From LISTSERV@UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU Sun Oct 2 16:07:35 1994 Date: Sun, 2 Oct 1994 16:46:55 -0400 From: BITNET list server at ALBNYVM1 To: Allen Dick Subject: File: "BEE-L LOG9312" ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 1 Dec 1993 12:27:00 +0100 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "IKC-AT Afd. Fruitteelt" Subject: OSMIA parasites Untill this year I had a very healthy population of Osmia rufa. This season about 10 percent of emerging bees were parasitized by Chaetodactylus osmiae. I am afraid that, come next spring, the situation will be even worse. Does anyone have more information on the importance of this mite, its life cycle and possible control methods ? Thanks for any suggestion, Eric Regouin, The Netherlands Regouin@pfw.agro.nl ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 2 Dec 1993 12:02:05 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Malcolm (Tom) Sanford, Florida Extension Apiculturist" Subject: November issue of APIS Distributed to: USR:[MTS]INTER1.DIS;5, USR:[MTS]INTER2.DIS;1, USR:[MTS]INTER3.DIS;2, USR:[MTS]INTER4.DIS;4 FILENAME: NOVAPIS.93 Florida Extension Beekeeping Newsletter Apis--Apicultural Information and Issues (ISSN 0889-3764) Volume 11, Number 11, November 1993 EDUCATING THE YOUNGER SET Although most believe the concept is sound, there was never much out there to help teachers educate school children about honey bees. To fill this gap, "Plan Bee" is now available. It gets top billing in the Resource Guide, published by Florida Ag in the Classroom, and includes an 87-page lesson plan, accompanying set of slides and a list of other materials available to help teach kids (grades 1 through 6) all about honey bees. Plan Bee is available free to teachers in Florida. All that is necessary is to contact Florida Ag in the Classroom, 545 E. Tennessee St., Tallahassee, FL 32308, ph 904/487-4973. The State Coordinator is Doty Wenzel. She will be happy to discuss the program with any interested individual. According to Florida Ag in the Classroom information fliers, "If we ignore Florida Agriculture, it may go away." The mission is to educate as many school children and teachers as possible about agriculture. The organization is non-profit, but heavily supported by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (the Division of Plant Industry in Gainesville was instrumental in developing Plan Bee), and has a volunteer board of directors. Beyond Plan Bee, and the resource guide mentioned above, a newsletter and booklet containing science fair ideas are published. Besides printed resources, Florida Ag in the Classroom sponsors a two and one-half day workshop each July in Gainesville for educators. As noted above, teachers can become members for free; other supporters must join by paying dues as follows: individual ($25/yr), organization ($100/yr), corporate ($250 plus $100/yr). It would be a worthy way to spend any beekeeping association's excess funds. HONEY DEFINED The National Honey Board has taken on a daunting task, defining honey! It may come as a revelation to some that honey has had no official definition. On further reflection, however, it is not surprising. Imagine trying to come to grips with an adequate description of a natural product that is infinitely variable. After a year-long discussion with industry representatives and others, the Board's Product Research and Development Committee has "...a document that describes and defines our product." The actual words used in the official definition were approved October 9, 1993 and are subject to review every two years: "Honey is the nectar and sweet deposits from plants as gathered, modified and stored in the honeycomb of honey bees." That's not all of course; several honey categories and other considerations are also discussed in the three-page definition document. These include honey composition, types of honey, designation of honey sources, forms of honey, honey products, grading and methods of analysis. Composition of honey is perhaps the most problematic topic to deal with in defining the product. Given this fact, the Honey Board has chosen to list an average, range and standard deviation for major constituents. The standard deviation is an estimation of how variable each specific item is. The higher the number, the more difference that can be found among various kinds. The standard deviations themselves show a large range from 70.9 (total protein is extremely variable) to 0.126 (fructose/glucose ratio is more consistent). The following are the actual numbers: Average Range Standard Deviation Fructose/Glucose Ratio 1.23 0.76-1.86 0.126 Fructose,% 38.38 30.91-44.26 1.77 Glucose,% 30.31 22.89-40.75 3.04 Minerals (Ash),% 0.169 0.020-1.028 0.15 Moisture, % 17.2 13.4-22.9 1.46 Reducing Sugars, % 76.75 61.39-83.72 2.76 Sucrose, % 1.31 0.25-7.57 0.87 Total Acidity, meq/kg. 29.12 8.68-59.49 10.33 True Protein, mg/100g. 168.6 57.7-567 70.90 Although the percentage of fructose and glucose constituents are about the same in honeys, glucose is more variable with a standard deviation of 3.04 as opposed to fructose's 1.77. Fructose is the major sugar component which provides the extreme sweetness in honey. This sugar also reduces possible crystallization in the product; Florida tupelo honey is well known for its high fructose content and tendency not to "sugar." The percentage of sucrose in honey has a larger range than might be expected. Citrus honey from Florida has been rejected in some international markets because of its relatively high sucrose content, which is also thought to promote crystallization. Obviously, some honeys are much more proteinaceous than others. Perhaps this will result in some interesting claims by producers in response to the well-known declaration that honey is nothing more than carbohydrate! Of all the numbers presented above, those with reference to percentage of water are perhaps most significant to honey judges. The standard for moisture content in honey shows has traditionally been 18.6%. Does the upper bound shown in the official definition (22.9%) mean that judges will have to accommodate honey in shows with what heretofore was considered an unacceptably high moisture content? In any case, this information will require changes in ENY 129 "Honey Judging and Standards" and ENY 130 "Moisture in Honey," available from this office in limited supply. The official definition does incorporate current U.S. standards and grades of extracted and comb honey which are quoted at length in the above fact sheets. ON RESISTANCE TO PESTICIDES: THE VARROA CONNECTION There has been a good deal of talk in these pages about the possibility of the Varroa mite becoming resistant to Apistan (R). To date, we have little evidence that this is indeed happening. It seems that many reports of resistance are really cases of reinfestation by Varroa from nearby untreated colonies or improper treatment by the beekeeper. Nevertheless, those with experience in the field indicate that mites developing resistance to Apistan (R) is a real possibility. An article by Drs. John Capinera, Chair, and Majorie Hoy, Eminent Scholar, at the Entomology-Nematology Department, University of Florida, in the November, 1993 issue of Florida Grower and Rancher, sheds important light on development of resistance by insects and mites to pesticides. It begins, they say, with an all-too-predictable and sad scenario: "A grower observes that a treatment which formerly was effective for pest control no longer works quite as well. Blaming it on the weather, the applicator, or the product is the natural response. This is followed by increased frequency with higher rates of application which prove temporary relief. But soon this also fails to provide satisfactory pest control. Eventually the problem is diagnosed as pesticide resistance. The grower scrambles to find another pesticide which controls the pests but in doing so experiences crop losses, higher pesticide costs--and increasingly-- lack of alternative pesticides." Examples of the above scenario, according to the authors, include control of leafminer on celery, diamondback moth on cabbage, sweetpotato whitefly on tomato, green peach aphid on potato, broad mite on peppers and two-spotted spider mite on strawberries. The seriousness of the problem is indicated by the fact that by 1984, some 39 percent of 171 medical and 61 percent of 164 agricultural insects and mites showed resistance to pesticides. Most resistance has been found to the older chlorinated hydrocarbon and organophosphate compounds, but it is also being seen in the newer carbamates and pyrethroids. The authors suggest that resistance principally comes from species' ability to metabolize and detoxify poisons, but it could also be due to behavior and other factors. They list the major causes for pesticide resistance developing in pests as (1) high reproductive capacity, (2) many generations per year, (3) parthenogenesis, (4) high survivorship, (5) immigration and (6) high initial frequency of the genes responsible for the resistance. Experience indicates that resistance is also promoted by: (1) close chemical relationship between previously used insecticides, (2) high persistence of materials used, (3) broad-scale applications, (4) frequent applications and (5) sole reliance on chemical control. Finally, the authors conclude it is not possible to predict when or whether resistance will occur or why there is resistance to some pesticides and not others. A closer look at the Varroa situation reveals that many of the conditions above are present which favor it acquiring resistance to fluvalinate. For example, the Varroa mite does produce several generations per year; in fact it can reproduce whenever there is brood. This means most of the time in Florida. It can also be characterized as a mite with a high reproductive capacity; for every mated female in a colony, several daughters may emerge to continue the cycle. If each of these produces a number of daughters, an exponential rate of increase results. Parthenogenesis (reproduction without fertilization of the egg) does not seem to be an important factor in Varroa reproduction. Perhaps of most significance is Varroa's a high rate of migration from infested to treated/noninfested colonies, as shown both within and among in beekeeping operations (see the August and October issues of this newsletter). In general, therefore, it can be said that a majority of biological factors affecting development of resistance are present in Varroa. Operational considerations which effectively promote resistance to insecticides by Varroa may also be working in concert with the biological factors discussed above. Presently, there is only one chemical labelled for controlling Varroa in a living beehive. This is Apistan (R); it contains the active ingredient fluvalinate, a synthetic pyrethroid. Fluvalinate is a contact poison that kills Varroa. It will also poison bees, but the concentration in Apistan (R) is so low that it does not appear to harm the larger-bodied bees. Unfortunately, the product is being used on a large scale and frequent applications are often necessary, especially in subtropical climates. In addition, it is known that beekeepers at present must rely totally on this one pesticide to economically reduce the Varroa population in colonies. This short-range fix could lead to a long-term disaster, should Varroa become resistant to Apistan (R). There are simply no other materials legally available which effectively reduce the mite population. Whether alternative chemicals would become available for Varroa control is problematic. The authors of the article in Florida Grower and Rancher say that pesticides are increasingly concentrated in the hands of only a few manufacturers that choose to market only to producers of large crops like corn and cotton. Fewer, in some cases, no, options exist for developing chemicals for many minor uses. This includes beekeeping. Thus, the authors conclude, the risk of development of resistance to pesticides must be minimized in these minor crops. For beekeepers, this means that Apistan (R) should be treated like the rare commodity it really is. Just how precious is Apistan (R)? In many areas of the world, for almost 30 years, there was no effective control for Varroa. By the time of the product's introduction, over 140 chemicals had been tried, most unsuccessfully, in controlling this devastating parasite. The result was large-scale colony loss where ever the mite was introduced. The U.S. beekeeping community, therefore, should count itself very lucky indeed to have had a legal and effective pesticide become available soon after Varroa was introduced. Illegally using Apistan (R) or using alternative formulations of fluvalinate risks reducing the effectiveness and ultimately, the loss of this product. It should be the fervent hope of every apiculturalist that the product maintains its effectiveness, prolonging as long as possible the addition of "Varroa on honey bees" to the lengthening list of pests which have established resistance to pesticides. AHB FOUND IN THIRD STATE New Mexico has now been added to the list of states confirmed to have African bees. In addition, there have been several finds in Arizona, one very close to the California border, and Ector has become the 69th Texas county to be quarantined. With the AHB find in Cotton City, N.M., the New Mexico Cooperative Extension Service began working closely with the New Mexico Department of Agriculture and other agencies to educate the state's residents on learning to live with AHBs, according to L. Michael English, extension entomologist at New Mexico State University. The educational campaign is being directed at all age groups, starting with school children. Primary education targets also include highway department workers, pest control operators and others likely to come in contact with bees. POLLINATION--A GROWTH INDUSTRY? I have participated in two panels this year at beekeepers' meetings on commercial pollination. At least for some, it is a growth industry. For the first time this year, Florida bees were trucked to California for almond pollination! Uniform advice from these panels was that a quality pollination service takes commitment. The beekeeper must always be ready to get bees in and move them out of fields with very short notice, and some kind of a backup plan should be in place in the very real case that things go wrong. One must develop a long-term personal relationship based on trust with the customer. A key to this is communication. Successful pollinators are regularly in contact with customers, even during the off season. They send out reminders and make phone calls in advance of the coming season to try to assess their capabilities and the growers' needs. One outfit writes a newsletter that includes information on a wide variety of topics. I was happy to hear that at least one commercial pollinator has used information I published about pollination in his marketing efforts. "Pollination of Citrus by Honey Bees," and "Beekeeping: Watermelon Pollination," two papers I wrote for commercial grower conventions, are both available from County Extension Offices on CD ROM 7 and 8. In addition, I continue to have a supply of ENY 110 "Sample Pollination Agreement," available on request. The message from participants on both panels was clear. Given quality service, growers are not opposed to paying top dollar for pollination fees. There seems to be no better time than now for every beekeeper to look closely at commercial pollination as an alternative enterprise. Malcolm T. Sanford Bldg 970, Box 110620 University of Florida Gainesville, FL 32611-0620 Phone (904) 392-1801, Ext. 143 FAX: 904-392-0190 BITNET Address: MTS@IFASGNV INTERNET Address: MTS@GNV.IFAS.UFL.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 5 Dec 1993 13:30:17 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: ERIK@ACSPR1.ACS.BROCKPORT.EDU Subject: blue orchard bumblebee --Original letter-- Return-Path: <@UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU:bogorman@WHSUN1.WH.WHOI.EDU> Received: from UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU by ACSPR1.acs.brockport.edu; 03 Dec 93 17:30:38 EST Received: from UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU by UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with BSMTP id 9747; Fri, 03 Dec 93 17:28:53 EST Received: from UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU (NJE origin LISTSERV@ALBNYVM1) by UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU (LMail V1.1d/1.7f) with BSMTP id 1674; Fri, 3 Dec 1993 17:28:53 -0500 Received: from ALBNYVM1 (NJE origin SMTP@ALBNYVM1) by UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU (LMail V1.1d/1.7f) with BSMTP id 1672; Fri, 3 Dec 1993 17:28:52 -0500 Received: from aqua.whoi.edu by UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with TCP; Fri, 03 Dec 93 17:28:51 EST Received: by aqua.whoi.edu (5.57/Ultrix3.0-C) id AA22237; Fri, 3 Dec 93 17:25:56 -0500 Received: from whsun4.wh.whoi.edu by whsun1 .wh.whoi.edu (4.1/1.34/indent-1.0) id AA15798; Fri, 3 Dec 93 17:24:25 EST From: bogorman@whsun1.wh.whoi.edu (Brian O'Gorman) Message-Id: <9312032224.AA15798@whsun1 .wh.whoi.edu> Subject: blue orchard - bumblebee To: owner-bee-l@UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU Date: Fri, 3 Dec 1993 17:28:44 -0500 (EST) X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4 PL22] Content-Type: text Content-Length: 401 Does anyone know a source, citation or bill of materials for constructing nest boxes to attract bumblebees? I know this has been done before, I think in Canada. Any hints on discouraging skunk predatation or parasitism and nest box location would be appreciated. Also, about blue orchard bee, can anyone recommend dimesions for boards and drilling of holes (size and depth) to attract these bees? ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 5 Dec 1993 14:47:03 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Dave D. Cawley, a De Leon Socialist" Subject: Right Field Hi, I'm going to have my first hive this spring and I wanted an opinion... I'm keeping my bees at a friend's house here in the Scranton, PA area. Her house is at the left end of a 10 acre field and there is nothing except weeds for the next 8.5 acres (there's a little clover, some goldenrod already there and she's going to plant a few apple and plum trees). I was thinking of going to the local Agway and buying a bunch of different seeds to toss out in the field, what varieties would keep a steady nectar flow throughout the summer? Also, do you think I should ask permission before I do this? I'm thinking simple, wild-type flowers/plants, not plowing the back 40 for a crop of buckwheat or anything like that. Any ideas or comments welcomed. Email or post, doesn't matter. