From LISTSERV@UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU Sun Oct 2 15:48:22 1994 Date: Sun, 2 Oct 1994 16:46:48 -0400 From: BITNET list server at ALBNYVM1 To: Allen Dick Subject: File: "BEE-L LOG9310" ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 4 Oct 1993 11:00:11 CST6CDT Reply-To: Bajema@dordt.edu Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Duane H. Bajema" Organization: Dordt College Subject: Bees congregating on east side of house I have been asked to solve a problem. A family in a town of 5,000 people in Northwest Iowa presently has a problem that in the latter part of an afternoon, bees are flying and congregating on brass door knobs on the east side (shade) of a house during the warmth of the afternoon. The bees are quite agitated. The bees are not foraging and they are not attracted to warmed corn syrup left in a lid below the knob. (The syrup was placed there to see if the bees would be attracted to the syrup - they were not.) The bees are gone in the evening. As a beekeeper, I see nothing that is attracting the bees (the knob has been cleaned). The bees are not attracted to other neighbors. This has occurred for a week with the bees being especially nasty at temperatures above 65 degrees F. There are no swarms in the house. No other neighbors have reported any swarms in homes or nearby trees. I am perplexed as to what is drawing the bees to the particular location. The clusters formed are about the size of a softball. There are no beekeepers in town that would have extracted honey that bees would be flying without a home hive. Does anyone have any theories as to the cause of this situation? ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 4 Oct 1993 18:50:06 +0000 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jean-Marie Van Dyck Subject: Re: Bees congregating ... Namur, Belgium Mon, 04 Oct 93 18:47 +0100 Reply-To: Bajema@dordt.edu Mon, 4 Oct 1993 11:00:11 CST6CDT Duane asked ... > Does anyone have any theories as to the cause of this situation? > In the latter part of an afternoon, bees are flying and congregating > on brass door knobs on the east side (shade) of a house during the > warmth. .. not yet a theorie but some other questions ... > The BEES ARE GONE in the evening. => they weren't swarming > The bees are quite agitated. THE KNOB HAS BEEN CLEANED ... .. 1/ before the bees agitation ? or after and no difference ? .. 2/ with soap and water ... or with a cleaning product containing some special solvent which was acting as a pheromone ? > The bees are not foraging ... .. perhaps they are needing some copper ? Cheers Jean-Marie ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 5 Oct 1993 02:23:05 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Michael Moroney Subject: Re: Bees congregating ... Did anyone use any unusual solvents in the house in question or on the knob? A not-uncommon solvent (I think amyl acetate) is the same as the bee alarm scent, so the bees may think the doorknob attacks bees or something. The alarm scent smells like banana to some people, does the doorknob have an odor? -Mike ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 5 Oct 1993 08:27:41 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "James D. Thomson" Subject: Re: Bees congregating ... In-Reply-To: Message of Tue, 5 Oct 1993 02:23:05 -0400 from If the doorknob is new, it may well have a varnish-like finish on it to keep it shiny. Could the bees be after resin rather than food? James Thomson ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 5 Oct 1993 17:28:00 CST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: tdahms@SLEDGE-PO.WEEG.UIOWA.EDU Subject: September 1993 'Buzz' - Iowa Honey Producers Submitted by Terry Dahms - President East Central Iowa Beekeepers internet: terry-dahms@uiowa.edu ----------------------------------------------------------------- THE BUZZ SEPTEMBER, 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------- STATE APIARISTS REPORT What beautiful fall weather we've been having! It is high time to harvest your honey. Be sure to check a little of your honey for moisture content before you extract. It should be 18.5% or less or else it may ferment and be ruined. You may send me a sample in a sealed plastic container and I'll check it with our refractometer and give you a call on the results. If the moisture level is too high then you can place your supers in a small room with a dehumidifier and/or fan running to dry out the honey. Anyone moving bees out of the state needs to contact me soon about getting a Certificate of Inspection. Get your supers off as soon as possible, so you can treat for the Varroa mite. To gain entry into most states colonies must test free of Varroa mites or be treated with an EPA-approved product for a period of time. It is getting pretty late to benefit from tracheal mite treatment because brood rearing will cease before too long. Menthol or any other tracheal mite chemical will only benefit the colony if there is a lot of brood rearing in progress at the time of treatment. In addition to mite treatments, supplemental feeding of your colonies may be necessary this time of the year. If you remove the surplus honey early and we have a good fall nectar flow from goldenrod, spanish needle or asters then you may not need to provide supplemental feed. Colonies should have 60-90 pounds of honey (not including the weight of bees, pollen, old dark comb, frames, hive bodies, bottom board and cover) to get through the winter. A heavy sugar syrup (2 parts sugar : 1 part hot water), high fructose corn syrup or frames of honey make the best fall feed. Fumadil-B or Nosema-X can be added to the syrup this fall to reduce the loss of bees or spring dwindling due to Nosema disease. State Fair attendance, the number of apiary exhibits and gross sales of honey products were down this year due to cool rainy weather. However, its still the largest event of its kind for promoting our industry in Iowa. The results of the judging of Apiary exhibits are reported on page 2. We also rely on the Fair to generate significant income for the Iowa Honey Producers Association. We are very concerned about Bob Gott who helped at the Honey Booth until he became ill and is still in the Intensive Care Unit at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines at the time of this writing. 1993 IOWA STATE FAIR RESULTS Sweepstakes Plaque Winner - Lynette Kellogg $213 1st runnerup - David Tull $211 2nd runnerup - Jesse Kellogg $100 3rd runnerup - Tim Laughlin $ 90 4th runnerup - Melissa Laughlin $ 79 Observation Hive Empty Frame 1st Place David Tull 1st Place Melissa Laughlin 2nd Place Jesse Kellogg 2nd Place Ray Tull 3rd Place Brian Powell 3rd Place Tim Laughlin 4th Place Tim Laughlin 4th Place Bill Van Roekel Cut Comb in Plastic Box White Extracted Honey 1st Place Tom Schuster 1st Place Melissa Laughlin 2nd Place Herman Bickle 2nd Place William Baker 3rd Place David Tull 3rd Place Herman Bickle 4th Place Bill Van Roekel 4th Place Matt Stewart Amber Extracted Honey Chunk Honey Combination 1st Place Ray Tull 1st Place David Tull 2nd Place David Tull 2nd Place Lynette Kellogg 3rd Place Lynette Kellogg 3rd Place Mike O'Hearn 4th Place Shane Kellogg 4th Place Lanny Buttz Plain Creamed Honey Frame of Extracting Honey 1st Place Lynette Kellogg 1st Place Tim Laughlin 2nd Place Jesse Kellogg 2nd Place Bill Van Roekel 3rd Place Lanny Buttz 3rd Place Melissa Laughlin 4th Place Bill Van Roekel 4th Place David Tull Block of Beeswax Beeswax Art (poured-mold) 1st Place Lynette Kellogg 1st Place Maxine Burns 2nd Place Maxine Burns 2nd Place Lynette Kellogg 3rd Place Tim Laughlin 3rd Place Norman Burns 4th Place David Tull 4th Place Jesse Kellogg Flavored Creamed Honey Handcrafted Beeswax Art 1st Place Lanny Buttz 1st Place Shane Kellogg 2nd Place Lynette Kellogg 2nd Place Lynette Kellogg 3rd Place Jesse Kellogg Beeswax Candles Window Display 1st Place Jesse Kellogg 1st Place David Tull 2nd Place Maxine Burns 2nd Place Lynette Kellogg 3rd Place Lynette Kellogg 4th Place Tim Laughlin White Comb Honey White Round Comb Honey 1st Place Stanley Weiser 1st Place David Tull 2nd Place Mike O'Hearn 2nd Place Ray Tull 3rd Place David Tull HONEY MONTH ACTIVITIES September is a great time to promote honey and beekeeping in your local area. Listed below are some Honey Month activities of which I am aware and are sponsored by Iowa Honey Producers and/or the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. 1. Honey Month Proclamation Signing Ceremony at the Governor's Office August 31. Newsreleases and photos sent to local newspapers. 2. During September a Honey Month window display will be set up at the Wallace State Office Building in Des Moines. 3. Honey Month promotional materials used at the Des Moines Botanical Center's New Cafe all month. Laminated honey posters, table tents, honey recipes, honey bee coloring books, and honey provided in squeeze bears. 4. Richard Peterson, beekeeper from Albia will have a honey booth at Old Threshers Reunion in Mt. Pleasant September 3-5. 5. Honey squeeze bears, recipe brochures, and honey posters provided for the Agriculture - Wheel of Fortune game at the Clay County Fair in Spencer September 11-18. 6. Honey Booth set up on "Celebrate Agriculture" Day at the National Cattleman's Congress in Waterloo September 18. 7. "A Taste of Honey" Day at the Des Moines Botanical Center September 25. The American Honey Princess, Heather Pomeroy of Wayland, Iowa will serve tastes of various types of honey to visitors at the Botanical Center. 