========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Jun 1995 00:37:02 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Edward Sterling Subject: Re: pesticide Further to the "natural fungus" posting, is the popular "non-chemical" pesticide BT (Bacillus thuringiesis, hope I spelled that correctly?) at all harmful to honeybees? Thanks Ed ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ed Sterling, GPCC | ACTUAL quotes from my kids: "Daddy, hummingbirds Bolton, MA 01740 USA | help the bees put honey in the flowers!" "In the Phone/FAX: 508-779-6058 | daytime, the sun melts the moon into cloudpieces!" "ed@gpcc.ultranet.com" | "A snowman makes the quietest sounds in the world" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wish you had a favorite childhood toy from the 1950s/60s/70s back again? Barbie? GI Joe? Fanner 50? Girder and Panel? See http://www.ultranet.com/~ed ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Jun 1995 08:21:14 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: WILLIAM G LORD Subject: Re: sunflower pollination In-Reply-To: <9505312022.AA16899@bigbad.ces.ncsu.edu> from "David De Jong" at May 31, 95 05:18:11 pm David; I did some sunflower pollination in North Carolina some years back and put one hive per acre. I am not aware of anyone pollinating sunflowers here at this time. I am getting $30 per hive rental for cucumber pollination now Bill Lord Louisbrg, N.C. > >Subject: sunflower pollination > >Does anyone have information on sunflower pollination? > >How many colonies per acre for hybrid sunflower seed production? >What are beekeepers getting per colony for rental? >How long do colonies stay on the crop? > >David De Jong >University of Sao Paulo >Ribeirao Preto, SP >Brazil > -- WILLIAM G LORD E-Mail : wglord@franklin Internet: wglord@franklin.ces.ncsu.edu Phone : 9194963344 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Jun 1995 10:39:58 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Lucy Cronin Subject: Re: clipping wings on queens Z ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Jun 1995 11:16:09 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Diana Sammataro Subject: Re: sunflower pollination In-Reply-To: <199505312124.RAA10415@postbox.acs.ohio-state.edu> from "David De Jong" at May 31, 95 05:18:11 pm David: When I was doing research at Wisconsin, the rule of thumb was 1/col per acre but 2 was better. As I recall, put bees out just at blossom color, since the largest seeds (ie. outer head) bloom first. The florets open sequentially, giving pollen the first day and then the stigma opens the second day. Pollen/nectar secretion is bimodal, starting about 6AM with another peak at 12 noon. Bees in our study flew down rows, so if you want to cross parent lines, put them within a row. Hope all this helps. Jerry Miller at ND State in Fargo can probably give you more help too. DIana Sammataro ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Jun 1995 12:50:28 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Doug Yanega Subject: Re: sunflower pollination >Subject: sunflower pollination > >Does anyone have information on sunflower pollination? You're apparently assuming that the only bee worth managing for pollination is Apis - in North America, there are some 130 native bee species that *only* visit sunflowers, and at least another 150 that will visit it for pollen when available (and all almost undoubtedly act as effective pollinators). It wouldn't surprise me if somewhere in those hundreds of species there are a few that are more effective than honeybees. Some colleagues and I have published a paper (Ecology 75: 1406-1419, 1994) on one of the most widespread sunflower specialists, Dieunomia triangulifera (Halictidae), whose activity is synchronized on both a seasonal and daily basis with sunflower bloom. Out of 500 floral visitors to Helianthus annuus assayed during our study, only 4 were Apis, the rest were native bees (D. triangulifera and Bombus pensylvanicus together representing about half of the total), and they were able to effectively strip all pollen from the plants by mid-day and give essentially complete seed set. I would respectfully submit that it does NOT require Apis to pollinate a field of sunflowers if one has native bees nesting nearby. They also cost nothing to manage, aside from some sandy soil where they can nest. Just something to think about, Doug Yanega Illinois Natural History Survey, 607 E. Peabody Dr. Champaign, IL 61820 USA phone (217) 244-6817, fax (217) 333-4949 "There are some enterprises in which a careful disorderliness is the true method" - Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chap. 82 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Jun 1995 11:57:00 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Kerry Clark 784-2225 fax (604) 784 2299" Subject: Re: sunflower pollination In addition to all the information which recommends bees for pollination of sunflower, I see a note in "A Guide to managing bees for crop pollination" recently published by Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists, that the new hybrid strains of sunflower are self-fertile, and require no insect pollination. I don't know what the conclusion is based on. Kerry Clark, Apiculture Specialist B.C. Ministry of Agriculture 1201 103 Ave Dawson Creek B.C. V1G 4J2 CANADA Tel (604) 784-2225 fax (604) 784-2299 INTERNET KCLARK@GALAXY.GOV.BC.CA ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Jun 1995 15:21:33 -500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Dan Buchsbaum Subject: Re: sunflower pollination In-Reply-To: <9506011309.aa13960@blkbox.COM> I plant a couple dozen of those giant sunflowers every year in the garden and I have never seen my bees go near them. I have, however, counted up to 10 bumblebees on each head. The only other time I see them around is when the bluberries and blackberries bloom (which both bee varieties share!) -Cynthia, Houston ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Jun 1995 19:13:05 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Laura Downey Subject: Re: Emergency Queen Cells Tom, It looks as if I will have to watch the new queen and the possibility of new emergency cells. I have so much to learn about beekeeping! It seems as if you can never learn enough. There is always something different happening in the hives. That is very interesting about the age of the larva. Is the "quality" of the emergency queen determined by age in that an older larva would have received less royal jelly, or is there something else that is involved? Thanks for your information! Laura Downey Maryland ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Jun 1995 19:29:49 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Laura Downey Subject: Re: pesticide Ed, I have been told by my extension agent that BT is completely safe for honeybees. I specifically asked him for a safe and natural pesticide and this is what he recommended. Honeybees have an "acid stomach" which can kill the bacteria if it enters their system, the same as in humans. Laura Downey Maryland ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Jun 1995 19:58:05 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Dave Green, Eastern Pollinator Newsletter" Subject: A Case of Pollination Failure 6-1-95 I often check fields for pollinator activity. Last week I looked at a watermelon field, with no beehives in sight, and on several counts, averaged 35 - 40 bees (all honeybees) sighted in one minute. I do not know if there were wild bees, or beehives placed out of sight. It was about four acres, and was just beginning to bloom. It was bounded by swampland with hardwood forest, so there could have been some wild honeybees. Today, I looked at a 60 acre field that was a dismal sight. It was planted March 15 and should have some nearly ripe fruit. There was a scattering of crown bloom that looked fairly good, but it was very sparse. Fruit that formed within the past two to three weeks was mostly grotesquely deformed, and fruit that formed in the last week mostly consisted of small wrinkled sacks that probably will soon drop off. The farmer, a young man, was very discouraged. He had spent a lot of time removing deformed fruit. The vines had been planted early, and looked healthy and vigorous. There was a lot of bloom. At mid-morning (maximum pollinator activity) on a partly cloudy, 80 degree day (ideal pollinating weather) with plenty of soil moisture, I watched for five minutes and saw only 2 honeybees and 2 tiny solitary bees. The farmer had not yet identified his problem, though he knew he had one. He was just beginning to suspect pollination. He said he had seen carpenter bees working some on the early bloom, and he showed me their nest sites in an old packhouse. This would account for the earlier set, but they had gone into the dormant period about 2 - 3 weeks ago. Thank God for carpenter bees (which so many people are determined to exterminate)! There was a large acreage of woodland surrounding, but it had all been clearcut, removing wild honeybee next sites. I tell growers of vine crops that they should be able to stand still in the field during maximum pollinator activity, and count 50 bees of any kind within one minute. Then they know they are in good shape. Three years ago, in the majority of watermelon, cuke, cantaloupe, and squash fields, we achieved that count easily after placing the hives. Today, the majority of the fields fall below that level, even after we place the bees. While carpenter bees were plentiful throughout the area this spring, I have yet to locate any bumblebee nests, and have seen only a dozen or so foraging. I usually see a lot of solitary bees on cucurbits. These are also very rare this year. I had severe losses last season during cotton bloom from pesticide misuse, and I assume the bumble bees and solitary bees were affected similarly to honeybees. Cotton acreage has increased dramatically in the past three years, and misuse of pesticides is making me seriously think of quitting. I also watch markets closely. The early watermelons from south Florida had many symtoms of poor pollination; less than 25% appeared well pollinated. The last pickings did improve somewhat. Right now the melons are coming in from north Florida and south Georgia, and they look pretty good, with 65 - 70% well pollinated. Very few consumers, and even a surprising number of growers don't know why the melons are of such poor quality. This young man did everything right, except pollination, and could have made a killing on the early market, but he will only have late, and low priced melons now. I hope he does not get discouraged and quit. We have so few young farmers. Copyright, 1995, Dave Green Permission granted to reproduce for non profit purposes, with attribution. Contact author for commercial reproduction. Pollinator@aol.com Dave Green Eastern Pollinator Newsletter PO Box 1215, Hemingway, SC 29554 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Jun 1995 21:21:58 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Dave Green, Eastern Pollinator Newsletter" Subject: SC Report Got my bee-hind soaked twice today! Ahhhh. Of course the lightning that split the tree on the other side of the cucumber field made me jump a bit. After two months of drought, we are starting to catch up, with showers almost every day this week. Most areas have gotten some, though I talked with one farmer who was still complaining about bone dry fields. First pesticide kill found this morning. I smelled it before I got out of my truck. Lord, I hate that smell! Reported - and authorities will investigate, maybe in a few days, Ha! Generally after a kill they are too slow, and not even competent enough to identify the source. I'll have to do a lot of the investigation for them. Reduced the bee population in that yard by fifty pounds or more. -The first of many to come. Disheartening. Yesterday was not a good day either. Ursa major visited one of my breeding yards. I haven't been in there in the past three weeks. I had eight real nice hives, two of which had been already selected for raising some summer queens. Also I had four nucs. I went there to get the six hives which I could take to cukes. We are now scratching to find enough bees for the last late fields. Well this bear totally destroyed all but one nuc, which I was able to salvage. He splintered one brand new box like it was nothing, so he must have been a big one. I try to stay away from bear territory, but they are moving into populated areas. (This is encouraged by our wildlife officials, who won't give any realistic help with damage, but will severely prosecute and call you a poacher in multiple press releases if you give 'em lead poisoning to protect your livestock. Should I send them a bill for the damage?) The pollination bees are almost all out, about 50 - 60 hives to go, and I am ready for a vacation! It has gone a little easier than last year. We only placed about 2/3 as many, as I did not have as many bees, due to last year's pesticide losses. I have been careful not to spend very much money, as I know it's going to be a lean year. We did prune our customer list of some poor payers, so maybe that will help. Yesterday, we also ran over my last good smoker. Thank God for duct tape. I've been an admirer of that stuff, every since I had a kid who wouldn't stay in the seat belt. One of the farm workers said to me, Cucumbers must make a lot of honey, because you always seem to be putting bees out there. When I stopped laughing, I showed him the feed honey I was putting on some of the hives, and explaining that they were there to make the cucumbers, not to make honey, and that I was paid for it. He thought I was storyin' him, at first, but I think I did finally convince him. I showed him a well pollinated cucumber and a poorly pollinated one, side by side. We've been putting one super on each hive, just in case they find something out in the woods. Once in a while they do. If the hive is light, we put two or three frames of dark honey that I saved from last fall, in the super, so they won't starve. They are working hard on the blossoms, and we hope for a good crop year, despite drought, and reduced acreage. Some of the melons where we placed bees a month ago, are almost ready, and are looking very nice. I ought to give the growers a sticker that says: Bee Sweet - a Well-Pollinated Melon. I get high watching the bees do their thing. Everything up to now was just preparation. Now it's time to make the connection. I think it's a noble endeavor, but a friend says, naw, you're just a pimp for the pumpkins. Some friend! Pollinator@aol.com Dave Green PO Box 1215, Hemingway, SC 29554 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Jun 1995 22:01:01 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Dave Green, Eastern Pollinator Newsletter" Subject: Re: A Case of Pollination Failure Comments: To: dyanega@denr1.igis.uiuc.edu In a message dated 95-06-01 20:16:13 EDT, Doug Yanega wrote: >When you talk about solitary bees, are you talking about small >generalist >species like halictids, or the large southeastern cucurbit >specialists like >Peponapis and Xenoglossa? Seems to me it wouldn't take more than a >handful >of the latter bees to pollinate a LOT of cucurbits. I don't think, >though, >that any other than Xenoglossa strenua have been recorded from >Florida, and >there probably only in northern Florida. Heck, maybe that's why >Georgia >does so well in comparison - not because there are honeybees, but >because >the native cucurbit specialists (which all fly before sunrise, so no >one >would ever see them on their crops) are present there? Get a few of >those >Georgia melon farmers out there around 4 or 5 AM and find out...maybe >they >don't need to spend money on honeybees at all! (Yeah, I know, I'm >like a >broken record about how native bees can do anything Apis can do, and >more - >but I honestly believe it). I've been in several watermelon fields before 5 am, and I haven't seen any solitary bees. Heck, the blossoms aren't open yet! On one farm where I was checking the quality of watermelons, I noticed a strange looking big yellow blossom with a black center out in the field a ways. It was a volunteer squash from the previous season, and it was the only blossom open. The dark center was about 20 honeybees all jammed in, with more homing in on it. It was just getting light in the east at that time. You can see why I love my bees. One blossom open in a hundred acres, and WHAM! They all hit it at once. NO watermelons blossoms were open. I think my bees do a darn good job! I won't take offense at your position, but you frustrate me in one sense. If the solitary bees are so good, why aren't we raising them? They sure are rare around here. I usually see some large solitary bees (looks like a cross between a honeybee and a horsefly) on cukes, and that is the only place I've seen them, but they are entirely absent so far this year. The only bee other than a honeybee that I've seen this year on cukes is a very tiny one, - maybe 2-3 mm, and very few at that. I am sorry I am not yet good at identifying species, though I am going to try to learn more of them this season. I would be glad to try raising some, but I am far from university libraries (if there is any cultural info there). I have encouraged you to give me some info, on this, but none has been forthcoming. How about it? Trade secrets? Pollinator@aol.com Dave Green PO Box 1215, Hemingway, SC 29554 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 2 Jun 1995 00:06:20 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Dave Green, Eastern Pollinator Newsletter" Subject: Re: Pollinatation Failure Comments: To: dyanega@denr1.igis.uiuc.edu >I *have* to chuckle over that - no, there are no trade secrets, and in fact I had sort of thought that by suggesting looking for native cucumber bees, I might be helping you get interested in being the first person to *try* to figure out how to integrate them into a commercial operation. If it worked, you'd have a corner on the cuke pollination market! >About the closest thing to a secret I can think of is that if you were to find an area where these bees nest, you could dig up the overwintering prepupae and transplant them to sandy soil near a cuke field. Okay, I did have my tongue in cheek, on trade secrets. (That does seem to be the case with bumblebees.) You can bet I'll put the best of my feeble brainpower to work on this. I don't know how I can find nesting sites if I can't find the bees, but I'll keep looking. >As long as the commercial plants are open when the bees are active, the population should be self-sustaining, and slow-growing. I really don't see a way to speed them up, given the way solitary bees operate (they collect pollen faster than they can lay eggs on it, so giving them more plants doesn't give them more offspring, like it does in social bees). That's actually probably another reason they haven't been commercially developed - no one is willing to wait five to ten years to build up a bee population. Because of several pathogens, root knot nematode being probably the primary one, cucurbits are rarely raised on the same land two years in a row. I have one big farm that does, but they spend a fortune on fumigation each year. This proposes a dilemma right away, when you talk about a ground nesting species that takes several years to build up. Honeybees are easy to move. Thoughts? Have you done any work on the effect of the pesticide misuse situation on wild bee populations? Honeybees do a fine job of cucurbit pollination, and I am skeptical of solitary bees replacing them any time soon, unless we can't keep the honeybees alive. It is hard to outdo 20,000 of those little gals, just itching to work. I would have little interest in solitary bees, except for a) an ecological system with more variety is generally more healthy, b) honeybees are threatened by new parasites and diseases, as well as loss of beekeepers. And c) if you are talking tomatoes or okra, or eggplant, that is a different matter. I have seen honeybees VIGOROUSLY work tomatoes once in my life and the difference in yield was astounding. Most of the time tomatoes blossoms are barren of any pollinators. Of course the pesticide situation is a major factor here too. >Out of curiosity, how long does the average farmer raise one crop? This is America, land of the Quick Fix, after all. ;-) Well I've spent the best years of my life learning about, and working to improve pollination of our crops. I doubt we'll come up with too many quick fixes, but we certainly could improve our management by a lot. Our cuke crops involve about 7 - 8 weeks. In this area, we have a spring and a fall crop. Watermelons take a little longer. Pollinator@aol.com Dave Green, PO Box 1215, Hemingway, SC 29554 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 1 Jun 1995 23:18:50 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "La Reine de la Cite' des Phoques (Liz Day)" Subject: Neem: safe for bees?? Comments: To: bombus@csi.uottawa.ca I have just applied 'Neem' insecticide to a large number of Rugosa and climbing roses that are being used by bumblebees for pollen. The label said 'safe for honeybees'. The roses are being chewed to nothing by sawfly larvae (horrible things - how a hymenopteran stoop to such disgusting pursuits?). Do any of the beekeepers have any experience with this chemical? If the bumblebees collect Neem-loaded pollen and take it home, will it hurt them? Liz Day LDAY@indy.net Indianapolis, Indiana, USA Now on at 14400 baud!!!!! ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 2 Jun 1995 08:32:15 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Kelley Rosenlund Subject: Re: SC Report On 6-1 Dave said: >If the hive is light, we put two or three frames of dark honey that I saved >from last fall, in the super, so they won't starve. Hello Dave, Isn't there a risk of passing diseases on by doing this? Also, how are you able to store these frames for so long without ant, mouse, wax moth, etc damage? Thanks, Kelley Rosenlund rosenlk@freenet.ufl.edu In the metropolis of Gainesville, Florida. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 2 Jun 1995 11:04:04 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: John Bongiovanni Subject: Re: sunflower pollination Bees flew down rows???!! Do you jest? : /``` . _ || : @@--9 `` ".";; " ((0)) || |||||||||||||| : <\,\\_ ` " "'"" (((0))) || When pleasure :\\ ^/(8)\\ "",", ((((0)))) || Remains... : \\((0))// "","(((((0))))) || Can It Remain : ///\\\ //\ ((((((")))))) || A Pleasure! : // \\// ---- ||jbongie@delphi.com || |||||||||||||| | _\\ ======= ||John C. Bongiovanni|| ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 2 Jun 1995 08:52:40 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Adrian Wenner Subject: Re: Papaya... Comments: To: Discussion of Bee Biology >In my quest for farmers to rent my hives to I found a gentleman that raises >papayas , pomegranites and other tropical fruit in greenhouses. In the >summer months he opens the greenhouses up for ventilation. > > Does any one have info on pollinating tropical plants ? A few weeks ago someone mentioned a book on pollination. You can find information on pollination of papayas on pp. 274-277 of that publication (1976. S.E. McGregor. INSECT POLLINATION OF CULTIVATED CROP PLANTS. ARS. USDA Agricultural Handbook #496). 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, 2 Jun 1995 22:31:32 +1030 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jean-Pierre Chapleau Subject: Re: Neem: safe for bees?? In-Reply-To: <199506020418.XAA04331@indy3.indy.net> On Thu, 1 Jun 1995, La Reine de la Cite' des Phoques (Liz Day) wrote: > I have just applied 'Neem' insecticide to a large number of Rugosa and > climbing roses that are being used by bumblebees for pollen. The label > said 'safe for honeybees'.(...) > > Do any of the beekeepers have any experience with this chemical? (...) I imagine neem is safe for the bees. Doctor Liu from Agriculture Canada was to conduct a research on neem extract as a potential control agent against mites and other bee diseases. I think that the project was supposed to take place this summer. _______________________________ ~ |_____JEAN-PIERRE CHAPLEAU______| ~ bee breeder |1282, rang 8, Saint-Adrien,| ~ | Quebec, Canada, J0A 1C0 | vice president of the Canadian Honey Council | phone: (819) 828-3396 | ~ ~ | fax: (819) 828-0357 | ~ ~ | chapleau@scuzzy.fmmo.ca | ~ ~ |______________________________~ ~ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 2 Jun 1995 22:47:49 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Dave Green, Eastern Pollinator Newsletter" Subject: Re: SC Report I reported >If the hive is light, we put two or three frames of dark honey that I saved >from last fall, in the super, so they won't starve. In a message dated 95-06-02 08:41:22 EDT, rosenlk@FREENET.UFL.EDU (Kelley Rosenlund) asks: > Isn't there a risk of passing diseases on by doing this? >Also, how >are you able to store these frames for so long without ant, mouse, >wax moth, etc damage? We were starting to get some wax moths now with hot weather, but wax worms prefer pollen, dead brood, and dark comb. They will work on supers, but much more slowly than brood comb. The supers , were stored in an unheated building over winter, and they froze once in February, which likely killed most of the wax moth eggs. The bees are strong, with young queens. They'll take care of the few wax moths. We did find a couple mouse nests, too. On the main question - AFB Feeding frames of honey is one of the safest and best ways to feed bees, IF, you are careful to check hives for AFB, when you take off honey. Capped honey will not stimulate robbing, while feeding liquid honey can make the bees crazy. Pollinator@aol.com Dave Green ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 2 Jun 1995 22:59:20 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "La Reine de la Cite' des Phoques (Liz Day)" Subject: Re: Neem: safe for bees?? Yes, apparently the Neem was actually FED to the bees, but they were OK anyway. PHEW. Except that 24 hours after application, I see that the target sawfly larvae are not only alive but still EATING. I am beginning to feel violent. These creatures will eat the world alive! Liz Day LDAY@indy.net Indianapolis, Indiana, USA ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 3 Jun 1995 00:08:26 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Patrick M O'Hearn <73203.610@COMPUSERVE.COM> Subject: Pumpkin pollination Hello All, Has anyone had experience with pollination of pumpkins? A fellow beekeeper out here has been approached about setting 200 hives for pumpkin pollination. He was wondering if there was any honey to be made off of the pumpkins since the set would be for 30 days in July and would take the hives off of the regular flow. Unlike spring pollination, this would interfere with a pretty good honeyflow and he is wondering if it would be worth it? I will be gone for the next week and get bee-l in digest form. I dont know how long Compuserve will hold the digests but I do know they hold E-mail so, please reply to me personally. thanks Patrick O'Hearn Aztec, New Mexico ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 3 Jun 1995 05:03:30 -0600 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Allen Dick Subject: Re: Emergency cells, grafting, mated queens and rambling In-Reply-To: <9505270904.AA15182@cuugnet.cuug.ab.ca> On Sat, 27 May 1995, Allen Dick wrote: > Where direct release is possible, mated queens have the advantage. > > However, We have had a few caged queens that were still found in cages > weeks later -- in spite of all the candy being eaten out. Last year we > bought some offshore queens and the candy was too hard. In spite of nail > holes, some took weeks to get released. I know this looks as if I am talking to myself -- I'm replying to my own post -- however, today when I went through some splits made a month ago, I came across a queen cage that had all the candy (and the paper) eaten out a *long* time ago. All the attendants and everything in the cage were gone. The cage was was polished. The queen was in there running around energetically. There was no other queen in the colony, and no, there were no eggs in the cells, so she hadn't just run in there before I found her. Is this queen from especially stupid stock, I wonder. Go figure, huh? Allen W. Allen Dick, Beekeeper VE6CFK Rural Route One Swalwell Alberta Canada T0M 1Y0 Email: dicka@cuug.ab.ca or allend@internode.net Futures, Art & Honey:http://www.cuug.ab.ca:8001/~dicka ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 3 Jun 1995 05:36:45 -0600 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Allen Dick Subject: Baby nucs - Help! A promised, here