From LISTSERV@UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU Sun Oct 2 15:41:44 1994 Date: Sun, 2 Oct 1994 16:46:42 -0400 From: BITNET list server at ALBNYVM1 To: Allen Dick Subject: File: "BEE-L LOG9308" ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 2 Aug 1993 11:24:44 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Dick Rawson Subject: Re: bee-sting antidote I tried cold packs, and ammonia on my bee stings. I agree that these reduce the pain nicely, but I get a local swelling over a 3 to 4 inch extent which takes nearly 2 days to peak; then it subsides pretty quickly. The most-recent sting (one data point only) I treated with a venom extractor that simply uses vacuum to draw out some of the venom (and assorted other fluids). It looks like an oversize hypodermic syringe, although depresing the plunger creates the suction. I actually used the snake-bite size of the device; I bought an insect-bite and -sting kit too - which is smaller - but couldn't think where I'd stored it. (I still can't remember!) I don't remember who made them; I bought them at REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.). Result: it drew only one small drop of slightly bloody fluid. The stinging sensation vanished at first, then returned at a much subdued level; I don't know when it stopped because I forgot about it. The good news was that there was almost now swelling - you COULD find it, but it was no bother. So I think I will try this first for my next sting. (There's always a next sting, no?) Two-plus days of swelling is what bothered me most with the earlier stings. This is obviously no answer to the more acute problems such as multiple stings or hypersensitivity. Dick ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 6 Aug 1993 11:49:00 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Kerry Clark 784-2225 fax (604) 784 2299" Subject: bumblebees in pheromone traps This subject came up a while back. I requested some more info and got some by paper mail, from Bob Byers, Ag Canada Research Station Lethbridge Alberta. He says the pheromone is probably not required, attraction being mostly visual. Someone asked, and I thought more may be interested.Further information on the incidental catch of bumblebees in bertha armyworm pheromone traps. Basically, the researchers were annoyed to find so many bumblebees, and tried different colour traps to reduce the catch. In 2 traps at each of 2 locations, over 6 weeks (total) the following catch was recorded: Loc 1 Loc 2 Colour: Moths B. bees Moths b.bees tri-colour 171 53 305 886 (green, yellow (funnel) and white) all green (painted) 80 0 100 7 all brown (painted) 81 1 76 5 In another test, it was found that all-green traps were just about as effective as tri-colour, for the moths, so that's what they use now, However, the traps still catch lots of bumblebees. I wonder if the paint was a repellant. The traps are produced by Phero Tech Inc 7572 Progress Way Delta B.C CANADA V4G 1E9 Tel (604) 940 9944 Fax 940 9433 The 92 price list says $ 11.45 cdn per trap, all green, all white, or green/yellow/white cheers 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: Fri, 6 Aug 1993 22:08:27 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: jonathan_beard Subject: bee learning in Nature entomology Findings about bees' brains could shed light on how people learn URBANA, Ill. - Can honey bees help scientists understand how adult humans learn? Researchers at the University of Illinois are convinced they can. In the July 15 issue of the journal Nature, they describe structural changes that occur in the brains of bees when the insects leave their domestic chores to tackle their most challenging and complex task - foraging for pollen and nectar. As part of a doctoral thesis, neuroscience graduate student Ginger S. Withers focused on the "mushroom bodies," a region of the insect brain so named because it appears mushroom-shaped when viewed in cross-section. The region is closely associated with learning and memory. Withers used quantitative neuroanatomical methods to study sections of bee brains to show that the mushroom bodies are reorganized when a bee becomes a forager. Although a honey bee typically switches from hive-keeping tasks, such as rearing younger sisters and caring for the queen, to foraging at about three weeks of age, the brain changes are not simply due to aging. In a key experiment, young honey bees were forced to become foragers by removing older bees from the colony. The mushroom bodies of the precocious foragers, who were only about one week old, mirrored those of normal-aged foragers. The findings suggest that nerve cells in the mushroom bodies receive more informational inputs per cell as the bee learns to forage. In order to be a successful forager, a bee must learn how to navigate to and from its hive and how to collect food efficiently from many different types of flowers. The implications for neuroscience go far beyond the beehive, said the article's co-authors, U. of I. insect biologists Susan E. Fahrbach and Gene E. Robinson. There could be application to human studies, they said, because the structure of bee brains is similar to - but much simpler than - human brains. Fahrbach, whose research has focused on the impact of hormones on the nervous system, was drawn to the honey bee by its sophisticated behavior, small brain and power of concentration. "Honey bees offer an exceptionally powerful model for the study of changes in the brain related to naturally occurring changes in behavior, because, once a bee becomes a forager, it does nothing else," she said. "Because the behavioral shifts are so complete, the changes in brain structure that accompany the behavioral transitions must be related to the performance of the new observed behavior." Robinson, who is director of the U. of I.'s Bee Research Facility and who has previously studied other physiological and genetic aspects of bee behavior, agrees: "This discovery opens a new area of research on the relationship between brain and behavioral plasticity. One fundamental question this research raises is 'which comes first?' Do changes in behavior lead to changes in brain structure? Or do the changes in brain structure occur first, in preparation for the changes in behavior?" As researchers pursue the changes in brain cells that form the underpinnings of learning, the U. of I. scientists say the combination of neuroscience and entomology may yield sweet rewards. Contact: Jim Barlow University of Illinois News Bureau phone: 217-333-5802 fax: 217-244-0161 Compuserve: 72002,630 Internet: jbarlow@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 8 Aug 1993 16:25:45 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jeffrey Cushman Subject: RE-Queening I have a healthy single hive of Italians in Central Mass. I have noted that the hive has been consistantly hostile for several months now. Although honey production is great the hives sends out angry bees without provocation. I would like to mellow them down a few notches. So I would like some advice on re-queening. I lpan to order a replacement queen from a local bee supply house but would like to know what to do once I get her. Should I kill the existing queen (if I can locate her) and leave the dead queen in the hive as I introduce the new boxed queen? Or should I removed the dead queen as I introduce the new queen? Is it okay to re-queen to at this time or should I wait until later in year? THANKS! jeff young jyoung@banyan.com ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 8 Aug 1993 23:01:34 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jeffrey=Young%SQA%Banyan@MAGNOLIA.BANYAN.COM Subject: Re-Queening #2 ReSending this as I was having some mail service difficulties and am not sure if this made it out. Please excuse if this is a redundant message. ============================================================================== Hi all: I have a single healthy hive of Italians in Central Mass with a 3rd or 4th generation queen. I have noted that the hive has been consistantly hostile for several months now. Although honey production is great the hive sends out angry bees without provocation. Often heading straight for the face of people yards away, just walking by the hive. I would like to mellow them down a few notches. So I would like some advice on re-queening. I plan to order a new, replacement, queen from a local bee supply house but would like to know what to do once I get her. Should I kill the existing queen and leave the dead queen in the hive as I introduce the new boxed queen? Or should I removed the dead queen's body as I introduce the new queen? Looking in the Dadant Catalog I note that there are two types of queens to choose from; "Starline" & "Midnite" while Walter T. Kelley Co. catalog lists just "3-banded Italian Queens". What is the difference? THANKS in advance for the help! jeff young jyoung@banyan.