8. Members of the IHPA promotional and honey queen committees are making a concentrated effort to send newsreleases and get radio and television interviews to talk about our industry during this month. DID YOU KNOW.... A group of bees is known as a grist of bees (Colloquial U.S.). - from the 1954 Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language - unabridged. (submitted by Stuart Arey of Cresco, Iowa) AFRICANIZED BEES IN ARIZONA At least nine swarms of Africanized honey bees (AHB) have been detected in southern Arizona between Tuscon and Yuma. The majority of the AHB swarms were found near the town of Sasabe and consequently, the area around Sasabe is considered to be generally infested with AHB. Africanized swarms have also been detected in Tuscon and 56 miles northeast of Yuma. USDA/APHIS officials report that the Arizona Department Agriculture is activating its State Action Plan for AHB. Under this plan, ADA will require all bees to be certified as free of AHB prior to movement out of the State. Also as a portion of the plan, the USDA/APHIS will provide technical support, training, and cooperative assistance in monitoring the movement of AHB. HONEY VERSES "A land flowing with milk and honey" (The Old Testament) "Bee Udderly Cool" Drink milk and eat honey. (Saw this sign on the side of a barn in Wisconsin - the editor.) "THE GREAT MITE PLAGUE OF 1993" (Harry Fulton, MS State Apiarist) Varroa mites have humbled some beekeepers and again showed us how little we know and how much more we need research on the practical aspects of pest management in beekeeping operations. Based on the unfortunate necessity of learning from experience, it appears that two treatments (not just one during the fall/winter) will be necessary to keep Varroa at bay in colonies. Beekeepers in Mississippi, Alabama and Florida have experienced a devastating loss of colonies this summer, in spite of having treated hives in the fall/winter with "Miticur Bee Mite Strips" according to label directions. In one case, hives were monitored by using the ether-roll technique and good control was noted. In all cases, the hives overwintered, built up a good population, and made a decent spring crop of honey. In July, when beekeepers went to remove the honey (after inspecting them just 2-3 weeks earlier) they found a big portion of them dead. The ground in and near the apiaries was covered with dead bees. The dead and dying hives contained a tremendous number of Varroa mites crawling on the frames. Pesticide kills were improbable since there were no crops in the area and the apiaries were isolated from mosquito spray programs. The only conclusion based on the evidence is that Varroa killed them. But how could that have happened the beekeepers wonder? They were treated in the winter and strips removed in February. Where did so many mites come from? The answer is really is not too hard to figure out: reinfestation! Unless your neighboring beekeepers treat, your hives will become infested; or maybe you forgot to treat a hive or two. The first thought that comes to mind is "the treatment didn't do the job!" But, where hives were monitored, it did reduce Varroa levels! This all points out that we must take Varroa serious (as the worst pest to honey bees known in the world). Beekeepers must spend time visiting apiaries and monitoring Varroa population levels using the ether-roll or the soapy water technique. Strips must stay in the hives at least six weeks to get good control because at any one time only 10% of the mites are outside the brood cells. (Editor's note: In Iowa, if levels of Varroa exceed 10 mites in a 300-bee ether-roll test, then another treatment is necessary even if bees were treated the previous fall or spring.) FEDERAL DISASTER RELIEF NOTICE (from Dan Cooper, St. Horticulturist) Follow the procedures listed below for crop losses in 1993: 1. Notify the County ASCS office of failed plantings, prevented plantings or reduced yields. 2. Application for Disaster Credit may be filed if you have either a failed or prevented planting. On reduced yields, the harvest will have to be completed prior to filing for assistance. 3. Gather records. If you sell directly to consumers, it is very important to keep the sales records. If this is not done, verifying your losses will be more difficult. If you sell on the wholesale market, keep warehouse receipts. 4. Those who have lost buildings and equipment in flooded areas, contact FEMA offices set up and the SBA if you anticipate applying for disaster loans. This is only for non-crop damage. MITICUR STRIPS WITHDRAWN FROM THE MARKET Hoechst-Roussel Agrivet Company is instructing all beekeepers to stop using Miticur (amitraz) miticide strips packaged in bags of 30 strips as a precautionary measure. Hoechst-Roussel had requested in January of this year that beekeepers stop using Miticur strips packaged in bags of 300 strips. This request was made in response to reports of possible adverse reactions in bees following application of Miticur. Hoechst-Roussel is taking the additional precautionary measure of asking beekeepers not to use strips from bags of 30 strips because the company's investigations have not identified the cause of the reactions which allegedly resulted from the 300-strip package. A letter from Hoechst-Roussel and a reimbursement form for unopened packages of 30 have been sent to all beekeepers who are listed as having bought Miticur miticide in 30-strip packages. Hoechst-Roussel asks that beekeepers who may have purchased Miticur on behalf of other apiaries (beekeepers) advise those apiaries (beekeepers) of this latest precautionary measure from Hoechst-Roussel. Beekeepers who have any questions about Miticur packaged in 30-strip bags may call Hoechst-Roussel at 1-800-723-6516. Inquiries about Miticur strips from packages of 300's should be directed to NOR-AM Chemical Company at (302) 892-3000. Hoechst-Roussel Agri-Vet Company is part of the Life Sciences Group of Hoechst Celanese Corporation of Somerville, N.J., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hoechst AG of Frankfurt, Germany. NEW HONEY RECIPE CARDS FOR SCHOOLS The National Honey Board has developed new bulk honey recipes for noncommercial foodservice operators such as schools, business and industry cafeterias and colleges. The recipes are printed on cards which feature other ideas for using honey and usage tips. Recipes include Honey-Lemon Butter for baked fish or chicken, Honey Tomato Sauce for open-faced sandwiches, a pear and honey dessert and Honey-Orange Peanut Butter Spread. Recipe cards are available on request from the National Honey Board. HONEY BOARD INVITES BEEKEEPERS TO FALL MEETING The National Honey Board will meet in Phoenix, Arizona on October 6 - 9. This meeting will include the National Honey Board's Nominations Committee with representatives from across the country. The Nominations Committee meets once a year to select new candidates for the Board. All interested beekeepers are invited to attend this meeting. Please contact Tina Tindall at the National Honey Board office (303) 776-2337 to make arrangements. HONEY BOARD PROMPTS REVISED STANDARDS FOR HONEY EXPORTS TO MIDDLE EAST The Gulf Standards for Honey have been revised. The previous standards were non-tariff trade barriers which restricted entrance of U.S. honey into the Saudi Arabian market. The new standards lower the diastase enzyme level from 8 to 3 and increases the standard for HMF from 40mg/kg to 80 mg/kg. This revision was initiated following a technical seminar conducted by the National Honey Board on May 25, 1992. The National Honey Board, the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service and the Saudi Arabia Standards Cooperation Program conducted a technical seminar in Saudi Arabia to deliver information on U.S. honey standards, quality control and testing procedures. Attendees included Saudi Arabian government officials, Gulf Cooperation Council country representatives and key Saudi Arabian trade representatives. "There was resistance and opposition to changing the standard from the other major global honey exporters to Saudi Arabia" said Bob Smith, executive director from the National Honey Board. "However, Saudi Arabia was anxious to allow quality U.S. honey in the market." This revision represents expanded opportunities for U.S. honey exporters to the gulf states, said Smith. ***************************************************************** 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 ***************************************************************** (ADVERTISEMENTS) CALENDAR OF EVENTS SEPTEMBER 10-11 Laplanders Honey Conference 6:30 p.m. Friday and Honey-Walnut Classic on Saturday at the Inn of the Six-toed Cat, Allerton, Iowa. 13 Eastcentral Iowa Beekeepers Assn. meeting 7:00 p.m. Montgomery Hall at the Johnson County Fairgrounds in Iowa City. 18 Central Iowa Beekeepers Meeting & Fall Field Day. Noon until 6:00 p.m. Topics: Overwintering & Disease Prevention. Evening meal will be catered. More details coming in the next issue of THE BUZZ. Honey Booth at the National Cattleman's Congress in Waterloo, Iowa 23 Scott County Beekeepers Assn. meeting 7:30 p.m. at Riefes Restaurant, 1417 W. Locust, Davenport For more info. contact: Jo Whitwood (319) 263-0992. 25 "Taste of Honey" Day at Des Moines Botanical Center 27-28 American Bee Research Conference, College Station, TX OCTOBER 2 IHPA Honey Queen Committee meeting. 10:00 a.m. at John & Elaine Johnson home in Ames. IHPA Board Meeting. 1:00 p.m. at Royal Cafe in Huxley 9 IHPA Fall Field Day 1:00 p.m. at Doug Schmitz's Honey House in Defiance, Iowa. See map on back cover. NOVEMBER 5 & 6 Annual Meeting of the Iowa Honey Producers Association Starlight Village Best Western Motel in Ames, Iowa. DECEMBER 2-4 Upper Midwest and Minnesota Beekeepers Meeting in Bloomington, MN. For more details see article in the August BUZZ or Contact Marla Spivak at (612) 624-4798 or Darrel Rufer at (612) 658-4645. FOR SALE: 35 Drums of White Honey. Contact: Tim Killeen, Carson, Iowa (402) 551-0973. WANTED: Good light honey in 55-gallon drums. Also looking for a good bee blower. Contact Curtis Barnhart, Monticello, Iowa Phone: (319) 465-3941. WANTED: Beekeeper to place colonies on our land in Northwest Iowa near Manson. Contact: Gayle Moline at Moline Brothers Turkey Farm, 1645 Shelby Avenue, Manson, IA 50563 Phone: (712) 469-2297. FOR SALE: 2800 colony outfit on pallets in central Iowa. All or part. Call (515) 332-1042. WEATHER FACTORS AFFECTING THE HONEY CROP Weather affects the secretion of nectar and also bee flight. Correlations between weather factors and honey yields have been indefinite because the factors are complex and interrelated. Sugar is manufactured by the action of sunlight on leaves. (This is the ultimate source of our food, fiber and much of our power). Healthy, vigorous plants produce more nectar than stunted plants. Certain plant nutrients influence nectar secretion. With plenty of moisture available, it appears that maximum hours of intense sunlight is best for nectar secretion in most important honey plants. Adequate water available to the plant is correlated with nectar secretion. The most favorable amount of rain varies with the soil type. Temperature has a marked influence on plant growth and nectar secretion. Honey flow may be influenced by temperature at the time of flowering and also by the effect of temperature pattern on plant growth throughout the season. Warm days and cool nights favor secretion of nectar as long as the nights are not too cool. Scale records indicate best results in clover areas at the temperatures of 80 to 90 degrees. High humidity makes more dilute nectar but apparently does not affect the amount of sugar produced. Bees must do more work to make honey from dilute nectar. Temperatures below 50 degrees or above 100, high wind, rain and threatened storm keep bees in the hive. The amount and concentration of nectar influences the number of bee visits to plants. This in turn affects