is the summary of advice received by email in response to my plea for advice on the subject of making up baby nucs: Kerry's much appreciated reply already was posted to the list, so I won't repeat it here, but Andy's came to me direct and I think it is so good, I am quoting it in its entirety. I appreciate the quick and detailed practical responses received; they made it simple for me to make the nucs with only a few more or less harmless little blunders - due entirely to not following the advice quite to the letter. My books, although good, are not quite as practical as the advice received here. The nucs are doing fine -- all 120 or so made to date, and each batch is easier than the last. We will have mated queens in a couple of days or so, I expect. I might add that it took my daughter and me two hours to make up 40 nucs -- we didn't do the 500 that Andy manages. However I am counting the time that we spent making up the bulk bees for the nucs, which was over half the time. And, of course we are beginners at this new activity. The nucs are amazing. I am impressed by how a tiny handful of bees can draw out foundation and fill it with syrup, and also how vulnerable to temperature tiny nucs can be. I'm having a ball, and have to thank Andy and Kerry for their pointers which made the job easy. *********************************************************************** Andy's reply: AD<>The questions: <>"""""""""""""" <>Can I stock the nucs and introduce cells today - leaving them closed for <>a day or two? Temperatures are max 22 degrees Celcius (75 F or so) with <>frosts the last few nights. AD<>How best should I stock the nucs? What's the best way to shake bees for <>the nucs? How many bees should I put in each nuc? AD<>Any (FAST!) answers will be appreciated and please reply direct to me, <>not the list and I will summarise - much as Adam did after getting help <>with his nuc problem. We shake bee's into 20 lb cages. It is best when the bee's you shake have been in a good pollen and nectar flow. We stock the nucs after dark using bug lights for vision. We sprinkle thin sugar syrup on the bee's to keep them from crawling out of the cages when opened. Use a spam can with long handle to measure the bee's out and pour them into the nuc which has a queen cell already added. We use a small propane torch to heat a spot on the comb for the cell so it does not fall out when handled. We then put the nuc's into a small dark building, ours happen's to be a Sears metal tool shed with a big water cooler and sprinkler's on the roof to keep it cool during the day. The nuc should be closed and not put out until the queen is hatched and we leave them in for 3-4 days. The amount of bee's needed depending on the size of your nuc, it sounds like you could use one spam can full, but you may want to use two. If they all swarm the first time you use them you will know that one can would have been enough. Two people can make up 500-600 in a couple hours. Our nucs are all plastic with 3 fixed combs. The bottom of the box is the feeder and we use drivert or a mix of sugar for feed. We shake the bee's onto a flat cardboard and grab the mated queen, then dump the bees back on the ground in front of the nuc and come back and re-cell them. It is very fast and easy. We lug a small table out to the queen yards so we are not on our hands and knees all the time, saves on the old back. Small nuc's are good in the spring, as soon as it get's hot they go to hell real fast. This year it has been real cool and the nuc's are still doing well. As we take them in we will catch the queen and let the good one's rase a natural queen. *Fixed combs are not legal in some locals, our nuc's are easy to inspect by anyone who is interested and we have never had a regulatory problem because they do not have movable frames as required by some regulations. The boxes were originally made for another purpose and adapted for use as nucs and are styrofoam plastic and have a wooden bottom glued on to give them some additional weight as they are easily blown around without it in a good wind. The boxes have been in use for 20 or more years and have produced 10's of thousand's queens sold in four frame nuc's used by beekeepers within 300 miles. The boxes are subject to attack by rodents and must be kept in an enclosed gas tight room when not in use to protect them from the elements and wax moths, and mice. Andy- I more then likely left out the secret formula for success, but if I remember I will let you know. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 4 Jun 1995 20:25:28 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Laura Downey Subject: Queenlessness, emergency, swarm Hi all - I went out and inspected my two hives today. The one is doing great! They're working on a super now - should have my first surplus honey soon. The second hive is not doing so well. Still no sign of the queen. What is there is capped brood, emergency _and_ swarm cells. There is no larva present. I am totally confused about the presence of both swarm and emergency cells. What is going on? Is there a point at which I can requeen this hive without the possibility of losing the newly installed queen to a new "emergency" queen? Is waiting until late summer too late to requeen? I don't want to lose this hive. What are your suggestions as to what I should do in order to save this colony? Thanks in advance! Laura Downey Maryland ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 4 Jun 1995 23:48:44 -0600 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Eric Abell Subject: Re: Queenlessness, emergency, swarm In-Reply-To: <950604202524_86428770@aol.com> If you think there is a chance of there being a laying queen or about to be a laying queen but are not certain, how about moving a frame with eggs and your larvae from your good hive to the week hive. If there is a queen you will only have boosted the population. If there is no queen at least the bees have eggs and larvae from which to make another. You might do this every few days until somebody starts laying eggs. I would not worry about swarming in a weak hive - that is usually not going to happen. And if it does - have you really lost much? Good luck. Eric Abell email: eabell@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca Gibbons, AB, T0A 1N0 Canada (403) 998 3143 On Sun, 4 Jun 1995, Laura Downey wrote: > Hi all - > > I went out and inspected my two hives today. The one is doing great! > They're working on a super now - should have my first surplus honey soon. > > The second hive is not doing so well. Still no sign of the queen. What > is there is capped brood, emergency _and_ swarm cells. There is no larva > present. I am totally confused about the presence of both swarm and > emergency cells. What is going on? > > Is there a point at which I can requeen this hive without the possibility > of losing the newly installed queen to a new "emergency" queen? Is waiting > until late summer too late to requeen? I don't want to lose this hive. What > are your suggestions as to what I should do in order to save this colony? > > Thanks in advance! > > Laura Downey > Maryland > ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 4 Jun 1995 23:53:17 -0600 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Eric Abell Subject: Late night pollen I was out with the bees tonight and there was pollen coming in at 9:30 pm. How's that for the bees working long hours? The bee keeper had it pretty good today - just lazed around the lake and went to work at 8 pm. Eric Abell email: eabell@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca Gibbons, AB, T0A 1N0 Canada (403) 998 3143 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Jun 1995 10:08:15 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Richard Luhman Subject: just a test Please ignore this message. I am just testing posting to BEE-L ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Jun 1995 10:16:46 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Dave Green, Eastern Pollinator Newsletter" Subject: Re: Late night pollen In a message dated 95-06-05 01:59:40 EDT, Eric Abell email: eabell@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca wrote: >I was out with the bees tonight and there was pollen coming in at >9:30 >pm. How's that for the bees working long hours? The bee keeper had >it >pretty good today - just lazed around the lake and went to work at 8 >pm. Eric, I suspected as much. They say that about me too: beekeepers are lazy fellows; the bees do all the work. I've been in bee yards when you could just barely see, at first light in the morning, and the bees were already working furiously. - Only in hot summer weather though. Pollinator@aol.com Dave Green PO Box 1215, Hemingway, SC 29554 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Jun 1995 10:16:51 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Dave Green, Eastern Pollinator Newsletter" Subject: Why are our bees so weak and sickly? Dear Bee Folks: I found the first pesticide hit of the season last week, and as usual, noted that the best hives sustained the worst damage. They were out doing the job, so they picked up the poison. I suspect they were on mustard in a cotton application area; the cotton is not yet in bloom. Bee kills from pesticide misuse are a reverse form of selective breeding, always doing the worst damage to the vigorous, healthy bees that are out visiting the (poisoned) flowers, while doing little harm to weak, sickly hives, that the beekeeper has to continuously nurse to keep going. I can't help but wonder how many of our best bee strains have been knocked back or eliminated, because of pesticide misuse. Throughout the year, I mark exceptionally good hives as potential breeders. If they can hold up the quality, and are still top grade by the following spring, they qualify as breeders. The cream of the cream gets to be queen mothers, the rest are drone mothers. Pesticide hits screw up this system. How can you rate hives, when the best have lost their field force a couple times, or worse. Last year, there were at least hundreds, possibly thousands, of applications on cotton, made in violation of bee protection directions. I sustained a lot of loss. Cotton acreage has dramatically increased, and this year cotton is everywhere. I expect a lot more damage. I have fewer hives than last year, because of last season's losses, but they are in excellent shape. At the end of the spray season; if they are in the shape they were in last year at that time, I am going to quit. Except for carpenter bees, which are dormant during cotton spraying, the solitary bees and bumble bees that I normally see on curcurbits are rare or absent entirely. We are sustaining tremendous environmental damage from these violations. Many of these forage similar hours as cotton, so they would be afforded protection, if the label directions were followed. I have been asking Clemson Extension for several years to help applicators comply with the label by teaching them how to monitor for foraging bees. They continue to ignore the bee protection directions on the labels when they make pesticide recommendations. They still actually encourage applicators to circumvent label directions by telling them to notify beekeepers (as if we COULD protect them!) This year I am in process of filing a civil rights claim against certain individuals with decision making power for refusing to implement and enforce label directions for bee protection. Last season I recorded a violation at the Clemson Extension Pee Dee research station, of the type that causes much of our pesticide damage. Authorities admitted the violation, refused to enforce. As far as I can tell, no reforms have resulted. I have provided the cotton team with a program to correct the problem, which I insist that they implement, or they will become defendants, as well. This includes a) evaluation of each insecticide recommended according to the bee label directions. Those which have directions indicating action by direct contact only may be recommended for use during bloom, provided a notice is given that applicators must ascertain prior to application that bees are not foraging in the application area. Those which indicate they they also have residual effects, can be used prior to bloom, or after the end of bloom, but not during the bloom, as the bees will be foraging during the residual life of the pesticide. b) Applicators who spray cotton, which is highly attractive to bees during bloom, must have a monitoring system to establish safe times to apply, so as to be in compliance with label directions. Three methods of monitoring. 1) a hot line to Clemson research stations at Pee Dee and Edisto, where monitor hives to be kept on cotton, and reports obtainable as to when bees foraged the previous day. 2) monitoring by cotton scouts, trained and certified by Clemson Extension. 3) private monitoring by monitor hives, by applicators who are trained to do so by Clemson Extension. c) Censuses done each year of non-Apis bees foraging on cotton to evaluate trends and quantify damage done to these pollinator populations Application on blooming cotton, without prior determination if the material forbids application while bees are foraging, and prior determination if bees are foraging, is evidence of WILLFUL misuse, should bees be actually foraging at the time of application. Another SC beekeeper has sustained a heavy hit, which he believes is by Penncap M (trademark) applied in a peach orchard with lush mustard bloom. He figures $1500 damage. I saw such an application two weeks ago in a peach orchard with blooming mustard and foraging bees. If it was an insecticide, (and it likely was) it was almost certainly a violaton. Unfortunately I was loaded with bees, and could only stop for a minute. Our Clemson Extension people have paid little attention to orchard floor management, to prevent label violatons and bee kills. When will this routine poisoning of our livestock end? If any other farmer had a tenth of the livestock poisoning that we endure each year, there would be a flurry of attention, and the poisoners would be held accountable. It is hoped that the civil rights action will stimulate our stonewalling bureaucrats to reform and bring the system into compliance with the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act of 1972. Isn't 23 years time enough to implement a law that protects a vital environmental resource? Pollinator@aol.com Dave Green PO Box 1215, Hemingway, SC 29554 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Jun 1995 10:17:00 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Dave Green, Eastern Pollinator Newsletter" Subject: Label Directions Often Misread or Ignored PESTICIDE LABELS AND BEES What the Labels Clearly Do and Do Not Say (- Often Misrepresented and Misunderstood) Along with Logical, Common Sense Implications There are two types of messages about bees on many insecticide labels, which are placed under environmental hazards. These give specific instructions which are statements of the pesticide law for that particular pesticide. One indicates hazard by direct contact only; the other indicates hazard by direct contact and by residues. Both types prohibit application while bees are foraging. obviously the ones with no residual effect are safe for use around bees, provided that they are not foraging at the time of application. Those that are clearly marked as residual would logically be prohibited if bees forage within the residual activity period of the pesticide, in other words on any plant that is attractive to bees, during the bloom period of that plant. 1. It is the applicator's responsibility to comply with the label directions. This responsibility cannot be transferred to beekkeepers or any other party. The applicator has chosen to use a material with environmental hazards, in this case hazards to pollinators, and it is his responsibility to use it safely by complying with label directions. 2. The directions refer to the foraging bees, not the bee hives. It is irrelevant therefore whether the hives are placed on the property to be sprayed, or whether they come from other properties within foraging range of the bees. Removing hives from the property where application will occur does not necessarily indicate compliance with label directions, bees may be coming from adjacent properties or unknown colonies on the property. 3. The label directions protect the foraging bees in the application area, whether the bees are kept or feral, and they protect all bees, whether honeybees, solitary bees, or bumblebees (non-Apis bees). 4. Many crops and even weeds are highly attractive to bees during their blossom period. Compliance with label directions would logically indicate a necessity for applicators who use materials with bee protection directions to have a minimum knowledge of what blooms are attractive, and to have some system of monitoring to see if foraging bees are present. Failure to monitor, prior to application, when there is bloom attractive to bees, is negligent. The proper role of extension and other pesticide advisors would be to educate the applicator on situations where bees will be foraging, and help him monitor, so that he can avoid violations. 5. Communication with beekeepers, while certainly a good idea, does not release applicators from compliance with label directions, and demands that beekeepers take the responsibility for protection of the bees indicates intent to wilfully misuse a pesticide, which changes violations from civil to criminal status. 6. A public official, who encourages applicators to demand that beekeepers take the responsibility for protection of bees is: a. Recommending pesticide misuse - he is substituting an alternative in lieu of compliance with pesticide label directions. b. He is committing a malfeasance, in substituting a system that only protects the bees which have a human defender. c. He is seizing the property of the beekeepers involved, without compensation, in violation of Ammentment V of the Constitution of the United States of America. It is the proper and logical role of public pesticide advisors to teach applicators how to comply with label directions, ie. how to establish whether bees will be foraging in the application area. 7. On crops which are known to be attractive to bees, it is a negligent recommendation of pesticide misuse, to recommend use of an insecticide which has a direct contact type of label direction, without a warning that use, while bees are foraging, is in violation. It is even more a recommendation of misuse to recommend a pesticide with a residual type of label direction at any time during bloom, because bees will be foraging during the residual life of the pesticide. I have seen hundreds of bee kills from pesticides. Every single case has involved a violation of label directions. NO EXCEPTIONS. If bee directions on pesticide labels are scrupulously followed, the poisonings of our pollinators will drop to negligible levels. The law is a good one, but it is given only lip service. It has not been implemented into pesticide recommendations, which often give applicators an alternative to circumvent label directions - that of sloughing off responsibility to beekeepers. This is the pre-FIFRA system, which never did work, and has cost billions in lost pollination by killing off feral bees and making beekeeping unprofitable. FIFRA set aside the previous precedent. It made the applicators responsible by specific label directions, directions which they often find inconvenient, and have sought to evade ever since. They have been aided by authorities, who advise alternatives to compliance, and who refuse to enforce the clear meaning of the label directions. It is time for reform. Public officials who advise applicators how to circumvent compliance with label directions must be held responsible for this seizure of the property of the beekeepers without compensation, a violation of Ammendment 5 of the Constitution of the United States. David L. Green Internet: Pollinator@aol.com Dave's Pollination Service Eastern Pollinator Newsletter PO Box 1215, Hemingway, SC 29554 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Jun 1995 10:15:57 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Dave Green, Eastern Pollinator Newsletter" Subject: Wanna hear about it, or should I shut up? Dear Bee folks: We are now underway in our spray season, and I am going to be heavily involved with pesticide misuse that kills bees, for the rest of the season. I have already sustained a $600 loss from one hit, and another beekeeper $1500, by our own estimates. This, we know, is the first of many this season. Most commercial beekeepers have similar experiences, and are interested. Many hobbyists are not interested, unless or until they've had a hit. I don't want to harp, or waste bandwidth on something most of the list is not interested in. If you want me to shut up, let me know. If enough do, I will, with no hard feelings. The only way the pesticide people will get me to shut up is to implement and enforce the law. If the bee folks let me know you WANT reports, I'll continue. Please let me know of any bee label violations and bee kills, you, or neighboring beekeepers, experience this season. We'll try to pinpoint problem areas and sources, so we can give them more attention. If you want to conduct a Beekeepers' Neighborhood Watch, let me know. I'll help as much as I can. I have decided not to send out the paperwork on my civil rights claim and some of the mailings I am making to extension and other public officials. Some are long. If you want these, I will make up a private list, and send them to you by e-mail. I have a flow chart which I cannot send electronically, but will provide to anyone with SASE, that gives steps to protect bees while making applications. You can photocopy these and give them out to applicators. Pollinator@aol.com Dave Green, PO Box 1215, Hemingway, SC 29554 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Jun 1995 10:18:58 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Dave Green, Eastern Pollinator Newsletter" Subject: More Heat than Light? Mention pesticides at any bee meeting, and there will be an immediate flash of heat. Many beekeepers would like to ban pesticides - that is, until we need them ourselves for mite control. The heat certainly indicates that we have a problem, which many officials deny. I propose that we not let them deny it any more. But we cannot plunge in with the attitude that pesticides must be banned. Rather, we've got to see that pesticides are used properly. I have seen hundreds of bee kills. Every last one of them resulted from an insecticide applied in violation of label directions. I have never seen an exception. So we are not talking about pesticide use here, we are talking about pesticide MISuse. If you are going to get anywhere, you have to know what the law says, and what violations lead to damages. It is amazing how many beekeepers think the bees died because a plane went over and sprayed the hives. That is not going to do significant damage to the bees. Damage occurs when bees pick up the poison droplets on their bodies as they forage, or they get contaminated nectar and pollen from flowers that they forage. Please get copies of the commonly used insecticides in your area, and get up to date on what the labels say about bees. You will note that they do not all say the same thing. Each label is specifically designed for the specific pesticide. Note that application NOT in compliance with label directions is illegal. Each label is the statement of the pesticide law for that particular material. You can get these labels from extension, and from farm and garden stores. It is also a good idea to get cultural literature from extension on the common crops grown in your area, especially if they are attractive to bees. You will then know what pesticides are recommended, and you know what labels to get. You also may be surprised to see a lot of extension recommendations that ignore bee protection directions as if they didn't exist; in fact some advise use in situations where it would be a certainty of violation - recommendation of misuse. And some recommendations tell applicators how to circumvent compliance - by notifying beekeepers, another recommendation of misuse. I am sending along another note indicating some common misreadings of the labels, most of them pre-FIFRA. Why do so many of our officials think there is no problem? 1. Some beekeepers don't recognize damage. If a residual, long lasting pesticide piles up dead young bees in front of the hive, it is perfectly obvious, but many pesticides today act so quickly that bees drop in the field, and do not make it back to the hive. I have walked fields after an application, and seen a dead bee or two on every square yard. That amounts to heavy losses at the hive, possibly the entire field force, but it may not be obvious at all, back at the hive. You pretty much have to catch this damage as it happens. If you see an application being made, and there is bloom in the application area which bees are visiting, you may be witnessing a violation. You need to find out what material is being applied, to know if there are label directions to protect bees. There are some materials like fungicides, antibiotics, growth regulators, herbicides, defoliants, and biological insecticides that are NOT hazardous to bees and therefore do not have label directions to protect bees. 2. Some beekeepers don't see the damage until it is too old to report. That has often been the case with me, as my bees are spread over a very large area, and I might not see any one hive for six weeks or sometimes even more. I have got to get to the hives more often to monitor better. 3. Some beekeepers are scared of repercussions, so don't report damage. Yes it is very true. You can lose bee locations, have vandalism, including deliberate pesticide kills, suffer verbal abuse, etc. Sometimes it takes courage to stand up for what's right. I am very careful that I don't give out verbal abuse myself. I stick to the subject, which is that illegal pesticide use causes bee damage, and must be stopped. The law must be obeyed. If you can't hold your temper, you could do more damage than good. 4. Beekeepers have become cynical of non-responsive bureaucrats. It becomes a circle. The enforcement people refuse to enforce; beekeepers get discouraged and fail to report: PRESTO! We have no problem! Perfect bureaucratic *solution* Well we are working on the bureaucrats (the public servants who absolutely hate to serve the public). Some beekeepers (hereinafter known as whiners) will tell you what terrible losses they have had from pesticides, but will not do anything about it. I sometimes feel like a tiny tugboat trying to tow a great liner, to keep it from going on the rocks. Of course it would help, if some other tugs also hooked on. Pollinator@aol.com Dave Green, PO Box 1215, Hemingway, SC 29554 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Jun 1995 10:28:12 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "A woman is only a woman, but a good cigar is a smoke.