From SYSAM@UACSC2.ALBANY.EDUMon May 22 07:19:20 1995 Date: Mon, 22 May 95 08:38:27 EDT From: Aaron Morris To: dicka@cuug.ab.ca ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1992 11:40:18 +0200 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: EISIK@TAUNOS.BITNET Subject: uncertainty tT[D[DTo all Bee liners, Im looking for any information on UNCERTAINTY in pollin ation a. E[D.Please contact D. Eia[D.[Dsikowitch ,[D[D,Tel Aviv university Israel 69978 [D[D[D[D[D[D[D[Dor by bit-net eisik@Taunos thank you all Dan. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 4 Oct 1992 09:16:00 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: GIVE PEAS A CHANCE Subject: Re: uncertainty WHERE IS RICK HOUGH! Hi..Bee-liners. Sorry to send massively, but I have a message from Rick to check my email and can't find it! We're having a special BEE WEEKEND!!! For an exhibit opening the 17th and 18th of October (ir whgatever the date of that weekend are). SOme beekeepers are coming to show extraction etc. and to ply their wares of wax, honey etc. If any of you would like to 'set up' please call Pam Landry at 508 791-9211. IF ANY of you would just like to join us for afun day, please come as our guest... Just present a bee association card at the gate for free entry.. LET ME KNOW YOU ARE THERE.. Lois Brynes New ENgland SCience Center Worcester MA lbrynes@vax.clarku.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 09:49:22 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Peter Kevan Subject: Bees & Beekeeping, Book by Eva Crane BEES AND BEEKEEPING: SCIENCE, PRACTICE, AND WORLD RESOURCES is the most comprehensive book on the subject. It is by one of the world's leading experts, Dr. Eva Crane. Although it is very expensive, I have purchased a copy and find it well worth the investment. I am sure that North Americans can obtain details on how to get the book here, but for international sales, and for North Americans too, it can be obtained from Inetrnational Bee Research Association, 18 North Rd., Cardiff, CF1 3DY, Wales, U.K. for 95 Pounds Stirling (+ 2 Pounds for overseas shipping). ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 19:29:00 CST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "NAME 'Robert E. McElwaine'" Subject: BIOLOGICAL ALCHEMY BIOLOGICAL TRANSMUTATIONS A very simple experiment can demonstrate (PROVE) the FACT of "BIOLOGICAL TRANSMUTATIONS" (reactions like Mg + O --> Ca, Si + C --> Ca, K + H --> Ca, N2 --> CO, etc.), as described in the BOOK "Biological Transmutations" by Louis Kervran, [1972 Edition is BEST.], and in Chapter 17 of the book "THE SECRET LIFE OF PLANTS" [see Footnote] by Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird, 1973: (1) Obtain a good sample of plant seeds, all of the same kind. [Some kinds might work better that others.] (2) Divide the sample into two groups of equal weight and number. (3) Sprout one group in distilled water on filter paper for three or four weeks. (4) Separately incinerate both groups. (5) Weigh the residue from each group. [The residue of the sprouted group will usually weigh at least SEVERAL PERCENT MORE than the other group.] (6) Analyze quantitatively the residue of each group for mineral content. [Some of the mineral atoms of the sprouted group have been TRANSMUTED into heavier mineral elements by FUSING with atoms of oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, etc..] BIOLOGICAL TRANSMUTATIONS occur ROUTINELY, even in our own bodies. Ingesting a source of organic silicon (silicon with carbon, such as "horsetail" extract, or radishes) can SPEED HEALING OF BROKEN BONES via the reaction Si + C --> Ca, (much faster than by merely ingesting the calcium directly). Some MINERAL DEPOSITS in the ground are formed by micro- organisms FUSING together atoms of silicon, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, etc.. The two reactions Si + C <--> Ca, by micro-organisms, cause "STONE SICKNESS" in statues, building bricks, etc.. The reaction N2 --> CO, catalysed by very hot iron, creates a CARBON-MONOXIDE POISON HAZARD for welder operators and people near woodstoves (even properly sealed ones). Some bacteria can even NEUTRALIZE RADIOACTIVITY! ALL OF THESE THINGS AND MORE HAPPEN, IN SPITE OF the currently accepted "laws" of physics. Footnote: Chapters 19 and 20 are about "RADIONICS". ENTIRE BOOK is FASCINATING! UN-altered REPRODUCTION and DISSEMINATION of this IMPORTANT Information is ENCOURAGED. Robert E. McElwaine B.S., Physics and Astronomy, UW-EC ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 10 Oct 1992 10:59:27 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "La Reine de la Cite' des Phoques (Liz Day)" Subject: Re: BIOLOGICAL ALCHEMY What the hell does that have to do with bees??! Liz Day ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 09:42:35 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "(Robert Holder)" Subject: The Unusual Case of Robert E. McElwaine hello beevolk. my name is robert holder and i'm a unix system administrator in florida, usa. i have been enjoying this list as an observer for a few months now because of the (1) interesting subject matter and (2) the low list volume. lest this peaceful list turn into a storm of complaints, signoffs and unproductive argument (which it probably wouldn't since everyone here seems so polite and friendly) as so many other lists have after a few of McElwaines little "visits", i have taken it upon myself to give you all some info i have acquired lately regarding McElwaine. He is Known Around the Net for his postings, all of which resemble the one you recently received. there is a preferred way to handle the situation, and you SHOULD handle it because if left unattended to, he will be posting articles about "free energy" and