From LISTSERV@UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU Sun Oct 2 14:52:10 1994 Date: Sun, 2 Oct 1994 16:46:24 -0400 From: BITNET list server at ALBNYVM1 To: Allen Dick Subject: File: "BEE-L LOG9304" ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Apr 1993 13:22:12 CST Reply-To: Postmaster@UAFSYSB.UARK.EDU Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology Comments: W: DATE field duplicated. Last occurrence was retained. Comments: Resent-From: "Sydney A. Cameron" Comments: Originally-From: "Sydney A. Cameron" From: "Sydney A. Cameron" Subject: addition to list Dear Bee List group, Please add me to the list. I work on Bombus; is the listing primarily for Apis? Can I get of the members of the list? Thank you. Sydney A. Cameron SCAMERON@UAFSYSB.UARK.EDU Biol. Sci. Univ. of Arkansas, Fayetteville 72701 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Apr 1993 20:49:00 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: COON@IPFWCVAX.BITNET Subject: AMERICAN BEE SP. Please forgive a non-entomologist's ignorance but there are several questions which I hope someone can answer for me. I understand that the bee that I know as the common 'honey bee' is in fact an European import yet Native Americans were enthusiastic consumers of honey. Can anyone suggest likely cantidates for American honey producers? Those species that I can find references to make no mention of honey production. Any insights, suggestions, references would be welcome. My field is Anthropological Linguistics and quite frankly, when it comes to bees, I am at a loss. Thank you Roger B. Coon COON@IPFWCVAX.BITNET ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 2 Apr 1993 09:58:48 CST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Bee Surgeon Subject: AMERICAN BEE SP. The Archaeology of beekeeping by Ava Crane might be a good place to start. This NOTE is a reply to: ------------------------ >Return-Path: <@VMD.CSO.UIUC.EDU:BEE-L@ALBNYVM1.BITNET> >Received: from VMD.CSO.UIUC.EDU (NJE origin LISTSERV@UIUCVMD) by > VMD.CSO.UIUC.EDU (LMail V1.1d/1.7f) with BSMTP id 0982; Thu, > 1 Apr 1993 19:52:09 -0600 >Date: Thu, 1 Apr 1993 20:49:00 EST >Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology >Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology >From: COON@IPFWCVAX.BITNET >Subject: AMERICAN BEE SP. >To: ZHIYONG HUANG > >Please forgive a non-entomologist's ignorance but there are several >questions which I hope someone can answer for me. I understand that >the bee that I know as the common 'honey bee' is in fact an European >import yet Native Americans were enthusiastic consumers of honey. Can >anyone suggest likely cantidates for American honey producers? Those >species that I can find references to make no mention of honey production. > Any insights, suggestions, references would be welcome. My field >is Anthropological Linguistics and quite frankly, when it comes to bees, >I am at a loss. >Thank you >Roger B. Coon >COON@IPFWCVAX.BITNET ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 2 Apr 1993 12:19:09 CST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Gary L. Williams" Subject: Bee Frenzy Not long ago I noticed, and unfortunately failed to capture, a reference to a study which discussed the responses of bees to fresh outflows of copal. Copal is a natural exudate resin from several species of tropical trees including those of the genus Copaifera. As I recall, bees become intensely hostile and aggressive, even to members of their own hive, when this resin resin is flowing. Can anyone lead me to studies which treat this relationship? ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 2 Apr 1993 10:43:49 PST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jane Beckman Subject: Re: AMERICAN BEE SP. The Native Americans were, indeed, enthusiastic honey consumers---but of the honey produced by the European honeybee. (The other honey product consumed by Native Americans was from the "honey ants" of Utah, who make a similar product and store it in specialized workers called "repletes," who have grossly distended honey stomachs.) Once the honeybee was introduced, swarms escaped into the wild and became established. I am not sure of the exact rate of spread in the eastern woodlands, early on, but I do know that it is recorded in Irving's "Adventures of Captain Bonneville" that by the 1830's the honeybee had reached the Great Plains and was working its way up the Platt River at a rate of approximately 10 miles per year. It was known to the Plains tribes as "the White Man's Fly," and they were enthusiastic raiders of any wild hives they found. As a hobby beekeeper and avocational historian of the American West, I have been trying to find references to bees in the early West for some years, as there is a great deal of misinformation/misconception on this topic. (For example, most records state that the "first" bees in California arrived in 1954. In actuality, this was the first post-goldrush arrival of Anglo- managed bees kept in more "modern" style hives. There are many earlier references to the bees kept by the Missions, and escaped honeybees in wild colonies were reported at least as far back as the 1830's.) My degree concentration was in ethnobotany, with a special interest in historical plant usage, and a side interest in pollination mechanics, so I suppose an interest in the historic honeybee only follows. And remember, the Native American tribes didn't just disappear when the Europeans, and their bees, arrived! There were "wild Indians" living here, coexisting with European honeybees, for nearly three centuries. --Jane Beckman [jane@swdc.stratus.com] ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 2 Apr 1993 15:47:00 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: di5 Subject: Re: sources of honey for Native Americans In-Reply-To: <9304022019.AA05059@umailsrv0.UMD.EDU> Bumblebees, which are native to the US, also produce some honey. But usually not more than enough to get the annual colony through a few days of bad weather. Certainly nothing on the order of what's stored by the perennial honeybee colonies. It tastes good, but is more dilute than honeybee honey, and is stored in the open, leftover cases where bees pupated (except for the initial honeypot made by the queen when she is starting the colony). I doubt that Native Americans would have looked for bumblebee nests as a source of this resource. David W. Inouye Dept. of Zoology, University of Maryland E-mail: di5@umail.umd.edu Phone: 301-405-6946 ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 3 Apr 1993 17:24:00 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: CRONKLETON Subject: Re: AMERICAN BEE SP. Many Native American groups throughout the lowlands of South and Central America hunt the honey produced by wide varieties of "stingless" bees the varieties ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Apr 1993 08:04:30 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "La Reine de la Cite' des Phoques (Liz Day)" REVIEW bee-line ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 2 Apr 1993 16:31:16 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Peter Subject: Re: AMERICAN BEE SP. In-Reply-To: Message of Thu, 1 Apr 1993 20:49:00 EST from To the south, the culture of Melliponine bees has been practiced for a very long time and was the source of honey for the poeples of central and south America. The culture still continues, but is not as important in the commerce of honey as is European honey bee honey production. In north America, there was no culture of insects for honey. Honey pot ants' colonies were raided in the SW for honey. I don't know of any other source. Cheers, Peter ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 3 Apr 1993 09:28:32 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: cp@UPLOW.UUCP Subject: Bumble honey . . . From: plowright@csi.uottawa.ca Dear Bee-Liners: After such scholarly contributions about the spread of the European honeybee in the New World, it was a bit disappointing to read David Inouye's message about bumblebee honey. Here are some corrections: > Bumblebees, which are native to the US, also produce some honey. > But usually not more than enough to get the annual colony through a > few days of bad weather. This completely ignores the tremendous "warehousing potential" of a large Bombus colony as it enters into the phase of queen-production. A large colony of B. impatiens (or B. vosnesenskii) for example, may have as much as a kilogram or two of honey stored in its comb at this time. > It tastes good, but is more dilute than honeybee honey, and is > stored in the open, leftover cases where bees pupated (except for > the initial honeypot made by the queen when she is starting the > colony). As in the case of honeybees, it is only the more recently collected honey that is dilute. Bumblebee honey that has been in the "warehouse" for a longer time becomes as concentrated as honeybee honey (measure it if you don't believe me), and the empty cocoons which contain it are frequently sealed ("capped"). Also, it is incorrect to say that the only alternative to empty cocoons is the "initial honeypot" made by the queen: depending upon their economic circumstances, all bumblebee colonies will, if they have a generous intake of nectar, construct wax honeypots around the comb (this is taken to ridiculous extremes, for example, in laboratory or greenhouse colonies fed with ad libitum sugar solution). Also, not all foundress queens construct only a single wax honeypot: B. griseocollis, for example, in eastern N. America (and in the mid-west also, Sydney Cameron?) regularly build two or three honeypots and, as is not usually the case among Bombus species, they start building them well before they lay their first-brood eggs! > I doubt that Native Americans would have looked for bumblebee nests > as a source of this resource. Well, I'm sorry to be insulting, but I suspect that many Native Americ- ans were (and doubtless still ARE!) better naturalists than some academ- ic "ecologists"! After all, during the month of August (in the northern hemisphere), kids all over (native and otherwise) have regularly tested their bravery, year after year, by waging war on their local Bombus factory-fortresses . . . Truly, the warehousing dynamics of a Bombus hive are a fascinating study in social insect adaptability--we have only recently begun to appreciate, for example, how exquisitely fine-tuned are the "optimality tradeoffs" involved in balancing the complementary resources (honey and pollen) required by a bumblebee colony. Best regards, Chris Plowright. -- Chris Plowright - via the University of Ottawa Return addresses: via INTERNET: plowright@csi.uottawa.ca via UUCP : ...uunet!mitel!cunews!csi2!uplow!chris ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Apr 1993 10:57:47 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: stephen j clark Subject: Re: Bumble honey . . . Dear Bee-Liners: As a regular reader of this newsletter, I appreciate both the exchange of information and the correction of misinformation. However, I find ad hominem attacks, an example of which follows, both boorish and unnecessary. > After such scholarly contributions about the spread of >the European honeybee in the New World, it was a bit disappointing to >read [...]'s message about bumblebee honey. Here are some >corrections: * * * * * * * >Well, I'm sorry to be insulting, but I suspect that many Native Americ- >ans were (and doubtless still ARE!) better naturalists than some academ- >ic "ecologists"! Let's try for a higher tone. Stephen Clark Vassar College ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Apr 1993 01:11:24 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Barbara Thomson Subject: Re: Bumble honey . . . In-Reply-To: Message of Mon, 05 Apr 93 23:42:56 EDT from Hip Hip to Stephen Clark! ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Apr 1993 17:19:00 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: di5 Subject: Re: Bumble honey . . . In-Reply-To: <9304061340.AA00816@umailsrv0.UMD.EDU> Chris: Thanks for your interesting response. The bumblebee colonies I'm familiar with are from about 9,500 feet elevation in the Colorado Rocky Mountains (near the Rocky Mountain Biological Lab). At that elevation, a large colony might have 30 to maybe 40 workers by the end of the season; many colonies never have more than 12- 20 workers. A colony this size does not have a "tremendous 'warehousing potential'" for honey. In colonies at this elevation I have never seen sealed cocoons with honey, nor have I ever seen more than a single honeypot made by a queen. Thus, there seem to be quite significant difference between the colonies you have described, apparently from lower elevations, and the ones I know from higher elevations (in an area where Native Americans used to spend the summer). I am still sceptical that high-elevation bumblebee nests, which might have only a few ml of dilute honey, would have been the object of searches by many kids. Thanks for pointing out these differences among species of bumblebees. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1993 09:21:54 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Ray Lackey Organization: Hazeltine Corp Subject: Bumble Bees While we are on the subject of bumble bees.... I keep honey bees and a wide variety of fruits including arguta, the cold hardy kiwi from northern China. I belong to the North American Fruit Explorers (NAFEX) which has a publication (I know paper is from the dark ages but most don't have computers in the orchards and magazines are easier to read in the hammock.) where one member noted that the Bumble Bee species seem to be heavy pollinators of arguta. Since some members already experiment with culturing Japanese Horn Face Bees (Osmonia?) and some local leaf cutter bees, the question came up as to how to culture Bumble bees. It appears that some out there make their living culturing Bumble bees for the greenhouse trade so I don't want to ask you to give up your trade secrets. Can anyone recommend a book or magazine article on small culture of Bumble bees? ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + Raymond J. Lackey + + Beekeeper 10 years with 25 colonies on Long Island + + INTERNET: lackeyr@drone.hazeltine.com + + Mail: 1260 Walnut Avenue, Bohemia NY 11617 + + Home Phone: 516-567-1936 FAX: 516-262-8053 + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1993 10:53:56 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jane Beckman Subject: Re: Bumble Bees I don't know of any references, but I do know (from reading the net) that someone in Oregon is using agricultural/gardening fairs to market "bee houses." These are not for bumble bees, but for carpenter bees, which are closely related. It's a wooden nest block. Since carpenter bees are territorial, this has limited use, though, as only one nest can be supported in a given area. (Interestingly, my Apache uncle used to hang up nest blocks for carpenter bees, too. He claimed they brought luck to your house.) I haven't heard of anyone trying to cultivate bumblebees, but it would seem like a logical progression---*provided you figure out how to create a suitable nest site to attract bumblebees.* It's easier with carpenter bees, as they are attracted to wood blocks with appropriately-sized holes, much the way you can lure birds to a birdhouse. Carpenter bees seem to be the primary pollinators of my sweet peas, being one of the few bees with enough body mass to depress the keel of a large modern hybrid sweet pea. -Jane Beckman [jane@swdc.stratus.com] ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1993 12:53:23 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Adrian Wenner Subject: Re: AMERICAN BEE SP., CA bees In-Reply-To: <9304021852.AA05164@ucsbuxb.ucsb.edu>; from "Jane Beckman" at Apr 2 7 April / 1230 The first introduction of European honey bees into California seems to have been fairly well documented. Lee Watkins, an avid historian of beekeeping, considered 1853 to be the first introduction (American Bee Journal, 1968, 108:190-191) into California. Sheppard wrote a very complete account of introduction of various races into the U.S. (Am. Bee Journal, 1989, 129:617-619; 664-667. I have a short article that should appear in mid to late summer. If you would like, I can send you a typescript. The Eva Crane book on archeology of beekeeping, noted to you earlier, is also quite scholarly. It is important to note, though, the earliest introductions into California were likely "German" (Dark European) honey bees and not the Italian bee of commerce today. Adrian M. Wenner Prof. of Natural History, Emeritus > > The Native Americans were, indeed, enthusiastic honey consumers---but of > the honey produced by the European honeybee. (The other honey product > consumed by Native Americans was from the "honey ants" of Utah, who make a > similar product and store it in specialized workers called "repletes," who > have grossly distended honey stomachs.) Once the honeybee was introduced, > swarms escaped into the wild and became established. I am not sure of the > exact rate of spread in the eastern woodlands, early on, but I do know > that it is recorded in Irving's "Adventures of Captain Bonneville" that by > the 1830's the honeybee had reached the Great Plains and was working its > way up the Platt River at a rate of approximately 10 miles per year. It > was known to the Plains tribes as "the White Man's Fly," and they were > enthusiastic raiders of any wild hives they found. > > As a hobby beekeeper and avocational historian of the American West, I have > been trying to find references to bees in the early West for some years, as > there is a great deal of misinformation/misconception on this topic. (For > example, most records state that the "first" bees in California arrived in > 1954. In actuality, this was the first post-goldrush arrival of Anglo- > managed bees kept in more "modern" style hives. There are many earlier > references to the bees kept by the Missions, and escaped honeybees in wild > colonies were reported at least as far back as the 1830's.) My degree > concentration was in ethnobotany, with a special interest in historical > plant usage, and a side interest in pollination mechanics, so I suppose an > interest in the historic honeybee only follows. > > And remember, the Native American tribes didn't just disappear when the > Europeans, and their bees, arrived! There were "wild Indians" living here, > coexisting with European honeybees, for nearly three centuries. > > --Jane Beckman [jane@swdc.stratus.com] > ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1993 15:01:09 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jane Beckman Subject: Re: AMERICAN BEE SP., CA bees That's the trouble with historical revisionists like myself and my circle. We keep finding inconvenient primary source documentation, often on the way to researching something else. Bees came with my research on orchard production. They aren't the only case, either... (I still have several history texts where I need to write to the author and correct some statements and steer him to some references.) I am posting my reply, since others might find this interesting. I don't have my reference notes readily available, at the moment, since this is purely my hobby, ethnobotanic research, and (not having worked on this angle over two years) they're buried in my desk midden. If anyone is interested, I can dig out bibliographic references. (Currently, an article on the history of sugar (not honey) in pre-Gold Rush California is occupying my time and energy, I'm afraid.) --Jane Beckman [jane@swdc.stratus.com] "I'm not a professional ethnobotanist; I just play one for the State." ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1993 15:09:57 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jane Beckman Subject: Re: early Mission references "In essence, history is a lie." --C.J. Cherryh I am well aware of the "official party line" on the introduction of honeybees. However, as a member of the breed of revisionist historians, my research (as is frequently the case) has come up with original source material that contradicts the standard "facts." Much of the commonly-known "history" of early California is completely misrepresented, whether the "idyl" of Spanish/Mexican Romance or Anglo- or Euro-centric "history." I am currently researching agriculture prior to the Gold Rush for a continuing project with Cal. State Parks and Recreation, and can assure you honeybees were here, both by direct reference and by inference (honey and crops that need them as pollinators). Probably the best commonly-available reference to pre-Gold Rush beekeeping in California (meaning outside the Bancroft Library at UCB or similar sources) comes from Hugo Reid's journals (in the Huntington Library). Much of this text was recently republished in the book "A Scotch Paisano in Old California." One of his mentions is of his visit to the San Gabriel Mission, where he observes wild hives in the trees. This is in 1836. There are references to local honey that date from ca. 1805 (around Monterey) and (again) Mission San Gabriel in 1833. Probably, the mission records, if one were willing to sort through all the faded Spanish handwriting, could provide more documentation. (These records are not readily accessible, though, and my Spanish is very basic, beside my main focus being the Ranchero period: ca. 1825-1847. I have only done minimal research in the original Mission records, and that primarily for fruit trees being grown at Mission San Juan Bautista and Mission San Antonio.) Unfortunately, the general attitude and skew of the existing documentation on early California assumes the stance that nothing existed before the Anglo invasion that occurred with the Gold Rush. (I have found several "first grown in..." references that contradict, most notably the Gravenstein apples---"first imported in 1868" that contradicted the *living specimen* (now dead) mentioned in the Russian manifest listing of 1836.) Honeybees are probably a similar case. If you consider the pollination mechanics involved in keeping large orchards of citrus and pear trees, which were common both with the Missions and later the rancheros, which need honeybees as their primary pollinators, it makes sense that the bees came with the missions. The local bees are more oriented toward pollinating the Labiate and Leguminosae families than the Rosacea, which has always relied on honeybees for primary pollination. The yields of the orchards, available both in records and from archeological remains (mostly stone-fruit pits) indicate heavy fruit production. It also would make sense in that sugar was a rare and expensive commodity in early California (often costing up to $30 for a 10 lb cone), so that a cheap and renewable sweetener, such as honey, would be desirable. I've already, in the course of this project, managed to prove that "sourdough" as we currently understand it was unknown and undesirable here, prior to about 1870 (120 pages of treatise, oy vey!), so I suspect one of my next projects will have to be similar myth-dispersal about beekeeping. (I'm certain the American Bee Journal would be interested, which is a larger audience that most of my research has found, so far!) Jane Beckman [jane@swdc.stratus.com] State of California Parks and Recreation Volunteer Interpreter/Research Historian ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1993 17:31:06 -0600 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: harder@ACS.UCALGARY.CA Subject: Re: Bumble Bees I suspect that other responses will address the culture of bumble bees, but let me suggest a couple of papers dealing with the pollination of kiwifruit: Corbet, S.A. et al. 1988. Functional Ecology 2:147-155 Goodwin, R.M. 1986. New Zealand Journal of Experimental Agriculture 14:449-452 Goodwin, R.M. et al. 1991. New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science 19:259-262 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1993 14:43:57 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: utzbee!plowright@ZOO.TORONTO.EDU Subject: Bumble-honey and mega-colonies . . . From: chris%utzbee@zoo.toronto.edu Dear David: Thanks for your gracious reply to my snotty message (and thanks also to Stephen J Clark and Barbara Thomson for their chidings-- there is nothing more powerful, in terms of immediate behaviour-modific- ation, than being told off in public by the much-admired wife of a former--and also much-admired--post-doc!). And, of course, you are quite right when you point out that colonies of high altitude bumblebees (and, indeed, those in high latitudes as well) are generally smaller, and less rich in resources, than those in more lowland regions. But even in the Colorado Rockies, you might be surprised--as I was when I worked on Pennsylvania Mountain as a guest of Peter Kevan in 1980--to discover how very opulent some high-altitude Bombus colonies can become. I well remember "finding" (you could scarcely overlook them, given their location) three bumblebee nests in a pile of old hives left by the late (and much missed) Peggy Byron. Two were Alpinobombus nests (kirbyellus or balteatus--whatever they like to call it/them these days) and were the classically feeble little colonies that are characteristic of this group of bumbles. They DID, I was glad to see, produce workers in their second broods (the Arctic Alpinobombus--in contrast to those in the Rocky Mountain Alpine--usually move directly to sexual production after a single brood of workers), but neither could, as you say, have stored more than a few grams of honey. But the third colony (of B. occidental- is) was quite different: it became fairly monstrous (although nothing like as large as colonies of that species on the west coast) and, at its zenith, had accumulated substantial amounts of stored honey and pollen. Another species that can sometimes produce quite large colonies in the Colorado Rockies (i.e. over 100 workers) is B. bifarius--although most bifarius colonies seem to be of only modest size. The largest bumblebee colony (apart from the miserably enormous B. atratus colonies that we kept in our lab in the late 1970's) that I have ever had in my care was a monstrous B. impatiens colony that I allowed to forage out of the window of my living room in 1991. This hive produced something over 400 workers (we were never patient--or bold-- enough to count them exactly) and, after all the "hive-extenders" (the equivalent of honeybee "supers") were added, occupied a space of 8" x 8" x 24" (certainly nothing to write home about in honeybee terms, but quite a commodious living space for a bunch of humble-bumbles). At one point in the summer, it was necessary for us to move this monster: and it was at then that the sheer weight of the edifice (mostly, we assumed, the result of all the stored honey within the comb) was such a surprise to us. The other thing to remember in all of this is the incredibly skewed frequency distribution of the sizes of bumblebee colonies: a small fraction of the hives in a population "make it real big"--but the majority never amount to much more than becoming the producers of a few measly drones. There are parallels here, it would seem, with frequency distributions of some economic enterprises (yes, I AM thinking of McDonald's!), and although I'm not sure what Ed Wilson's current thinking on these matters is, I can't help wondering whether the huge (albeit rare) genetic payoff to the few "elite mega-colonies", with all their wonderful economies of scale and superior competitive ability, may not have provided a powerful selective force in shaping the evolution of sociality in Bombus. Certainly, in the spirit of exceptions that prove the rule, we may have something valuable to learn from your high-altit- ude bumblewimps! Best regards, and apologies for sniping at you, Chris. P.S. I can't resist adding that I have forwarded the name of S J Clark to the Provost as a candidate for the position of Dean of Sanctimony! -- Chris Plowright - from "The Bumble Bee's Nest" at University of Toronto Return addresses: via InterNet: chris%utzbee@zoo.toronto.edu via UUCP : ...utzoo!utzbee!chris ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1993 09:15:14 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: stephen j clark Subject: Re: Bumble-honey and mega-colonies . . . re: >P.S. I can't resist adding that I have forwarded the name of S J Clark >to the Provost as a candidate for the position of Dean of Sanctimony! How much does it pay? Cheers, Steve ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1993 10:58:41 CDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Fernando Subject: Re: Bumble-honey and mega-colonies . . . In-Reply-To: Message of Wed, 7 Apr 1993 14:43:57 -0400 from It was nice to see Plowright's new message in the list. I am sure all us "listers" (and probably himself) benefited much more from this than from the first (using his terms - snotty) message. Thank you, Dr. Plowright, for the information, and for your "behavior modification". Fernando at the University of Kansas ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1993 15:35:25 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Edward E Southwick Subject: course To anyone in the area of Rochester/Buffalo New York: Bees & Beekeeping (BIO 435/535) will be offered as a college course (4 credits graduate or undergraduate) at SUNY-Brockport, New York the last three weekends in May and the first weekend in June 1993 (Friday evenings, Saturdays 8-5, Sundays 1-5). Topics include Bee biology (NOT just honey bees!), bee beehavior, pollination of flowers, the honey bee colony as a superorganism, how to train bees, beekeeping. to register: Rakov Center, SUNY, Brockport, NY 14420 (716) 395-2193 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1993 17:04:11 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Roger B. Coon" Subject: NATIVE HONEY PRODUCERS I received too many replies to my request for information on possible native honey producers to thank each of you personally, so I will post this general thanks to all of you who were so generous in providing information. By the way, the anthropology list could learn a lot about civility and professionalism from the members of this list. Thanks again, Roger B. Coon ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1993 19:29:00 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: dak@HOLLY.ATT.COM Sorry about posting a help request but HELP and INFO did not help. My email address will be changing soon. Does anyone know how I inform the list server that I have changed addresses? Thanks, Darren Kall ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Apr 1993 09:13:42 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology Comments: Resent-From: "Neither Rain nor Sleet..." Comments: Originally-From: Elizabeth Balogh From: "Neither Rain nor Sleet..." Subject: Non-Stingers ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Does any out there know of a source of NON STINGING bee's ? I would like breed names, and sources (if any). Also, what are good pollen producing plants that attract bee's? (something that can be planted in small lot's in the Midwest {Misouri in particular} ) Any help with either of these