--R. Kipling" Subject: Canadian Buckfasts? Comments: To: "bee-l@uacsc2.albany.edu%rapnet.dnet"@rapnet.sanders.lockheed.com Hi. In this months issue of "ABJ", the article on beekeeping in Ontario mentions two sources of Buckfasts available in Canada. There is only one source of Buckfasts in the U.S. (Weaver). Can Americans purchase Canadian Buckfasts legally? If so, can someone supply the address. Please e-mail directly to me. I will summarize responses and re-post to the list. Thanks, jps jschroeder@nhqvax.sanders.lockheed.com ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Jun 1995 15:47:33 +0000 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Rees, Simon" Subject: Bees in cavity wall Hello bee lovers, Suggestions are invited to solve problem of feral (?) bees living inside the 50mm wide space between external and internal brick walls of home in Sussex, England. Bees are accessing from exterior via air-brick (20mm space grille). I would like to transfer them out to a hive in which I can manage them. Getting the Queen out alive (if possible) is a priority! Please reply direct to me by e-mail and I will post a summary of suggestions to all. Thanks Simon Rees ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Jun 1995 11:15:00 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "MacFawn, Dave" Subject: Re: Wanna hear about it, or should I shut up? Comments: To: BEE-L I have a yard on US1 south out of Lexington near Gilbert and another yard in Winnsboro on Poplar Haven Organic Farm. I will be glad to let you know of any poisoning. Dave MacFawn. ---------- >From: BEE-L >To: Multiple recipients of list BEE-L >Subject: Wanna hear about it, or should I shut up? >Date: Monday, June 05, 1995 10:15AM > >Return-Path: > >Received: from ncrcae.ColumbiaSC.NCR.COM by msgate.ColumbiaSC.ATTGIS.COM id > <2FD2E17D@msgate.ColumbiaSC.ATTGIS.COM>; Mon, 05 Jun 95 10:50:37 edt >Received: by ncrcae.ColumbiaSC.NCR.COM; 5 Jun 95 10:42:18 EDT >Received: by ncrhub4.ATTGIS.COM; 5 Jun 95 10:42:59 EDT >Received: by ncrgw1.ATTGIS.COM; 5 Jun 95 10:36:10 EDT >Received: from CNSIBM.ALBANY.EDU by UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with > BSMTP id 2950; Mon, 05 Jun 95 10:21:31 EDT >Received: from UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU (NJE origin LISTSERV@ALBNYVM1) by > CNSIBM.ALBANY.EDU (LMail V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 2559; Mon, 5 Jun 1995 > 10:20:48 -0400 >Received: from UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU by UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU (LISTSERV release 1.8b) > with NJE id 7719 for BEE-L@UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU; Mon, 5 Jun 1995 10:19:48 > -0400 >Received: from ALBNYVM1 (NJE origin SMTP@ALBNYVM1) by CNSIBM.ALBANY.EDU (LMail > V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 2459; Mon, 5 Jun 1995 10:19:46 -0400 >Received: from emout04.mail.aol.com by UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) > with TCP; Mon, 05 Jun 95 10:17:23 EDT >Received: by emout04.mail.aol.com (1.37.109.11/16.2) id AA237831757; Mon, 5 > Jun 1995 10:15:57 -0400 >Message-ID: <950605101413_86694067@aol.com> >Date: Mon, 5 Jun 1995 10:15:57 -0400 >Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology >Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology >From: "Dave Green, Eastern Pollinator Newsletter" >Subject: Wanna hear about it, or should I shut up? >To: Multiple recipients of list BEE-L >--------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- >Dear Bee folks: > > We are now underway in our spray season, and I am going to be heavily >involved with pesticide misuse that kills bees, for the rest of the season. > I have already sustained a $600 loss from one hit, and another beekeeper >$1500, by our own estimates. This, we know, is the first of many this >season. > > Most commercial beekeepers have similar experiences, and are interested. > > Many hobbyists are not interested, unless or until they've had a hit. > > I don't want to harp, or waste bandwidth on something most of the list is >not interested in. If you want me to shut up, let me know. If enough do, I >will, with no hard feelings. > > The only way the pesticide people will get me to shut up is to implement >and enforce the law. If the bee folks let me know you WANT reports, I'll >continue. > > Please let me know of any bee label violations and bee kills, you, or >neighboring beekeepers, experience this season. We'll try to pinpoint >problem areas and sources, so we can give them more attention. If you want >to conduct a Beekeepers' Neighborhood Watch, let me know. I'll help as much >as I can. > > I have decided not to send out the paperwork on my civil rights claim and >some of the mailings I am making to extension and other public officials. > Some are long. If you want these, I will make up a private list, and send >them to you by e-mail. > > I have a flow chart which I cannot send electronically, but will provide >to anyone with SASE, that gives steps to protect bees while making >applications. You can photocopy these and give them out to applicators. > > >Pollinator@aol.com >Dave Green, PO Box 1215, Hemingway, SC 29554 > ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Jun 1995 12:30:44 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Kelley Rosenlund Subject: Re: Wanna hear about it, or should I shut up? I wanna hear about it!!! Educate us, that we may educate our farmer customers. God Bless, Kelley Rosenlund rosenlk@freenet.ufl.edu In the metropolis of Gainesville, Florida. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 5 Jun 1995 20:44:18 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Laura Downey Subject: Re: Queenlessness, emergency, swarm Eric, Thanks for you e-mail! I will be doing as you suggested, moving a frame of larva and eggs from the strong hive to the weak one. I am now learning first hand the importance of having no less than two hives. At least one can help the other. The past two years in which I kept bees, I only had one hive. Needless to say, I didn't do so well. The stronger hive is doing great. The bees have just about filled up a super. I'll be checking both hives in the next two days. I plan to put a frame of larva in the weak hive tomorrow. Once I get over this "battle", I'll probably start asking questions about mites. I lost my hive last year to mites. I don't want it to happen again this year. Thanks again! Laura Downey Maryland ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Jun 1995 10:59:21 +0200 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Beppe Merlo Subject: Info request. In roja Valley, south-east France, near Italy, there are old walls surrounding beehives built in past centuries, called "naijou" near Tende or "Ca' d'arbine'" near la Brigue. We suppose they were built to defend the beehives from animals. Who knows of archive papers explaining against what animals they were built? Thank you, for answering through e-mail : merlo@bib.unito.it ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Jun 1995 10:10:48 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "James E. Hoyt" Subject: Re: Wanna hear about it, or should I shut up? In-Reply-To: <950605101413_86694067@aol.com> It occurs to me that this list can be a significant clearinghouse for reports on pesticide misuse. I, as a hobby bee-keeper, would like to be informed and educated regarding this problem and strongly encourage anyone with similar info to post it. On Mon, 5 Jun 1995, Dave Green, Eastern Pollinator Newsletter wrote: > Dear Bee folks: > > We are now underway in our spray season, and I am going to be heavily > involved with pesticide misuse that kills bees, for the rest of the season. > Most commercial beekeepers have similar experiences, and are interested. > > Many hobbyists are not interested, unless or until they've had a hit. > > I don't want to harp, or waste bandwidth on something most of the list is > not interested in. If you want me to shut up, let me know. If enough do, I > will, with no hard feelings. > > The only way the pesticide people will get me to shut up is to implement > and enforce the law. If the bee folks let me know you WANT reports, I'll > continue. > > > Pollinator@aol.com > Dave Green, PO Box 1215, Hemingway, SC 29554 > ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Jun 1995 07:23:22 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Adrian Wenner Subject: Re: Info request. >In roja Valley, south-east France, near Italy, there are old walls >surrounding beehives built in past centuries, called "naijou" near >Tende or "Ca' d'arbine'" near la Brigue. >We suppose they were built to defend the beehives from animals. >Who knows of archive papers explaining against what animals they were >built? For this type of question, you can refer to Eva Crane's excellent 1983 book, T HE ARCHAEOLOGY OF BEEKEEPING (Cornell Univ. Press, Ithaca, NY). I don't know if the answer to your specific question is in there, but I would be surprised if it was not. 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: Tue, 6 Jun 1995 12:09:56 -500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Dan Buchsbaum Subject: Re: Wanna hear about it, or should I shut up? In-Reply-To: Have at it Dave!! Although I'm only a 3-hiver, I realize ignorance on this subject (for hobbyists) is not bliss, just laziness.. -Cynthia, Houston TX ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Jun 1995 05:00:00 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Keith Cutting Subject: Re: Wanna hear about it, or should I shut up? Comments: To: Dan Buchsbaum Have at it Dave!! Although I'm only a 3-hiver, I realize ignorance on this subject (for hobbyists) is not bliss, just laziness.. -Cynthia, Houston TX Ditto, I'm the ultimate hobbist. Spend more money on them (bee's) than they return. I only have 5 hives, so even losing 1 of them would be a 20% loss. Now if I can find a way to get the power company to let me tie my bear fence into their 13.2 kva lines. I have enough problems without someone dumping toxics into my hives. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<: Keith.Cutting@Dartmouth.edu The Cutting Farm Kearsage Beekeepers Association 103 North Road NH Beef Producers Association Sunapee, New Hampshire 03782 Warlock 92 FLSTC >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>: ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 7 Jun 1995 10:49:31 +1200 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Robert Rice Subject: Infective Dose of EFB Hi, Can anyone give me a journal(s) reference(s) for research into the minimum infective doses for European Foul Brood and American Foul Brood. Regards, Robert Rice Apicultural Service Manager (South Island) Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Lincoln, New Zealand. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Jun 1995 23:11:23 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Dave Green, Eastern Pollinator Newsletter" Subject: Re: Bees on Cukes Comments: To: roh033.mah48d@rohmhaas.com In a message dated 95-06-05 13:58:14 EDT, you write: > > In your Report from South Carolina around the first of June you >wrote: > >> One of the farm workers said to me, Cucumbers must make a lot >of honey, >> because you always seem to be putting bees out there. >> When I stopped laughing, I showed him the feed honey I was putting >on some of >> the hives, and explaining that they were there to make the >cucumbers, not to >> make honey, and that I was paid for it. > > That's something I'd been wondering about. Most of the bees on >the Delmarva >Peninsula are there for pollinating cucurbits of one kind or another. >I'm >planning to move my bees from their present home in suburban >Philadelphia to our >farm in Delaware, and I'm wondering what to expect. > > From your comments, I take it that cucumbers don't produce much >in the way >of honey. Is that right, or is it the quality of cucumber honey >that's the >problem? (John, I hope you don't mind my posting a copy to the bee list, as others may have an interest.) Cucumbers only make a small amount of honey. There aren't that many bossoms per acre, as say, clover, which has many blossoms in each head. Since bees are constantly consuming honey, it means that, if cukes are the only forage source for the bees, we are lucky if they hold their weight. If it is hot and dry, or there is a long rainy spell, I sometimes have to feed them. They are do best on irrigated cukes in sunny but not too hot weather Cucumber honey is not terrible tasting, but not the best either, just so-so. Of course there is always the possibility of them finding something else. I don't know about the Delaware, but I used to know a beekeeper in NY that claimed to make cucumber honey, while he was pollinating. He was actually getting quiter a bit of basswood, which has a rather sharp taste. I honestly don't know whether he really believed it, or was pulling everyone's leg. There are a lot of lima beans on the penninsula. If you are near them, you could make a real nice white honey -- if they aren't poisoned. You'll need to make sure the grower understands that label directions forbid application of insecticides while bees are foraging. Dave Green Pollinator@aol.com PO Box 1215, Hemingway, SC 29554 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Jun 1995 23:11:26 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Dave Green, Eastern Pollinator Newsletter" Subject: Re: Should I report here, or shut up? Dear Bee Folks: Wow! Thank you so very much. I have had a lot of response, and it is unanimously in favor of continuing to report on the bee/pesticide situation. So here goes some more....... The most dangerous time for bees near fruit orchards is now near in northern locations - if there is clover coming into bloom in the orchard floor. Take a good look at orchards near you. Are they clean and free of clover and other blooming weeds? By mid-month growers will be starting to apply powerful, broad-spectrum insecticides. You might want to give the grower or your extension agent, the following reminder, which I have been providing extension folks and others who are involved in fruit pesticides and pesticide recommendations. Prevention is far better than salvage. ORCHARD FLOOR MANAGEMENT Increase risks for misusers, reduce them for bees. Many orchardist forget their beekeeper after pollination is accomplished - until he is needed again the following spring. Meanwhile, he may be fighting for survival from one pesticide hit after another, often these are caused by his neighbors, the fruit growers, who most need him, although misuse on other crops, and mosquito and gypsy moth programs that ignore label directions can also cause hits. Good orchard floor management is crucial to maintenance of pollinator populations. In apple orchards the most hazardous time of the year for bees is now approaching, with clover beginning to bloom in southern locations, and not far off in northern ones. Broad spectrum insecticide applications on blooming clover and other weeds attractive to bees in orchard floors have been a major factor in bee losses, making beekeeping unprofitable, and driving some beekeepers out of business. It has also decimated some wild non-Apis pollinator populations. Poor honey markets of the past few years have temporarily helped orchardists, because many beekeepers have turned to pollination to supplement or even provide a majority of their income. But they cannot survive, if they cannot keep the bees alive. Each year there are fewer and fewer bees available. Mites and other factors have also reduced the supply. However, each problem that faces the beekeeper today can be met by becoming a better beekeeper or better businessman, EXCEPT the problem of pesticide MISuse, which is in the hands of the pesticide applicators, those who advise them, and those who enforce pesticide laws. A South Carolina peach orchard has already provided a $1500 hit on a local beekeeper. An official investigation is not yet done but the probable cause is Penncap M (trademark), applied in violation of label directions on a lush mustard bloom on the orchard floor. I also observed a suspected violation of this type. It is crucial that fruit growers take a hard look at the orchard floor prior to insecticide applications to see if there is any clover, mustard, wild mints, or other blooming weed that is attractive to bees. In some cases a temporary removal of bloom immediately prior to application by mowing is possible. It is however a long term problem, and herbicide control of these bee-attractive plants is the only long term solution. If the material is hazardous to bees, the label will so state under Environmental Hazards, and prohibit application while bees are foraging. Some non-residual materials (look at the label directions to see if the only reference is to toxicicty by direct contact) could be legally and safely used during the hours bees are not foraging. Some kind of monitoring would be necessary to identify a safe and legal time for the application. Other materials have residual effects (again look at the directions) and since bees will forage within the residual life of the pesticide, bloom removal is required for compliance. Beekeepers are becoming aware of the legal protection given to the foraging bee (yes, she has the legal right-of-way, if the label says so) and are becoming more active to seek enforcement. Some, like myself, who have been afraid of repercussions, in the past have seen that the business is now impossible anyway with the current level of losses, so have decided to report ALL violations and bee kills. Last year a New York beekeeper settled out of court for an undisclosed sum from an applicator who was under threat of a citation and possible certification loss for violations on blooming sweet corn, and other vegetables. Some volunteer beekeepers will be organizing beekeepers' neighborhood watches to monitor pesticide applications to see if they comply with label directions that protect bees. Dave Green Pollinator@aol.com Dave's Pollination Service & Eastern Pollinator Newsletter PO Box 1215, Hemingway, SC 29554 The optimist sees things as he wishes them to be. He lives in a rosy dream world. The pessimist sees things as he fears. He's as sour as a year-old pickle. The realist sees things as they are. He rejoices in the good, and combats the evil. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Jun 1995 23:11:37 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Dave Green, Eastern Pollinator Newsletter" Subject: OLD FASHIONED VALUES My Daddy told me, if I lived a clean life and worked hard, I would prosper. Daddy lied, because he assumed we live in a just society. An acquaintance suggested that, if the state won't let me make an honest living; I should try crime. I just can't accept that. In my heart I still want to believe my Daddy. But I have lost some of the drive to work hard. I am tired of having it stolen from me. If any other kind of farmer had a tenth of the poisoning of his livestock that I have had, he would have had all kinds of support, and the poisoners would be held accountable. Will you help? I am a pollination specialist - a beekeeper who provides bees to pollinate our crops. Rather than make honey, I am paid for the pollination service. It is a reliable business, in that the demand for bees continues to increase rapidly. Growers need bees more than ever. Poorly pollinated fruit and vegetables are often seen at the market, and account for the lousy taste in many cases. But, in order to maintain the business, I have to keep the bees alive and healthy. Mites and other factors have hurt, but the answers are in my hands, if I just become more skilled. Pesticide misuse is the only factor that is completely out of my hands. The bureaucrats have devised a perfect bureaucratic *solution* to THEIR problem. When a violation or bee kill is reported, they do a whole lot of paperwork, and absolutely nothing else. After a while, beekeepers get cynical and no longer report incidents. PRESTO! *The problem is solved! We do not have any bee kills or bee label violations in our jurisdiction.* As long as they get away with it, nothing improves. I am in process of filing a million dollar civil rights claim on certain officials (ex officio and personally) for refusing to implement and enforce pesticide label directions that protect bees (my livelihood), despite ten years of pleading for protection from illegal pesticide misuse. This is a seizure of my property without compensation and a denial of equal protection under the law. Every time my business begins to look good, with the hive count up, with healthy strong hives, I am struck down again. My hive count is down a lot from last years pesticide losses from multiple violations of label directions. I filmed one violation at our Clemson Extension Pee Dee research station on cotton. With the refusal to enforce the law, the frequency of violations, and the increase of cotton acreage, I can see the end of my pollination business in sight. So much of my hard work and productivity has gone down the drain. I have no health insurance, no nest egg, no real estate, & no retirement. It has been stolen from me, time and again, by pesticide misuse. I have fewer hives this year, but they are in excellent shape. Will they be at the end of the spray season? I am tired, and I do not have the energy anymore to build back up. I have therefore decided to focus on those who have taken all this away, those who have refused to implement and enforce pesticide law. Clemson Extension continues to provide pesticide recommendations: a) as if label directions for bees did not exist, thereby indicating to applicators that these are optional and not enforceable. Sometimes it is actually stated in such terms. b) for materials which are bound to be in violation of bee label directions if not qualified, ie. non residual materials for use on blooming crops without the warning that a prior determination must be made that bees are not foraging. c) which plainly recommended misuse, with residual materials which will have bees foraging within the residual life of the material. d) which recommend alternatives such as notification of beekeepers to circumvent applicator compliance with pesticide label directions. The labels protect all foraging bees, whether Apis or non-Apis, whether feral or domestic, and whether on the property of the application or off; this circumvention protects only those who have a human defender, and only if he is able to do so (apparently at his own expense!) For several years I have asked Clemson Extension leadership to provide help to applicators in complying with the label directions. I have seen no discernable effort to do so, and the Director of Clemson Extension has never bothered to answer my letters. The proper role of extension is to aid the applicators, by teaching them when bees will be foraging, so they can take steps to comply PRIOR to application, ie: what crops (& weeds) are attractive to bees, when they bloom, and how to monitor to determine when bees will not be foraging. I have a flow chart, which is part of an educational package for applicators, which I cannot send electronically, but which I will gladly provide anyone for SASE I would be glad to answer any other questions. Here is a paper on some common misinterpretations and circumventions of bee label directions: >>PESTICIDE LABELS AND BEES What the Labels Clearly Do and Do Not Say (- Often Misrepresented and Misunderstood) Along with Logical, Common Sense Implications There are two types of messages about bees on many insecticide labels, which are placed under environmental hazards. These give specific instructions which are statements of the pesticide law for that particular pesticide. One indicates hazard by direct contact only. Example: (Imidan -Trade Mark) *This product is highly toxic to bees exposed to direct treatment on blooming crops or weeds. Do not apply this product or allow it to drift to blooming crops while bees are actively visiting the treatment area.* Others also indicate a hazard by direct contact and by residues. Example: Penncap M -Trade Mark) *THIS PRODUCT IS HIGHLY TOXIC TO BEES, exposed to direct treatment or residues on crops or blooming weeds. Do not apply this product or allow it to drift to blooming crops or weeds if bees are visiting the areas to be treated.* Both types prohibit application while bees are foraging. obviously the ones with no residual effect are safe for use around bees, provided that they are not foraging at the time of application. Those that are clearly marked as residual would logically be prohibited if bees forage within the residual activity period of the pesticide, in other words on any plant that is attractive to bees, during the bloom period of that plant. 1. It is the applicator's responsibility to comply with the label directions. This responsibility cannot be transferred to beekkeepers or any other party. The applicator has chosen to use a material with environmental hazards, in this case hazards to pollinators, and it is his responsibility to use it safely by complying with label directions. 2. The directions refer to the foraging bees, not the bee hives. It is irrelevant therefore whether the hives are placed on the property to be sprayed, or whether they come from other properties within foraging range of the bees. Removing hives from the property where application will occur does not necessarily indicate compliance with label directions, bees may be coming from adjacent properties or unknown colonies on the property. 3. The label directions protect the foraging bees in the application area, whether the bees are kept or feral, and they protect all bees, whether honeybees, solitary bees, or bumblebees (non-Apis bees). 4. Many crops and even weeds are highly attractive to bees during their blossom period. Compliance with label directions would logically indicate a necessity for applicators, who use materials with bee protection directions, to have a minimum knowledge of what blooms are attractive, and to have some system of monitoring to see if foraging bees are present. Failure to monitor, prior to application, when there is bloom attractive to bees, is negligent. The proper role of extension and other pesticide advisors would be to educate applicators on situations where bees will be foraging, and help him monitor, so that he can avoid violations. 5. Communication with beekeepers, while certainly a good idea, does not release applicators from compliance with label directions, and demands that beekeepers take the responsibility for protection of the bees indicates intent to wilfully misuse a pesticide, which changes violations from civil to criminal status. 6. A public official, who encourages applicators to demand that beekeepers take the responsibility for protection of bees is: a. Recommending pesticide misuse - he is substituting an alternative in lieu of compliance with pesticide label directions. b. He is committing a malfeasance, in substituting a system that only protects the bees which have a human defender. c. He is seizing the property of the beekeepers involved, without compensation, in violation of Ammentment V of the Constitution of the United States of America. It is the proper and logical role of public pesticide advisors to teach applicators how to comply with label directions, ie. how to establish whether bees will be foraging in the application area. 7. On crops which are known to be attractive to bees, it is a negligent recommendation of pesticide misuse, to recommend use of an insecticide which has a direct contact type of label direction, without a warning that use, while bees are foraging, is in violation. It is even more a recommendation of misuse to recommend a pesticide with a residual type of label direction at any time during bloom, because bees will be foraging during the residual life of the pesticide. I have seen hundreds of bee kills from pesticides. Every single case has involved a violation of label directions. NO EXCEPTIONS. If bee directions on pesticide labels are scrupulously followed, the poisonings of our pollinators will drop to negligible levels. The law is a good one, but it is given only lip service. It has not been implemented into pesticide recommendations, which often give applicators an alternative to circumvent label directions - that of sloughing off responsibility to beekeepers. This is the pre-FIFRA system, which never did work, and has cost billions in lost pollination by killing off feral bees and making beekeeping unprofitable. FIFRA set aside the previous precedent. It made the applicators responsible by specific label directions, directions which they often find inconvenient, and have sought to evade ever since. They have been aided by authorities, who advise alternatives to compliance, and who refuse to enforce the clear meaning of the label directions. It is time for reform. Public officials who advise applicators how to circumvent compliance with label directions must be held responsible for this seizure of the property of the beekeepers without compensation, a violation of Ammendment 5 of the Constitution of the United States. David L. Green Internet: Pollinator@aol.com Dave's Pollination Service Eastern Pollinator Newsletter PO Box 1215, Hemingway, SC 29554 *All the world's people can be divided into three groups; those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who haven't the vaguest idea what's happening.* ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Jun 1995 22:18:46 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "La Reine de la Cite' des Phoques (Liz Day)" Subject: Re: OLD FASHIONED VALUES So, why are you suing the extension people instead of the applicators? Wouldn't the applicators be the ones to go after first? ??? (I'm not arguing with you, just puzzled). Liz Day LDAY@indy.net Indianapolis, Indiana, USA ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Jun 1995 23:48:26 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Dave Green, Eastern Pollinator Newsletter" Subject: Re: Report or shut up? >This corrupt message cannot be delivered. Contact administrator. Here's a second try ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Bee Folks: Wow! Thank you so very much. I have had a lot of response, and it is unanimously in favor of continuing to report on the bee/pesticide situation. So here goes some more....... The most dangerous time for bees near fruit orchards is now near in northern locations - if there is clover coming into bloom in the orchard floor. Take a good look at orchards near you. Are they clean and free of clover and other blooming weeds? By mid-month growers will be starting to apply powerful, broad-spectrum insecticides. You might want to give the grower or your extension agent, the following reminder, which I have been providing extension folks and others who are involved in fruit pesticides and pesticide recommendations. Prevention is far better than salvage. ORCHARD FLOOR MANAGEMENT Increase risks for misusers, reduce them for bees. Many orchardist forget their beekeeper after pollination is accomplished - until he is needed again the following spring. Meanwhile, he may be fighting for survival from one pesticide hit after another, often these are caused by his neighbors, the fruit growers, who most need him, although misuse on other crops, and mosquito and gypsy moth programs that ignore label directions can also cause hits. Good orchard floor management is crucial to maintenance of pollinator populations. In apple orchards the most hazardous time of the year for bees is now approaching, with clover beginning to bloom in southern locations, and not far off in northern ones. Broad spectrum insecticide applications on blooming clover and other weeds attractive to bees in orchard floors have been a major factor in bee losses, making beekeeping unprofitable, and driving some beekeepers out of business. It has also decimated some wild non-Apis pollinator populations. Poor honey markets of the past few years have temporarily helped orchardists, because many beekeepers have turned to pollination to supplement or even provide a majority of their income. But they cannot survive, if they cannot keep the bees alive. Each year there are fewer and fewer bees available. Mites and other factors have also reduced the supply. However, each problem that faces the beekeeper today can be met by becoming a better beekeeper or better businessman, EXCEPT the problem of pesticide MISuse, which is in the hands of the pesticide applicators, those who advise them, and those who enforce pesticide laws. A South Carolina peach orchard has already provided a $1500 hit on a local beekeeper. An official investigation is not yet done but the probable cause is Penncap M (trademark), applied in violation of label directions on a lush mustard bloom on the orchard floor. I also observed a suspected violation of this type. It is crucial that fruit growers take a hard look at the orchard floor prior to insecticide applications to see if there is any clover, mustard, wild mints, or other blooming weed that is attractive to bees. In some cases a temporary removal of bloom immediately prior to application by mowing is possible. It is however a long term problem, and herbicide control of these bee-attractive plants is the only long term solution. If the material is hazardous to bees, the label will so state under Environmental Hazards, and prohibit application while bees are foraging. Some non-residual materials (look at the label directions to see if the only reference is to toxicicty by direct contact) could be legally and safely used during the hours bees are not foraging. Some kind of monitoring would be necessary to identify a safe and legal time for the application. Other materials have residual effects (again look at the directions) and since bees will forage within the residual life of the pesticide, bloom removal is required for compliance. Beekeepers are becoming aware of the legal protection given to the foraging bee (yes, she has the legal right-of-way, if the label says so) and are becoming more active to seek enforcement. Some, like myself, who have been afraid of repercussions, in the past have seen that the business is now impossible anyway with the current level of losses, so have decided to report ALL violations and bee kills. Last year a New York beekeeper settled out of court for an undisclosed sum from an applicator who was under threat of a citation and possible certification loss for violations on blooming sweet corn, and other vegetables. Some volunteer beekeepers will be organizing beekeepers' neighborhood watches to monitor pesticide applications to see if they comply with label directions that protect bees. Dave Green Pollinator@aol.com Dave's Pollination Service & Eastern Pollinator Newsletter PO Box 1215, Hemingway, SC 29554 The optimist sees things as he wishes them to be. He lives in a rosy dream world. The pessimist sees things as he fears. He's as sour as a year-old pickle. The realist sees things as they are. He rejoices in the good, and combats the evil. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Jun 1995 23:55:12 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Dave Green, Eastern Pollinator Newsletter" Subject: Re: OLD FASHIONED VALUES In a message dated 95-06-06 23:23:48 EDT, Liz Day wrote: >So, why are you suing the extension people instead of the >applicators? >Wouldn't the applicators be the ones to go after first? >??? (I'm not arguing with you, just puzzled). How much chance do you think there would be, if the enforcement people won't cite them, and they are following extension recommendations (even if they are pre-FIFRA) The primary defendent here is in enforcement, extension is secondary. Dave Green Pollinator@aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 7 Jun 1995 08:36:04 +0300 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: nokrian rivka Subject: Re: A Case of Pollination Failure In-Reply-To: <950601195803_83829845@aol.com> Hello Dave and other Bee-Liners: I've been working on melon pollination in the past few years and one summer I even looked into squash pollination in Ontario, Canada. The fields where I do my research is in the desert area of Israel and the work has been taking place both in summer and in winter, in enclosures. > I often check fields for pollinator activity. Last week I looked at a > watermelon field, with no beehives in sight, and on several counts, averaged > 35 - 40 bees (all honeybees) sighted in one minute. I do not know if there This is a very good figure of bees per one minute, although 25 are OK as well, since the workers tend to visit a lot of flowers on each "round". I sometimes counted more than 60 and at other times only 15, with a fairly good crop too. > The vines had been planted early, and looked > healthy and vigorous. There was a lot of bloom. Sometime this could be a problem: a very strong and large vine means that the plant has put all it's forces together to produce foliage instead of flowers and fruit. And the flowers are at times covered with leaves and can't be seen by bees. > At mid-morning (maximum pollinator activity) on a partly cloudy, 80 degree > day (ideal pollinating weather) with plenty of soil moisture, I watched for > five minutes and saw only 2 honeybees and 2 tiny solitary bees. The best time to check the field for bee activity is early morning, when temp. are just going higher than 65F (18C). At that time pollen is available and nectar production is just beginning. If there are solitary bees they too will be there early and finish collecting the morning crops by mid-morning. I sometimes visited my fields at 6am and found plenty of bees there. > from pesticide misuse, and I assume the bumble bees and solitary bees were > affected similarly to honeybees. One major problem with cucurbits pesticides: as bees will visit the flowers mainly for nectar it is *forbidden* to use any systemic pesticides that would enter the nectar! There are others, which are less dramatic, but do what is expected of them. One more thing to think of is the time of day the pesticides are sprayed: the best time would be night, when bees are back into the hives. Otherwise, it is advisable to shut the entrance of the hive (and add some sugar-water). One more thing: I sometime see that a beautifully flowering field gets no bees and I find no logical reason. But here's one to think of: are the cucurbits grown producing any nectar at all? There are some varieties that don't and bees do tend to ignore them... Hope this answers some questions. Be happy to share more - please contact me directly on: rebeca@ccsg.tau.ac.il Good luck with your crops and hives, Rivka Nokrian, Tel Aviv, Israel ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 7 Jun 1995 06:49:35 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Ken Adams Subject: Indiana SBA Summer Meeting Indiana State Beekeepers Association Summer Meeting Saturday, June 17, 1995 110 Webster Avenue, Plymouth, Indiana Agenda 08:30 Registration 09:00 Welcome to Plymouth Honorable Jack Greenlee, Mayor 09:10 Announcements Jerry Shaw, President, ISBA 09:30 Optimizing Honey Bee Colony Populations for Pollination and Honey Production - Dr. Rodger Hoopingarner, MSU 10:30 Break 10:45 The Honey Acre's Story Walter Diehnelt, 5th Generation Beekeeper and owner Honey Acres, Ashippun, Wisconsin 11:45 Pitch-in Lunch; Bring a side dish and table setting Porta-pit Chicken and beverages provided 01:15 Demonstration Apiary Gene Rowe, ISBA member Argos, IN OR PBS Video Series by Dr. Keith Delaplane Mid-Season Management 30 minutes Diseases of Honey Bees 30 minutes 02:45 Wrap-up Discussion 03:00 Meeting Ends Registration: $5 per person. For further information contact: Dave Laney (219) 656-8701 Steve Welch (219) 639-3288 Jerry Shaw (219) 674-9327 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 7 Jun 1995 16:21:12 +0100 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jean-Marie Van Dyck Subject: "Bee's houses in Europe" Hi bee-lovers ! > In Roya Valley, south-east France, near Italy, there are old walls > surrounding beehives built in past centuries, called "naijou" pronounced "ni-e-joo" > near Tende or "Ca` d'arbine'" (= bee's house) near la Brigue. > We suppose they were built to defend the beehives from animals. << > Who knows of archive papers explaining against what animals they were > built? Definitely, it was against (1) brown bears and (2) human! Bears and Beekeepers : the more than thousand years fight ! > For this type of question, you can refer to Eva Crane's excellent > 1983 book, THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF BEEKEEPING (Cornell Univ. Press, > Ithaca, NY). Adrian is right ! There is a lot of informations in this book of Eva Crane. BTW: last Aug. 27th and 28th, she just participated in a workshop about this subject : "the bees dwelling" at "Tende". Robert Chevet reported this in some articles (in french of course) in the beekeeping journal "Revue Francaise d'Apiculture" issue 545 (Nov.1994) pp475-477, L'habitat des abeilles : about the workshop issue 546 (Dec.1994) pp541-545, Batir pour les abeilles : enclosures in Morocco and Estramadure (Spain) with some color pictures issues 547-551 (Jan-May 1995) more on the subject ... (addr of the Revue Francaise d'Apiculture : UNAF rue des Tournelles 26 ph: +33.1.48.87.47.15 F-75004-PARIS (France) fx: +33.1.48.87.76.44) Hope this helps ! Cheers Jean-Marie Van Dyck ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 7 Jun 1995 16:19:59 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: JPSCHROE@MAILGW.SANDERS.LOCKHEED.COM Subject: Canadian Buckfast Breeders in Canada To Whom It May Concern: The information in this posting should be considered for the BEE-L FAQ. I previously posted a request for the name and addresses of the Canadian Buckfast breeders mentioned incidentally in this months issue of ABJ. These breeders offer an alternate source of Buckfast stock in North America to Weaver's (Navasota, TX). The following are the names and addresses of the breeders: Rick Neilson R.R. #1 Stratton, Ontario P0W 1N0 CANADA (807) 487-2387 Paul Montoux R.R. 1 Hagersville, Ontario N0A 1H0 Phone: (905) 768-5530 Barry Davies R.R. #1 Seeley's Bay, Ontario K0H 2N0 The queens offered by these gentleman can be imported into the US. Please note they are offering breeder queens. Beekeepers interested in large numbers of Buckfast queens should consider breeding their own from these breeders. The Canadian Buckfast queens cost approximately $35 (Canadian) or $25 US. Thanks to Dr. Gard Otis (gotis@evbhort.uoguelph.ca) and Ken Coyle (kcoyle@hookup.net) for their information and prompt response. Yours in enlarged gene pools, jps jschroeder@nhqvax.lockheed.sanders.com ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Jun 1995 01:30:25 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Phil Veldhuis Subject: Obs Hive success (follow-up) In-Reply-To: <199504270315.WAA22409@electra.cc.umanitoba.ca> from "Keith Murray" at Apr 26, 95 10:13:19 pm Dear Bee-l'ers I thought I would let you know how things went with the observation hive I was planning to install in the art Gallery, here in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The bees are now installed, and 4 weeks into the display things are going well. If you recall, the gallery space where the bees were required was in a stone building, with the only opening being a skylight 20 feet from the floor. We decided to install a 3 inch tube in the skylight by removing one of the panes of glass in the skylight and plumbing this to the hive. The artist also insisted on centering the display in the room, so the entrance tube is about 30 feet long. The hive is a full size, single brood chamber with 5 frames of brood upon instalation on May 4th. The hive has a queen excluder between it and the rest of the unit, which consists of a 3 foot cube plexi case which contains the artifact, which the bees are drawing comb in. The initial installation used black abs pipe for the entrance tube, and this did not work well. We substituted clear plexi pipe (3 inch diameter), and the bees trained to this within a few minutes (the skylight probably helps). Without the clear tubing, the bees all tried to fly around in the display case; once the tubing was changed, there was little flight in the case, and little defecation on the art. We also had to provide a downspout on the pipe at the lowest point (at the joint to the hive) where water blown in during rainstorms collects, and where the dead bees are deposited by the house bees (they could not carry their departed collegues all the way up the tube). The dead bees are removed daily during the night when the bees are inactive. On June 6, we disconected the pipe, and sealed the tube, and hauled the whole thing up on the roof to clean the case, and inspect the colony. We found the colony to be thriving. It had ample supplies of fresh feed, new pollen stores, and 8 frames of brood. Most surprisingly, the bees have developed a one-way system for the tube. Since the tube is angled at about 50 degrees to the floor, there is a definate top and bottom to the tube. Bees walking up the tube walk upside down on the upper side of the tube, while returning bees walk rightside up on the lower side of the tube. Few bees walk on the side. I assume there is some explanation for this arrangement (bees leaving go towards the light??) but I haven't figured it out yet. I also haven't made any firm conclusions about the role of the bees in the tube. The end of the tube is defended by guard bees, but I don't know if the foraging bees walk all the way down the tube to turn over their nectar, or if they do this at the tube entrance. If the house bees have to walk all the way up the tube to get the nectar from the foragers, they must be significantly reinforced. It takes 2-5 minutes for a bee to walk from bottom to top, and 1-3 minutes from top to bottom. Occasionally, one trips and falls down the tube, carrying many others with it, hence the wide varriation in travel time. I will try and get some photos published somewhere in the near future. Anyone interested is welcome to email me. BTW, this exhibit is availible for tour to any major art galleries in North america where local bees can be used. You'd have to contact the Winnipeg Art Gallery for more info, after all, I'm just a beekeeper. Phil -- ------------oooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooo------------- Phil Veldhuis | If I must be a fool, as all those who reason Winnipeg. MB, Canada | or believe any thing certainly are, my follies veldhui@cc.umanitoba.ca | shall at least be natural and agreeable. David Hume (1739) ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Jun 1995 11:46:00 GMT+0100 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Hugo Thone Subject: is BEE_L alive Hello Is there anybody out there ? I haven't received any mails from "BEE-L@UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU" since the 2nd of june. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hugo Thone (SE121) email : htho@se.bel.alcatel.be ALCATEL BELL TELEPHONE phone : (32) 3 240 94 52 F.Wellesplein 1 fax : (32) 3 240 99 50 B-2018 Antwerp do bee do bee do .... ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Jun 1995 09:30:47 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Dave Green, Eastern Pollinator Newsletter" Subject: Re: A Case of Pollination Failure Perhaps this reader question from a message board posting, and the response, would be of interest to all: >I have 55 acres of watermelons. How many hives should I have? Where should they be placed? Last year my dad and I had a late crop with poor pollination. I would like to do things right this year. The standard recommendation for vine crops is one hive per acre for standard varieties, and three for seedless watermelon hybrids, though many local extension folks still quote old recommendations of lesser rates. The average actual stocking rate in SC is about one hive on three acres. That depends on the presence of some wild pollinators, which may or may not be present. I just placed bees yesterday on a late melon and cantaoupe field at a rate of 2 hives per acre, which I think is a very good idea, since hot weather limits the hours bees can work. I've seen a definite relationship between placement of bees and long range survival of growers. Cucumbers growers who don't place bees, or skimp on placement, are no longer cucumber growers; some are no longer farmers. I've got one older farmer who has always skimped and complained a lot that cukes don't make money. This year he balked at a price increase, and did not place any bees. I doubt he will grow cukes next season. If he doesn't quit, the buyer is apt to cut him off. It costs them too much in culling. The ones who are consciencious about bees, are usually doing everything else better too. They tend to increase acreage each year, with harvest labor being the primary limitation. Well pollinated melons will ripen faster than poorly pollinated ones, and very poorly pollinated melons will never fully ripen. The shape of the melon is a clue, since areas of poor pollination within the fruit do not grow well, so this can lead to flat spots and gourd shapes. White seeds are diagnostic on standard varieties. 50% white seeds guarantees a poor quality melon. Place bees in groups of 12-24 near the fields. There is no need to scatter them further; it will be difficult for the beekeeper to provide proper care if they are scattered too much. I have done a lot of checking and found that adequate numbers of bees forage cucurbits up to about .6 mile. The first foraging is close to the hive each day, but within an hour after commencement, there are more bees at .3 mile than there are within a couple hundred yards of the hives. (The pollen becomes used up, and the bees rapidly scatter further, seeking fresh sources of pollen.) If you anticipate hot weather, make sure the bees have shade at least part of the day (I prefer afternoon shade where possible). Also be sure they have a source of clean water, and make sure there is no pesticide contaminated water available to them. Think about the site(s) with a little common sense. Is it accessible to the beekeeper, or does he have to pass through a mudhole after rain? Is it too close to homes, without intervening vegetation barriers? (I've placed bees 100 yards from a house with a barrier hedgerow, with no problems; that is too close if it is an open area.) Is the spot safe from wildfire? Make sure hives are on pallets or stands of some sort. If not they will absorb moisture during rainy spells and funguses run rampant. In the south, termites and fire ants will also be serious problems for beehives on the ground. An oak pallet will not stop termites or fire ants, but it delays them quite a while, long enough for your needs. Kids are sometimes a problem. If I have opportunity, I explain to the kids why the bees are there (to make watermelons, not honey). I encourage them to learn about the bees, and discourage them from molesting them. I like to get them to watch from a moderate distance, explaining that quick motions will attact stings, where they can see the bees returning with their little pollen baskets full. I get high on watching the bees do their job, and this usually transfers to kids, when they understand. Usually it works. Good luck. Pollinator@aol.com Dave Green PO Box 1215, Hemingway, SC 29554 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Jun 1995 12:22:35 CDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Marion D. Ellis" Subject: Re: Infective Dose of EFB >Hi, > >Can anyone give me a journal(s) reference(s) for research into the minimum >infective doses for European Foul Brood and American Foul Brood. > Refer to Bee World: Vol. 74, No. 4, page 177, review article by Ratnieks "20 spores constitute an LD50 for one-day old larva, whereas millions of=20 spores are necessary to infect a 4-5 day old larva". Marion Ellis, mellis@unlinfo.unl.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Jun 1995 19:22:57 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Blair J. Sampson" Subject: Bee-Movies !!! In-Reply-To: <950608093045_89730701@aol.com> Howdy fellow Bee-liners, I am hunting for information about buying visual equipment appropriate for recording bee foraging behaviour. I am very interested in purchasing a VHS camcorder that has a good quality macro lens, excellent for getting those close-ups of bees that visit flowers or when they return to the hive. I would very much be interested in hearing any success stories about the purchasing and operation of camcorders (and, of course, pivotal paraphenalia) used for filming our small anthophilous friends. Your Faithful Drone, Blair bsampson@ag.auburn.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 6 Jun 1995 17:19:17 GMT Reply-To: Gordon@apis.demon.co.uk Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Gordon Scott Subject: Re: Late night pollen In message BEE-L@uacsc2.albany.edu writes: > I was out with the bees tonight and there was pollen coming in at 9:30 > pm. How's that for the bees working long hours? The bee keeper had it > pretty good today - just lazed around the lake and went to work at 8 pm. I had a colony a couple of years back that literaly worked dawn 'til dusk (4:30am to 11pm here in mid-summer). Only trouble was many of the bees failed to make it back and those that did seemed to be eating more than they brought in. Never got a crop off them! Regards, -- Gordon Scott Gordon@apis.demon.co.uk 100332,3310 on CompuServe Newsletter Beekeeper@apis.demon.co.uk ditto Beekeeper, Kendo Sandan, sometime sailor. Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG22 5HP, UK ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 7 Jun 1995 20:57:33 GMT Reply-To: Gordon@apis.demon.co.uk Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Gordon Scott Subject: Re: Wanna hear about it, or should I shut up? James Hoyt writes: > It occurs to me that this list can be a significant clearinghouse for > reports on pesticide misuse. I, as a hobby bee-keeper, would like to be > informed and educated regarding this problem and strongly encourage > anyone with similar info to post it. In principle this is a great idea which I support __but__, bee-l is very multinational and could become swamped with such reports, many of which will be irrelevant to many subscribers. I agree wholeheartedly with the clearing house idea, but I think it would be a mistake on either bee-l or sci.agriculture.beekeeping. Thoughts: Is there here perhaps a use for a newsgroup (maybe just an alt.)? My nntp machine will filter on keywords and I think most will, so one could select only local reports where relevant. You know the sort of thing, a subject line with "LOCAL: Kansas" in it. Or maybe a dedicated poisoning mailing list? Personally I'm less enthusiastic about the latter because I can only filter mail once I've received it (and I have to pay the telephone bill whilst I download). Pressure & education, with punitive action when appropriate, *works*. It's working for us in the UK -- pesticide hits are getting *rare*. Regards, -- Gordon Scott Gordon@apis.demon.co.uk 100332,3310 on CompuServe Newsletter Beekeeper@apis.demon.co.uk ditto Beekeeper, Kendo Sandan, sometime sailor. Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG22 5HP, UK ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Jun 1995 20:41:03 -0600 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: tom Taylor Subject: Re: Genter thingies >--- (Allen Dick ) -----< >I have a nibble on the Genter thing and can't find any of my supply catalogs >right now. We list the Jenter Queen Rearing Kit for $60.90 CD >If it's not too much trouble, what is the value of a new Genter kit, and what >are the little bags of consumables worth? How many to a bag? Looks like 100 or >so. The replacement cell plugs go for $22.00 per 100 >We tried it a time or two and gave up. Grafting gets to be like falling off a >log compared to trying to make the queens lay in that thing. > >Probably good for hobbyists with big fingers and bad eyesight though :) You are right Allen, this kit is excellent for hobbyists and those with big fingers and bad eyes. Many of us are in this catagory. They are not intended for large quantity production of queens. However, the queens that are produce from them are of extremely good quality as they are fed as a queen from a very early age. >Allen > >W. Allen Dick, Beekeeper VE6CFK Rural Route One >Swalwell Alberta Canada T0M 1Y0 Email: dicka@cuug.ab.ca or >allend@internode.net >Futures, Art & Honey:http://www.cuug.ab.ca:8001/~dicka Tom Taylor Honeywood Bee Supplies NIPAWIN, SK. honeywood@sasknet.sk.ca ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Jun 1995 10:49:55 AST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: DRogers@PAM.NSAC.NS.CA Subject: Buckfast Breeders in Canada To Whom It May Concern: I noticed that Gard Otis replied to the request for a list of Canadian Buckfast breeders. Unfortunately Gard did not provide a complete list so I will add another source. Besides several sources in Ontario, there is a licensed Buckfast breeder in Nova Scotia. Don Amirault Hall Road, RR6 Kingston Nova Scotia B0P 1R0 Phone/fax: 902-765-8644 ******************************************************************************* Dick Rogers Internet: DROGERS@pam.nsac.ns.ca Apiculturist/Entomologist Voice: (902) 679-6029 Plant Industry Branch, NSDA&M Fax: (902) 679-6062 Agricultural Centre, Kentville Nova Scotia, Canada B4N1J5 ******************************************************************************* ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Jun 1995 13:15:08 -0400 Reply-To: "Eugene N. Dixon" Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Eugene N. Dixon" Subject: Need some Bees and Net help I'm the newbie trying to start two new hives and complete an MBA - simultaneously (and holding down a job). My INTERNET skills are less than novice apparently. I'm trying to reach archive issues of APIS files and can't seem to get the http command sequence to work in any fashion. Two questions: 1) can some one give me the exact command sequence from a UNIX system like the NOVA University system to access, download and print (vis a vis the FAQs for BEE-L) for the APIS back issues. 2) any information relative to the marketing of bee products, pricing, promotion, business strengths, weaknesses, threats or opportunities associated with bee product marketing is requested ASAP. I turn the plan in, or what I have of it, next Friday. The information on this BEE-L is great. Thanks for letting me join in. Please be patient as I learn protocol. Now if I can just E-Mail the Pollinator...... Eugene N. Dixon dixone@alpha.acast.nova.