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dave D. Cawley | Where a social revolution is pending and, University Of Scranton | for whatever reason, is not accomplished, ddc1@jaguar.uofs.edu | reaction is the only alternative. ddc1@SCRANTON | -Daniel De Leon ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 5 Dec 1993 21:05:49 -0600 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "La Reine de la Cite' des Phoques (Liz Day)" Subject: blue orchard bee What is a blue orchard bee?? Liz Day University of Illinois at Chicago day@eecs.uic.edu ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 5 Dec 1993 21:50:00 CST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: P30LEK1@NIU.BITNET Subject: Re: Right Field Dave - The conventional wisdom says that it is not really realistic to attempt to plant crops for the collection of nector. My experience is that it is probably true. Even with ten acres, the bees will fly well beyond it (perhaps as much as three miles) to find the nector source they want. If you do decide to plant for the bees, there is a book available from the bee supply houses on honey plants. Or, read a few back issues of Gleenings in Bee Culture. there have been a number of articles in there. Before you plant I suggest you check with the local forestry department. there are some plants you would rather not introduce. good luck in your endeavor... Larry Krengel ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1993 14:47:27 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Malcolm (Tom) Sanford, Florida Extension Apiculturist" Subject: December issue of APIS Distributed to: USR:[MTS]INTERNET.DIS;2 FILENAME: DECAPIS.93 Florida Extension Beekeeping Newsletter Apis--Apicultural Information and Issues (ISSN 0889-3764) Volume 11, Number 12, December 1993 TAKING STOCK It's time to take stock again as the old year closes. This is the 131st consecutive issue of APIS to roll off the press. Not only is the printed form available, however, but also the electronic document. This year, APIS will be formally recognized as a pioneer of the Information Age. The history of its publication on the Internet (a collection of various computer networks) will become one of a few stories compiled into a publication that will be used to promote construction of the National Information Infrastructure (NII). Most back issues of APIS are no longer in print, however, the electronic revolution still keeps the information, along with an index, available to anybody with an electronic mail address. Perhaps these files will also be part of a Gopher or accessible by anonymous FTP in the future. For those on the IFAS Computer Network, there are other options, including issues for the last two years in the ONLINE database. My electronic mail address appears at the end of this newsletter for anybody who would like to peruse either the index or back issues. Perhaps 1993's top subject was first the availability (January issue) and then abrupt withdrawal from the market (October issue) of the alternative Varroa mite treatment, Miticur (R). This was a great setback for the beekeeping industry. As a consequence, it will continue to have to rely on only one chemical for Varroa control, a prescription for accelerating the development of resistance by the parasite (November issue). In conjunction with this, the dangers of using alternative mite treatments for Varroa and the search for mite-resistant stock were discussed (January). The phenomenal ability of Varroa to transfer among colonies was also described as a beekeeper community problem (March) and the parasite's control, therefore, as a moving target (August), culminating in what some have called the Great Mite Plague of 1993 (October). The February issue detailed the search for a model management plan, not only for disease and pest control, but other issues beekeepers face. The question, When is a bee colony healthy? was asked in July. Tracheal mite resistance was also discussed (April), as well as a sampling procedure to find these parasites (May). Another topic addressed at some length was the African honey bee migration. Results of research at the University of Florida on African-European hybrids in the tropics were reported, leading to some ideas about why they do not appear to persist in the wild (June). The advance of the African honey bee into Arizona (August) and New Mexico (November) was also cataloged. How the word "swarm" is now perceived by beekeepers and others, but might have to be modified with the arrival of African bees, was addressed (April). Finally, this issue discusses the need for studying the biology of African-European hybrids. A plethora of other topics were dealt with throughout the year: bee bashing by columnists and others involved in the honey subsidy issue (January), the life and death of beekeeping pioneer Phil Packard (April), queen rearing on the rebound in Florida, conserving honey quality (May), apitherapy and human health (July) and agricultural ethics (August). The future of pollination as a consequence of Varroa depredations on feral honey bee nests and the hue and cry for training persons in urban areas to tend bees strictly for pollination were also addressed (June). Finally, an era ended in 1993 with cancellation of the traditional Beekeepers Institute (September). This sad occurrence was replaced by a phenomenally successful one-day beekeeping seminar in Florida's panhandle (October). What 1994 will hold is anybody's guess. Stick around, however, you'll be one of the first to know as a recipient of APIS. 1994 4-H ESSAY CONTEST The time is right to be penning an entry for the American Beekeeping Federation's 4-H Essay Contest. The prizes for this year's event include: Cash prizes to three top winners: 1st Place $250.00 2nd Place $100.00 3rd Place $ 50.00 Each State Winner also receives an appropriate book about honey bees, beekeeping, or honey. The topic is Products of the Hive and Their Uses. Essayists should research the subject thoroughly and cite uses of not only honey, but beeswax and other hive products: royal jelly, venom, propolis, honeydew, bee brood and live bees. To get started, look for how hive products have been used in a wide variety of ways in the past. Some of these are highly unusual, even humorous, when viewed from today's perspective. Then answer the questions, "what roles do hive products play in the world today?" and "what uses do you imagine for them in the future?". NOTE: Honey bee pollination of plants is not considered a product of the beehive. RULES: 1. Contest is open to active 4-H Club members only. 4-H'ers who have previously placed first, second, or third at the national level are not eligible; other state winners are eligible to re- enter. 2. Essays must be 750 to 1000 words long, written on the designated subject only. All factual statements must be referenced with endnotes; failure to do so will result in disqualification of the essay. A brief biographical sketch of the essayist, including date of birth, complete mailing address, and telephone number, must accompany the essay. (The word limit does not include the references or the essayist's biographical sketch.) 3. Essays submitted must be typewritten, double-spaced, on one side of the paper and should follow standard manuscript format. Handwritten essays will not be judged. 4. Essays will be judged on (a) accuracy, (b) creativity, (c) conciseness, (d) logical development of the topic, and (e) scope of research. 5. Essayists in Florida should forward essays directly to Essay Contest, Dr. M.T. Sanford, Bldg. 970, Box 110620, Gainesville, FL 32611-0620. The deadline is February 1, 1994, earlier than usual. 6. Each state may submit only one entry. 7. Final judging and selection of the National Winner will be made by the ABF's Essay Committee, whose decision is final. 8. The National Winner will be announced by May 1, 1994. 9. All entries become the property of the American Beekeeping Federation, Inc. and may be published or used as it sees fit. No essay will be returned. FEDERATION MEETS IN FLORIDA It's not too soon to plan to attend the annual meeting of the American Beekeeping Federation in Florida. It will take place at the Sheraton World Resort in Orlando, January 19-23. The program promises to be one of the best ever. Featured presentations will be given about NAFTA's possible impact on U.S. beekeeping, the USDA's "new" honey program, bee research around the nation and world, coping with African bees in Texas and Arizona, apitherapy and the beekeeper, and managing Varroa and tracheal mites. On Saturday, January 22, there will be meetings of special interest sessions (package bees and queens, commercial beekeepers, supply manufacturers and dealers, inspectors and researchers, hobby beekeepers and honey packers). In addition, participants will be given the opportunity to attend a wide range of educational workshops that afternoon. Finally, on Sunday, January 23, an all- day visit to Mike Blocker's Bee Ranch in Umatilla is planned. Tentative events include a barbecue and bobcat/forklift rodeo to find the fastest, most proficient driver in beekeeperdom. Information on the meeting is available from the American Beekeeping Federation, Inc., P.O. Box 1038, Jesup, GA 31545, ph and fax 912/427-8447 or ph 912/427-4018. I look forward to seeing you there. BUMBLE BEES I am in receipt of the August 1993 issue of Bumblebeequest, published in Canada. It contains an article on how these non-apis bees manage to fly in cold weather and the results of a survey of cranberry pollination by North American bumble bees. In addition, there is information on regulations involving moving colonies in Canada and three reviews on books recently published on pollination biology. To subscribe (up to four issues per year are planned), send a check for $20 to Dr. D.T. Fairey, Box 411, Beaverlodge, Alberta, Canada TOH OCO. Phone 403/354-2212, FAX 403/354-8171. There seems to be more and more interest about bumble bee culture as the availability of Bumblebeequest attests. A discussion list on the these bees and their contribution to pollination has also been set up by Dr. Chris Plowright at the University of Ottawa. For those on the Internet, send a subscribe message to BOMBUS@CSI.UOTTAWA.CA. For other questions, communicate directly with Dr. Plowright (PLOWRIGHT@CSI.UOTTAWA.CA). HYBRID HONEY BEE BIOLOGY--A NEW FRONTIER? Drs. Glenn Hall at the University of Florida and Orley "Chip" Taylor, University of Kansas, teamed up recently at the Florida State Beekeepers Association meeting in West Palm Beach to discuss hybrid honey bee biology. Together they reported on a mounting body of evidence suggesting that there may be surprises when the New World feral African honey bee population meets up with the managed European one in temperate America. Dr. Taylor's studies of queen and worker development time in Mexico, Dr. Hall's investigations of metabolic rates in collaboration with Dr. Harrison of Arizona State University, and analyses of honey production at the Escuela Agricola Panamericana (Zamorano) in Honduras all show similar patterns. African mother lines generally propagate better-performing hybrid offspring than do Europeans in the first generation (called F1 by geneticists), although European mother lines do produce viable stock. In succeeding generations (back crosses), both African and European mother lines become progressively less vigorous. However, the European mother lines do so to a much greater degree. Thus, instead of uniform hybridization between the two populations, these investigations suggest a parental influence skewed towards the African side in the American tropics. It was stressed that these dynamics have been studied in mostly feral or wild bee populations. Colony management (helping them become more competitive) by beekeepers in the honey production study appeared to help hybrid stock compensate. In one African-European cross, for example, while metabolic rates were lower, suggesting a less productive bee, honey production was almost the same level as that of the maternal African parent. Dr. Taylor said that in the tropics, a zone of temporary hybridization may first appear along the feral African bee invading front, but that population becomes more African-like over time. How much of a hybrid African-European feral population will eventually persist across the southern tier of states in the U.S., as is now found in northern Argentina, he stated, is unknown at present. The reason African bees have appeared to slow in east Texas, Dr. Taylor conjectured, is because the hybridizing front may be meeting tough resistance from an already entrenched Varroa population. If the hybrids are decimated by mites, there remains a question about how long it might take the African bee to actually reach Florida. Another possibility, he concluded, is that the large number of nesting sites in the "Big Thicket" of east Texas might be swallowing up the feral population for a period of time, until it outgrows the region and again pushes eastward. According to Dr. Hall, these studies collectively reveal that far more attention may have to be paid to the contribution of the African mother line when developing hybrid honey bees for beekeeper use in the southern U.S. Simply saturating an area with European drones or requeening with European certified stock may not be enough to keep the feral African-derived population's influence at bay. In the final analysis, the only way to answer many of these questions is to intensively study the hybrid biology of African and European bees where they collide. Malcolm T. Sanford Bldg 970, Box 110620 University of Florida Gainesville, FL 32611-0620 Phone (904) 392-1801, Ext. 143 FAX: 904-392-0190 BITNET Address: MTS@IFASGNV INTERNET Address: MTS@GNV.IFAS.UFL.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1993 12:28:18 PST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Dave Pehling Organization: WSU CAHE USER Subject: Re: blue orchard bumblebee In-Reply-To: Message of Sun, 5 Dec 1993 13:30:17 EST from RE: Questons about bumblebee rearing.... Dr. Plowright recommended "The Humble Bee: Its Life History and How to Domesticate It", by F.W.L. Sladen. If you can not fine a copy, contact Pam Munn (MunnPA@Cardiff.AC.UK). I understand that it has been reprinted recently by IBRA. Another book you will find inter- esting is "Bumblebee Exconomics" by Bernd Heinrich. RE: Orchard Mason Bees The species we have in NW United States is Osmia lignaria propinqua. This species preferrs 5/16 inch holes. Use a brad-bit as it makes a cleaner hole. The bees will use almost any length of hole, but may not use the ENTIRE lengtih. Around here, we mostly use 4 by 4 inch blocks of various lengths with the holes bored not quite through. The bees will also use cans stuffed with paper or plastic straws folded in half. The best book I've seen on this subject is "The Orchard Mason Bee" by Brian Griffin. If you want a copy (costs about $8 U.S.) drop me a line & I'll send you Brian's address. You could also check wityh a company called "Orchard Bees". They used to sell bees and nests several years ago. Address is 1111 Cindy St., Auburn, IN 46706. Drop me a note if you have questions.... Cheers, Dave Pehling =========================================== | W.S.U./SNOHOMISH CO. COOPERATIVE EXTENSION | | 600 128TH ST. S.E. | | EVERETT, WA. 98208 | |PHONE - (206)338-2400 | |FAX - (206)338-3994 | |INTERNET CE6431@WSUVM1.CSC.WSU.EDU | ============================================ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1993 09:48:07 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Holly J Ferguson Subject: rearing queens & drones from eggs Dear bee-netters, This is the first time I have tried to send something to bee-l so hence a reason if I make a mistake. I am trying to scope the bee world for info on rearing diets for honey bees. I have already talked to Christine Peng about her worker diet. I still need a diet that would work for queens and one for drones. Currently I can get the eggs through hatching in a honeybee-specific medium but am lost after that. I realize that I am taking on a labor-intensive task but student assistance will be available for multiple feedings if necessary. Thanks in advance for your help. Sincerely, Holly Ferguson Post-doctoal researcher Ohio State University Dept. of Entomology Columbus, Ohio 43210 internet: hferguso@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu phone: 614-292-7928 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1993 11:26:32 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Stephen Bambara (Raleigh, NC)" Subject: bee calendar The North Carolina State Beekeepers publish a Calendar of Beekeeping every year. It contains lots of interesting information, meeting dates, management suggestions, and recipes. It has a slight regional bias, but should still be interesting to most beekeepers. It is printed on recycled paper and in two colors. Copies are available at $6.00 each from: North Carolina State Beekeepers Assn 1403 Varsity Dr. Raleigh, NC 27606 -- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= | Stephen Bambara NCSU-Entomology, Box 7626, Raleigh NC 27695-7626 | |=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=| ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1993 08:30:00 -0800 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Kerry Clark 784-2225 fax (604) 784 2299" Subject: Re: rearing queens & drones from eggs The honey bee unit at the Beltsville Research Station have quite a bit of experience in hand rearing bees. If you contact Dr Shimanuki there he could put you in touch with the best current person. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1993 12:38:00 CST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: tdahms@SLEDGE-PO.WEEG.UIOWA.EDU Subject: December 1993 'BUZZ' - Iowa Beekeepers Newsletter Submitted by Terry Dahms - President East Central Iowa Beekeepers internet: terry-dahms@uiowa.edu ----------------------------------------------------------------- THE BUZZ DECEMBER, 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 FORM ON PAGE 9: Membership dues in the Iowa Honey Producers Assn. are $5.00/year. Send to Gordon Powell, IHPA Treasurer. ----------------------------------------------------------------- PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your president again this year. After a rough year, it's time to rebuild. Be sure to fill out the attached membership form if you did not attend the Annual meeting last month. Membership in the Iowa Honey Producers Association runs from the beginning of one annual meeting to the beginning of the next annual meeting. The following is a list of the "Benefits of an Iowa Honey Producers Membership": Information - Discount on beekeeping journal subscriptions - Automatically receive the monthly BUZZ newsletter - Update you on all state beekeeping activities - Keeps you in touch with the State Apiarist's work - Informs on state legislative and educational programs - THE BUZZ provides dates & times for meetings, equipment auctions and classified ads - Who to contact for what Activities - Local area Directors represent you in your part of the state - IHPA lobbying efforts which provides input into the State and Federal governments - State Annual Meeting featuring beekeeping's best in guest speakers, forums and workshops - State Fair competition and displays - Annual series of local beekeeping workshops - Annual Field Day - Apiary Registration Program And ... a chance to make a difference in the greatest hobby, side business or career there is...beekeeping! - Leroy Kellogg, IHPA President FOR SALE: Moving, must sell! 40 colonies (7 with bees) with extra boxes, frames, feeders, comb cutters, uncapping spinner, 24 or 48 frame extractor, honey warmer, strainer, heater and bottler, etc. $1200 or reasonable offer. CONTACT: George Kern in Van Meter (515) 996-2645. STATE APIARISTS REPORT Those of you that missed the Annual Meeting in Ames November 5 & 6 missed good fellowship and an interesting program. I believe we beekeepers are a little discouraged because of the disappointing honey crop this year and the last several years. The thing to do when you're discouraged is to get together with others rather than staying away from beekeepers meetings. Highlights of the Annual meeting included a talk on the mechanics of bee pollination by Dr. Hoffman. Most orchardists and beekeepers do not realize that cross pollination between varieties of apples is dependent on the transfer of different varieties of pollen between bees inside the colony. All the movies and books say that pollen is transferred from a flower of one variety to the flower of another variety by the same bee. The problem with this theory is that an individual bee only forages on one variety of flower at a time. The only way pollen can get from one variety to another is for pollen to be transferred from bees visiting one variety of flower to bees visiting another variety of flower inside the beehive. What is the implication for this discovery? Interplanting of varieties of apples does not enhance cross-pollination. Additionally, the highly social honey bees have much more potential for cross pollination than the wild solitary bees. No insect pollinates as many different crops as the honey bee. As Dr. Hoffman put it "Honey bees are the backbone of agriculture". Colonies should be prepared for winter by now. However, you still have time to put an insulation board or sugar board on top and wrap with tarpaper or insulation. It is also important to put in an entrance reducer block to keep mice and cold out. The bees will generally not take liquid sugar this late in the season. Below is a map indicating the counties where Africanized bees have been detected in Texas and Arizona. SAINT AMBROSE FEAST DAY - DECEMBER 7TH (Cover picture) Saint Ambrose is the Patron of Beekeepers and candlemakers. He was the Bishop of Milan who lived from A.D. 340-397. St. Ambrose is one of the four Latin Fathers of the Church. He was the son of a Roman prefect. St. Ambrose is painted in the dress of a bishop carrying a crosier, the pastoral staff of his office. He is also shown holding a beehive, a reference to the legend that, when he was an infant, a swarm of bees alighted on his mouth, thus foretelling his future eloquence, as is suggested by the expression "honeyed words". St. Ambrose compared the Church to a beehive, and the Christian to the bee, working ardently and forever true to the hive. (To get the original greeting card--in color--contact: Adele Gabrielle Morris, 9309 Montpelier Drive, Laurel, Maryland 20708, Tel. (301) 725-6185.) FOR SALE: Pack-King stainless, water-jacketed 25-gallon honey packing tank. Six 5-gallon pails of feed honey $5 each. Contact M. Fackler, 5903 SW 13th Pl., Des Moines, IA (515) 285-3917. ROBERT MELOY PASSES AWAY Longtime beekeeper and Sioux Bee member, Dr. Robert Meloy died Sunday, November 7, 1993 in Sioux City after a brief illness reports his wife of almost 49 years, Pauline Meloy. Dr. Meloy was a World War II veteran and graduate of Morningside College, University of South Dakota and University of Minnesota. As a chemist, he was a faculty member at Morningside College until 1969. In 1969 he became director of research and development for the Sioux Honey Association, retiring in 1985. A musician, he performed with many bands and orchestras, including the original Lawrence Welk Group, the Sioux City Municipal Band and the Siouxland All American Band. Until last Spring, he was a professional beekeeper and a member of the Sioux Honey Association Cooperative. A memorial has been established in his name for St. Luke's School of Nursing Scholarship Fund in Sioux City, Iowa. CALENDAR OF EVENTS December 2-4 1st Upper Midwest Regional Beekeepers Meeting and Minnesota Honey Producers Meeting, Comfort Inn-Airport Hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota 13 East Central Iowa Beekeepers Meeting 7:00 p.m. in Montgomery Hall, Johnson County Fairgrounds, Iowa City January, 1994 12-15 The 25th Annual Convention of the American Honey Producers Association at Holiday Inn Palo Verde in Tuscon, Arizona. National Honey Board Mtg. following. 18-23 The American Beekeepers Federation Meeting at the Sheraton World Resort Hotel in Orlando, Florida. ANNUAL MEETING "COOKING WITH HONEY" CONTEST RECIPES Honey Muffins 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 cup sugar 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 2 eggs 1/2 cup honey 1/2 cup orange juice 1/3 cup butter, melted 1 tsp vanilla extract In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside. In a mixing bowl, beat eggs. Add honey, orange juice, butter and vanilla; mix well. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fill 12 greased muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake at 375 F for 15-20 minutes or until golden. Yield: 1 dozen Golden Honey Carrot Cookies - Patty Stewart, South Amana 1/4 cup shortening 1/2 tsp lemon extract 1/4 cup butter 1 1/4 cup grated carrots 1/2 cup sugar 2 cup flour 1/4 honey 2 tsp baking powder 1 egg 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp vanilla Beat shortening, butter and sugar until fluffy. Add honey, egg and flavorings. Stir in carrots. Add dry ingredients. Spoon dough onto greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 F for 10 minutes. Honey Oatmeal Bread 1-1/2 cups rolled oats 1-1/2 cups water 1-1/2 tsp salt 1 pkg active dry yeast 1/3 cup honey 1/4 cup water, 105-115 F 1 Tbsp corn oil 2-1/2 to 3 cups bread flour In saucepan, combine oats, water and salt. Heat to boiling; remove from heat and cool to lukewarm. Add honey and oil . In mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in the warm water. Add the cooled oat mixture. Stir in flour to make a stiff dough. Knead 10 minutes until smooth. Turn into a clean, oiled bowl. Let rise until doubled, 1-1/2 hours. Punch down and shape into a loaf, either round or oblong. Place into a greased pan. Let rise until almost doubled. Bake at 375 F for 40 to 45 minutes. Yield: 1 loaf BEE PATIENT Therefore be patient, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer (beekeeper?) waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. (James 5:7) Susan's Potica Bread 2 pkg active dry yeast 1/2 cup water, 105-115 F 1-1/2 tsp salt Honey Nut Filling: 1/2 cup sugar 1 lb ground walnuts 3/4 cup milk 1 cup sugar 3 eggs, lightly beaten 1 cup evaporated milk 2/3 cup butter, melted 1/2 cup honey 5-1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 tsp vanilla In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Add remaining ingredients in order; beat to make a smooth, satiny dough. Let rise in greased bowl until doubled. Boil filling ingredients together for five minutes until thick; cool. Cover large table with a smooth, clean plastic cloth; oil lightly. Invert bowl onto center of cloth (dough will flop out.) Pat dough out flat. Gently stretch, until paper-thin, into a 20-30" x 60-80" rectangle. Spread with filling; trim edges. Starting from narrow end, lift cloth to roll up potica, enclosing the filling. Cut into three equal pieces. Place into three well-greased 9x5" loaf pans. Let rise one hour until puffy. Bake at 350 F until golden. Turn out of pans; cool. Slice thin. Yield: 3 loaves. Concord Grape Pie 5-1/2 cups ripe Concord grapes 2/3 cup light honey 4 Tbsp cornstarch 3 Tbsp water 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice 1 Tbsp grated orange rind 1-1/2 Tbsp unsalted butter 1 egg, beaten Pastry for 9-10" pie pan and lattice top Pinch grape pulp out of skins and set skins aside. Put pulp in saucepan (with no water) and bring to rolling boil. While pulp is still hot, rub it through a fine food mill to remove seeds. Combine strained pulp, skins and honey; stir well. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch, water and lemon juice; stir until smooth. Add cornstarch mixture and orange rind to grape mixture. Spoon into pastry shell. Dot with butter or margarine. Roll out remaining pastry into long strip. Brush lightly with beaten egg and cut into strips 1/2" wide. Arrange in lattice pattern on top of pie. Place pie on baking sheet and bake at 375 F 40-50 minutes; let cool. Garnish with ice cream or cool whip, if desired. Nicki's Chocolate-Honey Apple-Butter 3/4 cup honey 1 tsp cocoa powder 1 quart canned apples 1/4 tsp nutmeg 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/4 tsp cinnamon 1 cup milk 1/4 tsp ginger Combine all ingredients in large sauce pan. Bring to a boil and remove from heat. Blend in electric blender until smooth. Chill and serve on any pastry or bread. IOWA HONEY PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION 1994 MEMBERSHIP DUES: Iowa Honey Producers Association $ 5.00 $_________ American Honey Producers 1-50 colonies $20.00 $_________ 51-500 colonies $75.00 $_________ First time [] Renewal [] (Check one) American Beekeeping Federation 1-50 colonies $20.00 $_________ 51-500 colonies $50.00 $_________ First time [] Renewal [] (Check one) SUBSCRIPTIONS: American Bee Journal One Year $16.20* $12.15 $_________ Two Years $30.12* $22.59 $_________ (Check one) First time [] Renewal [] Exp.date_________ Bee Culture magazine One Year $16.50* $12.25 $_________ (formerly Gleanings..) Two Years $30.00* $22.50 $_________ (Check one) First time [] Renewal [] Exp.date_________ QTY. BOOKS 1-9 10 or more ____ Large Honey Recipe Book $2.00 Same $_________ ____ Small Honey Recipe Book $ .75 $ 0.65 $_________ ____ Honey Pamphlet $0.03 Same $_________ ================= TOTAL $_________ *PRICE YOU WOULD PAY FOR MAGAZINE IF YOU DID NOT BELONG TO IHPA CHECK PAYABLE TO: IOWA HONEY PRODUCERS ASSN. SEND CHECK AND FORM TO: Gordon Powell 4012 - 54th St. Des Moines, IA 50310 (515) 278-1762 NAME________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS:____________________________________________________________ CITY:____________________STATE_________________ZIP__________________ PHONE(____)_________________________________________________________ NO. OF COLONIES_______________ 11/23/93 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 8 Dec 1993 10:31:47 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology Comments: Resent-From: Mike Ramundo Comments: Originally-From: P30LEK1@NIU.BITNET From: Mike Ramundo Subject: VAROA RESISTENT? I had an interesting experience recently. I am curious to know if any others have had the same. I recently established two colonies in the northwoods of Wisconsin - in a rather isolated location. One was queened with a traditional itialian queen, the other with a Hawian queen. After the honey was off this fall, I placed menthol from Mann Lake on each of the hives. The bottom board of the itialian hive had - within 24 hours - 1000's of varoa mites strewn on it. the Hawian hive had few or none. I would anticipate that if the Hawian breeders had the idea that their bees were that tuff on mites, they would have let us all know. Has anyone had a similar experience? Any thought on why the difference? Obviously, I will be splitting the Hawian colony an letting them raise a few new queens for me. Larry Krengel P30LEK1@NIU Marengo, IL (the home of C. C. Miller) ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 8 Dec 1993 08:55:00 -0800 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Kerry Clark 784-2225 fax (604) 784 2299" Subject: Re: Varroa resistance This is a topic that could have tremendous importance (re. pollination) as the "varroa resistance to miticides" story unfolds. I'd like to hear of any experiences with the "Yugo" or other potentially resistant bee stock. In B.C. this year, we monitored the first year (or so) of varroa population buildup, and did trials to develop recommendations for control. In measuring the varroa populations, it seemed that some colonies consistently produced many more mites , than others (even after mite levels were reduced by treatment). There are a lot of possible factors that influence the mites/bees, and 2 colonies with an uncertain past are not much to start from, even though there may be a large difference in mite numbers. Some of the proposed mechanisms of resistance to varroa seem difficult to easily measure (juvenile hormone titer, post-capping period). However, the grooming/removal of mites could be a major mechanism, and one that might be easily compared between colonies (proportion of mites with damage). Are any of you working on something like that? Kerry Clark, Apiculture Specialist B.C. Ministry of Agriculture 1201 103 Ave Dawson Creek B.C. V1G 4J2 CANADA Tel (604) 784-2225 fax (604) 784-2299 INTERNET KCLARK@GALAXY.GOV.BC.CA ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 8 Dec 1993 12:43:14 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jonathan Beard Subject: bee perception I am about to write a short article for New Scientist reporting on some work done at the University of Sao Paulo in the lab of Dora Ventura. A grad student of hers proved, with a behavioral experiment, that bees can "see" optical illusions. The bees were trained on sugar-baited triangles, and then presented with the "Kanisza triangle," a famous illusion invented in 1955, which has the three corners of a triangle, and which humans automatically "see" a triangle in--though none of the three sides is "there." The bees immediately went to these non-existent sides looking for the sugar water. The original report in Ciencia Hoje says that most tests of such perception have been in humans, and the few in insects have been electrophysiological, not behavioral. Are any of you familiar with any such work, or is this person right about that? Jonathan |-----------------------------|------------------------------| |-Jonathan D. Beard-----------|--Internet jbeard@panix.com---| |-Science Writer and----------|--CompuServe 72301,563--------| |-Photo Researcher------------|--Voice tel-212-749-1055------| |-820 West End Avenue 3B------|--Fax 212-749-9336 or 662-3426| |-New York City 10025-5328----|--alternate jbeard@aip.org----| |-----------------------------|------------------------------| ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 8 Dec 1993 14:20:51 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Malcolm (Tom) Sanford, Florida Extension Apiculturist" Subject: Re: VAROA RESISTENT? The report of Larry Krengel P30LEK1@NIU struck me as interesting. Not the part about Varroa resistance, but the fact that menthol apparently was effective in knocking Varroa down to the bottom board. This is the first time I have heard about menthol acting on Varroa; it mostly has been used for tracheal mites and I believe still labelled only for that use. Another piece of the Varroa puzzle to remember is that even though mites are knocked off by chemicals, if they are not killed, they often can get right back on the insects. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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, 8 Dec 1993 16:33:41 -0600 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "La Reine de la Cite' des Phoques (Liz Day)" Subject: bee perception of traingles Pretty neat. Liz Day University of Illinois at Chicago day@eecs.uic.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 8 Dec 1993 16:03:27 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jerry J Bromenshenk Subject: Re: Varroa resistance In-Reply-To: (null) Kerry and others: We observed a strange response in a nucleus colony of honey bee maintained in an indoor flight chamber. For two month the bees flew to feeders and went about their business with little die off of bees. The queen was not laying - we were not providing pollen substitute and were in the process of increasing the day length in an attempt to convince the bees that it was spring, not autumn. A few days ago, within 24 hours, all of the bees marched out of the hive into the flight tube and then died. In addition, there was a lot of debris with them in the flihgt tube. Another hive in the same room showed no visible problems. Something drove the bees out and they then died. The only thing we could detect was that these bees had a heavy Varroa infestation. Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated. P.S. While composing this reply I got a message from someone on the list about bad grammer. On my system, when a message comes in while composing a response, the message overwrites everything and makes it very difficult to see what is going on. One has choices - either continue with the response or cancel and start over. I continued on, so please forgive any mistakes that may have crept into my typing. Jerry Bromenshenk The University of Montana Missoula, MT 59812-1002 406-243-5648 Fax: 4184 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 8 Dec 1993 18:07:05 -0600 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "La Reine de la Cite' des Phoques (Liz Day)" Subject: a fable about the origin of bees There is a fable about bees, god made all the animals out of clay and water except the bee. The bee was made by a demon who lived under the earth and who was a fine craftsman but very jealous of the things god was making. So he made a bee which was very beautiful but it wasn't alive, only god could breathe life into things. (We don't know how the demon got there.) The demon made the bee out of precious metals and his own tears, then he showed it to god and tricked god by flattery into breathing life into it. The bee escaped and flew away. But soon it began to feel very depressed because its blood was made of tears, not water. It went to a flower and drank all the sweet honey and felt better. But after a while the feeling wore off. So now the bee goes constantly to flowers and drinks to keep itself happy, otherwise it will be too sad. When it isn't doing well it stings people and the pain is from the demon's tears. Merry Christmas, Liz Day University of Illinois at Chicago day@eecs.uic.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 8 Dec 1993 20:25:13 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: uplow!cp@CSI.UOTTAWA.CA Subject: A corrective (and certainly racist) message! From: plowright@csi.uottawa.ca Dear BEE-Liners: Come now! Let's have at least a quantum of reputable scholarship around here. I have it on EXCELLENT authority (the "below- stairs" craftsmen that Liz mentioned was actually an ancestor of mine, although nowadays we prefer to call ourselves "daemons"; now that we have ascended to the middle-class and have found a home slinking around the innards of computer operating systems) that "the bee" in question was not just ANY OLD BEE: it was, of course . . . . a BUMBLE BEE!! Furthermore, we have it on equally excellent authority that those "other sort of bees" were actually invented in the 1930's by a gentle- man named Mr. Henry Ford, who figured that if you could mass-produce them in large enough numbers (albeit at some sacrifice in body size) then you could convince a gullible (farming) public that they could do as good a job as the real McCoy. But we know better, don't we Liz--and (moreover) WE sure as heck ain't gonna be fooled by them optical delusions in Brasil . . . Best regards, Chris Plowright. -- Chris Plowright - via the University of Ottawa Return addresses: via INTERNET: plowright@csi.uottawa.ca via UUCP : ...uunet!mitel!cunews!csi2!uplow!chris ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1993 16:45:57 NZST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Barry Donovan Subject: Re: blue orchard bumblebee -Reply Could you please send me Brian Griffin's address. Thanks very much, Barry Donovan. DonovanB@lincoln.cri.nz ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1993 06:47:43 -0600 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Margaret A Plumbo (Phil & Peggy Plumbo)" Subject: Re: a fable about the origin of bees >Merry Christmas, >Liz Day Thanks, Liz for that wonderful fable. We all loved it here. -Phil Plumbo ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1993 08:48:49 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Malcolm (Tom) Sanford, Florida Extension Apiculturist" Subject: Re: Varroa resistance Jerry Bromenshenk's observations remind me of the time when colonies in the panhandle of Florida were decimated, presumably by tracheal mites...all you could see was a blanket of crawlers that couldn't fly...a tracheal mite vectored virus? ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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, 9 Dec 1993 09:27:00 -0800 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Paul van Westendorp 576-5600 Fax: 576-5652" Subject: Re: blue orchard bumblebee -Reply For whoever requested the address and phone number of Brian Griffin; Brian Griffin Ph. 206 733-3283 Knox Cellars 1607 Knox Avenue Bellingham, WA 98225 U.S.A. Regards, Paul van Westendorp Provincial Apiarist, BC ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1993 04:49:00 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: GIVE PEAS A CHANCE Subject: Re: a fable about the origin of bees Thanks to Liz for a lovely Bee fable! I would not be surprised--just a rippling baby shock--if there were not some "treed" relationship to Bee lore of the fertile crescent regions. eg. Near delphi there is an "omphalos" center--a navel of the Earth. Where the priestesses used to be sought as oracle to tell of the future and past. They sat on tri-legged stools near a spot where supposedly vapours rose from the Earth's warm heart. The omphalos is marked by beautifully carved domed artifacts. These are dome-hive shaped and decorated with carvings of Bees. The Bee was sacred to the early Great Mother Goddess and the Triple Goddess. And when she deigned in later years, she would allow the immortals to feed on nectar and ambrosia. The creation myth[s] that ground these life paradigms always narrate the life and its continuation--ala seasonal and metempsychosis--as chtonic: i.e. underworld as creative center with bees, snakes, piglets!, and figs as major players. Thanks again Liz for making it a nice morning. Lois lbrynes@vax.clarku.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 06:16:19 PST Reply-To: uc779@freenet.victoria.bc.ca Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Conrad A. Berube" Subject: Another fable To continue along the lines started by Liz Day: A story of eastern European origin probably derives from a time when many gods were worshipped, later being altered to conform with the Christian monotheistic concept. The devil was spying on God when He was creating the birds and insects. God took a bit of mist from the air, spun it in His fingers and called out the name of the new creature, "Bee!" And so the first bee was brought to life. The devil was a bit confused by what he saw and thought that God had called the creature into existence by telling it to "Be!" So when he tried a similar trick, gathering up a bit of clay from the earth and mixing it with his own sweat he told it to "Fly!" Of course, in this way it was not another beautiful bee that was formed but the ugly and pesky fly that, ever since, has plagued humans as much as bees have benefitted them. (I've altered the "letter" of the story a bit to maintain its spirit. In the original, Hungarian, version the word-play centers on "legy" meaning both "become" and a "fly"). - " ` Conrad Berube " ` 244 Linden Avenue _- -_`-_|'\ /` Victoria, B.C. _/ / / -' `~()() V8V 4E5 \_\ _ /\-._/\/ (604)480-0223 / | | email: uc779@freenet.victoria.bc.ca. '` ^ ^ -- uc779@freenet.victoria.bc.ca ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 09:54:01 PST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jane Beckman Subject: And a myth... Bees also figure heavily in the Finnish cosmology. In the Kalevala, the epic poem of creation of the world, doings of the gods and heros of Suomi, etc., bees are sacred servants of the Finnish mother- goddess. In something like the Finnish version of the Osiris myth, her son Lemminkaninen (the Finnish god of love and chaos, sort of an offhand Loki sort) has done something stupid and gotten himself killed and his body parts tossed into the bottom of the Whirlpool of Manala, the Finnish equivalent of the river Styx. Mother rakes all the parts and pieces out of the whirlpool, and sets about reassembling him. She calls in all the departmentalized deities to knit back together flesh and bone, restore blood and circulation, etc. When she is finished, she has a living shell of her son, but the conciousness is absent. Conciousness is not the province of earth-based gods; thought and conciousness belong to Ukko the Unknowable, who dwells in the highest levels of Jumala (think of layered heavens), and is beyond the reach and knowing even of the gods. So she summons her servant, the bee, and tells him that he must fly to the highest level of Jumala and bring back the honey that contains conciousness from the realms of Ukko. (The female orientation of most bees wasn't known when this myth was being created.) So, with the blessings of the mother-goddess, the bee flies off to the realms of Jumala. Higher and higher, he flies, beyond the realms reachable by mortals, beyond the realms reachable by heros, beyond the realms reachable by the gods themselves. In the highest levels reachable by the gods, he stops to rest for a short while, for the journey is becoming arduous. Rested, he flies onward, ever upward into more rarified realms, until finally, the only one of all creatures to do so, he barely reaches the realm of Ukko the Unknowable, and acquires three sips of the honey of conciousness. This he stows in his honey stomach and flies back to the realms of gods and mortals. There, he places the three sips of the honey of conciousness into the mouth of Lemminkaninen, and the unwise and unruly god awakens again, his thought and conciousness restored by the ministrations of the bee, unfortunately none the wiser for his misadventure. The bee, ever since, has been the only being of earth that has ever visited the highest realms of Jumala, and returned with the experience of it. Thus, it has a special place in the sacred cosmos, having an understanding of the universe beyond that of the gods themselves. --Jane Beckman [jane@swdc.stratus.com] ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 13:47:39 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: EJ Fnord Subject: Re: And a myth... I don't know very much about Bee Biology, but I do think them little fellers are cute, I surely do. Cept when they sting! OWCHEEE! Got anything like that on this here list? EJ Ford PS: Jane Beckman: that was a fascinating account of the myth cycle. Please continue describing this! I enjoy analysis of any sort of mythology, but Northern European Mythology is especially captivating! -- --------------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 14:17:20 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Bill Anderson Subject: Re: And a myth... >I don't know very much about Bee Biology, but I do think them little >fellers are cute, I surely do. Cept when they sting! > >OWCHEEE! > >Got anything like that on this here list? > >EJ Ford I understood that this was a list about bees. Please don't post anything about wasps on this list. Malibu Skipper "Loves Bees! Hates Wasps!" ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 14:22:00 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Bill Anderson Subject: Reply to Bees, bees, wonderfu (fwd) After posting of my love of bees to another list, I recieved this deceitful, slanderous reply: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: 10 DEC 1993 13:05 -06 From: Dana Rollins To: LIBWCA@unix.cc.emory.edu Subject: Reply to Bees, bees, wonderfu I hate bees because bees killed my parents when I was three and we were all on a picnic. I can still hear the screams. I was adopted by my Aunt Bea, who insisted on breastfeeding me until I was 7, although I'd been weened shortly after my first birthday. AS you can imagine, I am pretty screwed up. Merciful --------End Forwarded Message-------- Bees did not kill your parents. Bees wouldn't do such a thing. Wasps often disguise themselves as bees when undertaking such "wet work", though, so I think you may be very foolish. Those were wasps! If you had been there when the bee saved my life in 'Nam, you wouldn't say such things. Malibu Skipper "Loves Bees! Hates Wasps!" ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 14:41:31 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: EJ Fnord Subject: Reply to Bees, bees, wonderfu (fwd) Obviously, this level of lunacy will not be tollerated on this list! Only a lunatic would imply that there is no reason to fear or respect the destructive capacity of our apean amigos! Please take your loose talk to another list, like FLN. The NERVE. EJ Ford "Loves Wasps and Bees, in a Brotherly Sort of Way" -- --------------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 15:00:04 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: EJ Fnord Subject: COULD SOMEONE HELP ME? I am writing a paper about wasps for a junior highschool biology class and I was wondering if anyone could give me a list of references about wasp attacks on humans. Thanks! ;-) EJ Ford "I like hornets, too!" -- --------------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 15:08:18 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Bill Anderson Subject: Re: COULD SOMEONE HELP ME? In-Reply-To: <9F8CCFB6C6E@research01.adm.usf.edu> On 10 Dec 1993 EJFORD@research01.adm.usf.edu wrote: > I am writing a paper about wasps for a junior highschool biology > class and I was wondering if anyone could give me a list of > references about wasp attacks on humans. > > Thanks! ;-) > > EJ Ford > "I like hornets, too!" You are either very brave, or very stupid. If you continue this project, you must prepare yourself for the possibility that you, like many others who have tried to warn the American people about the devious machinations of these foul, brutish creatures, will meet your end at the hands (so to speak) of a vespoid "sting squad". Also, you should know that there is no such thing as a Hornet. Malibu Skipper "Loves Bees! Hates Wasps!" ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 15:14:46 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Bill Anderson Subject: So - you show your true colors In-Reply-To: <9312101938.AA25771@emoryu1.cc.emory.edu> and they are the hideous stripey hues of the vespoid terrorists! Do not think that the death of Buzzy will go unavenged, Mr. Fnord - if that is your real name. The evil that is Waspia will be defeated, and the hive will be free once more! Free to buzz, buzz, buzz; all day long. Malibu Skipper "Loves Bees! Hates Wasps!" ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 15:30:13 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: EJ Fnord Subject: Re: So - you show your true colors I don't understand what the hell you are talking about! I'm just a happy-go-lucky, yet preccocious twelve-year-old with a passion for hyphens. I am just interested in writing a long (three hundred word) paper about anything that can hurt people. I was stung by curiousity when I was told that there were INSECTS (ew, gross) that could make portions of your anatomy swell without sexual stimulation, not that I would know anything about that, so don't ask. EJ "Bucket of Bee-Guts" Fnord -- --------------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 15:28:27 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Bill Anderson Subject: Re: So - you show your true colors In-Reply-To: <9312102026.AA05470@emoryu1.cc.emory.edu> On Fri, 10 Dec 1993, EJ Fnord wrote: > I don't understand what the hell you are talking about! > > I'm just a happy-go-lucky, yet preccocious twelve-year-old with a > passion for hyphens. I am just interested in writing a long > (three hundred word) paper about anything that can hurt people. I > was stung by curiousity when I was told that there were INSECTS (ew, > gross) that could make portions of your anatomy swell without sexual > stimulation, not that I would know anything about that, so don't ask. > > EJ "Bucket of Bee-Guts" Fnord > -- > --------------------------------------------------------------------- Then why do you slander the bee? WHY DO YOU SLANDER THE BEE? Keep yourself free of vespoid influence. Do not believe them when they speak of hornets. Their foulest bit of chicanery yet was the invention of the hornet - a mythical cousin to the happy bee, yet treacherous and maniacal like the Wasps themselves. When you see a hornet - run! It's a wasp in bee's clothing. Malibu Skipper "Loves Bees! Hates Wasps!" ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 12:22:00 -0800 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: John Gates 604 549-5580 Subject: Re: blue orchard bumblebee Please send me Brian Griffin's adress. I'd like to obtain a copy of his book. John Gates, Apiculture Specialist B.C. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 4607, 23rd. St. Vernon, B.C. Canada, V1T 4K7 Ph:( 604) 549-5580 fax:(604) 549-5488 Internet: JGates@galaxy.gov.bc.ca ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 16:01:26 EDT Reply-To: AFREEMAN@CFRVM.CFR.USF.EDU Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Allison Freeman Subject: Reply to Bees, bees, wonderfu (fwd) Guy, I don't know who all these NEW people are but they sure are geeks. Everybody knows that bees/wasps/hornets exist merely as symbols of the power over and imprisonment of this society by the white male. Fuck the System! Empower wymyn and minorities! EAT BEES! Allison "Cha Cha the Maddog" Madman (The name -- it's not a fucking joke) ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 15:14:11 CST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology Comments: Converted from PROFS to RFC822 format by PUMP V2.2X From: Melanie Willis Subject: OK ok 556D4E ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 16:34:20 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: EJ Fnord Subject: Re: OK Kick ass! We got Melanie in the Haous! EJ Fnord -- --------------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 16:33:43 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: EJ Fnord Subject: Re: blue orchard bumblebee I also would like a free copy of this book. Could someone tell me where we could get one? EJ Fnord Book owner and Twelve-year-old -- --------------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 13:36:05 PST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jasdan Joerges Subject: Flaming etc. Is this a Bee Biology list or a junk list???? Please stop these comments with zero information! I guess that most people out there are not interested in this. J.Joerges ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 15:31:52 CST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology Comments: Converted from PROFS to RFC822 format by PUMP V2.2X From: Melanie Willis Subject: glad to be here After finally breaking through the entrance requirements, I am happy to say I have been formally accepted into your group. Now. The reason I am here. I would like to know more about bees. First of all, why do bees sting? Do they need blood like mosquitoes do? Secondly, why do bees like to get in your hair? Thirdly, why do bees like it when you wear perfume? Is their vision so poor that they mistake you for a flower? Not that I mind that, it's just that when on an outdoor date I like to smell good but at the same time I don't want to attract any unwanted attention. Also, and this may be a bit off the subject, but didn't John Belushi have some sort of classic bee act on the old SNL? I remember a bunch of people in bee outfits. Wasn't there something a little riske about it? Was it a bee-coming-of-age type of skit? I would appreciate anyone who can help me with these questions. It's not every day that you have access to a collected pool of bee information. I guess I could use the library, but that's too much trouble at this busy time of year. So, thank you, very much. MW ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 16:44:13 EDT Reply-To: AFREEMAN@CFRVM.CFR.USF.EDU Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Allison Freeman Subject: Re: Flaming etc. > I guess that most people out there are not > interested in this. > > J.Joerges > It would seem to me that you have probably not been elected to speak for "most people". When you have, get back to me. EJ Fnord (residing at Allison's house) ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 13:33:00 -0800 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Paul van Westendorp 576-5600 Fax: 576-5652" Subject: Re: Reply to Bees, bees, wonderfu (fwd) Whoever You Are, There is nothing cool or funny about the nonsensical messages being distributed right now. Clean up your act or get off the system, will you! Paul van Westendorp Provincial Apiarist BC ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 15:43:00 CST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology Comments: Converted from PROFS to RFC822 format by PUMP V2.2X From: Melanie Willis Subject: one more thing Also, are bees repelled by Deep Woods Off? I always feel safer when coated with Off, but is that just a psychological security blanket sort of thing? Or is it a fact of the matter? Is there anything I can do to make my whole back yard repellent to bees? Is there anyway to kill them en masse? Is there any way to make sure they don't come back? Just curious. MW ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 16:43:23 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Bill Anderson Subject: Re: glad to be here In-Reply-To: <9312102137.AA20311@emoryu1.cc.emory.edu> On Fri, 10 Dec 1993, Melanie Willis wrote: > After finally breaking through the entrance requirements, I am happy to say I > have been formally accepted into your group. Now. The reason I am here. I > would like to know more about bees. Hello, Melanie! This is the most important list on the net, so far as stopping the vespoid counter-intelligence coup, so PLEASE LISTEN CAREFULLY! > > First of all, why do bees sting? Do they need blood like mosquitoes do? > Bees do not sting, as I have explained before. They sting only in self defense. If you got stung by a bee, it was probably a wasp. Bees do not need blood, as their circulatory systems are air-cooled. > Secondly, why do bees like to get in your hair? Because they like you! And you have nice hair! Don't worry, they won't hurt you. Make sure they are REALLY bees, though. > > Thirdly, why do bees like it when you wear perfume? Is their vision so poor > that they mistake you for a flower? Not that I mind that, it's just that when > on an outdoor date I like to smell good but at the same time I don't want to > attract any unwanted attention. Bees have excellent vision, probably the best ever, and are very brave. If you are afraid of flowers, don't worry - bees will help you. > > Also, and this may be a bit off the subject, but didn't John Belushi have some > sort of classic bee act on the old SNL? I remember a bunch of people in bee > outfits. Wasn't there something a little riske about it? Was it a > bee-coming-of-age type of skit? > Very few HUMAN BEINGS know the full story behind Mr. Belushi's work with the Bee Council, and how he died to stop the vespoids. Someday the full story will be told. Malibu Skipper "Loves Bees! Hates Wasps!" ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 14:47:00 -0800 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: John Gates 604 549-5580 Subject: Re: Varroa resistance Hi Jerry! Nice to communicate with you again. Your observation certainly fits with reports from Europe about large numbers of bees leaving varroa infested hives before they collapse. In your case I suppose it was too cold for them to go anywhere? Are you familiar with the Tucson situation a couple of years ago documenting apparent desertion of a honey bee colony heavily infested with the tracheal mite? Did you test your bees for that beast? John Gates, Apiculture Specialist B.C. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 4607, 23rd. St. Vernon, B.C. Canada, V1T 4K7 Ph:( 604) 549-5580 fax:(604) 549-5488 Internet: JGates@galaxy.gov.bc.ca ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 16:21:28 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: scott lesser Subject: Re: OK In-Reply-To: <01H6BK71NMQQ91VW3B@faxon.com> >ok 556D4E Melanie, Send it to the LISTSERV, not the list, sis. Kisses, Your New & Improved Personal Kewpie Doll ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 16:21:50 PST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology Comments: W: Invalid RFC822 field - "========================================================================". Rest of header flushed. From: Dave Pehling Organization: WSU CAHE USER Subject: Orchard Mason Book "The Orchard Mason Bee (Osmia lignaria propinqua Cresson) The Life Histor-Biology-Propagation and Use of a Truly Benevolent and Beneficial Insect By: Brian L. Griffin, Illus. by Sharon Smith Knox Cellars Publishing, Bellingham, WA Write to Brian Griffin, Knox Cellars 1607 Knox Ave. Bellingham, WA 98225 Last I heard, books were $9.95 U.S. plus $2.50 shipping Dave Pehling =========================================== | W.S.U./SNOHOMISH CO. COOPERATIVE EXTENSION | | 600 128TH ST. S.E. | | EVERETT, WA. 98208 | |PHONE - (206)338-2400 | |FAX - (206)338-3994 | |INTERNET CE6431@WSUVM1.CSC.WSU.EDU | ============================================ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 21:31:41 PST Reply-To: uc779@freenet.victoria.bc.ca Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Conrad A. Berube" Subject: BEES IN SPACE... Jane Beckman wrote about the legend of Laimenkainen in the Kalevala (one of my favorites)-- the story may have some connection with astronomical calendars regulating beekeeping activities (for more on this subject and on bees in astronomy and astrological lore see the July 1991 Griffith Observer (Journal of the Griffith Observatory). The bee in the story eventually has to fly over the Great Bear to obtain honey from the gardens of heaven to revive the slain hero of the saga. In the general area of the Great Bear, Ursa Major, can be seen the figure once identified as Apis, the Bee (or Vespa, the Wasp). This constellation is no longer officially recognized and has been incorporated into the constellation Taurus, where the Pleiades are found. These, Seven Stars are referred to in the epic poem, the Kalevala and, interestingly enough, were themselves perceived by the Chiriguana Indians of South America as a swarm of bees. Other constellations, Apis Indica (the Indian Bee) and again, Apis (or Apis Australis), were first charted in the southern skies by Dutchmen Pietr Dirkz Keyser and Frederic de Houtman between the years 1595-1597. The southern Apis is now known as Musca (the Fly), and Apis Indica has become Apus, represented as something similar to a humming bird. - " ` Conrad Berube " ` 244 Linden Avenue _- -_`-_|'\ /` Victoria, B.C. _/ / / -' `~()() V8V 4E5 \_\ _ /\-._/\/ (604)480-0223 / | | email: uc779@freenet.victoria.bc.ca. '` ^ ^ -- uc779@freenet.victoria.bc.ca ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1993 07:04:00 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: GIVE PEAS A CHANCE Subject: Re: COULD SOMEONE HELP ME? I realize it is the close of the semester and the kiddies are displacing pressure, BUT could the list owner PLEASE purge these folks from the list; the postmasters at their sites can do this easily. Thanks Lois lbrynes@vax.clarku.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 12:45:15 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: 00bcpalmer@BSUVAX1.BITNET Subject: Midwest Conference I am looking for speakers for the Midwest Animal Husbandry League Annual Conference in February. Interested individuals please state the topic you wish to discuss, and a brief VITA. Thank you, B. Clark Pollen "Mr. Pollen" 00bcpalmer@bsuvc.bsu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1993 08:50:52 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: 00bcpalmer@BSUVAX1.BITNET Subject: forwarded message/interested individual From: IN%"libwca@emoryu1.cc.emory.edu" "Bill Anderson" 10-DEC-1993 14:27:33.3 6 To: IN%"fln@icineca.bitnet" CC: Subj: Bees, bees, wonderful bees! Return-path: Return-path: libwca@unix.cc.emory.edu Received: from emoryu1.cc.emory.edu by LEO.BSUVC.bsu.edu (PMDF V4.2-11 #3154) id <01H6BDCU0TN48Y7K01@LEO.BSUVC.bsu.edu>; Fri, 10 Dec 1993 13:04:13 EST Received: by emoryu1.cc.emory.edu (5.65/Emory_cc.3.4.12) via MAILPROG id AA06566 ; Fri, 10 Dec 93 13:03:30 -0500 Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1993 13:01:23 -0500 (EST) From: Bill Anderson Subject: Bees, bees, wonderful bees! Sender: Bill Anderson To: fln@icineca.bitnet Reply-to: Bill Anderson Message-id: MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Folks, I love bees. Just love 'em. I like to hug 'em and kiss 'em, and you know what? They never let me down. I'm their man, and they're my Mrs. Why, if I see a bee startin' to cross a busy street, I walk right up and help him! It's the kind of guy I am. A bee saved my life in 'Nam, and I'll never be finished with my endless celebration of bees. I hope that other people will send in their tales of kindness and universal good will relating to our apidaen friends. This list has been a little quiet lately. I'm beginning to fear that malignant wasps, implacable foes of the happy bee, have been at work. Malibu Skipper Loves Bees! ps- does anybody know of a list devoted to bees? Also, I'll be visiting St. Louis next week - are there any good bee clubs in the Gateway City? ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1993 08:27:24 CST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Carol Jeffries Subject: List Moderator Would someone e-mail me the address of the moderator of this list please. Carol Jeffries cjeffrie@ukanvm.cc.ukans.edu ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1993 09:37:21 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: 00bcpalmer@LEO.BSUVC.BSU.EDU Subject: Juvenalia Dear Subscribers, As you can see from my previous post, the "bee"-mania was not limited to this list. I am of the opinion that it was a network-wide prank affecting all BITNET sites. Did anyone else witness bee commentary exclusive of this list? I believe my request for those interested in speaking at an Animal Husbandry Conference was lost in the shuffle of the sophomoricists. The sunlight is lovely on my desk as I type this. Truly, I am the one and only wondergod of the bees. B. Clark Pollen "Mr. B. Pollen" 00bcpalmer@bsuvc.bsu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1993 09:34:23 GMT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Brian Styles Subject: Re: glad to be here Well, how many of the list are glad that Melanie Willis is here...? Three stupid non-sequiturs of the kind that arise in discussions in bars, followed by an admission she's too idle to pick up a book "at this busy time of the year". Why should it be any less busy for any of the rest of us? -Brian Styles ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1993 09:31:52 GMT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Brian Styles Subject: Re: Flaming etc. It's less trouble to resign; I just have. All you need to do is mail LISTSERV@ALBNYVM1 with "SIGNOFF BEE-L". Frankly contributions such as "ok 556D4E", stupid mythological claptrap and ignorant prattlings about stings are too much for any sane person's mailbox. - Brian Styles ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1993 08:39:47 PST Reply-To: uc779@freenet.victoria.bc.ca Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Conrad A. Berube" Subject: Responding to raiders on the newsgroup I found some, not all, of the fecetious (that's an intentional misspelling, by the way) postings to be more than irritating and forwarded them on to a friend that I thought might be able to do something about them. If they continue to appear it would seem that skipping over any postings from the offending parties would be the most Ghandian alternative. Next to that you could forward the messages to the sysop at their point of origin and ask that action be taken. Here is a portion of the response I received from my friend: >Date: Sat Dec 11 08:37:53 1993 >From: MNTENBE@*******.*****.FBI.GOV (Mary Ntenbe) >Subject: Junkmail to your newsgroup > >C, > >In regards to the messages you forwarded. > >I authorized a trace and at least one of the individuals sending >them appears to be using an alias. > >Most of the messages appear innocuous. A couple contain rhetoric >that could be considered as contravening federal hate-mail >regulations. You are correct in assuming that sexist, in this case >anti-male, hate-mail is covered by these laws. Keep forwarding me >the offensive messages and I will append them to the respective >files. At the very least this documentation may result in the >suspension of Internet privileges for the offending parties and >possible black-listing from graduate schools or government employ >(if they ever apply for such), if not stricter censure. > >I agree that all of the messages are irritating but remember you >can always check the message header and skip over postings from >the individuals involved. One individual's security file shows >fairly extensive psychological counseling, so you may wish to >factor this into your tolerance threshold. > >Take care, > >Mary > >MNTENBE@*******.*****.***.GOV > "Ignorance is bliss" (yes, I know that's only a portion of the quote) so maintain your bliss by ignoring the irritating postings. Conrad -- uc779@freenet.victoria.bc.ca ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1993 11:29:54 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: 00bcpalmer@LEO.BSUVC.BSU.EDU Subject: Re: alt.talk.bizzare Dear Sir, IT has come to my attention that you are comparing the recent discourse on BEE-L to a USENETNEWS group linguistic-style. I feel it only reelevant to ponint out that Ms. Freeman's Colorful (snicker) New mail on node VIRGO from IN%"ARCANA%UNCCVM.BITNET@VTBIT.CC.VT.EDU" "ARCANA D iscussion List for the Study of the Occult" (11:10:55) I feel it only relevant to point out that Ms. Freeman's Colorful (snicker) use of the English language is frighteningly symptomatic of what Christopher Norris in _Uncritical Theory: Postmodernism, Intellectuals, and the Gulf War_ U Mass Press, 1992: "the liberal ironist ... who has followed Rorty in abandoning all those delusive truth-claims that were once thought to distinguish 'philosophy' (or 'theory') from other, less demanding, fields of thought." If you are not ready in the field of bee anatomy and the discussion thereof to allow for non-delusive linguistic representations of reality such as my cousin, Ms. Freeman/Madman, perhaps you should rethink bee anatomy in light of the new scholarly paradigm which allows for such terms as "wymyn" and "f***ing". To compare her comments, a meta-commentary on the complexities of anatomy, at it's most sociopsychologically basic frontier, to the USENET discourse of an fictional alt.bizzare (or what-have-you) shows the same lack of dis- crimination of an individual who would say USENET discourse is in some way comparable to the Internet Relay Chat (or IRC), and this wild weilding of Occam's razor, sir, most certainly misses the most scholarly and expressionist values of Ms. Freeman's commentary (as outlined above). Let us hope you are not so quick to dismiss the possibility of scientific empathy for the object under study when you are dissecting the Apoidea Hymenoptera. Sincerely, B. Clark Palmer deconstucting the hive 00bcpalmer@bsuvc.bsu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1993 11:47:12 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: 00bcpalmer@LEO.BSUVC.BSU.EDU Subject: garbled post A recent post I wrote responding to an anonymous gentleman was somewhat garbled. Please forgive me for the waste-of-bandwidth, and if you are not interested in participating in this semi-flame war, please note I took great care to be as complete as possible in my response, including a citation. But nothing will be lost to the deaf if you delete this post now, sincerely, bcp --------------------------- resend of response post ------------------------ Dear Sir, IT has come to my attention that you are comparing the recent discourse on BEE-L to a USENETNEWS group linguistic-style. I feel it only relevant to point out that Ms. Freeman's Colorful (snicker) use New mail on node VIRGO from IN%"uc779@freenet.victoria.bc.ca" (11:37:07) of the English language is frighteningly symptomatic of what Christopher Norris in _Uncritical Theory: Postmodernism, Intellectuals, and the Gulf War_ U Mass Press, 1992: "the liberal ironist ... who has followed Rorty in abandoning all those delusive truth-claims that were once thought to distinguish 'philosophy' (or 'theory') from other, less demanding, fields of thought." If you are not ready in the field of bee anatomy and the discussion thereof to allow for non-delusive linguistic representations of reality such as my cousin, Ms. Freeman/Madman, perhaps you should rethink bee anatomy in light of the new scholarly paradigm which allows for such terms as "wymyn" and "f***ing". To compare her comments, a meta-commentary on the complexities of anatomy, at it's most sociopsychologically basic frontier, to the USENET discourse of an fictional alt.bizzare (or what-have-you) shows the same lack of dis- crimination of an individual who would say USENET discourse is in some way comparable to the Internet Relay Chat (or IRC), and this wild weilding of Occam's razor, sir, most certainly misses the most scholarly and expressionist values of Ms. Freeman's commentary (as outlined above). Let us hope you are not so quick to dismiss the possibility of scientific empathy for the object under study when you are dissecting the Apoidea Hymenoptera. Sincerely, B. Clark Palmer deconstucting the hive 00bcpalmer@bsuvc.bsu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1993 12:31:23 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: 00bcpalmer@LEO.BSUVC.BSU.EDU Subject: regarding government involvement It would see in lieu of a light heart, the proper response against those invading the BEE-L list would be the Ghandian approach, at the very least. But someone has gone beyond the just and temperate flame or two and delved into issues which are painful to those with the Peter Pan still in them. My wifepassed the written, oral, and subsequent interview portions of the foreign service exam. Her sole reason for being disqualified was for my mental health problems. Thus when the gentleman/woman writes: >One individual's security file shows >fairly extensive psychological counseling, etc. I am reminded of the very torment that has driven me to a like on the internet. that should be "life" and not "like"... Anyway, you bee people are cruel. Far crueler than any sophomoric invasion warrants. I hope you feel smug and well-adjusted and smart. I will unsub. Brent Clark Palmer This same samn .gov better give me disability ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1993 13:29:21 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Bill Anderson Subject: The Bee Cycle comes to an end... I'm stunned, really, at how seriously all this is being taken. We are but a poor troup of wandering minstrels, who had hoped to provide you with a moment's light-hearted entertainment - and yet we are met with scorn and threats, and the debilitating mental illness of one of our number is heartlessly derided. Ah, well - we go now, and shall trouble you no more. If we've given offense, we humbly beg your pardon. Malibu Skipper "Not Entirely Certain How He Feels About Bees Anymore" Note - The Bee-Mythology Woman, who's post I found sincerely intriguing, is not among our number, although she is welcome to join if she chooses. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1993 13:48:59 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: 00bcpalmer@LEO.BSUVC.BSU.EDU Subject: a parting poem from the insane person you hurt I accidentally took an overdose (slight) of one of my medications, so perhaps I'm over-reacting, but here is a parting poem. This is art, not "hate mail": Bees have no hearts They only stings Your Queen has wings, but My mind has wings, Bee people have no hearts except the bee-myth lady and the bees in space person b