questions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance, Elizabeth 8(:-) ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Apr 1993 11:55:05 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: cp@UPLOW.UUCP Subject: In answer to Ray Lackey's query . . . From: plowright@csi.uottawa.ca Rearing bumblebee colonies in captivity has a long history (the earli- est record that I was able to find was of a Bombus queen being persuaded to lay eggs in a cage in Graz in the nineteenth century), and is especi- ally associated with the names of F.W.L. Sladen (1912) and J.B. Free (1959) in Britain, with Peter-Frank Roeseler and his students in Germany and with our group in Canada (1960's to the present). I have never found it difficult to get bumblebee colonies started for research purp- oses (although rearing them on a commercial scale is something else again), but I have been widely criticized for my inability to communi- cate my techniques to other people. This got to be such a problem in the 1970's that I eventually threw up my hands and told people: "Look, if you want to learn how to rear bumblebees, then just come and spend time in my lab so that my students and I can show you how it's done!". Some very distinguished alumni graduated from this "apprenticeship program", one of whom (Sydney Cameron) went so far as to write a manual summarizing the methods that she had learnt. Rearing bumblebees, in my view, has never (as some have claimed) been "more of an art than a science", but to be successful you either have to have an "idiot-proof-know-nothing" system (which is, of course, the way that the commercial bumblebee rearing companies do it), or you have to accumulate an adequate body of knowledge on the details of Bombus repro- ductive biology. The latter has been my own preferred course of action, and I usually recommend to people that they start with that marvellous book that can still be found in some university libraries (I heard that it either had been, or soon will be, reprinted by somebody in the U.K.): "The Humble Bee: its Life History, and how to Domesticate it", by Sladen published by MacMillan in 1912. Nobody, but NOBODY, has ever written about bumble bees with such love and engaging charm as F.W.L. Sladen(*). If you study his book carefully, and then use one of the published methods for rearing bumblebee colonies (e.g. the paper that Cam Jay and I put in Journal of Apicultural Research in 1966), then you should be able to achieve some success (but make sure that you use only "fresh- frozen" pollen!). Rearing colonies from queens in captivity is not the only way to obtain bumblebee colonies: Sladen's book also introduced the idea of attracting wild nest-searching Bombus queens to artificial domiciles, in which they start their own colonies in a natural way. Domicile techniq- ues were developed for large-scale use by Gordon Hobbs and Ken Richards in Canada. My students and I have found that if you put enough care into placing underground domiciles in banks in the early spring, you can often achieve success rates approaching or equalling 100%. Domicile methods can only be used in the field during the spring of the year, when wild queens that have emerged from natural hibernation are searching for nest sites. This imposes a major constraint on the usefulness of the resulting colonies, which are generally too small to be useful for pollinating all field crops except those that bloom in late summer. To arrange for the blooming of the crop to coincide with the maximum size of the colony, one must start colonies much earlier in the season: this means using either queens that have been caught else- where, or those that have been hibernated artificially (or induced to start colonies without a prior overwintering period). Best regards, Chris Plowright. (*) Sladen was also well-known (earlier in his life) for his "Golden Queens". He emigrated to Canada (there is a wonderful photograph of his magnificent bearded face, together with Comstock and Wheeler, attending a meeting of the Entomolological Society of Ontario) where he became our first "Dominion Apiarist". He was tragically drowned in a canoeing accident in Lake Erie. -- Chris Plowright - via the University of Ottawa Return addresses: via INTERNET: plowright@csi.uottawa.ca via UUCP : ...uunet!mitel!cunews!csi2!uplow!chris ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Apr 1993 12:01:42 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Rita Walczuch Subject: Re: Non-Stingers In-Reply-To: Message of Fri, 9 Apr 1993 09:13:42 EDT from In Germany, rape fields are a good source of honey. Pure rape honey is white an d does not have a very strong taste. However, mixed with the usual spring or su mmer flower mix, this type of honey is actually my personal favorite. Although I am the daughter of a German beekeeper, I do not know much about bees . However, I know that the race of bees my father is using does only sting in e xtrem situation (i.e., honey harvest). Normally they are quite friendly. If you would be interested to find out which race he is using, I could ask him the ne xt time I call home. Rita Walczuch ************************************************************ Rita Walczuch Department of Management Terry College of Business The University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602-6256 work: (706) 542-3716 home: (706) 546-4579 ************************************************************ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Apr 1993 13:51:11 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jane Beckman Subject: pollen plants I can attest from my personal gardening experience that corn poppies (Papaver rhoeas) are an excellent and attractive source of pollen. They produce large quantities of pollen, and are visited by many varieties of bees, but most especially honeybees, to judge by my observations of my own plants. Often, several bees can be observed "wallowing" in the poppy stamens, simultaneously. Other plants, such as squash, produce larger amounts of pollen, but do not seem to be as attractive to bees. (I notice that the bees seem to have difficulty finding the male squash blossoms before they close up.) I would recommend poppies, as they are attractive, produce abundant pollen, produce large numbers of flowers in a small area, and are ridiculously easy to grow. (Just throw out a few handfuls of seed, and you'll have poppies for years!) Jane Beckman [jane@swdc.stratus.com] ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Apr 1993 05:59:41 -0400 Reply-To: MunnPA@cardiff.ac.uk Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Dr Pamela Munn Subject: Sladen's book Thanks to Dr Plowright for his illuminating discourses of late - he mentioned Sladen's book 'The Humble Bee'. This has recently been reprinted and you can get it form IBRA (contact address below) Pam Munn _____________________________________________________________________________ | E-mail : MunnPA@Cardiff.AC.UK | Mail: IBRA, | | Phone : +44 222 372409 | 18, North Road, | | Fax : +44 222 665522 | Cardiff, | |---------------------------------------| South Glamorgan | | Please state if the message is for | CF1 3DY | | someone else within IBRA | United Kingdom | |_______________________________________|___________________________________| ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Apr 1993 14:52:41 -0800 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: mstine@TUBA.CALPOLY.EDU Subject: subscribe me HELP! -- Missy Stine 385-A N. Chorro San Luis Obispo, Ca. 93405 (805) 498-4018 mstine@tuba.calpoly.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Apr 1993 07:13:26 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Adrian Wenner Subject: Re: subscribe me In-Reply-To: <9304140104.AA17531@ucsbuxb.ucsb.edu>; from "mstine@tuba.calpoly.ed How? Adrian M. Wenner wenner@lifesci.ucsb.edu > > HELP! > -- > Missy Stine > 385-A N. Chorro > San Luis Obispo, Ca. 93405 > (805) 498-4018 > mstine@tuba.calpoly.edu > ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Apr 1993 21:23:06 -0800 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: jmeese@TRUMPET.CALPOLY.EDU Subject: Subscription I need help ... how can I subscribe? -- John Meese 1021-I Southwood Dr. San Luis Obispo CA 93401 (805) 544-8684 jmeese@trumpet.calpoly.edu. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1993 08:42:45 +0300 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: eisikovitz Dear bee liners,We are working by now on pollination under uncertain condition but still unhappy with the definition ,those who are interested in this vauge topic are welcome to share withus their experience. please contact Dr Dan Eisikowith tel aviv university, ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1993 14:05:16 -0500 Reply-To: dparsons@ccd.harris.com Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Richard L. Parsons, Jr." Subject: Re: Subscription In-Reply-To: <9304151619.AA26844@ccd.harris.com> from "jmeese@TRUMPET.CALPOLY.EDU" at Apr 14, 93 09:23:06 pm > > I need help ... how can I subscribe? > > -- > > John Meese > 1021-I Southwood Dr. > San Luis Obispo CA 93401 > (805) 544-8684 > jmeese@trumpet.calpoly.edu. > John, Send email to: internet address: listserv@uacsc2.albany.edu bitnet address: listserv@albnyvm1.bitnet one line message: subscribe bee-l Dick -------------------------------+--------------------------------------- Dick Parsons | ---- Harris Controls Division | | o ~ P.O. Box 430 | L_|->_______I_ Melbourne, FL 32902-0430 | _/ \_| | Phone: (407) 242-4466 | [| o |------_--[] "I'd rather be email: dparsons@ccd.harris.com | ... \___/ (o) ... be farming!" -------------------------------+--------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1993 10:49:48 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Paul Chi-Jen Cheng Subject: If you're in the area... Hello BEE-l'ers, I have to announce my M.S. proposal defense to as many people as I can, so what better way than via e-mail?! If anyone is in this area, you are more than welcome to come to my defense. If not, then, ... oh well. Paul --- Public Announcement: Department of Entomology Master of Science Research Proposal Public Presentation "Sperm-Egg Interaction in Honey Bees" by Paul Cheng Wednesday, April 21, 1993 3:00 PM 366 Briggs Hall All of those interested are welcome! ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1993 13:44:26 -0800 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: sbwoodar@FLUTE.CALPOLY.EDU Subject: subscription SUBSCRIBE BEE Steve Woodard Discussion of Bee Biology-- ===================== Steve Woodard 1943 McCollum SLO. CA. 93405 543-3651 sbwoodar@flute.calpoly.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1993 23:59:37 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Dave Stolzenbach Subject: Re: Subscription BEE-L%ALBNYVM1.BITNET@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU BEE-L is for the discussion of research and information concerning the biology of bees. This includes honey bees and other bees (and maybe even wasps). We communicate about sociobiology, behavior, ecology, adaptation/evolution, genetics, taxonomy, physiology, pollination, and flower nectar and pollen production of bees. To subscribe, send the following command to LISTSERV@ALBNYVM1 via mail or interactive message: SUB BEE-L your_full_name where "your_full_name" is your name. For example: SUB BEE-L Joan Doe Non-BitNet users can subscribe by sending the text: SUB BEE-L your_full_name in the body of a message to LISTSERV%ALBNYVM1.BITNET@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU. Coordinator: Mary Jo Orzech ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1993 07:59:03 -0600 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Robert Elliott Smith Subject: ICGA5 announcement and registration form Announcement and Registration Form: ICGA-93 The Fifth International Conference on Genetic Algorithms 17-21 July, 1993 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign The Fifth International Conference on Genetic Algorithms (ICGA-93), will be held on July 17-21, 1993 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This meeting brings together an international community from academia, government, and industry interested in algorithms suggested by the evolutionary process of natural selection. Topics of particular interest include: genetic algorithms and classifier systems, evolution strategies, and other forms of evolutionary computation; machine learning and optimization using these methods, their relations to other learning paradigms (e.g., neural networks and simulated annealing), and mathematical descriptions of their behavior. The meeting will include pre-conference tutorials, invited speakers, and workshops. A registration form is included below. For more ICGA-93 registration information, contact: Lori Costello Conferences & Institutes Univ. of Illinois 302 E. John St. Suite 202, Champaign, IL 61820 Telephone: (217) 333-2888 E-Mail: loric@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu Questions on the conference program should be directed to icga93@unmvax.cs.unm.edu. Other questions should be directed to rob@comec4.mh.ua.edu. Tutorials--Levis Faculty Center ICGA '93 will begin with the presentation of three parallel tutorial sessions. Conference attendees may attend one of these sessions for a supplementary fee (see registration form). Tutorial 1: Introduction to Genetic Algorithms Overview of Genetic Algorithms (90 minutes), Melanie Mitchell-- What genetic algorithms are; how, why, and by whom they were invented; how and why they work; comparisons with other algorithms; how to find out more about the genetic algorithm field; foundations of GA theory; genetic algorithms and artificial life; partial bibliography. Genetic Algorithm Applications (90 minutes), Lawrence Davis-- What kind of real-world problems are appropriate for genetic algorithms; design choices that must be made when applying genetic algorithms to real problems; partial survey of existing applications; partial survey of existing tools; some case histories. Tutorial 2: Advanced Genetic Algorithm Topics Genetic Algorithm Theory (90 minutes), Darrell Whitley-- The schema theorem and its ramifications; deception; recent approaches to the study of genetic algorithm performance; recent approaches to the study of genetic algorithm failure. Classifier Systems and Modeling (90 minutes), Rob Smith-- Introduction to classifier systems; recent advances in classifier system theory and practice; classifier systems as modeling tools; genetic algorithms and neural networks; genetic algorithms and artificial life. Tutorial 3: Spotlighted Technologies Evolutionary Programming (45 minutes), David Fogel-- Description and overview of evolutionary programming; history of the field; relation of evolutionary programming to biological evolution; theoretical aspects of the field; survey of existing applications. Evolution Strategies (45 minutes), Thomas Back-- Description and overview of evolution strategies; comparison with other technologies; engineering solutions with evolution strategies; survey of existing applications. Genetic Programming (90 minutes), John Koza-- Description and overview of genetic programming; example applications; future directions; brief video demonstrations. TENTATIVE SCHEDULE: Saturday, July 17, 1993 12-3:00 pm Registration Levis Faculty Center 1-5:00 pm Tutorials Levis Faculty Center 7:00 pm Reception/Registration Levis Faculty Center Sunday, July 18, 1993 8am-5:00 pm Registration Krannert Center (KCPA) 8:30-9:00 am Coffee KCPA 9-10:15 am Invited Speaker KCPA 10:15-11 am Break KCPA 11-12:30 pm Technical Sessions KCPA/Levis 12:30-2 pm Lunch KCPA 2-3:30 pm Technical Sessions/ Registration Levis 3:30-4 pm Break Levis 4-5:30 pm Technical Sessions Levis 7:00 pm Banquet Chancellor Hotel 1501 S. Neil, Champaign Monday, July 19, 1993 8am-5:00 pm Registration KCPA 8:30-9:00 am Coffee KCPA 9-10:15 am Invited Speaker KCPA 10:15-11 am Break KCPA 11-12:30 pm Technical Sessions KCPA/Levis 12:30-2 pm Lunch KCPA 2-3:30 pm Technical Sessions/ Registration Levis 3:30-4 pm Break Levis 4-5:30 pm Technical Sessions Levis 7:00 pm Poster Session Levis Tuesday, July 20, 1993 8:30-9:00 am Coffee KCPA 9-10:15 am Invited Speaker KCPA 10:15-11 am Break KCPA 11-12:30 pm Technical Sessions KCPA/Levis 12:30-2 pm Lunch KCPA 2-3:30 pm Technical Sessions Levis 3:30-4 pm Break Levis 4-5:30 pm Technical Sessions Levis Wednesday, July 21, 1993 8:30-9:00 am Coffee Levis 9-10:30 am Technical Sessions Levis 10:30-11 am Break Levis 11-12:30 pm Technical Sessions Levis 12:30-2 pm Break Levis 2-3:30 pm Business Meeting Levis Invited Speakers David Campbell, Head, Dept. of Physics, University of Illinois. Topic: Dynamical Systems and Evolution John Holland, Professor, Dept. of Psychology, University of Michigan. Topic: Using The Schema Theorem To Counter Hitchhiking And Premature Convergence Gunter Wagner, Professor, Dept. of Biology, Yale University. Topic: Evolutionary Biology Papers (preliminary list) Erik R. Altman, "A Novel Methodology Using Genetic Algorithms for the Design of Caches and Cache Replacement Policy" Peter J. Angeline, "Competitive Environments Evolve Better Solutions for Complex Tasks" Thomas Back, "Optimal Mutation Rates in Genetic Search" Jerzy W. Bala, "Learning to Detect Targets Using Scale-Space and Genetic Search" David Beasley, "Reducing Epistasis in Combinatorial Problems by Expansive Coding" Pierre Bonelli, "A New Approach to Fuzzy Classifier Systems" Ralph Bruns, "Direct Chromosome Representation and Advanced Genetic Operators for Production Scheduling" Helen G. Cobb, "Genetic Algorithms for Tracking Changing Environments" Yuval Davidor, "The ECOlogical Framework II: Improving GA Performance With Virtually Zero Cost" Lawrence Davis, "A Genetic Algorithm for Survivable Network Design" Fred F. Easton, "A Distributed Genetic Algorithm for Employee Staffing and Scheduling Problems" Larry J. Eshelman, "Crossover's Niche" Andrew Fairley, "An Investigation into Possible Causes of, and Solutions to, Rule Strength Distortion in the Bucket Brigade" David S. Feldman, "Fuzzy Network Synthesis and Genetic Algorithms" Stuart J. Flockton, "Pole-Zero System Identification Using Genetic Algorithms" Carlos Fonseca, "Genetic Algorithms for Multiobjective Optimization: Formulation, Discussion and Generalization" David E. Goldberg, "Mixing in Genetic Algorithms" David E. Goldberg, "Rapid, Accurate Optimization of Difficult Problems Using Fast Messy Genetic Algorithms" V. Scott Gord, "Serial and Parallel Genetic Algorithms as Function Optimizers" Frederic Gruau, "Genetic Synthesis of Modular Neural Networks" H. Altay Guvenir, "A Genetic Algorithm for Classification by Feature Partitioning" Raphael T. Haftka, "Genetic Algorithms for Placing Actuators on Space Structures" Inman Harvey, "The Puzzle of the Persistent Question Marks: A Case Study of Genetic Drift" Abdollah Homaifar, "A New Approach on the Traveling Salesman Problem by the Genetic Algorithms" Jeffrey Horn, "Finite Markov Chain Analysis of Genetic Algorithms with Niching" Shu-Yuen Hwang, "A Genetic Algorithm with Disruptive Selection" Hitoshi Iba, "System Identification using Structured Genetic Algorithms" Terry Jones, "Reverse Hillclimbing, Genetic Algorithms and the Busy Beaver Problem" Kate Juliff, "A Multi-chromosome Genetic Algorithm for Pallet Loading" Bryant A. Julstrom, "A Genetic Algorithm for the Rectilinear Steiner Problem" Michelle D. Kidwell , "Using Genetic Algorithms to Schedule Distributed Tasks on a Bus-Based System" Kenneth E. Kinnear, Jr., "Generality and Difficulty in Genetic Programming: Evolving a Sort" Michael Lee, "Dynamic Control of Genetic Algorithms Using Fuzzy Logic Techniques" David M. Levine, "A Genetic Algorithm for the Set Partitioning Problem" Mauro Manela, "Fitting Spline Functions to Noisy Data Using a Genetic Algorithm" Raul San Martin, "Genetic Algorithms for the Optimization of Integrated Circuits Synthesis" Tsutomu Maruyama, "A Fine-Grained Parallel Genetic Algorithm for Distributed Parallel Systems" Laurence D. Merkle, "Comparison of Parallel Messy Genetic Algorithm Data Distribution Strategies" Robert R. Meyer, "A Genetic Algorithm for Diversity Minimization and Its Parallel Implementation" Byung R. Moon, "Hyperplane Synthesis for Genetic Algorithms" Toshinori Munakata, "A Genetic Algorithm Applied to the Maximum Flow Problem" Jim Oliver, "Discovering Individual Decision Rules: An Application of Genetic Algorithms" Norihiko Ono, "A Genetic Algorithm for Channel Routing Problem" Francesco Palmieri, "Diversification Role of Crossover in the Genetic Algorithms" L.M. Patnaik, "Binomially Distributed Populations for Modelling GAs" W.F. Punch, "Further Research on Feature Selection and Classification Using Genetic Algorithms" Nicholas J. Radcliffe, "A Study in Set Recombination" Connie Loggia Ramsey, "Case-Based Initialization of Genetic Algorithms" Colin Reeves, "Using Genetic Algorithms with Small Populations" Gary Roberts, "Dynamic Planning for Classifier Systems" Steve G. Romaniuk, "Evolutionary Growth Perceptions" Peter Ross, "A Promising GA Approach to Job-Shop Scheduling and Re-Scheduling Problems" J. David Schaffer, "Designing Multiplierless Digital Filters Using Genetic Algorithms" Michael J. Shaw, "Joint Lot Sizing and Sequencing with Genetic Algorithms for Scheduling: Evolving the Chromosome Structure" Man-Tak Shing, "Genetic Algorithms for the Development of Real-Time Multi-Heuristic Search Strategies" Marc Shoenauer, "Constrained GA Optimization" R. Shonkwiler, "Parallel Genetic Algorithms" Michael M. Skolnick, "Using Genetic Algorithms in Engineering Design Optimization with Non-Linear Constraints" Alice E. Smith, "Genetic Optimization Using A Penalty Function" William Spears, "On the State of Evolutionary Computation" Joe Suzuki, "A Markov Chain Analysis on A Genetic Algorithm" Walter Alden Tackett, "Genetic Programming for Feature Discovery and Image Discrimination" Dr. David M. Tate, "Expected Allele Coverage and the Role of Mutation" Sam R. Thangiah, "Vehicle Routing and Time Deadlines Using Genetic and Local Algorithms" Bruce Tidor, "An Analysis of Selection Procedures with Particular Attention Paid to Proportional and Boltzmann Selection" Shigeyoshi Tsutsui, "Forking Genetic Algorithm with Blocking and Shrinking Modes (FGA)" Kirk Twardowski, "Credit Assignment for Pole Balancing with Learning Classifier Systems" Ron Unger, "A Genetic Algorithm for 3D Protein Folding Simulations" Thomas Uthmann, "Training Kohonen Feature Maps in Different Topologies: an Analysis Using Genetic Algorithms" Benjamin W. Wah, "Scheduling of Genetic Algorithms in a Noisy Environment" Roger L. Wainwright, "Multiple Vehicle Routing with Time and Capacity Constraints Using Genetic Algorithms" Hirokazu Watabe, "A Study on Genetic Shape Design" Willfried Wienholt, "An Advanced Genetic Algorithm for Parameter Optimization Problems" Peter Willett, "Searching Databases of Two-Dimensional and Three-Dimensional Chemical Structures Using Genetic Algorithms" Jing-Jye Yang, "Query Optimization in Information Retrieval Using Genetic Algorithms" Xiaodong Yin, "A Fast Genetic Algorithm with Sharing Scheme Using Cluster Analysis Methods in Multimodal Function Optimization" Byoung-Tak Zhang, "Genetic Programming of Minimal Neural Nets Using Occam's Razor" Raed Abu Zitar, "Regulator Control via Genetic Search Assisted Reinforcement Learning" Posters (preliminary list) Fabrizio Baiardi, "Nested Hybrid Genetic Algorithms for System Configuration and Program Mapping in Massively Parallel Systems" Ellie Baker, "Evolving Line Drawings" Wolfgang Banzhaf, "Genetic Programming for Pedestrians" Rik Belew, "Evolving Aesthetic Sorting Networks Using Developmental Grammars" Susan E. Carlson, "A Comparative Evaluation of Search Methods Applied to Catalog Selection" Hugh M. Cartwright, "The Application of the Genetic Algorithm to Two-Dimensional Strings: The Source Apportionment Problem" Joseph C. Culberson, "Crossover Versus Mutation in the De Jong Functions: Fueling the Debate: TGA versus GIGA" Fikret Ercal, "Genetic Algorithms for Vertex Splitting in DAGs" David Fan, "GADELO: A Multi-Population Genetic Algorithm Based on Dynamic Exploration of Local Optima" Terence C. Fogarty, "Reproduction, Ranking, Replacement and Noisy Evaluations: Experimental Results" Takeshi Furuhashi, "A Proposal of Hierarchical Fuzzy Classifier Systems" Inman Harvey, "Genetic Convergence in a Species of Evolved Robot Control Architectures" Brynn Hibbert, "Display of Chemical Structures in Two Dimensions and the Evolution of Molecular Recognition" Akio Ishiguro, "A Genetic Algorithms' Application to Inverse Problems in Electromagnetics" Takashi Iwamoto, "Topological Aspects of Genetic Algorithms" Antonia J. Jones, "A Schemata Theorem for Trees" Hillol Kargupta, "Information Transmission in Genetic Algorithm and Shannon's Second Theorem" Hiroaki Kitano, "A Hybrid Search for Genetic Algorithms: Combining Genetic Algorithms, TABU Search, and Simulated Annealing" Luis R. Lopez, "Inverse Relationship Between Complexity and Probability of Full Deception in Trap Functions" Sushil J. Louis, "Pareto Optimality, GA-Easiness and Deception (Extended Abstract)" Heinz Muhlenbein, "Optimal Interaction of Mutation and Crossover in the Breeder Genetic Algorithm" R. Maenner, "Parallel Execution of Sequentially Coded Standard Genetic Algorithms on the NERV Multiprocessor" Samir W. Mahfoud, "Simple Analytical Models of Genetic Algorithms for Multimodal Function Optimization" Vittorio Maniezzo, "Granularity Evolution" Andras Markus, "Dual Insights into Genetic Algorithms" Melanie Mitchell, "When Will a Genetic Algorithm Outperform Hill-Climbing?" Masaharu Munetomo, "An Efficient Migration Scheme for Subpopulation-Based Asynchronously Parallel Genetic Algorithms" David Orvosh, "Shall We Repair? Genetic Algorithms, Combinatorial Optimization, and Feasibility Constraints" Kihong Park, "A Lower-Bound Result on the Power of Genetic Algorithms" Sandip Sen, "Improving Classification Accuracy through Performance History" Robert E. Smith, "Adaptively Resizing Populations: An Algorithm and Analysis" Graham Spencer, "Automatic Generation of Programs for Crawling and Walking" Chuen-Tsai Sun, "Using Genetic Algorithms in Structuring a Fuzzy Rulebase" Hans-Michael Voigt, "Multivalued Evolutionary Algorithms" Michael D. Vose, "The Genetic Algorithm Fractal" Darrell Whitley, "Toward Models of Island and Cellular Parallel Genetic Algorithms" Masayuki Yanagiya, "A Simple Mutation-Dependent Genetic Algorithm" Bernard P. Zeigler, "Asynchronous Genetic Algorithms on Parallel Computers" ICGA-93 Conference Committee: Conference Co-Chairs: David E. Goldberg, Univ. of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign; J. David Schaffer, Philips Labs Publicity: Robert E. Smith, Univ. of Alabama Program Chair: Stephanie Forrest, Univ. of New Mexico Financial Chair: Larry J. Eshelman, Philips Labs Local Arrangements: David E. Goldberg, Univ. of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign Financial supporters: Navy Center for Applied Research in Artificial Intelligence, Naval Research Laboratory; Philips Laboratories, North American Philips Corporation GENERAL INFORMATION Location: The conference will be held at two locations on the University of Illinois campus--the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts located at 500 South Goodwin, Urbana, and the Levis Faculty Center located at 919 West Illinois, Urbana (directly east of Krannert). ICGA '93 is a non-smoking conference. Smoking is allowed in designated areas only. Transportation: Champaign-Urbana is located 135 miles south of Chicago on Interstates 72, 74, and 57. By Car: >From Chicago: Take I-57 south to I-74 east which runs along the north edge of Champaign-Urbana. Take the Lincoln Avenue exit south. Once you reach campus, turn right on Illinois Street. Campus Parking: Pay parking is available in the lot adjacent to the Levis Faculty Center and under the Krannert Center (both accessible from Illinois Street). Do not park in any area marked "reserved" as campus parking is enforced and you will be towed. By Air: >From Champaign-Urbana's Willard Airport: Currently, American Airlines' American Eagle Service, Trans World Express, and US Air Express serve Willard Airport. Corky's Limousine Service is available and meets all incoming flights. The cost from Willard to most hotels in Champaign-Urbana is $8. If you need to contact Corky's, you may call 217/352-3121. By Train: AMTRAK service is also available from Chicago and points south. Weather: The weather in Illinois can vary to extremes. Please be prepared to dress in layered, cool clothing as July is normally hot (80 - 100 ) and very humid. Rain wear is also suggested. On-Campus Recreation: If you wish to take advantage of the recreation facilities on campus, you may purchase an IMPE (Intramural-Physical Education) pass for $5 per day upon showing your name badge at each recreation facility. Messages: If someone needs to reach you during the conference, they may call the Levis Faculty Center at 217/333-6241 and leave a message. A message board will be placed at this conference site. Lodging: Accommodations may be obtained at the following hotels/motels. A shuttle service will be available for transportation from your hotel to/from the conference sites. All hotel reservations should be made in advance by telephoning or writing the individual hotels. Be sure to mention that you are attending the Genetic Algorithms conference, as a block of rooms has been reserved for those attending this conference. We have listed the special conference rates beside the hotel/motel. Make your reservations early as the block of rooms will be released for "first come, first serve" reservations after June 16, 1993. Jumer's Castle Lodge 209 S. Broadway Urbana, IL 61801 Located about 1/4 mile from the campus. Within brisk walking distance. Toll free 800/285-8637 Single Double $60.00 $70.00 Plus tax Plus tax University Inn 302 E. John Street Champaign, IL 61820 Located about 1/2 mile from the campus. Within brisk walking distance. 