexpensive booklet which has colour pictures and descriptions of exotic and endemic bee diseases. The booklet is called Honey Bee Diseases and Pests, and is published by the Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists (CAPA). The booklet is very comprehensive, and has good pictures of EFB, Varroa, and the tracheal mite, as well as most of the more common (and uncommon) bee diseases. As for pests, New Zealand readers will no doubt enjoy the sections on bears and skunks (and we thought we had problems!). For a copy of the publication, send $5.00, together with a stamped, self-addressed A4 size envelope to: Bee Diseases and Pests Booklet Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Private Bag TAURANGA MINISTER PROMISES 1080 REPELLENT Readers are by now well aware of the long-running battle our industry is currently having over the inclusion of oxalic acid in 1080 jam possum baits. Research conducted by Mark Goodwin at Ruakura showed that oxalic acid acted as a bee repellant in possum baits, but so far the Animal Health Board has not approved its use in the many possum poisoning programmes being conducted around the country. Executive member Nick Wallingford has been lobbying government on behalf of the industry, and he recently receiv ed, through MP Robert Anderson, a very interesting letter from Denis Marshall, Associate Minister of Agriculture. According to Marshall, 'Trials will be initiated this spring and will probably continue into the summer period. By autumn 1993, answers should be found to the problem of possum bait acceptance and by winter next year jam products containing the bee repellent should be available for use.' The minister protects himself somewhat with all those 'should's', but your executive will definitely be reminding him of his statement that the bee repellent should be available for use next winter, when the possum poisoning programmes are announced in 1993. FROM THE BRANCHES The Marlborough branch has already scheduled meetings for their spring diseaseathon. They are: Briefing Meeting - Monday, September 14, beginning at 7.30 pm, at MAF Blenheim; Inspection Day - Saturday, September 19. Contact Murray Bush (03-578-3923) or James Jenkins (03-578-9325) by September 1. Good support is essential if the branch is to meet the nation-wide percentage inspection target of 5.8% of local district apiaries. The Poverty Bay branch also has a diseaseathon scheduled for Saturday, September 12. The branch plans to use part of the diseaseathon to collect adult bee samples which it hopes to plate out the next day (Sunday, September 13). The branch hopes it will then be able to more effectively target both MAF and members' inspections during the rest of the Spring. For information contact Barry Foster - phone 06-867-4591, evenings. Hawkes Bay branch has a Branch Apiary Field Day planned for 10 am at Chesterhope Reserve on September 5. They also have a branch meeting on Monday September 14, with the prograrmme to be arranged. KASHMIR APOLOGY In Buzzwords 39 we reported on an article by Dr. T.P. Liu from Canada on Kashmir bee virus and a rebuttal in the American Bee Journal by Dr. Denis Anderson, former research scientist with our DSIR. Dr. Anderson refuted claims made by Dr. Liu that Kashmir bee virus was a virulent pathogen of honey bees and that the 'disease' was only found in New Zealand and Australia. Now it seems the whole thing was a mistake. The winter 1992 edition of Canadian Beekeeping contains reference to a phone call received by the editor from Dr. Liu claiming that his original article was taken from published material and was directed at 'academically informing' beekeepers about the virus, and in particular three mutant strains. He says that for sometime Canada has been importing queens from New Zealand and Australia and so the whole discussion on the pathogenic nature of the virus is 'academi c'. He also urged that the editor publish Dr. Anderson's article as a 'counter view' on the nature of Kashmir bee virus. Well, we suppose this is an apology. However, it's a shame Dr. Liu didn't also point out to the editor the number of factual errors made in the article (academic or not) and maybe also make an apology to queen and package producers in both New Zealand and Australia for creating doubt in the minds of their Canadian clients. He also doesn't explain how this information 'taken from published material' ended up in every important beekeeping journal in North America last year. HAWAII MISSES OUT We mentioned in Buzzwords 32 the possibility of the Canadians allowing in queens from Hawaii this year and the concerns some beekeepers in Canada were expressing regarding the state's lack of an inspection and registration programme. Well, no queens were approved for export during this shipping year (March- June, 1992) and it looks like it may be difficult for the Hawaiians to meet even the newly changed protocols