the "Divine Masters" 'till the cows come home. I include the following as I received it in its entirety: PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE TEXT BELOW BEFORE RESPONDING ================================================================= I would like to acknowledge receipt of your recent complaint concerning materials that your Notes, Conference, or Bulletin Board received from Mr. Robert McElwaine, one of our students here at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. Mr. McElwaine's activities on the Internet closely parallel similar activities here on campus in which he has used every available public forum to promote his views. Attempts to limit these activities have met with determined and protracted resistance and litigation on his part based upon his First Amendment rights under the United States Constitution. He contends that the readers of Conferences or Bulletin Boards have no right to infringe on his right of free expression. However, he does acknowledge and accept that the owners, moderators, or managers of Notes, Conferences, or Bulletin Boards do have the right to remove such material and to request that he not post any other materials. He has given assurances that upon receipt of such a request that he will cease his activities. The fastest way to take care of the issue and to prevent your Notes, Conference, or Bulletin Board from being the recipient of additional communications from Mr. McElwaine is to send him Email and request that he stop. That Email should give your name and the name of the Bulletin Board, Notes, or Conference you moderate or control. You should specifically state that you have the authority to request that he cease and desist from any further postings. If you are not the administrator, then you should forward this message to the individual who has such authority and request that he/she contact Mr. McElwaine. I would request that a copy of any correspondence with Mr. McElwaine be also sent to me at CBRENNER@UWEC.EDU. If, after being requested to stop, he continues to send his materials The University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire will take steps to revoke his Internet privileges. On behalf of the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire I would like to apologize for any inconvenience Mr. McElwaine has caused and to thank you for helping us address the problem. Sincerely, Charles J. Brenner, Director Computing and Networking Services =====================END INCLUDED TEXT======================= ...well there you have it. now you got da Good Nahlijj. what you do with it is up to you. Sorry Robert M. Why don't you try UFO-L? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~robert holder~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ assistant unix troll us geological survey ~ ~ robert@whiplash.er.usgs.gov st petersburg florida usa ~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 17:07:56 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: KWADDING@UMIAMI.BITNET Subject: Entomology textbook, any suggestions? I am beginning an introductory entomology course with lab for undergraduate and graduate students. I am looking for recommendations for a textbook. Any suggestions? Thank you. Keith D. Waddington Department of Biology University of Miami Coral Gables, FL 33124 KWADDING@UMIAMI.BITNET ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 09:01:28 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Peter Subject: Vic Vickery's Book I have been asked about how to obtain Vic Vickery's book "The Honey Bee: A Guide for Beekeepers" I too had much difficulty getting a copy for our library It turns out that the printer/publisher has had some problems with the Canadian post office (what's new?) or something of that sort. Anyway, the book can be obtained directly from Vic: 102 Souvenir Drive, Pincourt, Quebec, J7V 3N8 @$29.95+$5.00 (shipping) in Canada (includes GST) or $25.00 US + $5.00 US in USA ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 13:09:00 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: G7JKTL@IRISHMVS.BITNET Subject: Re: Vic Vickery's Book Does anyone know about observations of bees visiting a feeder after walking through a tube (Bisetzky 1957). I can only find the paper by Bisetzky (1957) and a paper by Goncalves (1969). Did anyone observe waggle dances after a forager walked through a tube ? Did anyone try to repeat the observations of Bisetzky ? Harald Esch Department of Biology University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, Indiana 46556 E-mail G7JKTL@IRISHMVS.CC.ND.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 14:20:25 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: KWADDING@UMIAMI.BITNET Subject: Re: Vic Vickery's Book Harald, As I indicated last month, we saw bees do a mix of waggle dances and round dances after walking down a tube that was attached to the hive entrance. The tube was 3 m long. Bees had great difficulty walking all that way. Dance behavior was erratic. What are your latest thoughts about work at Archbold in late December or early January? I have written to Morse about using the hut, but no reply yet. Classes begin here on about Jan. 18. Thank you for your letter and the check. Best wishes, Keith ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 14:27:36 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "(Genetica-Abelhas FMRP_USP)" WE HAVE PUBLISHED A BOOK REVIEWING BRAZILIAN BEE RESEARCH THE TITLE IS - BRAZILIAN BEE RESEARCH - BY ADEMILSON ESPENCER EGEA SOARES & DAVID DE JONG. IT INCLUDES 310 THESIS ABSTRACTS, WRITTEN IN BOTH THE ORIGINAL PORTUGUESE AND TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH AND CORRECTED BY THE AUTHORS. THERE IS ALSO A LIST OF 3700 PUBLICATIONS BY BRAZILIAN BEE RESEARCHERS AND BY SOME NON BRAZILIANS WHO HAVE DONE WORK IN BRAZIL. DR. KERR FOR INSTANCE HAS OVER 400 PUBLICATIONS LISTED. THE BOOK ALSO HAS INFORMATION ON THE 28 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN BEE RESEARCH, INCLUDING ADDRESS, PHONE AND FAX, LINES OF RESEARCH, AND THE PRINCIPAL RESEARCHERS. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR FOUR YEARS. IT WAS PUBLISHED IN HONOR OF DR. WARWICK KERR, ON THE OCCASION OF HIS SEVENTIETH BIRTHDAY. THE COVER ILLUSTRATION IS BY JOAO CAMARGO, WHO MADE THE STINGLESS BEE NEST ILLUSTRATIONS FOR MICHENER`S AND DAVE ROUBIK'S BOOKS. IT HAS 688 PAGES, IS WRITTEN IN SMALL PRINT, WEIGHS A KILOGRAM AND COSTS $40, INCLUDING OVERSEAS POSTAGE. IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED SEND A CHECK WRITTEN ON A U.S. BANK TO THE BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF GENETICS (THEY ARE THE PUBLISHERS) TO DR. DAVID DE JONG; GENETICS DEPT.; FAC. DE MEDICINA, USP; 14.049-900 RIBEIRAO PRETO, SP; BRASIL. - DAVID DE JONG  ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 12:33:00 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology Comments: A VAX cluster with VMS V5.5, PMDF V4.0-22, JNET V3.5 & UCX V1.3A From: SMOSS@UMASSD.BITNET Subject: BEE-L As an academic biologist and bee enthusiast, I'm interested in information on Bee-L, a discussion of Bee biology, and how I might subscribe to this list. Thanking you, I am Sanford Moss ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 17:59:38 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: brandis@RS6A.WLN.COM Subject: WLN Library Research WLN provides free use of the WLN Easy Access System through Internet October 16, 1992 (Rev.) WLN began providing free use when it inaugurated the new WLN Easy Access System through Internet on August 1, 1992. To access WLN, type TELNET WLN.COM or 192.156.252.2 at your system's prompt. You'll see some copyright information and instructions on WLN. Then just follow the instructions. Easy Access is a new easy-to-use searching interface to the WLN online system. It combines and reduces the dozens of sophisticated WLN commands to a few essential search types. Through online user instructions and context-sensitive help screens, Easy Access assists the untrained or infrequent user in searching the WLN database. The WLN database currently contains nearly 7.5 million bibliographic records in all formats and a broad range of languages, and over 16 million holdings. Records are contributed regularly to the WLN database from the Library of Congress, U.S. Government Printing Office, National Library of Medicine, National Library of Canada, WLN member libraries and several other sources. Beginning on November 1, 1992, the cost of accessing the WLN system through Internet will be $15.00 per hour. Credit card billing will also be available. Easy Access is also available by dial-up and from leased line workstations. For additional information on accessing the WLN database via Internet and Easy Access searching, contact Rush Brandis at 1-800-DIALWLN, (206) 923-4000, or info@wln.com. Search IAC reference databases free on WLN until November 1, 1992 Three of the Information Access Company's most popular indexing and abstracting services are now available through WLN free of charge until November 1, 1992. IAC's Magazine Index/Plus, Business Index, and Expanded Academic Index databases are searched through WLN Easy Access, WLN's new easy-to-use searching interface, which is available by dial-up, WLN leased line workstations and the Internet. After the free trial period, libraries can continue to search the IAC databases on WLN after negotiating a flat rate license fee with IAC. Magazine Index Plus A comprehensive index to over 400 of the most popular and widely read magazines. Subject areas covered include current affairs, consumer information, travel, arts and entertainment. Magazine Index Plus includes the most current 60 days' indexing of the New York Times. Business Index Business Index includes indexing of over 800 business, management, trade journals and newspapers, along with business-related articles from over 3,000 other publications. It contains abstracts for approximately 150 major management and computer journals. Newspaper coverage includes the business and financial sections of the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Asian Wall Street Journal and the Financial Times of Canada, as well as business-related articles from other national newspapers. Expanded Academic Index Provides indexing and abstracting of approximately 1,500 scholarly journals covering the humanities, social sciences, and science and technology with emphasis on areas of high academic interest such as communication studies, computer science, engineering, environmental studies and women's studies. Also includes the current six month's indexing of the New York Times. For additional information about searching IAC reference databases on WLN contact Rush Brandis at 1-800-DIALWLN, (206) 923-4000 or info@wln.com.  ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1992 06:52:38 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: MENIER@FRMNHN11.BITNET Subject: Is it working ? De MENIER Jean Lab Entomologie 45 rue Buffon F-75005 PARIS FRANCE Dear Bee listers ; Is the discussion list working ? I have not received any mail since I suscribed about a month ago. Sincerely, Jean J. MENIER, Mus{um national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, France. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1992 09:45:46 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: MENIER@FRMNHN11.BITNET Subject: Hello | De MENIER Jean Lab Entomologie 45 rue Buffon F-75005 PARIS FRANCE Dear Bee-Listers, I am new on the line. I am a professionnal entomologist working on the systematics of Coleoptera Cleridae (checkered-beetles). Some species of the genus Trichodes are known to be "parasitic" in bee-hives, though not regularly. The litterature on bees is so large that I am sure I have missed papers (large or small) mentionning parasitic clerids. I am not asking for a complete review of the litterature on the subject, but if you happen to have in memory recent references in which such predacious behaviour is mentioned, I would appreciate these references. My direct e-mail address is MENIERatFRMNHN11.BITNET. Thanks in advance, Sincerely, Jean J. Menier, Head of Coleoptera Section, Sub-Director, Entomology Dept., Mus{um national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, France. (my questions are not only dedicated to the northern hemisphere, litterature on predacious clerids everywhere in the world is welcome, specially publications in amateur reviews which are not mentionned in the Zoological record, or Entomology abstracts, ... Thanks). JJM ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1992 09:37:22 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: MENIER@FRMNHN11.BITNET Subject: Thanks to all De MENIER Jean Lab Entomologie 45 rue Buffon F-75005 PARIS FRANCE Dear Bee-Listers, Many thanks again to all those who replied personnally to me. Messages needing a personnal reply will get it. Sincere thanks, Sincerely, Jean J. MENIER, MNHN Paris. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Oct 1992 16:42:04 CDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Bee Surgeon Subject: Ant-eating in China and bee-eating in America ? Dear Beeliners, I propose the Americans start bee-eating to match the ant-eating by the Chinese <:) encl. ************************************************************************ >From: clarinews@clarinet.com (UPI) Subject: Chinese scientists say eating ants is healthy Date: Wed, 21 Oct 92 1:24:11 PDT Lines: 19 BEIJING (UPI) -- An ant a day keeps the doctor away -- at least according to Chinese scientists. The official Xinhua news agency said Chinese entomologists, or ant experts, recently wound up their country's first national symposium on the medical applications of ants. Xinhua quoted the experts as saying China has a 3,000-year history of ant-eating, with many Chinese still munching crunchy ants today. ``In some regions in southwest China, local people regularly eat ants, and...as a result, the locals enjoy good health,'' Xinhua said. The news agency said some 40 entomologists and medical workers attending the three-day seminar concluded that China's most-common ant species, Polyrhachis Vicina Roger, proved effective against rheumatism, hepatitis-B and other ``immunity disorders.'' The ants also contain many trace elements vital to human health, Xinhua said. The news agency added that the ``many reseach papers'' presented at the seminar included new techniques on extracting ``the usable ingredients from ants...to make medicine.'' ``This marked a new ant-processing stage to the old direct-eating method,'' Xinhua said. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Oct 1992 21:36:00 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology Comments: A VAX cluster with VMS V5.5, PMDF V4.0-22, JNET V3.5 & UCX V1.3A From: SMOSS@UMASSD.BITNET Subject: Re: Ant-eating in China and bee-eating in America ? Maybe this isn't such a bad idea. The ant eaters I'm most familiar with (yellow shafted flickers) look pretty healthy--but then so do bee eaters (kingbirds, skunks, bears, etc). And bees come in bigger bites (bytes?). And they're spicier than ants! SMoss ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Oct 1992 23:42:43 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "La Reine de la Cite' des Phoques (Liz Day)" Subject: bees are spicier Even so, I think I will wait for them to be processed, rather than engaging in the "direct-eating method" as they do in China... Liz Day ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 25 Oct 1992 10:12:01 IST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: eisikovitz Subject: New address Please note my new Address:Dan Eisikowitch,Eisik@ccsg.tau.ac.il . . ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Oct 1992 09:27:42 CET Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Willem N. Ellis" Subject: fossil brood cells (again) Dear Bee people - Some months ago I asked you for suggestions that could lead to the identification of fossil, Pleistocene, brood cells of some solitary bee that my wife and I had found in numbers on the eastern Canary Islands. Once more, thanks to all those wo responded, in particular Scott Miller, Karsten Schonrogge and Michael Schwarz. Now I have a second question, related to these same ichnofossils. A detailed study of the cells of this bee (MAYBE an Anthophora) we took home shows an approximately 32% mortality due to predators (such as caused by Mutillidae, Meloidae and Bombyliidae). On top of that there is a mortality of 12% due to unknown causes (cells remaining closed, although not manifestly attacked by a predator). On top of this already impressive pre- imaginal mortality, there obviously must be a mortality of unknown importance cased by brood parasites, that sneak in an egg, but leave the construction of the cell intact and leave the cell in a normal way. Now I am no bee ecologist, but still I would like to compare these data of pre-adult mortality to those of other species. Is anybody of you aware of such data? Thanks in advance for any help Willem ========================================================== Dr. Willem N. Elllis Department of Entomology, Institute of Taxonomic Zoology, Plantage Middenlaan 64, 1018 DH Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Telephone (020) 5256240 Private address (most of the time you'll find me here!): Jisperveldstraat 591, 1024 BD Amsterdam; tel. 020-6328080. bitnet: a429will@hasara11 internet: Willem_N_Ellis@sara.nl ========================================================= ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Oct 1992 09:24:00 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Malcolm (Tom) Sanford, Florida Extension Apiculturist" Subject: OCTOBER ISSUE OF APIS NEWSLETTER FILENAME: OCTAPIS.92 Florida Extension Beekeeping Newsletter Apis--Apicultural Information and Issues (ISSN 0889-3764) Volume 10, Number 10, October 1992 MILESTONES-RALPH WADLOW DIES The history of beekeeping is full of colorful characters who advanced the craft in many ways. Certainly, Ralph Wadlow, who died October 4 in Fort Myers, was one of these. His passing is a true milestone in Florida apiculture. Mr. Wadlow was one of the pioneers who brought beekeeping below the frost line in Florida some 40 years ago. He was also instrumental in convincing vegetable growers that pollination by honey bees increased yields. Although he didn't study botany or genetics in college, Mr. Wadlow, nevertheless, cooperated on bee research projects at Cornell University, the University of Bogota in Colombia and the University of Florida. He was once quoted as saying he "assisted the Ph.D.s with their lily white dukes, testing theories with blisters, backaches and sweat." Mr. Wadlow was so active in Florida and national beekeeping associations it is difficult to conceive that he will no longer be present at these functions. A charter member of the Florida State Beekeepers Association, he was a prime mover in that organization for decades, attended almost every meeting and held many responsible positions. He more than once held all the offices in the Southern States Beekeepers Federation, regularly attended Eastern Apicultural Society gatherings and was often one of Florida's delegates to the American Beekeeping Federation. He was also involved in international apicultural activities, consulting in South America (Bolivia) and attending several Apimondia conventions. In a newspaper article about Mr. Wadlow in 1975 he said: "In South America, I am El Doctor. Here, I am a beekeeper, quite an ordinary fellow." The many, including myself, who knew Ralph don't cotton to this idea. He was extraordinary in every way. ANTIBIOTIC PROPERTIES OF HONEY--NEW ZEALAND-MANUKA HONEY An interesting story concerning particular honeys in New Zealand is beginning to surface. According to the August issue of the National Beekeepers' Association newsletter, Buzzwords, a Dr. Peter Molan of Waikato University recently summarized his work on the medicinal properties of honey. Dr. Molan has gathered together the known medical research on honey and has found that it is used in many countries in the treatment of burns, blisters, bed sores and major wounds. Honey has long been used as a wound dressing, and according to Dr. Molan, it is probably the perfect substance for such a use. Not only is it antibiotic (killing almost all bacteria), it also keeps the wound from dehydrating. Almost all other wound dressings either keep the wound dry (avoiding infection, but leading to scarring), or moist (avoiding the severe effects of dehydration, but making a great medium for bacteria to grow). Honey is also better than man-made antibiotics, Dr. Molan contends, because such antibiotics actually slow down the rate of cell growth. The moisture-attracting nature of honey, on the other hand, actually pulls body fluids and nutrients to the wound surface where they help speed skin growth and healing. According to Dr. Molan, honey has everything going for it except the acceptance of the medical fraternity. But the recent discoveries about a second antibiotic substance in manuka honey may help change that. All honey gives off hydrogen peroxide, a known antibiotic. The hydrogen peroxide is produced when the glucose in honey reacts with oxygen. The problem with hydrogen peroxide as an antibiotic, however, is that in large concentrations it breaks down in the presence of a common enzyme (catalase), producing the characteristic fizz we see when we put it on a cut. Because it is produced slowly in honey, at a low level, the hydrogen peroxide doesn't loose it's effectiveness. Provided honey is kept away from light, the enzyme which breaks down the hydrogen peroxide won't even activate. Dr. Molan and his students tested the hydrogen peroxide in honey on a range of bacteria and as a control removed the hydrogen peroxide with catalase. That's when they discovered the second antibacterial property in manuka honey. While not present in all samples, some showed a high level of non-peroxide inhibition over a whole range of bacteria, even at honey dilutions as low as 1.8%. Manuka honey has also been shown to be effective against Helicobater pylori, which is now thought to be the major cause of stomach ulcers. A large number of patients will be given one tablespoon of bioactive manuka or another honey before meal times, five times a day. The patients will then be examined for the reduction in H. pylori bacteria. The trials are set to begin after the Otago University Hospital ethics committee approves the procedure. The study will hopefully be funded by a grant from the Honey Industry Trust Fund. The exciting thing about the manuka discovery is that this non-peroxide antibiotic substance works against even highly resistant bacteria such as the MSRA bacterium which is gaining a reputation for closing down hospital wards. According to Dr. Molan, doctors may soon be looking back at the last 20 years as the golden age of antibiotics. In the near future, we may have a host of bacteria resistant to synthetic