pollination, for example bees prefer apple blossoms to pears as apple nectar is more concentrated. Tests indicate that the breeding of plants for high nectar secretions has practical possibilities. (Information compiled by Dewey Caron) (ADVERTISEMENT) ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 5 Oct 1993 17:27:00 CST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: tdahms@SLEDGE-PO.WEEG.UIOWA.EDU Subject: August 1993 'Buzz' - Iowa Honey Producers Submitted by Terry Dahms - President East Central Iowa Beekeepers internet: terry-dahms@uiowa.edu ----------------------------------------------------------------- THE BUZZ AUGUST, 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, Well the drought of '93 never came, but the floods of '93 are here. I think everyone would have been happy if we would have just gotten a third of the crop we got in '88. The bees have been bringing in some honey between rains, most likely from the white dutch clover. It is really abundant this year. Here in Cambridge, like other places, we have lost entire bee yards in the flood. I received a call the other night that one of my yards with about 15 colonies was entirely gone. A large pond to the east aways had broken out the side and came down right through the middle of my yard. It washed a gorge at least 30 foot deep, 100 foot wide, cutting an entire corn field in half and taking all our hives except one. It is an unbelievable sight. I've never seen anything like it. I talked to some beekeepers in eastern Iowa this week. Some of them are not even going to set up their extracting equipment. Southern Iowa has some honey on their hives. But for the most part there is not much honey out there. The ground is very saturated with water around here, as it probably is all over the state. We're going to have trouble getting into our yards to pull the honey even if the rain stops. And that brings up another point. The honey that is out there on the hive and capped is very wet. If it is left out there too long there is a good chance it will sour. I bring my honey supers in to the honey house and stack them so they are not tightly sealed. I turn every other one the opposite way on the stack to let air circulate. With fans and dehumidifiers going the moisture can be pulled down to 17.5--18 percent. After the moisture is down I then begin extracting. This works quite well. Hopefully the rain will stop soon, things will dry out, and we will yet get some honey off the abundant flowers out there. Even though things aren't going well, we must remember we have so much to be thankful for. -Leroy Kellogg, President IHPA HONEY OF A VERSE Thus may we gather honey from the weed And make a moral of the devil himself. - Shakespeare LAPLANDERS HONEY CONFERENCE Friday, September 10th the Laplanders Honey Conference of southern Iowa and northern Missouri will be held in Allerton, Iowa at the Inn of The Six Toed Cat. Dinner will be held at 6 P.M. and the program starts at 7 P.M. For further details and reservations contact: Ann Garber (515) 872-2119 by Tuesday, Sept. 7th. The following day, Saturday, Sept. 11th at 10 a.m. will be the Honey Walnut Classic on the east portico of the Inn of The Six Toed Cat in Allerton. This is the 3rd year of this popular event. Be sure to visit the "Bee Hive", next door to the Inn, owned by Ann Garber, which includes an extracting plant and gift shop featuring honey products, beeswax candles, etc. All this is a part of the Allerton World's Fair with live entertainment at the Inn and community family fun at the Centennial Bldg. AFRICANIZED HONEY BEE (AHB) UPDATE The first human death in the United States attributed to the Africanized Honey Bee occurred on July 15, 1993, in Starr County, 30 miles north of Rio Grande City, Texas. Mr. Lino Lopez, an 82-year old rancher, tried to destroy a colony of bees that had become established in the walls of his ranch house when the bees attacked him. Apparently he used a torch-like instrument soaked with gasoline and when he introduced the gasoline-soaked rag into the wall opening the bees became angry and attacked him. It is not known with certainty how many stings he received. Mr. Lopez was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The colony was destroyed by a Texas Apiary Inspector. Samples were sent to the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Weslaco laboratory, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Harlingen laboratory and ARS Beltsville laboratory for identification. On June 18, a colony of honey bees was detected inside the exterior frame of a house in Tucson, Arizona. The bees allegedly killed a dog, and the property owner was stung six times while trying to free the dog. Later, the sample of the bees was confirmed as Africanized by the Agricultural Research Service Bee Research Laboratory in Beltsville, Maryland. Plant Protection and Quarantine and State cooperators are working with the homeowner to have the colony destroyed. The Arizona Department of Agriculture (ADA) is conducting a door-to-door survey of the area. There are 42 swarm traps within the 4 square-mile area surrounding the detection. ADA has intensively trapped along the border of Mexico with 296 traps. On July 9, a swarm of AHB's was intercepted in a trap 2 miles north of Sasabe, Arizona, in Pima County along the Arizona/Mexican border. The swarm was destroyed, and a sample of the bees was sent to the Beltsville bee lab where the sample was confirmed as Africanized. (B. Glen Lee, Richard Backus, Elba Quintero - USDA/APHIS) "A beehive's hum shall soothe my ears". (Sammuel Rogers) STATE APIARISTS REPORT The Flood - What a summer! I have several reports of colonies being washed away or drowned by the flood. Besides that, I believe the torrential rains and abnormally cool weather have spoiled our early summer honey crop in most areas of the state. There should be Federal government disaster relief money for severe honey crop losses, but not for lost bees or the beehives themselves, unless FEMA can be persuaded that our beehives are agricultural buildings. In most cases beehives were carried away downstream or if found, the comb is unusable because of mud and debris in it. After almost two weeks without running water I'm looking forward to having water by tomorrow in our home. This week they started turning off overhead lights at 11:00 a.m. in the capitol complex buildings to conserve electricity. So we are working in the dark except for desk lamps. The only positive side of this disaster is that it makes you more thankful to God for what we do have. State Fair - I am looking forward to a good showing for the apiary exhibit at the State Fair this month. The honey that has been produced is beautiful. Be sure to get your entry blank in to the Fair by the August 9th deadline. The table displays have been remodeled so that we can maintain spots for four entries with less space. The tables are now 5' wide by 7' deep. John Johnson could still use help in the Honey Sales Booth. The booth will only be a success to the degree that beekeepers volunteer to work. Please sign up on the back page of THE BUZZ to come make the fair booth a success. Inspection - So far this inspection season we have found a low level of Varroa mites in many counties. In addition, we are seeing most beekeepers with fewer colonies of bees or in some cases none at all. The replacement package colonies are not developing well, especially if started on foundation. The bright spot in the state appears to be the extreme southern part of the state where a fair honey crop has been made. The remainder of the state is still anxiously awaiting a late honeyflow on alfalfa or soybeans. FIRST UPPER MIDWEST BEEKEEPERS MEETING The Minnesota Honey Producers Association and the University of Minnesota Apiculture program cordially invite all beekeepers in the upper Midwest to attend a winter meeting, December 2-4, 1993, in Minnesota. As most everyone is aware, apiculture research, teaching, and extension programs have been eliminated in many state universities. The problems created by the parasitic mites, Africanized honey bees, and foreign competition for honey prices are moving the beekeeping industry in the direction of increased self-sufficiency and diversification. The hope for the future is to establish regional centers of apicultural research and extension. The University of Minnesota is one such center. Everyone is invited to celebrate the continuance of the apiculture program at the University of Minnesota and to participate in the establishment of a regional program. An open house and tour of the Apiculture facility is planned as well as exciting speakers: Dr. Shimanuki (USDA lab in Beltsville, MD); Sue Cobey (Ohio State University); and Marla Spivak (University of Minnesota). Panel groups composed of beekeepers, state apiarists from the region will discuss the possibility of establishing a USDA Bee Research facility in St. Paul. This is an important meeting; please plan to attend. The meeting will be held December 2-4 in Bloomington, Minnesota (just south of Minneapolis) at the Comfort Inn-Airport. The hotel is located is located very close to the Mall of America (convenient for Christmas shopping!). To reserve a room, you may phone (800) 228-5150. Pre-registration will be required so we can estimate attendance. Look for the pre-registration form in upcoming newsletters and bee journals. For questions, call or write Darrel Rufer, Vice President MN Honey Producers, 3499-75th St. S.W., Waverly, MN 55390; (612) 658-4645; or Marla Spivak, Dept. Entomology, 219 Hodson Hall, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108; (612) 624-4798. HONEY MONTH SIGNING CEREMONY The signing ceremony for the Governor's Honey Month Proclamation will be held August 31st at 10:15 a.m. at the Governor's office in Des Moines. Secretary of Agriculture, Dale M. Cochran has been invited. We would also like to invite interested beekeepers to attend this ceremony. Pictures will be taken and an article will be sent to each local newspaper in the town where participants reside. NATIONAL HONEY BOARD ELECTS NEW OFFICERS The National Honey Board reelected Binford Weaver, Neil Miller and Steve Klein as officers, reelected Dale Bauer as a member and elected Mike Ingalls as a member to the Executive Committee during the Board's annual meeting, held in Denver on June 26. Binford Weaver, a beekeeper and president of Weaver Apiaries in Navasota, Texas, was reelected as chairperson of the National Honey Board. As chairperson, Weaver presides at Honey Board meetings and supervises all Board activities. Neil Miller, president of Miller's Honey Farms, Inc., Blackfoot, Idaho, was reelected as vice chairperson. Steve Klein, a beekeeper from Marshall, Minn., was reelected as