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 9 Aug 1993 11:06:16 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Winifred Doane Subject: Re: bee-sting antidote In-Reply-To: Message of Fri, 30 Jul 1993 12:24:28 CDT from I just returned from a week's vacation to find the rather curious response to m y suggestion of using meat tenderizer on bee stings. I and many people I know have used it for mosquito bites for year and there is absolutely no harmful eff ect. It could hardly be on the shelves of a grocery store if the concentration of protease was so high that it could actually do damage to one's skin, muscle tissues, etc.. The response from ZHIYONG@UIUCVMD is ludicrous and can hardly be taken seriously! Winifred Doane Professor, ASU, Tempe ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 9 Aug 1993 11:20:22 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Winifred Doane Subject: Re: bee sting revisited In-Reply-To: Message of Sat, 31 Jul 1993 13:06:46 -0400 from The suggestion to use meat tenderizer for bee stings was not intended to deal w ith the problem of the African ("Africanized") bee. Obviously, the latter requ ires considerable more research before an adequate medical solution becomes ava ilable. Mark Winston's well-written little book on the Killer Bees makes this point all too clear. Winifred Doane Professor, ASU, Tempe ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 9 Aug 1993 14:33:30 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Aaron Morris Subject: Requeening: When and How? Symptoms: A healthy hive with lots of angry bees. Diagnosis: Your queen is a bitch! Cure: Requeen. Requeening is always a tricky exercise, whenever you attempt it. Chances of success are lessened with increased population, hence the best time to requeen is early spring or late fall. Most literature will suggest that you introduce a new queen into a nuc made up of frames from the hive to be requeened. The new queen is introduced to the nuc box (which is of course queenless). When the bees in the nuc have accepted the new queen, the nuc should then be reunited with the original hive using the newspaper method, after the original queen is killed and removed from the hive. This method requires a good deal of manipulation, first to set up a nuc and introduce a new queen, then finding the original queen in the old hive to remove her, and uniting the nuc and hive after the new queen is accepted in the nucleus. All these manipulations will be made harder by the fact that your hive is ill-tempered in the first place. My advice is to wait until the fall, after the honey harvest. Some of my largest yields have come from my nastiest hives. Then, since you waited that long you may wait until spring to attempt to requeen. A failed attempt to requeen in the spring can be corrected by the bees themselves (they can rear a queen on their own from eggs laid by the former queen), whereas a failed attempt in the fall will ultimately lead to a failed hive. Late in the season is not the 'proper' time for a hive to raise a new queen, so if a fall attempt fails, so will your hive. Hints for locating the queen: She will be in the vicinity of current queen activity (ie closest to the newly laid eggs). If you pull frames filled with stores, you will not find the queen on these frames. If you pull a frame with sealed brood, the queen will probably not be on these frames either. However, if you pull a frame with newly laid eggs, chances are high that the queen will be on this frame or one adjacent to it. Try to 'scan' the frame rather than 'examine' it. It is easier to have the queen 'pop out at you' as opposed to examining every inch of a frame in an attempt to locate the elusive queen. Practice on any "Where's Waldo" book! Good luck! ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 9 Aug 1993 14:32:39 CDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Bee Surgeon Subject: Re: bee-sting antidote > tissues, etc.. The response from ZHIYONG@UIUCVMD is ludicrous and can hardly ^^^^^^^^ >be taken seriously! Yes, I was semi-joking and halfserious on commenting the meat tenderizer stuff. Serious beekeepers or scientists would not use the stuff as they get used to the stinging. I get anywhere from 2 to 15 each time and the pain goes away in 5-10 min. Productivity would be reduced if I were to apply anything on each stinger I get. Actually, I do not even wear gloves as I would rather get a few more stings than killing a few more bees (gloves are cumbersome and kills more bees when pulling frames out or putting back), of couse some end up killed anyway when they do start to sting, but I think more bees actually die from stinging gloves than my hand. Think the positive way, a few stings a day keeps athritis and MS away! and I guess I have a less likelihood of getting bee-sting-alergies if I can get a rather constant dose on a regular basis. ZY ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 9 Aug 1993 16:23:00 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Kerry Clark 784-2225 fax (604) 784 2299" Subject: Re: requeening Of course there lots of thoughts on queen introduction, but I wasn't comfortable leaving the discussion at the response I read.Requeening is much easier during at least a bit of a honeyflow, requeening a big mean hive is a problem, . If you can't or don't want to find the queen, you could remove say 5 frames of bees and brood from the big hive, and set it aside as a new hive. Try to leave the queen behind, but in 3 or 4 days you will know where she is (where there are lots of emergency queen cells started). Knock out the cells, and introduce your new queen into this easily managed unit. Later, when you can find the queen of the mean hive, kill her and unite the 2 units for winter. If for some reason the introduction doesn't take, you still have the old meany, who will keep you going til spring. There are lots of options and variations, but introducing when there is no flow is harder. good luck ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 9 Aug 1993 11:38:55 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Malcolm (Tom) Sanford, Florida Extension Apiculturist" Subject: August issue of APIS FILENAME: AUGAPIS.93 Florida Extension Beekeeping Newsletter Apis--Apicultural Information and Issues (ISSN 0889-3764) Volume 11, Number 8, August 1993 AHB ON THE MOVE There have been several articles in the press on the movement of the African bee (AHB). The first death attributed to this insect was reported in Texas and several confirmed finds near Sasabe make Arizona the second state to be officially invaded. This will put the bee on California's doorstep soon. That state has developed a logo and several information programs for its citizenry. We in the east, however, cannot become too complacent. The migration has finally reached Houston, Texas, about 100 miles from the Louisiana border. VARROA--A MOVING TARGET? A major problem with Varroa is that the target (controlling the mite's population) continues to move. Beekeepers, therefore, must keep ahead of the mite by continually revising their strategies to detect and control this parasite. Originally, in Florida, it was thought that Varroa could be chemically controlled once a year. This has been revised by many operators to every six months. Now apparently the schedule may have to be amended again. Take one Florida beekeeper's experience. Colonies treated from January 18 to February 25 were moved to citrus and averaged 100 pounds of honey. The colonies were then moved to gallberry about May 5th and began collapsing due to Varroa in early July. Possible reasons for this are: 1. Treatment was not effective--post-treatment check suggests this was not so; no mites were found in ether roll after strips removed. 2. Strips were not left in long enough--again, post-treatment check refutes this. 3. Colonies were heavily reinfested from nearby apiaries or wild colonies--the beekeeper believes not many untreated colonies were located in nearby locations, but it is possible that infested colonies were present and/or some hives were missed during treatment. 4. Mite populations rebounded far faster than expected--perhaps this was due to continuous brood rearing (a superabundance of drone brood?) in colonies building up prior to orange and then before gallberry. In addition, the bee population may have been highly susceptible to damage by mites. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident according to several Florida bee inspectors I spoke to during a recent training conference in Gainesville. They recommend checking colonies for Varroa infestation levels at least every 60 to 90 days or risk colonies dying earlier than one might expect. Varroa is not a forgiving organism; all nearby colonies must be treated without exception if reinfestation is not to occur. There's also indication that the target continues to move in relation to pesticide resistance. In the October, 1992 APIS, I reported an Italian study indicated that fluvalinate was losing its effectiveness. Two papers in the January-February, 1993 L'Apicoltore Moderno, the Italian beekeeping journal published at the University of Torino, add fuel to this speculation. The first indicated a high incidence of Varroa and alarming mortalities of colonies in several areas of Italy in the fall of 1992 in spite of routine fluvalinate treatments. The second reported on a study of 72 hives which showed that definite resistance to Fluvalinate (Apistan (R) strips) has shown up in northern Italy. A reason suggested is the use of fluvalinate- soaked wooden strips by beekeepers before Apistan (R) became available. This practice may have left high residues of fluvalinate in wax, contributing to the development of resistant populations of mites. The same result might occur, although probably less rapidly than using wooden strips, if Apistan (R) plastic strips are left in colonies for long time periods. SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL HONEY MONTH The National Honey Board reports that Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy has declared September as National Honey Month. Beekeepers are asked to share the "good news about honey" with local media (newspapers, radio, television). A press kit including clip art, recipes, tip sheets and other items is available from the Board, 421 21st Ave. #203, Longmont, CO 80501, ph 303/776-2337. The National Honey Board is also asking for comments concerning a revision of the official definition of honey being proposed by the Board's Product and Research Development Committee. Beyond the simple definition, typical honey composition, types of honey and honey products are also discussed. If you would like a copy of this proposal, contact the Board directly. Finally, the Board has redesigned its newsletter. The summer, 1993 issue contains an immense amount of information. It begins with a beekeeping success story by the Booth family, packers of Cheyenne Honey. There are also articles on the Board's efforts to explain the new nutritional labeling law and a description of the typical honey consumer. Mr. Binford Weaver, the current Chairman, also discusses the current relative position of honey, up 7% in volume sales versus jams and jellies (2% drop), syrup (unchanged), sugar (4% drop) and substitutes (up 4%). If you don't get the newsletter, ask the Board to put you on the mailing list. 1992 PRODUCTION STATISTICS Often I get questions about Florida honey production. Some of the answers have been published in the February 1992 Honey Report, Florida Agricultural Statistics Service, 1222 Woodward St., Orlando, FL 32803, ph 407/648-6013. These statistics provide a historical perspective of beekeeping in the state. Colony numbers are down, dropping from a high of 360,000 in 1981 to 220,000 in 1992. Yield per colony, however, is up (104 pounds/hive) almost reaching the high (not all years are listed in this report) of 105 pounds/hive reported for 1988. Total production was 22,880 pounds with an average price of $.53 cents per pound. Only California had higher honey production in 1992 (31,490 pounds), but colony numbers there were 470,000 with an average yield of 67 pounds/colony. Highest averages per colony were reported by Hawaii (138 pounds), Montana (110 pounds) and Louisiana (107 pounds). After California and Florida, only North Dakota (21.8), South Dakota (20.4), Minnesota (17.1) and Texas (10.6) reported over 10 million pounds of honey produced. The total U.S. crop produced by 3.03 million colonies was 220.5 million pounds, averaging 72.8 pounds per hive and a price of 55.8 cents per pound. A CHALKBROOD/AFB CONNECTION Dr. H. Shimanuki, our featured speaker at this year's Florida Beekeepers Institute, and colleagues at the Beltsville Bee Lab in Beltsville, Maryland were highlighted in a recent spread in Agricultural Research, the information organ of the USDA's Agricultural Research Service (July 1993). In conjunction with their efforts to diagnose diseases in samples sent in by the beekeeping industry, Beltsville researchers noticed a decline in European foulbrood samples from New Jersey bees (1980-1990) while the number of chalkbrood samples remained constant. Further investigation has shown that Ascosphaera apis, the causative organism of chalkbrood disease, produces a substance that inhibits growth of bacteria causing both American and European foulbrood. This material has been isolated and could provide the basis for a new, inexpensive control for both foulbroods. Thus, like the bees themselves, the microorganisms found in the nest also are interrelated in a complex community. AGRICULTURAL ETHICS In May 1989, I wrote in this newsletter about the business of ethics. The next year, the American Beekeeping Federation took up the subject and it was well received by the membership. Now Dr. Jeffery Burkhardt, Department of Food and Resource Economics, has written a lengthy analysis of what he calls a new growth industry, "ethics talk." Ethics, Dr. Burkhardt says, means, at a gut level, proper conduct. It is usually concerned with interpersonal (or inter-group) relations. Two key questions, according to Dr. Burkhardt are where do ethics rules come from and what is their content. Ethics rules, it seems, are constantly evolving according to circumstances. Their content usually revolves around the concept of "harm." What constitutes "harm," and to whom are key issues that must be decided before ethical responsibilities become clear. Agricultural ethics, therefore, Dr. Burkhardt says, are concerned with "what kinds of harm, to what people should agriculturalists avoid." Much debate must go into these ideas and ethics talk is involved in these deliberations, driven by both "external" and "internal" criticisms which are calling for a rethinking of values historically associated with agricultural research and education. Three main issues in Florida generating ethics talk, according to Dr. Burkhardt are natural resource (especially water) protection, agricultural technology (especially biotechnology) and international trade policy and competition. With reference to beekeeping, a number of specific issues, including pesticide use, honey adulteration and health claims about honey bee products may come under the ethics rubric. Expect to see more about ethics in the future, especially the talking part. As Dr. Burkhardt concludes: "...we might be able to prevent unforeseen yet possible harms to one another, and to maximize unknown yet potential mutual goods or benefits." If you wish to explore this topic further, I will send a full copy of the paper on request. LOVE THAT SOAPY WATER It was a year ago that I reported in this newsletter about firefighter training relating to bee emergencies. That article also included a suggested letter to local fire chiefs. The training video I discussed in that letter has been released for some time. It is "Controlling Honey Bee Emergencies," produced by the A.I. Root Co. and is now available in the IFAS Audiovisual Library as VT 378, as well as through the A.I. Root Co., Medina, OH 44256, ph 216/725-6677. A testimonial to information presented in the tape is found in the July, 1993 issue of Bee Culture. At the end of May, a trailer load of bees (672 single colonies) fell off a truck on U.S. 71 North, two miles from Mountainburg, Arkansas. This was a true emergency including injured persons trapped in cars, stung rescue workers (four seriously) and closure of a major highway for 26 hours. Fortunately, a nearby fire chief already knew that soapy water in fire truck pumpers should be used to control honey bees, as outlined in the program. Both the chief and another beekeeper who directed the efforts to effectively deal with the situation would literally have been up a creek without a paddle if it weren't for the material (especially that soapy water) presented on the tape. As the beekeeper said, "The video showed emergency procedures for a bee accident almost identical to the one that happened on Highway 71...at the time I saw it I thought I'd probably never need that information in a million years...I've found out different." APICULTURAL VISUAL AIDS The IFAS audiovisual library continues to be a valuable resource for county agents and beekeepers in Florida. ENY 112, "Extension Apicultural Visual Aids," that discusses tapes/motion pictures (a total of thirteen) available through this facility, has recently been updated. Two more are now being added, they are VT 378, mentioned above, that concerns honey bee emergencies and VT 379. The latter is entitled: "The Queen Bee: Finding, Marking and Clipping." It is produced by the University of Illinois and shows Mr. Gene Killion, Extension Specialist in Beekeeping at that institution, discussing one of beekeeping's most elementary skills, finding and employing methods to later identify the queen. Certain rules apply to securing use of these tapes. It will invariably be more efficient to secure them through your local county Cooperative Extension Office. A copy of ENY 112 is also available from county agents or this office. 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 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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: Tue, 10 Aug 1993 13:53:20 +0100 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Malcolm Roe Subject: Marking Queens. The recent discussions on requeening naturally lead onto the problem of finding the (old) queen. Small scale beekeepers often don't mark their queens. There are a number of reasons, replacement is only one, why one would wish to find the queen and marking makes it so much easier. The easiest time to do it is before introduction but if you have a naturally raised queen you have to find her first, so choose a time when the colony is small and as many bees as possible are out foraging. However, it should be warm because the hive is likely to be open for some time. The first really warm spring day is a good choice. Although the queen spends most of the time laying up empty cells, I find that once I start looking for her, she runs away. So, if I start at one end of the brood chamber and work across, I usually find her on or near the last frame. There is a knack to spotting a queen. Her slow steady walk and the behaviour of the retinue of workers surounding her are the best clues. -- 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: Tue, 10 Aug 1993 15:39:00 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Kerry Clark 784-2225 fax (604) 784 2299" Subject: fluvalinate resistant Varroa? I notice in Tom Sanford's APIS newsletter, the followup comment re an incident in Italy, interpretted as Varroa resistant to Apistan. A few months ago, I asked a Sandoz (Zoecon) rep about this and was told they investigated and have concluded that the strips used in the incident were counterfeit Apistan (containing no fluvalinate), in a package with a counterfeit label. The different interpretations should be fairly easy to demonstrate. Does any one have further information? While we're talking Apistan, have any of you made conclusions regarding the effect of Apistan tabs on queens in queen cages? I've heard that the common practice of queen shippers is to reduce the exposure of queens, through cutting the tabs in half or making them less immediately accessible to the queen. Comments? 