antibiotics, and the need for naturally occurring antibiotics like the one found in bioactive manuka honey will be all that more important. Dr. Molan also is studying other honeys that might have the non-peroxide bioactive ingredient. A promising one is from the plant called vipers bugloss, also known blue borage (Echium vulgare). BEE'S BOOZY LIFE According to an artice in New Scientist ("Driven to Drink: A Sorry Tale of Bees' Boozy Life," August 8, 1992, p. 14), honey bees drinking fermented nectar have more flying accidents, die younger and are often rejected by teetotalers back at the hive. An Australian entomologist, Dr. Errol Hassan, is looking at bees imbibing both fermented sugar syrup and nectar. The alcohol content can be as high as 10% in these materials and adding fermented syrup or nectar to honey can make it "spiked." How drunk bees become is based on how much nectar they consume and the alcohol content. Heavily inebriated bees have difficulty coordinating their actions, reminiscent of birds that have also fed on fermented nectar. The bees may even die or be unable to find their way back to the hive. When they do make it to the entrance, strange acting, drunk bees are rejected by the guards, Dr. Hassan says. Finally, the insects are more vulnerable to predators. Dr. Hassan and colleagues discovered the boozy bee phenomenon while looking at beekeeping practices in Kenya. Apparently, local beekeepers were feeding the bees weak sugar solutions that often fermented. Fermentation of weak sugar syrup can be avoided by feeding bees stronger solutions and/or ensuring the insects take their food quickly. Since many beekeepers do feed sugar syrup during marginal times, this brings into focus another possible reason colonies might suffer either autumn collapse or spring dwindling of populations. BIOCONTROL BEES Most everyone knows that honey bees are beneficial for their pollinating activities. Now, however, ingenous experiments are at work to show these insects can also be used in the growing field of biological control ("A Beeline to Biocontrol," Agricultural Research, July, 1992, pp. 10-13). Biological control is the use of bacteria, fungi, other pathogens and predators to attack agricultural pests. Biological control targets specific pests with just as specific controls. This technology is an attractive alternative to pesticides. Chemicals are often not very specific; they kill beneficial organisms and are increasingly being blamed for causing harmful side effects to the environment. Outbreaks of fire blight in apple orchards are the result of a lack of competing beneficial bacteria in blooms. This imbalance results in an epidemic population of a bacterium called Erwinia amylovora, which invades the flower parts causing damage. The problem, therefore, can be controlled by introducing beneficial bacteria as competition. That's where the bees come in. Experiments at the Agricultural Research Service Bee Biology and Systematics Lab (Logan, Utah) use an apparatus called a pollen insert to salt honey bees with beneficial bacteria in an effort to see if they can distribute the beneficial organisims in orchards. So far, the results have been encouraging. The same idea is also being used in Tifton, Georgia in the fight against corn earworm. Instead of bacteria, the bees are dusted with a specific virus that affects only the offending worms. Once spread to the corn plant, the pathogen attacks the voracious caterpillars, reducing them to an innocuous liquid. It is fortunate that honey bees visit corn for pollen or the technique would not work. Using this strategy is possible for a wide variety of flowering plants and only limited by the imagination and by how much honey bees are affected by what is being distributed. 1993 4-H ESSAY CONTEST--EARLIER THAN NORMAL It's time once more for 4-H'ers to begin thinking about this year's essay contest sponsored by the American Beekeeping Federation. This year entries are due a full month earlier than usual. There are three cash prizes to Top Winners ($250, $100 and $50). In addition, each State Winner receives an appropriate book about honey bees, beekeeping, or honey. TOPIC: "New Honey Promotion Ideas" You've just landed a new job--director of sales and advertising for ABC Honey Co. How will you promote honey sales? To Consumers: What is there about ABC Honey (or any honey) that should interest consumers? What types of promotions or advertising are effective for products like honey? What are you going to do to spread the good news about honey, to encourage more consumers in your marketing area to seek out ABC Honey and purchase it? To Foodservice Establishments: Why would traditional restaurants and fastfood outlets include dishes made with honey on their menus or provide honey as a topping? To Food Processors: Why add honey to a processed food? Do consumers perceive a food made with honey as having more value? Does honey offer other advantages as an ingredient? TIPS: To see any product, you must know its advantages and disadvantages. Then you must decide how best to bring the product to the attention of potential customers. Look at advertising and promotion ideas which seem to be effective for other foods and products. Consider which of them might be adapted for honey production. RULES: 1. Contest is open to active 4-H Club members only. 4-H'ers who have previously placed first, second or third at the national level are not eligible; other state winners are eligible to re-enter. 2. Essays must be 750 to 1000 words long, written on the designated subject only. All factual statements must be referenced with endnotes; failure to do so will result in disqualification. A brief biographical sketch of the essayist, including date of birth, complete mailing address, and telephone number, must accompany the essay. (The word limit does not include the references or the biographical sketch). 