secretary/treasurer. Dale Bauer, a beekeeper from Fertile, Minn. and an officer of Sioux Honey Association, was reelected as member of the Executive Committee. Officers and members of the Executive Committee are selected by a majority vote of the 13-member National Honey Board. Prospective members of the National Honey Board are nominated during an annual meeting of industry representatives from state beekeeping organizations. IOWA HONEY PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REPORT (July 1, 1992 to June 30, 1993) Sales of honey and hive products at the Iowa State Fair continues to provide Iowa Beekeepers with a major promotional opportunity. In 1992, the total for gross sales of honey and hive products and honey ice cream (made by Anderson-Erickson Dairy) was $19,473. Net income was $3,138. The Annual Meeting was held November 6 and 7, 1992 in Ankeny. Major topics included: Research on Tracheal Mites by Dr. Bob Danka; Overwintering Bees, Bob Guntren; Honey Bee Project in Minnesota, Dr. Marla Spivak; Queen Rearing, J. Z. Paysen; Honey Bee Pollination for Hire, Fred Rossman and Producing Queens in an Africanized area, Dr. Rick Hellmich. Iowa's State Honey Queen, Heather Pomeroy, daughter of David and Stephanie Pomeroy of Wayland, Iowa was named 1993 American Honey Princess at the American Beekeeping Federation Annual Meeting. She is involved in numerous beekeeping and honey promotional activities nationwide. A strong effort is being made at the national level to entirely eliminate the honey loan/support program. Association board members and other beekeepers contacted our congressmen urging them to support retention of the program. Many beekeepers believe low cost and poor quality, imported honey and the importance of honeybees as pollinators warrants a honey program. Several Association members participated in a signing ceremony with Iowa's Governor Terry Branstad signing a proclamation declaring September 1992 as Honey Month in Iowa. Pictures were taken and used to kick off a month of special promotional activities. The 1993 Spring Field Day was held May 22nd at the Ray Tull Farm near Donnellson. The theme of the field day was spring colony management and queen rearing with an emphasis on the Jenter system of queen rearing. Assistant State Apiarist Bob Wells retired as of June 30, 1993 after serving 18 years in that position. The state association and several local beekeeping organizations honored Bob with retirement parties and plaques. This is the second year for the Iowa Honey Producers as a member of the Iowa Horticultural society. This relationship fosters better communication and a stronger position in legislative matters and is mutually beneficial to beekeepers and the Horticultural Society. During the 1992/1993 winter over 50% of Iowa's honey bee colonies died. Definite causes are not known. Guesses by beekeepers include: no warm weather from November to late March to provide cleansing flights; poor nutritional quality of fall nectar and/or colonies weakened by parasitic mites. As of 1993 tracheal and Varroa mites are wide spread in most sections of the state. Adequate chemicals are available to control Varroa, but not the tracheal mite. The risk of contamination of honey with Ag chemicals is a growing concern. We will continue to advise members on proper use. The Iowa Honey Producers Association contributed $500 to the University of Minnesota Bee Research program and $500 each to the American Beekeeping Federation and The American Honey Producers organizations. The grants are intended to support lobbying efforts in Washington. Iowa Honey Producers Association members participated in a wide array of promotional and educational events and activities. Some examples are: a. Provided honey, cookbooks, and cash awards for participants and winners in State Fair honey division foods competition. b. Financial support for Iowa Agricultural Youth Institute. c. Cooperative effort with other agricultural groups to produce and present educational materials to school children throughout Iowa on a topic entitled "Iowa Kids Love Iowa Food". d. Provided materials for hospitals statewide for food service people to use honey in patient meal preparation. e. Booth at Iowa Home Economics Convention - Spring 1993. f. Hawkeye Science Fair in Des Moines. Provided judge and prize money. g. Booth at Dutch Oven/Black Powder Celebration at Madrid Boy Scout Camp. h. Provided an observation hive and educational assistance for use at State 4-H Educational Center near Madrid. i. Assisted with several events at Des Moines Botanical Center including Honey Days in March and Easter Egg Hunt in April. Used the Honey Bear Mascot and gave away honey candy at the April event. j. Gave out honey samples and printed literature at a Living History Farm event in September 1992. k. Provided educational programs, literature and honey samples to many public school, civic, county conservation, church and other groups throughout Iowa. - Submitted by Leroy Kellogg, President (Prepared for the Proceedings of the Iowa State Horticulture Society's Annual Meeting July 31, 1993.) ***************************************************************** 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 ***************************************************************** FOR SALE: 1-500 beehives and a Fairbanks-Morris scales (Maximum capacity 1000 lbs.) for weighing barrels. Contact: Leon Metz in Hazel Green, WI (608) 568-7601 or 748-4706 FOR SALE: 50 hives of bees and a 50-frame extractor. Without the honey crop $3,000 OR with the honey crop $4,000. CONTACT: Dennis Loghry in Red Oak, IA at (712) 623-5715. FOR SALE: Large Cowen Uncapper $700 Contact: Dick Blake in Shenandoah, IA at (712) 246-3412 FOR SALE: 2-frame galvanized Root Extractor with small stand. Asking $50. Call Phil Ebert in Lynnville, IA at (515) 527-2639. FOR SALE: 20-frame (deeps) or 40-frame (mediums) extractor, chain uncapper, cappings melter, clarifying tank, super lift, honey storage tank, honey pumps, moisture tester, super cart, honey house pallets, 300 - 6 5/8 supers. Contact Ron Silliman in Carlisle at (515) 989-0161 Days or (515) 989-0423 Evenings. FOR SALE: Two 4-frame, basket-type extractors - hand crank $50.00 & motorized $75.00; 50 frame radial-type extractor, galvanized & painted $300.00 Contact: Dennis Loghry, RR 2, Red Oak, IA ph. (712) 623-5715. FOR SALE: 400 two story colonies of bees. Will sell 1 or all. Call Leroy Kellogg (515) 383-4476. CALENDAR OF EVENTS AUGUST 19-29 Iowa State Fair - Apiary Booth on 2nd Floor of the Agriculture Building. Sign-up sheet on last page. 31 Honey Month Proclamation Signing Ceremony 10:15 a.m. in the Governor's Office in the State Capiatol Bldg. SEPTEMBER 10-11 Laplanders Honey Conference 6:30 p.m. Friday and Honey-Walnut Classic on Saturday at the Inn of the Six-toed Cat, Allerton, Iowa. 18 Central Iowa Beekeepers Meeting & Fall Field Day. noon until 6:00 p.m. Topics: Overwintering & Disease Prevention. Evening meal will be catered. 25 "Taste of Honey" Day at Des Moines Botanical Center 27-28 American Bee Research Conference, College Station, TX OCTOBER 9 IHPA Fall Field Day 1:00 p.m. at Doug Schmitz's Honey House in Defiance, Iowa. More details later. NOVEMBER 5 & 6 Annual Meeting of the Iowa Honey Producers Association Starlight Village Best Western Motel in Ames, Iowa. 1993 IOWA STATE FAIR WORK SCHEDULE Please indicate the day(s) and time(s) that you are willing to work by writing your name(s). Also, fill in your name, address and phone number at the bottom of the page. THURSDAY, AUGUST 19 TUESDAY, AUGUST 24 9:00-1:30____________________ 9:00-1:30____________________ 1:30-6:00____________________ 1:30-6:00____________________ 6:00-9:00____________________ 6:00-9:00____________________ 10:00-2pm____________________ 10:00-2pm____________________ (Handing out samples) (Handing out samples) FRIDAY, AUGUST 20 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25 9:00-1:30____________________ 9:00-1:30____________________ 1:30-6:00____________________ 1:30-6:00____________________ 6:00-9:00____________________ 6:00-9:00____________________ 10:00-2pm____________________ 10:00-2pm____________________ (Handing out samples) (Handing out samples) SATURDAY, AUGUST 21 THURSDAY, AUGUST 26 9:00-1:30____________________ 9:00-1:30____________________ 1:30-6:00____________________ 1:30-6:00____________________ 6:00-9:00____________________ 6:00-9:00____________________ 10:00-2pm____________________ 10:00-2pm____________________ (Handing out samples) (Handing out samples) SUNDAY, AUGUST 22 FRIDAY, AUGUST 27 9:00-1:30____________________ 9:00-1:30____________________ 1:30-6:00____________________ 1:30-6:00____________________ 6:00-9:00____________________ 6:00-9:00____________________ 10:00-2pm____________________ 10:00-2pm____________________ (Handing out samples) (Handing out samples) MONDAY, AUGUST 23 SATURDAY, AUGUST 28 9:00-1:30____________________ 9:00-1:30____________________ 1:30-6:00____________________ 1:30-6:00____________________ 6:00-9:00____________________ 6:00-9:00____________________ 10:00-2pm____________________ 10:00-2pm____________________ (Handing out samples) (Handing out samples) NAME:________________________ SUNDAY, AUGUST 29 9:00-1:30____________________ ADDRESS______________________ 1:30-7:00____________________ 10:00-2pm____________________ _____________________________ (Handing out samples) PHONE(_____)_________________ RETURN TO: W. John Johnson RR 4, Squaw Valley Ames, IA 50010 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 6 Oct 1993 00:02:27 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jeffrey=Young%SQA%Banyan@MAGNOLIA.BANYAN.COM Subject: The Wildfower Option Initial problem: Recently purchased a new home with 3/4 acre of lawn. This lawn was like all others in the area in that it required regular maintenance (mowing, mulching, weeding, feeding, etc.). Being a naturalist at heart I had strong resistance to the thought of spending my weekend hours inhaling exhaust fumes behind a several hundred dollar lawn mower to maintain this little patch of artificially maintained greenery. Then to have it dry to a sandy brown in the 90 degree New England summer heat. Of course I could water the grass but the sight of dumping all to scarce water onto a patch of grass, in an effort to keep it green, has always made me cringe. There had to be a better way. After a long search I have decided to opt out of the high maintenance of a 100% grass lawn for (in my opinion) a more attractive and natural alternative. That being seeding the boarders, hilly areas, and unused areas of my lawn with wildflowers mixed for this area of the country. I visited The Vermont Wildflower Farm in Charlotte VT this past weekend and decided that this was the solution I was