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, 12 Aug 1993 11:41:40 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: ez000127@DALE.UCDAVIS.EDU Subject: High hives Hello again, Does anyone know how high up one can put hives? Right now, we have a healthy observation hive about 20ft. up, but I'm wondering how bees will do if I put a hive >5 stories up. How will they do from the top of the John Hancock (Chicago) building?!!! Paul ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 12 Aug 1993 15:01:04 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jeffrey=Young%SQA%Banyan@MAGNOLIA.BANYAN.COM Subject: Re: High hives Paul: The Smithsonian in DC has a hive at least three stories high. This makes sense; Bees have been building hives is high places (trees) for millions of years . Good place to live as not many critters around at that altitude to bother them. jeff young jyoung@banyan.com ----------------------[Reply - Original Message]---------------------- Poster: ez000127@DALE.UCDAVIS.EDU Subject: High hives ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hello again, Does anyone know how high up one can put hives? Right now, we have a healthy observation hive about 20ft. up, but I'm wondering how bees will do if I put a hive >5 stories up. How will they do from the top of the John Hancock (Chicago) building?!!! Paul ===================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 13 Aug 1993 09:19:23 +1200 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Murray Reid Subject: High hives -Reply We have had hives 5 stories up on the roof in Auckland city and they did just fine...2 boxes of honey each.Main problem was getting the honey down to the basement without leaving a trail of bees and honey all thru the building! ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 13 Aug 1993 13:48:52 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Adrian Wenner Subject: Re: August issue of APIS In-Reply-To: <9308101254.AA29854@lifesci.lscf.ucsb.edu>; from "Malcolm" at Aug 9, 93 11:38 am 13 August 1993 / 1335 Dear Tom, In your August issue of APIS, you wrote about AHB on the move. I quote, in part: "The first death attributed to this insect was reported in Texas and several confirmed finds near Sasabe make Arizona the second state t o be officially invaded. This will put the bee on California's doorstep son. That state has developed a logo and several information programs for its citizenry..." I am now getting calls from county health personnel for information about how to cope with the problem, but all seem to be ignorant about the logo and "several information programs." Could you please provide further information to me, please? Thank you in advance. Adrian M. Wenner Prof. of Natural History, Emeritus Dept. of Biol. Sciences wenner@lifesci.ucsb.edu Univ. of Calif., Santa Barbara Phone: (805) 893-2838 Santa Barbara, CA 93106 FAX: (805) 893-8062 ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 15 Aug 1993 17:37:07 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Son Trinh Subject: mandible strength Hello, I'm new on this group, but nevertheless, I am posing a question... How strong are bees' mandibles? I noticed they can carry quite large pieces of wax, and they also can drag out dead bees outside the hive. When they "nibble" on my skin, it sometimes hurts! Are there any papers describing the force which they can exert with their mandibles?!! Thanks, Sojn ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1993 00:05:00 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: marty hyatt Subject: Re: mandible strength Sojn: Have you seen the mandibles on a female carpenter bee? Now *those* are mandibles. I suppose a rough guess could be made about force based on the wood that they chew through. I don't know if anyone has measured this. My guess would be that if you caught a female carpenter bee and put her in a cage, she would try to chew her way out. And if there wasn't much to chew on in the cage except a thin piece of tubing .... Sounds like an interesting project... or just another event for the bee olympics... Marty ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1993 01:41:44 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: ERIC HUTCHENS {BUGS_R_US} Subject: bee pests need some help, and I think someone out there might be able to help me how you are all interested in bees. I need to find someone that is doing research on the greater wax moth, "Gallaria.mellonella" a real pest for some beekeepers. I raise insects for research and we use to have a colony of insects, but our company said they didn't want to use them anymore, so we killed the colony. Now they tell us that they want to start up a new project and it needs to be done ASAP. Anyway we called the USDA and some guy said problem, that was two weeks ago, and no eggs have come in the mail . My boss called the USDA and they said that the guy that knows about this is gone on vacation for the next few weeks. So if anyone knows anyone who might be willing to sell,trade,barter,donate, any eggs of this insect I would be forever greatful THANKS.....Eric Phone: 415-354-Fax: 415-857- Internet: Hutchens@palres.dnet.sandoz. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1993 11:35:23 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Malcolm (Tom) Sanford, Florida Extension Apiculturist" Subject: Re: August issue of APIS Adrian Wenner has brought to my attention the fact that many in California do not know about the logo and several information programs for the citizenry of California. My information came from the newsletter, From the UC Apiaries, written by Dr. Eric Mussen, Entomology Extension, UC Davis, ph 916/752-0472, ECMUSSEN@UCDAVIS.EDU....Eric writes: "The 'official, state-wide' informational pamphlet on AHBs is hot off the press. It is a two-sided, folded into four panels pamphlet, printed 'landscape' on a legal (8/12 X 14") size sheet of colored paper. Even though there was a substantial sum of money devoted to this project, the first 50,000 copies disappeared 'into the system.' Copies will be available at county extension and agricultural commissioner's offices." For those wanting more information directly, contact Eric directly. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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: Mon, 16 Aug 1993 15:09:26 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Dave D. Cawley, a De Leon Socialist" Subject: Bees In My Garden Howdy Folks! Today was the second time I saw bees in my garden all summer. This time they were buzzing around the tassles of my corn (last time in pumpkin flowers). Is there anything in the corn for them? Also they had these large, bright yellow, almost hexagonal (8 sided) yellow things stuck to their hind most legs, what they heck are they? And why haven't they been around at all this summer, the wasps, bumble bees and yellowjackets have been there in droves! I'll give you a list of things in my garden if that helps... Tomatoes (4 different kinds), broccolli, califlower, onions, sweet peppers (green and yellow), brussel sprouts, winter squash, cucumbers, eggplant, pumpkins, radishes, lettuce, watermellon and corn. ******************************************************************************** Dave D. Cawley | University of Scranton | SAVE THE SMALL POX VIRUS!!! ddc1@jaguar.uofs.edu | ddc1@SCRANTON | ******************************************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1993 15:25:55 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Adam Finkelstein Subject: Re: Bees In My Garden In-Reply-To: from "Dave D. Cawley, a De Leon Socialist" at Aug 16, 93 03:09:26 pm Bees love corn pollen, and at this time of year I would think they are using the protein in this copious source to rear new brood for the fall. Adam -- Adam Finkelstein VDACS Apiary Inspector 116 Reservoir St. Harrisonburg, VA 22801 adamf@hopper.acs.virginia.edu ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1993 16:14:05 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Dave D. Cawley, a De Leon Socialist" Subject: Re: Bees In My Garden > Bees love corn pollen, and at this time of year I would think they are > using the protein in this copious source to rear new brood for the fall. Ah! I expected them to be in my garden all summer but they weren't! I figured I had some nice nectar sources for them, but maybe not. I didn't even see them after everything dried up due to no rain for 2 months (we'd have 20 minutes showers every so often, but nothing substantial). ******************************************************************************** Dave D. Cawley | University of Scranton | SAVE THE SMALL POX VIRUS!!! ddc1@jaguar.uofs.edu | ddc1@SCRANTON | ******************************************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 17 Aug 1993 08:49:33 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: David Clayton Subject: "Crisco" patties Does anyone have the recipe for "Crisco" patties with Terramycin for control of tracheal mites? I understand information on a new formulation was presented at EAS earlier this month which reported an 80% success level. Thanks. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- David Clayton; Assistant Director Internet: dclayton@uriacc.uri.edu U. of Rhode Island Academic Computing Bitnet: dclayton@uriacc Kingston, RI 02881 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 18 Aug 1993 13:06:08 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Stephen Bambara Subject: Re: bee sting revisited In-Reply-To: <9308091827.AA23434@wolf.ces.ncsu.edu> from "Winifred Doane" at Aug 9, 93 11:20:22 am > > The suggestion to use meat tenderizer for bee stings was not intended to deal w > ith the problem of the African ("Africanized") bee. Obviously, the latter requ > ires considerable more research before an adequate medical solution becomes ava > ilable. Mark Winston's well-written little book on the Killer Bees makes this > point all too clear. > Winifred Doane > Professor, ASU, Tempe > Maybe Wildebeast meat tenderizer would work for Africanized Bees? :) -- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= | 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: Thu, 19 Aug 1993 08:56:33 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Adam Finkelstein Subject: new extender patty recipe? Hello bee liners...someone asked for the extender patty recipes coming from E.A.S. this year. I too would like this information please. thanks, may the flow be with you. Adam -- Adam Finkelstein VDACS Apiary Inspector 116 Reservoir St. Harrisonburg, VA 22801 703-433-1006 703-434-5607(fax) adamf@hopper.acs.virginia.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 19 Aug 1993 11:07:34 CDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: James Harley Cane Subject: graduate research opportunity with bees and pollination FROM: James Harley Cane, Associate Professor TO: bee-l@uacsc2.albany.edu * GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIP * available beginning winter quarter, 1994 USDA-sponsored 3-year collaborative research project to assess the consequences of doubled UV exposure for sexual reproduction of flowering plants and their pollinators. This intensification of UV irradiation is predicted to result if stratospheric ozone continues to be depleted over the next 25 years. Research at Auburn will focus on pollinator fitness, using a species of stem-nesting bee. Females will be constrained to provision their nests with pollen and nectar gathered at treated or control plants in greenhouse experiments. Experience gained will be widely applicable to global change research, experimental pollination and foraging ecology, and studies of herbivory. Interested students with a background in ecology, botany or entomology are encouraged to apply. Applicants should have a MS or BS plus relevant research experience. Send a resume with transcripts, GPA, GRE scores and cover letter to: Jim Cane, Department of Entomology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849-5413 Questions may be directed to the above address, or by e-mail to jcane@ag.auburn.edu * Screening of candidates will begin September 15 * ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 19 Aug 1993 12:59:29 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: KESLER@RHODES.BITNET Subject: Invertase Lab Exercise Do you have any suggestions on how to conduct a laboratory exercise for nonscience majors using invertase? I am teaching a biology survey course using bees as the "thread of continuity", and would like to use invertase since it is important in nectar processing. David Kesler Rhodes College Kesler@Rhodes.bitnet ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 19 Aug 1993 11:15:51 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Teri Rhan {FMO} Subject: Re: new extender patty recipe? In-Reply-To: <9308191257.AA02815@mx1.cac.washington.edu> Ok, the way I've have scribbled on my Beez Neez Catalog which is the way I made the patties: 1/2 c. shortening 1/2 c. powdered sugar 1 t. terramycin make into 4 patties placed on waxed paper. Personally, I found they handle better if I freeze 'em but they thaw very quickly. Teri On Thu, 19 Aug 1993, Adam Finkelstein wrote: > Hello bee liners...someone asked for the extender patty recipes coming from > E.A.S. this year. I too would like this information please. > thanks, > may the flow be with you. > Adam > -- > Adam Finkelstein > VDACS Apiary Inspector > 116 Reservoir St. > Harrisonburg, VA 22801 > 703-433-1006 > 703-434-5607(fax) adamf@hopper.acs.virginia.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 19 Aug 1993 13:27:49 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: KESLER@RHODES.BITNET Subject: Propolis and Antibacterial Activity Do you know of the best method to test antibacterial activity of propolis? Simply placing a glob on a streaked plate and measuring zone of inhibition is not too quantitative. Has anybody impregnated sterile filter-paper disks with some dissovled propolis? If so, do you know the best solvent? Thank you in advance. David Kesler Rhodes College Kesler@Rhodes.bitnet ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 19 Aug 1993 15:12:02 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Malcolm (Tom) Sanford, Florida Extension Apiculturist" Subject: Re: Invertase Lab Exercise Those with ideas, please address them to the net...thanks ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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, 19 Aug 1993 15:14:38 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Malcolm (Tom) Sanford, Florida Extension Apiculturist" Subject: Re: new extender patty recipe? Jack Thomas at Mann Lake Supply has a labelled TM patty...I know, it costs more and isn't do-it-yourself, but he has put some science into making a uniform product...see article on Mann Lake Supply in August Bee Culture... ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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, 19 Aug 1993 15:20:03 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Malcolm (Tom) Sanford, Florida Extension Apiculturist" Subject: September APIS FILENAME: SEPAPIS.93 Florida Extension Beekeeping Newsletter Apis--Apicultural Information and Issues (ISSN 0889-3764) Volume 11, Number 9, September 1993 INSTITUTE CANCELLED--END OF AN ERA? Florida's showcase educational event, the Beekeepers Institute, died this year. Here at the University we are still in shock. Although there have been huge changes in beekeeping, the Institute was always there, seemingly as solid as a rock, something we could count on each August to kind of wrap up the beekeeping year. As registrations came in this year, however, it became apparent that 1993 would be different. We had only twenty four full-time participants by Friday, August 6, the official deadline for early registration, with only one week to go. We needed an additional thirty to even consider making a go of it; we got one more on Monday after the decision to cancel had been made. In order to put into perspective what happened, it is instructive to look back at the history of the Beekeepers Institute. According to Mr. John D. Haynie, author the Hum of the Hive, the predecessor to this newsletter, the first Florida Beekeepers Institute was held in August, 1957 at 4-H Camp McQuarrie in Astor Park, FL with 63 persons attending. At that time, it was decided that this would be an annual event. The next year, 94 persons registered; most came from Dade, Lake and Orange counties, 22 counties in total were represented. One hundred ten attended the sixth Institute, 4-H Camp Cherry Lake, Madison, FL in 1962. The tenth Institute was held at 4-H Camp McQuarrie in 1966 with 133 in attendance. At that time, Vern Davis, Phil Packard, Arthur Brady and Ralph Wadlow were honored for ten years' perfect attendance. Significantly, Mr. Packard died early this year following Mr. Wadlow by just a few months. Mr. Wadlow last attended the institute in 1992, only two months before his death, and Mr. Packard was present in 1990. "Honey" Haynie retired in 1971 and Dr. Dan Minnick presided over the 15th Beekeepers Institute. Dr. Minnick said in 1972, when he turned the beekeeping extension program over to Dr. Freddie Johnson, "...we asked you to let us know if you wanted to continue the Beekeepers Institute because of lack of participation (203 people representing 103 families attended the last Institute)." How this could be interpreted as "lack of participation" is difficult to understand, for this was the greatest attendance at the event that I can find and coincided with what many say was the heyday of beekeeping in Florida. "So far," Dr. Minnick concluded, "we have heard from 214 persons of 1,800." The latter figure was the number of persons at the time receiving the Hum of the Hive beekeeping extension newsletter. And the Institutes continued. Over a hundred attended the 1973 event and three more were coordinated by Dr. Johnson. In 1977, after 18 years of Beekeepers Institutes, they were replaced for two years by a beekeeping short course held on campus at the University of Florida, jointly administered by Dr. Johnson and Frank Robinson. Yours truly came on the Florida scene for the first time in 1979, invited down from the Ohio State University, to give a presentation at the second annual short course. By popular demand, Dr. Johnson ran two more Institutes before I became extension apiculturist in 1981. We both participated in the one held that year at 4-H Camp Cloverleaf in Lake Placid, FL. I coordinated the 21st Florida Beekeepers Institute the following year at 4-H Camp Cherry Lake in 1982. This marked the beginning of participation by Dr. Alan Bolten, who was to be actively involved in this event until 1987. In 1983, the venue was 4-H Camp Cloverleaf in Lake Placid, FL, selected when acquisition of the current site, 4-H Camp Ocala was delayed. 