3. Essays submitted for national judging must be typewritten, double-spaced, on one side of the paper and should follow standard manuscript format. Handwritten essays will not be judged. 4. Essays will be judged on (a) accuracy, (b) creativity, (c) conciseness, (d) logical development of the topic, and (e) scope of research. 5. Essayists should not forward essays directly to the American Beekeeping Federation Office. Florida entries should be sent to Dr. Tom Sanford, Box 110620, Bldg. 970, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0620 by April 1, 1993. RESISTANCE TO APISTAN? An Italian study ("Valutazione dell'efficacia dell'Apistan, "L'apicoltore Moderno, Vol. 83, June, 1992, pp. 95-8) presents some disquieting data. Instead of the expected 99.6 percent of mites killed, the results showed a range of data averaging 87.2 to 90.5 percent mite mortality. The authors state that this is evidence resistant mites may be developing to fluvalinate, even when applied correctly using plastic strips [Apistan (R)]. One reason for resistance, the authors say, is perhaps because beekeepers have used illegal formulations of fluvalinate impregnated on wooden strips over a period of years. The authors state that at the end of the 1991 antivarroa campaign in Italy, beekeepers cried victory when seeing so few mites on bottomboards after applying fluvalinate tests. Nevertheless, they caution, 1991 was a bad year (inclement spring) for bees, and application of Apistan (R) throughout the region (Bergamo province) for three consecutive years did leave Varroa mites, indicating a steady loss in effectiveness. In conclusion, the authors say that V. jacobsoni easily develops resistance to chemicals. They urge beekeepers to be careful not to lose the war while winning a battle when treating mites. They recommend using fluvalinate legally, scrupulously adhering to recommendations on the label, treating all colonies at the same time and same season (autumn), and using other kinds of control measures in conjunction with the one material available that is effective and legal. SUPPORTING MITICUR (R) An important step to prevent Varroa mites from becoming resistant to fluvalinate is developing an alternative chemical treatment. For some time, a product called Miticur (R), active ingredient amitraz, has been in the registration process. Information I received from the American Beekeeping Federation indicates that a Section 3 - General Use Recommendation may be approved soon. It is imperative beekeepers contact the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicating that an alternative chemical control for Varroa is badly needed, especially as we obtain evidence of resistance to fluvalinate. Miticur (R) also controls tracheal mites. Registration, therefore, would be a significant advance in helping beekeepers conquer two of their most important problems. Please contact the following people: Douglas d. Campt Linda J. Fisher Director, Office of Pesticide Programs Assistant Administrator, Pesticides and Toxic Substances Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Prot. Agency 401 M. St., SW 401 M. St., SW Washington, DC 20460 Washington, DC 20460 ph 703/305-7090 ph 202/260-29092 fax 703/305-6244 fax 703/260-1847 CALENDAR OF EVENTS November 5,6,7, 1992. Florida State Beekeepers Association, Holiday Inn, Sebring, FL. January 5-11, 1993. American Honey Producers Association, Houston, TX. January 19-24, 1993. American Beekeeping Federation, 50th Anniversary, Kansas City, MO. April 1, 1993. Deadline 4-H Essay Contest. Sincerely, Malcolm T. Sanford 0620 IFAS, Bldg 970 University of Florida Gainesville, FL 32611-0620 Phone (904) 392-1801, Ext. 143 FAX: 904-392-0190 BITNET Address: MTS@IFASGNV INTERNET Address: MTS@GNV.IFAS.UFL.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Oct 1992 09:26:16 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: EVBKEVAN@VM.UOGUELPH.CA Re: eating ants Eating ants has been well known for a long time. Sometimes they are encased in chocolate. Eating them directly is known in various animals, not just birds and eat-anters, but also in primates. Chimpanzees do it. Oecophylla are bush food in Australia. One nips of the abdomen with one's front teeth and chews it up. It has a fine, lemony flavour. I tried them in Queensland and found them to be quite thirst-quenching and tastey. Your formicovorous friend, Peter ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Oct 1992 08:38:50 CST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Fernando Silveira Subject: Re: Ant-eating in China and bee-eating in America ? In-Reply-To: Message of Fri, 23 Oct 1992 21:36:00 EDT from Well, we might think of any good reason for eating bees, but I don't know of any one that do have this dietary habit, in America or elsewhere. But, if you allow me to talk of America sensu lato, I do know that braz- ilian indians have taught european settlers to eat the abdomen of queen ants of the genus Atta (leaf cutter ants) at the occasion of the matting flights. One can every once in a while find someone in Brazil that appreciates this delicacy, fresh or fried... ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Oct 1992 14:13:37 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Peter Subject: Re: Ant-eating in China and bee-eating in America ? In-Reply-To: Message of Mon, 26 Oct 1992 08:38:50 CST from Bees are eaten in various forms. The brood is eaten by various peoples when it is taken from hives and crushed up with honey cambs. Xylocopa are eaten in China, and make part of a remedy for colds ... so-called Chinese plums are another part of the recipe. I have seen "baby-bees" in chocolate sold as a gourmet item. In Japan, bee brood is, or has been, used for feeding Coocinelidae for rearing to biocontrol purposes. Cheers, Peter ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Oct 1992 17:39:00 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: xxuucp@ATT.ATT.COM Subject: UUCP Mail UUCP request att!D.att5eb2df8 to cblpe!D.att5eb2df8 failed on system 'cblpe'. Reason for failure: remote system can't create temp file remote file system is low on free space ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Oct 1992 20:35:00 +1300 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: NICKW@WAIKATO.AC.NZ Subject: Re: Ant-eating in China and bee-eating in America ? One of the local beekeepers here had a contract a few years back for supply of larva (drone ws preferred, I think) into the Japanese market. He was extracting them by taking the comb just before the cells were due to be sealed and blocwing them out with a stream of air, as i remember it... Nick Wallingford NICKW@WAIKATO.AC.NZ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Oct 1992 09:54:13 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Peter Kevan Subject: Greek and Latin Myrmecovory or Formicovory or Formicophagy or Myrmecophagy Two are correct by being linguistically consistent as either Latin based or Greek based. Two are incorrect as they mix the linguistic roots. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Oct 1992 11:35:19 -0600 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "La Reine de la Cite' des Phoques (Liz Day)" Subject: Re: Greek and Latin But which two are correct? Liz Day ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 Oct 1992 10:13:00 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: PNCSPPC@NCSUVAX.BITNET Subject: Immunity to bee venom? I'm curious as to how long it takes for beekeepers to become "immune" to bee venom. I understand that when one is immune to bee stings they still hurt as much as normally but that there is no swelling or itching afterwards. For example, if one gets stung four times a week on a regular basis how long would it take? Also, does it get a lot worse before it gets better? Phil Calvert (A prospective beekeeper) **************************************** * Bitnet: pncsppc@ncsuvax * * Internet: pncsppc@ccvax1.cc.ncsu.edu * **************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1992 20:12:00 +1300 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: NICKW@WAIKATO.AC.NZ Subject: RE: Immunity to bee venom? I can't remember the reference, but I recall something about 2 stings/year being antibody 'maintenance dose'. -------------------------------- Nick Wallingford Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Internet nick@waikato.ac.nz -------------------------------- Posted: 30-10-92 19:03:20 NZ time -------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1992 11:16:23 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Aaron Morris Subject: Immunity to bee venom... Isn't it also the case that rather than building up an immunity that one can develope severe reactions to stings where no reactions were evident previously? ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1992 12:49:00 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: PNCSPPC@NCSUVAX.BITNET Subject: RE: Immunity to bee venom... >Isn't it also the case that rather than building up an immunity that >one can develope severe reactions to stings where no reactions were >evident previously? Yes, although I'm told that near-fatal reactions are rare compared with the former. Still, it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to carry a "bee sting kit" (Anakit) or an epinephrine auto-injector (Epipen) when working with bees. Both require a prescription from your physician. Some may think that this is being overly cautious. I look at as being an inexpensive form of insurance. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 31 Oct 1992 16:59:38 +1000 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: GENSHL@LURE.LATROBE.EDU.AU Subject: Re: Immunity to bee venom? 2 stings a year sounds like plenty to me. I liked that this info came from the Bay of Plenty. Susan Lawler, Melbourne ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 31 Oct 1992 01:01:00 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: jhf@CBLPE.ATT.COM I'll be away from the office until November 23rd (if you get this message after that date, I've probably discovered Zen and have fled to Mt. Fuji). Your mail has been saved and I'll read it periodically during my absence. If you have questions about ASI, please contact my supervisor, Mike Kefauver at +1 614 860 3694, cblpe!mak. If you have questions about the ASI lab machines, please contact Steve Michael at +1 614 860 3718, cblpe!sm. If you have other questions or concerns, please contact Glenda Childress at +1 614 860 6792, cblph!glenda. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 31 Oct 1992 11:26:50 CST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Fernando Subject: Re: Immunity to bee venom... In-Reply-To: Message of Fri, 30 Oct 1992 11:16:23 EST from I have read some articles where people were saying that whether you would build up immunity or beome hypersensitive to bee venom would depend in great extent to the frequency and dosage of venom you are exposed to. According to those articles, beekeepers, being exposed very frequently to relatively large dosages, would build up immunity. Their wifes, on the other hand, being exposed unfrequntly and to low dosages (as venom crystals in gloves etc) would tend to become hypersensitive. I don't know how accurate those articles were, but, if their authors were wright, being stung twice a year might be too close to the boundary