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Jun 1995 07:25:38 -1000 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Thomas W. Culliney" Subject: Re: Infective Dose of EFB In-Reply-To: <9506081722.AA15021@unlinfo2.unl.edu> On Thu, 8 Jun 1995, Marion D. Ellis wrote: > >Hi, > > > >Can anyone give me a journal(s) reference(s) for research into the minimum > >infective doses for European Foul Brood and American Foul Brood. > > > > Refer to Bee World: Vol. 74, No. 4, page 177, review article by Ratnieks > > "20 spores constitute an LD50 for one-day old larva, whereas millions of > spores are necessary to infect a 4-5 day old larva". > > > Marion Ellis, mellis@unlinfo.unl.edu > Maybe I'm not up on the latest, up-to-the-minute information, but it was my understanding that the causative organism of EFB (Melissococcus pluton) is a non-spore-forming bacterium. If so, how could the above LD50 (or should that be LC50) have been arrived at? Please clue me in. Tom =============================================================================== Thomas W. Culliney * Phone: (808) 973-9529 Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture * Facsimile: (808) 973-9533 Division of Plant Industry * E-mail: tcullin@hinc.hawaii.gov 1428 South King Street * Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 * U.S.A. * =============================================================================== "...but in the minds of most men, the learned as well as the vulgar, the idea of the trifling nature of his pursuit is so strongly associated with that of the diminutive size of its objects, that an _Entomologist_ is synonymous with every thing futile and childish."--Kirby & Spence (1816) =============================================================================== ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Jun 1995 15:07:32 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "James D. Satterfield" Subject: A couple of questions I've just gotten some queen cells from the first grafting I've tried. Made up 7 mating nucs with the queen cells. I suppose I'll know in a couple of weeks if things went well. The question: What is a "ripe" queen cell?? In "Contemporary Queen Rearing", Laidlaw refers to "ripe" cells several times, but I can't seem to find *"ripe"* defined. If the cells have been sealed, can they be put into nucs at any time if they are handled carefully?? I swept about 150 ml of bees from the front of one of my Langstroth-type hives into a jar, etherized the bees, and had about 6 Varroa mites drop off. The colony is very strong at the moment; sourwood honey flow should start next week. The question: Should I put Apistan strips in the hive now? Wait until later in the summer?? I searched the BEE-L archives and found one reference to "peppermint in water" for mite control. The question: Are any of you using oil of peppermint, oil of eucalyptus, or camphor spirits either singly or in any combination in a sugar water spray to aid in treating mites--tracheal or external??? If so, what combinations/concentrations??? Thanks to Paul Magnuson, I'm enjoying working some modified Tanzanian TBH's. I'm delighted with the ease and "low tech" aspects of this type of management. I like the spaciousness of the inside with all surface areas accessible to the bees. The question: Are colonies in TBH's any less susceptible to mite infections?? Wax moth problems?? More susceptible?? I will appreciate any information or suggestions you may have. Cordially yours, Jim ----------------------------------------------------- | James D.Satterfield | jsatt@gsu.edu | | P.O. Box 2243 | | | Decatur, GA 30031 USA | Telephone 404 378-8917 | ----------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Jun 1995 15:11:14 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Marion D. Ellis" Subject: Re: Infective Dose of EFB Thomas W. Cilliney wrote: > >Maybe I'm not up on the latest, up-to-the-minute information, but it was my >understanding that the causative organism of EFB (Melissococcus pluton) >is a non-spore-forming bacterium. If so, how could the above LD50 (or >should that be LC50) have been arrived at? Please clue me in. > >Thomas W. Culliney Marion Ellis responds: The original question regarded AFB and EFB. My response to the request for information on lethal doses only addressed AFB. The review article by F. Raetnicks which I cited makes that clear. I think LD50 is the appropriate term as we are talking about how many spores per organism are necessary to cause an infection. LC or lethal concentration is generally used when discussing materials suspended in a liquid or gas (units per unit volume of the carrier) when test organisms are exposed to a known volume of the carrier. Depending on how you define your assay, either term could be used. As you state, Melissococcus pluton is not a spore forming organism. I have never clued anyone in before, I hope this response gives you peace. Marion Ellis, mellis@unlinfo.unl.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Jun 1995 16:47:29 +22300129 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Adam Finkelstein Subject: Canadian Buckfast Queen breeders Hello, The latest Buckfast breeders from Canada are interesting to an American like me. I would like to know more about the breeding programs and selection strategies before I "buy a breeder". Can anyone embellish on the breeding information? For adding stuff to the faq, writing me with an email address that works, is the first necessary step. :) Adam -- ______________________________________ Adam Finkelstein adamf@vtaix.cc.vt.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Jun 1995 16:25:11 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Larry Farris Subject: Buckfast Queen Breeders Subject: Time:4:21 PM OFFICE MEMO Buckfast Queen Breeders Date:6/9/95 I have a question for the Bee-Listers: How is it that there are SO MANY Canadian Buckfast Queen breeders and only ONE source for the Buckfast in the US? ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Jun 1995 22:26:58 -0500 Reply-To: godave@infi.net Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Dave Johnson Organization: mailhost.nr.infi.net Subject: Re: A couple of questions James D. Satterfield writes: > Thanks to Paul Magnuson, I'm enjoying working some modified Tanzanian > TBH's. I'm delighted with the ease and "low tech" aspects of this type > of management. I like the spaciousness of the inside with all surface > areas accessible to the bees. The question: Are colonies in TBH's any > less susceptible to mite infections?? Wax moth problems?? More susceptible?? Please advise the list what a TBH is. Then please address a modified Tanzanian TBH. Thanks a lot. Maybe there are others wondering the same things........ Dave Johnson ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 10 Jun 1995 05:37:51 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "James D. Satterfield" Subject: Re: A couple of questions Comments: To: Dave Johnson In-Reply-To: <199506100324.XAA14594@larry.infi.net> Dave, I didn't mean to be cryptic. TBH is Top Bar Hive. The TBH is nothing more than a long box with bars along the top from which the bees build comb. Mine are long enough for 20 bars and wide/deep enough to accommodate standard Dadant brood frames if I have need to put them in. I'm using 1cm strips of kraft paper (cut from grocery bags) dipped in beeswax as starter foundation strips. There have been many designs of TBH's over the years apparently. Eva Crane's wonderful book on beekeeping describes several different types. I'm using Paul Magnuson's modification of a Tanzanian TBH design. Thank you for your response. Cordially yours, Jim ----------------------------------------------------- | James D.Satterfield | jsatt@gsu.edu | | P.O. Box 2243 | | | Decatur, GA 30031 USA | Telephone 404 378-8917 | ----------------------------------------------------- On Fri, 9 Jun 1995, Dave Johnson wrote: > James D. Satterfield writes: > > > Thanks to Paul Magnuson, I'm enjoying working some modified Tanzanian > > TBH's. I'm delighted with the ease and "low tech" aspects of this type > > of management. I like the spaciousness of the inside with all surface > > areas accessible to the bees. The question: Are colonies in TBH's any > > less susceptible to mite infections?? Wax moth problems?? More susceptible?? > > Please advise the list what a TBH is. Then please address a modified > Tanzanian TBH. Thanks a lot. Maybe there are others wondering the > same things........ > > Dave Johnson > > ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 10 Jun 1995 21:47:43 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Blair Reischer Subject: A Beginner's Question I am a new hobbyist, a rare breed, I am told. In April/May 94 I established my first hive from a 3 pound package. It was weak because the first Queen wasn't accepted, and the first replacement queen never arrived. The second replacement queen was accepted, and by feeding the hive continuously through last fall and winter, the population expanded in March and April of this year, finally almost completely building out the comb in the two deep brood boxes. In early May, expecting a bumper crop of honey, I added a queen excluder and a super. Today, I checked the hive and found: No brood. There was lots all spring until mid May. No bees in the super. Two brood boxes heavy with honey More drones than I had seen previously A still strong population No queen cells My conclusion is that I have lost my queen. This is a weak hive. If I had several other hives, I would combine this one with another. I had been planning on starting one or two more hives this year, but didn't get around to it. Is it too late to requeen? Where can I get a new queen on short notice? ************************************** Blair Reischer reischer@cpcug.org voice: 703/241-7857 4841 N. 30th St., Arlington, VA 22207 *************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 10 Jun 1995 11:19:33 +0000 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Keith Hooker Organization: Technology Management Ltd Subject: Re: Canadian Buckfast Queen breeders Having spent two long weekends with Brother Adam discussing and seeing what and how he has built up his master stock over a lifetime I am somewhat skeptical that a commercial breeder in a large land mas like Canada can produce a constant product the same as his in Devon UK. The general experience in the UK is that second crosses are somewhat different in temprement from the original hybrids and knowing the selection processes this is understandable. Are these Canadian Buckfast Queens really first crosses or second crosses? If they are first crosses, is the rigid culling and testing that Bro Adam applies here being carried out? I fear that few commercial breeders would cull as severely as Bro Adam because they would end up with too few Queens to sell! >>> Keith JM Hooker <<< >>> Technology Management Ltd <<< >>> WHITSTABLE Kent CT5 4ED UK <<< ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Jun 1995 07:41:29 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Carl Mueller Subject: Re: A Beginner's Question >Blair Reischer reischer@cpcug.org wrote > >Today, I checked the hive and found: > >No brood. There was lots all spring until mid May. >No bees in the super. >Two brood boxes heavy with honey >More drones than I had seen previously >A still strong population >No queen cells > >My conclusion is that I have lost my queen. This is a weak hive. If I had >several other hives, I would combine this one with another. I had been >planning on starting one or two more hives this year, but didn't get around >to it. > >Is it too late to requeen? Where can I get a new queen on short notice? I would advise that you remove the queen excluder and leave it out until the bees have had a chance to draw out and place honey into the super. It appears that they have used the brood chamber for honey stores and for evaporation of nectar. You can speed up the process by placing two frames of honey from the brood chamber into the super. Replace these with new frames and foundation. These new frames will soon be drawn out. The queen is probably still there and will begin to lay as soon as there is space for her to lay in. If you jump the gun and requeen now you may waste a good queen. Carl Mueller Email: cmueller@emi.net West Palm Beach, Florida USA ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Jun 1995 09:23:37 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Adrian Wenner Subject: Yellow jacket bait Comments: To: BEE-L%ALBNYVM1.BITNET@cmsa.Berkeley.EDU Many people individually requested my write-up on yellow jacket control, to which I obliged. However, I will be on trips much of the time during the next few weeks and cannot respond further until late July. Along that line, Cindy Amack responded with the following information about her use of one of the commercial traps, as follows: ********** "You asked about the attractant we used last summer - it was a commercial kit - a clear plastic bag with yellow plastic funnel insert in top, and hanging hole. Came with liquid attractant packet. "Kit directions were to fill bag with either water or apple juice, and add attractant packet - being EXTRA SUPER CAREFUL not to get any on you or spill it. "Sure enough, the wasps were after the bag in under a minute. Was great to see. Unfortunately, we apparently had IQ-inhibited yellowjackets, because it took them nearly a week to figure out how to get into the trap. Once they started getting in, the bag continued to fill till we took it down at first-frost." ********** For those who are interested, the attraction chemical used in some of these commercial traps is heptyl buterate (information courtesy of Sharon Collman in Seattle). That chemical is quite expensive, but a drop or two goes a long way. The least expensive price I have found so far is $52.00 for 100g, offered by PFALTZ & BAUER: (800) CALL-1-PB. [As Cindy pointed out, though, be "EXTRA SUPER CAREFUL not to get any on you or spill it." At a Santa Maria style barbeque I attended last summer (a memu that included chicken and beef), one such commercial trap placed downwind from the picnic tables did very well at keeping many wasps from bothering people at the tables. 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: Mon, 12 Jun 1995 13:36:00 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Marc Party Subject: Feeding solid honey A small problem: Last season, I tainted 30 kg of honey by getting some very fine silt into it. Not wanting to sell it, I left it in a container and it has since crystallized (though is rather creamy now). I=B4d like to feed it back to the bees, let them do the sorting between honey and silt. Any suggestions as to HOW and WHEN I could do this without losing hundreds of bees by drowning in honey? Please send replies directly to me. =20 In my neck of the woods, the bees are just starting to work on surplus= honey. Cheers! Marc Patry Ottawa, Ontario ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Jun 1995 13:25:05 +0600 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Rick Fell Subject: Re: Yellow jacket bait Just as an addition to the comments on yellowjacket trapping - heptyl butyrate is only effective on the western yellowjacket, Vespula pensylvanica. It is not effective on any of the eastern pest species such as V. maculifrons or V. squamosa, or on the German yellowjacket, V. germanica. Rick Fell ________________________ > Many people individually requested my write-up on yellow jacket control, >to which I obliged. However, I will be on trips much of the time during >the next few weeks and cannot respond further until late July. > > Along that line, Cindy Amack responded with the following information >about her use of one of the commercial traps, as follows: > >********** > >"You asked about the attractant we used last summer - it was a commercial kit - >a clear plastic bag with yellow plastic funnel insert in top, and hanging hole. >Came with liquid attractant packet. > >"Kit directions were to fill bag with either water or apple juice, and add >attractant packet - being EXTRA SUPER CAREFUL not to get any on you >or spill it. > >"Sure enough, the wasps were after the bag in under a minute. Was >great to see. Unfortunately, we apparently had IQ-inhibited >yellowjackets, because it took them nearly a week to figure out how to get >into the trap. Once they started getting in, the bag continued to >fill till we took it down at first-frost." > >********** > > For those who are interested, the attraction chemical used in some of >these commercial traps is heptyl buterate (information courtesy of Sharon >Collman in Seattle). That chemical is quite expensive, but a drop or two >goes a long way. The least expensive price I have found so far is $52.00 >for 100g, offered by PFALTZ & BAUER: (800) CALL-1-PB. [As Cindy pointed >out, though, be "EXTRA SUPER CAREFUL not to get any on you or spill it." > > At a Santa Maria style barbeque I attended last summer (a memu that >included chicken and beef), one such commercial trap placed downwind from >the picnic tables did very well at keeping many wasps from bothering people >at the tables. > > Adrian > Richard Fell e-mail: rfell@vt.edu Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA 24061 703-231-7207 Fax 703-231-9131 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Jun 1995 15:35:54 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Constance J. Britton" Subject: Eastern Apicultural Society Meeting Comments: To: Bee-EXTL@sun1.oardc.ohio-state.edu The Eastern Apicultural Society will be meeting in Wooster OH in August 1995. Information about this meeting has been placed on a gopher server and a World Wide Web server. The URLs for these servers are: gopher://gopher.oardc.ohio-state.edu:70/11/bioag/bee-info/eas95 http://sun1.oardc.ohio-state.edu:70/0/eas95/homepage.htm ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Jun 1995 12:50:48 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Adrian Wenner Subject: Re: Yellow jacket bait >Just as an addition to the comments on yellowjacket trapping - heptyl >butyrate is only effective on the western yellowjacket, Vespula >pensylvanica. It is not effective on any of the eastern pest species such >as V. maculifrons or V. squamosa, or on the German yellowjacket, V. germanica. . Thanks, Rick. I forgot to mention that. [We have only V. pennsylvanica in our local area.] 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: Mon, 12 Jun 1995 20:53:42 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Ann Dougherty Subject: Re: Pollen In-Reply-To: I"m interested in getting a pollen trap. It seems there are many mediocre ones out there with just a few good ones that actually do a good job. Does any one have some pointers on what to look for when acquiring a pollen trap? Thanks Ann ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Jun 1995 00:36:15 -0600 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Eric Abell Subject: Re: Feeding solid honey In-Reply-To: <9506121736.AA10882@emr1.emr.ca> I suspect that you could beed the honey back to the bees any time there=20 is not a nectar flow in your area (and providing it is suitable for the=20 bees to fly) If the honey is pretty firm simly tip the pail on its side and make it=20 available to the bees. This is pretty low tech and you have no control=20 over which bees visit the pail. =20 I have not tried this but was told about an option so here it is - use it= =20 at your peril. Cut a 1 inch hole in a piece of cardboard and place on the top super. It= =20 should act as a barrier between this super and the one you will place=20 above it. Place an empty box over this cardboard with your pail inside. = =20 Put a lid on everything. The theory that was explained to me is that the= =20 bees will now transfer the honey down and into their comb. I have always wanted to try this so please let me know if it works or not. Eric Abell email: eabell@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca Gibbons, AB, T0A 1N0 Canada (403) 998 3143 On Mon, 12 Jun 1995, Marc Party wrote: > A small problem: Last season, I tainted 30 kg of honey by getting some v= ery > fine silt into it. Not wanting to sell it, I left it in a container and = it > has since crystallized (though is rather creamy now). I=B4d like to feed= it > back to the bees, let them do the sorting between honey and silt. Any > suggestions as to HOW and WHEN I could do this without losing hundreds of > bees by drowning in honey? Please send replies directly to me. =20 > In my neck of the woods, the bees are just starting to work on surplus ho= ney. >=20 > Cheers! >=20 > Marc Patry > Ottawa, Ontario >=20 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Jun 1995 07:04:52 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: TICKLAB@URIACC.URI.EDU Subject: Re: Yellow jacket bait Here in Rhode Island, I have been asked many times about yellowjacket control. The baits I use consist of apple juice (although most any fruit juice is good) and grenadine. The grenadine seems to be the most important element in the bait as captures dramatically increase when it is added. Dan ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Jun 1995 16:18:18 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Lars A. Lutton" Subject: Re: Yellow jacket bait From: NAME: Lars Lutton FUNC: Instructional Media Services TEL: (614)593-2669 To: MX%"BEE-L@UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU"@MRGATE@OUVAX In the interest of frugality..an old camp trick was to hang a dead fish suspended over a bucket of water downwind of the camp. Yellowjackets would glut on the carcass and drop into the bucket and drown. Perhaps that acid mentioned earlier is a synthesis of fish slime? Regards, Lars/ lutton@ouvaxa.cats.ohiou.edu ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Jun 1995 15:04:42 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Ian Farber Subject: Cleaning bee pollen I have a small amount of fresh bee pollen collected this spring. I can dry it but need suggestions on a method of effectively cleaning the pollen to remove debris, etc. I already know how to sort the pollen loads one at a time. A small seed cleaner would also work but is there a good method in between these two in terms of time and costs involved. I am dealing with 10-20 pounds per year right now. Thanks for any suggestions, Ian Farber Westsyde Apiaries ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Jun 1995 10:21:37 +0100 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "M.Westby" Subject: yellow jackets? Dear All I presume that you over there in the colonies talk about yellow jackets you are referring to what we in the old country call wasps? I must say chaps that yellow jackets make them sound *very* benign, like some sort of kids' holiday camp staff! WASP has the ring of something aggressive enough to catch our beloved honeybees on the wing and bite their heads off ... Happy beekeeping, Max ||| (@ @) ---------------------------------------------ooOo-( )-oOoo----- Max Westby (Among other things a Sheffield Beekeeper) South Yorkshire Beekeepers Association BBKA apiary reg: JQ34 Phone (Home): +44 (0)114 236 1038 Fax: +44 (0)114 276 6515 e-mail: m.westby@sheffield.ac.uk World Wide Web Site: http://www.shef.ac.uk --------------------------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Jun 1995 08:29:00 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Kathleen J. McBride" Subject: Looking for Galleria Hello. I am looking for a source of Galleria and thought it wise to contact the users of Bee-L since the waxworm is a pest of the honey bee. The usual route, bait stores, has turned up nothing...it seems that the stores I have contacted have had their colonies decimated by virus. I have since been told that the waxworm business is a cutthroat one and that maybe this is the work of a very devious individual(s) looking to reduce their competition. Anyway, I was hoping some kind researcher out there would know of someone working with Galleria and would be able to spare some eggs and/or some late instar larvae. Thanks for any assistance! Please contact Kathy McBride American Cyanamid Co. 609 799 0400 x2871 mcbridek@pt.cyanamid.com ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 15 Jun 1995 02:10:28 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Michael Moroney Subject: Re: yellow jackets? In-Reply-To: < > Dear All > > I presume that you over there in the colonies talk about yellow jackets you > are referring to what we in the old country call wasps? I must say chaps > that yellow jackets make them sound *very* benign, like some sort of kids' > holiday camp staff! WASP has the ring of something aggressive enough to > catch our beloved honeybees on the wing and bite their heads off ... Believe me, yellowjackets (usually written as one word) certainly are not associated with "benign". They are a wasp (I think actually a form of hornet) and are very common where I am. They are agressive, sometimes going after sugary stuff (or honey) and sometimes going for meat. Around here, "yellowjacket" is as much associated with bite-our-bee's-heads-off mean as "wasp" is. -Mike ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 15 Jun 1995 10:26:58 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Bob Rolfness Subject: Re: yellow jackets? In-Reply-To: unscribe \|/ Robert S. Rolfness @ @ Big Bend Community College ----------oOO-(_)-OOo--------------------------------------------- ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 15 Jun 1995 13:53:45 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Michael Stoops Subject: Re: African Drones Comments: To: Allen Dick In-Reply-To: <199505291448.JAA17047@Paula-Formby.tenet.edu> Hi Allen, From what all I've read, drones do drift into other hives, but, other that possibly transferring diseases, pose no problems, i.e. mating - that takes place in the air. Don't think you'll have much of a problem with Africanized bees up there in Canaca. First good hard frost and that would kill all of them. They are a subtropical variety and probably won't get much further north than central Texas. On Mon, 29 May 1995, Allen Dick wrote: > On Sun, 28 May 1995, Michael Stoops wrote: > > > One speaks of using drones in the local area to mate with the newly > > emerged queens. Here in southern/central Texas, that is no longer a > > viable method. We now have feral colonies of the 'Aficanized' bee and > > knowing that the Africanized drones fly faster than the European drones, > > we really run the risk of Africanizing our hives. > > I wonder if it would be possible to develop a lure that would draw and > dispose of all the drones in an area, so that a known drone population > could be put in it's place from time to time. > > I also wonder - do the african drones from feral hives move (drift) into > domestic hives? > > > W. Allen Dick, Beekeeper VE6CFK > Rural Route One Swalwell Alberta Canada T0M 1Y0 > Email: dicka@cuug.ab.ca or allend@internode.net > Futures, Art & Honey:http://www.cuug.ab.ca:8001/~dicka > ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 17 Jun 1995 00:07:09 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "- please, Sue Bingham" Subject: RE; comb building My Italians are building comb on the underside of the inner cover - what do I do? Thanks-Sue Bingham ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 17 Jun 1995 11:13:30 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Dave Green, Eastern Pollinator Newsletter" Subject: CIRCUMVENTING LABEL COMPLIANCE Twenty three years after the passage of FIFRA, public authorities are still propagating pre-FIFRA *solutions* to bee kills that did not work, and encouraging applicators to CIRCUMVENT compliance with labels by schemes of beekeeper notification. I've had enough. All other challenges to beekeeping (and there are many) have solutions that are within my power to institute. But pesticide MISUSE is in the hands of the applicators, those who advise them, and those who enforce the law. Compliance with the law is certainly inconvenient, and the long unwillingness to implement and enforce the law indicates the power of the pesticide applicators. But reform is inevitable, or the consequences are loss of pollination, and eventually famine. Unfortunately pollination is too abstract for many minds, particularly bureaucratic ones. And bees are not considered grand, like whales, or loveable, like pandas. Pollinators should be a key environmental issue. My livelihood has been stolen from me. I have decided to hold accountable those who have done so, in hopes that reforms will make it possible for a new generation of young pollination beekeepers. Here is one such step: NOTICE OF CLAIM (Sent to E. M. Kane, and T. L. Galloway of the SC Department of Pesticide Regulation) The new Bulletin 5 of the Department of Pesticide Regulation, prepared by E. M. Kane and T. L. Galloway is a basic recommendation of pesticide misuse. I have been pointing out for years, in numerous communications, including personal conversations with Mr. Galloway, that such recommendations are in violation of federal and state laws. This is therefore a notice of