217/384-2100; Toll free 800/252-1368 in Illinois; Toll free 800/322-8282 outside IL Single Double $54.00 $61.00 Plus tax Plus tax Travelodge 409 W. University Urbana, IL 61801 Located about 1 mile from the campus. Toll free 800/255-3050 Single Double $33.00 Plus tax Campus Inn-University (Days Inn) 1701 S. State Champaign, IL 61820 Located about 1 mile from the campus 217/359-8888 Single Double $30.00 $35.00 Plus tax Plus Tax King or Queen Busey-Evens Dormitory 1111 West Nevada Urbana, IL 61801 Located on campus 217/333-1766 $23.15 Plus tax Community Bath Registration Fee: Registrations received before 6/12/93 are $250 for participants and $100 for students. All registrations received on or after 6/12/93 and walk-in registrations at the conference will be $295 for participants and $125 for students. This includes entry to all technical sessions, 3 lunches, coffee breaks, reception Saturday evening, conference materials, and conference proceedings. Attendee and guest tickets for the banquet and guest tickets for the Sunday reception may be purchased at an additional cost (see attached registration form). Also, there is a separate fee for the tutorials. A limited fund has been set aside to assistant students and scientists with their travel expenses. Students should have their advisor certify their student status and that sufficient funds are not available. If you are interested in obtaining such assistance and need travel support, send a letter before May 22, 1993 describing your situation and needs to: Larry Eshelman, Philips Laboratories, 345 Scarborough Road, Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510. Address questions to: lje@philabs.philips.com. To Register: Early registration is recommended. There are four ways you may register. Complete and mail the attached form or phone (217)244-7659 to register. Please be sure to call our office if your registration may be late in arriving. You may also FAX your registration to (217)333-9561. You may receive an e-mail registration by contacting loric@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu If you register by phone, fax, or e-mail, please remember to send a copy of the registration form with your payment to the Accounting Business Office within one week. Should you have additional questions, please call Lori Costello at 217/333-2888 or e-mail loric@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu. ---------------------------------------------- REGISTRATION FORM: The 5th International Conference on Genetic Algorithms July 17-21, 1993 UFAS Acct. #1-3-63141-0660 Four Easy Ways To Register 1. Fill out the form and mail with payment to: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Accounting Business Office, Room 162 Henry Administration Building, 506 South Wright Street, Urbana, IL 61801. 2. Call 217-244-7659 and the registration team will take your registration over the phone. 3. Call 217-333-9561 to FAX your registration. 4. E-mail: receive an e-mail form by contacting loric@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu. The deadline for e-mail registrations and to receive all e-mail registration fees is July 9, 1993. IF YOU REGISTER BY PHONE, FAX, OR E-MAIL: Please remember to send a hard copy of the registration form with your payment to the Accounting Business Office within one week of registration. Registration/Badge Information Please print or type __________________________________________________________________ Last Name First Name MI __________________________________________________________________ Affiliation/Business __________________________________________________________________ Address __________________________________________________________________ City State Zip __________________________________________________________________ Country __________________________________________________________________ Business Phone Home Phone REGISTRATION FEES: (all figures in US Dollars) Indicate your selection Conference Registration Fee Registration before 6/12/93 On or after 6/12/93 Participant $250 Participant $295 Student* $100 Student* $125 Tutorial for July 17 Before 6/12/93 On or after 6/12/93 Participant $75 Participant $95 Student $25 Student $50 Please specify choice: Tutorial I:__________ Tutorial II: __________ Tutorial III: __________ Banquet Tickets** Adult $30 # of tickets_______ amount_______ Child $10 # of tickets_______ amount_______ Additional Reception Tickets** Saturday $10 # of tickets_______ amount_______ Total Payment ________________________(U.S. Dollars) Method of Payment ______ Check enclosed (make payable to the University of Illinois, US banks only, send check with form to Accounting Business Office) ______ I prefer to charge on credit card Visa______ Mastercard______ American Express______ Card Number__________________________________ Exp. Date__________ Card Holder Signature______________________________________________ *Students must have university student ID at registration **Please purchase additional tickets now---you will be unable to buy them upon arrival PLEASE MAIL THIS FORM WITH YOUR PAYMENT TO: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Accounting Business Office, Room 162 Henry Administration Building 506 South Wright Street Urbana, IL 61801 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 19 Apr 1993 18:47:00 CST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Terry Dahms Subject: April issue of the 'BUZZ' - Newsletter for Iowa beekeepers File item: BUZZ0493.TXT 4/19/93 6:42PM 23992 Submitted by Terry Dahms President - East-Central Iowa Beekeepers ----------------------------------------------------------------- THE BUZZ APRIL, 1993 ----------------------------------------------------------------- A newsletter published monthly as a cooperative effort by The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and The Iowa Honey Producers Association (IHPA), an affiliate member of the Iowa Horticultural Society. Copy deadline is the 20th of each month. Your ideas, comments and letters are welcomed and encouraged. EDITOR: Bob Cox, State Apiarist, Iowa Dept. of Agriculture, Wallace Building, Des Monies, IA. 50319 phone: (515) 281-5736 IHPA MEMBERSHIP: Membership dues in the Iowa Honey Producers Assn. are $5.00/year. Send to Robert Shepherd, IHPA Treasurer. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Fellow Beekeepers: Spring is just around the corner. A few more weeks and hopefully we'll be out working our bees. I've been looking forward to this for a couple of months now. We have already been out and checked our colonies for feed. What we found wasn't good. There is a great winter loss everywhere. I've heard from many people around the state and also from out of state here in the North. A number have lost their bees to starvation. Many others find no apparent reason for their loss. They've wrapped their bees in the fall, left plenty of honey stores and showed little, if any mite infestation. We really have no answer at this time. All we can do now is fill our boxes with bees again and hope for a good year. The Clinton administration has been trying to get rid of the honey loan/support program, now for some time, and its on the agenda again. The government wants to eliminate the program completely. At this time I feel it is unwise, because the market is being flooded with cheap foreign honey. If the importation of foreign honey were stopped, I feel we could do with out the support program. But until that happens we can not. Please call and write your congressmen immediately to give them your views on saving the program. We must band together on this again and let them know we need this program. A sample letter is included on page 6. I wish to ask all who receive this newsletter to consider joining the Iowa Honey Producers as members. We are constantly working with the public to promote honey and inform them of the benefits of honey bees. THE BUZZ newsletter you receive each month is full of good information. It keeps you up to date on problems others are facing, new disease and mite treatments, sale & want ads., scientific information, and much more at no cost to you. If you enjoy working with bees you will enjoy meeting other beekeepers at meetings and field days. Everyone has something important to contribute. We learn so much in talking with others. Our annual meeting always has good guest speakers on many interesting topics. Members can also order their magazines at a discount through the association. The association puts on field days each year at different locations and addressing various subjects. We have a lot of fun and provide a lot of information. Please accept our invitation to join our organization as members. We really would like to have you. -Leroy Kellogg, IHPA President CENTRAL IOWA BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION AUCTION APRIL 24, 1993 11:00 A.M. Kellogg's Honey House Cambridge, Iowa Partial Listing of Pre-assigned Beekeeping Items 2 wiring boards 1 Brand Rex wax melter 1 uncapping tank 3 honey tanks 2 wax pans 200 plus new frames 36 new 5-gal. honey cans 50 sheets deep foundation 1 steam generator 1 honey pump 1 3-burner gas plate 1 super cart 25 honey house pallets 100 plus division board feeders 50 divided screen top feeders 100 bottom board side rails 12 queen excluders 4 section box supers, complete 8 sets of section boxes, new a few new bottom boards a few nearly new bottom boards 20 inner covers 1 pint of Bee-Go 1 new & 1 used smoker 1 hive tool 85 plastic 5-gal. buckets w/lids 19 - 6 5/8" Illinois supers w/9 or 10 frames of drawn, light comb 2 boxes of new wooden comb honey section boxes 1 vibrating steam heated uncapping knife - new 1 30-frame Better Way wax melter 100 brood boxes, some with foundation 90 medium supers with drawn comb 6 shallow supers with drawn white comb nuc boxes, screen and solid top 2 boxes friction top feeder pails 40 plus new unassembled brood boxes 10 lbs.(approx.) thin foundation 12 ft. bee tarp to cover truck box plus lots of misc: helmet, nails, smoker, gloves, etc. Those wishing to bring items to sell can bring it the day of the sale or contact Margaret Hala at (515) 752-2981. Lunch will be available on site at a reasonable price. No rain date will be scheduled - will be held inside warehouse, if necessary. Come one, come all! FOR SALE: Bee Equipment or Operate on Shares 25-30 Complete Hives, Extractor, clean stored inside, extra jars, frames, etc. Contact: Brad Buchanan, Cedar Rapids 848-7298 Evenings * Can offer land for hive locations. ***************************************************************** DADANT BEE SUPPLY DEALER specializing in providing supplies for the hobbyist and small sideline beekeeper. AUTUMN APIARIES, INC. - GORDON & BEVERLY POWELL 4012 - 54TH STREET DES MOINES, IA. 50310 PHONE (515) 278-1762 ***************************************************************** STATE APIARISTS REPORT Winter losses have averaged about 50% statewide. Some report only 10% loss, while others have lost almost all their colonies. What a setback! I don't believe all those colonies will be replaced this year; not with the 50 - 60 pound per hive crops we've had the last three years. The economic picture for beekeeping does not look any better than in the beeyard for the commercial beekeeper. Cheap imported honey is flooding the market and holding the wholesale price down. In addition, the honey loan program is scheduled to be de-funded by the end of 1993, unless the present administration changes it's mind. So what's the GOOD news? It's spring time, a time for new beginnings. Maybe this year we will have good nectar flows. We also have beekeeper associations where we can help each other out. There is strength in numbers and if we work together we can accomplish great things. We can also be thankful for the things that we do have. We live in the greatest country in the world, even in bad times. Most all of us have food to eat, a home to live in, clothes to wear and even transportation and the freedom to travel when and where we want to go. This is the time to visit your bees and attend to their needs. The following is a list of tasks to accomplish this month and next in the beeyard: 1. Pick up empty equipment and take to your shop to repair and prepare boxes to receive packages or make splits or store with moth crystals. Be sure to check all brood combs for American Foulbrood scale and if present then melt down the comb, disinfect woodenware and replace with foundation. 2. Feed colonies with a thin syrup whether you think they need it or not until the dandelion flow hits to encourage brood rearing. 3. When it warms up and after colonies expand in size, make splits from strong colonies to curb swarming and replace winter losses. (Queens should already be ordered to put in the splits.) 4. Treat all colonies with Terramycin powder several times or once with a Terramycin grease patty. 5. If you are in an area with Varroa mites, treat with one of the miticide plastic strips to control mites OR test your colonies with the ether roll or sticky board test and treat if mites are present. 6. If you have excessive winter loss with lots of honey remaining in the dead colonies, treat with Menthol pellets or Miticur strips to control the tracheal mites. 7. Eliminate small very weak colonies to avoid wasting time and money feeding a lost cause. There is probably a reason why they are weak and others are strong (e.g. poor queen, disease or mites). 8. Continue to paint, repair and put foundation in honey supers so that you will be ready with plenty of supers when the main honey flow comes in June. 9. Attend the beekeeping workshops in Davenport this month. NOTE: If you would like help in identifying any of the diseases or the mites, call the State Apiarist's Office at (515) 281-5736. JAPANESE MARKETING CHINESE HONEY IN IOWA I recently received a letter asking me to be a distributor of Chinese acacia honey. The letter was from a corporation in Japan who has a joint venture with the Shandong province in Mainland China. They are offering 550-1100 tons of Chinese honey per year at a price of 50-59 cents per pound. This is just an example of the problem we have in the beekeeping industry in this country. This imported honey is really hurting the market. We are desperately in need of a more reasonable import tariff. Even the honey support program would not be so important, if there was a 20% ad valorem tariff on imported honey. It is time to contact your US Congressman and U.S. Senators concerning the honey market situation. If you do not contact them, you do not have the right to complain if they take actions you don't like. Now is the time to act! - Curtis Barnhart, Honey Producer, Monticello, Iowa CALENDAR OF EVENTS APRIL 5 & 12 Beekeeping Workshop 6:30 p.m., Putnam Museum, 1717 West 12th, Davenport, Iowa. MAY 22 Iowa Honey Producers Spring Field Day 10:00 a.m. Ray Tull Farm, Donnellson, Iowa Contact Ray Tull (319) 835-5201 JUNE 14 Eastcentral Iowa Beekeepers Meeting 7:00 p.m. Johnson County Fairgrounds, Montgomery Hall, Iowa City. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FOR SALE: "Honey Bee Diseases and Pests" booklet by Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists (CAPA). Good color photos on the subject. 17 pages - $1.75 @ Contact Bob Cox at (515) 281-5736. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FOR SALE: Package bees. Pick up at Aurora (near Manchester) April 12th. Shipped with Apistan strips. 2-lb. package $23.50 Contact: Douglas Child in Aurora, IA (319) 634-3682. FOR SALE: Two (2) barrels of light honey. Contact: Ron Loutsch Westfield, Iowa Phone: (712) 568-3425 FOR SALE: 1000 deep boxes with drawn comb, 6 boxes of Dadant wired deep foundation and 4 boxes of comb honey foundation. Contact: Mark Gress, Avoca, Iowa Phone (712) 343-2719 FOR SALE: Treated bottoms $2.00 @, Telescoping lids $2.00 @, Inner covers $1.00 @, 200 division board feeders $0.50 @, 10-frame 6 5/8 supers $7.50 @, Pallet jack on wheels with 24 - 20" x 32" pallets $100.00 and Deep 10-frame supers $10.00 @. CONTACT: Dick Blake, Rt. 2, Box 112-B, Shenandoah, IA 51601 phone (712) 246-3412. PESTICIDE DEPENDENCY (from APIS, Florida Apiculture Ext. Newsletter) The dangers of pesticide dependency are legion. They include: product contamination, environmental pollution and a chemically-resistant pest population. And in a perverse way, chemical control also contributes to long-range problem while admittedly providing a short-range solution. That's because treatment keeps susceptible bee colonies alive, and in the process, prevents detection of stock that has innate resistance to the pest. The message remains clear: Don't Chemically Treat Unless There is a Reason! Does the concept of resistant stock hold up under scrutiny? Take a look at chestnuts as reported in the December, 1992 issue of Citrus and Vegetable Magazine. Prior to 1904, the American chestnut was the most important food and timber tree in Eastern U.S. hardwood forests. But a bark fungus, accidentally introduced from the Asia (shades of Varroa also introduced from there), killed some 3.5 billion trees from Maine to Georgia west to the Mississippi River. This largest botanical disaster in history took only 40 years. According to the article, a James Carpenter discovered a large living American Chestnut in a grove of dying trees in the early 1950s. Budwood from this tree was grafted into rootstock, and in 1962, seedlings were crossed back to both American and Chinese parents. The second generation was moved to Alachua, FL where a grove of some 60 trees can be found that are now over 40 feet tall and 16 inches in diameter. These Dunstan Chestnuts are healthy, vigorous and bear every year. There has not been a single reported infection from the fungus on this variety for more than 30 years. Unfortunately for the beekeeping industry, resistant honey bee stock found in Yugoslavia is now being released to selected queen breeders in the U.S. This is stock ARS-Y-C-1, somewhat resistant to Varroa and considered economically so to tracheal mites. At the present time, a U.S. Department of Agriculture/beekeeping industry stock release panel has been formed. It is seeking Breeder-Propagators with a good deal of experience who will ensure that ARS-Y-C-1 is successfully reared and distributed to beekeepers. For more information, contact Dr. Thomas E. Rinderer, Research Leader, Baton Rouge Bee Laboratory, 1157 Ben Hur Rd., Baton Rouge, LA 70820, ph 504/766-6064. SAMPLE LETTER TO CONGRESSMEN * Congressional * --WRITE ON YOUR LETTERHEAD. Switchboard: --PERSONALIZE TO FIT YOUR SITUATION. * 202-224-3121 * The Honorable(Name of Senator) The Honorable(Name of Representative United States Senate U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20515 Dear Sen.___________________: Dear Rep. ______________________: I am writing to ask that you work to help save the Honey Loan Price Support Program. This program is important to (name of beekeepers -or- "the beekeepers of our community"). Beekeeping plays a valuable role in the economic life of our community. This industry accounts for ____ full time and ____ jobs here in (name of community) and many more across (name of state). Any actions which adversely affect our beekeepers will also adversely affect (name of community). (I/We) are aware that beekeepers are already facing economic hardships - unchecked imports, depressed markets, and parasitic mites. Please help them by keeping the honey program in place. Sincerely, (Be sure your letter includes your complete address and telephone number.) NEW IHPA HONEY COOKBOOK We are preparing a very unique and special cookbook. It will feature the excellent State Fair Annual IHPA meeting and your favorite recipes. Each recipe selected will show the name of the contributor. Send your three or four favorite recipes so that you can be represented in this memorable collection. It will be a beautifully bound spiral book that will be treasured for years and will make a beautiful gift. Using a separate sheet of paper for each, please type or print your recipes, keeping in mind any of the following eight categories: Appetizers and beverages Breads and Rolls Soups, Salads & Vegetables Pies, Pastry & Desserts Main Dishes & Casseroles Cakes, Cookies & Candy Meat, Poultry & Seafood This & That 1. First list all the ingredients. 2. Then give the directions for making the recipe. 3. Be sure to include your name at the bottom. The cookbook will contain 16 pages of helpful hints on basic cooking information, have illustrated category dividers, a table of contents, an index and will be type set in easy to read print. Proceeds from this book will go into the treasury of the Iowa Honey Producers Association. Please send your recipes in the next few days so you don't forget, and so there will be time to compile the book. Because a limited number will be printed, and to be assured of receiving them, you may reserve one or more copies for yourself and your family at this time. Send your recipes to Paul F. Goossen, RR 5, Box 198, Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641. FORMIC ACID GEL-STRIP The application of formic acid to honeybee colonies for the control of tracheal mites and varroa mites has shown to be generally effective and has been registered for use against these pests in several European countries. However, the application of liquid formic acid has several drawbacks (i.e. obtaining correct dosages, potential hazards to the applicator and multiple applications needed). Medivet Pharmaceuticals of High River, Alberta, is developing a formic acid gel-strip to overcome these problems. Willy Baumgartner of Medivet feels that the potential for a one-shot application is feasible. However, additional work is required to obtain a formulation which will give the necessary control. Medivet has had the cooperation of Dr. Don Nelson of the Beaverlodge research Station, Kerry Clark and Paul van Westendorp of the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture, John Gruszka from Saskatchewan Agriculture and Dr. Bill Wilson from USDA in evaluating initial formulations. The gel-strip is being developed to accomplish several objectives at the same time: to provide a method that requires only one application, to make the method of application easy and safe for the applicator and to provide more uniform evaporation over the treatment period. (from Canadian Bee Notes) NEW IOWA QUEEN BREEDING PROGRAM A new Iowa bee breeding program is starting with the goal of developing a better bee adapted to conditions in the state. In an effort to overcome disease and other bee problems, members of the Central Iowa Beekeepers Association have initiated the Iowa Bee Exchange with the assistance of scientist-member Rick Hellmich. Hellmich, who has done research at Ohio State and worked in bee genetics for the USDA and Weaver Apiaries in Texas, will voluntarily manage and document the program. Labor, materials and a secluded test-site apiary will be donated by Spencers Apiary in Cambridge. However, quality Iowa bee stock is needed! The breeding program is interested in acquiring 40 starter nucs--bees from diverse locations throughout the state. An ideal colony population is one that shows promise for the characteristics of honey production, mite or disease resistance, gentleness and overwintering. The donated nuc would include a queen and 3 frames total of brood and honey. No equipment is needed. Donated nucs must be ready and delivered by May 1. The nucs will be assigned a number and a flyer describing the progress of their bees and the program will be sent to bee keepers who provide bees. Stock will be sent in 1993 to selected southern breeders and in upcoming seasons Iowa beekeepers will have the opportunity to purchase queens that have been raised from the Iowa stock. Participation in an ongoing stock monitoring program will be available for interested parties. Occasional progress reports will be printed in this newsletter. For more information on providing bees or materials for this exciting program, contact: Rick Hellmich, 509 9th Street, Ames, Iowa 50010 (515) 233-3562 (or) Spencers Apiary, PO Box 131, Cambridge, IA 50046 (515) 383-4245 HONEY OF A VERSE As soon as the commandment was circulated, the children of Israel brought in abundance the first fruit of grain and wine, oil, HONEY, and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything. - II Chronicles 31:5 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 20 Apr 1993 09:47:45 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Adrian Wenner Subject: varroa 20 April 93 / 0935 Request for information: Has anyone a reference to information about the introduction and spread of Varroa in the U.S. In particular, I am interested in the actual chronology of first appearances in each state. Please reply. Adrian M. Wenner Prof. of Nat. Hist., Emeritus wenner@lifesci.ucsb.edu Thanks. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 20 Apr 1993 12:51:54 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Bee-L David Kesler Subject: magnetite in bees Has there been any current work on magnetite in honeybees and its role in navigation/orientation? Is it the concensus that this mechanism exists? David Kesler kesler@rhodes.bitnet ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 20 Apr 1993 15:09:32 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: stephen j clark Subject: Re: magnetite in bees > >Has there been any current work on magnetite in honeybees and its role >in navigation/orientation? Is it the concensus that this mechanism >exists? > >David Kesler >kesler@rhodes.bitnet I think Jim Gould (Dept. of Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544-1003, USA) has looked into this. Stephen Clark Vassar College ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 20 Apr 1993 14:25:24 CDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Bee Surgeon Subject: Re: magnetite in bees Here are the recent references i can find. Enjoy. Gould JL (1980) The case for magnetic sensitivity in birds and bees (such as it is). American Scientist. 68: 256-267. Leucht T , Martin H (1990) Interactions between e-vector orientation and weak, steady magnetic fields in the honeybee, Apis mellifera. Naturwissenschaften. 77: 130-133. Schiff H (1991) Modulation of spike frequencies by varying the ambient magnetic field and magnetite candidates in bees (Apis mellifera). Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 100A: 975-985. Thompson S, Lee R , Beckage N Metabolism of parasitized Manduca sexta examined by nuclear magnetic resonance. Archives of Insect Biochmistry and Physiology. 1-31. Walker M , Bitterman M (1989) Attached magnets impair magnetic field discrimination by honeybees. J. exp. Biol. 141: 447-451 Walker M , Bitterman M (1989) Short communication Honey bees can be trained to respond to very small changes in geomagnetic field intensity. J. Exp. Biol. 145: 489-494. Walker M , Bitterman M (1989) Conditioning analysis of magnetoreception in honey bees. Bioelectromagnetics. 10: 261-275. Walker M , Bitterman M (1989) Short communication:honey bees can be trained to respond to very small changes in geomagnetic field intensity. J. Exp. Biol. 145: 489-494. ********************************************************************** * Zhi-yong HUANG {Having a hard time? Think of the poor drone !} * * 320 Morrill Hall PHONE: 217-333-6843 * * Dept. of Entomology FAX: 217-244-3499 * * University of Illinois EMAIL: Zhiyong@vmd.cso.uiuc.edu * * Urbana, IL 61801 z-huang@uiuc.edu * ********************************************************************** This NOTE is a reply to: ------------------------ >Return-Path: <@VMD.CSO.UIUC.EDU:owner-bee-l@UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU> >Received: from VMD.CSO.UIUC.EDU (NJE origin LISTSERV@UIUCVMD) by > VMD.CSO.UIUC.EDU (LMail V1.1d/1.7f) with BSMTP id 4657; Tue, > 20 Apr 1993 14:08:46 -0500 >Date: Tue, 20 Apr 1993 15:09:32 -0400 >Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology >Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology >From: stephen j clark >Subject: Re: magnetite in bees >To: Multiple recipients of list BEE-L > >> >>Has there been any current work on magnetite in honeybees and its role >>in navigation/orientation? Is it the concensus that this mechanism >>exists? >> >>David Kesler >>kesler@rhodes.bitnet > >I think Jim Gould (Dept. of Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ >08544-1003, USA) has looked into this. > >Stephen Clark >Vassar College ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 20 Apr 1993 17:34:29 EST Reply-To: Harald.E.Esch.1@nd.edu Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Harald E. Esch" Subject: Re: magnetite in bees In Message Tue, 20 Apr 1993 15:09:32 -0400, stephen j clark writes: >> >>Has there been any current work on magnetite in honeybees and its role >>in navigation/orientation? Is it the concensus that this mechanism >>exists? >> >>David Kesler >>kesler@rhodes.bitnet > >I think Jim Gould (Dept. of Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ >08544-1003, USA) has looked into this. > >Stephen Clark >Vassar College We have an article in Naturwissenschaften 80,41-43(1993) D.E.Schmitt and H.E.Esch Magnetic Orientation of Honeybees in the Laboratory Harald Esch =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Harald E. Esch ("Harald.E.Esch.1@nd.edu") Professor, Dept. Biological Sciences University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame IN 46556 Phone: (219) 631-7025 FAX: (219) 631-7413 Dept. Office: (219) 631-7186 =-=-=-==-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 20 Apr 1993 17:37:38 EST Reply-To: Harald.E.Esch.1@nd.edu Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Harald E. Esch" Subject: Re: magnetite in bees In Message Tue, 20 Apr 1993 12:51:54 -0500, Bee-L David Kesler writes: >Has there been any current work on magnetite in honeybees and its role >in navigation/orientation? Is it the concensus that this mechanism >exists? > >David Kesler >kesler@rhodes.bitnet See Naturwissenschaften 80,41-43(1993) Magnetic Orientationof Honeybees in the Laboratory by D.E.Schmittand H.E.Esch Best wishes Harald Esch =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Harald E. Esch ("Harald.E.Esch.1@nd.edu") Professor, Dept. Biological Sciences University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame IN 46556 Phone: (219) 631-7025 FAX: (219) 631-7413 Dept. Office: (219) 631-7186 =-=-=-==-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 20 Apr 1993 21:00:56 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Edward E Southwick Subject: orientation I am looking for references concerning honey bee orientation especially when trying to get back home. Also I would like to have a recent review of bee oreintation to landmarks. Anything on bees (even drones) making mistakes in homing would also be useful. Also does anybody know of a way to know exactly where bees are flying without carting around the monster radar truck like G. Loper uses for drones? Thanks for your responses. Snow finally gone up here in upstate NY, bees bringing in BLUE pollen. Ideas on what that is? cheers, e.southwick ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Apr 1993 08:41:48 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Stephen Bambara Subject: no subject (file transmission) David- There is a new faculty member a Mary Washington (Fredricksburg,VA) in the Biology Department who did her PhD on the presence magnetite in cells. I think her name is Karen and her degree was in microbiology. More than that, I can't help. Happy hunting. Ed, The latest landmark work I recall is by Gould, as you are probably familiar. Also, about that BLUE pollen... was it sky blue, navy blue, teale blue, bimini blue....(you get the idea)? :) Actually, the only report of blue pollen I could find for something that would be in your area at this time of year was _Phacelia_. Check to see what species you may have in your area. I don't think there is a common name. I wonder, however, if what you are seeing is maple pollen. Are your maple trees blooming now? Maple has, what I would describe as, a greenish gray pollen. But it could be described as bluish or it may be blue-er in your neck of the woods. In Raleigh, our crabapples are almost bloomed out. Hollies are partly gone, the only maple left are Japanese Red maples, and the blooms on our Tulip Poplar are about "peanut" size. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Apr 1993 08:53:53 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Stephen Bambara Subject: no subject (file transmission) In Raleigh, our crabapples are almost bloomed out. Hollies are partly gone, the only maple left are Japanese Red maples, and the blooms on our Tulip Poplar are about "peanut" size. Oops... I meant to say BUDS, not blooms. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Apr 1993 21:35:00 +1200 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Nick Wallingford Subject: Re: orientation Only blue pollen I know about is from NZ native fuschia - Fuschia excorticata. BEAUTIFUL to see, indeed. Someone once told me it was the only blue pollen in the world. Apparently not! Nick Wallingford nickw@waikato.ac.nz ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Apr 1993 08:32:57 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "La Reine de la Cite' des Phoques (Liz Day)" Subject: blue pollen We can have bee spas, where you send your bees to relax by the blue pollen. Liz D. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Apr 1993 10:12:11 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Aaron Morris Subject: Keep your mind on your drivin'! Edward E Southwick states: > I am looking for references concerning honey bee orientation especially > when trying to get back home. Ed, When you're trying to get back home you shouldn't be looking for anything other the traffic around you! What are you trying to do, kill sombody!?!? ;-) ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Apr 1993 10:16:50 EST Reply-To: Harald.E.Esch.1@nd.edu Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Harald E. Esch" Subject: Re: orientation In Message Tue, 20 Apr 1993 21:00:56 -0400, Edward E Southwick writes: >I am looking for references concerning honey bee orientation especially >when trying to get back home. Also I would like to have a recent >review of bee oreintation to landmarks. Anything on bees (even drones) >making mistakes in homing would also be useful. Also does anybody know >of a way to know exactly where bees are flying without carting around >the monster radar truck like G. Loper uses for drones? Thanks for >your responses. Snow finally gone up here in upstate NY, bees bringing >in BLUE pollen. Ideas on what that is? >cheers, e.southwick Fred Dyer has a great number of articles on the topic as for instance Anim. Behav.41,239-246 (1991) also R. Menzel Z.Naturforsch. 45c, 723-726 (1990) and then all the publications by J. Gould , for instance Science 232, 861-863 (1986) (which are disputed, see above). Harald =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Harald E. Esch ("Harald.E.Esch.1@nd.edu") Professor, Dept. Biological Sciences University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame IN 46556 Phone: (219) 631-7025 FAX: (219) 631-7413 Dept. Office: (219) 631-7186 =-=-=-==-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Apr 1993 10:05:00 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Kerry Clark 784-2225 fax (604) 784 2299" Subject: Re: Blue pollen I think lilac pollen is... "lilac" blue ( maybe that's mauve), and the pellets from a pollen trap taste like a lilac blossom. Season report: here in northern B.C. just east of the rockies, we had a cooler than average "late winter" and bees were kept indoors an extra week or two from the Apr 1 target. Now in early summer, it was a very warm 18 deg C yesterday, the bees are hauling in willow pollen and nectar, and there have been dandelion bloom sightings in sunny sheltered spots. Winter losses are a bit higher than normal, perhaps from the abrupt change to cold weather last fall, catching some colonies not well enough fed. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1993 09:14:00 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Ed Bachmann Subject: Help, Bees not Moving into Observation Hive We set up an observation hive at 8:00pm last night and at 9:00am this morning only about 15% of the bees have moved from the shipping cage into the hive. Should we just wait for them to move over or is there any way to induce them to move? Can you think of anything we might have done wrong? Any thoughts will be appreciated. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1993 10:24:50 EST Reply-To: Harald.E.Esch.1@nd.edu Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Harald E. Esch" Subject: Re: Help, Bees not Moving into Observation Hive In Message Thu, 22 Apr 1993 09:14:00 EDT, Ed Bachmann writes: >We set up an observation hive at 8:00pm last night and >at 9:00am this morning only about 15% of the bees have >moved from the shipping cage into the hive. > >Should we just wait for them to move over or is there any >way to induce them to move? Can you think of anything we >might have done wrong? > >Any thoughts will be appreciated. Patience, have patience, they will move in !! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Harald E. Esch ("Harald.E.Esch.1@nd.edu") Professor, Dept. Biological Sciences University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame IN 46556 Phone: (219) 631-7025 FAX: (219) 631-7413 Dept. Office: (219) 631-7186 =-=-=-==-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1993 12:40:52 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Stephen Bambara Subject: no subject (file transmission) From: Ed Bachmann Subject: Help, Bees not Moving into Observation Hive To: Multiple recipients of list BEE-L Status: OR We set up an observation hive at 8:00pm last night and at 9:00am this morning only about 15% of the bees have moved from the shipping cage into the hive. Should we just wait for them to move over or is there any way to induce them to move? Can you think of anything we might have done wrong? Any thoughts will be appreciated. **************************************************** Ed, here are mine.. Ask yourself, Why the heck SHOULD they move in? What have you given them? Is this a package of bees that you are trying to install into a frame and 1/2 observation hive? Is the queen still in the shipping cage? Is there drawn comb or only foundation? Do you have too many bees? We need more info. My suggestion would be to DUMP the bees into the observation hive outside. When all or most are inside the observation hive, close it up, carry it inside and install it in the window/wall. If the queen is still in the cage, make sure the bees are not balling her or biting on the wire screen. If they are not, you could release her and watch to see what happens. If they are, go through the normal introduction process. A better idea is to install them into a nuc until they are established and then move the frames into the observation hive. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1993 12:44:44 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Malcolm (Tom) Sanford, Florida Extension Apiculturist" Subject: Re: Help, Bees not Moving into Observation Hive Bees will go where the queen is...ensure the queen is in the observation hive...dump rest of loose bees at entrance...they will set up an orientation fanning and go right in... ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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, 22 Apr 1993 13:22:00 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Eileen Gregory Subject: More Info on Obs Hive w/ Slow Bees Thanks for all the suggestions so far. Here is a little more information about the observation hive described by Ed Bachmann earlier. The queen cage with queen was placed about an inch from the entrance of the hive as per instruction from bee company. The local temperature was been relatively cool and cloudy, low 60s. The obs hive has only one frame. The bees which are in the hive are gathered around the queen cage, with some moving about and some stationary. I don't know what sort of interaction they might be having with the queen. Some of the workers have begun to draw out the wax foundation into comb. We have placed cardboard against the sides of the shipping cage to darken it and hopefully cause the bees to move into the lighted hive. I wonder whether the cardboard which would also cause the shipping cage to be warmer should be removed to allow it to cool down. It would then probably be cooler than the hive and maybe the bees would move on over. Anyway, I hope that this additional information may spark some more good ideas from you BEE experts. Needless to say, Ed and I are both just beginners, but are fascinated by the bees. Thanks again, Eileen Gregory University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1993 10:17:01 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Dave Pehling Organization: WSU CAHE USER Subject: Osmia lignaria Howdy Bee-L'ers, My name is Dave Pehling from WSU Cooperative Extension in Snohomish County. I've been enjoying the communications on the Bee List and thought I'd join in. I've been working with Osmia lignaria propinqua as a hobby and much of my stock is plagued with a tiny mite, Chaetodactylus krombeini. A few of my bees are so infested that it looks as though they are wearing a gray jacket! Has anyone done any work on mite management with this bee? I'm experimenting with dusting nesting boards with miticides this spring and at least one shows some promise. Cheers....................Dave CE6431@WSUVM1.CSC.WSU.EDU FAX - 206-338-3994 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1993 14:39:41 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Rick Hough Subject: slow bees Eileen - I have been lead to beleive that bees prefer a dark environment to one that is well lit. You may have better luck if you take the cardboard away from the package, and place them around the observation hive to make it darker on the inside. Also, the observation hive should have covers that you can put on it to keep it dark when nobody is looking at it - among other things, I think that the bees are less likely to propolize the inside surface of the glass walls of the obs. hive when you use covers. I would also encourage you to try to find a local beekeeper's association to talk to - it is much easier to find someone local to come by and look at your hive and help figure out what is going on. We can converse a lot via keyboard, but taking a look with an experienced beekeeper will be much more useful (and more accurate!!) Finally, I'll echo the earlier question - what have you done to make the bees want to move into the hive - the biggest thing is to be sure the queen is inside the obs. hive. The next choice is to just dump the bees out in front of the hive - they should pick up the scent of the queen and start to move into the hive in short order. Good luck Rick Hough, Hamilton, MA rshough@tasc.com ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1993 15:36:52 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Stephen Bambara Subject: no subject (file transmission) Dave, I'm not sure if these are the same mites which infest the pollen balls and totally consume them in the tubes. If highly numerous they may be moving to the bees. (?) Anyway, this type of problem has been reported in Japan. It is usually a problem in the Spring. Unfortunately, the recommendation is to wait until fall or winter and tear open the tubes and remove the cocoons if there is any sign of mites. Then soak cocoons in 5% bleach for 5-10 minutes. If the cocoon is intact, the solution should not penetrate and damage the bee. When dried, return the pupae to new tubes (nipple end out, of course) and insert a small cotton wad in the end. This will keep the cocoons from falling out and is supposed to stimulate return to the tube through glandular secretions released by the chewing out. If you are using reusable wood blocks, you can soak them too before you reuse them. We have a terrible problem with Monodotomerus wasps, here. (NC) If you do it, let us know if it works. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1993 14:50:00 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Kerry Clark 784-2225 fax (604) 784 2299" Subject: Re Bees not moving into obs hive You will have to get the queen into the observation hive, then the others will stay. She is probably in a separate little cage, among the bees. You could fish out the little cage, then pour or allow the bulk of the bees to fall into the observation hive ( an open top is necessary for this) then open the little cage and allow the queen to walk down among the throng. (Don't let the queen climb up and fly as you open her cage) Once the queen and most of the bees are in there, allow the remaining bees access to the entrance (lay the package near the entrance) and they will locate the entrance by scent. Good luck. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1993 20:42:25 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Michael Moroney >comb. We have placed cardboard against the sides of the shipping >cage to darken it and hopefully cause the bees to move into the >lighted hive. This is your mistake. The bees want a dark hive. It seems that most feel the darkness of the shipping crate outweighs the foundation as far as desirability. Remove the cardboard from the crate and use it to darken the observation hive. -Mike (p.s. Anyone know the phone # for Weaver Apiaries in Texas? My package bees are 2 days late and I cant find their # to see if they've been shipped) ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1993 20:54:00 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: TUCKER Subject: Bumble Bee Flight Date sent: 22-APR-1993 20:36:55 Hello there everybody !!! With all this discussion on bumble bees going on, the question that has not left my head is, "Are they supposed to be able to fly?" I have heard that their flight ability has astounded the scientific community, physics falls short in its attempt to explain it. They are indeed the most charming of the bee family. Anyway, any information would be greatly appriciated. This is my first contribution to the Bee Disscussion, I have enjoyed reading what you all have to say. I am considering doing research on the lil' critters. Tucker ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1993 20:49:53 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "La Reine de la Cite' des Phoques (Liz Day)" Subject: bumblebe flight I think the allegedly discrepancy between their weight and their ability to fly has something to do with the fact that their wings rotate, so that calcualtions for a fixed wing are not correct. I have noticed, but not read, several articles in science and physics journals on the topic of bumblebee fligth in the last year or so. Perhaps a keyword search would pull them out. Liz Day University of Illinois at Chicago day@eecs.uic.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1993 21:00:02 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "La Reine de la Cite' des Phoques (Liz Day)" Subject: name, address, serial number Would it be OK to renew my request that writers put their full name and the name of their institution or location somewhere in their postings? This would be helpful for people who are not as familiar with everyone in the bee world as they should be. Liz Day University of Illinois at Chicago day@eecs.uic.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Apr 1993 10:39:31 +0200 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "SEPPO KORPELA TEL +358 16 188576 FAX +358 16 188584\"" Subject: Re: blue pollen You seem already to be in mid-summer over there in North America, if you suggest that the blue pollen bees are collecting comes from phacelia or lilac. Here in Finland we cultivate phacelia on reserve fields and still have to wait for the sowing season perhaps 2-3 weeks. After this, we have to wait further 6 weeks before the flowering begins. Lilacs bloom here in mid-June. The only plant here giving blue pollen at this time would be Scilla sibirica grown in gardens. In late summer (July-August) we get blue pollen from fireweed (Epilobium angusti- folium). Seppo Korpela Agric. Res. Centre of Finland ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Apr 1993 19:57:00 +1200 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Nick Wallingford Subject: Flying bumblebees... I've heard the story that the old 'bumble bees being not able to fly but they don't know it' came about from a F German research paper published prior to WWII that used (fixed wind oops wind damn. WING) aircraft mathematical analysis to 'prove' they could not fly, using wing area, weight, etc. But post WWII, the better understood maths of helicopter type flight (with the ability to change the pitch of the wings...) debundkied... debunked the original paper. Oh, well, it makes a good sotory, one of those that never seems to die... ----------------------------------- Nick Wallingford Internet nickw@waikato.ac.nz ----------------------------------- Posted: 23 Apr 1993 7:51PM NZ time ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Apr 1993 20:00:00 +1200 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Nick Wallingford Subject: Blue pollen... The blue of fuschia pollen is a beautiful, dark cobalt type blue (I had to ask my partner the weaver for that - I'm not very good on colours or style!) ----------------------------------- Nick Wallingford Internet nickw@waikato.ac.nz ----------------------------------- Posted: 23 Apr 1993 7:54PM NZ time ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Apr 1993 09:55:00 GMT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Philip Earle Subject: Re: More Info on Obs Hive w/ Slow Bees Yes.. as was mentioned before, the bees will follow the queen, she needs to be inside the hive you are going to install the package in. I would suggest hanging the queen cage between two frames or placeing the cage on the upper part of a comb, add a handfull of bees, close up the box then just dump the rest of the bees at the hive enterance. A day or two later release queen but and this is very important, make sure that the bees are not being aggressive towards the Q in the cage as indicated by the bees biting the wire or bees clustering tightly on the cage. When the Q is released, watch the bees reaction towards her, they should form a court around her but if they form a tight ball (golf ball size) or pull and bite at her then put her back into the cage for longer. If the bees to form a tight ball around the Q (known as balling) the simplest way to separate them is to lift the ball and dump it into some luke warm water - the bees will imediatly release the Q, if you try to pull balling bees from the Q sometimes they will sting her. It would be a good idea to feed your bees as they are more likely to accept a Q when they think that there is a honey flow on! Good Luck Philip Earle Queen's University, Northern Ireland. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Apr 1993 09:59:36 +0100 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: malcolm roe Subject: Blue Pollen. Around here (S. England) Rosebay Willowherb or Fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium) is an important summer bee flower with a striking grey-blue coloured pollen. I see it coming in every year in the summer. Dorothy Hodges' book, "The Pollen Loads of the Honey Bee", shows the following plants with blue pollen that bees have been known to collect:- Siberian Squill (Scilla siberica) Garden Bluebell (Scilla sp.) Vipers Bugloss (Echium vulgare) Garden Campanula (Campanula sp.) Purple pollen. Phacelia tenacetifolia Queen Anne's Thimble (Gilia capitata) -- Malcolm Roe Phone : +44 442 230000 ext 4104 Crosfield Electronics Ltd Fax : +44 442 232301 Hemel Hempstead, Herts. HP2 7RH, UK E-mail : roe@crosfield.co.uk ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Apr 1993 11:52:00 GMT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Philip Earle Subject: CHALKBROOD -food for thought? Hi all... Chalkbrood disease is caused by an invasive fungus which germinates rapidly penetrates the gut wall and spreads throughout the larval tissues eventually resulting in the characteristic mummified larvae. I was wondering, and I'm sure that this has been tried but, in tissue cell culture one can use FUNGIZONE (amphotericin B) to control fungal contamination -- what would happen if this was fed to bees, will it provide protection against infection by germination spores or will it kill the bees or brood?? Unfortunatly amphotericin is so expensive that it will hardly be used in beekeeping (ICN 70.60 UK pounds for 500 mg). Obviously its not a cure as there would still be lots of spores present in the hive. Other anti-fungal agents have been tried, perhaps someone who has experimented with these can tell us what happened? Lets hope that this gets some interesting discussion going! Philip Earle Queen's University Northern Ireland. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Apr 1993 06:12:38 CDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: G.Yanos@UIC.EDU Subject: Re: Flying bumblebees... In-Reply-To: Message of Fri, 23 Apr 1993 19:57:00 +1200 from Our campus has a searchable database of Current Contents. The only reference to bumblebees and aerodynamics was a discussion of a fiberglass part from a Bumblebee missle which is still (apparently Bumblebee missles are old) used in Tartar and Standard shipboard anti-aircraft missles. Of course, the Current Contents only goes back a year or two. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Apr 1993 09:46:56 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Malcolm (Tom) Sanford, Florida Extension Apiculturist" Subject: weaver apiaries there are two weavers in texas 800-622-5997 for weaver apiaries; howard weaver and sons, 409-825-7719. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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: Fri, 23 Apr 1993 08:27:59 -0600 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Lawrence Harder Subject: Bumble bee flight To dispell this apocryphal myth I recommend, McMasters, J.H. 1989. The flight of the bumblebee and related myths of entomological engineering. American Scientist 77:164-169. To appreciate how bumble bees fly consult, Dudley and Ellington. 1990. Journal of Experimental Biology 148:19-52,53-88. Apparently bumble bees are the mascot of Mary Kay cosmetics based on this myth (the company wasn't supposed to fly either - no logical physical explanation can be offered for its success). I hope this helps. Lawrence Harder ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Apr 1993 13:40:00 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Eileen Gregory Subject: Slow Bees Have Been Hived, Much Thanks! Just a note of thanks from Ed Bachmann and myself on the MANY very useful suggestions on how to get the bees from the shipping cage into their hive. Uncovering the shipping cage and covering the hive really did the trick. The bees moved over in just about 20 minutes. Hopefully the queen will come out of her cage in a day or so, and all will bee well in the observation hive! Again, thanks to Bee-L, Eileen Gregory ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Apr 1993 14:02:00 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Ed Bachmann Subject: Re: Slow Bees Have Been Hived, Much Thanks! E Good note. E 2 or 6 ? ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Apr 1993 11:55:00 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Kerry Clark 784-2225 fax (604) 784 2299" Subject: Early honey bee introductions A couple of weeks ago there were a few messages indicating an 1830's introduction to California. I just ran across an article indicating Russian honey bee culture in Alaska in 1809, and trade from there to California in 1811. The article is in ABJ June '92 p 351, in their "75 years ago" clipping. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Apr 1993 20:16:36 GMT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Dr. M. Giurfa" Subject: Re: orientation In-Reply-To: <199304210911.AA08799@mail.cs.tu-berlin.de>; from "Edward E Southwick" at Apr 20, 93 9:00 pm Berlin, 23th April 1993 . Coming back to the question of Ed Southwick on bees' orientation, the theme is a rather exciting one. It also generated a polemic that actually continues. To summarize it, the study of how bees represent large- scale spatial relationships between landmarks in memory has intensified since JL Gould (Science 232: 861-863, 1986) claimed that bees can acquire topographically accurate cognitive maps of a landscape. "Cognitive maps" are the mental analogue of a topographic map, i.e., an internal represen- tation of the geometric relations among some points of the animal's environ- ment. This kind of map- demonstrated for some vertebrates- allows a navi- gator to compute and therefore to choice the shortest course from one familiar site to any other familiar site, even if he has never traveled this particular route and cannot see any landmark previously used to reach this goal. . Gould's view strongly contrasts with the classical hypothesis that insects learn several stereotyped routes through a landscape but cannot derive a global knowledge of the lay of the land (Baerends, Tidjschr voor Entomol 84: 68-275, 1941). Moreover, this hypothesis was thereafter extended by Cartwright and Collett (J Comp Physiol 151: 521-543, 1983;Biol Cybern 57: 85-93, 1987) and Wehner (in: Neuroethology and Behavioural Physiology, Huber & Markl eds, pp 366-381, Springer) who stated that a homing insect (experiments were performed with honeybees and ants) uses a succession of snapshots activated sequentially as the insect approaches its nesting site. Thus, snapshots would act as a sequence of "memory pictures" leading to the nest. In this case, distant marks guide to the broad area of the goal whereas close marks allow for finally finding the exact position of the goal. The last point was demonstrated by Cheng et al (J. Comp Physiol A 161 469-475, 1987): They showed that in their final search for the goal, bees weigh near landmarks more heavily than distant ones. . In any case, several researchers tried to replicate Gould's experi- ments (see for example Menzel et al, Z Naturforsch 45c 723-726, 1990; Wehner & Menzel, Ann Rev Neurosci 13: 403-414; Dyer, Anim Behav 41:239-246, Dyer in Proceedings og the Third International Congress of Neuroethology, Montreal, 1992, p.16; Wehner, Menzel & Lehrer, in Dynamics & Plasticity in Neuronal Systems, Elsner & Singer eds, 1988, Thieme). The basic experiment consisted in capturing previously trained bees at a feeding place and displacing them in the dark to a novel site. There, they were released and their flight direction was recorded to determine whether bees actually were able to use a cognitive map, in which case they should point to the hive also in this "new situation". In all experiments, performed by different researchers and in different places of the world, bees flew, upon release, in the direction predicted by the snapshot route hypothe- sis, i.e. in the compass direction in which they used to fly to the hive from the feeding place, and not in the direction predicted by Gould's map hypothesis (here I should enclose a draw!!!!!). . Anyway, the controversy continues but it seems that honeybees do not use our familiar cognitive maps. . . Martin Giurfa . Institut fur Neurobiologie Freie Universitat Berlin Konigin Luise Strasse 28/30 1000 BERLIN 33 GERMANY . GIURFA@SONNE.ZEDAT.FU-BERLIN.DE . ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Apr 1993 16:19:03 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Aaron Morris Subject: Two items: The request for hints about blue pollen came from upstate New York where we have spring bulbs in bloom (crocus and daffodils) and the early maple trees in blossom. Last night there was an unusual April snow storm that dumped up to ten inches in some areas. It's too early for lilacs and fushia is a house plant in this neck of the woods. Any ideas about blue pollen now? Concerning chalkborrd; how long will chalkbrood spores stay viable? I had a hive last year with chalkbrood that did not survive the winter. May I restock the equipment or should I throw it away? Aaron Morris University at Albany Upstate (way upstate) New York ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Apr 1993 13:54:39 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Adrian Wenner Subject: Re: Early honey bee introductions In-Reply-To: <9304231925.AA29216@ucsbuxb.ucsb.edu>; from "Kerry Clark 784-2225 f 23 April / 1345 Oops! Hold on a bit about the notion that bees were introduced into California in the early 1800s. Lee Watkins published an article on that notion some years ago. Next week I will provide the reference. The earliest documented introduction seems to be 1853. The swarms of that one colony sold for $100 gold per swarm -- hardly the price one would pay if bees had already been in California for 20 years or more. Adrian M. Wenner Prof. of Nat. History, Emeritus wenner@lifesci.ucsb.edu > > A couple of weeks ago there were a few messages indicating an 1830's > introduction to California. I just ran across an article indicating Russian > honey bee culture in Alaska in 1809, and trade from there to California in 181 > > The article is in ABJ June '92 p 351, in their "75 years ago" clipping. > ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Apr 1993 16:05:25 CDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Bee Surgeon Subject: JH and metabolism in insects Dear all bug(wo)men, Anybody knows a reference on juvenile hormone and increase of metabolism in insects ? I seem to remember one paper by John Harrison, but could not find it in my disorganized lib. Any info leading to this would be appreciated. zhiyong a surgeon wana bee ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Apr 1993 17:21:25 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Michael Moroney Subject: Re: weaver apiaries Thanks to all who sent me Weaver's phone #. Turns out there's no reason to call, I got the much-awaited buzzing package from the post office this morning, and bees seemed to be well. Wish me luck (I'm new at this) -Mike ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Apr 1993 14:47:15 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jane Beckman Subject: Re: Early honey bee introductions Yes, Adrian Wenner and I were comparing notes on early honeybees. He just sent me the Lee Watkins article from the ABJ debunking the Russian bees. I believe it, and think that's one we can definitely write off as myth. Jane Beckman ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Apr 1993 17:09:49 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "La Reine de la Cite' des Phoques (Liz Day)" Subject: Re: Two items: Blue pollen: If Scilla sibirica makes blue pollen, it should be in bloom in upstate NY about now (?). Looks like short grassy stems with blue flowers (bright true blue, not purple). Grows in masses on lawns and under trees. People plant it. Liz Day University of Illinois at Chicago day@eecs.uic.