searching for. Wildflowers provide a flood of color from early spring through the first killing frost. They are naturally disease and drought resistant, and they require absurdly little maintenance and as natural survivors are acclimated to your geographical area. Thriving on conditions that turn domesticated and hybridized varieties to twigs. >From my understanding the process is simple. Pick a site that gets at least 4 hours of bright sun per day. The more sun the better. Transition areas from lawn to woodlands are perfect. Till the soil to prepare it. Add no soil improvements like fertilizers, lime, or peat. Wildflowers are not used to the "good soil" gardeners are used to looking for. Once you have the bare soil allow it to sit for a few days to a week. Small native weeds will most likely start popping up. You can either till again to kill these or use a systemic, herbicide that will get rid of the weeds but will not linger in the soil or ground water. Rake the area of plant materials. Mix your wildflower seed with ten parts builders sand and hand densely broadcast the seed out onto the soil. The important thing is to get good seed to soil contact so running a lawn roller over the area is a good idea. Keep the area moist while the plants make it to about 10" tall. In a few short weeks you will see the patch coming alive with young plants and very soon the area will be full of annual flower blossoms that last all growing season. Many of the mixtures sold are part annual (most dramatic blossoms) and perennial varieties that will not bloom until next year. Then in the fall when (at least here in the north) the frost has taken down the last of the flowers you mow the area (the only mowing all year) on the highest setting to make sure woody brush and tree seedlings can not get established. The next spring your perennials will come on and if you like you can intermix a new panting of annuals so you can enjoy both types of flowers all spring, summer and fall. I plan to be out there next spring spreading out my NorthEast wildflower mixture and standing back. If all goes well (and I will let you know if it doesn't) the percentage of my yard that will need to be pampered, trimmed, and "baby sat" will be growing smaller and smaller as the years go on. Another benefit of this is that being a backyard beekeeper my hive of honey bees will have a local supply of nectar. Catalogs are available from: The Vermont Wildflower Farm Rt.7 Charlotte, VT 05455 Phone: 802/425-3500 jeff young jyoung@banyan.com ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 6 Oct 1993 09:55:13 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Winifred Doane Subject: Re: The Wildfower Option In-Reply-To: Message of Wed, 6 Oct 1993 00:02:27 EDT from Jeffrey Young's choice of wildflowers in unused acreages you want to keep open is a good one. We have a house in Vermont with 14.5 acres surrounding it that used to be pasture. Alas, the lawns adjacent to the house are easy enough to keep maintained, but the woolands were rapidly encrouching upon us until this summer. We purchase the new DR Brush Hog from a company that is also in Charlotte, VT. It is a miracle what that machine can do. In one week my husband cleared all the overgrown areas and had them planted with wildflower seed from the Wildflower Farm in Charlotte. The Brush Hog will cut saplings up to 2-3 inches in diameter, is easy to handle and very safe. We recommend it...along with the wildflowers! ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 6 Oct 1993 16:08:05 CDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Harlan Husmann Subject: looking for honey extractor I'm not a beekeeper, but my father-in-law is. And for Christmas we'd like to get him a honey extractor. I'd appreciate any information on where I might find one. Here's generally what we want: used, hand-spun (manual) honey extractor Please send any information that might help me acquire one of these to my e-mail address below. Thank you! -- Harlan E. Husmann harlan@cray.com ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 6 Oct 1993 17:14:48 -700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Chris Conroy Subject: Re: looking for honey extractor Hiya Harlan, I'm going to start beekeeping next year, and I'd appreciate it if you'd pass along any info you can't use to me... Thanks, Chris Conroy ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1993 20:55:00 +1300 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: NICKW@WAIKATO.AC.NZ Subject: NZ Beekeeper magazine to cease? ----------------------------------------------------------------- Summary: NZ Beekeeper may cease publication. I request support from overseas readers to assist in lobbying for its continuation. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Many beekeepers, researchers and advisory personnel will be familiar with the New Zealand Beekeeper magazine. This quarterly journal has been published for over 50 years by the National Beekeepers Association of N.Z. It contains articles for the practical beekeeper, research and technical information, hobbyist pages and industry and organisation material. At a meeting two days ago, the National Executive decided to cease publication of the magazine on cost saving grounds. To many of us, the costs are not great when compared to the value the magazine gives to the industry, both direct and indirect. I would like to ask readers of the BEE-LIST are familiar with the magazine to provide me with messages that I will forward to the National Executive. I would like for you to help me to convince them of the part the magazine plays in international perception and reputation of our country and its beekeeping. Thank you for your help. ------------------------------------- Nick Wallingford Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Internet nickw@waikato.ac.nz ------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1993 07:55:40 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Stephen Bambara Subject: Re: NZ Beekeeper magazine to cease? In-Reply-To: <9310070756.AA07342@wolf.ces.ncsu.edu> from "NICKW@WAIKATO.AC.NZ" at Oct 7, 93 08:55:00 pm > Dear Sirs: Please consider continuing publication of the New Zealand Beekeeper. This publication provides views and information to the English speaking beekeeping world which are not American. The similarities and differences of beekeeping in that part of the world provide valuable experiences and information to the rest. Your magazine has a long and illustrious history which would be a shame to lose. Economics are impacting the beekeeping industry around the world, but if those difficulties could be overcome, I think New Zealanders and much of the rest of the world would be benefitted. > ----------------------------------------------------------------- > Summary: NZ Beekeeper may cease publication. I request > support from overseas readers to assist in lobbying > for its continuation. > ----------------------------------------------------------------- > > > Many beekeepers, researchers and advisory personnel will be > familiar with the New Zealand Beekeeper magazine. This quarterly > journal has been published for over 50 years by the National > Beekeepers Association of N.Z. It contains articles for the > practical beekeeper, research and technical information, hobbyist > pages and industry and organisation material. > > At a meeting two days ago, the National Executive decided to > cease publication of the magazine on cost saving grounds. To > many of us, the costs are not great when compared to the value > the magazine gives to the industry, both direct and indirect. > > I would like to ask readers of the BEE-LIST are familiar with the > magazine to provide me with messages that I will forward to the > National Executive. I would like for you to help me to convince > them of the part the magazine plays in international perception > and reputation of our country and its beekeeping. > > Thank you for your help. > > ------------------------------------- > Nick Wallingford > Bay of Plenty Polytechnic > Internet nickw@waikato.ac.nz > ------------------------------------- > -- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= | 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, 7 Oct 1993 07:52:26 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: KESLER@RHODES.BITNET Subject: Re: NZ Beekeeper magazine to cease? Your magazine is the only place where your country, New Zealand, is even mentioned here in mid-America. It would be all too easy to forget you exist given the lack of news coverage our media gives you. For example, I knew nothing about the Canadian-New Zealand economic ties were it not for your magazine. Keep up the good work. David Kelser Rhodes College Memphis, TN, U.S.A. Kesler@Rhodes.bitnet ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1993 09:31:07 -700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Chris Conroy Subject: Bee Skeps I've seen pictures of bee skeps in wildflower and herb catalogs, but have never seen them in anything related to bees... What exactly are they, and what is their purpose? Chris Conroy ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1993 14:22:00 +0100 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Wilhelm Bos, Microbiologie" Subject: Re: NZ Beekeeper magazine to cease? Hello Nick, I like to have a copy of your NZ beekeeper magazine by E-mail. I will send it forward to the BBBS (Bee Bulltin Board) in Amsterdam (The Netherlands). They like to have all kind of bee magazines from over the whole world. The users of the BBBS (mostly beekeepers) like to read bee magazines from other country's. I hope that in the future you can send me this copy's every mounth. So please ask the people who wants to cease the NZ beekeeper magazine not to do so. Greetings, Wilhelm Bos E-mail: Bos@voeding.tno.nl ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 8 Oct 1993 21:15:00 +1300 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: NICKW@WAIKATO.AC.NZ Subject: NZ Beekeeper / Buzzwords ----------------------------------------------------------------- Summary: The plea in my earlier posting was to help keep the NZ magazine going. The newsletter *should* still remain after the efforts at cost cutting! ----------------------------------------------------------------- I'm sorry if I've caused some confusion to readers of the BEE-LIST. The National Beekeepers Assn actually has two publications - a quarterly magazine, the NZ Beekeeper, and a monthly newsletter, Buzzwords. Several readers of the list thought I was referring to the pending demise of the newsletter, a much 'chattier' and informal vehicle... I post (as regularly as I can remember!) Buzzwords to the LIST (as I have it on disk after helping to produce it). The NZ Beekeeper