claim for E. M. Kane and T. L. Galloway for environmental and personal damage. This is the first official publication I have seen from any South Carolina agency that indicates that applicators are required by law to comply with label directions protecting bees. This could be a positive step, but no assistance is rendered to the applicators in means of compliance. For example, this publication recommends "spraying in early morning or late evening." Early morning, in hot weather, is the worst possible time to spray cotton during bloom, as the bees will be foraging prior to sunrise, so this is a clearcut recommendation of misuse. It recommends time of spraying based on conjecture, rather than fact. There must be a mechanism to determine realistically, when bees are foraging. This means some kind of monitoring. The bulk of the publication is involved with setting up a circumvention in lieu of compliance with label directions: that of notification of beekeepers and leaving protection up to them. I have long maintained that if the label directions that protect bees were carefully followed, losses of bees would drop to tolerable levels. I have never tried to stop anyone from spraying, though I have been misquoted as saying that. I have only insisted that the spraying be done properly, following label directions, as required by law. I am a former apple grower, which demands more insecticide use than almost any other crop. We kept bees alongside the orchards during the spray season, and did not damage them, because we complied with the labels. There were times that this was inconvenient, but it was possible (as well as required by law). Note that label directions apply to FORAGING bees, and that they apply to ALL bees, whether or not they have a human defender. They are listed under Environmental Hazards, which properly recognizes their role as pollinators, a vital environmental resource. Kane and Galloway's alternative scheme: that of notification of beekeepers does not protect all bees, as do the label directions. Cotton, for example is highly attractive to bees, and there will be foraging bees in cotton fields, as soon as they begin to bloom. The numbers have been seriously reduced in many areas where cotton has been grown for several years and violations have been common. These include kept and feral honeybees, bumble bees, and solitary bees of many species. Years of refusal by regulatory and extension to implement and enforce pesticide laws that protect bees have already cost tremendous damage to our pollinator populations. Despite numerous appeals, Kane and Galloway's new official publication continues the refusal to implement label directions to protect bees. A.) This is a claim for damages to the environment by the malfeasance of Kane and Galloway in recommending a scheme of protection, which only offer any protection to bees that have a human defender, the claim to be satisfied by restocking and maintaining for two years, a minimal base level, to replace lost pollinators, of four hives per square mile in all agricultural areas where insecticides are used during the 1995 season. My own surveys this year of pollinator populations on some of our commercial crops indicate that solitary bee populations (except for carpenter bees which are dormant during cotton bloom, have been decimated within the cotton growing areas. These are important to our fruit and vegetable growers as well as wildlife which needs its food supply pollinated. In observations on melons outside the cotton growing area, I often find four or five kinds of solitary bees within one minute of observation. There have been virtually no solitary bees so far this season, in the cotton growing areas I have observed. B.) This is also a personal claim for the seizure of my property without compensation, and a refusal of equal protection under law. This is an ex officio and personal claim against Kane and Galloway, who are now included as co-defendants in the one million dollar claim for violation of my civil rights. The refusal of certain South Carolina authorities to implement and enforce the label directions that protect bees constitutes an entire system of abuse of my civil rights. I also claim that Kane and Galloway are now responsible to provide the resources of mine, that they freely have tried to give away. I demand that they (personally) do the protective steps that they indicate are required to protect my bees. They will have to move rapidly, as cotton will be blooming within a week, and it will take approximately a week to locate and notify all cotton growers within range of my bees. (I will also hold them responsible for any consequent damages that occur from following this step, including vandalism of bees, attempts to evict me, loss of customer clientele, and personal threats or injury.) I suggest that they find locations which are safe for the bees (I don't know of any, if their scheme is followed), as they recommend removal, as soon as pollination is finished. The only places I know where cotton is not being grown this year are the coastal marshes, where mosquito spraying has also decimated pollinator populations. I know of dozens of cases where beekeepers have moved to run from a known application, and been hit by another unanticipated application. If Kane and Galloway do find safe locations, it is likely that they will be several hundred miles from home, so they are responsible for my travel expenses to care for them. I suggest also that they be prepared to pay claims from crop growers where they are still actively pollinating. Cucumbers normally bloom for 25 - 30 days. One day lost while bees are moved out, or confined, therefore would cause proportional damage to these growers, so that another grower can spray in violation. They will need to purchase 400 burlap sheets, as they recommend covering hives with wet burlap, and this is about the maximum number of hives that may be exposed during cotton spray season on any one day. They will need to hire 15 - 20 employees to be in the bee yards and pollination locations during the peak of pesticide applications on cotton, as there may be as many as that sites exposed on any given day. These employees will have to trained in advance, and be provided with veils and other protective gear, smokers and other tools, and they will have to be on site before bees begin to forage (about 5 am. in hot weather). Each employee will have to have a cellular phone to keep in contact with applicators, in case times of application are changed. They may also need assistance, if they get bogged. By the time Kane and Galloway spend more money than my gross income, just during the cotton bloom, and face all the consequent frustrations of trying to do the impossible; they will discover that the recommendations that beekeepers protect the bees could only be written by uncaring bureaucrats. Remember, the labels do not refer to hives. They protect the foraging bee. Therefore, I require that Kane and Galloway undertake the steps they recommend for the protection of my bees. Perhaps they will learn something. The irrationality of the program is apparent, but there are two specific gross irrationalities that I must point out. Moving bees 1/4 mile to avoid a spray is ridiculous beyond belief. That would cause a loss of almost the entire field force. The "cure" is as bad as the pesticide hit they claim to avoid. Bee will simply fly back to the previous site. Also the comment about keeping bees away from tobacco. Besides the obvious question of "where" (in the Pee Dee Area?), tobacco is not allowed to bloom. In normal culture, bloom is immediately removed. Where there is no bloom, there are no bees. Compliance with bee directions on the label is made and there is no significant bee kill. The liability of each of the co-defendants will be in ratio of their position and ability to make reforms to implement and enforce label directions. Liability could be reduced by vigorous and effective steps to reform. I insist that Kane and Galloway, and all others involved in perpetuation of this effort to avoid, circumvent, or ignore label directions vigorously retract and repudiate these recommendations of misuse (prior to cotton bloom this season), and institute a system of bee protection based on label compliance and focusing on the FORAGING bee referred to by the label, rather than the hives. Please note that the refusal thus far, of authorities to implement and recommend label directions that protect bees, has placed me in a difficult, isolated, and dangerous position. I have already suffered property loss, and endured verbal abuse and threats because I insist on obedience to the law. The inaction of state authorities increases the danger to my property and person. I am faced with the choice of losing my bees to misuse, or seeking enforcement with all its consequent repercussions. The refusal of enforcement people, including Galloway, whom I have repeatedly begged to make spot checks on bee-label compliance during the bloom season, and the incompetence of agents to determine sources of damage after kills, requires me to do neighborhood watches during application. In effect, this means that, I, a private citizen, am forced to do the work of the regulatory agencies, without the authority to request records, enter private property, etc. The failure of authorities to implement and enforce the law means that there will be some dislocations when it is finally started. The blame for these dislocations is properly placed on those who did not implement or enforce in the past. Any efforts to pass the buck, and the blame onto me; any action which tends to increase applicator perception of me as a "troublemaker" rather than as a citizen who seeks compliance with the law; will likewise increase the danger for my business and me. So I encourage you to tread very carefully! Sincerely yours, David L. Green ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 18 Jun 1995 01:23:14 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Mike High Subject: Re: RE; comb building How much comb?If its just bits of scur comb,don't fret about it.If not make sure they don't need supering. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 19 Jun 1995 00:15:00 PDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Leslie Simms Subject: Newbees Have you heard of Ireland? - Yes, of course! Have you heard of County Down? - Possibly... Have you heard of Dromore & District Beekeepers' Association? - You have NOW ! We are not only the fastest growing beekeeping association in Ireland, but also in the UK and probably in Western Europe. We have twice gained the World Cup for exhibiting at NHS, London in recent years and are actively involved in Beekeeping Education throughout the province of Ulster. Have you heard of "Dromore Buzzette" - probably the widest read beekeeping journal in Ireland and now broadcast from "TheGAP" server in Belfast (I am sure you know where Belfast is)? If you have beekeeping connections with Ulster that you would like to renew, or are interested in beekeeping in the Emerald Isle, please reply to - ddbka@beelines.thegap.com ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 18 Jun 1995 08:53:37 -0600 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Eric Abell Subject: Re: RE; comb building In-Reply-To: <950617000707_72517530@aol.com> How about simply scraping it off when it becomes a problem. :) Eric Abell email: eabell@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca Gibbons, AB, T0A 1N0 Canada (403) 998 3143 On Sat, 17 Jun 1995, - please, Sue Bingham wrote: > My Italians are building comb on the underside of the inner cover - what do I > do? Thanks-Sue Bingham > ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 18 Jun 1995 13:54:55 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Dave Green, Eastern Pollinator Newsletter" Subject: Re: RE; comb building >On Sat, 17 Jun 1995, - Sue Bingham wrote: > >> My Italians are building comb on the underside of the inner cover - >what do I do? Remember when supering that nectar is mostly water, which the bees must evaporate. In a sudden flow (and many flows are) the bees must have room to store this nectar until it is condensed. That means extra super space is needed. If you have a normal flow that gives three supers, you must figure on one extra, or four total. When I pull honey, I always want to find the top super empty. And I don't like to see a lot of burr comb. The bees will make burr comb on the cover, and in every nook and cranny they can. I've had them go through old bottom boards and fill up the empty space in concrete blocks under the hives. But all that burr comb can't accomodate much honey. They may even jam up the brood chamber with honey (honeybound) which will stop brood rearing, and make very weak hives with mostly old bees later on. The end result: You've lost a portion of the nectar that they could have brought in, thereby reducing honey yield. The solution: Keep plenty of supers on, well in advance. Once you find that burr comb, the bees are already shutting down, and it's too late to do much about catching the rest of this flow. Pollinator@aol.com Dave Green PO Box 1215, Hemingway, SC 29554 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 19 Jun 1995 11:29:29 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Dave Green, Eastern Pollinator Newsletter" Subject: Re: moving bees? Comments: To: exkalibur@msn.com Exkalibur@msn.com (Steve Thrasher): >He also said that I would have to move them at least two miles away for about three or four days and then bring them back or I would loose them. He's right. You cannot move bees short distances. (I thought I had mentioned this in talking with you online, but we were apparently cut off.) They are creatures of habit. They will exit in the new location, go out to forage, and return to the old location where they will eventually die. This is just as bad as a pesticide hit. You can lose most of the field force. One technique to get around this is the one that he proposed. Or do they actually need to be moved? Sounds to me like they can reach the melon field now. >I wanted to move my hives to a shade tree at the end of my watermelon field. The man I get my supplies from said he liked his bees in the sun so he could see better to check them. Depends on where you are: temperature is the key. Here is South Carolina we can get into to upper 90's or 100's, and the bees really suffer, if they don't have shade. If your normal temps are more like 80's you could leave them in the sun. They are easier to work in the sun, and bees in really deep shade (like a cluster of live oak trees) can be ugly as all get out. They also won't work much. But, if they begin to suffer heat stress, they will only work the blossoms about sunrise, shortly they will be only carrying water. Staple or cleat the bottom board before moving them. Don't suffocate them by closing them up, like many hobbyists. If you feel that you must close them up, be sure to have a top screen instead of a cover. Don't try to move hives that are heavy with honey. The brood chamber and one partly filled super is ideal for pollination. Smoke them and move at dawn or just before dusk. A cold night is okay, too, but you will get severely punished if you try moving on a warm night. Bees crawl ! ! ! ! ! I move hundreds of hives so I can't always go by the ideal, but the perfect move, in my experience, is to load the truck in the evening, and park it, hosing it down if it is warm. You can, if hives are handled gently, get them on the truck before they wake up and come out to see what's going on. That late in the day, few will fly. Then unload at sunrise in the new location. Bees will often be carrying pollen before we finish unloading, and they ususally are very gentle (if we haven't hit too many ruts). Others may find this of interst, so I'll post on the Bee List. Pollinator@aol.com Dave Green >Grits is grits. Who cares whether it is singular or plural?< ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 19 Jun 1995 14:29:56 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Rich Petke Subject: Swarm under established hive I need some advice - I have what appears to be a small after swarm attached to the underside of the bottom board of one of my hives. (My bottom boards rest on top of cement blocks.) The swarm is not from the hive that it's attached to as that hive has not swarmed. It might be from another hive in the yard but I doubt it as all of the other hives seem to be very strong. So far the swarm under the hive seems to be co-existing with the hive. My question relates to how I should handle the situation. Given that I have a colony above the swarm that would have to be moved (or otherwise contended with) in order to access the swarm. Any suggestions? ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 19 Jun 1995 19:30:04 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jim Wagner Subject: Buckfast Queens I am a brand new beekeeper with lots of enthusiasm and very little knowledge so please excuse the stupid question. I have noticed many references to Buckfast Queens on this list. Can someone please tell me what a Buckfast Queen is and why there is so much interest in them? Thanks in advance Jim Wagner (jwagner@mindspring.com) ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 19 Jun 1995 21:49:16 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Kim Patten Subject: Increasing pollen gathering For the past several years I have been evaluating methods to increase the amount of pollen honeybees gathered off of cranberry bogs. This includes sugar feeding, wave placement, egg laying/brood manipulation, pollen removal, hive locations, hive numbers, QMP, use of complementary nectar rich plants etc. Cranberry pollen is not all that attractive to honey bees and they will go out of their way to collect anything other than cranberry pollen. Some of these methods appear to work some of the time but there is a tremendious variation between hives and locations. Getting good consistent data is hard. Any suggestions? What has worked for other plants which honey bee don't like such as onions or pears? Any work on modifying the attractiveness of the plant to bees other than the use of QMP or other phermone like attractants? What about modifying the mineral nutrition of the plant? ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 19 Jun 1995 23:50:59 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "La Reine de la Cite' des Phoques (Liz Day)" Subject: Re: Increasing pollen gathering What about using Bumblebees to pollinate it instead? Liz Day LDAY@indy.net Indianapolis, Indiana, USA ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 20 Jun 1995 07:56:36 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Ray Lackey Subject: swarm under established hive #1) Are you sure it is a swarm? Check your colony. Is there plenty of room? Are the bees filling the top? Do you have a queen excluder that they aren't going through? There can be many reasons for bees to hang out in front or under their entrance. I have had them do so when I didn't have enough super space, when I had put on comb supers, and when I had a queen excluder with foundation above it. For one reason or another they found it more convenient to drqw comb under a raised bottom board than to use what I had provided. #2) If it is a swarm, have they drawn comb? If not, set a hive on the ground next to the blocks with the entrance facing underneath, have filled with comb or foundation but with one frame of open brood. Brush the bees off toward the new hive entrance. Some will probably enter, find the brood, and drqw the rest of the bees in. If comb drawn, set new bottom board on the ground, set on an empty brood box, unstack original hive, place old bottom board on empty hive body. Bees can now fly up under old bottom board to enter. Restack old colony on a new bottom board on the ground on the other side of the blocks. Either combine swarm with another colony or provide with a box of comb beneath for them to move down into as the wild comb fills up. You can move back up onto blocks after a few days to make sure bees know their home and don't return down under. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + Raymond J. Lackey + + Beekeeper 10 years with 25 colonies on Long Island, NY+ + INTERNET: rjl7317@hazeltine.com + + Mail: 1260 Walnut Avenue, Bohemia NY 11617 + + Home Phone: 516-567-1936 FAX: 516-262-8053 + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 20 Jun 1995 08:45:41 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Erik Seiel Subject: Re: BEE L Digest 18 Jun 1995 to 19 Jun 1995 hi everyone- this was mistakenly sent to 'owner-bee-l' instead of the list. since I don't know anything about bees, i'll forward it back to you. -erik --Original letter-- Return-Path: <> Received: from UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU by ACSPR1.acs.brockport.edu; 20 Jun 95 08:01:43 EDT Received: from CNSIBM.ALBANY.EDU by UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with BSMTP id 7434; Tue, 20 Jun 95 07:58:51 EDT Received: from UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU (NJE origin LISTSERV@ALBNYVM1) by CNSIBM.ALBANY.EDU (LMail V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 7075; Tue, 20 Jun 1995 07:58:52 -0400 Date: Tue, 20 Jun 1995 07:58:52 -0400 From: "L-Soft list server at ALBNYVM1 (1.8b)" Subject: BEE-L: error report from DC10A.NCI.NIH.GOV To: Erik Seiel X-LSV-ListID: None The enclosed mail file has been identified as a delivery error for list BEE-L because it was sent to the reserved 'owner-bee-l' mailbox. ------------------------------ Message in error ------------------------------- Received: from ALBNYVM1 (NJE origin SMTP@ALBNYVM1) by CNSIBM.ALBANY.EDU (LMail V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 7073; Tue, 20 Jun 1995 07:58:51 -0400 Received: from web.nih.gov by UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with TCP; Tue, 20 Jun 95 07:58:46 EDT Received: from SMTP2.mm.hub.nih.gov by web.nih.gov (8.6.10/1.35(nsb-1.0)) id IAA12561; Tue, 20 Jun 1995 08:00:19 -0400 Received: by SMTP2.mm.hub.nih.gov with Microsoft Mail id <2FE6B851@SMTP2.mm.hub.nih.gov>; Tue, 20 Jun 95 08:00:17 edt From: "Winkler, David" To: owner-BEE-L Subject: RE: BEE-L Digest - 18 Jun 1995 to 19 Jun 1995 Date: Tue, 20 Jun 95 08:00:00 edt Message-ID: <2FE6B851@SMTP2.mm.hub.nih.gov> Encoding: 14 TEXT X-Mailer: Microsoft Mail V3.0 I have two hives in their second year. I managed them closely this spring and neither swarmed. They now have 4 supers each of capped honey and one partial (on top of two brood chambers). The honey flow is over in Maryland. I usually procrastinate and wait til Aug. to extract. I would like to do it earlier this year. Should I make any attempt to depopulate the bees when I remove the supers or just let them crowd in for a few days while I extract and get the supers back on? Will the bees protect all the empty supers from wax moth until fall or should they be removed and wrapped with moth balls? David Winkler ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 20 Jun 1995 09:34:13 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Dave Green, Eastern Pollinator Newsletter" Subject: Re: Increasing pollen gathering Comments: cc: kimpatten In a message dated 95-06-20 00:51:36 EDT, pattenk@COOPEXT.CAHE.WSU.EDU (Kim Patten) wrote: >For the past several years I have been evaluating methods to increase the amount of pollen honeybees gathered off of cranberry bogs. This includes sugar feeding, wave placement, egg laying/brood > manipulation, pollen removal, hive locations, hive numbers, QMP, use of complementary nectar rich >plants etc. Cranberry pollen is not all that attractive to honey >bees and they will go out of their way to collect anything other than >cranberry pollen. >What has worked for other plants which honey bee don't like such as onions or pears? I would be highly interested in the work you do. Could I have a more complete report? I am a commercial pollinator. I'm no scientist, but I've paid some tuition in the *University of the Seat of the Pants* Kiwifruit is probably the hardest plant to pollinate that I've had any experience with. Sometimes competing vegetation is more attractive, such as dewberries and tupilo while strawberries bloom, or oranges, during squash and melon bloom. The basic principle that I have develped and use is to have the maximum possible open brood. This means young queens, with the colonies in the upswing part of the spring buildup (if it isn't spring; it must be induced). In management for honey production you want the buildup to be ending just as the flow starts. In management for pollination, you want to have the colony 2-3 weeks earlier in the cycle. Do cranberries offer any significant nectar? Are there other nectar sources at the same time? I have never worked cranberries. Is cranberry pollen of good nutritional value or is it poor? I find that if there is a dearth of nectar the queens tend to shut down, so syrup feeding is in order. If there is a moderate nectar flow, syrup feeding is redundant. If there is a heavy flow, there is risk of storage in the brood chamber, thus shutting down the queen. There must always be some open comb for the queen. This is extremely important. If they start placing honey in the brood chamber, it must be removed. There are several ways to stimulate the queen temporarily, other than internal syrup feeding. Honeybees seem to get a bit lethargic if there has been no flow for a while, or after extremely hot weather. Moving bees stimulates the queen, and thereby foraging activity. I sometimes trade locations on the pallet to jump-start them. It works. Just opening the hive to check a frame or two for disease, also stimulates the queen for a couple days. If the bees simply aren't going out much, a little syrup in pails with pine straw to keep them from drowning can be placed a couple hundred feet from the hives. I have seen a real jump-start with this from only a small amount of syrup. Most of these methods I have used in cucumbers when the bees are already there since the spring crop, and they have gotten real lazy during the summer heat. When the fall cukes start blooming, the bees ignore them, until I jump-start them. If cranberry pollen is of low nutritional value, with little other pollen to balance it, queens will shut down. Supplemental pollen feeding may be necessary. You already know much of what I'm discussing, but perhaps there might be one idea here that will help. Or others on the list may pick up on something. I would be most interested in the results of your testing. Good luck. Pollinator@aol.com Dave Green PO Box 1215, Hemingway, SC 29554 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 20 Jun 1995 09:09:06 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Doug Yanega Subject: Re: Increasing pollen gathering >For the past several years I have been evaluating methods to increase the >amount of pollen honeybees gathered off of cranberry bogs. This includes >sugar feeding, wave placement, egg laying/brood manipulation, pollen >removal, hive locations, hive numbers, QMP, use of complementary nectar rich >plants etc. Cranberry pollen is not all that attractive to honey bees and >they will go out of their way to collect anything other than cranberry >pollen. Some of these methods appear to work some of the time but there is a >tremendious variation between hives and locations. Getting good consistent >data is hard. Any suggestions? What has worked for other plants which honey >bee don't like such as onions or pears? Any work on modifying the >attractiveness of the plant to bees other than the use of QMP or other >phermone like attractants? What about modifying the mineral nutrition of >the plant? I just saw a talk by Kenna McKenzie, who is working in commercial cranberry bogs in Nova Scotia, and based on her studies there's little question that bumblebees are both more effective pollinators and more *economically* effective pollinators. The best answer, I'd submit, is not to do anything to the plants, but simply switch to the native bees which have been pollinating wild cranberries for the last several million years. Based on Kenna's work, which has been going on for quite some time, and covers several Vaccinium species, it looks like using honeybees on Vaccinium species is proverbially forcing a square peg in a round hole. Doug Yanega Illinois Natural History Survey, 607 E. Peabody Dr. Champaign, IL 61820 USA phone (217) 244-6817, fax (217) 333-4949 "There are some enterprises in which a careful disorderliness is the true method" - Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chap. 82 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 20 Jun 1995 09:00:00 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Paul van Westendorp 576-5600 Fax: 576-5652" Subject: Re: Increasing pollen gathering Doug, We have a sizable cranberry industry in the Fraser Valley (British Columbia) where quite a bit of research and resources have been committed over the years to examine the issue of pollination. As many know, Mark Winston of SFU (with Keith Slessor) identified and developed the QMP product to enhance honeybee pollination in cranberry. Kenna MacKenzie's work on the east coast is valuable, and there is no doubt that bumblebees are much better pollinators of bog plants, including cranberry and blueberry. You are quite correct that the bumbles have evolved over millions of years in bog environments and are the most effective pollinators. But only so as individual pollinator. In monocultural settings as cranberry (and blueberry) is grown today, it is the shortage in numbers of pollinating insects that is the limiting factor. Bumblebee nests may be comprised of a few dozen individuals while a cranberry field has millions of flowers. Considering the current prices for commercially available bumble bee nests, I question the economics of their use in a field setting. (Greenhouses is a different matter). Perhaps, simple enhancement of nesting habitat would be more cost-effective. Paul van Westendorp pvanwesten@galaxy.gov.bc.ca Provincial Apiarist British Columbia ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 20 Jun 1995 15:11:19 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Terry Yawn Subject: Re: Increasing pollen gathering In-Reply-To: <01HRXDNPEPKMHXPP9H@gems.gov.bc.ca> On Tue, 20 Jun 1995, Paul van Westendorp 576-5600 Fax: 576-5652 wrote: > We have a sizable cranberry industry in the Fraser Valley (British Columbia) > where quite a bit of research and resources have been committed over the > years to examine the issue of pollination. As many know, Mark Winston of > SFU (with Keith Slessor) identified and developed the QMP product to enhance > honeybee pollination in cranberry. > Kenna MacKenzie's work on the east coast is valuable, and there is no doubt > that bumblebees are much better pollinators of bog plants, including > cranberry and blueberry. You are quite correct that the bumbles have > evolved over millions of years in bog environments and are the most > effective pollinators. But only so as individual pollinator. > In monocultural settings as cranberry (and blueberry) is grown today, it is > the shortage in numbers of pollinating insects that is the limiting > factor. Bumblebee nests may be comprised of a few dozen individuals while a > cranberry field has millions of flowers. Considering the current prices for > commercially available bumble bee nests, I question the economics of their > use in a field setting. (Greenhouses is a different matter). Perhaps, > simple enhancement of nesting habitat would be more cost-effective. This and other bumble bee letters of the past prompt me to ask: can one attract bumble bees or encourage a greater density of colonies by building bee houses, or by other device or manipulation? I have seen where mammaliologists have built bat houses to attract bats, such as at the University of Florida. Does that strategy work for B-bees, and if so, what would such a structure look like? Got plans? Just curious... Terry Yawn voice phone (904) 335-3930 Theron A. Yawn III, Esq. SFCC Office A-07 395-5031 3150-A NW 79th Court Office Hours: 1045-NOON Gainesville, FL 32606-6252 e-mail: afn08939@freenet.ufl.edu.us THE ULTIMATE ANSWER TO ALL SOCIAL PROBLEMS IS:...PUT EDUCATION FIRST!!! ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 20 Jun 1995 14:35:09 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Doug Yanega Subject: Re: Increasing pollen gathering > In monocultural settings as cranberry (and blueberry) is grown today, it is > the shortage in numbers of pollinating insects that is the limiting > factor. Bumblebee nests may be comprised of a few dozen individuals >while a > cranberry field has millions of flowers. Considering the current >prices for > commercially available bumble bee nests, I question the economics of their > use in a field setting. (Greenhouses is a different matter). Perhaps, > simple enhancement of nesting habitat would be more cost-effective. > > > Paul van Westendorp pvanwesten@galaxy.gov.bc.ca > Provincial Apiarist > British Columbia I was presuming that there was some substantial natural population of bumblebees already present - if that isn't true, then you may well be right, and I admit to being uncertain as to the present cost of commercial bumblebee nests. No doubt there needs to be more detailed work done under circumstances where the native bee population is low, and it might ultimately prove cheaper to use honeybees in cases where *all* the pollinators are introduced; the point is that I think you'd still agree that bumblebees should not be automatically ruled out as a commercially viable alternative? Is Kenna on-line here? Cheers, Doug Yanega Illinois Natural History Survey, 607 E. Peabody Dr. Champaign, IL 61820 USA phone (217) 244-6817, fax (217) 333-4949 "There are some enterprises in which a careful disorderliness is the true method" - Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chap. 82 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 20 Jun 1995 12:42:00 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Paul van Westendorp 576-5600 Fax: 576-5652" Subject: Re: Increasing pollen gathering Terry, Yes, there are designs of nest structures available. My reference material is rather limited but perhaps Chris Plowright at U. of Ottawa can provide more uptodate info. Also, Phil Torchio at U. of Utah may have quite a bit of info available of nest designs for non-Apis pollinators (not limited to bumbles). In addition to the actual placement of 'bait' nesting sites, undisturbed vegetation surrounding cranberry fields are equally valuable. Flooding, use of pesticides, clearing of vegetation, and other disruptive activities have been the primary causes for the quantitative decline and diversity of wild bee species. Paul van Westendorp pvanwesten@galaxy.gov.bc.ca Provincial Apiarist British Columbia ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Jun 1995 08:32:36 +1200 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Robert Rice Subject: Increasing pollen gathering - Reply >For the past several years I have been evaluating methods to increase the >amount of pollen honeybees gathered off of cranberry bogs. This includes >sugar feeding, wave placement, egg laying/brood manipulation, pollen >removal, hive locations, hive numbers, QMP, use of complementary nectar >rich plants etc. Cranberry pollen is not all that attractive to honey bees and >they will go out of their way to collect anything other than cranberry >pollen. Some of these methods appear to work some of the time but there is a >tremendious variation between hives and locations. Getting good consistent >data is hard. Any suggestions? This is purely hear say but I have heard that the chinese when wanting bees to forage particular plant species feed a 30% sugar syrup puree containing flowers of the target species of plant. It may be an "old wives tale" but give it a try. Robert Rice Apiculture Services Manager (Sth Island) Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Lincoln New Zealand. E-mail ricer@lincoln.mqm.govt.nz ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 20 Jun 1995 19:57:02 -0300 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Diane Cooper Subject: Bee moths In-Reply-To: <9506210929.4fe73d34.HOG@lincoln.mqm.govt.nz> Has anyone any experience with bee moths laying eggs in hives? How many types are there and is there an easy way to id them? How harmful are they to a hive? Thanks, Diane Cooper ag151@ccn.cs.dal.ca ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 20 Jun 1995 14:38:52 -1000 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jack Fujii Subject: Re: Bee moths In-Reply-To: Aloha Diane! Hives that are weak are those that are attacked by moths. There are basically two species of moths that attack honeybee hives, the Lesser wax moth, Achroia grisella (Fab.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and the Greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella (Linn.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). You should get in contact with Cornell Univ. Cooperative Extension Service for more info on these moths. If the hive is really weak, the moths can take over the hive. You can place frames infested with the moth larvae in strong hives and the bees should clean them up. I hope this info helps. Jack Hilo, HI On Tue, 20 Jun 1995, Diane Cooper wrote: > Has anyone any experience with bee moths laying eggs in hives? > How many types are there and is there an easy way to id them? > How harmful are they to a hive? > > Thanks, > Diane Cooper > ag151@ccn.cs.dal.ca > ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Jun 1995 02:29:00 GMT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Andy Nachbaur Organization: WILD BEE'S BBS (209) 826-8107 LOS BANOS, CA Subject: New Dadant Branch FYI-------NOT-AN-ADD-----NOT-AN-AD---PUBLIC-SERVICE-ANNOUNCEMENT--- __________________________________________________________ (//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////) (//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////) /~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\ | *ATTENTION DADANT FRESNO BRANCH CUSTOMERS* | | | | Dadant's Fresno, Branch is moving. | | | | Where: 2742 South Railroad Avenue | | Fresno, CA 93725 | | | | When: July 1st 1995 | | | | Directions: Southeast of Hwy 99 & Jensen Ave. | | interchange. From 99 go East on Jensen, South | | on Golden State, North on Orange, South on | | Railroad to 2742. | | | | New phone # 209 495-0230 New fax # 209 495-0232 | | Hours: 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday thru Friday | | Closed 12:00- 1:00 for Lunch | |____________________________________________________________| : Read the American Bee Journal for BIG Grand Opening !! : \___________________________________________________________/ o o __ \______/ __ \ \ / \ / \ / / \ \| (O)(O) |/ / -.OOOo----<>----oOOO.- | | | WILD BEE'S BBS | Now this is an ad. | | You all call and leave | 209-826-8107 | Andy- a bad message.. | | | |--->>> |____________Oooo.___| .oooO ( ) ( ) ) / \ ( (_/ \_) ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Jun 1995 00:07:18 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Mike High Subject: Re: Bee moths I'm not sure exactly what you mean when you say bee moths.If you mean wax moths,YES! they do serious damage very quickly.They are gray colored & lay eggs which hatch into grubs that destroy comb and spin thick cocoons everywhere.If you have them get rid of them pronto! ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Jun 1995 00:13:46 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Dave Green, Eastern Pollinator Newsletter" Subject: Re: Buckfast Queens Comments: cc: jwagner@mindspring.com In a message dated 95-06-19 19:32:41 EDT, jwagner@MINDSPRING.COM (Jim Wagner) wrote: > I have noticed many references to Buckfast Queens on this list. Can >someone please tell me what a Buckfast Queen is and why there is so >much >interest in them? Buckfast queens were developed by Brother Adam, a world renowned queen breeder at Buckfast Abbey in England. Weaver's in Navasota, TX are the only suppliers I know of, and I have used them in the past. You can get their address/phone from any bee mag. Their main claim to fame is that there seems to be some resistance to tracheal mite (not varroa). This appears true in my own experience, though I have other lines that are as good. They are a bit pricey, as there is a fee paid for each one under a licensing agreement, but they are exceptionally nice bees. They are very dark in color, so it is a bit hard to find queens, unless they are marked. Some complain that they are a bit testy, especially in the second generation, but I haven't found them to be. My main complaint is that they are hard to establish. I have had a lot of problems with supersedure, however, they usually allow the queen to lay long enough so the daughter is of the same stock. Probably 15 - 20% of my stock is second or third generation Buckfast, but if I pick out, say 30 of the very best hives, 50 - 60% will be Buckfast. >I am a brand new beekeeper with lots of enthusiasm and very little knowledge so please excuse the stupid question. The only stupid question is the one that isn't asked. -Guaranteed to keep someone stupid. :-) Pollinator@aol.com Dave Green ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Jun 1995 00:47:16 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Dave Green, Eastern Pollinator Newsletter" Subject: Purple loosestrife Purple loosestrife is considered a noxious weed by many. It has become a major honey plant in many areas, so this post would be of interest to beekeepers. - Dave Green Reposted from Sci.agriculture: Subject: Purple Loosestrife Biological Control EA From: Sean_Furniss@mail.fws.gov (Sean Furniss) Date: Tue, 20 Jun 1995 15:22:10 -0400 Message-ID: Availability of an Environmental Assessment AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of the Availability of an Environmental Assessment; Request for Comments SUMMARY: The purpose of this Notice is to make available to the public an environmental assessment regarding the release in the United States of three nonindigeneous insects Galerucella calmariensis, Galerucella pusilla, and Hylobius tansversovittatus. The purpose of the release is to reduce and control Lythrum salicaria on Service-managed wetlands and to assist the States to reduce and control purple loosestrife on non-Service wetlands. These insects are not native to North America. The Service proposes to release these three insect species on Service and other lands in the United States so they can contribute to the biological control of purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), an introduced weed. DATES: Written comments on the Environmental Assessment should be received on or before July 12, 1995 HOW TO OBTAIN A COPY OF THE EA: The document is available on the Fish and Wildlife Service world wide server at http://bluegoose.arw.r9.fws.gov/nwrsfiles/habitatmgmt/pestmgmt/loosestrifemgmt .html/. You may also obtain a copy by sending an email message to Meredith Cabillo at Meredith_Cabillo@mail.fws.gov. Please include your name and mailing address in the message. -- Sean Furniss Refuge Program Specialist Division of Refuges U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Department of the Interior Sean_Furniss@mail.fws.gov (703) 358-2043 Division of Refuges, MS 670 ARLSQ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 4401 North Fairfax Drive Arlington, VA 22203 National Wildlife Refuge System *********************************************************** The opinions expressed are those of the writer and not those of the Fish and Wildlife Service nor the Department of the Interior ___________________________________________________________ Information on Service data servers (including WAIS, WWW, etc.) can be retrieved from the Service Library Server. Send a message to R9IRMLIB@mail.fws.gov with SEND HELP as the subject (no text in the body of the message) for instructions and an index. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 20 Jun 1995 22:09:48 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Kim Patten Subject: Re: Increasing pollen gathering, bumblebee and cranberries > Thanks for the ideas. Re: bumblebees - and cranberry pollination. No questions about it that bumblebees are the best. The problem lies in getting high enough populations of the ferals to do the job or cheap enough commercials ones. So far the later doesn't seem to be getting close to being cost effective. The ferals are proving very difficult to manage. The use of nesting boxes has been so-so in acceptance - 10 to 60%. They may help some but are not the answer. Planting of early blooming food sources for the bumble bees around the bogs seems to help but it is too early to tell if it really changes the populations of pollinators. Nevertheless our survey of over 100 bogs from Oregon to BC strongly suggest that populations density of feral bumble bees corresponds to the availablity of good food source during the entire spring season. Re: pollen collection and honey bees I don't know about the nutritional value of cranberry pollen, but it has only minor amounts of nectar rewards for bees. Cranberry always loses out to more rewarding flowers eg. blackberry. The best way to collect cranberry pollen so far appears to eliminate all other attractive plants from the surrounding ecosystem. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Jun 1995 08:19:32 +0000 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Keith Hooker Organization: Technology Management Ltd Subject: Re: Increasing pollen gathering Insects are little different from other biological organisms, they need three primary things - food, shelter, security. Man in his wisdom (??) turns to monoculture, removes hedges and ploughs then sprays insecticides everywhere. If you can control this you will get increased numbers of bumble bees and other solitary bees. Nature does not like a vaccum but will not invade areas where its chances of survival are low. >>> Keith JM Hooker <<< >>> Technology Management Ltd <<< >>> WHITSTABLE Kent CT5 4ED UK <<< ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Jun 1995 11:44:53 +0100 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jean-Marie Van Dyck Subject: Re: Increasing pollen gathering On Tue, 20 Jun 1995 09:00:00 -0700 Paul van Westendorp commented: > In monocultural settings as cranberry (and blueberry) is grown today, it is > the shortage in numbers of pollinating insects that is the limiting > factor. Bumblebee nests may be comprised of a few dozen individuals while a > cranberry field has millions of flowers. Considering the current prices for > commercially available bumble bee nests, I question the economics of their > use in a field setting. (Greenhouses is a different matter). Perhaps, > simple enhancement of nesting habitat would be more cost-effective. .. and after some other comments ... My $.02: I'm pollinating for a fruit grower (pears and apples) in my area (Belgium 50degN-2degE). He is quite convinced by honey bees pollination for the number of pollinators BUT he is also convinced IT IS NOT ENOUGH !! The weather here is generally cloudy and rainy (cold and wet). Some days when full blooming : no one honeybee is flying but bumblebees are (too cold). Honeybees are easily disturbed in their fruit pollination by another more attractive crop in the same area (i.e. oil rape). His opinion is to increase the spring pollinators population. 3 actions : The first : he puts a lot of birds nests in his 16 ha of trees : natural protection against insects AND after bird nesting : bumblebee nests. The second : he plants in his area some acres of stimulating crop (Phacelia) in the late summer (Aug-Sep-Oct). This increase the number of wintering bumblebees in his area. The third : he puts a series of Osmia nests to increase their population during the pollinating time. Osmia gets more pollen ! BTW he is trying to get seeds of a *SHORT FORM* (max 40 cm height) of this very interesting plant (Phacelia) : to plant it under his fruit trees. If anyone knows : TIA BTW2 this crop is also very interesting to honeybees which have a late honey flow. Natural honey flow is finished here on 20-30th of Juli ! Hope this helps ! This: C'est ma facon de parler ! Jean-Marie ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Jun 1995 08:28:52 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Carl Mueller Subject: Re: Buckfast Queens >>In a message dated 95-06-19 19:32:41 EDT, jwagner@MINDSPRING.COM (Jim >>Wagner) wrote: >> >>> I have noticed many references to Buckfast Queens on this list. Can >>>someone please tell me what a Buckfast Queen is and why there is so >>>much interest in them? >Dave Green wrote: > >> They are very dark in color, so it is a bit hard to find queens, unless >>they are marked. The drones in some cases are almost black, however the overall coloration is just slightly darker than that of Italians. >> Some complain that they are a bit testy, especially in the second generation, >> but I haven't found them to be. Some times this is true, but if you have eggs and drones the old testy queen can be killed (shudder) and the colony will produce a supersedure. I have found that Buckfasts are gentler than my Italians and are less prone to producing the rogue testy queen. >> My main complaint is that they are hard to establish. I have had a lot of >>problems with supersedure, however, they usually allow the queen to lay long >>enough so the daughter is of the same stock. I have found that the best way to start with new buckfast queens is be sure that there are lots of sealed and developing brood. Monitor the hive every couple of days after release and remove all newly started queen cells. The new queen will start laying at full speed within 7 - 10 days. The other method that I use is to get the old queen laying in a shallow or half deep super. I then place her back into the original hive body, place a double screen board between the shallow brood chamber and the rest of the hive. The start is now on top of the hive and its supers if they are on. I then install the new queen in this start and wait for 3 weeks before removing the start and setting it up on it's own hive bottom. At this time I place a full size hive body with drawn comb on top and monitor for supercedure cells. I have found that with this method there are no supercedure cells because the colony senses that the queen is really doing a good job of laying. She is able to fill all the shallow brood chamber with eggs, keeping them happy until she can reach full production, which can usually take 3-4 weeks. Since I have been doing this I have yet to loose a new queen to supercedure. Carl Mueller Email: cmueller@emi.net West Palm Beach, Florida USA ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Jun 1995 08:39:10 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Randy Lynn Subject: Re: Buckfast Queens In a message dated 95-06-19 19:32:41 EDT, you write: > Can >someone please tell me what a Buckfast Queen is and why there is so >much >interest in them? The Buckfast Bee was developed by a monk in Buckfast Abbey in the UK. His name is Brother Adam. He searched the world to find honeybee genetic material. He then brought them back to Buckfast Abbey and developed a new type of bee "The Buckfast" based upon the best characteristics of all the original races. The most notable attribute is that they have an inherent resistance to tracheal mites. Brother Adam has worked with several queen breeders in the US and Canada. They now sell Buckfast Queens. I have purchased several Buckfast Queens and have been thoroughly pleased with them. I have also tried to read everything that Brother Adam has written. My favorite is "In Search of the best strains of bees" Published by Dadant & Sons, Hamilton IL. It chronicles Brother Adams travels in the 50's and 60's and discusses his approach to bee breeding. Brother Adam is the best thing to happen to beekeeping since the Reverend Langstroth. Randy Lynn Blossom Ridge Bee Farm 5402 Ashbey Lane, Summerfield, North Carolina, USA 27358 Phone 910-643-4494, email RCLynn@AOL.COM Sideline beekeeper with 35 hives. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Jun 1995 08:53:21 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Lars A. Lutton" Subject: Re: Increasing pollen gathering - Reply From: NAME: Lars Lutton FUNC: Instructional Media Services TEL: (614)593-2669 To: MX%"BEE-L@UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU"@MRGATE@OUVAX wanting bees to forage particular plant species feed a 30% sugar syrup puree containing flowers of the target species of plant Robert, I seem to recall in CC Millers book a mention of 'old timers' throwing a handful of targeted flowers onto the bottem boards of hives to encourage foragers to a specific source. Regards, Lars/ Lutton@ouvaxa.cats.ohiou.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Jun 1995 09:24:52 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Marc Party Subject: Re: Purple loosestrife Beekeepers in these parts say that though honey bies die for purple loosestrife nectar, the honey it produces is greenish and does not taste good at all. What's your experience? Marc Patry Eastern Ontario Model Forest Kemptville, Ontario K0G 1J0 Canada tel (613) 258-8239 fax (613) 258-3920 e-mail mpatry@emr1.emr.ca ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Jun 1995 11:47:44 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Malcolm (Tom) Sanford, Florida Extension Apiculturist" Subject: June issue of APIS Distributed to: USR:[MTS]INTERNET.DIS;64, mts FILENAME: JUNAPIS.95 Florida Extension Beekeeping Newsletter Apis--Apicultural Information and Issues (ISSN 0889-3764) Volume 13, Number 6, June 1995 Copyright (c) 1995 M.T. Sanford "All Rights Reserved" VARROA MITE POPULATION DYNAMICS As we learn more about Varroa jacobsoni in honey bee hives, the dynamics between mite and bee populations become more complex. Several things are thought to contribute to mite population buildup, including the natural rate of increase in the bee colony based on the amount of brood and the number of mites being introduced from nearby infested colonies. This latter factor is thought to be extremely significant in "reinfestation" of treated colonies (see March 1993 APIS). Another consideration is the switch by Varroa mites in the fall from the decreasing number drone brood, which they seem to prefer, to worker brood (See October 1994 APIS). There are many examples of populations that are "density dependent" in the biological world. These groups cannot expand indefinitely because as their number increases, conditions change to slow, and in some cases stop, further growth. Often this "negative feedback loop" is a response to dwindling food resources. A study published in Journal of Apicultural Research (Vol. 33(3):155-159, 1994) by M. Eguaras, J. Marcangeli and N. Fernandez shows that this is also true for Varroa. As the mite population in a bee colony increases, there is a reduction in the number of Varroa offspring. Even the addition of one mite the authors deem significant. Theoretically, a honey bee colony treated in the fall, provided it survives the winter, comes into spring with a low Varroa mite population ready to rapidly expand. A honey bee colony in good condition can usually outpace the mite population buildup during the more active season. Nevertheless, it is extremely important to know the population level of Varroa mites in a bee colony in case chemical control becomes necessary. Ideally, bee colonies should be chemically treated only when there is an "excessive" quantity of mites determined by ether roll or some other test. Unfortunately, what is considered "excessive" is not known. It is subjective, depending on the observer's point of view, and can vary greatly with the testing procedure. The results of the above study now complicate this situation more by suggesting that this all-important number is also influenced by the mite population level itself. The level at which treatment is necessary, therefore, like many other aspects of Varroa control, becomes a moving target (see August 1994 APIS). The negative feedback loop in the Varroa population makes biological sense. It keeps parasitization to a "reasonable" level and prolongs the survival of the bee colony, lengthening the time the mite population has to feed on its host. Unfortunately, this does little for the beekeeper. Any level of parasitic activity inevitably decreases surplus production in a colony, the apiculturist's bread and butter. And the authors of the above study say that this mechanism alone cannot keep bee colonies alive. This is particularly true in winter, when many highly infested brood cells are present and a non-equilibrium between host and parasite leads to colony death. The study concludes: "Thus, beekeepers must still apply chemical products to maintain low mite populations." BACKGROUNDER FOR HONEY LEGISLATION "The U.S. Congress will soon consider new farm legislation to replace the expiring Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990." This is the first sentence in the foreword to Agricultural Economic Report Number 708, Honey: Background for 1995 Farm Legislation, USDA, April 1995, by Frederic L. Hoff. The document contains a wealth of historical information and analysis on the beekeeping industry and is a fine supplement to AER 680, The U.S. Beekeeping Industry, May 1994 (see July 1994 APIS). Besides a summary of changes in the honey price support system from the 1960s to 1994, it discusses the structure of the beekeeping industry, effects of the honey program on all levels of U.S. society and current policy issues. This publication is mandatory reading for anyone who might have an interest in how the honey industry fares as part of the 1995 farm bill. In general, this report shows a historical downward trend in colony numbers, beekeepers and profit margins. Some of the salient points are summarized below: In 1947, there were 5.9 million hives in the United States. There was a steady decline until 1973. From then until 1986, colony count leveled off at about 4.1 million. A precipitous drop followed, with hives declining 16 percent since 1989 to the present level of 2.9 million. During the same period, the number of beekeepers has also declined, although exact figures are not known. Honey production mirrored colony numbers to some degree, declining from 272 million pounds in 1952 to 150 million pounds in 1985. The average production in the 1950s and 1960s was 240 million pounds, dropping to 209 million during the 1970s and 1980s. As beekeeping operations have increased in size, production per colony has been higher, averaging 66 pounds per colony since 1986. Outfits of less than five hives were dropped from production figures in the 1986, inflating this average. The value of honey production has increased over the years. It averaged $42.3 million from 1945-1971. Since then, it went to a height of $141.5 million in 1979, then dropped to $121-$125 million from 1991-1993. In spite of the general rise in overall production, honey prices have remained relatively low, declining from a record high of $0.61 per pound in 1981 to $0.54 in 1993. The report only covers up to 1993 and, therefore, does not reflect current prices, driven even lower by a recent flood of imports. A decline in honey program payments from $100 million in 1988 to $16 million in 1993, along with an increase in operational expenses over 15 percent has also hit beekeepers hard. Most beekeepers supply pollination free as a byproduct of their honey-producing activities. About a million colonies are estimated to be involved in commercial pollination. Fees range from $9.50 per colony to as high as $35. Using an average figure of $20, the estimated value of purchased pollination services is $40.7 million in 1988. This value is estimated to increase in the future. The report concludes: "The fate of the honey price support program will likely be determined by the 1995 farm bill." It lists several options Congress might consider: 1. Extend Provisions of the Existing Honey Program: This would force producers to depend more on honey sales and commercial pollination for most of their income. However, it would also provide some income protection in a sluggish and weak honey market. 