negotiated with the Canadian federal government. The stumbling block to getting approval by the Canadians seems to be the lack of state funds in Hawaii which would allow them to conduct required apiary testing. The head of the Canadian federal quarantine service, Dr. William McElheran, changed the protocol requiring the Hawai ians to test their hives for mites from 50% of all colonies in supply apiaries to 20%, but that still doesn't seem to be enough. As the winter edition of Canadian Beekeeping points out, 'one has to realize that Hawaii has no bees act and limited manpower and funds to implement regulations for what is a small industry.' MARKETING, PRICES, AND SUBSIDIES >From time to time in Buzzwords we make mention of the US federal government's honey subsidy programme. Readers here in New Zealand no doubt wonder why we go to the effort. After all, what can policies half way around the world have to do with our own beekeeping industry? The answer is quite a bit, as evidenced by the softening of New Zealand honey prices in the late 80's. That softening related directly to a major downturn in world honey prices, brought on by the 'eruption' of the U.S. government's 'honey mountain' which dumped the equivalent of one year's U.S. production on the world market at an artificially low price. In hindsight, we can at least be grateful that we were on the other side of the world with an industry which wasn't greatly dependent on exports. In Canada, where one third of total production was normally sold to the U.S., the 'eruption' caused severe problems. Canadian honey prices dropped out of sight, with some beekeepers not able to sell their honey at any price. Many commercial beekeepers went to the wall, and there are now one third less beekeepers in Canada than there were 5 years ago. So how did the U.S. situation come about? Back in the 70's, the U.S. government, with the best of intentions, decided to do something about the 'boom and bust' nature of yearly honey prices. In the U.S., as elsewhere, beekeepers found it impossible to get a good price for their honey because the year's total production entered the market all at the same time. U.S. packers took advantage of this situation and invariably played one beekeeper off against another, driving the wholesale price of honey down. The U.S. government put in place a loan programme, under the Commodity Credit Corporation, to help the beekeepers out. The idea was that the government would take the honey on loan, paying the beekeeper a set price, and allow the beekeeper to buy the honey back once demand increased later in the year. The theory was fine, but unfortunately the pricing mechanism for loans was based on a 'parity price' set in the 70's, just after the world price of honey went through the roof. Adjusted yearly for inflation, that price became so high that U.S. packers eventually found that they could buy overseas honey at a much lower price. U.S. producers didn't buy back the honey they had loaned to government and the honey mountain was thus created. This situation carried on through the early 80's, but it finally became obvious that something had to give. Beekeepers were actually being paid a further fee to hold the honey in their sheds, and the government could only find an outlet, through their 'food to the poor' programmes, for a small amount of what was building up. So in the infinite wisdom of the U.S. bureaucracy, it was decided to allow beekeepers to 'buy back' their honey at a price lower than the one paid for the original loan. The idea was that this would encourage packers to buy from the domestic producer (at a lower rate), while the producer still received an artificially high price. The U.S. government would be able to clear its backlog of honey, and everybody (at least in the U.S.) would be happy. To their credit, the U.S. industry decided at the same time to set up a national honey promotion programme, called the National Honey Board, to stimulate increased honey consumption in the U.S. The programme is funded by a levy of just over 4 cents (NZ) on every kg of honey (domestic and imported) sold in the U.S. The National Honey Board has been extremely successful. By concentrating on new market areas for honey such as the food ingredient and food service industries, the board has been responsible for a 10% increase in U.S. honey consumption at a time when traditional table spread sales have remained more or less static. But as you can imagine, with any mandatory levy, the Honey Board certainly has it detractors, especially since in the last six months prices paid by packers have softened somewhat. There have been calls in American beekeeping journals for a re-structuring of the Board, including the removal of all non-beekeeper members from its board of directors. Finally, in the May edition of The Speedy Bee, a major honey packer and past member of the board, Dwight Stoller, answered