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Apr 1993 20:52:35 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jonathan Beard Subject: BOOKS FOR BRAZIL Science writer looking for contact in Brazil. I review books for New Scientist and have accumulated a nice stack, including several on bees, insects, biology in general. I would be willing to ship them to Brazil to go to an impoverished institution that could not afford them. In return I would like to have a scientific con- tact on e-mail willing to do very occasional research-- once or twice a year--involving a phone call or two in Brazil. |-----------------------------|------------------------------| |-Jonathan D. Beard-----------|--Internet jbeard@aip.org-----| |-Science Writer and----------|--CompuServe 72301,563--------| |-Photo Researcher------------|--Phone-212-749-1055----------| |-820 West End Avenue 3B------|--Fax 212-749-9336------------| |-New York City 10025-5328----|------------------------------| |-----------------------------|------------------------------| ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 24 Apr 1993 13:21:38 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Mike Crocco To multiple recipients of BEE-L, I am working on a research project involving the Internet and I am searching for addresses and sites of information that deal with the biological structures and functions of bees.I need to know the names of those addresses and a brief description of each.Anything that can be picked up will be greatly appreciated. Mike Crocco stk1708@vax003.Stockton.edu Stockton State College Pomona, New Jersey, 08240 ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 24 Apr 1993 21:35:34 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Edward E Southwick Subject: blue pollen ================================================================== º Edward E. Southwick Department of Biology º º Lab: 716-395-5743 State University of New York º º Voice Mail: 716-395-2193 Brockport, New York 14420 º º FAX: 716-395-2416 U.S.A. º º BITNET: Southwik@Brock1P º º Internet: e.southwick@ACSpr1.ACS.Brockport.edu º ================================================================== Thank you for the input on blue pollen! Here in upstate NY, some of the suggestions are less likely than others. I am now checking it out. The bees are still bringing it in. I am suspicious that it actually may be from our maples (altho that's supposed to be grey). The discussion about bee flight is interesting. We are currently working on wing shape and air flow on honey bee wings. Any idea what may be the function of all the little hairs all over the wings? They look like so many pitot tubes! I reviewed the McMaster masterpiece on the history of the non-flying bumblebee in 989. Entomological engineering. 989. Entomological engineering. American Bee Journal 129(5):341-342 That was in 1989. The history is that calculations were made assuming that the wings were flat plates. They are not! They are only flat between the wing veins which give structural stability (as well as morphological systematic information). Here are a few refs to bee flight: Casey, T.M., May, M.L.1988. Morphometrics, wing stroke frequency and energy metabolism of Euglossine bees during hovering flight.Biona Report. W. Nachtigall, ed. Fischer, Stuttgart.1:1-10 Nachtigall, W., U. Rothe, P. Feller, R. Jungmann. 1989. Flight of the honey bee III. Flight metabolic power calculated from gas analysis, thermoregulation and fuel consumption. J. Comp. Physiol. B. 158:729-737. I also appreciate the information and especially references provided by a number of BEE-L'rs on orientation by bees. von Frisch showed years ago that they really do orient to the sun's position which fits most of the reported results... ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Apr 1993 08:14:17 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Richard Alan Haver Subject: Re: Two items: is this what's called 'henbit'? its an early bloomer in vermont and new hampshire although its not bloomed yet this year. it grows low in lawns and i've seen bees foraging it in the past. Rick Haver haver@dartmouth.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Apr 1993 08:01:46 -0800 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Missy Stine Subject: wax removal -- Hello! I just got on to BEE-L and I find your discussions very enjoyable so far. I'm curious, does anyone know how to completely remove wax from clothing (parrafin in particular)? It's for batiking, and so far I've tried ironing it out but it doesn't see to remove it all. Any suggestions would be great! Missy Stine Biological Sciences Dept. Cal Poly Technical Univ., San Luis Obispo, CA (805) 547-0161 mstine@oboe.calpoly.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Apr 1993 08:10:08 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Adrian Wenner Subject: Re: Early honey bee introductions In-Reply-To: <9304232146.AA00968@ucsbuxb.ucsb.edu>; from "Jane Beckman" at Apr 2 26 April 1993 / 0800 Hi Jane, Thanks for replying to that last message -- it saves me the trouble of looking up Lee Watkins' paper once again. Our article in GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE should be out next month or so. As a result of your initial query, I was able to spot two small errors in the original manuscript and FAX corrections to the editor before it was too late. The most important one (in case I haven't informed you earlier) was that it was "commercial" beekeeping that first occurred in Ventura in 1873 (not 1875), not beekeeping as such. That means that some ranch beekeeping could have been done here in Santa Barbara maybe 10 years sooner that the date of 1875 that we had used in the earlier version. Best wishes. Adrian ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Apr 1993 11:08:27 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Rita Walczuch Subject: Re: orientation In-Reply-To: Message of Fri, 23 Apr 1993 20:16:36 GMT from What ever happened to the idea that bees use the polarization of sun light to f ind their way home? I don't know how the following story relates to the ongoing discussion on bee o rientation. However, I am sure it can tell us something about the way bees orie nt themselves. Every bee keeper knows that when bee hives are moved over night, they have to be moved at least a certain distance (I believe >10 feet or so) o r the bees don't realize that the hive has been moved when they leave it in the morning and return to the place where the hive used to be. Apparently they are not able to find their way back into the hive although it might just be 3 feet away. I think this is very interesting. How can it be explained by the various theories on bee orientation? Rita Walczuch ************************************************************ Rita Walczuch Department of Management Terry College of Business The University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602-6256 work: (706) 542-3716 home: (706) 546-4579 ************************************************************ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Apr 1993 08:19:35 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Dave Pehling Organization: WSU CAHE USER Subject: Re: Two items: In-Reply-To: Message of Fri, 23 Apr 1993 16:19:03 EDT from Hi Aaron, Regarding chalkbrook, personally, I wouldn't worry about it and just use the equipment. Just be sure the hive is placed in a sunny spot with good air flow. I had one hive here in Western Washington state that came down with chalkbrood in 1978 and I always got a good harvest from them (until I got careless - it died from AFB this last winter). Cheers! Dave Pehling WSU Cooperative Extension CE6431@WSUVM1.CSC.WSU.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Apr 1993 08:31:59 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Adrian Wenner Subject: Re: wax removal In-Reply-To: <9304261502.AA13496@ucsbuxb.ucsb.edu>; from "Missy Stine" at Apr 26 0820 / 26 April 1993 Missy, You have someone in San Luis Obispo who can probably help. She is Linnea of the cafe by that name downtown. She did batik when she lived in Santa Barbara (excellent work, I might add). Please give her my regards when you see her. Adrian M. Wenner Prof. of Natural History, Emeritus wenner@lifesci.ucsb.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Apr 1993 08:41:46 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Dave Pehling Organization: WSU CAHE USER ject: Re: orientation In-Reply-To: Message of Mon, 26 Apr 1993 11:08:27 EDT from Hi Rita, RE: Moving hives I believe that in most instances, beehives should be moved at least a couple miles to prevent the field bees from losing their way. However, one of my friends moved a hive aboud 10 feet straight back without any problem. I think moving the hive sideways would cause great confusion amongst the field force. Mr. Aebi in California has some interesting stories about moving bees in his book "Mastering the Art of Beekeeping" (or perhaps they are in his first book - can't remember the title of that one.) Have a good one! Dave Pehling, WSU Cooperative Extension CE6431@WSUVM1.CSC.WSU.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Apr 1993 12:09:36 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Rick Hough Subject: Moving hives Hi Rita, The folk-lore I have heard is that one should move hives less than three feet, or more than three miles. I have personal experience of a less than honest beekeeper who sold me a nuc, with full knowledge of where I lived. I drove the ten miles or so to his home and picked up the nuc, which he had kindly installed into our equipment for us. Got the bees home, and shortly afterwards noticed that the population of the hive dwindled very quickly. They eventually built up to full strength, but I didn't get the honey crop I had been "promised". I was a new beekeeper at the time, so I didn't understand what was going on. After talking about it with a number of others, I learned that this particular beekeeper had an out-yard about a mile from my home. The general agreement was that he had taken the nuc from that local site, moved it to his house, and then allowed us to bring them "back to the neighborhood". The field bees promptly went home to the original apiary, and we were left with a weak hive. I wonder how many times he was able to sell that particular group of bees..... Rick Hough, a beekeeper from Hamilton, MA, USA (45 minutes NE of Boston) rshough@tasc.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Apr 1993 09:03:35 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Dave Pehling Organization: WSU CAHE USER Subject: Re: no subject (file transmission) In-Reply-To: Message of Thu, 22 Apr 1993 15:36:52 -0400 from Hi Stephen, RE: Osmia parasitic mites I believe tht mites infesting the Orchard bees are primarily scavengers on the pollen balls in the nesting blocks. I've read of the chlorine bleach treatment but it sounds very labor-intensive, hence, my research efforts. I'll keep you posted regarding results/observations. So far, I've been experimenting with Kelthane, Dikar and Pentac. The Dikar and Pentac are WP formulations that are lightly dusted into the nest blocks. (Note these are NOT legal applications and WSU cannot recommend this use) The Kelthane is an EC formulation that is sprayed into the block. In addition, these materials were applied to squares of wood and mites were introduced. The Pentac appears to be the only tested material that is even moderately toxic to the mite (all three of these materials are listed in the "Pacific Northwest Insect Control Handbook" as being non-toxic to honeybees). Osmia are now beginning nesting activity and none of the materials seem to have repellant properties as the bees readily enter the blocks and even spend the night in the treated holes. No toxic effects have been observed in the adult bees. Obsevations will continue. The bottom line will be: 1- Is there larval toxicity? and 2- Will the mite count be reduced at Spring emergence? Any input would be appreciated. I'll keep in touch..... Cheers! Dave Pehling CE6431@WSUVM1.CSC.WSU.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Apr 1993 10:38:44 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jane Beckman Subject: Re: orientation I think that there are certain amounts of misinformation involved in location recognition. I do know that I have moved hives a few feet "off" their normal orientation, but the returning bees seem to have no problem *provided that they return to the entrance location where they exited.* Moving hives at night seems to result in little disorientation. Moving them during the day does. Another factor I've noticed is that I had bees using a secondary entrance caused by an improperly seated hive top. When this was remedied, some bees attempted to use this entrance for several days afterward, ignoring the primary entrance. I suspect that this is because it was scent-marked during the time it was in use and the marking took several days to wear off. (Notice that bees transferred to a new hive will expose their scent glands and fan at the entrance for a day or so.) Jane Beckman [jane@swdc.stratus.com] ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Apr 1993 11:34:00 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Kerry Clark 784-2225 fax (604) 784 2299" Subject: Rob Page's address Can anyone give me a fax number and / or internet address for Rob Page at the U of Davis? thanks Kerry Clark, Apiculture Specialist B.C. Ministry of Agriculture 1201 103 Ave Dawson Creek B.C. V1G 4J2 CANADA Tel (604) 784-2225 fax (604) 784-2299 INTERNET KCLARK@GALAXY.GOV.BC.CA ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Apr 1993 10:51:00 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Kerry Clark 784-2225 fax (604) 784 2299" Subject: Re: Chalkbrood spores I don't know exactly how long chalkbrood spores remain viable, but certainly over winter. However, I would not advise destroying beekeeping equipment for the presence of chalkbrood. Bees are able to co exist with chalkbrood quite well, and new equipment may not remain chalkbrood-free for long, in an area where the disease is present. Stronger colonies, especially if they tend to remove the larvae before they turn to mummies, clean up the equipment fine. Changing the bee stock (or at least the specific queen) may be all you need to manage. There was another message on chalkbrood, re an anti-fungal chemical. I was involved in some research using a prospective drug, but it didn't work, either as a smoke-strip application or in a syrup. I don't know of any drug treatment recommended for chalkbrood, anywhere. good luck Kerry Clark, Apiculture Specialist B.C. Ministry of Agriculture 1201 103 Ave Dawson Creek B.C. V1G 4J2 CANADA Tel (604) 784-2225 fax (604) 784-2299 INTERNET KCLARK@GALAXY.GOV.BC.CA ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Apr 1993 12:13:43 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Adrian Wenner Subject: Re: Rob Page's address In-Reply-To: <9304261854.AA18014@ucsbuxb.ucsb.edu>; from "Kerry Clark 784-2225 f 26 April 1993 / 1200 Kerry, The phone number into Rob's office is: (916) 752-5455 According to the 1992-93 UC directory, he was not on e-mail at the time that directory was printed. You should be able to get something to him on FAX by use of the following number: (916) 752-1537 Best wishes. Adrian M. Wenner wenner@lifesci.ucsb.edu > > Can anyone give me a fax number and / or internet address for Rob Page at the > of Davis? > thanks > > > Kerry Clark, Apiculture Specialist > B.C. Ministry of Agriculture > 1201 103 Ave > Dawson Creek B.C. > V1G 4J2 CANADA Tel (604) 784-2225 fax (604) 784-2299 > INTERNET KCLARK@GALAXY.GOV.BC.CA > ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Apr 1993 20:22:38 -0300 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Dick Rogers <"PAM::DR"@AC.NSAC.NS.CA> Subject: Bee Science Symposium Abstracts ÿWPCŸ ÷ÿ2 WB ëDigital DEClaser 21 00DIDEC210.PRS·x @ÅñP,D0#P_¶ #|xþ¤3µ' 3µ'Standard 3µ'3µ'Standard.× LDDigip¶ ¤þBee Science Sympos ium "Current Developments in Bee Research" ABSTRACTED PROCEEDINGS Mar ch 12, 1993 Cornwallis Room, Agricultural Centre, Kentville, Nova Scotia,Canada Sponsored by the Nova Scotia Beekeeper s' Association and the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture and Marketing with assistance from the Human Resource Deve lopment component of the Canada/Nova Scotia Agri-Food Development Agreement FORWARD On Ma rch 12, 1993 a unique symposium on current scientific research related to honeyb ees and their diseases and pests was held in the Cornwallis Room at the AgriculturalCentre, Kentville, N.S. The speakers at thi s symposium are recognized worldauthorities from the U.K., U.S., Alberta, Ontario and Nova Scotia. The topics coveredgenetic en gineering, selective breeding, viral diseases an d their transmission,honeybees as vectors of biological control agents, and pest s of bumblebees.The following are abstracts of t he presentations except in one case a summarytranscript is included. C O N T E N T S 1. Dr. Brenda V. Ball, Honey Be e Virus Infections Associated with Varroa jacobsoni Infestation. 2. Don Stoltz, Virologist, Development of Diagostic Tools f or Virus Infection in the Honeybee. 3. John Phillips, Engineering a Gene for Insecticide Resistance in the Honeyb ee. 4. Thomas E. Rinderer, Breeding of Resistance to Varroa jacobsoni. 5. Dr. Don Nelson, Tracheal Mites Detection and Control Meth ods. 6. John C. Sutton, Use of Bees to Deliver Biocontrol Agents for Controlling F lower-Infecting Pathogens. 7. Richard M. Fisher, Bumble Bees: Parasites, Predators, Disease. 8. Summary List of Speakers, Addresses and Fax Numbers.Ú$ Ú 1. Honey Bee Virus Infections Associated with Varroa jacobsoni InfestationBrend a V. Ball, AFRC Institute of Arable Cr ops Research, Rothamsted ExperimentalStation, Harpenden, Herts. AL5 2JQ Fax: 0582 760981. ABSTRACT The parasitic mite Varroa jacobsoni causes little apparent damage in colonies of itsnatural host Apis cerana, the e astern hive bee. The transfer of the mite to theEuropean honey bee, Apis mellif era and its spread to every continent except Aus tralasiahas been accompanied by reports of devastating colony losses, although t he effects ofinfestation seem variable and are s till poorly understood. Differences in thereproductive potential of mites on di fferent species and races of bees and hostbehavi oral responses may account for some of this variability. However, recentresearc h has shown that the mite affects the type and p revalence of honey bee virusinfections causing mortality. This talk will consid er the role of V. jacobsoni as anactivator and v ector of honey bee viruses and examine some of the factors affectingdisease outb reaks in infested colonies.ÚµÚ 2. Development of Diagostic Tools for Virus Infection in the HoneybeeDon Stolt z, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Dalh ousie University, Halifax,Nova scotia B3H 4H7 Fax: 902-494-5125. ABSTRACT My laborator y has been developing approaches to diagnostics which we think will proveuseful in the not-too-distant future. For example, in preliminary studies we havefound that virus infection in a single bee pupa can b e readily detected by Westernblotting. Our prim ary focus thus far, however, has been directed towards an assessmentof polymeras e chain reaction (PCR)-based technology for the detection of black queencell and Kashmir bee viruses. Use of PCR primers specif ic for conserved humanenterovirus sequences gave rise to several products; one of these, a 450 base pairamplicon from KBV has no w been cloned and sequenced. Computer analysis indicate thatthis sequence comes from the viral RNA polymerase gene and shares s ignificant homologywith the same gene found in a variety of known picornaviruses - including humanhepatitis A - and with many pl ant virus genomes as well. Future work will be directedtowards the development of both universal picornavirus primers and prime rs specificfor individual bee viruses.Ú¦ Ú 3. Engineering a Gene for Insecticide Resistance in the HoneybeeJoh n Phillips, University of Guelph, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics,Guelph, Ontario, Canada Fax: 519-837-2075. ABSTRACT We are applying current techniques of insect molecular biology to the design andintrod uction of useful genes in beneficial insects. S uch genes would include thoseencoding resistance to conventional insecticides. A potentially useful insecticideresistance gene, the `opd' gene, has been identified and cloned from bacteria. Thisgene specifi es a unique phosphotriesterase which efficiently cleaves and detoxifiesa broad spectrum of organophosphorus insecticides. We ha ve redesigned this gene tofunction in insects an d have transferred it into the genome of the model insect,Drosophila melanogaste r, where it functions to confer significant resi stance toorganophosphate toxicity. This demonstrates the feasibility of conferr ing usefultraits on strains of insects through t he design and introduction of carefully designedgenes. We are now refining the structure of the gene to target expression in sp ecifictissues and developmental stages in order to enhance the efficacy of insec ticideresistance. In addition, we have begun to develop techniques for transferring thisand/or other useful genes into the hone ybee genome to confer useful and novel traitson the beneficial insect species.ÚäÚ 4. Breeding for Resistance to Varroa jacobsoniThomas E. Rinderer, United St ates Department of Agriculture, Agricultural ResearchServices, Honey-Bee Breedin g Genetics & Physiology research, Baton Rouge, L ouisiana Fax: 504-389-0383. ABSTRACT A stock of honey bees was bred in Yugoslavia for resistance to the parasitic mite,Varroa jacobsoni. This stock was imported by the USDA to the US and extens ively testedin field trials in Florida. These t ests showed that the stock has some degree ofresistance to Varroa jacobsoni, a s trong resistance to a second parasitic mite,Acar apis woodi, which is also a relatively new and economically troubling pest of ho neybees in the US, and excellent general beekeep ing characteristics. Based on theseresults, the Yugoslavian honey bee stock is scheduled to be released to industry nextspring. This release will be the first honey bee stock released from the USDA toindust ry in decades. The general potential for develo ping honey bee stocks resistantto parasitic mites will be examined. Editor's Note:An excellent article by Rinderer, et al, in t he March '93 issue of American BeeJournal, covers this subject in detail.Ú hÚ 5. Tracheal Mites Detection and Control MethodsDr. Don Nelson, Agriculture Canada, Research Station, Beaverlodg e, Alberta Fax: 403-354-8171 ABSTRACT Tracheal mites are becoming a common pest of honey bee colonies in most of Canad a. Therefore, it i s important to know when colonies are infested and at what levels. Atthe same t ime it is important to know at what levels trach eal mites are detrimentalto colonies, and how to control their buildup.The only method of detection at present is the dissection (and microscopic examination)of the thorax of individual bees. This method is time consuming and costly. TheBeaverlodge Rese arch Station has developed a monoclonal antibody specific to thetracheal mite an d is currently using and evaluating an ELISA (En zyme-LinkedImmunosorbent Assay) method for detection of tracheal mites in bulk b ee samples. Withfurther evaluation this method may become a preferred alternative to individual beeanalysis.Several approaches to reducing or minimizing the effect of tracheal mites are beingstudied; a) chemical control, b) management practices and c) sel ecting stock forresistance. The emphasis in the short term has certainly been to have one or moreregistered chemical controls a vailable. Chemicals currently approved for use in Canadafor the control of tracheal mites are menthol and formic acid (by sprin g of 1993). For the short and mid-term, several management practices along with chemical controlsseem promising and for the long term selecting bees more resistant to the trach eal miteholds great promise. Ultimately, all three methods will be used in vari ouscombinations to provide the best results.Ú Ú 6. Use of Bees to Deliver Biocontrol Agents for Controlling F lower-Infecting PathogensJohn C. Sutton, Departm ent of Environmental Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph,Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1 Fax: 519-837-0442 Honey bees (Apis melli fera) were found in recent studies to efficiently vector inoculumof microbial bi ocontrol agents to flowers of strawberry (Peng e t al. 1992), raspberry(J.C. Sutton 1991, unpublished observations), apple and pe ar (Thompson et al. 1992). These observations we re made a century after Waite (1891) reported for the first timethat honey bees vectored a pathogen, Erwinia amylovora, to flowe rs of pear trees. Foreffective biocontrol of flower-infecting pathogens, it is likely that intensivevectoring of biocontrol age nts is required. To achieve adequate vectoring of agentsto flowers of crop plan ts, inoculum of the organisms must be suitably f ormulated toallow effective acquisition, transport, and deposition by bees.Bees successfully vectored spores of various biocontr ol agents (eg. Gliocladium roseum,Epicoccum purpurascens, and Alternaria alterna ta) when formulated as powders with talc,pulveri zed corn meal, wheat flour, soya flour or corn starch (Peng et al. 1992, Israela nd Boland 1992). The bacterial antagonists Pseu domonas fluorescens and Erwiniaherbicola were vectored to apple and pear flowers when absorbed to pollen of apple orcattail (Tho mson et al. 1992). The bees were contaminated with the formulations inspecial i noculum dispensers or pollen inserts inside hive s. Bees acquired inoculumon their legs and bodies and especially on the setae.I n a biocontrol study of fruit rot of strawberry caused by Botrytis cinerea, bees eachacquired 88,000 - 1,800,000 (mean 570,000) cfu G. roseum in a talc formulation (5 x108 cfu/ g) and maintained an inoculum density of 1,600 - 27,000 cfu of the antagoniston each flower (Peng et al. 1992). By comparison i noculum density in plots sprayedweekly with spore suspensions (107 conidia/mL) o f G. roseum ranged from 300 to 15,000cfu/flower. Propagule density was more stable and often higher on flowers of the bee-vecto red treatment than in spray-treated flowers, but the treatments were about equallyeffective in suppressing incidence of the path ogen on stamens and petals, and incontrolling fr uit rot.Efficiency of inoculum deposition on flowers by bees probably depends on subtletiesin physical contact between the bee a nd the flower as well as the load and distributionof inoculum on the bee. Size and morphology of the flowers and of the bees, a nd theactivity and posturing of bees while on the flowers undoubtedly affect the amount ofinoculum deposited and where it is dep osited on the flower. In studies at theUniversity of Guelph, bees delivered abo ut 10 to 18 times more conidia of G. roseumper f lower to strawberry than to raspberry. The formulation and concentration ofinoc ulum used was the same in all studies. While st rawberry flowers are much largerthan raspberry flowers, and foraging frequencies by bees on the two types of lower mayhave diffe red, the bees also behaved differently on strawberry than on raspberry (J.C.Sutt on, unpublished observations). In strawberry, b ees tended to move actively overthe face of the flower, often in a rotational pa ttern, and their legs and bodiesfrequently conta cted the stamensÚh)Úand other flower parts. In raspberry howe ver, thebees moved only slightly and tended to c ling to the elongate stamens by means of distalportions of their legs, and achie ved only minor body contact with the flower. Wh iledensity of vectored inoculum on raspberry was low, the antagonist nonetheless effectively suppressed Botrytis fruit rot.Many v ariables influence the frequency of visits by bees to flowers and may thusinflue nce vectoring of biocontrol agents and the effec tiveness of biocontrol. Cooltemperature, wind and rain generally discourage for aging by bees (Free 1968 a,b),however in our stu dies in strawberry, bees vectored high densities of G. roseum to theflowers unde r a wide range of weather conditions (Peng et al . 1992). Foraging in testplots or in commercial crops can be affected by the p roximity and attractiveness tobees of other kinds of flowers in the area that compete as sources of nectar and pollen(Levin 1978) . For example, biocontrol of B. cinerea in stra wberry by means of bee-vectored G. roseum soon became ineffective when the bees preferentially visited freshlyblooming rapeseed in nearby field plots (Peng et al. 1992). Chemical attractants canbe used in so me instances to maintain foraging in the target crop.The mobility and foraging patterns of bees present special problems in fiel d studies. Screens generally are needed to separ ate treatments with bees from those without bees,but may modify microclimate and exclude important pollinators. Bees confined i n screencages may forage and vector differently from freely-ranging bees. Scree ning of alltreatments equalizes microclimatic mo dification but is impractical when plots or hostplants are large, and can be cos tly. Vectoring of biocontrol agents will requir especial studies in commercial crops to determine the numbers, size and distribu tionof bee colonies needed for effective vectori ng of microbial antagonists and forbiocontrol. In bee-vectoring studies in Utah , the antagonist Pseudomonas fluorescenswas dete cted on only 556% of apple flowers at 61 m from a hive, and on only 72% of pearf lowers at 7 m from a hive, with an average popul ation of 102 cfu per flower (Thomsonet al. 1992) - A stain of E. herbicola was d etected on 92 - 96% of apple flowers ina 2.6 ha orchard (10-5700 cfu per flower). To encourage bees to establish foragingpatter ns in a crop as opposed to other plants in the a rea, it is important to introducebee colonies shortly after the crop begins to f lower.Various bees potentially could be used to vector microbial antagonists to many kindsof plant for biocontrol of various flo wer-infecting pathogens. Several kinds ofdomest icated bees, including bumble bees (Bombus spp.) and leaf cutting bees (Megachil espp., Osmia spp.) as well as honey bees, may ha ve potential as vectors. Wild speciesof halictid bees and andrenid bees also po ssibly could be used, and contaminated withbioco ntrol agents at bait stations. Various berry crops, orchard fruits, crucifercro ps, beans, clovers, and cucurbits possibly could be protected by bee-vectoredantagonists. Imaginative research could lead to ef fective, efficient, andenvironmentally safe bioc ontrol of many crop diseases by means of bee-vectoredantagonists. Literature cited FREE, J.B., 1968. The pollination of strawb erries by honey bees. Úh)ÚJ. Hortic. Sci. 43:107-111. FREE, J.B., 1968. The foraging behaviour of honey bees (Apis mellifera) and bumblebees(Bombus spp.) on blackcurrant (Rubus nigrum), ra spberry (Rubus idaeus) and strawberry(Fragaria x ananassa) flowers. J. Appl. Ecol. 5: 157-168. ISRAEL, M., & BOLAND, G.J., 1992. Influence of formulation on efficacy of hone y beesto transmit biological control for management of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Can. J.Plant Pathol. (Abstr.) (In press). LEV IN, D.A., 1978. Pollination behaviour and the breeding structure of plantpopula tions. Pages 133 - 150 in A.J. Richards, ed., T he pollination of Flowers byInsects. Academic Press, London. 213 pp. PENG. G., SUTTON, J.C. & KEVAN, P.G., 1992. Effectivene ss of honey bees for applyingthe biocontrol agent Gliocladium roseum to strawber ry flowers to suppress Botrytiscinerea. Can. J. Plant Pathol. 14: 117-129. THOMSON, S.V., hansen, D.R., FLINT, K.M. & VANDENBERG, J.D., 1992. The dissemin ationof bacteria an tagonistic to Erwinia amylovora by honey bees. Plant Dis. 76: 1052-1056. WAITE, M.B., 1891. Results from recent investigation s in pear blight. Am. Assoc. Adv.Sci. Proc. 40:315.