ashamed that my name stands for "bee pollen," but I suppose I've been treated as bees treat pollen, picked up along the way from afresh ideal flower, and kicked off like dust from their feet. adieu cruel world of bees ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1993 07:43:46 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Dave D. Cawley, a De Leon Socialist" Subject: Wasted Resources > From: EJ Fnord > EJ Fnord > Book owner and Twelve-year-old I'm suprised you're *that* old judging by your maturity level. Sure I love a good joke just like the next guy...but 35 messages about nothing?!? I thinkn that's a little excessive, don't you? BTW, I like the mythology thread. BTW2, Anybody out there near North East PA who has anything (equipment wise ) they'd like contribute to a starting beekeeper please drop me a line. Thanks. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dave D. Cawley | My attitude toward everyone's sexual University Of Scranton | persuasion is this: without deviation ddc1@jaguar.uofs.edu | from the norm, progress is not possible. ddc1@SCRANTON | -Frank Zappa ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1993 08:17:05 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Dave D. Cawley, a De Leon Socialist" Subject: Bee Questions-Where to Get Answers > From: Melanie Willis > After finally breaking through the entrance requirements, I am happy to say I > have been formally accepted into your group. Now. The reason I am here. I > would like to know more about bees. Your best source of answers to all those questions (minus the john belushi one) is FIRST LESSONS IN BEEKEEPING. You can get it in the library and should take about 2 hours to read. Or you can buy it from Dadant and Sons for $2.95. They have a 1-800 number that can be obtained by dialing 1-800-555-1212 and asking the operator for the number. Feel free to be back to us *AFTER* you've read that book. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dave D. Cawley | My attitude toward everyone's sexual University Of Scranton | persuasion is this: without deviation ddc1@jaguar.uofs.edu | from the norm, progress is not possible. ddc1@SCRANTON | -Frank Zappa ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1993 14:41:25 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: 00bcpalmer@BSUVAX1.BITNET Subject: The Privacy Act and BEE-L : last post This is a copy of the message to the minstrels: You guys, Let me just take a moment to drop out of any .net persona and say, what was the deal with that BEE-L person forwarding mail from a government source? As a member of the DNC, and delegate to the last National Convention, I wonder whether I should bring it to the attention of the DNC (Democratic National Committee) that people are using other people to access my and your security files. Sure, the person didn't name names, (that we *know* of), but given the small number of us on BEE-L, the finger-pointing was pretty limited. I am shocked into believing most of everything Foss ever wrote. And I am home alone with the baby today, with the wife out of town, glad I can put sentences together, but barely functioning. I think I'll send this note to BEE-L and then UNSUB, so they know that matters of privacy, undecided in the interpretation of the United States Constitution, and matters of just common ethics are at stake. I think they should also know that just because I am a donkey, that I also have serious problems which made a government-backed insult, albeit true, a bit too much for me to bear today. I really would like an apology from the person who thought it would be funny to have the government investigate us and me. It's really a rather extreme gesture. What do you all think, ladies and gentlemen? At the very least, I am calling the Social Security office first thing Monday morning. And I am keeping that note with the anonymous government source. Well, spring is here in a big way, I guess. The ultimate enemy punches me in the face. I guess I played the fool/Hermie after all. Brent 00bcpalmer@bsuvc.bsu.edu ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1993 18:39:42 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: BARBARA PARKER Subject: Re: Flaming etc. In-Reply-To: <01H6CLHB58UA002JBS@pobox.ucs.umass.edu> from "Brian Styles" at Dec 11, 93 09:31:52 am Amen, and thanks for your honesty! Enough,already. I'm signing off too. -- 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: Sun, 12 Dec 1993 19:07:16 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Mike Griggs Subject: unsubscribe unsubscribe > (\o/)___________________________________________________________(\o/) > (/|\) (/|\) > | .-~~~-. | > | / } | > | / .-~ | > | \ | } | > | _ __ ___\.~~-.-~| . -~_ | > | / \./ \/\__ { O | ` .-~. ; ~-.__ | > | __{^\_ _}_ ) }/^\ ~--~/-|_\| : : .-~ | > | / /\_/^\._}_/ // / / | \~ - - ~ | > | ( (__{(@)}\__}.//_/__A__/_A___|__A_\___A______A_____A | > | \__/{/(_)\_} )\\ \\---v-----V----v----v-----V-----v--- | > | ( (__)_)_/ )\ \> | > | \__/ \__/\/\/ | > | \__,--' | > | | > (\o/)___________________________________________________________(\o/) > (/|\) (/|\) ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1993 09:12:05 -700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Chris Conroy Subject: Re: So - you show your true colors I just have to add that the recent postings have really brought this group to life! Chris "Hoping to love bees this spring" ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1993 09:53:59 CST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Carol Jeffries Subject: List moderator Would someone please send me the e-mail address of the list moderator for bee-l. CJ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1993 11:14:40 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Aaron Morris Subject: Unwelcomed invasion. I must confess that the recent postings to BEE-L have been less informa- tive than that to which I've been accustomed. Fortunately for me, I have been away for a few days and have not had to deal with the posts until this morning. Things seemed to settle down around Sunday, and I hope the noise has left the bee biology discussion list. Although I am not the moderator of BEE-L, I will alert the POSTMASTer at our site to the unwelcomed noise on the list and request that he take action if need be. I apologize for the drivel that has been coming from BEE-L lately and request that legitimate subscribers remain subscribed. Please don't signoff based on a day or two of noise posted by a few who are not inclined to honor the mores of the Internet. BEE-L has been violated by a few unwelcome guests. Don't make the list suffer further by removing yourself! ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1993 10:09:17 PST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jane Beckman Subject: Re: Flaming etc. As a beekeeper and professional person (although in the computer field, not in my chosen degree of biology) of a sober 40 years, I resent being lumped with the sophmoric claptrap of the net kiddies, simply because I contributed a myth from the legends of my ancestors in Finland. I realize that the traffic on the net has been a strain on the nerves of us all, lately (none the less because it has been cluttering up a work mailbox that has been getting several dozen bug reports a day), but could we resist the temptation to insult those of us who have serious asperation after knowledge, but merely have contributed something other than varroa reports to the list? (Not that I don't find the varroa reports interesting.) I think it is sad that folks have had to resign this list merely to escape the net.kiddies who have discovered a new toy to amuse themselves and annoy others. I expect that this posting will result in lots of mail from the kiddies, who will now decide to annoy ME. My advice to them is to attempt to find a life, hard as that may be. Maybe even get a degree in biology or something. Thank you. Peace on earth, good will to humanity and the genus Apis. Jane Beckman [jane@swdc.stratus.com] ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1993 10:26:46 -0800 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Teri Rhan {FMO} Subject: Re: Flaming etc. In-Reply-To: <9312131810.AA28869@mx1.cac.washington.edu> Thanks Jane for your interesting story. I personally enjoyed it and will be sharing it with the beekeepers club meeting next week. As for the kiddie play, it only takes a second of scanning to tell me when it's time to hit the "Delete" key. No problem. Teri "I'm still here" On Mon, 13 Dec 1993, Jane Beckman wrote: > As a beekeeper and professional person (although in the computer field, not > in my chosen degree of biology) of a sober 40 years, I resent being lumped > with the sophmoric claptrap of the net kiddies, simply because I contributed > a myth from the legends of my ancestors in Finland. > > I realize that the traffic on the net has been a strain on the nerves of us > all, lately (none the less because it has been cluttering up a work mailbox > that has been getting several dozen bug reports a day), but could we resist > the temptation to insult those of us who have serious asperation after > knowledge, but merely have contributed something other than varroa reports > to the list? (Not that I don't find the varroa reports interesting.) > > I think it is sad that folks have had to resign this list merely to escape > the net.kiddies who have discovered a new toy to amuse themselves and > annoy others. I expect that this posting will result in lots of mail from > the kiddies, who will now decide to annoy ME. My advice to them is to > attempt to find a life, hard as that may be. Maybe even get a degree in > biology or something. > > Thank you. Peace on earth, good will to humanity and the genus Apis. > > Jane Beckman [jane@swdc.stratus.com] ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1993 11:17:02 PST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: jamesr@ATC.BOEING.COM Subject: SIGNOFF BEE-L SIGNOFF BEE-L Jim Rubert Artificial Intelligence Specialist Boeing Commercial Airplane Support ___________________________________________________________________ Standard Mail Address || Overnight Delivery Address _______________________________||__________________________________ The Boeing Company || The Boeing Company C/O James M. Rubert MS 7L-44 || C/O James M. Rubert MS 7L-44 Phone #: 865-3520 || Phone #: 865-3520 P.O. Box 24346 || 2710 160th Ave SE Seattle, WA 98124-0346 || Bellevue,Wa 98008 U. S. A. || U.S.A. _______________________________||__________________________________ Phone Number: (Office) (206) 865-2709 Mail Stop 7F-67 (Office) (206) 865-3520 Mail Stop 7L-44 E-mail: jamesr@atc.boeing.com ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1993 14:39:37 -0200 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Catarina Abdalla Gomide Subject: e-mail de John White Jr. Aqui Catarina Gomide, da FZEA/USP. Estou procurando o e-mail do profes- sor John White Jr., e outros pesquisadores que trabalhem na area de analise quimica e bioquimica de meis,pois minha tese de doutorado de- vera ser sobre este tema.Obrigada Catarina. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1993 08:48:24 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: ERIK@ACSPR1.ACS.BROCKPORT.EDU Subject: (forward) Russian Bee Farmers -Original letter-- Return-Path: eceived: from hoss.unl.edu by ACSPR1.acs.brockport.edu; 15 Dec 93 22:46:28 EST eceived: from mandela.unl.edu by hoss.unl.edu; Wed, 15 Dec 93 21:40:42 -0600 eceived: by mandela.unl.edu (4.1/SMI-4.0) id AA13259; Wed, 15 Dec 93 21:41:11 CST rom: bdisney@mandela.unl.edu (Bridget Disney) Message-Id: <9312160341.AA13259@mandela.unl.edu> ubject: Russian Bee Farmers To: erik@acspr1.acs.brockport.edu Date: Wed, 15 Dec 93 21:41:08 CST X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.3 PL2] ear Erik, am arranging for several Russian farmers to come over to the United tates next summer (1994) for seven months. They will be staying with merican host families and working on their farms. any of the Russian farmers are interested in bee-keeping. Could you post a message to see if there are any bee-keepers out there who would e interested in sponsoring a Russian farmer? can be contacted a variety of ways, via telephone, e-mail, or snail ail. Thank you very much. Bridget Disney disney@csealumni.unl.edu 5720.3041@compuserve.com Russian Farmer Exchange P.O. Box 540662 Omaha, NE 68154 402) 449-8600 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1993 11:11:13 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Holly J Ferguson Subject: Thanks for info,etc. Dear bee-netters, Thanks for all who replied to my plea for hand-rearing information. I hope that I won't have to go to that extreme for my project because the diets apparently haven't been worked out fully for rearing baby queens and drones. And. . . I'm sorry to bring this up item up but with all the talk about security files and gov't involvement (which I deemed quite useful information for any netter), I thought I needed to mention a recent bit in *Science*, Dec. 3, 1993, p. 1503. brief cite: "a biotechnology company in Beaverton, Oregon, which has sued a St. Louis securities broker for alleged defamatory statements made by e-mail. . . " Take-home msg: Electronic forums are NOT privileged! Be careful with your electronic tongues. BTW, have a HOLLY JOLLY Christmas! Sincerely, Holly Ferguson ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1993 08:20:55 -0800 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Richard Spear Subject: varroa effects In-Reply-To: <01H6JGXD29G29GVWAB@HAMLET.CALTECH.EDU> hi - the bees have absconded from my single (hobby) hive . . . my local expert tells me that it's because of varroa mites. this has made honey collection particularly easy this year! some questions . . . are the supers and frames usable for a a new nuc? is there a source for varroa resistant bees? what is the best treatment for varroa? are the strips effective? btw, the hive is in tujunga canyon in southern california (this is for those people interested in tracking this parasite). regards - richard rspear@sookit.jpl.nasa.gov all disclaimers apply ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1993 10:59:13 CST6CDT Reply-To: Bajema@dordt.edu Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Duane H. Bajema" Organization: Dordt College Subject: FEEDING BEES THAT ARE NEED STARVATION I have 6 hives that need supplemental feeding. I have made what I call "sugar cakes" or others call them candy boards by heating sugar mixed with water. My first problem is that I have lost the recipe. Can anyone help me out? Secondly, my memory indicates that the process of making the cakes is messy and sometimes not always successful. The cakes were placed on the top frames so that the bees would have a supplemental food source. IS THERE A BETTER WAY? Any ideas would be appreciated. ------------------------------------------------------------ Duane H. Bajema e-mail bajema@dordt.edu Agriculture Department 712/722-6275 office Dordt College 712/722-1198 FAX Sioux Center, IA 51250 ------------------------------------------------------------ ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1993 10:28:00 -0800 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Kerry Clark 784-2225 fax (604) 784 2299" Subject: Feeding bees in winter I don't have the candy recipe handy, but there are other options. Which will work depends on how weak the colony is and how cold the weather is. If the colony is indeed near starvation this early in the winter, it may take a lot of attention, and still be unlikely to survive. If there are still lots of bees they should use frames of honey either moved over toward the cluster, or moved in from another hive (warming the frames indoors might help). Try not to disturb the cluster too much. Even warm syrup poured onto the face of an empty comb will resuscitate a near starving colony, but in a cold climate I wouldn't expect much success if you had to resort to it this early (the extra water, and another 2-3 months of confinment may be hard on the bees). Some people like feeding dry sugar, but usually as emergency or "insurance" feeding. In the simplest form, poke a few bee-sized holes in a bag of granulated sugar and place the bag over the hole in the inner cover. Stronger colonies sometimes clean