these critics. In so doing, he became one of the few leading U.S. beekeepers to call the loan/buy back programmes what it really is - a government subsidy. He also let beekeepers in on the big change which was being obscured by the convoluted way the programmes are being run. According to Mr. Stoller, the only aspect of the U.S. honey price which has taken a major tumble in the last 3 years is the subsidy (difference between loan and buy back price) itself. In that time the subsidy has been reduced by 81% (from NZ$0.90 to $0.17/kg). Net income to the producer may have decreased by 9% during the same period, but prices paid by packers actually rose by 29%. The increase in honey consumption has actually led to an increase of over 42% in real income. It's just that the National Honey Board has been so successful that it has allowed the U.S. government to substantially get itself out of the honey subsidy business. Mr. Stoller doesn't see anything wrong with this, and in fact in the article he makes some comments about agricultural subsidies and government indebtedness that would make even Ruth Richardson proud. He reckons the U.S., with its US$3.5 trillion debt, is actually behind such countries as Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico, in solving its debt crisis, and says it is about time the U.S. stopped blaming others for its financial problems. Not paying their way eventually catches up with all industries and governme nts, and according to Mr. Stoller, beekeepers in the States need to realize that they won't be guaranteed a government subsidy forever. As he says, 'we've made remarkable progress toward reaching a point of survival without it.' Courageous words from Dwight Stoller. We just wonder whether the rest of the beekeepers (and politicians, for that matter) in the U.S. agree. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 23 Sep 1992 20:35:00 +1200 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: NICKW@WAIKATO.AC.NZ Subject: BUZZWORDS SEPT 92 My apologies for the subject of my other posting. It was not very descriptive, was it? -------------------------------- Nick Wallingford Bay of Plenty Polytechnic AMPR ZL1BSN@ZL1UX.NZL.OC Internet nick@waikato.ac.nz -------------------------------- Posted: 23-09-92 20:29:41 NZ time -------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 23 Sep 1992 08:22:03 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Richard.Alan.Haver@DARTMOUTH.EDU Subject: Re: BUZZWORDS SEPT 92 --- You wrote: It was not very descriptive, was it? --- end of quoted material --- no, but the material was very interesting, the explanation of the US honey subsidy was especially informative. Thanks, Rick Haver ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 23 Sep 1992 10:40:04 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "PAM::BE"@AC.NSAC.NS.CA Subject: SUPPLEMENTAL BEE FEEDING FRUCTOSE,GLUCOSE WE ARE DOING TRIALS ON FEEDING FRUCTOSE-42 ,FRUCTOSE-55 AND GLUCOSE AS A SUPPLEMENTAL CARBOHYDRATE IN FALL AND SPRING FEEDING. IF YOU HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE WITH THESE SUGARS WE WOULD WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS. CONTACT EARLE ILLSLEY ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 24 Sep 1992 09:26:45 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Edward E Southwick Subject: bee brains I just learned today of some work being done on injecting homogenized bee brains into dumb bees and teh dumb become smart. Anybody know of this work or who is doing it? ================================================================== 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 º Internet: e.southwick@ACSpr1.ACS.Brockport.edu º ================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 24 Sep 1992 09:37:00 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Malcolm (Tom) Sanford, Florida Extension Apiculturist" Subject: Re: bee brains Jeff Harris and J. Woodring, Dept. of Zoology, Louisiana State University gave a paper at the American Bee Research Conference held at College Station, TX on biogenic amine levels in brains of worker bees. Seems dopamine levels rise in individual worker brains with queenlessness. Perhaps these folks also know about the homogenized bee brain work. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Tom Sanford Extension Apiculturist University of Florida Mailing Address: Bldg 970, Hull Rd., Gainesville, FL 32611-0620 Voice phone 904/392-1801, Ext. 143 FAX 904/392-0190 INTERNET: MTS@GNV.IFAS.UFL.EDU BITNET: MTS@IFASGNV +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 24 Sep 1992 10:16:00 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Malcolm (Tom) Sanford, Florida Extension Apiculturist" Subject: September issue of apis FILENAME: SEPAPIS.92 Florida Extension Beekeeping Newsletter Apis--Apicultural Information and Issues (ISSN 0889-3764) Volume 10, Number 9, September 1992 EXPORT HOTLINE Those interested in international trade opportunities can now access a new information resource. "The Export Hotline is a corporately sponsored, nationwide fax retrieval system for U.S. business on international trade information. Its purpose is simple - to help you find new markets for your products and services and build America's exporting base." The above is quoted from the first paragraph of the beginner's guide that is faxed to individuals after calling toll free 1-800- 872-9767. It's easy to follow the instructions given on the phone. Good luck and let me know of your experiences in using the system. COMPLEXITIES OF BEE BREEDING Bee breeding is getting a lot of attention these days. An article in Bee Science (Vol. 2, No. 2, June, 1992) discusses the results of a stock center survey done by Tim Lawrence and Susan Cobey, Honey Bee Insemination Service, 7417 Hayden Run Rd., Amlin, OH 43002. According to the authors, most respondents indicated a need for such a center, but how it will be paid for remains unanswered. The cost is likely to be high. Some might not understand what skills are involved in bee breeding and how these might be reflected in the costs of a stock center. Thus, I am reprinting a slightly edited version of a presentation on queen breeding I received via electronic mail. It is not likely to be published elsewhere in the United States, being presented in July, 1992, as part of the meeting of the National Beekeepers Association of New Zealand. According to Nick Wallingford, the source of this paper, it is one of the most understandable treatments on the subject he's heard. Finally, the talk was given by a commercial queen breeder who is intimately acquainted with the many practical aspects of queen production. IMPROVING OUR BEE STOCKS: WHY IT IS SO DIFFICULT TO DO by Mr. D.W.J. YANKE DAYKEL APIARIES The ground I hope to cover with this talk is that mountainous, probably impassable stuff which stands between us and the ever- elusive super bee. The mechanics of heredity are the same whether it be bees or buffalo. The progeny of organisms that reproduce sexually are not exact duplicates of their parents and vary in many ways amongst themselves. This variation is the spice of life. It is what allows a species to adapt and evolve, and also provides plant and animal breeders with a wide array of choices. It is important to understand some of the basics of genetics in order to comprehend much of what is said later. The carrier of the genetic message is DNA, a large molecule which contains the code responsible for the structure and function of any living organism. Genes are specific lengths of the DNA molecule, the base units of inheritance. Variations of the same gene are called alleles. There may be several different alleles of a gene. Every sexually reproducing species inherits two alleles, one from each parent. These interact with varying degrees on each other. [Editor's note: One allele may dominate (eliminate the effects of the other), be dominated by (recessive to) the other, have equal weight (co-dominant) or partial weight (incomplete dominance) with relation to its partner, or have no effect at all]. Chromosomes are cellular bodies found in the nucleus of cells that carry genes. Two sets of genes (made up of many alleles) are carried on a given number of chromosomes characteristic of each species - humans have 46, potatoes 48, and honey bees 32. This number is known as the diploid number of chromosomes. The sex cells (sperm and egg) have half the number of chromosomes and are said to be haploid. Honey bee drones, because they develop from unfertilized eggs, have a haploid number of chromosomes which is 16. In the formation of sex cells, chromosome pairs stretch out together. While lying close to each other, the chromosomes can exchange portions of their DNA, which may contain one or more genes. This process is known as crossing over and is responsible for most of the variation seen in progeny. When we try to make a bee stock more useful, we are trying to select the DNA within that population - increasing the frequency of genes responsible for desirable traits. In doing so, however, we affect other gene frequencies, and this can create problems. So the trick is to be able to modify genetic material without losing diversity. The following are what I see to be main barriers to bee stock improvement. 