magazine would most likely be found in nearby research libraries. It has a 50 year publishing history (Buzzwords has been around for only 5) and has been, at times, one of the finest research and industry organisation magazines in the world. The decision by the National Executive is to scrap the magazine, but keep the newsletter (in SOME format - that's not so sure at this stage!). Assuming Buzzwords survives, I'll continue to post it to here, hopefully. I am saddened at the potential passing of a major research-publishing magazine, and think the international beekeeping scene will lose something with its passing. ------------------------------------- Nick Wallingford Bay of Plenty Polytechnic (East coast, N Island, New Zealand) Internet nickw@waikato.ac.nz ------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 8 Oct 1993 08:11:25 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jeffrey=Young%SQA%Banyan@MAGNOLIA.BANYAN.COM Subject: Worcester Cnty Beekeepers Please excuse the bandwidth of this message. I am looking to contact other members of the Worcester County BeeKeeper's Assn. in Central Mass., USA. If you are member please contact me @ jyoung@banyan.com Thanks, jeff young ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 8 Oct 1993 11:53:32 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: BARBARA PARKER Subject: Re: Worcester Cnty Beekeepers In-Reply-To: <01H3V2XMNJV6000BYW@pobox.ucs.umass.edu> from "Jeffrey=Young%SQA%Banyan@MAGNOLIA.BANYAN.COM" at Oct 8, 93 08:11:25 am Jeff- I am a member, but haven't been to any meetings in a while because I now live out of the area in So. Deerfield, but I like to keep my membership to see what everyone is doing. They are a very active group. -- barbara.parker@library.umass.edu Amherst, MA 01003 "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read."-- Groucho Marx ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1993 17:14:46 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Malcolm (Tom) Sanford, Florida Extension Apiculturist" Subject: October Apis FILENAME: OCTAPIS.93 Florida Extension Beekeeping Newsletter Apis--Apicultural Information and Issues (ISSN 0889-3764) Volume 11, Number 10, October 1993 MITCUR (R) NEWS It's official. Hoechst-Roussel Agri-Vet Co. has decided not to market Miticur (R) bee mite strips. Although not a surprise, this is still a disappointment to many who believed that the strips were a much needed alternative to the one chemical now registered for Varroa control, Apistan (R), and the use of menthol in tracheal mite control. This action leaves the beekeeping industry one product poorer in its continuing war against parasitic bee mites. It also punctuates the advice that whatever chemicals beekeepers do have to control diseases and pests should be used with utmost caution and care. PANHANDLE SEMINAR A SUCCESS Well over sixty persons attended the beekeeping seminar near Pensacola at Bear Lake Recreational Area. Malcolm "Doc" Bullard and a dedicated local crew did a bangup job organizing the event. The featured speakers were Mr. Laurence Cutts and myself, but several persons assisted with invaluable information. Especially important were contributions of Joe Robinson about local cotton nectar resources, and out-of-towner Rich Henry (all the way from the Florida keys) on producing and marketing round section honey. The food was outstanding as was the camaraderie. This event was organized by the Escarosa Beekeepers Association as an alternative to the 4-H Camp Ocala Beekeepers Institute, cancelled in August due to low attendance. The enthusiasm of the group couldn't have been higher and the open-hive demonstrations were helped by excellent weather conditions. It was an intense two days. One was taken up with the seminar (7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.). The day before, the local arrangements committee provided the opportunity for Mr. Cutts and me to appear on a talk radio show and a cable television program, sponsored by Jim Porter, President of Old South Properties, Inc., an avid beekeeper who also attended the seminar. The success of this panhandle seminar suggests that one-day events of this sort held on a weekend (Saturday) would be a good alternative to the traditional Institute. Because the audience has changed and there are many more part-timers involved, this allows persons to attend who would not otherwise make the trip to Ocala. The necessary ingredient is a local cadre of committed individuals who would find a suitable location and make arrangements. Now that Doc Bullard and his association have some experience in this matter, I'm sure they would be willing to share it with other associations that might consider a similar venture. You can contact Mr. Bullard at 9801 Lyman Dr., Pensacola, FL 32534, ph 904/478-7690. I have received little feedback concerning the cancellation of the August Institute. Most came from strong supporters of the event who were scheduled to attend. Although those individuals were disappointed that the Institute was cancelled, there has not been a ground swell of interest in continuing the event from others around the state. Mr. Rich Henry sent a note saying, "...I don't think the agenda or cost of the Institute is a problem...I believe 1993 was an anomaly...the Institute would benefit from a more intense marketing program." Perhaps, but the response to cancellation of the event does not support this view. Mr. Millard Coggshall, who sold his bees twenty years ago, yet still maintains an interest in Florida beekeeping sent a picture of a panel discussion at the very first Institute (1957) showing Prof. Milledge Murphy, James Russ, himself, Arthur Brady and Vern Davis. He also has a copy of the Institute's first program in 1957 (at the time, Mr. Coggshall was president of the Florida State Beekeepers Association) and other documents relevant to Florida's beekeeping history which he would be willing to share with anyone genuinely interested in the topic. You can contact him at 1740 Virginia Drive, Clermont, FL 34711. Mr Coggshall writes in an accompanying letter, "As you say (September APIS), the Institute worked real good for the generation who were in beekeeping and honey production in the 1950s, 60s and mid 70s. They kept their bees in Florida all year...They really looked forward to the Institute...Since the mid 1970s, most good Florida beekeepers have been migrating to the northern 'green pastures' seeking those big crops of high priced honey. They aren't in Florida in August...Maybe the Institute will have to be done by teleconferencing or some other electronic miracle then, but I bet this, too, shall pass." BEEKEEPING DATABASE AVAILABLE By special arrangement with the American Association of Professional Apiculturists (AAPA), a computerized beekeeping database developed at the University of Florida is being made available. This database is featured in an upcoming issue of the apicultural journal, Bee Science. It consists of 1.4 megabytes of text, graphics and animated images and comes complete with a self-installation program. Several hundred screens of information about honey bees and beekeeping are available through easy-to- navigate menus. One animated sequence shows the decomposition of an American foulbrood infected bee pupa into a scale. The full life cycle of the honey bee is also graphically portrayed in a series complete with popup windows describing each stage. Instructions concerning the limited ability of the user to update and print screens come with the database. The database sells for $50.00; seventy percent of the income derived is donated to the Department of Entomology and Nematology at the University of Florida for further development of computer programs involving extension entomology. The package runs on all IBM-compatible computers equipped with a hard drive, DOS 3.1 or higher, 640K memory and EGA, VGA or SVGA card and appropriate monitor. Send a check with your order to Beekeeping Database, c/o Dr. M.T. Sanford, Secretary-Treasurer AAPA, Bldg 970, Box 110620, Gainesville, FL 32611-0620. Be sure to please specify 5.25 or 3.5 inch diskettes. NATIONAL HONEY BOARD DOINGS The National Honey Board has recently distributed new bulk honey recipes for noncommercial foodservice operators such as schools, business and cafeterias. Recipes include honey-lemon butter for baked fish and chicken, honey tomato sauce for open- faced sandwiches, a pear and honey dessert and honey-orange peanut butter spread. The recipe cards are perforated and contain information on the back about honey's characteristics, composition, use and value-added benefits. A set of cards can be had for the asking. A face lift has been given the Honey Board's newsletter, according to the Chairman, Mr. Binford Weaver. The concept is to make the newsletter more "readable," timely and less costly to produce. The summer, 1993 issue contains information on honey consumers and how the new nutrition labeling law will affect honey in the retail market. It features an article about the Booth family in Wyoming who are promoting their product "Cheyenne Honey," in several venues throughout the Western states. For a copy of the recipes mentioned above or to be put on the mailing list for the newsletter, contact the National Honey Board, 421 21st Ave. #203, Longmont, CO 80501-1421, ph 303/776-2337, FAX 303/776-1177. The National Honey Board has also taken the daunting task of defining honey. It may come as a surprise that there is no officially recognized definition of this centuries-old sweet. The variability of the product works against a specific definition. Thus, the Honey Board has elected to provide an average range of values and standard deviation for fructose/glucose ratio, percent fructose and glucose, percent ash, moisture, reducing sugars and sucrose, total acidity (meq/kg) and true protein (mg/100g). This information is based on the work of Jack White, retired from the Federal Government as a chemist, but still active in honey work. Some 24 types of honey and honey products are proposed, along with a discussion of grading and official methods of analysis. Finally, as reported in the September issue of the Iowa Honey Producers Association newsletter, the National Honey Board has helped to change the Arabian Gulf honey standards, considered by many to be non-tariff trade barriers restricting entrance of U.S. honey into the Saudi Arabian market. The new standards lower the diastase enzyme level from 8 to 3 and increase the HMF level from 40mg/kg to 80 mg/kg. The revision was initiated following a technical seminar conducted by the National Honey Board on May 25, 1992, along with the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service and Saudi Arabian and other officials of Gulf countries. "There was