1984 was a pivotal year. 4-H Camp Ocala became the permanent home of the Florida Beekeepers Institute. It was centrally located, and most importantly, air conditioned. Because attendance was declining, several ideas were implemented to increase participation. A brochure was sent to the APIS mailing list advertising the event. In addition, we began to offer open-hive demonstrations. Finally, the event was switched to a weekend so that more persons could attend. Previously, the Institute had been held Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, effectively eliminating many that were not full-time beekeepers. The strategy worked; that year 130 attended, the largest attendance in the 1980s! Unfortunately, we were never able to come close to the 1984 participation again. Through the rest of the 1980s, attendance limped along, averaging about 75. It fell to an all time low of 57 in 1991, but recovered to 75 for the 1992 event, the 30th Florida Beekeepers Institute. After Dr. Bolten departed, we invited speakers from out of state to help make up for his contributions. Without exception these speakers were well received by participants, enjoyed the 4-H camp experience immensely and were very favorably impressed with the event. Unfortunately, partly as a result of the changes implemented in 1984 (out-of-state speakers, bee hive rental, air conditioned cabins, brochures), costs began to rise dramatically. The 1981 Institute cost $16.50 per person. By 1984, the registration fee had gone to $40.00. In 1988, it reached $65.00, the advertised price this year. Because the cost remained the same, we cannot attribute the extreme drop off in registration in 1993 necessarily to that factor. Time and again those attending have indicated that the cost was reasonable for six meals, two nights of accommodations and the beekeeping information received. Part of the answer for lackluster attendance through the 1980s and 1990s may lie in the different population the Institute now caters to. For the traditional Florida commercial beekeeper, the event provided a chance to relax and get together with colleagues. Many of those people we all came to know and love, who showed up year after year at the Institute, are no longer with us. They have been replaced by part-timers whose energies are split between beekeeping and other activities. For them, the Institute is no longer the only logical option come the end of August each year. Though they might attend on occasion, it is impossible to come every year, and their numbers simply can't make up for the loss of the old timers. This is exacerbated by the fact that there are fewer total beekeepers as evidenced by the size of the present APIS mailing list, reduced to less than half of what it was in 1972. In essence, there has been a paradigm shift. The old- fashioned unairconditioned, low tech, rotating 4-H camp Institute with its smoker-lighting and hive-nailing contests was replaced by the new-style Institute located permanently in one spot, featuring out-of-state speakers, open-hive demonstrations, air conditioning and video demonstrations. It, too, is apparently destined to be replaced. The question remains with what? I hope the readership of this newsletter and those that attended the Institute over the years will help me to determine what format they would like the premier beekeeping educational event in the state to take in the future. OTHER FLORIDA EVENTS Although the Beekeepers Institute will not be held this year, there are other opportunities for beekeepers to get together. Mr. Malcolm Bullard is coordinating an educational event September 11, 1993 in the Florida panhandle near Pensacola, FL. Details are still being hammered out, but right now both Mr. Laurence Cutts and myself are planning to be on hand. The focus is projected to be queen management; open-hive demonstrations will be featured. Cost is projected to be about $20, which includes two meals. Contact Mr. Bullard at 904/478-7690. The Florida State Beekeepers Association will meet November 4,5, and 6 in West Palm Beach, FL. For details, contact Ms. Eloise Cutts, Executive Secretary, 2237 NW 16th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32605, ph 904/378-7719. A unique event will take place in Jacksonville, FL Saturday, October 9, 1993. A session entitled: "Bee-Tending for Backyard Pollination" will be held at the auditorium of the Museum of Science and Industry, 1025 Museum Circle. This seminar will be for those interested in tending honey bees strictly as pollinating agents. A registration fee of $1.00 per person will be collected for the seminar along with museum admission fee of $5.00. Checks for $1.00 per person attending must be made out to the Clay County Horticulture Advisory Committee (CCHAC) and sent to P.O. Box 278, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043-0278 no later than October 6, 1993. For further details, contact Mr. Ray Zerba, Clay County Cooperative Extension Service, ph 904/284-6355. After the bee session, stay and see the featured exhibit, "Backyard Monsters Will Really Bug You," an assortment of computerized, animatronic, 100-times life size insects and arachnids. Seating is limited and no children will be allowed in the bee tending seminar. Finally, in January 1994, Florida is fortunate to again host the annual meeting of the American Beekeeping Federation (Jan. 18 through 23) in Orlando. Details will be forthcoming in the bee journals and this newsletter. For the latest information, contact the Secretary-Treasurer, Mr. Troy Fore, Jr., P.O. Box 1038, Jesup, GA 31545, ph/fax 912/427-8447. NEVER SAY NEVER It has been brought to my attention that I may have overstated the case last month concerning Varroa resistance to fluvalinate. When it comes to life, it is not wise to say "never" as many of us have learned to our dismay. In science, however, it is almost never wise to say "definite." This word raises a red flag, because there are generally a great many variables that cannot be adequately controlled in most experiments. Science is in the business of asking questions, not necessarily providing "definite" answers, one of the reasons for much of the frustration with scientists that many agricultural producers have on occasion. Unfortunately, I did use this word in last month's APIS when I said, "...a study of 72 hives which showed that definite resistance to fluvalinate (Apistan (R) strips) has shown up in northern Italy." With the aid of my Italian dictionary, I can find no evidence that the offending word was in fact used in the article. The English summary says: "The results obtained suggest tath (sic) varroa had become resistant to fluvalinate." My apologies to the author, Giulio Loglio, "Varroa jacobsoni Oud.: comparsa di resistenza al fluvalinate?" Apicolt. mod. 84:7-10 (1993). Alert readers also caught a mathematical error in last month's issue. In 1992, Florida honey production was 22,880,000 pounds. Using the 22,880 figure I reported would have meant that Florida colonies on the average produced less than a pound of honey surplus that year! MITICUR (R) NEWS In a letter dated August 4, 1993, Hoechst-Roussel Agri-Vet Company (HRAVC) has provided some long-sought guidance to beekeepers concerning Miticur (R). The news does not appear to be good: "Since our investigations have not identified the cause of reactions allegedly resulting from the 300 strip packages, we have determined in an excess of caution to also instruct all beekeepers not to use Miticur (R) strips packaged in bags of 30 strips and to follow the instructions set forth below. This is in addition to the instruction that beekeepers not use strips packaged in bags of 300's. 1) DO NOT TREAT COLONIES WITH MITICUR (R) PACKAGED IN 30 STRIPS PER BAG PACKAGES. Any unopened packages of 30 strips per bag of Miticur (R) or unused strips originally from packages of 30's should be stored pending further instructions from HRAVC. If you have any unopened packages of 30 strips per bag of Miticur (R) or unused strips originally from packages of 30's, please complete the enclosed Request for Reimbursement and return it immediately to HRAVC in the envelope provided (but in any event not later than August 30, 1993). We will process your request and provide you with further instructions as soon as possible. A legible copy of the original invoice must accompany the Request for Reimbursement. 2) MITICUR (R) STRIPS ARE NOT REUSABLE. If you have purchased Miticur (R) packaged in 30 strips per bag packages, and have used those strips in a hive, then such strips should be disposed of in accordance with the label and not reused. 3) If you have purchased Miticur (R) on behalf of other apiaries, please advice them of this correspondence and instruct them to contact HRAVC. 