out these bags of sugar quite well (though some sugar may fall to the bottom board or be thrown out the entrance). Weak colonies may starve in spite of the dry sugar, but some may survive if their cluster is near the inner cover hole (and the sugar supply lasts). All in all, it's better to feed in fall. good luck ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1993 17:14:01 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jerry J Bromenshenk Subject: Re: varroa effects In-Reply-To: (null) I am most interested in your report of bees leaving the hive because of Varroa mites. As I indicated a couple of weeks ago, it appears that this may have happened to one of my hives in an indoor flight chamber. Between Sunday afternoon and early Monday, every bee in a nucleus colony of about 2000 bees left the hive, although they had been in the hive/chamber for more than two months and had plenty of food in the hive. Almost all of the bees died in the flight tube - outside of the hive. None of the survivors returned to the hive. This behavior has been reported for tracheal mites. In this case, we found no evidence of tracheal mites, but did find a heavy Varroa infestation. Another hive in the same room in an adjacent flight chamber is still doing fine, although it also has Varroa. One of the more interesting aspects of this event was that the bees carried??? almost all of the hive debris out with them, presumably before they died. Whether the bees died of Varroa, starvation (because of a lack of food in the flight tunnel - although they had food in the hive and presumably could have returned to it), or stress of trying to get out of the flight tube (an impossibility since the tube is not connected to the outdoors) is unknown. Bill Wilson, USDA, Weslaco, TX reports anecdotal reports of bees leaving hives in Texas, possibly because of Varroa. He thinks that the mites will not live more than a few days without bee hosts. We are checking our equipment to see if that is the case. If anyone has hard evidence that Varroa can cause bees to exit the colony, I would like to know about it. Also, any ideas of why they would all leave at once and then suddenly die??? I would expect them to: 1) Leave and fly off 2) Crawl out and die 3) Slowly die and drop to the bottom of the hive where they may be thrown out by housekeeping bees In our case, they couldn't fly off. They all died fairly fast, because the bees had not started to rot (which they do in just a few hours at room temperature). The hive debris in the flight tube was a real surprise. How did it get there???? Over the preceeding two months, bees flew from the nucleus hive to feeders in the flight chamber. Die off was very low, a few each day. At nights, the foragers in the flight tube went back to the hive. In the morning, they came out again. They transferred honey back to the hive and stored/consumed it in the hive. Flight activity was somewhat low and after a couple of weeks, many of the bees elected to walk between the feeder and the hive rather than fly (but they were certainly able to fly if released from the tube). The only thing that we did different just before they left the hive and died in the tube was to gradually extend the day-light period from about 10 hours (the daylength here in Montana at this time of year) to 16 hours. We were hoping to turn the queen's egg-laying back on, since our queens pretty much shutdown at this time of year. Any thoughts will be appreciated. Thanks Jerry Bromenshenk Univ. MT jjbmail@selway.umt.edu 406-243-5648 Fax 4184 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1993 19:41:00 CST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: P30LEK1@NIU.BITNET Subject: Re: varroa effects Richard - yes, you can safely use the equipment again. When the bees leave, the remaining parasites can not survive. In fact, it is likely that most of the mites left with the bees. My experience is that the strips do work, but they only control and not eliminate the mites. Be careful to remove the strips will before your honey flow. Then treat them again before the next season. As for your varoa resistant bee, a few claims have been made, but I think the jury is still out. I tend to think we will find varroa resistant bees from those domestic bees that survive... I wonder about the need (wisdom?) of chasing to other countries for breeding stock. Time will tell. There is a continuum of related info in the ABJ and Gleenings. If you don't already subscribe, it would be a good investment. Larry Krengel Marengo, IL ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Dec 1993 07:04:55 PST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Adrian Wenner Subject: Re: varroa effects >hi - >the bees have absconded from my single (hobby) hive . . . my local expert >tells me that it's because of varroa mites. this has made honey collection >particularly easy this year! some questions . . . > In two cases in Santa Barbara, colonies have been found as "puddles" on the ground. A sample taken from one revealed a high level of varroa. That particular "puddle" persisted on the ground for a week and a half before I treated (smothered) it. Adrian M. Wenner *************************************************************** * Adrian Wenner E-Mail wenner@lifesci.lscf.ucsb.edu * * Department of Biology Office Phone (805) 893-2838 * * University of California Lab Phone (805) 893-2838 * * Santa Barbara, CA 93106 FAX (805) 893-4724 * *************************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Dec 1993 08:17:56 PST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Adrian Wenner Subject: Re: bee calendar 0800 - 17 Dec. Dear Steven, I returned from Santa Cruz Island yesterday and found your calendar in the mailbox. The account you wrote strikes me as very good. You are right -- when people start paying attention to wind direction, they should be able to be better beekeepers and bee researchers. Have a Happy Holiday season! Adrian *************************************************************** * Adrian Wenner E-Mail wenner@lifesci.lscf.ucsb.edu * * Department of Biology Office Phone (805) 893-2838 * * University of California Lab Phone (805) 893-2838 * * Santa Barbara, CA 93106 FAX (805) 893-4724 * *************************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Dec 1993 08:28:05 -0800 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Richard Spear Subject: Re: varroa effects In-Reply-To: <01H6JYC3RDC29GVXNW@HAMLET.CALTECH.EDU> hi again - this is a follow-up to my original post . . . it seems from replies (thanks, all) that i can reuse the supers and get just any old nuc to replace the bees that left. using strips seems the popular way to treat varroa. the hive was perfectly clean, and there was no evidence of dead bees in the area around the hive. by perfectly clean, i mean just that - no dead bees, at all. there was a fine dust (i don't know what that migth have been) but other than that, nothing at all. the problem was diagnosed as varroa *without* the expert seeing the hive, so there may be a problem with the diagnosis . . . are there any other possibilities? richard rspear@sookit.jpl.nasa.gov all disclaimers apply ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Dec 1993 09:41:55 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jerry J Bromenshenk Subject: Varroa In response to questions about the dead bees (with Varroa) in my flight chamber. Only daylight was increased, humidity, temperature stayed the same - relatively constant. We had increased the RH a few weeks earlier in an attempt to avoid dehydrating the bees. The bees were "old" since brood rearing had ceased several weeks before. With a low level of daily die-off, the number of bees was slowly decreasing. If the Varroa managed to do better than the bees, their population may have slowly increased relative to the number of bees. Since the brood cycle had stopped, presumably we should not have been getting new Mites. The debris carried out is puzzling, the hive looked like it had been vacuumed. Jerry Bromenshenk The University of Montana jjbmail@selway.umt.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 17 Dec 1993 14:21:48 PST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jane Beckman Subject: Re: Varroa I notice several mentions of varroa in California. How widespread are varroa, at this point? I was wondering if I ought to be using some "prophylactic" treatment, just as a general precaution. I already feed terramycin, on a similar theory, to keep foulbrood at bay. What's the general opinion on trying to prevent varroa infestation? I've heard about the Miticur mess. -Jane Beckman [jane@swdc.stratus.com] ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 19 Dec 1993 09:39:05 PST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Dave Pehling Organization: WSU CAHE USER Subject: Re: Feeding bees in winter In-Reply-To: Message of Thu, 16 Dec 1993 10:28:00 -0800 from RE: Feeding dry sugar in winter. The late P.F.(Roy) Thurber advocted feeding only Drivert, a special baking sugar, as emergency winter rations. I understand this can sometimes be purchased from bakeries. Roy believed that sucrose was not very effective as dry winter feed, although I have used it with success - at least my bees made it through the winter. Cheers, Dave Pehling =========================================== | W.S.U./SNOHOMISH CO. COOPERATIVE EXTENSION | | 600 128TH ST. S.E. | | EVERETT, WA. 98208 | |PHONE - (206)338-2400 | |FAX - (206)338-3994 | |INTERNET CE6431@WSUVM1.CSC.WSU.EDU | ============================================ ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 20 Dec 1993 07:31:09 -0800 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Teri Rhan {FMO} Subject: Re: Varroa In-Reply-To: <9312172222.AA19950@mx1.cac.washington.edu> I didn't make it to our monthly beekeepers meeting last friday, but word is that it is wide spread thruout Washington. I'm fairly isolated in the heart of Seattle as far as any other known honeybee hives nearby and my 4 hives are loaded with varroa mites. I've applied the Apistan strips but didn't get to it until Dec 5th due long bout with pneumonia in the fall. There appears to be business as usual from the hives but won't know for awhile. Hope I wasn't too late. Teri On Fri, 17 Dec 1993, Jane Beckman wrote: > I notice several mentions of varroa in California. How widespread > are varroa, at this point? > > I was wondering if I ought to be using some "prophylactic" treatment, > just as a general precaution. I already feed terramycin, on a similar > theory, to keep foulbrood at bay. What's the general opinion on trying > to prevent varroa infestation? I've heard about the Miticur mess. > > -Jane Beckman [jane@swdc.stratus.com] ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 20 Dec 1993 11:04:35 PST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Adrian Wenner Subject: Re: Varroa >I notice several mentions of varroa in California. How widespread >are varroa, at this point? > >I was wondering if I ought to be using some "prophylactic" treatment, >just as a general precaution. I already feed terramycin, on a similar >theory, to keep foulbrood at bay. What's the general opinion on trying >to prevent varroa infestation? I've heard about the Miticur mess. > > -Jane Beckman [jane@swdc.stratus.com] Jane, I sent you a separate message but forgot to mention the little 1993 book, THE NEW VARROA HANDBOOK by Bernhard Mobus and Clive de Bruyn. I believe you can obtain a copy from Wicwas Press: (203) 250-7575 Apparently, clear evidence of infestation may mean any action you can take could be too late. Adrian M. Wenner *************************************************************** * Adrian Wenner E-Mail wenner@lifesci.lscf.ucsb.edu * * Department of Biology Office Phone (805) 893-2838 * * University of California Lab Phone (805) 893-2838 * * Santa Barbara, CA 93106 FAX (805) 893-4724 * *************************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 20 Dec 1993 11:38:57 PST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jane Beckman Subject: Re: Varroa Thanks for the info. I'll check on this book. I'll also consider checking my brood cells. An ounce of prevention... --Jane Beckman [jane@swdc.stratus.com] ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 Dec 1993 10:11:44 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jose Torrente M&O Subject: C0mmand confirmation request (1D75AC) ok End of Message ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 Dec 1993 10:15:30 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Aaron Morris Subject: A preemptive strike? Jane Beckman [jane@swdc.stratus.com] queries: > > I was wondering if I ought to be using some "prophylactic" treatment, > just as a general precaution (against varroa). > I was going to reply back that I fail to see how condoms will protect against varroa, (how will the bees fly with a condom on?), but given the recent "barrage of garrbage" on this list, I'll refrain. Actually, I asked Jane's question at a fall '92 meeting of my local beekeeping association and the answer was, "Yes, a preventative treatment would be a wise move." Let me qualify this by noting that other beekeeperss in my county had confirmed cases of varroa. I now routinely use Apistan strips in late fall, after the final terramycin treatment. Incidently, I loved the bee-lore! I'm also glad that our hive has calmed down after the departure of our uninvited guests. Merry Christmas, everyone! ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 22 Dec 1993 12:35:51 +0000 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Malcolm Roe Subject: Re: A preemptive strike? In-Reply-To: from "Aaron Morris" at Dec 21, 93 10:15:30 am I'm worried about the prophylactic use of anti-varroa medications. There are two reasons. 1. The risk of resistance evolving in varroa. This is probably inevitable in the end but the longer it can be postponed the better. It is particularly worrisome when only one leagal treatment is available such as Apistan in the US or Bayvarol in the UK. The rule should be to treat only when necessary and then sufficiently to ensure eradication. (Re-infestation is a separate problem.) 2. As far as I know, there is no known risk to humans from approved miticides, at least in low concentrations, but consumption cannot be a good thing. This is why we avoid application whilst there are supers on the hive. Nevertheless, honey is moved around by the bees and Bayvarol (I don't know about Apistan) is absorbed by the wax which can then be consumed in the form of comb honey. We may not be able to avoid using these substances but it would seem prudent to use them only when necessary. It seems to me that monitoring is essential but treatment should be reserved for cases where infestation has been diagnosed. -- 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: Mon, 27 Dec 1993 09:23:00 +0100 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Wilhelm Bos, Microbiologie" Subject: Cubital-indexes dear Beelisters: who can provide us with a list of cubital-indexes for several honeybee -races? we are planning to use this for a computer program for calculating indexes from measurements. If we have a list of known indexes, the program can also tell the user which rac his measured bees belong to.. please leave answer here or send to adress below : Hugo Veerkamp #################################################################### | BEENET INTERNATIONAL | | E-mail : | mail : the Bee bbs | | Hugo.Veerkamp@f28.n2801.z2.fidonet.org| P.O. BOX 51008 | | ( or press reply button) | 1007EA AMSTERDAM | | please send newsletters to: | The Netherlands | | BEE@HOTLINE.WLINK.NL | | | | | | Beenet : 240:31/0 | modem: +31 20 6764105 | | Fidonet: 2:2801/28 | voice: +31 20 6715663 | #################################################################### -- uucp: uunet!m2xenix!puddle!2!2801!28!Hugo.Veerkamp Internet: Hugo.Veerkamp@f28.n2801.z2.fidonet.org ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1993 08:53:00 CST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: tdahms@SLEDGE-PO.WEEG.UIOWA.EDU Subject: Jan. 94 'BUZZ' - Iowa beekeepers newsletter Submitted by: Terry Dahms - President East Central Iowa Beekeepers Assoc. internet: terry-dahms@uiowa.edu ------------------------------------------------------------------- THE BUZZ JANUARY, 1994 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Gordon Powell, IHPA Treasurer. ------------------------------------------------------------------- PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Another year has come and gone. Time sure does slip by fast anymore. It never seems there is enough time in the year to get everything done you want or have to do. Our colonies went into the winter looking pretty good as far as having enough feed (i.e. most were pretty heavy). However, we had to feed a few colonies, but nothing like we had to feed last year. Now we will have to wait and hope they make it through the winter. This is the time of year to busy yourselves with repairing and painting equipment and rendering wax out of old combs. After rendering the wax we boil the frames in lye water. This leaves them looking like almost new and makes it much easier to put in new foundation. If you have not joined the Iowa Honey Producers Association yet, January is the time to do it. A membership form was included in the December BUZZ. You won't find another bargain like this ($5.00/year) for membership in a state-wide organization. I wish to extend my best wishes to you and your family during this joyous holiday season. We are hoping for a better year again in '94! Happy New Year!! -- Leroy Kellogg, IHPA president IOWA HONEY PRODUCERS ASSN. COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS IHPA President, Leroy Kellogg, made the following committee assignments (Chairman *) at the December 11th board meeting: 1. Membership: Gordon Powell* , Marvin Voyles and Boyd Palmer. 2. Legislative: John Johnson*, Manley Bigalk, Leo Stattelman, Bob Cox. 3. Cookbook: Manley Bigalk* & Paul Goossen. 4. Honey Queen: Paul Goossen*, Arvin Foell, John & Elaine Johnson, Bev Powell and Bob Cox. 5. Educational: Bob Cox*, Gordon Powell, Margaret Hala, Ellsworth Gustafson. 