1. CONTROLLING MATING BEHAVIOR When the virgin queen is about six days old, and the weather conditions are fine, with light winds and temperatures of at least 20 degrees C, she flies out a considerable distance from her hive to mate. Research has shown the average distance between apiary and mating place is two kilometers (1.6 km = one mile). She has been shown to fly out as far as five km. Mating flights last between five and 30 minutes. She will make between one and three flights. The number of flights she makes depends on the concentration of spermatozoa in her spermatheca. Once it reaches a certain concentration, she will not fly again. To achieve this concentration she must mate with several drones - at least seven, maybe many more. The virgin does not fly haphazardly about hoping by sheer chance to encounter drones. She goes directly to drone congregation areas. Exactly why drone congregation areas originate where they do is not fully understood, but the same areas are used year after year. The drones within any congregation area come from many different colonies, and probably several different apiaries. Drones have a flight range of up to six kilometers with flights of five common. Thus drones can range over an area of roughly 78 square kilometers. [Editor's note: The numbers quoted by Mr. Yanke are controversial. Reports of drone flight distances are highly variable; queens may mate with as many as 18 drones. Drones actively search for queens guided by odors (pheromones). It is not known how or whether virgins seek out drone congregation areas.] It has been shown that virgins very rarely mate with related drones, which reduces the chances of inbreeding, one of the perils to avoid in any controlled breeding scheme. Thus, if we allow virgins to mate naturally, we have no control over the drones. Even with isolated mating yards, control is not absolute. What other plant or animal breeder has to make an attempt at genetic improvement with only control over 1/2 of the genetic equation? To compound this there are multiple matings. Each virgin mates with seven or more drones, and thus the colony is made up of seven or more sub-families. 2. RETAINING SEX ALLELES In most sexually reproducing organisms, sex determination is governed by a sex chromosome. In honey bees, however, sex is determined by a single gene. This gene has many variants or alleles, maybe as many as 18. One should feel lucky, however, to maintain 10 or so in a breeding population. It works like this, if two different alleles come together at fertilization, a female (worker or queen) results. Drones are haploid and have one allele. However, if two of the same allele come together, a diploid male results. We never see diploid drones in the hive because when only a few hours old, they are cannibalized by the workers. Evidence of this is a hole (spot) in a slab of newly capped worker brood. As the number of sex alleles decreases, the more likely it is that two of the same allele will come together, increasing the number of diploid drones. As the percentage of diploid drones produced increases, so does the spottiness of the brood. There is an obvious impact on a colony's productivity, therefore, when some well-intentioned bee breeder reduces the number of sex alleles in a queen. Even if such queens are of high physiological quality and genetic potential, they are handicapped because a percentage of their eggs are not viable. The mechanics of heredity and the mating behavior of the honey bee, therefore, are geared to genetic diversity. The mechanism of sex determination in honey bees also penalizes any narrowing of this natural diversity. 3. REDUCING INBREEDING DEPRESSION Hybrid vigor results when two unrelated members of a species are crossed. The vitality of the progeny usually exceeds that of either parent. This is also known as heterosis, a mostly unexplained increase in life force. The crossing of unrelated parents results in many more genes carrying two different alleles. When a pair of genes consists of different alleles the resulting organism is said to be heterozygous. A generalized increase in heterozygosity is responsible for triggering heterosis. The opposite state is when genes carry two of the same allele. These organisms are said to be homozygous. A reduction in heterosis occurs with inbreeding. An "inbreeding depression" is triggered as the percentage of homozygous genes increases. This results in an unexpected loss of vigor--sluggish colony build-up, loss of disease resistance, decreased production, and higher winter loss. Inbreeding depression can result from selections over generations for the best genetic combinations. The breeder's downfall is increasing the percentage of homozygous genes in too small a population. This is not always apparent to a producer who is selecting breeders from perhaps hundreds of colonies. Unfortunately, it is not the size of the test population, but the number of breeding queens used, which determines how quickly inbreeding depression develops. 