4) Since we have been unable to identify the cause of the reported reactions, beekeepers should not use Miticur (R) (whether from bags of 30 or 300 strips) to control tracheal and varroa mites in bees. Alternate treatment regimens should be used. HRAVC appreciates your cooperation in this matter. If you have questions with regard to these instructions concerning Miticur (R) bee strips packaged 30 strips to a bag, please call 1-800-723-6516. The Request for Reimbursement enclosed with this letter applied only to Miticur (R) strips originally packaged in bags of 30's and does not apply to any Miticur (R) strips from packages of 300's. Any inquiries concerning Miticur (R) strips from packages of 300's should be directed to NOR-AM Chemical Company at telephone number 302/892-3000." Not specifically stated in the letter is the one burning question beekeepers have about the product. Will it continue to be marketed by the company? It would indeed be unfortunate to lose the product as an acceptable alternative to fluvalinate Apistan(R) for Varroa mite control. 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 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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, 19 Aug 1993 16:53:56 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: ERIK@ACSPR1.ACS.BROCKPORT.EDU Subject: Re: bee pests --Original letter-- Return-Path:<@UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU:ratnieks@NATURE.BERKELEY.EDU> Received: from UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU [128.204.1.10] by acspr1.acs.brockport.edu ; 19 Aug 93 16:41:00 EDT Received: from UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU by UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with BSMTP id 2463; Thu, 19 Aug 93 16:37:42 EDT Received: from UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU (NJE origin LISTSERV@ALBNYVM1) by UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU (LMail V1.1d/1.7f) with BSMTP id 9532; Thu, 19 Aug 1993 16:37:42 -0400 Received: from ALBNYVM1 (NJE origin SMTP@ALBNYVM1) by UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU (LMail V1.1d/1.7f) with BSMTP id 9530; Thu, 19 Aug 1993 16:37:42 -0400 Received: from cmsa.Berkeley.EDU by UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with TCP; Thu, 19 Aug 93 16:37:40 EDT Received: from nak.berkeley.edu by cmsa.Berkeley.EDU (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with TCP; Thu, 19 Aug 93 13:38:28 PDT Received: from nature.Berkeley.EDU by nak.berkeley.edu (5.67/1.40) id AA08691; Thu, 19 Aug 93 13:38:45 -0700 Received: from moth.Berkeley.EDU by nature.berkeley.edu.cnr-net (4.1/SMI-4.1) id AA20179; Thu, 19 Aug 93 13:40:18 PDT From: ratnieks@nature.berkeley.edu Message-Id: <9308192040.AA20179@nature.berkeley.edu.cnr-net> Subject: Re: bee pests To: @CMSA.BERKELEY.EDU:owner-bee-l@UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU (ERIC HUTCHENS {BUGS_R_US}) Date: Thu, 19 Aug 93 13:39:53 PDT In-Reply-To: <9308160547.AA03923@nature.berkeley.edu.cnr-net>; from "ERIC HUTCHENS {BUGS_R_US}" at Aug 16, 93 1:41 am X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.2 PL5] Wax moths can be purchased in pet stores. They are used to feed reptiles. I just bought some yeterday at the "East Bay Vivarium" in Berkeley, CA, at a cost of $6 for ca. 150. They can also be purchased through biological supply companies. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 20 Aug 1993 09:41:11 +0100 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Malcolm Roe Subject: Re: Propolis and Antibacterial Activity In-Reply-To: <01H1XJ4X5YMQ0005AD@RHODES.BITNET> from "KESLER%RHODES.bitnet@UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU" at Aug 19, 93 01:27:49 pm > Has anybody impregnated sterile filter-paper disks with some dissovled > propolis? If so, do you know the best solvent? Alcohol (ethanol). -- 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, 20 Aug 1993 17:47:37 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Paul F. Lehmann" Subject: Re: Invertase Lab Exercise The products of invertase are reducing sugars. sucrose is hydrolyzed to glucose and fructose with the latter being strongly reducing. You can test for the reducing products crudely by using hot (90 C) 0.5 N NaOH in which 2,3,5-triphenyl-2H-tetrazolium chloride monohydrate (Tetrazolium red) is dissolved at 1 mg/ml just before doing the test. I.e take sucrose solution maybe 0.1 g per ml in 0.1 M sodium acetete buffer at pH 5.5. Incubate with extract containing invertase. Add a drop or two of above reagent then heat quickly in a microwave/ put in boiling bath. Take great care with the hot alkali. Best to let the stuff sit for a time. The dye is unstable over time but this is a quick and dirty screening method. If you can do electrophoresis demonstrations, the invertase activity can be stained on polyacrylamide gels using the above stain. Electrophoresis is usually done using a Tris buffer. After electrophoresis, the gels should be first soaked in two changes of buffer to remove Tris as this inhibits glycosidases, then soaked in a sucrose solution in suitable buffer. For yeasts this has be the acetate buffer mentioned above. After sucrose has been hydrolyzed, this requires some trial runs to establish typical times, the gel is then dropped into hot alkaline tetrazolium red solution and the fructose stains (Gabriel & Wang, 1969. Analytical Biochemistry 27:545-554). For more quantitative assays of invertase, use a glucose oxidase reagent to measure the amount of glucose released from sucrose. Remember alpha glucosidases also hydrolyse sucrose so appear to have an invertase activity. In my opinion, the term invertase is best restricted to those enzymes that are beta-fructofuranosidases. However, if you are dealing with alpha-glucosidases, assays are much easier. For example you can probably use nitrophenyl-alpha-D-glucoside as a substrate, adding 1 M sodium carbonate to stop/slow the reaction and maximize the color of the nitrophenol without cleaving the substrate. Is this what you needed? Or ideas of principles using invertase? Paul Lehmann Ph.D. Department of Microbiology Med Coll Ohio Toledo Lehmann%opus@mcoiarc.bitnet ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 22 Aug 1993 20:54:20 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Peter Kevan Subject: Re: Bees In My Garden In-Reply-To: Message of Mon, 16 Aug 1993 16:14:05 -0500 from CORN POLLEN Honey bees take lots of corn pollen, mostly in the mornings at about 8 - 11 a.m. The period of pollen release corresponds to those times. It has been suggested that later in the day, the pollen which is still available, becomes dry and too difficult for the bees to pack into their pollen baskets. Cheers, Peter Kevan ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 23 Aug 1993 09:37:39 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: KESLER@RHODES.BITNET Subject: invertase In both Gould's and Winston's books a reference is made to invertase's ability to retard bacterial growth. "...[invertase] converts sugars to a chemical form that bacterial and many molds cannot metabolize" (Gould). "These enzymes break down sugars into simple inverted forms ... and also protect the stored honey from bacterial attack." Is there some other mechanism from monosaccaride production besides simply increasing osmotic pressure which retards bacterial growth? ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 23 Aug 1993 16:24:15 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: KESLER@RHODES.BITNET Subject: latest statistics? Are there current and reliable statistics on the number of beekeepers in the U.S. or North America and the value (in $$) of the honey they produce and pollen services they provide? ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 24 Aug 1993 01:35:36 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Michael Moroney Subject: Re: invertase I believe an enzyme in honey also converts some glucose into hydrogen peroxide. This is also an antibiotic in honey. -Mike ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 24 Aug 1993 13:50:40 +0000 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jean-Marie Van Dyck Subject: Propolis Solutions David asked ... > Has anybody impregnated sterile filter-paper disks with some dissovled > propolis? If so, do you know the best solvent? > > David Kesler Rhodes College Kesler@Rhodes.bitnet Malcolm answer : > Alcohol (ethanol). > > -- > Malcolm Roe Phone : +44 442 230000 ext 4104 To be complete, the answer must be a little more subtle ... 1/ Ethanol Different described methods use either absolute alcohol (96 % ethanol?) or 70 % ethanol. It seems that the latest (70%) is better to extract *all* the antibiotic substances. After this first choice you could work cold, warm or hot ... perhaps some antibacterial are hot-sensitive. 2/ Ether (diethyl ether) Ether is a good solvent for propolis when people must evaporate the solvent. I don't know if the full antibacterial substances are extracted but all the small organic compounds are in the extract with rapidly drying. 