Ú Ú 7. Bumble Bees: Parasites, Predators, DiseaseRichard M. Fisher, Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Can ada Fax: 902-542-3466 ABSTRACT During the 1980 's, advances in bumble bee domestication technology permitted the cost-effective use of these bees for greenhouse tomato pollina tion. At present, threespecies are used for this purpose (Europe and New Zealan d: B. terrestris; eastern NorthAmerica: B. impat iens (Cr.); western North America; B. occidentalls (Grne). Threeprimary concern s have been associated with the intensive labora tory culture of thesespecies: 1) depopulation of bees in areas where queens are captured; 2) the impactof species introductions into new area; 3) the possible spread of disease,either amongBombus populations , or interspecifically between bumblebees and ot her bees, notablyApis mellifera. Data are presented which demonstrate the genus specificity of a numberof bumble bee pests and pathogens, including mites, the microsporidian Nosema bombi,and a number of soci al parasites. The possible propagation of disea ses among culturedBombus species can be eliminated (or at least minimized) throu gh proper managementpractices.Ú¦ Ú 8. SPEAKERS Brenda V. BallAFRC Institue of Arable Crops ResearchRothamsted Experimental Stat ionHarpenden, Herts AL5 2JQF ax: 0582 760981 Don StoltzDepartment of Microbiology & ImmunologyDalhousie UniversityHalifax, No va ScotiaB3H 4H7Fax: (902) 494- 5125 John PhillipsUniversity of GuelphDepartment of Molecular Biology & GeneticsGuelp h, OntarioN1G 2W1Fax: (519) 837-2075 Thom as E. RindererUnited States Department of AgricultureAgricultural Research Servi ces, Mid South AreaHoney-Bee Breeding, Genetics & Physiology Research1157 Ben Hur RoadBaton Rouge, Louisiana 70820Fax: (504) 389-0383 Don NelsonAgriculture CanadaResearch S tationBeaverlodge, AlbertaT0H 0C0Fax: (403) 354-8171 John C. SuttonDepartment of Environmental BiologyUniversity of GuelphGuel ph, OntarioN1G 2W1Fax: (519) 837-0442 Richard M. FisherDepartment of BiologyAcadia UniversityWolfville, Nova scotiaB0P 1X0Fax: (902) 542-3466 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Apr 1993 16:18:26 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Paul Chi-Jen Cheng Subject: Re: Rob Page's address You can send fax to the Entomology Dept's fax machine, and it will reach Rob Page. It is: (916) 752-1537. His office number is (916) 752-5455, and his lab no. is (916) 752-5456. I don't think he's on the net. Paul -- Paul C. Cheng pccheng@ucdavis.edu "The French find my music Dept. of Entomology (916) 752-0333 (lab) beyond their powers of per- Entomology, UC Davis (916) 757-6019 (home) formance." L. van Beethoven &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Droles de gens que ces gens-la! &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Apr 1993 20:24:32 -0300 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Dick Rogers <"PAM::DR"@AC.NSAC.NS.CA> Subject: BEE VIRUS SURVEY ÿWPCë ÷ÿ2 WBáDigital DEClaser 2100 DIDEC210.PRS·x @ÅñP,D0#P_#|xBEE VIRUS DIAGNOSTIC SERVICE © SURVEY Dr. Don Stoltz, Virologist, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, is currentl y involved in a project to improve the technolog y for the diagnosis of honey bee viruses. It is expected that a diagnostic serv ice for some viruses (e.g. Kashmir, black queen cell) could be available by the end of 1993. Conceivably, a general diagnostic service (i.e., for most if not all bee viruses ) could be developed, in time, if sufficient interest/need was identified, and som e sort of funding arrangement could be negotiate d. At this time, we would like responses to the following questions: [1]Ö ÖDO YOU REQUIRE BEE VIRUS DIAGNOSIS ON AN ANNUA L BASIS? [2]Ö ÖIF ONLY A LIMITED DIAGNOSTIC SERVICE COULD BE PROVIDED, WHICH VIRUSE S ARE OF MOST CONCERN TO YOU? [3]Ö ÖWHERE DO YOU GET YOUR DIAGNOSIS WORK DONE NOW? [4]Ö ÖHOW MANY SAMPLES AT ANY ONE TIME? [5]Ö ÖWOULD YOU USE TH E SERVICE IF AVAILABLE IN NOVA SCOTIA? [6]Ö ÖWOULD YOU BE WILLING TO PAY A NOMINAL FEE PER SAMPLE FOR THIS SERVIC E? It w ould be appreciated if replies could be returned to Dick Rogers as soon as possi ble. V: 902©679©6029 F: 902©679©6062 E©MAIL: DR_ PI@AC.NSAC.NS.CA ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Apr 1993 22:22:52 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "La Reine de la Cite' des Phoques (Liz Day)" Subject: Scilla Scilla is not henbit. Henbit is a weed. Scilla is a bulb that spreads. It has blue bell-shaped flowers about maybe 1/2 - 1 inch long and leaves that look like infant daffodil leaves. The plant is about 4-6" tall. My sister in Ithaca, NY, says that it's in bloom there now. I don't know if bees use it, did anyone see this? Liz Day University of Illinois at Chicago day@eecs.uic.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Apr 1993 22:27:51 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "La Reine de la Cite' des Phoques (Liz Day)" Subject: Re: wax removal I think acetone might work, but heaven knows what it would do to the clothes. Liz Day ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Apr 1993 22:39:01 CDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Bee Surgeon Subject: Re: wax removal I think, if I remembered it correct (ok, my memory might be fuzzy since it was when I was about 5 years when seeing the batiking as the CHEAPest way of dying quilts), in China, they just boil the clothes after dying to get the wax floating on the water. Of course, the cotton cloth can stand the temperature. I guess, you would have to use cotton cloth for this, don't you ? BeeSurgeon ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1993 11:22:00 GMT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Philip Earle Subject: Re: orientation Hi Rita... Just a small point in case some persons may get confused. If one does want to move hives they must be moved greater than 1 - 2 miles depending also on the time of year. Any less than this and the bees will return to the old or parent stand. You can move bees less than this distance by putting obsticals in front of the hive so that the bees on leaving the hive will realize that their surroundings have changed, e.g. branches or long grass. Philip Earle Queen's University Northern Ireland. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1993 08:18:20 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Aaron Morris Subject: Scilla for the layperson I believe that Scilla is what the lay person calls Grape Hyacinths. They are small (as opposed to regular Hyacinths) and blossoms come in both purple and white. It's is a common practice to plant them with Kaufmanian Tulips (small rock garden variety), paricularly Red Riding Hood tulips. Bulb catalogs often have them (Scilla) listed on adjoining pages. In my neck of upstate New York (there is a lot of upstate New York!), Scilla is still a week or two away from bloom. Aaron Morris Saratoga Region ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1993 09:25:26 -0300 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Dick Rogers <"PAM::DR"@AC.NSAC.NS.CA> Subject: BEE SCIENCE SYM ABS - ASCII Bee Science Symposium "Current Developments in Bee Research" ABSTRACTED PROCEEDINGS March 12, 1993 Cornwallis Room, Agricultural Centre, Kentville, Nova Scotia,Canada Sponsored by the Nova Scotia Beekeepers' Association and the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture and Marketing with assistance from the Human Resource Development component of the Canada/Nova Scotia Agri-Food Development Agreement FORWARD On March 12, 1993 a unique symposium on current scientific research related to honeybees and their diseases and pests was held in the Cornwallis Room at the AgriculturalCentre, Kentville, N.S. The speakers at this symposium are recognized worldauthorities from the U.K., U.S., Alberta, Ontario and Nova Scotia. The topics coveredgenetic engineering, selective breeding, viral diseases and their transmission,honeybees as vectors of biological control agents, and pests of bumblebees.The following are abstracts of the presentations except in one case a summarytranscript is included. C O N T E N T S 1. Dr. Brenda V. Ball, Honey Bee Virus Infections Associated with Varroa jacobsoni Infestation. 2. Don Stoltz, Virologist, Development of Diagostic Tools for Virus Infection in the Honeybee. 3. John Phillips, Engineering a Gene for Insecticide Resistance in the Honeybee. 4. Thomas E. Rinderer, Breeding of Resistance to Varroa jacobsoni. 5. Dr. Don Nelson, Tracheal Mites Detection and Control Methods. 6. John C. Sutton, Use of Bees to Deliver Biocontrol Agents for Controlling Flower-Infecting Pathogens. 7. Richard M. Fisher, Bumble Bees: Parasites, Predators, Disease. 8. Summary List of Speakers, Addresses and Fax Numbers. 1. Honey Bee Virus Infections Associated with Varroa jacobsoni InfestationBrenda V. Ball, AFRC Institute of Arable Crops Research, Rothamsted ExperimentalStation, Harpenden, Herts. AL5 2JQ Fax: 0582 760981. ABSTRACT The parasitic mite Varroa jacobsoni causes little apparent damage in colonies of itsnatural host Apis cerana, the eastern hive bee. The transfer of the mite to theEuropean honey bee, Apis mellifera and its spread to every continent except Australasiahas been accompanied by reports of devastating colony losses, although the effects ofinfestation seem variable and are still poorly understood. Differences in thereproductive potential of mites on different species and races of bees and hostbehavioral responses may account for some of this variability. However, recentresearch has shown that the mite affects the type and prevalence of honey bee virusinfections causing mortality. This talk will consider the role of V. jacobsoni as anactivator and vector of honey bee viruses and examine some of the factors affectingdisease outbreaks in infested colonies. 2. Development of Diagostic Tools for Virus Infection in the HoneybeeDon Stoltz, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax,Nova scotia B3H 4H7 Fax: 902-494-5125. ABSTRACT My laboratory has been developing approaches to diagnostics which we think will proveuseful in the not-too-distant future. For example, in preliminary studies we havefound that virus infection in a single bee pupa can be readily detected by Westernblotting. Our primary focus thus far, however, has been directed towards an assessmentof polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based technology for the detection of black queencell and Kashmir bee viruses. Use of PCR primers specific for conserved humanenterovirus sequences gave rise to several products; one of these, a 450 base pairamplicon from KBV has now been cloned and sequenced. Computer analysis indicate thatthis sequence comes from the viral RNA polymerase gene and shares significant homologywith the same gene found in a variety of known picornaviruses - including humanhepatitis A - and with many plant virus genomes as well. Future work will be directedtowards the development of both universal picornavirus primers and primers specificfor individual bee viruses. 3. Engineering a Gene f or Insecticide Resistance in the HoneybeeJohn Phillips, University of Guelph, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics,Guelph, Ontario, Canada Fax: 519-837-2075. ABSTRACT We are applying current techniques of insect molecular biology to the design andintroduction of useful genes in beneficial insects. Such genes would include thoseencoding resistance to conventional insecticides. A potentially useful insecticideresistance gene, the `opd' gene, has been identified and cloned from bacteria. Thisgene specifies a unique phosphotriesterase which efficiently cleaves and detoxifiesa broad spectrum of organophosphorus insecticides. We have redesigned this gene tofunction in insects and have transferred it into the genome of the model insect,Drosophila melanogaster, where it functions to confer significant resistance toorganophosphate toxicity. This demonstrates the feasibility of conferring usefultraits on strains of insects through the design and introduction of carefully designedgenes. We are now refining the structure of the gene to target expression in specifictissues and developmental stages in order to enhance the efficacy of insecticideresistance. In addition, we have begun to develop techniques for transferring thisand/or other useful genes into the honeybee genome to confer useful and novel traitson the beneficial insect species. 4. Breeding for Resistance to Varroa jacobsoniThomas E. Rindere r, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural ResearchServices, Honey-Bee Breeding Genetics & Physiology research, Baton Rouge, Louisiana Fax: 504-389-0383. ABSTRACT A stock of honey bees was bred in Yugoslavia for resistance to the parasitic mite,Varroa jacobsoni. This stock was imported by the USDA to the US and extensively testedin field trials in Florida. These tests showed that the stock has some degree ofresistance to Varroa jacobsoni, a strong resistance to a second parasitic mite,Acarapis woodi, which is also a relatively new and economically troubling pest of honeybees in the US, and excellent general beekeeping characteristics. Based on theseresults, the Yugoslavian honey bee stock is scheduled to be released to industry nextspring. This release will be the first honey bee stock released from the USDA toindustry in decades. The general potential for developing honey bee stocks resistantto parasitic mites will be examined. Editor's Note:An excellent article by Rinderer, et al, in the March '93 issue of American BeeJournal, covers this subject in detail. 5. Tracheal Mites Detection and Control MethodsDr. Don Nelson, Agriculture Canada, Research Station, Beaverlodge, Alberta Fax: 403-354-8171 ABSTRACT Tracheal mites are becoming a common pest of honey bee colonies in most of Canada. Therefore, it is important to know when colonies are infested and at what levels. Atthe same time it is important to know at what levels tracheal mites are detrimentalto colonies, and how to control their buildup.The only method of detection at present is the dissection (and microscopic examination)of the thorax of individual bees. This method is time consuming and costly. TheBeaverlodge Research Station has developed a monoclonal antibody specific to thetracheal mite and is currently using and evaluating an ELISA (Enzyme-LinkedImmunosorbent Assay) method for detection of tracheal mites in bulk bee samples. Withfurther evaluation this method may become a preferred alternative to individual beeanalysis.Several approaches to reducing or minimizing the effect of tracheal mites are beingstudied; a) chemical control, b) management practices and c) selecting stock forresistance. The emphasis in the short term has certainly been to have one or moreregistered chemical controls available. Chemicals currently approved for use in Canadafor the control of tracheal mites are menthol and formic acid (by spring of 1993). For the short and mid-term, several management practices along with chemical controlsseem promising and for the long term selecting bees more resistant to the tracheal miteholds great promise. Ultimately, all three methods will be used in variouscombinations to provide the best results. 6. Use of Bees to Deliver Bioc ontrol Agents for Controlling Flower-Infecting PathogensJohn C. Sutton, Department of Environmental Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph,Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1 Fax: 519-837-0442 Honey bees (Apis mellifera) were found in recent studies to efficiently vector inoculumof microbial biocontrol agents to flowers of strawberry (Peng et al. 1992), raspberry(J.C. Sutton 1991, unpublished observations), apple and pear (Thompson et al. 1992). These observations were made a century after Waite (1891) reported for the first timethat honey bees vectored a pathogen, Erwinia amylovora, to flowers of pear trees. Foreffective biocontrol of flower-infecting pathogens, it is likely that intensivevectoring of biocontrol agents is required. To achieve adequate vectoring of agentsto flowers of crop plants, inoculum of the organisms must be suitably formulated toallow effective acquisition, transport, and deposition by bees.Bees successfully vectored spores of various biocontrol agents (eg. Gliocladium roseum,Epicoccum purpurascens, and Alternaria alternata) when formulated as powders with talc,pulverized corn meal, wheat flour, soya flour or corn starch (Peng et al. 1992, Israeland Boland 1992). The bacterial antagonists Pseudomonas fluorescens and Erwiniaherbicola were vectored to apple and pear flowers when absorbed to pollen of apple orcattail (Thomson et al. 1992). The bees were contaminated with the formulations inspecial inoculum dispensers or pollen inserts inside hives. Bees acquired inoculumon their legs and bodies and especially on the setae.In a biocontrol study of fruit rot of strawberry caused by Botrytis cinerea, bees eachacquired 88,000 - 1,800,000 (mean 570,000) cfu G. roseum in a talc formulation (5 x108 cfu/g) and maintained an inoculum density of 1,600 - 27,000 cfu of the antagoniston each flower (Peng et al. 1992). By comparison inoculum density in plots sprayedweekly with spore suspensions (107 conidia/mL) of G. roseum ranged from 300 to 15,000cfu/flower. Propagule density was more stable and often higher on flowers of the bee-vectored treatment than in spray-treated flowers, but the treatments were about equallyeffective in suppressing incidence of the pathogen on stamens and petals, and incontrolling fruit rot.Efficiency of inoculum deposition on flowers by bees probably depends on subtletiesin physical contact between the bee and the flower as well as the load and distributionof inoculum on the bee. Size and morphology of the flowers and of the bees, and theactivity and posturing of bees while on the flowers undoubtedly affect the amount ofinoculum deposited and where it is deposited on the flower. In studies at theUniversity of Guelph, bees delivered about 10 to 18 times more conidia of G. roseumper flower to strawberry than to raspberry. The formulation and concentration ofinoculum used was the same in all studies. While strawberry flowers are much largerthan raspberry flowers, and foraging frequencies by bees on the two types of lower mayhave differed, the bees also behaved differently on strawberry than on raspberry (J.C.Sutton, unpublished observations). In strawberry, bees tended to move actively overthe face of the flower, often in a rotational pattern, and their legs and bodiesfrequently contacted the stamens and other flower parts. In raspberry however, thebees moved only slightly and tended to cling to the elongate stamens by means of distalportions of their legs, and achieved only minor body contact with the flower. Whiledensity of vectored inoculum on raspberry was low, the antagonist nonethelesseffectively suppressed Botrytis fruit rot.Many variables influence the frequency of visits by bees to flowers and may thusinfluence vectoring of biocontrol agents and the effectiveness of biocontrol. Cooltemperature, wind and rain generally discourage foraging by bees (Free 1968 a,b),however in our studies in strawberry, bees vectored high densities of G. roseum to theflowers under a wide range of weather conditions (Peng et al. 1992). Foraging in testplots or in commercial crops can be affected by the proximity and attractiveness tobees of other kinds of flowers in the area that compete as sources of nectar and pollen(Levin 1978). For example, biocontrol of B. cinerea in strawberry by means of bee-vectored G. roseum soon became ineffective when the bees preferentially visited freshlyblooming rapeseed in nearby field plots (Peng et al. 1992). Chemical attractants canbe used in some instances to maintain foraging in the target crop.The mobility and foraging patterns of bees present special problems in field studies. Screens generally are needed to separate treatments with bees from those without bees,but may modify microclimate and exclude important pollinators. Bees confined in screencages may forage and vector differently from freely-ranging bees. Screening of alltreatments equalizes microclimatic modification but is impractical when plots or hostplants are large, and can be costly. Vectoring of biocontrol agents will requirespecial studies in commercial crops to determine the numbers, size and distributionof bee colonies needed for effective vectoring of microbial antagonists and forbiocontrol. In bee-vectoring studies in Utah, the antagonist Pseudomonas fluorescenswas detected on only 556% of apple flowers at 61 m from a hive, and on only 72% of pearflowers at 7 m from a hive, with an average population of 102 cfu per flower (Thomsonet al. 1992) - A stain of E. herbicola was detected on 92 - 96% of apple flowers ina 2.6 ha orchard (10-5700 cfu per flower). To encourage bees to establish foragingpatterns in a crop as opposed to other plants in the area, it is important to introducebee colonies shortly after the crop begins to flower.Various bees potentially could be used to vector microbial antagonists to many kindsof plant for biocontrol of various flower-infecting pathogens. Several kinds ofdomesticated bees, including bumble bees (Bombus spp.) and leaf cutting bees (Megachilespp., Osmia spp.) as well as honey bees, may have potential as vectors. Wild speciesof halictid bees and andrenid bees also possibly could be used, and contaminated withbiocontrol agents at bait stations. Various berry crops, orchard fruits, crucifercrops, beans, clovers, and cucurbits possibly could be protected by bee-vectoredantagonists. Imaginative research could lead to effective, efficient, andenvironmentally safe biocontrol of many crop diseases by means of bee-vectoredantagonists. Literature cited FREE, J.B., 1968. The pollination of strawberries by honey bees. J. Hortic. Sci. 43:107-111. FREE, J.B., 1968. The foraging behaviour of honey bees (Apis mellifera) and bumblebees(Bombus spp.) on blackcurrant (Rubus nigrum), raspberry (Rubus idaeus) and strawberry(Fragaria x ananassa) flowers. J. Appl. Ecol. 5: 157-168. ISRAEL, M., & BOLAND, G.J., 1992. Influence of formulation on efficacy of honey beesto transmit biological control for management of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Can. J.Plant Pathol. (Abstr.) (In press). LEVIN, D.A., 1978. Pollination behaviour and the breeding structure of plantpopulations. Pages 133 - 150 in A.J. Richards, ed., The pollination of Flowers byInsects. Academic Press, London. 213 pp. PENG. G., SUTTON, J.C. & KEVAN, P.G., 1992. Effectiveness of honey bees for applyingthe biocontrol agent Gliocladium roseum to strawberry flowers to suppress Botrytiscinerea. Can. J. Plant Pathol. 14: 117-129. THOMSON, S.V., hansen, D.R., FLINT, K.M. & VANDENBERG, J.D., 1992. The disseminationof bacteria antagonistic to Erwinia amylovora by honey bees. Plant Dis. 76: 1052-1056. WAITE, M.B., 1891. Results from recent investigations in pear blight. Am. Assoc. Adv.Sci. Proc. 40:315. 7. Bumble Bees: Parasites, Predator s, DiseaseRichard M. Fisher, Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada Fax: 902-542-3466 ABSTRACT During the 1980's, advances in bumble bee domestication technology permitted the cost-effective use of these bees for greenhouse tomato pollination. At present, threespecies are used for this purpose (Europe and New Zealand: B. terrestris; eastern NorthAmerica: B. impatiens (Cr.); western North America; B. occidentalls (Grne). Threeprimary concerns have been associated with the intensive laboratory culture of thesespecies: 1) depopulation of bees in areas where queens are captured; 2) the impactof species introductions into new area; 3) the possible spread of disease,either amongBombus populations, or interspecifically between bumblebees and other bees, notablyApis mellifera. Data are presented which demonstrate the genus specificity of a numberof bumble bee pests and pathogens, including mites, the microsporidian Nosema bombi,and a number of social parasites. The possible propagation of diseases among culturedBombus species can be eliminated (or at least minimized) through proper managementpractices. 8. SPEAKERS Brenda V. BallAFRC Institue of Arable Crops ResearchRothamsted Experimental StationHarpenden, Herts AL5 2JQFax: 0582 760981 Don StoltzDepartment of Microbiology & ImmunologyDalhousie UniversityHalifax, Nova ScotiaB3H 4H7Fax: (902) 494-5125 John PhillipsUniversity of GuelphDepartment of Molecular Biology & GeneticsGuelph, OntarioN1G 2W1Fax: (519) 837-2075 Thomas E. RindererUnited States Department of AgricultureAgricultural Research Services, Mid South AreaHoney-Bee Breeding, Genetics & Physiology Research1157 Ben Hur RoadBaton Rouge, Louisiana 70820Fax: (504) 389-0383 Don NelsonAgriculture CanadaResearch StationBeaverlodge, AlbertaT0H 0C0Fax: (403) 354-8171 John C. SuttonDepartment of Environmental BiologyUniversity of GuelphGuelph, OntarioN1G 2W1Fax: (519) 837-0442 Richard M. FisherDepartment of BiologyAcadia UniversityWolfville, Nova scotiaB0P 1X0Fax: (902) 542-3466 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1993 09:27:00 -0300 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Dick Rogers <"PAM::DR"@AC.NSAC.NS.CA> Subject: BEE VIRUS SURVEY - ASCII BEE VIRUS DIAGNOSTIC SERVICE - SURVEY Dr. Don Stoltz, Virologist, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, is currently involved in a project to improve the technology for the diagnosis of honey bee viruses. It is expected that a diagnostic service for some viruses (e.g. Kashmir, black queen cell) could be available by the end of 1993. Conceivably, a general diagnostic service (i.e., for most if not all bee viruses) could be developed, in time, if sufficient interest/need was identified, and some sort of funding arrangement could be negotiated. At this time, we would like responses to the following questions: [1] DO YOU REQUIRE BEE VIRUS DIAGNOSIS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS? [2] IF ONLY A LIMITED DIAGNOSTIC SERVICE COULD BE PROVIDED, WHICH VIRUSES ARE OF MOST CONCERN TO YOU? [3] WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR DIAGNOSIS WORK DONE NOW? [4] HOW MANY SAMPLES AT ANY ONE TIME? [5] WOULD YOU USE THE SERVICE IF AVAILABLE IN NOVA SCOTIA? [6] WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO PAY A NOMINAL FEE PER SAMPLE FOR THIS SERVICE? It would be appreciated if replies could be returned to Dick Rogers as soon as possible. V: 902-679-6029 F: 902-679-6062 E-MAIL: DR_PI@AC.NSAC.NS.CA ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1993 09:09:44 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Stephen Bambara Subject: Re: miticide In-Reply-To: <9304261657.AA19389@wolf.ces.ncsu.edu> from "Dave Pehling" at Apr 26, 93 09:03:35 am > > I believe tht mites infesting the Orchard bees are primarily scavengers on > the pollen balls in the nesting blocks. I've read of the chlorine bleach > treatment but it sounds very labor-intensive, hence, my research efforts. > I'll keep you posted regarding results/observations. I have seen the teaming masses of mites devouring the pollen balls, but have not seen them on the adult bees as you described. I "gather" that you are using wood nesting blocks that can be opened? Do you empty them later in the season and remove parasitized cells? Amitraz and Fluvalinate are used in honey bees for mite control. This might be something to try. I will ask around to see if anyone around here has any suggestions. As for the chlorine bleach treatments, I would think that if one went to the trouble to clean out the blocks and cells, the bleach treatment wouldn't add that much more control. > We haven't done much Osmia in three or four years, but we may have an assistantship to try Osmia on cucumbers this year. -- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= | Stephen Bambara NCSU-Entomology, Box 7626, Raleigh NC 27695-7626 | |=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=| | Voice: (919) 515-3140 | INTERNET: sbambara@ent.ncsu.edu | | FAX: (919) 515-7273 | 2% of the population feeds the other 98% =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1993 06:44:35 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Ike Norton 27-Apr-1993 0939 Subject: Re: Scilla At my house (just sold) I had Grape Hyacynth planted out front. It is a bulb and spreads out through the grass, quite blue, and the bees loved it. Ike Norton ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1993 09:39:59 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "James D. Thomson" Subject: Re: Scilla for the layperson In-Reply-To: Message of Tue, 27 Apr 1993 08:18:20 EDT from Actually, Scilla is not grape hyacinth; one common name of Scilla sibirica is "squill", and the garden variety most often seen has a few, true BLUE lily-type flowers with separated tepals. Grape hyacinth is in the genus Muscari, most likely M. botryoides, and has a compact raceme of numerous, smaller flowers with tubular/globular perianths. The common "blue" variety is distinctly purplish in comparison to squill flowers. Both of these have been blooming on Long Island for ca. 10 days. On the question of Osmia diseases and enemies--I heard a talk at last summer's meetings on Non-Apis pollination (at Logan, UT) by N. Sekita about the use of O. cornifrons for apple pollination. He dwelt on mite control; possibly his group may have some useful information. (Aomori Apple Expt. Station, Kuroishi, Japan is all the address I have.) ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1993 10:02:12 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Ed Kear Subject: Painting hives? I've just assembled my first hive, and now I'm trying to decide how to paint it. Any thoughts on what to use, or not use, to paint hives? Light vs dark color? Paint vs stain? Is it ok to use a wood preservative on the outside? etc. Ed Kear ebk@nyserda.org ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1993 09:40:41 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "La Reine de la Cite' des Phoques (Liz Day)" Subject: Re: Scilla for the layperson No, still wrong - Scilla is not grape hyacinths either. Its common name is "Siberian squill" (I dont' know if it really comes from there or not). Grape hyacinths have flowers that look like little ovals, Scilla is a bell. Scilla is unusual because it is truly blue. Liz Day University of Illinois at Chicago day@eecs.uic.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1993 15:18:01 BST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Tomas Landete Castillejos Subject: Re: miticide In-Reply-To: Your message I am very interested in knowing the status of the invasion of countries in America by the african bee. Could anybody give me some information about the spread of this species and the problems it is causing?. Is it certain that has already entered the USA?. Many thanks to all, Tomas Life Science Dept. Nottingham, UK. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1993 11:36:00 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: ANDREW MENARD Subject: Miticide Conflicts At our Association meeting last weekend there was some talk about a conflict between Apistan and Miticur. It seems that some folks that had been using Apistan last season and switched to Miticur suffered losses. The general opinion was that the chemical in Apistan is absorbed into the comb and when the beekeeper placed the Miticur in the two chemicals combined to kill off the bees. Does anyone know any more on this. Any information on the subject would be appreciated, I will pass it along to folks here in Northern New York. Thanks Andy _______________________________________________________________________________ Andrew E. Menard Laboratory Animal Science SUNY Plattsburgh Plattsburgh, NY Bitnet: menardae@snyplava.bitnet Internet: menardae@splava.cc.plattsburgh.edu _______________________________________________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1993 10:36:13 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Tom Fisher Subject: Re: Painting hives? In-Reply-To: <9304271517.AA17018@fieldofdreams.npirs.purdue.edu>; from "Ed Kear" at Apr 27, 93 10:02 am > > I've just assembled my first hive, and now I'm trying to decide how to > paint it. > Any thoughts on what to use, or not use, to paint hives? > Light vs dark color? > Paint vs stain? > Is it ok to use a wood preservative on the outside? > etc. I would paint the outsides and edges only with a good quality latex white paint. The bees will cover (and preserve in the process) the inside of the hive with propolis. Tom Fisher | "The light that burns twice as bright Purdue University | burns half as long....and you have tfisher@ceris.purdue.edu | burned so very, very brightly, Roy." - Eldon Tyrell ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1993 11:58:44 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Paul F. Lehmann" Subject: Re: Scilla for the layperson Scilla is the bluebell in England, a member of the lily family. It is the flower that forms ravishing carpets of flowers in the woods shortly after the primroses and oxlips are first out. It can also be found on cliff tops by the sea as it is fairly tolerant of salt. The sort of plant you see in Public TV shots of England in spring. The Scots have a different plant they name bluebell (a Campanula species) that blooms during summer, as was found out when I was a student hearing of one of our professors who had exclaimed that during the summer's drought in East Anglia, "the bluebells are growing in straight lines on the breck." There are other Scilla species including, according to Gray's Manual of Botany 1950 editin, Scilla sibirica which was introduced from Eurasia. Incidently neither Campanula nor Scilla looks like Mertensia virginica (Virginian cowslip) which seems to be named bluebells also. Of couse having a blue flower doesn't mean it has blue pollen. Paul F. Lehmann lehmann%opus@mcoiarc.bitnet ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1993 18:32:10 +0000 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jean-Marie Van Dyck Subject: Re: orientation Hello ! I am a beekeeper in Belgium, french speaking ! My english is very poor ... excuse me ! I often have to resolve the problem of moving hives in my apiaries. It was always a bad thing to do even moving at night, even for 50 cm, even with branches. A lot of bees flies exactly as the hive place don't have change ... usually they go over and make a detour. I think that when a bee makes his first orientation fly, it creates his own flying way to come back to hive place. If you change this place, even a little, the bee don't change its flying way but after its mistake. I think that change the entrance orientation is more efficient to avoid bees lost. If you do it, you will see the bees coming out to hesitate before .. to make a new orientation fly. Maybe, their compass was out of order ? Practically, the best way is to do as Philip : to move hive for a few (3-4) km. After 10-15 days in summer (a more long time in winter) you could put it at its new place. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jean-Marie Van Dyck Medical School - Biochemistry dept B.P. 102 Fax +32 81 72 42 72 B-5000 NAMUR(Belgium) email : jmvandyck@cc.fundp.ac.be ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1993 13:15:21 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Dave Pehling Organization: WSU CAHE USER Subject: Re: Painting hives? In-Reply-To: Message of Tue, 27 Apr 1993 10:36:13 EST from In our mild Pacific climate (it rarely drops to zero or climbs above 90 degrees) many beekeepers think they get better yeilds using a dark green or brown latex for the outside of the supers. In addition, this helps hide hives from prying eyes in remote outyards. Never put anything on the inside (except maybe beeswax & I don't know anyone who bothers with that. The darker paint helps the bees warm up faster in the cool of the morning. Cheers..... Dave Pehling WSU Cooperative Extension CE6431@WSUVM1.CSC.WSU.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1993 16:34:42 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Malcolm (Tom) Sanford, Florida Extension Apiculturist" Subject: Re: Rob Page's address try fzpage@bullwinkle.ucdavis.edu ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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: Wed, 28 Apr 1993 09:39:00 GMT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Philip Earle Subject: Re: Painting hives? Hi Ed.. Over here on single walled hives we would use 100% creosote or "Cupranol". Some I know mix creosote and old engine oil but I think that there may be poisons in this oil. If you decide to paint it is recommended in the books not to use gloss paints as this prevents the wood from breathing and encourages condensation inside the hive. Color does not really matter but it would be wise to use the natural wood shade or a light color if you get hotish weather so as to prevent overheating. Just make sure that what ever you use does not contain pesticides! Philip Earle Northern Ireland. BCG0311 @ V2.QUB.AC.UK ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1993 13:41:46 +0100 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: malcolm roe Subject: Re: Painting hives? In-Reply-To: <"relay.pipe.135:28.03.93.08.41.44"@pipex.net> from "Philip Earle" at Apr 28, 93 09:39:00 am There does seem to be a pattern throughout the world to paint hives white or some other light colour except where the climate is cool, in which case dark colours are preferred. Presumably the idea is that white will reflect the heat of the sun whereas darker colours will absorb it. Whilst this understandable I am suprised it really makes much difference, especially with wooden hives. Is there any research to justify it? Another interesting thing is that in New Zealand beekeepers paint their hives all sorts of random colours. A hive with a number of supers can be in several colours at once. This is said to reduce drifting by making each hive look different to the bees. Is there any justification for this? -- Malcolm Roe Phone : +44 442 230000 ext 4104 Crosfield Electronics Ltd Fax : +44 442 232301 Hemel Hempstead, Herts. HP2 7RH, UK E-mail : roe@crosfield.co.uk ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1993 14:01:13 +0100 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: malcolm roe Subject: Re: orientation In-Reply-To: <9304271634.AA04193@crosfield.co.uk> from "Jean-Marie Van Dyck" at Apr 27, 93 06:32:10 pm Jean-Marie Van Dyck says:- > Practically, the best way is to do as Philip : to move hive for a few > (3-4) km. After 10-15 days in summer (a more long time in winter) you could > put it at its new place. I agree about summer moves but thing are much easier in winter. You can move hives any distance you like providing it is sufficiently cold that the bees don't come out for a week or more. They always re-orientate after a long spell "indoors". I would wait for settled weather near or below freezing and then just move them direct to the final position. -- Malcolm Roe Phone : +44 442 230000 ext 4104 Crosfield Electronics Ltd Fax : +44 442 232301 Hemel Hempstead, Herts. HP2 7RH, UK E-mail : roe@crosfield.co.uk ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1993 09:07:51 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology Comments: A VAX cluster with VMS V5.5, PMDF V4.1-10, JNET V3.5 & UCX V1.3A From: SANFORD MOSS Organization: University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, MA, USA Subject: Re: Painting hives? In our relatively cool coastal New England climate I've convinced myself that painting two adjacent sides of my hive bodies a dark color, and the other two sides white, works well. At the earliest spring inspection (usually in early March around here) I rotate the hive bodies to present the dark, sunlight absorbing, sides to the south & west. Later, when the weather gets consistently warm--in the middle of June--the white sides get turned to the sun. With some early feeding of sugar and pollen, this gives my colonies the boost they need for early splits or two-queen colony production (my favorite). Of course, if the management is not careful, you also can get early swarms! Sandy Moss smoss@umassd.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1993 10:59:54 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Donald Nelson Subject: ORIENTATION ORIENTATION: I just signed onto BEE-L a little over a week ago and for a while found the dialogue and information informative. Then one day I had 36 new mail messages. wow! So now this is my chance to put a note into the system on the topic of ORIENTATION. The original request by Southwick was for information on the use of landmarks. Although I do not have any new information on the bees use of landmarks ( orientation at a distance) I do have some on the orientation in an apiary ( orientation near a goal - colony) and what happens when colonies are moved. On a practical basis the latter situation is of most concern to beekeepers. Young bees learn the position of their colony during orientation flights. Bees that have never left their colony are not able to return, if they are released more than about 50 metres away. However, after repeated orientation flights they can find their way home from a few kilometres. Beyond a distance of about 8 km or more no bees will return (Wolf 1927, Uchida & Kuwabara 1951, Becker 1958). If there is disorientation at a distance the bees become lost. If there is disorientation near the goal the bees drift and end up in a different colony. When colonies are placed in similar arrangements, bees often confuse their colony with another. This is especially true if the strange colony occupies the same position in another group i.e. the end colony of a row (Free 1958, Mathis 1960). Jay showed that when colonies are in rows, bees drift from the back row to the front and to the ends of each row. Bees of a colony remember which side the colony entrance is on (Free & Spencer-Booth 1961). Thus, if the colony is rotated 90 degrees or more the bees will try to get into the original entrance location for some considerable time. Likewise, if the entrance height is changed the bees will continue to try and enter at the original position. The confusion can last a couple of days. This situation can often be seen in the spring (in our area) when colonies are wintered outside and bees have been using the top entrance. Then we come along and remove the black winter wraps (change in colour as well) and take away the top entrance (change in location). Both of these situations will lead to considerable confusion for about 2-3 day. Drifting is a real problem in commercial apiaries (Jay 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969) and many of the well known considerations of coloured boards, off-set entrances, irregular arrangements of colonies, distance between colonies, queen state, etc. all have an influence on the amount of drift that occurs. The effect of moving and transporting bees on disorientation and bees loss (Nelson, Apidologie 1989) showed bee losses of up to 45% for colonies moved to a new apiary site 14 km distant, and drifting of up to 38%. The use of orientation cues (coloured board and tree branches) did not significantly reduce bee losses, and in fact the tree branches increased drifting (Nelson Thesis 1985). I think the use of tree branches makes the beekeeper feel better and certainly causes the bees to hesitate and maybe do some play flights at the colony entrance, but don't appear to help the bees orient to the colony. Coloured boards were about the same as no cue. Some of these apply mainly to bees 21 days old. With younger bees the loss and drift is usually less. The best situation is to only place two hives near each other. Can the bees only count to two or do they know their left from their right? A couple of papers on sun orientation (Jay, Can. Entomol. 1971 and Jay & Warr, J. apic Res. 1984) may be of interest to some of you. Rob Currie has done several studies the last 6 years on drone loss and drift with a good review is in 1987 Bee World 68,129-143. Is anyone interested in drifting studies as it may relate to the spread of HBTM or varroa? I plan to start a study next spring. Don Nelson NELSON@ABRSBL.AGR.CA Research Branch, Beaverlodge, ALBERTA ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1993 16:38:36 BST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: sarah alexandra corbet Subject: Re: wax removal In-Reply-To: -unspecified- When i did batik I used a powder called Lissapol (a detergent) to boil the clothes with (in water) to remove the last traces of wax. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1993 15:59:36 +0000 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jean-Marie Van Dyck Subject: Re: Painting hives? Hello Ed ! I am a beekeeper in Belgium, french speaking ! My english is very poor ... excuse me ! Here we have usually a very mild and wet weather ! Painting or not painting hives is another beekeeper discussed problem ... Decay is the first material problem for hives. And it begins by the inner side. Ideally, you may use rot-proof wood : canadian red cedar is ok; it don't need any painting. Over here, beekeepers use a propolis solution in methanol (methyl alcohol) or ethanol (ethyl alcohol) as inner paint : 2 or 3 coats, maybe more. It is more sure and regular than by the bees work. On the outside, they use a "lasure?" (I don't find the english term, but it is a paint "non-filmogene") to allow wood breathing. Actually, I use, not beeswax (because its rapid oxidization over 80 degres C), but micro-crystalline mineral wax (from the Shell Petroleum Co, melting point > 70 degres C). The wax is heated to 120-130 degres C and you put carefully the hive in for 10 min. They fry as potatoes : water boils and wax enters the wood. Obviously you must get specific hardware, but here we are some beekeepers to use it. With this process, wood become perfectly waterproof even in narrow slits, while it keeps its insulating properties. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jean-Marie Van Dyck Medical School - Biochemistry dept B.P. 102 Fax +32 81 72 42 72 B-5000 NAMUR(Belgium) email : jmvandyck@cc.fundp.ac.be ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1993 13:13:04 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Tom Fisher Subject: Paint For Hives I paint my hives on the outside and edges with a good quality latex white paint. The bees will cover (and preserve in the process) the inside with propolis. Tom Fisher | "The light that burns twice as bright Purdue University | burns half as long....and you have tfisher@ceris.purdue.edu | burned so very, very brightly, Roy." - Eldon Tyrell ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1993 15:13:13 -0300 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Dick Rogers <"PAM::DR"@AC.NSAC.NS.CA> Subject: INVERT SUGAR FOR BEES WE HAVE A BEEKEEPER WHO FED MEDIUM INVERT SUGAR TO HIS HONEY BEES DURING THE SPRING AND FALL LAST YEAR. THE SUGAR WAS PROCESSED BY THE ACID HYDROLYSIS METHOD. SUBSEQUENTLY, COLONY LOSS OVER WINTER WAS 80-90 % AND THE SUGAR IS BELIEVED TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE EXCESSIVE MORTALITY. THE LITERATURE SUGGESTS THAT ACID HYDROLSIS PRODUCED SUGAR IS DETRIMENTAL TO BEES, HOWEVER, I CAN FIND NO REFERENCE TO THE SYMPTOMS OR MODE OF ACTION. ANALYSIS OF HONEY FROM CAPPED AND UNCAPPED CELLS IN THE AFFECTED HIVES YIELDED THE FOLLOWING RESULTS (MEANS): FRUCTOSE - 45%, DEXTROSE - 28%, SUCROSE - 25%. THESE FIGURES ARE VERY SIMILAR TO OUR STANDARD WHICH WAS HFCS 55 (48,28,22). THE SUCROSE, AND HIGHER SACCARIDE, CONTENT OF NORMAL HONEY IS VERY LOW (<3%) COMPARED TO THE ABOVE. THEREFORE, MY QUESTION IS, DOES THE ACID HYDROLYSIS PROCESS RESULT IN THE INHIBITION OF ENZYME ACTIVITY IN THE HONEY THEREBY PREVENTING THE BREAKDOWN OF SUCROSE. ANY COMMENTS ON THIS MATTER WOULD BE APPRECIATED. DICK ROGERS DR_PI@AC.NSAC.NS.CA ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1993 10:52:00 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Kerry Clark 784-2225 fax (604) 784 2299" Subject: Re Painting hives John Harbo measured hive temperatures, and tracheal mite population trends, in dark and white hives. It's in Dec 92 ABJ, proceedings of the ABRC, p 808. They were pretty small colonies. He found the dark hives got too hot (40 C) produced less brood and honey, but the tracheal mite population was reduced. Even though we get some hot days in the summer here, dark hives don't seem to suffer (by then they are 5 boxes of bees). Dipping in paraffin seems a good treatment, once you set up for it. I wouldn't recommend creosote or Cuprinol. I like the corner to corner 2 tone idea. Kerry Clark, Apiculture Specialist B.C. Ministry of Agriculture 1201 103 Ave Dawson Creek B.C. V1G 4J2 CANADA Tel (604) 784-2225 fax (604) 784-2299 INTERNET KCLARK@GALAXY.GOV.BC.CA ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1993 15:59:36 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Helpdesk, Wvnet" Subject: Unexplainable behavior A co-worker has honeybees in a wall of her farm house. Last year she noticed them and decided to leave them alone as they never bothered her. They are at the second story level. This past Sunday however, she was attacked by honey bees. She was stung up to 20 times in the face, head and neck, arms... After things settled down a bit her husband looked up at the hive. He observed that the bee were in combat at the two entrance holes. And today, two days later, they still are in combat. I asked her to bring in one of the dead bees, wanting to confirm that she was indeed attacked by honeybees. Yes, it is a honeybee. It is not unusually dark or large. In fact it is a small bee..perhaps because it is wild. At any rate, I am considering that the original hive is being robbed. Perhaps the combat carried off into the yard, and she was an unlucky participant. I find it hard to think it was an outright attack of her by honeybees. Comments? Also I thought only weak hives got robbed. I don't think that the hive in the farmhouse is weak..they seldom are. Barbara Fallon ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1993 13:36:11 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jane Beckman Subject: Re: Unexplainable behavior Sure sounds like robbing to me. The strength of the hive doesn't seem to have much to do with whether it gets robbed---what the strength determines is how successful they are in combatting the robbing. Sounds like the hive is effectively fighting back, as your friend found out, to her woe. I had a problem with with what I called "muggings" last year. This is when yellowjackets hover around the entrance of the hive and try to pounce on returning workers. When this went on, the bees got distinctly grouchy and aggressive. The guards started hanging around the whole hive front, making threatening motions at anything suspicious. I stayed well away. (This year, I plan to put up yellowjacket traps.) Jane Beckman [jane@swdc.stratus.com] ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1993 15:02:25 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Dave Pehling Organization: WSU CAHE USER Subject: Re: Painting hives? In-Reply-To: Message of Wed, 28 Apr 1993 15:59:36 +0000 from Bonjour Jean-Marie, I'm curious - how long do your wax-teated hives last? I live in Northwestern United States (Washington State) and just use painted pine hives. Our climate is also quite damp and my hives last about 10 to 14 years. Dave Pehling CE6431@WSUVM1.CSC.WSU.EDU WSU Cooperative Extension ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1993 19:09:00 +1200 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Nick Wallingford Subject: Painting and wax... First reference I have to paraffin wax dipping here in NZ is back into the '40s or '50s. Its quite common, combined with Metel-X (copper natpthenate) and paint. Got to paint while its steaming hot out of the dipper to be effective. Dippers sometimes electric heated, some- times fire. NZ beekeepers do use multicoloured hiaves. oops hives. Some/most do it simply by getting the el cheapo end of the line paints, or mix mixups. One beekeeper who buys white always mixes in a small amount of another colour just enough to barely tinet the paint. He then knows which 'year' a particular super was made, and is doing longer term comparisons of wood types and pereservative methods. ------------------------------------- Nick Wallingford Bay of Plenty Polytechnic National Beekeepers Assn of NZ (Tauranga, North Island, New Zealand) Internet nickw@waikato.ac.nz --------------------------------------- Posted: 29 Apr 1993 7:03PM NZ time ----------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1993 09:33:00 GMT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Philip Earle Subject: Colours? I don't know if bees can see colours, they certainly know light and dark colours as they genarally attack black shoes, dark hair etc.. while ignoring ones body if you are wearing white. As to flower colours, I read somewhere that at the centre of each flower thre is a hot spot which refects ultra violet light which the bees can see. I aslo beleive that bees use UV for navigation. Philip Earle QUB, N. Ireland. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1993 08:51:40 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology Comments: Resent-From: Doug Cutler Comments: Originally-From: Doug Cutler From: Doug Cutler Subject: Mite resistant bees??? Look as if this message got bounced due to a bad address so here goes again!! ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Due to neglect (through illness) I lost my hive over the winter. At first I wasn't going to restock this year but I think I have changed my mind even though it may be somewhat late. Looking through a catalog for bee suppliers I have come across "Steve Taber Tracheal Mite and Disease Resistant Strain of Bees", they offer "old Fashoind Leather Colored Italians" and "Hybrid Type Strian of Carniolns". Anybody know anything about these bees? Thanks, Doug. Cutler Office of Information Technology, VM Systems Programmer University of North Carolina. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1993 09:04:30 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: stephen j clark Subject: Re: Colours? >From: Philip Earle >Subject: Colours? >I don't know if bees can see colours, they certainly know light and dark >colours as they genarally attack black shoes, dark hair etc.. while >ignoring ones body if you are wearing white. >As to flower colours, I read somewhere that at the centre of each >flower thre is a hot spot which refects ultra violet light which the >bees can see. I aslo beleive that bees use UV for navigation. > >Philip Earle >QUB, N. Ireland. Here are some references: courtesy of Peter Kevan: "Color vision in flower visiting insects" (1990) is available from the author: Prof. Dr. R. Menzel, Institut fur Neurobiologie Freien Universita"t Berlin Konigin-Luise-Strasse 28 - 30 1000 Berlin 33, Germany. von Frisch, Karl. Bees: Their Vision, Chemical Senses, and Language. Ithaca, NY Cornell University Press, 1971. Horridge, Adrian. 1977. The Compound Eye of Insects. Scientific American 237:108-120. Menzel, Randolf, Erber J. 1978. Learning and Memory in Honey Bees. Scientific American 239: 102-111. Cheers, Steve Clark Vassar College ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1993 09:01:27 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Malcolm (Tom) Sanford, Florida Extension Apiculturist" Subject: More on wood preservation HINT FOR THE HIVE #125 PRESERVING WOODENWARE IN BEEKEEPING OPERATIONS Traditionally, most beekeepers have used a variety of methods to preserve the woodenware of their colonies. This has included paint and hot wax and in Florida, where the climate and insects (termites) are especially hard on hives, wood preservatives. The primary rules to follow to maximize woodenware life are: (1) PLACE HIVES ON STANDS ABOVE GROUND to avoid moisture and subsequent decay. (2) PLACE HIVES ON STANDS ABOVE GROUND to avoid termite damage. Painting bee hives: Generally two coats of a good quality latex paint are used on the OUTSIDE ONLY of woodenware used in beehive construction. The inside is not painted to allow the wood to absorb excess moisture produced by the bees. Special attention in painting hives must be paid to the joints and exposed end grain. Many persons soak the ends in water-repellent preservative before assemblying and painting. Using wood preservatives: As more and more information becomes available concerning wood preservatives, it is clear that choices are becoming limited. Most recent information reveals that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking a closer look at what beekeepers are treating their hives with. At least one bee supply outlet has been restricted to one material by EPA. There is significant evidence that residues from materials have been found in bees, brood and wax. Finally, some materials have been found to be highly toxic to the bees themselves. A paper by M.A. Kalnins and Benjamin Detroy, "Effect of Wood Preservative Treatment of Beehives on Honey Bees and Hive Products," Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Vol. 32, pp. 1176-1180, 1984 makes some provocative conclusions: Experiments show that hives treated with creosote, pentachlorophenol (PCP), tributyl tin oxide (TBTO) and chromated copper arsenate (CCA) were associated with adverse effect on bees and left residues of preservative chemicals in bees, honey and wax. All were also associated with poor winter survival of colonies. In particular, PCP translocated from treated hive to honey, bees and wax (in an increasing order). Greatest concentration of PCP was in beeswax (30 to 55 times the controls, which had detectable levels themselves). This is important as beeswax has a number of uses like cosmetics for which purity is essential. CCA treatment resulted in elevated arsenic and chromium levels in bees, arsenic in some cases in the lethal range. Chromium levels although elevated were below 1 part per million (ppm) in both bees and honey. TBTO treatment resulted in tin levels of several ppm in bees and wax. The authors suggest, therefore, that beekeepers not use PCP, TBTO or CCA for beehive treatment. CCA could be used only on hive parts not in contact with bees. Any materials with an arsenic component are potentially very damaging to bees. The authors found few adverse findings resulted from treatments of beehives with a preservative-free water-repellent solution, however, the treatment did not appear to provide long-term protection against decay, something often desperately required under Florida conditions. Thus, the use of preservatives is considered essential by many beekeepers in the state. A follow-up article by Kalnins and Erickson, "Extending the Life of Beehives With and Without Preservatives, American Bee Journal, Vol. 126, No. 7, July, 1986, pp. 488-491. indicates that copper napththenate, copper 8-quinolinolate and acid copper chromate (ACC) are the best preservative options at present. Copper Napththenate: Usually sold as a concentrate or solution ready to use. The concentrate is 8 percent copper, a viscous green liquid. For dip, soak or bush application it usually is diluted with mineral spirits or paint thinner to a 1 percent copper solution (temperate zones) or 2 percent copper solution (subtropical zones). It may bleed through some paints and should be allowed to throroughly dry before being painted. Cooper-8-quinolinolate: Less effective than copper napththenate, yet less hazardous and can be used to preserve wood contacting foodstuffs (refrigerator cars, food-processing plants). Can be obtained as a water- or solvent-soluble concentrate or ready to use. A solvent-type solution of about 0.045 percent copper is commonly used for brush and dip treatments. Acid Copper Chromate: Used in some commercial treatment plants, already treated wood can be found in certain areas. It can be applied by brushing, soaking or dipping, but wood is more durable if pressure treated. The authors recommend purchasing commercially treated wood, using dust masks when sawing, and disposing of scrap in land fills rather than burning. Caution: Most wood preservatives are classified as pesticides and may be injurious to humans or animals, plants, fish or other wildlife. All must be used according to the label which is the law. Wolmanizing (R): Pressure treated or "Wolmanized" (R) wood is available from many lumber supply houses. Wolmanizing (R) is a process, and says nothing about what specific chemicals were used in the treatment. There have been reports of significant losses of bees where hives were constructed using Wolmanized (R) treated lumber. It is, therefore, not generally recommended for beehive use. Those considering such use should carefully investigate the actual chemicals used in the treatment process and their potential effects on bees and resultant hive products. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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, 29 Apr 1993 15:36:47 BST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Tomas Landete Castillejos Subject: African Bees I am interested in african bees. I know they have invaded part of North Americ- ca (at least Mexico). Could anybody tell me what is the state of the invasion of these bees, and any information regarding their behaviour and biology? Thanks, Tomas Tomas_Landete-Castillejos@uk.ac.nott.vme ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1993 15:37:01 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Peter Kevan Subject: Re: Colours? In-Reply-To: Message of Thu, 29 Apr 1993 09:33:00 GMT from Honeybees and many other insects have well developed colour vision. Many, including honeybees even have a three-colour system, not unlike our own (blue,green,red) except for them it's (UV, blue, yellow-green roughly speaking). Mark Winston's book Honey Bee Biology talks about this a bit, but the field is quite complex and has changed a lot in the last decade or more. Karl von Frisch's book Dance-Language and Orientation in Honey Bees has a detailed general discussion of work up to the time of that book's being published in the original German. General textbooks in Insect Physiology all discuss insect colour vision. Some flowers do have UV coloured parts that act as nectar guides. We can't see them, of course, but training experiments have shown that bees can. Not all flowers are so equipped, and some that are may have bull's eye patterns to radiating spokes, to spots, and other forms. You can look at flowers with your own eyes to get an idea of the general diversity of nectar guides, their forms, and so on. When UV is added to the repertoire of what we can see, the diversity of colours in the bees' environment goes up. Of course bees see the same nectar guides as do we in parts of the visual spectra which overlap. Bees are insensitive to red light, so red marks on flowers would be seen as black (colourless) by bees. The issue of bees' navigation by UV is perhaps a bit overstated. UV light becomes polarized as it passes through the atmosphere coming from the sun. It also becomes somewhat difused. Bees use the polarization of light for navigation, but all light visible to bees becomes polarized. I am not sure if UV is special for navigation, or if it is just visible (to bees) light in general. Perhaps some-one else can comment on that. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1993 13:12:00 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Kerry Clark 784-2225 fax (604) 784 2299" Subject: Re: Mite resistant bees??? Several breeding projects have addressed the question. I've been closely involved with a project to select and develop a stock of bees resistant to tracheal mites, since 1989. Our observations support Page and Gary's studies, of the relative susceptibility of worker bees from different queens, placed simultaneously in an infested colony. Also,the population trend of tr mites in different colonies, indicates there is substantial "resistance" to the mites in the existing bee population in N America. But there is also stock that is very susceptible. I'd say the principle is valid. The commercial supply? I suppose it is possible that simply removing the most (quarter? half?) suceptible colonies from a "base" north American honey bee stock, could give adequate "lack of susceptibility" in the remaining stock, for some climates. I don't have any experience with the stock you mentioned. Perhaps the distributor can give you evidence. There were some reports in ABJ, from Steve Taber a few years ago, when he was personally involved in the operation. good luck We have selected over four generations, and are doing a year's comparison with Buckfast stock and stocks with good commercial performance, starting in June. Our co-operators are aiming at limited scale distribution in 1994, and in 1995 as the market requires. Kerry Clark, Apiculture Specialist B.C. Ministry of Agriculture 1201 103 Ave Dawson Creek B.C. V1G 4J2 CANADA Tel (604) 784-2225 fax (604) 784-2299 INTERNET KCLARK@GALAXY.GOV.BC.CA ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1993 14:34:18 -0800 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Steve Woodard Subject: Cancel Subscription -- ===================== Steve Woodard 1943 McCollum SLO. CA. 93405 543-3651 sbwoodar@flute.calpoly.edu CANCEL SUBSCRIPTION BEE-l Steve Woodard Discussion of Bee Biology ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1993 18:27:27 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Paul F. Lehmann" Subject: Re: Colours Add to the previous reference list a new review: Randolf Menzel & Avi Shmida. (1993). The ecology of flower colours and the natural vision of insect pollinators: the Israeli flora as a case study. Biological Reviews 68:81-120. The colours seen by bees differ from those seen by humans, and bees do see very wellin the uv spectrum (to 300 nm wavelength). The authors divide the colour spectrum into 6 main colours that insects can sense from mixtures of uv (U), green (G) and blue (B) based on the colours detected by their 3 types of light sensitive cells [photoreceptors]. They call these U, U-B, B, B-G, G, and U-G, depending on the degree of colour mixing as colors reflect a mixture of lights of different wavelengths. B-G includes white and pink+red flowers as humans sense them U-G includes many yellow flowers U many flowers appear pink+red, or green+cream, or yellow. I still don't quite understand how the light mixture is used to quantify the amount of colours reflected from one flower, but its basically a plot of each color (U, B, and G) relative to the other to give an overall mixture. At a simplistic level a color reflected as 45% B, 37% U, and 18% G would appear to be defined a U-B flower with a component of G in it. Maybe someone can correct me if this is wrong. B-G and U-G flowers are not visited by bees as much as by flies and beetles. U-B and B flowers are visited by bees in the main. Pure U and very pure B flowers were not found. However the authors point out, colour sperctrum of the flower alone isn't everthing. It is important for flowers to have colours that will stand out against a fairly uniform landscape, like a green tree or desert, so they can attract pollinators. Paul Lehmann Department of Microbiology Medical College of Ohio. Lehmann%opus@mcoiarc.bitnet or Lehmann%opus@cutter.iarc.mco.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1993 11:33:17 +0000 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jean-Marie Van Dyck Subject: Re: Mite resistant bees??? Hello Doug ! I am a beekeeper in Belgium, french speaking ! My english is very poor ... excuse me ! You say ... > Looking through a catalog for bee suppliers I have come across "Steve > Taber Tracheal Mite and Disease Resistant Strain of Bees", they > offer "old Fashoind Leather Colored Italians" and "Hybrid Type Strian > of Carniolns". > Anybody know anything about these bees? My answer at this question is : I don't know but this is the situation here : Before the '60s, and till 1966, the acarapis w. mite produced a lot of problems to beekeepers in Belgium, France, UK ... The bees died at early spring (falling on the ground in front of the hive, without flying) and we treated with some acaricide smoke (PK tickets first, Folbex tickets afterward). In local publications, you find different advices to avoid bees lost. In 1962 and 63 : no paper; In 64 and 66 : recall for treatments. Since 1967 : absolutely nothing at all ... thus no problem ! In the '70s and after, NOBODY SPEAKS about acarapis mite but I am sure that we have always this mite endemicly because ... 1. I recorded one case indisputable in Feb-84 : one (out of 14) colony died, the others had no problem ! It is the unique (analysed) deadly case I hear for 15-20 years. But acarapis may be responsable of some other winter bees lost. In any case, there is no comparison with the '50s hecatomb ! 2. Each FIRST day of flying in early spring ("first" is important, at the second day the phenomenon decreases strongly) in Jan or Feb or Mar ... -- with acarapis, the first flying day after the winter is very important! -- While most of the bees are flying before the hive, you see one or two dozen of bees running on the ground. I think there aren't mite free ! --- When really you have problem, hundreds (thousand?) of bees are running -- --- on the ground and climbing on the grass without flying. Horrible ! -- --- And at this time, you can do nothing more than see ! --- Actually, in Belgium and maybe in whole Europ we never hear about this problm. It seems to me we have got a quasi-resistant bee to acarapis w. mite. Now, our beekeepers are using a lot of different bees : the native is brown (apis mellifera mellifera) but I think it is not yet pure for a long time, carnica (from Austria and Germany), ligustica (from Italy), Buckfast, a 'multi-hybrid' (from UK), &c. And never we hear about acarapis mite ... Thus ... It seems they are all quasi-resistant to acarapis mite ?! Salut ! 30-APR-1993 10:11:56 BE time ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jean-Marie Van Dyck Medical School - Biochemistry dept B.P. 102 Fax +32 81 72 42 72 B-5000 NAMUR(Belgium) email : jmvandyck@cc.fundp.ac.be ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1993 11:37:00 GMT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Philip Earle Subject: Re: Colours? Thanks for the refs, vision in bees is an area I know little about. There's always something one can learn about bees.. Philip ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1993 12:21:18 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Magus Subject: Biology Compendium Greetings, I'm posting to this list in hopes that someone out there can share a little of their expertise for a college project that I'm currently working on. The project is to create a compendium of internet resource materials dealing with BIOLOGY. The objective is to have a complete resource manual that one could use to find information dealing with biology or related topics. Any helpful hints or insights would be greatly appreciated. Anyone who wishes to have a copy of my finished project can e-mail me a message. Thank you for your time.. David Birks, e-mail: Stk1762@vax003.stockton.edu snail-mail: 136 Church Rd, Medford, NJ 08055 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1993 18:09:44 BST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Tomas Landete Castillejos Subject: Re: Colours? In-Reply-To: Your message About UV for navigation. UV light is not the same as the other colours we can see in the sky. UV has a pattern with a depression of brightness in the line of sky perpendicular to the trajectory of the sun. This line changes with the movement of the sun, so that bees not only can detect N, S, W, and E but also the hour if they cannot see the sun. Tomas Tomas_Landete-Castillejos@uk.ac.nott.vme ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1993 11:15:07 PST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Kendall_Greg Subject: Re: Mite resistant bees??? Speaking of mite resistant bees: Tom Parisian, who now runs Steve Tabor's Honeybee Genetics (the folks who's adds about resistant bees you see in ABJ and Gleanings) will be speaking at the Santa Clara Valley Beekeepers Guild in San Jose, CA (USA) next Monday (May 3). If you want to attend and need directions/information, contact me. Greg Kendall kendall@sceng.ub.com 408/562-5657 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1993 14:48:00 NER.P Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Malcolm (Tom) Sanford, Florida Extension Apiculturist" Subject: April Issue of APIS FILENAME: APRAPIS.93 Florida Extension Beekeeping Newsletter Apis--Apicultural Information and Issues (ISSN 0889-3764) Volume 11, Number 4, April 1993 PHIL PACKARD DIES While attending my first Florida State Beekeepers meeting, an imposing figure in the lobby of the hotel where the meeting took place grabbed my attention. He walked unsteadily on a cane, blustered and intimidated those around him. I, too, being new to the Florida beekeeping scene, was somewhat awed. His presence conjured up images of the Stevenson's, Long John Silver. Later I realized that, like that pirate, his bark was worse than his bite. But it was this first impression that held my mind's eye when I learned of his death. Phil Packard could only be described as a Florida beekeeping institution. He served as Florida's Chief Apiarist for 15 years (1961-1976). During his tenure, he was president of the Apiary Inspectors of America, as well as the Florida State Beekeepers Association. He helped found one of the most active local groups (Tampa Bay) and served as director to the American Beekeeping Federation. After his retirement, Mr. Packard continued to run a queen rearing and pollination business in the Homestead area. Part of his honey house was blown away by Hurricane Andrew last August. When Mr. Laurence Cutts and I tried to determine what to write about Phil Packard in this space, it was apparent that in spite of all the years involved with beekeeping, we didn't have much information about him. What is clear is that another pioneer beekeeper has been lost and the industry will be poorer as a result. CHRONICLE GUIDANCE PUBLICATIONS We often hear in meetings that there is little young blood coming into beekeeping. Because of this it is generally recommended that more information on bees and apiculture should get out to public schools and other educational institutions. Beekeepers have now joined the ranks of other occupations described by leaflets published by Chronicle Guidance Publications. "Beekeepers" is the title of a four-page brief (#518) from Chronicle. It provides an overview of what beekeepers are and a description of the work involved. These handouts and are made available to a number of places, including public schools, community colleges, employment agencies and libraries. If your library or school doesn't have information of this sort, copies of this brief can be ordered by calling 1-800-622- 7284. There is minimum order of $5 and prepayment will be requested for orders under $35. EPA OFFICE FOR PESTICIDE PROBLEMS If a beekeeper is not satisfied with a product advertised to control a disease or parasite, what are the options? The manufacturer is usually the first place to turn to. But if satisfaction is not possible this way, there are few options left. However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does have an office which will look into the matter. If you have pesticide concerns, then send a description of the problem, the name of the product, the registration number and batch number to Mr. Dennis Edwards, Jr., Registration Division, Office of Pesticide Programs, H-7505C, US-EPA, 401 M. St., Washington, D.C. 204060, ph 703/305- 6386. HONEY LABELLING According to the National Honey Board, recent legislative changes will mean a redesigning of many food labels. Thus, there is no better time to consider the information on your product and how it might be changed. With this in mind, the Board has published a brochure entitled: "Giving Your Honey Label Appeal Can Sweeten Your Honey Sales." This is a nifty item and it's jam packed with ideas and information about honey labelling. Subjects in this publication include: honey labelling research methodology, the "new" nutritional labelling regulations as they apply to honey, uniform product codes (UPC) applicable to the product, and correctly designating weights and measures. Other items include country of origin labelling and how the bees themselves should be portrayed on a product. The information also answers several important questions that every honey seller will no doubt have. These include when nutritional information is required and what size operations are exempt. Most new labelling regulations will go into effect May 8, 1994, however, any rules pertaining to "health claims" will be implemented May 8, 1993. The brochure recommends finding a local advertising firm or student to design a professional-looking label and provides an address so that the final result can be reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration. To request a copy of this brochure, write the National Honey Board, Label Brochure, 421 21st Ave. #203, Longmont, CO 80501, ph 303/776-2337. When the new Federal regulations go into effect, they will supersede most state requirements. Presently, however, Florida has its own labelling regulations. They are available as Hint for the Hive 107: "Florida Honey Labelling Regulations." I also have copies of Hint for the Hive 106: "Honey House Sanitation and the Florida Food Law." Write or call for copies. BEEKEEPERS INSTITUTE It's not too early to make plans to attend this year's Beekeepers Institute at 4-H Camp Ocala, August 13-15, 1993. This year's focus will be queen rearing and breeding, including instrumental insemination. Dr. Hachiro Shimanuki of the Agricultural Research Service's Bee Research Laboratory in Beltsville, MD, will also be in residence. Dr. Shimanuki is one of the authors of the model certification plan many states are adopting for both African honey bees and other diseases and pests. The costs of the Institute are expected to be the same as last year for full participants ($65.00). A late charge of $20 will be charged after August 6. The one-day only charge has been raised to $40. A brochure describing the Institute that includes registration forms, will be mailed to the APIS mailing list in late June or early July. NEVIS BEEKEEPER PROBLEMS I have received a plea for help. The little island of Nevis in the Eastern Caribbean has been hit by a disaster. The hugely successful Nevis Beekeeper Cooperative was gutted by fire February 2, 1993. All extracting and candle-making equipment was lost, as well as a good deal of woodenware and other items. Rebuilding and replacing the facility is estimated to cost $30,000. Donations of cash, new equipment or other "in-kind" support are being requested throughout the Caribbean. If you believe you can help in any way, please contact Ms. Ann Macmillan at Florida Volunteer Corps (FAVA/CA), 1311 Executive Center Drive, Suite 202, Tallahassee, FL 32301, ph 904/877-4705, FAX 904/942-5798. QUEEN REARING REBOUNDS Is queen rearing rebounding in Florida? The state's queen industry was essentially killed by discovery of and then deregulation for tracheal mites. It didn't help when Varroa mites were detected just a few years later. With passing of time, however, the rest of the U.S. is now considered generally infested with both mites. Inclement weather this year in many traditional rearing areas is causing a demand for queens from Florida. Several operators who didn't market for several years are back in business. Whether a queen rearing trend will continue is not yet clear, but signs are hopeful that this will be the case. Florida is also in an enviable position. It will probably be one of the last states in the southern tier to be invaded by the African honey bee. Thus, European queens will be available longer from the sunshine state than many others. SWARM--WHAT'S IN A WORD Recently, on a field trip to northern Mexico, I was forced to rexamine the meaning of the word "swarm." Almost every reference book on beekeeping defines this term as an agglomeration of honey bees issuing from a spontaneously dividing colony, when half of the population goes elsewhere in search of a home. This is the reproductive swarm and is the model that those keeping European bees know all too well. But there is another kind of "swarm." This is the absconding or migrating swarm, where honey bees simply abandon their nest and go in search of another site. Rarely seen in European honey bees, the migrating swarm is quite commonly associated with the African bees now moving through northern Mexico. These migrating swarms are not as big as the reproductive ones and also have few, if any, drones associated with them. The migratory swarms are often associated with moisture availability and prolonged rainfall can cause a great increase in numbers. These bees are so quick to abscond that it becomes a real management problem for beekeepers. While visiting the research headquarters of Dr. Orley "Chip" Taylor south of the Texas border in early March, I saw a large number of migrating swarms. However, the season for reproductive swarms was just beginning and that type would supersede the migrating ones for another two months or so. The typical reproductive swarming pattern in the area, according to Dr. Taylor, who's now observed the bees in the area for three years, is similar to the European bee model. But factored in is the migratory (absconding) swarming season that occurs from perhaps November to March and then from July through November now that the African bee is present. In other words, one might see "swarming" in northern Mexico at any time of the year. Given these two kinds of swarms, how is one to interpret the often cited information regarding swarming in African bees? They do indeed appear to "swarm" more often than Europeans. However, the fact that there are two distinct types of swarms can muddy perceptions by bee scientists and beekeepers alike who have only experience with the reproductive kind found in European honey bees. This is one example of how the arrival of a feral African honey bee population will force us all to reconsider many of our previous notions about beekeeping techniques. TRACHEAL MITE--ANOTHER CASE FOR RESISTANCE My recent trip to Northern Mexico revealed that problems with tracheal mite in that region described in the mid and late 1980s have abated. The reason is not clear, but a good guess is that susceptible stocks have been naturally replaced by those more resistant to the mite. This pattern of disastrous infestation followed by recovery has repeated itself elsewhere. It is instructive, for example, to look at an article first published by John Anderson about Isle of Wight disease associated with tracheal mite in the Scottish Journal of Agriculture. Vol. 6, pp. 181-191 and reprinted in The Speedy Bee, Vol. 21, No. 4, April, 1992. I cannot give justice to the full article here, but am selecting quotes which are revealing about the course of tracheal mite disease from 1906 to 1920: "Stocks affected rapidly dwindle, and usually succumb in about a month or six weeks, leaving their stores, and often a quantity of brood. The queen appears to keep healthy and survives to the last....A pasty mass of pollen grains is contained in the 'colon' or lower bowel of the bee and the insect appears to have lost the power of voiding it. Pressure on the abdomen will often rupture both the colon and body-wall. Bees crawling...will revive if warmed and fed, but the power of flight will not be regained." "Bees have recovered after treatment with numerous cures, but they are found to recover quite as often when left untreated. This disease is fluctuating in character, and we have thus perfectly honest testimony to the virtues of a long list of specifics from disinfectants like bacterol, yadil and dioxygen down to flowers of sulphur and aromatic chalk. Any treatment...whether by drugs or otherwise, that would prolong the life of susceptible stocks of bees would distinctly hinder regeneration of British bees." "Nature has succeeded where man has conspicuously failed...there is a large body of evidence that recovery is well advanced in the regions first attacked. The character of the disease...changed somewhat in recent years. When first noticed it was worse in summer, but now it was seen chiefly in the late autumn and spring. Isle of Wight disease used to kill bees in a week or two. We have here one more illustration of nature's way with an infectious disease. Bees differ in their power of resisting this disease...The susceptible bees tend to die out, but this only makes more room for...the more resistant." "We must replace susceptible bees by resistant bees. When buying fresh stock we must carefully avoid bees from the few secluded glens that the disease has not yet reached...We should rather buy bees from surviving stocks in districts already swept by the disease. Even without co-operation of the beekeeper, biological law will in due course relegate Isle of Wight disease to a position of little importance. But why should we stand by?" Sincerely, Malcolm T. Sanford Bldg 970, Box 110620 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: Fri, 30 Apr 1993 15:09:00 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: di5 Subject: Re: Biology Compendium In-Reply-To: <9304301621.AA07898@umailsrv0.UMD.EDU> Una Smith has already compiled a biologists' guide to the Internet. Available on the ecology and evolution gopher archive on sunsite.unc.edu David W. Inouye Dept. of Zoology, University of Maryland E-mail: di5@umail.umd.edu Phone: 301-405-6946 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1993 13:34:08 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Winifred Doane Subject: Re: Biology Compendium In-Reply-To: Message of Fri, 30 Apr 1993 12:21:18 -0400 from Are you interested in a very large database dealing with species of Drosoph ila, especially D. melanogaster? You can now access FlyBase, through the Gophe r server, if you are? It's available via the IUBio archive at ftp.bio.indiana. edu. Internet Gopher is the best way to access it. Happy hunting! Winifred Doane icwwd@ASUVM.INRE.ASU.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1993 15:58:59 -0800 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: jarmstro@TRUMPET.CALPOLY.EDU Subject: subscription subscribe bee-l jarmstro@oboe.calpoly.edu thanks -- Jeannine Armstrong 1101 Nipomo Ave Apt B Los Osos Ca 93402 (805)528-8629 jarmstrong@trumpet.calpoly.edu >From tengelha Sun Apr 11 19:21:49 1993 Received: by oboe.calpoly.edu (AIX 3.2/UCB 5.64/4.03) id AA122512; Sun, 11 Apr 1993 19:21:47 -0700 From: tengelha (Tannika Kaline Engelhard) Message-Id: <9304120220.AA25680@oboe.calpoly.edu> Subject: I hate computers! To: BIO342-01 Date: Sun, 11 Apr 1993 19:20:58 -0800 (PDT) Cc: 1 X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4 PL21] Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Length: 183 Sender: bio342-01-request@oboe.calpoly.edu Status: RO I HATE COMPUTERS. Well, not all of the time. Just when it's Sunday night and I'm at the library dealing with an unsocial object that can't tell me what the hell I'm doing wrong!!!!! >From root Thu Apr 15 19:16:36 1993 Received: by oboe.calpoly.edu (AIX 3.2/UCB 5.64/4.03) id AA79773; Thu, 15 Apr 1993 19:16:34 -0700 From: rbowker@oboe.calpoly.edu Message-Id: <9304160216.AA04686@cymbal.calpoly.edu> Subject: Lab 3 ftp To: bio342-01@oboe.calpoly.edu Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1993 19:16:42 -0800 (PDT) X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4 PL21] Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Length: 6455 Sender: bio342-01-request@oboe.calpoly.edu Status: RO Thursday, April 15, 1993. More on ftp and Using Mac IP ftp is a file interchange protocol to allow you to access a remote computer for the purpose of exchanging files. Two approaches to using ftp are: 1 log into your AIX account. run ftp The disadvantage if that if you want to use the files that you get with a mac or a pc, then you have to transfer the files to your mac or pc.-- another step. 2 Use MacIp to run ftp. MacIP is a software interface between Macintosh computers and the Internet. You can use both telnet and ftp from Mac-IP. If you use ftp from Mac-IP, files can be saved directly onto your floppy disk. The Mac II computers in the front half of Room 105D and some of the Mac SEUs in Room 102 of Building 12 (Academic Computing Services general use labs) can communicate with the Internet using MacIP. (1) Using your AIX account and to make an anonymous ftp connection with a remote host for the purpose of transferring files. At the % prompt, enter ftp (site) -----substitute the site to which you want to connect for (site). The site name is on the same line as the ftp command. e.g ftp oak.oakland.edu see your handout for a list of possible ftp sites. When you are prompted to login, enter anonymous. When you are prompeted to enter a password, enter your emial address as the password I would enter rbowker@oboe.calpoly.edu When you have made a successful connection, the prompt ftp> will be displayed. You will need to use the following ftp commands. pwd......print the name of the current (working) directory ls.... .list the contents of this directory or dir cd change directory (give directory name) cd .. move back up one directory level status display current settings ascii set up ftp to send an ascii file binary set up ftp to send binary files get get a file (give the name of the file) help quit end the ftp session Use the man command at the % prompt to get more information about using ftp. % man ftp Accessing ftp this way has a major disadvantage: it is not eacy to tell where you are nor which files are files and which are directories. Study this example and be sure you understand what is being done before you attempt to use ftp from the AIX prompt. This example shows you how to connect via anonymous ftp to a network resource in the California State University Chancellor's office %ftp nic.csu.net In response to the "login" prompt, enter anonymous In response to the "Password" prompt, enter (your email address) e.g. rbowker@oboe.calpoly.edu When you have connected successfully as an anonymous user, the ftp> prompt will prompt you to enter a command. For a full list of ftp commands, enter help To display the current directory (so you can tell where you are), enter pwd Anytime that you are confused about where you are, you should enter pwd. To list the files in a given directory, enter ls Use the "cd" command (change directory) to move into another directory (usually the upper most directory simply contains other directories). e.g. cd csunet cd shared_files Look for RreadmeS files which will have information about what is available and how to transfer files. Use the "get" command to transfer a file to your system. get filename -------- and type the name of the file exactly as it is shown in the directory listing. If you get a message that it is not a file or that it cannot be transferred, it is probably another directory. 6. When finished and ready to terminate your ftp session with the remote host, enter quit (2) Using MacIP to make a an anonymous ftp connection to a remote host for the purpose of obtaining files. Start up the Mac. Click QUIT to exit from the virus checking software. Double-click on the Mac-IP folder to open it. Double-click on the icon labeled Rto libraries.S Make sure that you do not click on the Mac window at this point!!!! Select ftp from the Network menu When the dialog box appears, Type in the name of the ftp site that you want to connect to in the box under Rhost nameS Type anonymous in the login field. Enter your email address as your password AIXaccount@oboe.calpoly.edu MacIP will list all the files in the current directory after you successfully connect to the remote host -- the file names will be listed in a scrolling directory on the right side of the ftp window. Click on the RlongS button to get a full directory listing telling you how big the files are, identifying any directories (d at the start of the file permissions), and when the files were created. Click on the RshortS button to get back to the regular ftp display. To change directories, you simply highlight the directory name and click on the cd button above the scrolling list. The scrolling directory on the left side of the ftp window will display files in the current Mac folder on the current Mac disk. Click on the Drive button to select your floppy disk for file transfer. To transfer a file from the remote host to your floppy disk Click to select the name of the file. If necessary, use the ftp menu to select a file transfer option (see below) Click on the copy button. The file will be transferred to your disk. File transfer options: Ascii .hqx or .sit or .txt or readme files need to unstuff mac files need to unzip or unarc pc files binary .exe files MacBinary .sea files (self extracting) Unix files: files with a .Z or .tar extension need to be uncompressed using the AIX uncompress command. When using a remote ftp host for the first time, look for readme files which have information about what is avaialble and often contain suggestions on how to transfer files. This information file was created using Microsoft Word, saved as a text file, and transferred to AIX using Kermit on AIX and Versaterm on the Mac. Fred The BearUs sign was created using a font that was downloaded from oak.oakland.edu. ----------------------------------------------+ Rosemary C. Bowker + Instructional Computing Consultant + Biological Sciences + California Polytechnic State University + San Luis Obispo CA 93402 + (805 ) 756 2616 + FAX (805) 756 1419 + rbowker@oboe.calpoly.edu + ----------------------------------------------+