4. MAXIMIZING QUANTITATIVE TRAITS The characteristics we are trying to improve in honey bees are quantitative traits. These may involve many genes, each contributing only small effect. Compounding this is the fact that these traits are not those of a single breeding individual (the queen) but, instead characterized in a colony composed of many sub-families. It is fortunate that many important economic traits such as honey production and winter hardiness in bee populations, even though they are hugely complex, and controlled by a large number of genes, do show good response to selection. However, once these selections cease, any increase in traits which has been achieved is lost very quickly as gene frequencies return to pre-selection balances. Thus, maximizing quantitative traits is a continuous process which must be done with great care. 5. MINIMIZING ENVIRONMENTAL VARIATION Evaluations must reliably identify the genetically superior individuals in the test population in order to increase quantitative traits. However, because colony performance is evaluated in the field, it is difficult to control environmental influence. Possibilities to reduce environmental effects consist of equalizing colonies before evaluations begin, minimizing drift; and eliminating evaluations between apiaries. Finally, because a queen's physiological quality itself can have a major effect on some aspects of colony performance, queens undergoing evaluation must be uniform in age and condition. 6. MINIMIZING THE INFLUENCE OF RACIAL HYBRIDS Even if we implement all the suggestions above, and put into evaluations the care and effort required, it is all for naught if the genetic superiority we identified with our evaluations is not heritable. Unfortunately, the increased vigor provided by heterosis cannot be inherited. We have two races of honey bee in New Zealand, the Dark European honey bee and the Italian. Even though most of the bee breeding effort goes into maintaining commercial bee stocks as Italian, the reality is that most of the colonies are to varying degrees racial hybrids. Racial hybrids can be great, and through hybrid vigor, are often productive. However, they are of no breeding value, and provide only false leads to someone carrying out colony evaluations. To get anywhere, we have to breed true to race -- whatever that race is. The Dark European honey bee drones appear to be very aggressive in the drone congregation areas because they appear to have a mating advantage of almost Africanized-bee-like proportions. So the only way to keep a test population true to race is to have absolute control over the mating using Instrumental Insemination. 7. KEEPING AN OPEN MIND It may be a lot cheaper to import a silk purse, than to try and make one out of a sow's ear. Taking advantage of different races and breeding work done overseas by importing genetic material could save time and money and be a dramatic shortcut to better bees. Times have changed, importations of genetic material can be done safely, whether they be semen or breeder queens. [Editor's note: This remains controversial. Stock importation is illegal in the U.S. It has traditionally been responsible for worldwide dissemination of diseases and pests.] 8. KEEPING ON THE ROAD TO BETTER BEES It is possible to breed better bees. Results of 23 years of selections in Germany with Carniolans demonstrates this. The progress was slow, but it was progressive, and it was done without the recent research into closed population bee breeding. Results of this technology are more impressive. As an example, the Western Australian Department of Ag. bee breeding program which ran from the mid-80's up until this year realized a 10% increase in honey production per year. There is a similar program up and running in N.Z. It is totally self-funded by its participants, and has a legal structure of a limited liability company. There are 25 participants and each is an equal shareholder in the company. For their investment, they receive improved breeding stock. The New Zealand program's goal is to improve an Italian-type bee in a closed population, maintaining 25 lines - one for each participant. Matings are absolutely controlled using instrumental insemination. The semen is collected in equal volumes from each line, then pooled together and homogenized. The program's structure has all the necessary ingredients leading to better bees. The foundation stock was contributed from all over the country to maximize genetic diversity, and once the population is closed off, maintaining 25 lines with mother daughter replacements each generation means that the program can run for more than 25 generations without the introduction of any stock from outside the program and still maintain sufficient diversity to avoid any ill-effects from either homozygous sex alleles or inbreeding depression. The use of pooled and homogenized semen has been a most important breakthrough in bee breeding. It maximizes genetic diversity and selection pressure. The semen dose each queen receives represents all 25 lines being maintained in the program. Because the semen, although amazingly diverse, is homogeneous, each queen receives an equal genetic dose. Therefore, any genetic variation uncovered by the evaluations, is maternal in origin. This gives the selections