resistance and opposition to changing the standard from the other major global honey exporters to Saudi Arabia" said Bob Smith, executive director from the National Honey Board. "However, Saudi Arabia was anxious to allow quality U.S. honey in the market." This revision represents expanded opportunities for U.S. honey exporters to the Gulf states, said Smith. THE GREAT MITE PLAGUE OF 1993 Again according to the Iowa State Honey Producers Association's September newsletter, Mr. Harry Fulton, Mississippi State Chief Apiarist, reports that Varroa mites have humbled some beekeepers and showed how little is known and how much more research is needed on the practical aspects of pest management in beekeeping operations. Based on the unfortunate necessity of learning from experience, it appears that two treatments (not just one during the fall/winter) will be necessary to keep Varroa at bay in colonies. Beekeepers in Mississippi, Alabama and Florida have experienced a devastating loss of colonies this summer, in spite of having treated hives in the fall/winter with "Miticur Bee Mite Strips" according to label directions. In one case, hives were monitored by using the ether-roll technique and good control was noted. In all cases, the hives overwintered, built up a good population, and made a decent spring crop of honey. In July, when beekeepers went to remove the honey (after inspecting them just 2-3 weeks earlier) they found a big portion of them dead. The ground in and near the apiaries was covered with dead bees. The dead and dying hives contained a tremendous number of Varroa mites crawling on the frames. Pesticide kills were improbable since there were no crops in the area and the apiaries were isolated from mosquito spray programs. The only conclusion, based on the evidence, is that Varroa killed them. But how could that have happened? They were treated in the winter and strips were removed in February. Where did so many mites come from? The answer is really not too hard to figure out: reinfestation! Unless your neighboring beekeepers treat, your hives will become infested; or maybe you forgot to treat a hive or two. The first thought that comes to mind is "the treatment didn't do the job!" But, where hives were monitored, it did reduce Varroa levels! This all points out that we must take Varroa seriously (as the worst pest to honey bees known in the world). Beekeepers must spend time visiting apiaries and monitoring Varroa population levels using the ether-roll or the soapy water technique. Strips must stay in the hives at least six weeks to get good control because at any one time only 10% of the mites are outside the brood cells. (Editor's note: In Iowa, if levels of Varroa exceed 10 mites in a 300-bee ether-roll test, then another treatment is necessary even if bees were treated the previous fall or spring.) All this adds to the advice I published concerning Varroa mites as a community problem (March 1993) and as a moving target (August 1993). It cannot be said too often. Continuously monitor for Varroa or risk colony loss! 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: Wed, 13 Oct 1993 11:34:10 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: RICHARD E BONNEY Subject: Feeding rate for sugar In In Bee World, Vol 43, No. 1 (1962) there is an article by H. Ruttner on The Percolation Feeder. In it he states that the bees cannot satisfactorily process (invert) more than 2-3 pounds of sugar per day. Six of his seven references are in German (understandable). Does anyone know of any English language info on this feeding rate? Has anyone ever tried the percolation method of feeding cold? Dick Bonney @ rebon@ent.umass.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 14 Oct 1993 08:54:03 +1000 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Robert Rice Subject: Re: Feeding rate for sugar? For what purpose? In-Reply-To: <9310131555.AA02912@spider.ento.csiro.au> from "RICHARD E BONNEY" at Oct 13, 93 11:34:10 am > > In > > In Bee World, Vol 43, No. 1 (1962) there is an article by H. Ruttner on The > Percolation Feeder. In it he states that the bees cannot satisfactorily process > (invert) more than 2-3 pounds of sugar per day. Six of his seven references are > in German (understandable). Does anyone know of any English language info on > this feeding rate? Has anyone ever tried the percolation method of feeding > cold? > > Dick Bonney @ rebon@ent.umass.edu > HI Dick, Why other than the obvious reason do you want to feed bees large quantities of sugar (Sucrose)? As an Queen breeder and honey producer we fed our colonies between 12 & 18 tonnes of sugar crystals per year, in liquid form. We used two types of feeding equipment, internal feeders that contained about 2.5lt and an external feeder that fed sugar on demand. We tried feeding dry crystals however the bees then need a close source of clean water in order to liquefy the sugar crystals. We used two concentrations of sugar depending on the desired aim for feeding the sugar. To stimulate bees to breed we mixed 90kg of sugar in a total volume of 200lt and to get bees to store the sugar as thicked syrup for short periods we used 150 kg in 200lt. The higher concentration of sugar was fed internally only. As to the volume of sugar processed per colony, this is obviously dependent on colony strength, available room within the colony to store the syrup and the presence of any natural sources of nectar that the bees may also be using. However based on personal experience, a strong colony of say 45,000 to 60,000 bees would consume/store 2.5lt of sugar syrup fed internally in about 10 to 12 hours. The sugar would then be used by the bees within a couple of days. The external feeder was used to feed colonies used for queen cell production and other colonies related to this process, around one hundred hives in total. When demand on the external feeder was high, ie. a very short supply of nectar, the bees would drain the 200lt external feeder in about 10hrs. Which brings me back to the original question as to why you want to fed bees the sugar in the first place. Is purely of academic interest as to how much sugar bees will invert in a day or do you have some hives that need a feed. Also as you proberly know bees wont process sugar (sucrose) as though it was nectar, ie, store it for any lenght of time. Additionally if your in a warm climate like Australia the sugar, if not consumed, tends to ferment within a week and can cause dysentery in bees. I hope this information is of some use. Bye, Robert Rice. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 25 Oct 1993 09:34:18 CDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: James Harley Cane Subject: Postdoctoral Fellowship available FROM: James Harley Cane, Associate Professor TO: bee-l@uacsc2.albany.edu POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP ________________________________________ Pollinator Tracking of Plant Migrations Induced by Global Warming ________________________________________ A 3-year study sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency PROJECT DESCRIPTION: This will be the first study to document the degree to which native pollinator guilds are capable of faithfully tracking the rapid distributional changes that global warming may induce in their floral hosts. The local taxonomic compositions of guilds of bees visiting creosote bush will be quantitatively sampled & associated with known dates of this shrub's range expansion over the past 40 centuries. Spatio-temporal correlations will be sought using GIS between ranges & attributes of the guilds of bees, climate, topography, soils & local dates of floral host invasion. QUALIFICATIONS: 1. Ph.D. in entomology, ecology, botany or related field. 2. Experience with bee taxonomy and ecology is highly desirable. 3. Preferred candidate will be familiar with quantitative methods, statistics, GIS and southwestern U.S. deserts. Nationally competitive salary commensurate with qualifications. APPLICATION: Submit cover letter and curriculum vitae to include: 1) transcripts of all college and university credits 2) training, experience, achievements 3) publications 4) the names, mailing and e-mail addresses, and phone and fax numbers of three references that may be contacted this autumn. CLOSING DATE: November 15 1993, or until a suitable candidate is found. Position is available December 1 1993. SUBMIT APPLICATION TO: James H. Cane Dept. of Entomology 301 Funchess Hall Auburn University, AL 36849-5413 FAX 205-844-5005 e-mail jcane@ag.auburn.edu. Auburn University is an AA/EOE employer. Women & minorities are encouraged to apply. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1993 10:01:21 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: ANDREW MENARD Organization: SUNY at Plattsburgh, New York, USA Subject: Drying Bees I have a researcher here that asked me how do you dry Bees. To be honest I don't I have the foggest. In the past I have donated some of my bees to him for his laboratory classes. He would now like to save the bees that remain after the lab for later use and needs to dry them, if anyone on the list has any experience in this matter I would be appreciative of your help. Many Thanks in advance. Andy _______________________________________________________________________________ Andrew E. Menard Laboratory Animal Science SUNY Plattsburgh Plattsburgh, NY Bitnet: menardae@snyplava.bitnet Internet: menardae@splava.cc.plattsburgh.edu _______________________________________________________________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1993 08:59:15 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Aaron Morris Subject: Drying Bees!? Beats me? But I saw this infomercial last week about this food dehydrator that made banana chips, and tomato powder, and great beef jerky! How about bees! The circulating hot air would take care of those little critters in no time! Hey, you never know! ;-) ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1993 11:24:11 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Adam Finkelstein Subject: Re: Drying Bees!? In-Reply-To: from "Aaron Morris" at Oct 27, 93 08:59:15 am Hey I think you are onto something... By the way, I am curious - whose queens do you guys (beekeepers) use up where you are? I am always interested in hearing queen and queen supplier anecdotes. Later, Adam -- Adam Finkelstein Apiary Inspector Virginia Dept of Agriculture 116 Reservoir St. 703-433-1006 Standard Disclaimers Apply Harrisonburg, VA 22801 703-434-5607 (fax) adamf@hopper.acs.virginia.