3/ DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide or methyl sulfoxide) DMSO is an excellent solvent for propolis when you must add them to solutions for cultured cells when ethanol may interfere in the milieu (or to be toxic to the cells). There are a lot of papers about propolis and its extract(ion) ... I don't have the references within reach but I can find it if necessary ! Jean-Marie email : jmvandyck@cc.fundp.ac.be ... ****************************************************************************** Baudouin Albert Charles Leopold Axel Maria Gustave of Saxe-Coburg Gotha (1930-1993) Fifth Constitutional King of The Belgians, 1950-1993 ****************************************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1993 10:56:00 BST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: poppy@AFRC.AC.UK Subject: Sniffer dogs and foulbrood I have just read an article which mentioned the use of sniffer dogs for detecting foul brood in Maryland. Does anyone have any more info concerning such a system. Was the sniffer dog also used to detect other diseases? I am interested in what the dog used as a cue - was it the overall smell of putrification or does foul brood release a specific odour? If anyone has any knowledge about the use of odour cues as warnings against disease in bees, then please contact me. I eagerly await replie Guy Poppy Dept Entomology/Nematology Rothamsted Experimental Station Harpenden Herts UK ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1993 19:35:28 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: ROGLRUIZ@BRUSP.ANSP.BR Subject: REFERENCES ABOUT PLANTS (SOURCE OF NECTAR AND POLEN) DEARS BEE-L. I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF SOMEONE HAVE REFERENCES ABOUT PLANTS THAT ARE SOURCE OF NECTAR AND POLEN. I'M A BRAZILIAN STUDENT OF ANIMAL SCIENCE...AND I'M LOOKING FOR THIS REFERENCES TO A SEMINAR IN A COURSE OF BOTANY. THANKS ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 27 Aug 1993 07:07:32 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: KESLER@RHODES.BITNET Subject: Fumidil B Is the mechanism by which Fumidil B works to "kill" Nosema known? ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 30 Aug 1993 16:30:57 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Celso Martins Organization: Universidade Federal da Paraiba-JP/BRASIL Subject: Re: Nectar and polen plants in Brazil A student in Brazil (I don't remember who) asked for references about nectar and polen plants. There is a new book, about urban plants,in portuguese: Jose Rubens Pirani & Marilda Cortopassi-Laurino (eds.). 1993. Flores e Abelhas em Sao Paulo. EDUSP, Sao Paulo, 192 p. Hope this help. Celso F. Martins Dep. Sistematica e Ecologia CCEN Universidade Federal da Paraiba Joao Pessoa PB Brasil 58059-900 Email: CENDSE05@BRUFPB.BITNET ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 30 Aug 1993 13:43:56 -0600 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jerry J Bromenshenk Multiple Recipients of List BEE-L We are building and testing honey bee flight chambers in aseptic isolation chambers. The goal is to design inexpensive chambers, easy to build, and use. Object is to fly bees from mini-nucs for 3-6 weeks in the chambers without - the colony dwindling away or all the bees stuck in the corners of the chamber. We need cheap chambers so that we can get adequate replication for our experiments. So far, we have come up with the following: 1. Eliminate corners 2. Use diffuse, non-directional light 3. Pick up the mini-nucs during the day to get rid of old foragers 4. May be able to train bees to fly to feeding station Rumor has it that the Germans have worked out the latest in chamber technology. I have found some of the literature on their flight tests, but little on chamber design. Also hear that a symposium was held a few years ago (possibly as part of the International Union for the Study of Social Insects???). Either I have the name of the society wrong, or nobody has their proceedings - my searches end up a big zero. Needless to say, I needed the information yesterday. Weather in Montana will take a decided turn for the worst shortly. I have the nucs established and the isolation chamber. Any ideas, recommendations, details on existing or proposed chambers would be greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Jerry J. Bromenshenk Division of Biological Sciences The University of Montana Missoula, MT 59812-1002 Tel: (406) 243-5648 Fax: (406) 243-4184 Internet: jjbmail@selway.umt.edu Bitnet: jjbmail@cunyvm ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 30 Aug 1993 16:52:32 +0000 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Rick Hough Subject: RE>flight chambers Date 8/30/93 Subject RE>flight chambers >From Rick Hough To Jerry Bromenshenk, Discussion of Bee Biology Reply to: RE>flight chambers Jerry Bromenshenk writes (regarding flight chambers): >So far, we have come up with the following: > >1. Eliminate corners >2. Use diffuse, non-directional light >3. Pick up the mini-nucs during the day to get rid of old foragers >4. May be able to train bees to fly to feeding station Sorry Jerry, I don't have any details on chamber design - but I do have a few comments (keep in mind I am not an academic, but a beekeeper w/only a couple years of experience): 1) Eliminating corners seems like an easy way out - does anyone know why the bees get "stuck" in the corners?? Are they simply trying to fly "home" to the nuc location they originally oriented to?? 2) Using diffuse lighting - it seems to me that this would confuse the bees - I was under the impression that the bees use the sun as a navigational aid (primarily the UV components, I think). Without a substitute sun, I think it would be *very* difficult for the bees to communicate the location of a feeding station. 3) Pick up the nucs during the day to get rid of old foragers - this works, but at the penalty of losing all those hard-working foragers. If you move the nuc more than 3 miles (in a single direction - not 1.5 miles out, and then 1.5 miles back to the same location!) the bees will "reorient" to the new location. This way, you can move the hive at night (with nearly all the bees), and the old foragers can still be a useful. 4) Training bees to fly to a feeding station - good luck - I'm not sure this is training in the traditional sense, but if the bees can navigate, and they find the feeding station and are able to return home to tell the rest of the colony where the feeding station is, you can rest assured that the other bees will come visit the feeding station, especially if that is the only sustinance available!!! Again, please take my comments in the light intended - I'm just someone who has been keeping bees a couple of years, and has listen to the traffic on BEE-L for a while - I am not by any stretch of the imagination a scholar or researcher. Good luck with your research - I would be interested to hear about your findings - maybe you could post a summary to BEE-L sometime?? Rick Hough rshough@tasc.com, a hobby beekeeper from Hamilton, MA (NE of Boston). ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 30 Aug 1993 16:49:58 -0600 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jerry J Bromenshenk Subject: Re: RE>flight chambers In-Reply-To: (null) On Mon, 30 Aug 1993, Rick Hough wrote: > Date 8/30/93 > Subject RE>flight chambers > >From Rick Hough > To Jerry Bromenshenk, Discussion of Bee Biology > > Reply to: RE>flight chambers > Jerry Bromenshenk writes (regarding flight chambers): > > >So far, we have come up with the following: > > > >1. Eliminate corners > >2. Use diffuse, non-directional light > >3. Pick up the mini-nucs during the day to get rid of old foragers > >4. May be able to train bees to fly to feeding station > > Sorry Jerry, I don't have any details on chamber design - but I do have > a few comments (keep in mind I am not an academic, but a beekeeper > w/only a couple years of experience): > > 1) Eliminating corners seems like an easy way out - does anyone know > why the bees get "stuck" in the corners?? Are they simply trying to > fly "home" to the nuc location they originally oriented to?? Bees in greenhouses and cages go to the light and get stuck on the barrier (i.e., the corners) > > 2) Using diffuse lighting - it seems to me that this would confuse the > bees - I was under the impression that the bees use the sun as a > navigational aid (primarily the UV components, I think). Without a > substitute sun, I think it would be *very* difficult for the bees to > communicate the location of a feeding station. > Yes, but at short distances they home on the landmarks. Again, the problem is bees trying to get to the light. > 3) Pick up the nucs during the day to get rid of old foragers - this works, > but at the penalty of losing all those hard-working foragers. If you > move the nuc more than 3 miles (in a single direction - not 1.5 miles out, > and then 1.5 miles back to the same location!) the bees will "reorient" to > the new location. This way, you can move the hive at night (with nearly > all the bees), and the old foragers can still be a useful. > A beekeeper who pollinates strawberries in greenhouses does this. The intent is loss of the field force. They learned to fly in a world with no boundaries. They don't re-learn very easily. Naive bees may not have the same problem. > 4) Training bees to fly to a feeding station - good luck - I'm not sure this > is training in the traditional sense, but if the bees can navigate, and they > find the feeding station and are able to return home to tell the rest of > the colony where the feeding station is, you can rest assured that the > other bees will come visit the feeding station, especially if that is the > only sustinance available!!! > In this case the rest of the world are the bees in the mini-nuc. We want to encourage their flight in the chambers. > Again, please take my comments in the light intended - I'm just someone > who has been keeping bees a couple of years, and has listen to the > traffic on BEE-L for a while - I am not by any stretch of the imagination > a scholar or researcher. > > Good luck with your research - I would be interested to hear about your > findings - maybe you could post a summary to BEE-L sometime?? > > Rick Hough > rshough@tasc.com, a hobby beekeeper from Hamilton, MA (NE of Boston). Beekeepers often are my best source of information - e.g., the suggestion of moving bees in the day. Thanks for the prompt response. Jerry