more meaning, increasing the potential rate of improvement. Instrumental insemination makes maintaining racial purity a piece of cake, you just don't collect semen from darkish drones. Selections for winter hardiness and honey production are carried out in two parts. The first part is done by the participants, and is more broadly based. Each participant receives the daughters of one line in mid--February each year. They are introduced into equalized units and equalized again in April. The queens are evaluated for their overwintering ability using the criteria of colony weight loss between May and September (New Zealand's winter). They are also scored on brood viability, temperament, hygienic behavior, and color. In late September, the participants choose the two best queens, based on the above evaluations, to be introduced into hives in one large dispersed apiary. They are equalized and in December (New Zealand's summer) and evaluated for honey production potential using short-term colony weight gain. An initial and a final weight are taken 10 days apart. The queen which performed best for each line is chosen and becomes the breeder for the next generation. 10 daughters are reared from each breeder and these are inseminated with pooled semen. It is these daughters which form the test population for next season's evaluations. The author of this paper can be contacted directly at: PARANUI RD3, KAITAIA, NEW ZEALAND. [Editor's conclusion: For the United States, it would seem that only some organization on the order of a stock center proposed by Lawrence/Cobey would be capable of a continuous selection program similar to the one now in place in New Zealand. However, it must be supported philosophically and financially by U.S. beekeepers if it has any chance of succeeding.] FLORIDA STATE BEEKEEPERS MEET The annual meeting of the Florida State Beekeepers Association is November 5,6,7. It will be held at the Holiday Inn North of Sebring, FL. For details, contact the Secretary-Treasurer, Ms. Eloise Cutts, 2237 NW 16th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32605, ph 904/378- 7719. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 24 Sep 1992 10:42:00 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: GIVE PEAS A CHANCE Subject: Re: SUPPLEMENTAL BEE FEEDING FRUCTOSE,GLUCOSE Please let me know how you make out!!! Lois ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 24 Sep 1992 13:25:00 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "(di5)" Subject: pre-publication sale on a new pollination biology book University Press of Colorado is having a pre-publication sale on a book that will appear in February 1993. Techniques for Pollination Biology, by Carol Kearns and David Inouye. The book includes >1,200 references from more than 200 different journals, plus books and previously unpublished materials. Appendices list sources for equipment, suppplies, and chemicals used in pollination studies. Approximately 500 pages, $30 cloth (regular price $37.50), $14 kivar (regular price $17.50). Plus $2.00 shipping for the first copy and $.75 for each additional copy. CO residents add 3.8% sales tax. Orders must be received by November 15 for the sale discount. Send checks or credit card info to University Press of Colorado, P. O. Box 849, Niwot, CO 80544 (telephone 303-530-5337). ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1992 16:47:00 BSC Reply-To: gomide@BRFAPQ.BITNET Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology Comments: @FAPQ.FAPESP.BR - @FAPQ%FPSP.HEPNET - @BRFAPQ.BITNET - .BR gateway Comments: Warning -- original Sender: tag was GOMIDE@BRFAPQ From: gomide@FPSP.FAPESP.BR Subject: Apologies re: InterMeta course PLEASE DO NOT SEND MONEY ! It is with regret that I perform this task. Dr. Gelson V. Gomes. a professor of the University of Parana, Brazil, has exceeded this privileges and announced a eletronic course: > ____________________________________________________________ > Mastering INTERNET Tools, Seizing METANET Power - > The InterMeta Course > ____________________________________________________________ I must apologize for this flagrant breach of network etiquette. Please be aware that Dr. Gelson had no right to do so, since this is against the rules of our ANSP network, and also against the Bitnet rules. PLEASE DO NOT SEND MONEY! I will not discuss what his motivations were. But his account has been revoked, and there will be no such course through my network. Please write by normal mail, to: -> Gelson V. Gomes -> 358, R. Alvaro Andrade - ap.1201 -> Curitiba PR BRAZIL 80610-240 to get more information on his objectives. He may want to give the course by normal mail. :-) With regards, -- Alberto Courrege Gomide | Fundacao de Amparo `a Pesquisa - (11)831-3357 Software Supervisor | Rua Pio XI, 1500 - CEP 05468-901 - Sao Paulo | FAX (11)261-4167 Telex (11)82014 - Brazil (ACG8) - .BR Domain Technical Contact. | --