6. Annual Meeting: Tom Schuster*, John Johnson, and Bob Cox. 7. State Fair Sales: John Johnson*, Arvin Foell and Ray Tull. 8. Promotion: Tom Schuster*, Ray Tull, Gordon Powell and Bob Cox. 9. State Fair Apiary Exhibit: Bob Cox*, Margaret Hala, Lynette Kellogg, Tim Laughlin and David Tull. AFRICANIZED BEES FOUND IN THIRD STATE The presence of Africanized honey bees (AHB) was confirmed in southwestern New Mexico on November 9, 1993 by USDA. New Mexico became the third state in which AHBs were detected. The AHB swarm was found on a farm near Cotton City, 25 miles south of Lordsburg. The bees were destroyed and sampled for laboratory analysis. USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) made the official identification at its Bee Research Laboratory in Beltsville, Maryland. ARS has an on-going scientific investigation with ways to manage AHBs at four laboratories which are located in Texas, Arizona, Louisiana, and Maryland. USDA officials are working with New Mexico officials to monitor the spread of AHBs into the state and to minimize their impact on agriculture and people. (NASDA news 12/3/93) FLORIDA BEEKEEPERS FACE UNCERTAIN FUTURE Florida's beekeeping industry faces a future clouded by dwindling populations, increasing demands and the arrival of African bees. Bees, vital to Florida's $6 billion agriculture industry, have been "taken for granted," says Florida Agriculture Commissioner Bob Crawford. Beekeeping is becoming more difficult and more competitive today, and a number of beekeepers have dropped out of the business. Beekeepers face uncertain times, complicated by scourges of mites, the expected arrival in Florida of African bees, and new citrus varieties which require greater numbers of bees for pollination. As a result, a bee shortage may be on the horizon. Chief state apiary inspector Laurence Cutts says the number of colonies in Florida has declined significantly in the past ten years while demand is increasing. Some citrus growers are also starting to pay more for pollination services. Florida's commercial beekeepers currently manage approximately 225,000 colonies of bees. (NASDA news 12/3/93) 1994 4-H ESSAY CONTEST The time is right to be penning an entry for the American Beekeeping Federation's 4-H Essay Contest. The prizes for this year's event include cash prizes to the three top national winners: 1st Place $250, 2nd Place $100, 3rd Place $50. Each State Winner also receives an appropriate book about honey bees, beekeeping, or honey. The topic is "Products of the Hive and Their Uses." Essayists should research the subject thoroughly and cite uses of not only honey, but beeswax and other hive products: royal jelly, venom, propolis, honeydew, bee brood and live bees. To get started, look for how hive products have been used in a wide variety of ways in the past. Some of these are highly unusual, even humorous, when viewed from today's perspective. Then answer the questions, "what roles do hive products play in the world today?" and "what uses do you imagine for them in the future?". Contact your county 4-H office for more information. NOTE: Honey bee pollination of plants is not considered a product of the beehive. Contest is open to active 4-H Club members only. 1993 STATE APIARISTS ANNUAL REPORT DISASTER describes Iowa beekeeping in 1993. Iowa beekeepers experienced a disastrous winter loss, disastrous flooding, a disastrous honey crop and a flood of Varroa mites in their apiaries. Many "old timers" claim that this was the worst winter loss, flooding and honey crop they can remember. Add to these troubles the loss of the Federal honey buy-back program (price subsidy) and we are seeing a number of commercial beekeepers selling out and hobbyists abandoning failed apiaries. I'd like to give a more positive report, with my natural tendency toward optimism, but that would not be the truth. Bob Wells, the former assistant state apiarist, retired in June after 18 years with the Apiary Bureau and 41 total years of public service. He is really missed here in the Department. Jean Van Houweling, secretary for the Apiary Bureau for the last four years, transferred this spring to the district State Highway Patrol office. It looks as though neither position will be filled. Undoubtedly, we won't be able to offer all the services that we provided in the past. Educational/Promotional Activities We had a great year providing information and promoting honey and beekeeping. Most of this work was done in cooperation with the Iowa Honey Producers Association (IHPA), local associations or individual beekeepers. Approximately one-third of the State Apiarist's time was devoted to these activities. The most important tool for promotion and education is the monthly BUZZ newsletter. The newsletter was sent to about 800 interested persons each month during 1993. The BUZZ covered IHPA business, inspection and regulatory information, bee research, seasonal tasks in the beeyard, state fair news, a calendar of events, National Honey Board news, honey recipes, commercial and classified ads, necessary forms, and even, a Honey of a Verse. Twenty-seven presentations were given to school classes, mostly in the Des Moines area. In cooperation with ISU extension service beekeeping workshops were held on eight different evenings around Iowa. Topics included: Keeping bees in the city, races of bees, bee diseases and pests and basic beekeeping. Presentations were made at eleven local beekeeper association meetings, as well as at the Midwest Beekeeping Seminar in Crystal Lake, Illinois, Wisconsin State Honey Producers Meeting in Stephens Point, and the Upper Midwest Regional Beekeepers Meeting in Bloomington, Minnesota. We set up booths to promote honey and beekeeping at seven fairs, conventions and other events. At these booths we passed out the following: recipe folders, other literature, honey and honey product samples, displayed live bees and information about beekeeping, and talked with a large number of people about our industry. We filled many requests for information that came in the mail and over the telephone. Eleven interviews were given with radio stations and newspapers in Iowa and surrounding states. In addition, several news releases were sent out to about 400 media outlets in Iowa. Inspection/Regulatory Activities The samples of bees collected in 1992 were examined microscopically for tracheal mites. The following results were printed in the February 1993 issue of the BUZZ. Number of Percent of Loss the following Year samples apiaries infested winter ------------------------------------------------------------------- 1989 208 31% 15% 1990 258 29% 25% 1991 113 33% 20% 1992 60 75% 50% As you can see, we saw a large increase in the percent of apiaries that were infested with tracheal mites in 1992, followed by a very large winter kill that we saw this spring. Unless we get resistant stocks of bees or better chemical control of the tracheal mite, the number of bees will continue to decrease. Because of the heavy winter loss, more beekeepers imported bees into Iowa from southern states and California. With these bees, in the form of queens, packages, nucs and full size colonies, came many Varroa mites. In particular, some of the nucleus colonies were heavily infested with Varroa. Packages that came with an Apistan (TM) package-strip had low or undetectable levels of Varroa mites. This spring we issued 27 entry permits for 13,401 colonies of bees plus various used beekeeping equipment. These bees and equipment came from Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, Minnesota and Arizona. This fall we issued 14 Certificates of Inspection for 4951 colonies so that these bees could be transported back south again. In addition to Bob Wells, Tom Schuster (Dubuque), Bill Eickholt (Cherokee), Mike O'Hearn (near Shenandoah) and Louis Rickers (Boone) inspected bees for the Department of Agriculture in 1993. This year 1008 apiaries containing 17,258 colonies belonging to 350 beekeepers in all but five counties were inspected. Only 157 colonies located in 65 apiaries were infected with American foulbrood disease. This represents 1.6% of the colonies and 6% of the apiaries inspected. Thirty-two beekeepers in 35 counties had AFB-infected colonies. A whopping 833 out of 2608 Varroa mite tests were positive. This means about 32% of the colonies we tested for Varroa were indeed infested. Varroa mites were detected in apiaries belonging to 105 or 30% of the beekeepers inspected. The map in Figure 1 shows the 65 counties where Varroa-infested apiaries were located. Figure 2 shows how the Varroa mites have spread across the state in the last 4 years. In 1993 our inspectors noted a 5 to 30 fold increase in mite levels as the season progressed, where reinspections were made. The average for all Varroa-infested apiaries was 7 mites per 300 bees, varying from 1 to more than 200 mites per 300 bees. Figure 2 - Varroa-infested counties in Iowa 1990-1993. Chalkbrood disease was noted in 11% of the colonies inspected. Seven percent of the colonies remaining in the beeyard when inspected were dead. Where there was some doubt as to the cause of death or weak colonies a sample of bees or comb was sent to the Beltsville, Maryland Bee Lab for positive identification of the disease. Additionally samples of bees were collected in alcohol to examine for the tracheal mite in our laboratory. Most of these samples have not yet been processed or examined microscopically. 1994 APIARY REGISTRATION Be sure to register your apiary locations this year. A copy of the form is enclosed in this newsletter on page 11. Please fill out separate forms for apiaries located in different counties. You must send in a registration form each year to be registered in that year. We get calls every year from beekeepers who need proof that they have a certain number of colonies located at a certain location. They say "I thought I registered this year or last", "I was inspected last year" or "I've had those bees in the same location for years". I just cannot fabricate you a current registration for the year. So whether you need to be contacted in case of a toxic pesticide being sprayed near your apiary or proof of the number of colonies for filing for Federal disaster relief, you must register your apiaries if you want the benefit this affords you. LETTER TO THE EDITOR My wife and I arrived home from the recent annual meeting in Ames, Iowa and, as it often times happens to me, I regretted that I had not stood up at the meeting to express my thoughts. The session on mite control which occurred just before noon break (on Saturday) is what I'm concerned about. The main purpose of this letter is to express my concerns about the total lack of any discussion by anyone at the Ames meeting with regards to seeking a natural (organic) solution to the mite problem other than chemicals. At a recent meeting of our State Line Beekeepers (Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin), an 80-year old member expressed his feelings about other possible alternatives other than chemicals. The person is a beekeeper and also has dog kennels. At the meeting this man told us that he found that by crushing walnut leaves and then bedding the dogs with the leaves, there were no more flea problems with the dogs. He wondered if this technique could possibly work to control mites by placing a layer of crushed leaves on the bottom boards of hives. He did not make any claims that this technique would work and I'm not convinced that it will work for mite control. Besides, we don't always have a steady supply of walnut leaves year round and there may be other difficulties associated with the proper application of this technique. The point I want to emphasize here is that I believe that we as beekeepers have an obligation to realize that a natural solution may exist that should not be overlooked. We must also encourage the exploration of non-chemical solutions to mite control. I am fearful of the use of chemicals because, sooner or later, the positive reputation of our product will become irreparably damaged. It will be a long road back to prove to the consumers that our product is beautiful, pure and uncontaminated. - John Pedley, Benton, Wisc. EDITORS NOTE: Marion Ellis at the University of Nebraska and the USDA Beltsville Lab are investigating the use of natural essential oils in controlling tracheal mites. Menthol would fall in this category. Vegetable oil and heat as a control is also being investigated at the University of Minnesota by Dr. Marla Spivak. BEEKEEPING CLASS TO BE OFFERED IN DES MOINES Starting on Thursday, March 10, 1994 a beekeeping class will be offered by the Iowa Department of Agriculture in cooperation with Polk county ISU Extension service. It will be held every Thursday night for 8 weeks at the Des Moines Botanical Center. This will be an in-depth class covering a variety of topics on beekeeping for fun and profit. Each class session will last from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. The class will include some hands-on experience in beekeeping in the classroom and during field trips. Those interested in starting with bees, novice beekeepers and seasoned beekeepers are all welcome to participate. Pre-registration is required by February 28th and a registration fee will be charged. For more information contact Bob Cox, State Apiarist, Iowa Department of Agriculture, Wallace Building, Des Moines, Iowa 50319 telephone (515) 281-5736 or Mohamad Kahn, ISU Extension, (515) 270-8114. BEEHIVE IN FURNACE CHIMNEY NEARLY KILLS FAMIY OF 7 Belgrade, Minn.--A beehive in a liquid propane furnace chimney caused a house to fill with carbon monoxide and nearly cost a family of seven their lives, a fire official said. They were saved when a visitor came to the door about 12:30 p.m. Saturday to pick up the family's daughter for a lunch date. "He didn't get any response at the door, and he heard somebody inside," said Jim Lemmer, fire chief for Belgrade, a town of about 700 located 45 miles west of St. Cloud. "He went inside and he smelled the air wasn't right, and he found everbody was down and out, basically." (Minnesota Beekeepers Newsletter-Winter issue.) CALENDAR OF EVENTS January, 1994 12-15 The 25th Annual Convention of the American Honey Producers Association at Holiday Inn Palo Verde in Tuscon, Arizona. National Honey Board Mtg. following. Contact: Larry Conners at (203) 250-7575. 18-23 The American Beekeepers Federation Meeting at the Sheraton World Resort Hotel in Orlando, Florida. Contact: Troy Fore at (912) 427-8447. 25-29 Apiary Inspectors of America Annual Conference at the Holiday Inn on the Lane, in Columbus, Ohio. Contact: Gordon Rudloff at (614) 866-6361. A HONEY OF A VERSE Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his Immanuel. Butter and HONEY shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil and choose the good. - Isaiah 7:15 FOR SALE: 3 drums of light amber honey. Call John or Frank in Des Moines at (515) 244-3951 or (515) 961-3786. FOR SALE: 1500 supers (6 5/8 inches). White comb, boxes in good condition. Contact: Leroy Kellogg in Cambridge at (515) 383-4606. FOR SALE: 80 barrels of white, filtered honey. Will fill smaller containers. Ross round comb honey. Contact: Al Baldwin in Southwestern Wisconsin at (608) 776-3700. WANTED: 100 pounds of light-colored beeswax. Will pay market price. Call Herman Bickle in Newton at (515) 792-7480. WANTED: Bees on my land. Contact Anthony and Renate Olhava, ph. (712) 644-2693 Alrio Enterprises, Rt 1, Box 40, Logan, Iowa 51546. WANTED: Sponsors for Russian farmers interested in beekeeping. I am arranging for several Russian farmers to come over to the United States next summer (1994) for seven months. They will be staying with American host families and working on their farms. Many of the Russian farmers are interested in beekeeping. Contact: Bridget Disney, Russian Farmer Exchange, P.O. Box 540662, Omaha, NE 68154. telephone (402) 449-8600. LOST: A baby, also known as Jesus. Perhaps in the tinsel of holdiay decorations, or in Santa's little red house on the court lawn. The Babe was last seen before the outbreak of feasting and merrymaking at parties. Search under mountains of coats in restaurants, clubs and homes. Consider whether he was misplaced under heaps of crumpled wrapping paper and ribbons; forgotten in the flurry of practicing the pageant or stuffing the stockings. Lost: an adorable, glowing baby, fill with Life and Peace and Truth. Reward: Above all monetary measure, if returned immediately. The child was a priceless gift from a loving Father, and without him, all else is lost. SPENCER APIARY Cambridge, IA or Ionia, IA (515) 383-4606 (515) 394-2658 Order your packages bees or nucs now! Place orders by April 1st. Two-pound package with Queen $25.00 Three-pound package with Queen 32.00 Four-frame nucleus with Queen 32.00 (in your boxes) Apistan strips installed in all packages and nucs. Honey Wheat Muffins 1 cup flour 1/2 cup whole wheat flour 1/2 tsp. grated lemon peel 2 tsp. baking powder 1 egg, beaten 1/2 cup raisins (optional) 1/4 cup cooking oil 1 tsp. salt 1 cup HONEY 1/2 cup milk Mix dry ingredients together. Warm HONEY in microwave. Mix moist ingredients together. Combine dry and moist ingredients. Bake in greased muffin cups at 375 F for 18 - 22 minutes. HONEY Chicken 1 fryer chicken 3/4 cup HONEY 1/4 cup prepared mustard 1/2 tsp. curry powder 1/2 tsp. salt Dash of soy sauce Cut up fryer. Mix ingredients and pour over chicken. Bake uncovered for one hour at 325 F. Baste every 1/2 hour. IOWA HONEY PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION 1994 MEMBERSHIP DUES: Iowa Honey Producers Association $ 5.00 $_________ American Honey Producers 1-50 colonies $20.00 $_________ 51-500 colonies $75.00 $_________ First time [] Renewal [] (Check one) American Beekeeping Federation 1-50 colonies $20.00 $_________ 51-500 colonies $50.00 $_________ First time [] Renewal [] (Check one) SUBSCRIPTIONS: American Bee Journal One Year $16.20* $12.15 $_________ Two Years $30.12* $22.59 $_________ (Check one) First time [] Renewal [] Exp.date_________ Bee Culture magazine One Year $16.50* $12.25 $_________ (formerly Gleanings..) Two Years $30.00* $22.50 $_________ (Check one) First time [] Renewal [] Exp.date_________ QTY. BOOKS 1-9 10 or more ____ Large Honey Recipe Book $2.00 Same $_________ ____ Small Honey Recipe Book $ .75 $ 0.65 $_________ ____ Honey Pamphlet $0.03 Same $_________ ================= TOTAL $_________ *PRICE YOU WOULD PAY FOR MAGAZINE IF YOU DID NOT BELONG TO IHPA CHECK PAYABLE TO: IOWA HONEY PRODUCERS ASSN. SEND CHECK AND FORM TO: Gordon Powell 4012 - 54th St. Des Moines, IA 50310 (515) 278-1762 NAME_______________________________________________________________ ADDRESS:___________________________________________________________ CITY:____________________STATE_________________ZIP_________________ PHONE(____)________________________________________________________ NO. OF COLONIES_______________ 11/23/93