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1993 11:37:54 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Dave D. Cawley, a De Leon Socialist" Subject: Re: Drying Bees? How about relly small towels or blow dryer? I've got no idea! ******************************************************************************** Dave D. Cawley | University of Scranton | What next and how? ddc1@jaguar.uofs.edu | ddc1@SCRANTON | -Karl Marx ******************************************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1993 12:58:04 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Stephen Bambara Subject: Re: Drying Bees? In-Reply-To: <9310271534.AA03902@wolf.ces.ncsu.edu> from "Dave D. Cawley, a De Leon Socialist" at Oct 27, 93 11:37:54 am > > How about relly small towels or blow dryer? I've got no idea! > I tried to remain silent on this subject, but the attempts at humor were killing me. One doesn't really need to dry bees, just let them dry on their own. Assuming they are dead, leave them in a tray, open jar, scattered on the top of the TV, or wherever you like! Just don't pile them too thick in a closed vessel. It also depends upon the future use of the dried bees, which was never stated. If they are going to be pinned sometime, freezing would be a better choice or else they will have to be "relaxed". (No more jokes, please.) There will also be some shrinkage of the abdomen upon drying. 70% ethanol may be an alternative. If the dried bees are going to be used as pollinators, then just let them air dry. Keep the roaches and ants away in the mean time. -- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= | 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: Wed, 27 Oct 1993 10:05:22 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Bill Johns Subject: I simply couldn't resist Subject: Re: Drying Bees? > If the dried bees are going to be used as pollinators, then just > let them air dry. Please note that they only pollinate dried flowers. (sorry) Ride Free, Bill ___________________________________________________________________ johnsw@wsuvm1.csc.wsu.edu prez=BIMC KotV KotRR DoD #00314 HOG #0589183 AMA #580924 Squid Index 7.18 WMTC #0002 KotD #0001 Yamabeemer fj100gs1200pdr650 Special and a Volvo = Joy All things being equal, cute wins. Friar Golding ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1993 11:17:42 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jane Beckman Subject: Re: Drying Bees? I realize this is so simple it's silly, but how about an airtight tin and silica crystals, just like some of us use for drying botanical material? (Great for high-quality herbarium mounts, dried flowers, etc.) If you're the impatient sort, carefully bury the material (bees, in this case) in silica crystals in a glass container, and zap in the microwave for 30 seconds. Voila, instant drying! One caution: do not over-dry materials, as removing too much moisture causes extreme brittleness. (Yes, this is the voice of experience.) --Jane Beckman [jane@swdc.stratus.com] ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1993 21:44:19 CDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Sydney A. Cameron" Subject: Re: Drying Bees In-Reply-To: Message of Tue, 26 Oct 1993 10:01:21 -0500 from Andy: I am guessing that you need to dry bees from alcohol preservation? In this case I have learned a few tips from the folks at the Biosystematics Research Centre, Ottawa. First, take the bees and soak them for a FEW minutes in water saturated with CASCADE (yes, the dishwasher crystals!). This rem,oves all gunk from the bees (pollens, oils, etc. that will mat the hairs down. Then, move to 70% EtOH, then 95% EtOH or stronger. Then, you have several options: a) put under a desk lamp tyo dry fairly quickly - when getting dry, use a small paint- brush (camels-hair or otherwise) and brush the specimen back and f orth to fluff up the pile, or b) put into a small stitched-up pouch of insect netting (if you have a bucn h of them) and put in an electric clothes dryer along with something like handkerchiefs! DO NOT LEAVE IN TOO LONG AND CHECK FREQUENTLY or you will end u p with a nice-looking bee body and a bunch of fragmented legs and tarsi! Some people have luck with b) but I prefer a) becuase I have more control over results. The other option is to use a critical point dryer and depressurize very slow ly (some museums and many electron microscope labs have these). I think a) is pretty easy and often leads to pretty lifelike specimens. I hope this is what you were after. I use it a lot on bees from malaise traps. Cheers, Jim Whitfield, Univ. Arkansas. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 28 Oct 1993 10:07:00 +0100 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Wilhelm Bos, Microbiologie" Subject: BIDATA I would by this be pleased to advertise a full working beekeeping related Program. The Demoprogram is totaly free of charge and so is the basic 20 coloni program. The Demoprogram can handle 9999 bee colonies with unlimited numbers of hivenotes a colonie. Wellcome to Bidata the special Databas program develooped for Beekeepers by a beekeeper, who also is autodidakt programmer. Hier something from the ver 2.0 manual available as manual.zip but only in danish for now. I will try to get it translated to english. In the beginning of 1987 the first program to handle hivenotes got born. Since a big development of the program have been done, with help from users of the program. And still development is going on taking care of wishes from the enduser. Bidata is a DATABASEPROGRAM special developed for beekeepers. Its aim is to make hivenote writing simpel and effektiv, and to help beekeepers in their jugdment of the single queen(Beecoloni).This to bee done from those informations, collected througout the beeyeear. BIDATA gives oportunity for: 1. writing,reading, corrections and deleting of hivenotes. 2. Calculating indexes on beecolonies collected in beeyards. 3. Printing hivenotes/indexnotes to screen or printer. 4. Searching for hivenotes using a single ore more searchcriteria. (1 to 22) 5. Outprint of queen sisters. 6. Evaluating queen sisters on background of index. 7. Communication with a maindatabase. 8. Export of data to Komma or DbaseIII for later import in spreedsheeds like Quartro (Borland) 123 (Lotus) and a lot of others. 9. Translating the program from english to your language, done by you. Means that an Irishman can get it in irish a Belgier in flamsk and so on! 10.Change language from one to another. A full working 90 days demo can be obtained from: Apimo BBS fido 2:230/35.0 . modem +45 98 58 39 97 Apimo is running at 14400 V32B/V42B MNP5 or The BEE BBS technet 111:325/102.0 modem +31 20 76 64 10 5 The BBB BBS is running at 14400 V32B/V42B MNP5 Name BIARKIV.EXE Magic BIDATA also by filerquest. Additons to this realese v.2.11 contrary v.2.0. Language support. ---------------- Up to 255 languages can bee supported. You can even make Bidata to speak your local dialect. See language.doc and Menu.def for more details. Language modul is (c) Mikal Lyngvig fido 2:230/174.3 Improvement of the notefields. ----------------------------- One notefield expanded to 500 chars. It gives you about 50 words. Other notefields expandet from 11 chars to 50 chars. Program rewritten to support mouse. Timelife for Demoprogram expanded to 90 days or 01/01 1995. For 1995 I will ask you to get a new demo. Bidata is still expanding. Planed for a future realease: expanding the editor. Money account program module for beekeepers based on data in Bidata. Barcode support for Beekeepers who do not have time for paperwork. Graphich display of data for visual minded beekeepers. Whatever comes in of new ideas from you, the user. I have special planned a second inputlayer for statistic data. But I am not familiar with what is needed, so any suggestions to this matter will be very much appreciated. Short : which data is needed for a useable beekeeping statistic for use by researc work? Regards Jorn Johanesson Solsortevej 27, Assens DK-9550 Mariager Denmark Phone : +45 98 58 40 61 E-Mail apimo@marvels.hacktic.nl ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 28 Oct 1993 12:49:08 +0200 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "SEPPO KORPELA, e-mail teo2%MTTK@cc.Helsinki.FI" Subject: Re: BIDATA Yes, I would be interested in the program but have no access (modem connection) to the BBS sites. Why don't you place your program to some Internet FTP site to get it by an anonymous FTP? Seppo Korpela Agricultural Research Center of Finland FIN-31600 Jokioinen Finland E-mail TEO2%MTTK@CC.Helsinki.FI ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 28 Oct 1993 14:26:42 +0100 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Staffan Str|m CRsn Subject: Re: BIDATA On ftp.sunet.se you can get by an anonymous FTP a 90 days DEMO. You find it on /uploads. The filename: BIDATA.ZIP. I hope you can find it. Otherwise contact me. Halsningar Staffan Stroem ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 28 Oct 1993 14:15:33 +0000 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Malcolm Roe Subject: Re: BIDATA In-Reply-To: <9310281326.AA12900@sparcy.c.tvt.se> from "Staffan Str|m CRsn" at Oct 28, 93 02:26:42 pm > > On ftp.sunet.se you can get by an anonymous FTP a 90 days DEMO. You find it > on /uploads. The filename: BIDATA.ZIP. > > I hope you can find it. Otherwise contact me. I have tried anonymous FTP as you suggest but I don't have read privilage in the /uploads directory. Is there another directory I should try? If there is you could post to BEE-L. I'm sure others would be interested. -- 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: Thu, 28 Oct 1993 15:58:10 +0100 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Staffan Str|m CRsn Subject: Re: BIDATA I have contact the moderator of ftp.sunet.se and askt him to move the bee- files, I announce it on BEE-L when and where you can find the beefiles. Staffan Stroem ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 30 Oct 1993 15:31:18 CDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Sydney A. Cameron" Subject: Re: Drying Bees In-Reply-To: Message of Tue, 26 Oct 1993 10:01:21 -0500 from Dear Bee Dryers: In a message last week I gave some tips on drying bees with CASCADE dtergent, then EtOH, etc. I am not sure what or how much I said about rinsing the CASCADE off the bees (water and a kitchen strainer) but this is very important. Otherwise the hairs mat down from the detergent/gunk mixture! I suspect if someone tried it they already figured this out... Cheers, Jim Whitfield ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 31 Oct 1993 18:29:39 -0600 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "La Reine de la Cite' des Phoques (Liz Day)" Subject: Re: Drying Bees A good question, I too have had trouble getiing d some speciemns to dry. Sometimes they rot instead. What can one do in a humid climate? liz liz Day day@eecs.uic.edu (sorry , our machine doesn't have a backspace j key)