2. Adopt and Extend Provision of Government Reform and Savings Act: This program would make loans, but eliminate subsidies. Although not providing beekeepers with income because loans are repayable with interest, it could be a source of working capital. 3. Protect Program With Import Quotas: Controlling imports using import quotas or tariff-rate quotas would eliminate beekeeper dependence on the honey program for income. This is highly unlikely given the prevalent "free trading" philosophy. A full copy of the report can be requested by dialing 1-800- 999-6779. The cost is $9 and includes postage for U.S. residents (others add 25 percent to the cost). Visa and MasterCard are accepted. I reiterate what I said last July, "The beekeeping community now has plenty of ammunition to back up its arguments for public support in many arenas. However, the time and expense to produce this document will go for naught, if those in the beekeeping industry do not use the information to its fullest potential." Deliberations about the 1995 farm bill will likely be determined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) budget, according to the Farm Bureau as reported in The Speedy Bee, May 1995. The historical downward trend in help to beekeepers is also mirrored in the rest of agriculture. Current USDA reorganization is expected to eliminate more than 1,200 field offices, terminate more than 11,000 employees and consolidate 43 agencies into 29. "With 4 percent of the federal budget set aside for USDA, assumptions have been made that the $63 billion is doled out directly to farmers," the article says. However, in reality less than one percent actually goes to farm-only programs. The majority (59 percent) was for food and nutrition assistance, while two percent was absorbed in international food aid. The Commodity Credit Corporation received 17 percent, while research, Forest Service and Farm Service Agency received 3, 7 and 7 percent respectively. The House and Senate have put all agriculture programs on the table. Both are expected to debate the agriculture budget in May or June, with a reconciliation agreement likely. The bottom line: farmers must contact their representatives with their concerns for both the 1996 agriculture budget and 1995 farm bill or see continued erosion in support at the federal level. THE NATIONAL HONEY BOARD READIES FOR THE 21st CENTURY According to the National Honey Board Chairman, Mr. Neil Miller, the Board is now working to be ready for the 21st century. His letter in the latest National Honey Board News discusses efforts "preparing to meet the challenges of promoting honey in a changing environment." As part of this, Mr. Miller says, the board is working on an international honey research database accessible across the Internet and helping other countries promote honey to their own consumers. The development of the PackTrack computer program is another example of the Board's commitment to tomorrow's (really today's) business climate. The software provides a consistent way to maintain a complete history of all honey purchases and to track sweet processed for sale. It also will manage an accurate, up-to- date list of contacts, including honey producers, importers, vendors and customers. The system can search for data eight different ways and there is an online help facility and a calculator available at "the touch of a key." PackTrack requires a 386 IBM compatible processor, running DOS 3.3 or higher. It, along with a complete user's manual, sells for $8.95. The honey board newsletter is also packed with other kinds of information, including a detailed article on small business exemptions from nutrition labeling. For more specifics about honey labeling, and for Florida in particular, see the August, October and November 1994 issues of APIS. For more information on National Honey Board programs, see the February ("Honey Board Evaluates Itself") and March ("A Honey of a Bibliography") 1995 issues of APIS. If you don't get the National Honey Board's newsletter, write or call (800-553-7162). Also be advised that the Office address has recently changed to 390 Lashley, Longmont, CO 80501-6045. Sincerely, Malcolm T. Sanford Bldg 970, Box 110620 University of Florida Gainesville, FL 32611-0620 Phone (904) 392-1801, Ext. 143 FAX: 904-392-0190 BITNET Address: MTS@IFASGNV; INTERNET Address: MTS@GNV.IFAS.UFL.EDU APIS on the World Wide Web-- http://gnv.ifas.ufl.edu/~entweb/apis/apis.htm Copyright (c) M.T. Sanford 1995 "All Rights Reserved" ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Jun 1995 09:01:00 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Paul van Westendorp 576-5600 Fax: 576-5652" Subject: Re: Purple loosestrife Dave, Interesting to read that the US Interior Dept. is going through the process of risk assessment re. the proposed release of three non-indigenous insect species to control Purple Loosestrife. Purple Loosestrife was recognized in Canada as a highly aggressive invader of wetlands years ago. Its current distribution is from coast to coast with the highest infestations (and impact) in Ontario, Quebec and to a lesser degree in British Columbia. In an attempt to control it, the very same insect species were released in Ontario & Quebec in 1991, and in BC in 1992. The nursery trade industry has been requested not to sell the plant anymore as this has been considered the original source of introduction. The point I am making is that the US risk assessment may have to take into consideration the fact that the proposed introduction of the controlling insect species will not be entirely unique for many areas (especially those close to the the Canadian border). Paul van Westendorp pvanwesten@galaxy.gov.bc.ca Provincial Apiarist British Columbia ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Jun 1995 12:32:07 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Patrick M O'Hearn <73203.610@COMPUSERVE.COM> Subject: Bees and the third estate Hello All, KENNEWICK, Wash. (AP) -- A TV reporter's hair gel apparently attracted a swarm of bees that stung him more than 30 times Tuesday. KVEW reporter Mychal Limric, 24, was doing a story on the science of beekeeping when bees from a hive about 50 feet away suddenly darted toward his head, KVEW-TV News Director Tom Spencer said. Camerawoman Dao Vu and beekeeper Irv Pfeiffer tried to brush the bees off, then Pfeiffer slammed a protective hood over Limric's head -- which also turned out to contain bees, Spencer said. Limric took cover in a vehicle. He was treated at a hospital for more than 30 stings on the scalp and face, Spencer said. Limric wasn't expected to have any lasting ill effects. Spencer said Limric's hair gel seemed the only logical catalyst for the attack, since the stings were mostly on his scalp. Vu and Pfeiffer, who weren't wearing any gel, were standing next to Limric but were not attacked. Spencer wasn't able to say exactly what was in the gel. Kennewick is located about 180 miles southeast of Seattle. Talk about your bad hair day..... Patrick M. O'Hearn Aztec, New Mexico ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Jun 1995 10:48:06 -0600 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jerry J Bromenshenk Subject: Pollen Trap Grids - Non-metallic Hi: I have some technical questions: 1) Plastic pollen trap inserts In the early 80's we came across pollen trap inserts made of perforated plastic. They were produced in Europe.. I have not seen any of these inserts in our part of the U.S. in recent years, nor have I found them in any catalogues. We have built our own plastic inserts, but would rather purchase them. I need 15 inserts for immediate use in some of our specialized research hives. I can not use metal screens - we are testing for metals in the pollen and the standard metal screens used in U.S. pollen traps can add zinc to the pollen. 2) Bee counters We are testing various counters to determine the number of bees coming and going from the hive. We tried and rejected laser diodes when some of the parts were discontinued. Infra-red counters seem ok, and we have seen some articles on building these, but the counters were not set up to deal with large numbers of bees coming and going. Probably the state-of-the-art lies with a very expensive system being used in the U.S. for which the circuit diagrams are not being released. So, three issues: a) Does anyone have a reference to a counting system that provides the ability to count large numbers of individuals, reliably, cheaply? You will probably come up with the same articles that we did, but sometimes we miss one, especially in the European and Asian journals. b) Are there any other kinds of detection systems (e.g., micro-switches). We do not want to tag the bees, we need to count all incoming and outgoing bees from colonies containing 10k to 30k of bees - and we need to do this for 30 hives! c) Does anyone have a nifty way of directing incoming bees through one set of counters and outgoing bees through another? We have tried funnels and directional air flows (bees don't like walking or flying into stiff breezes) All of the data is directed through A-bus cards into a 66 MHz, 486 DX notebook computer with 8 Mg memory and 520 Mg hard disk, with a 700 Mg Tape Backup system. The notebook currently logs hive temperatures, RH, hive weights, and a full array of weather variables. Air flow, speed, and direction (to assess fanning activity) will be added in the near future (using sensors that have been employed for a long time at UM to assess air flow). The computer also has an audio card and we will record acoustic emissions. If anyone has any other parameters that can be measured continuously, please let us know. We can accept several hundred input lines. Address your comments to me directly so as to not tie up the net with technical discussions that are probably of interest to only a small group of subscribers. Thanks Jerry Bromenshenk The University of MT Missoula, MT 59812-1002 Tel: 406-243-5648 Fax: 406-243-4184 E-Mail jjbmail@selway.umt.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Jun 1995 12:37:10 -0600 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Dan Oetting Subject: Re: Pollen Trap Grids - Non-metallic >Hi: > >I have some technical questions: > >2) Bee counters If you use LEDs/photodiodes you will want to use a bi-phase decoder. The bi-phase decoder takes the input from 2 photodiodes in each passage to determine the direction of travel and eliminate false triggers. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Jun 1995 15:52:49 EDT Reply-To: rgendrea@foxboro.com Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Roland Gendreau Subject: Queen evaluation As a newcomer to beekeeping, I need a little advice. As of two weeks ago, I had one hive in which I had installed a package in in early April, and it was doing quite well. I arrived home one sunny afternoon to discover a large swarm in process; I did not observe if the swarm originated from my original hive as I was so absorbed in watching the swarm settle on a tree branch about 30 ft off the ground. Nevertheless, I was able to capture the swarm and install it in a new hive. A recent inspection showed good egg production in process in the new hive. My concern is the old hive; during my recent inspection, I saw very few capped brood and a lot of empty cells in the lower hive body. I could not find the queen although I didn't spend a lot of time looking for her. The upper hive body had a lot of honey/pollen and some capped brood. The overall population is quite large and made me wonder whether the swarm originated from my old hive. If the queen in the old hive is weak, should I go ahead and buy a new queen or will they produce a new one on their own? I didn't see any queen cells during my inspection, although I didnt check every frame. There was some burr comb on the bottoms of some of the frames, but nothing that looked like queen cells to me. Thanks for the advice. BTW, capturing the swarm was an exhilarating experience! Roland Gendreau ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Jun 1995 18:36:08 +0000 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Keith Hooker Organization: Technology Management Ltd Subject: Re: Buckfast Queens As a number of other contributors have explained the Buckfast Queen is one developed by Brother Adam from Buckfast Abbey, Devon, UK. While this is significant, what is more significant is that he has been selecting breeding lines since the First World War and has breeder stock records going back that far. No one else to my knowledge has bred and kept records for this length of time. He is well aware of the Mendelian Rules of inheritance and culls his progeny to exclude all the traits he does not want. Sometimes this means a very heavy loss of potential stock and it starts when the queens emerge. What would be good and would suppliment Bro Adams work would be a genetic map of his bees. Each year he himself says the Bro Adam bee is different but he is still selecting for the same traits, quiteness on the comb, thrift with stores, good health characteristics and ability to produce a surplus and not agressive. It must be possible to map these traits within DNA and help all bee breeders. >>> Keith JM Hooker <<< >>> Technology Management Ltd <<< >>> WHITSTABLE Kent CT5 4ED UK <<< ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Jun 1995 09:29:42 +1200 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Robert Rice Subject: Pollen Trap Grids - Non-metallic - Reply >1) Plastic pollen trap inserts >In the early 80's we came across pollen trap inserts made of perforated >plastic. They were produced in Europe.. I have not seen any of these >inserts in our part of the U.S. in recent years, nor have I found them in any >catalogues. About 15 years ago I purchased a role of the type of perforated plastic sheeting from france. We used it to make inserts for pollen traps. A french beekeeper who was on holidays had dropped in while we making pollen traps and suggested that we replace metal with plastic. I gave him some money so that when he returned to france he could bye a role of the plastic and send it over, which he did. I cant remember his name but he was one of their bigger beekeepers. From what I remember this material was easily obtained. The material has lasted well and is still in use in pollen traps. Robert Rice. Apiculture Services Manager (Sth Island) MAF- Quality Management Lincoln New Zealand. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Jun 1995 22:34:44 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "La Reine de la Cite' des Phoques (Liz Day)" Subject: Re: Increasing pollen gathering Thompson and Morgan seeds offers "Phacelia campanularia, 9". Likes a sandy soil, good bee plant, introduced in 1882." (9" = 23 cm). Box 1308 Jackson, NJ 08527 USA Liz Day LDAY@indy.net Indianapolis, Indiana, USA ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Jun 1995 21:45:17 -0800 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Dale Lyon Subject: Wasps Greetings Is there any evidence of wasps rebuilding after destruction of nest? Do they relocate or requeen if she is destroyed? Is there any similarities to honeybees. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% * Dale Lyon, * Volunteer Computer Coordinator, Galiano School * RR2, S42, C12 * Galiano, B.C., V0N 1P0 * Canada * e-mail address is:- < dlyon@cln.etc.bc.ca > * school - 604-539-2261, home - 539-5428, fax c/o- 539-2318 ************************************************************** Soon also to be Gulf Islands Community Net (GulfNet), we hope. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Jun 1995 01:16:13 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Mike High Subject: Re: Bees and the third estate It is good that the idiot got lit up.Anyone that stupid deserves it.The down side is all the negitive press we'll hear about "killer" bees ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 21 Jun 1995 22:19:14 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Kim Patten Subject: Re: Increasing pollen gathering Also try Hudson Seedsman po box 1058, REdwood City Calif 94064 He has P. campanularia (1/2 foot), P. tanacetifolia (1-3.5ft)and P. viscida (1-2 ft). I have done reseearch with P. tanacefolia comparing it to several other bee plants and found that it was one of the best for both honey bees and long tongued bumble bees. It reseeded poorly, however. Kim Patten Long Beach WA >Thompson and Morgan seeds offers >"Phacelia campanularia, 9". >Likes a sandy soil, good bee plant, introduced in 1882." > >(9" = 23 cm). >Box 1308 >Jackson, NJ 08527 USA > >Liz Day >LDAY@indy.net >Indianapolis, Indiana, USA > > ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Jun 1995 09:39:00 GMT+0100 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Hugo Thone Subject: Re: Bees and the third estate Mike High writes : >It is good that the idiot got lit up.Anyone that stupid >deserves it.The down side is all the negitive press >we'll hear about "killer" bees Why would someone wearing gel in his hair be an idiot ? IMHO the beekeeper that keeps such aggressive bees is much more an idiot. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hugo Thone (SE121) email : htho@se.bel.alcatel.be ALCATEL BELL TELEPHONE phone : (32) 3 240 94 52 F.Wellesplein 1 fax : (32) 3 240 99 50 B-2018 Antwerp do bee do bee do .... ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Jun 1995 05:19:58 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Rob Brett <100530.3211@COMPUSERVE.COM> Subject: Bumblebee plant Bumblebee enthusiasts I wish to commend the remarkable Centauria montana (Compositae) ('Violetta' or 'Alba') to those who might wish to attract bumblebees. An easily cultivated perennial, flowering May-June in the UK. I have just watched 50-60 inebriated bumblebees drinking and slumbering on a small clump of this plant (similar to cornflower). Most flowers had 2 or 3 bees dozing in the flowers, ideally shaped for the latter activity. Whatever there is in these flowers, it certainly draws the bees in large numbers, and (perhaps puree'd) might assist those hoping for improved bumblebee pollination. However, judging by its effect on the bees, maybe it would call a halt to all useful work for the rest of the day. This message should probably have been posted on the bumblebee list, which I believe exists, and for which I would be grateful for directions. >From windy Ross-shire, North East Scotland, Yours aye, Rob Brett 100530.3211@compuserve.com ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Jun 1995 08:36:58 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Kelley Rosenlund Subject: mosaic Hi all, Two questions: 1.Can bees transfer plant diseases, specifically mosaic on cucumbers? I have a possible farmer client for pollination & he is concerned about bees/hives bringing mosiac from south Florida where it is a big problem to his crops in north Florida where mosaic is not so bad. 2. When you move your hives from field to field, do you screen the hive entrance to keep the bees in? Thanks and God Bless, Kelley Rosenlund rosenlk@freenet.ufl.edu In the metropolis of Gainesville, Florida, U.S.A. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Jun 1995 09:24:15 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Dave Green, Eastern Pollinator Newsletter" Subject: Re: mosaic In a message dated 95-06-22 08:40:49 EDT, rosenlk@FREENET.UFL.EDU (Kelley Rosenlund) wrote: >2. When you move your hives from field to field, do you screen the >hive >entrance to keep the bees in? I can't help with the question about mosaic, but would be extremely interested in others' responses. Re: your second question. In hot weather it is extremely risky to close up hives. When they discover they can't get out, they become exited. That creates more heat, which gets them more excited. You can get a runaway chain reaction, which can actually melt down comb. Of course before that happens brood is dead, and the bees will probably not be able to recover from the loss without heroic salvage methods. You'll have to remove the dead brood, feed heavily, and watch to see if the queen was damaged or lost. Late afternoon/evening, when bees are basically done flying, is the best time to load, and morning is the best time to unload, if it can be planned that way. As long as the truck is moving, even in daylight, bees will not fly unless they are dangerously overheated. Be liberal about hosing down the load. For long distance hauls crushed ice is also a possibility. Put it on top, so it drips down among the hives. If you can net the whole load (some states require this), it is far better than closing up individual hives. But be prepared for some mighty mean bees when you pull the net. I like to unnet the load first, then move a couple hundred feet to get away from the irate ones before unloading the hives. If you must close up hives, and the weather is hot, you need to have top screens to replace the covers. Hope this helps. Pollinator@aol.com Dave Green PO Box 1215 Hemingway, SC 29554 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Jun 1995 12:25:27 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Lucy Cronin Subject: removing frames of capped honey What advantages are there (if any) to removing frames or supers of capped honey as they become full? Would this not "discourage" the colony? Any feedback to this question would be much appreciated/ Regards, Lucy Cronin hobbyist ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Jun 1995 09:29:00 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Paul van Westendorp 576-5600 Fax: 576-5652" Subject: Re: Bees and the third estate Gentlemen, I think there is no need to call the man with the hair gel an idiot or the bees that were attracted, unacceptably aggressive. If we ignore the sensational tone of the newsreport (and accept the reported bee behavior as factual), it is interesting that some odor caused the bees to behave the way they did. The question would be to determine the exact nature of this odor and what kind of possibilities substances like these could offer in controlling bee behavior. Paul van Westendorp pvanwesten@galaxy.gov.bc.ca Provincial Apiarist British Columbia ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Jun 1995 13:09:46 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Doug Yanega Subject: Re: Bees and the third estate > Spencer said Limric's hair gel seemed the only logical catalyst for the >attack, since the stings were mostly on his scalp. Vu and Pfeiffer, who weren't >wearing any gel, were standing next to Limric but were not attacked. Spencer >wasn't able to say exactly what was in the gel. It sounds like maybe one of the chemicals used to give it a scent was an analog of the Apis attack pheromone (which I distinctly recall - having been stung in the nose by African bees - as having a rather fruity smell). Ever since I was attacked, I've avoided floral or fruit scented shampoos as a precautionary measure. Now I'll know not to start using hair gel. ;-) Doug Yanega Illinois Natural History Survey, 607 E. Peabody Dr. Champaign, IL 61820 USA phone (217) 244-6817, fax (217) 333-4949 "There are some enterprises in which a careful disorderliness is the true method" - Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chap. 82 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Jun 1995 13:17:20 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Doug Yanega Subject: Re: Bumblebee plant >I have just watched 50-60 inebriated bumblebees drinking and slumbering >on a small clump of this plant (similar to cornflower). Most flowers had >2 or 3 bees dozing in the flowers, ideally shaped for the latter activity. > >Whatever there is in these flowers, it certainly draws the bees in large >numbers, and (perhaps puree'd) might assist those hoping for improved >bumblebee pollination. However, judging by its effect on the bees, >maybe it would call a halt to all useful work for the rest of the day. I just recently came across a similar record for longhorn beetles becoming "intoxicated" at flowers of Euonymus (Gosling, 1984, Gr. Lks. Ent. 17: 79-82). Certainly an odd phenomenon. Doug Yanega Illinois Natural History Survey, 607 E. Peabody Dr. Champaign, IL 61820 USA phone (217) 244-6817, fax (217) 333-4949 "There are some enterprises in which a careful disorderliness is the true method" - Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chap. 82 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Jun 1995 14:31:18 +22300129 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Adam Finkelstein Subject: _Apidologie_ Hello. I'm trying to get some articles from this French journal. My library tells me that the articles are in French, with English summaries. CAB abstracts says that there are English versions of the articles. Are there English translations of _Apidologie_? If so where? Many thanks, Adam -- ______________________________________ Adam Finkelstein adamf@vtaix.cc.vt.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Jun 1995 11:39:00 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Kerry Clark 784-2225 fax (604) 784 2299" Subject: Re: _Apidologie_ Adam Apidologie articles are in French, English or German. The abstracts (only) are in all three languages. So, a particular article may be in English. regards Kerry Clark, Apiculture Specialist B.C. Ministry of Agriculture 1201 103 Ave Dawson Creek B.C. V1G 4J2 CANADA Tel (604) 784-2225 fax (604) 784-2299 INTERNET KCLARK@GALAXY.GOV.BC.CA ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Jun 1995 15:57:27 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Kenna MacKenzie Subject: Re: Increasing pollen gathering Time for me to jump into this thread on Vaccinium pollination. (Yes, I am out here, Doug!) First and foremost, there can be no doubt that native North American bees are better Vaccinium (cranberry and blueberry) pollinators than are honey bees. Bumble bees and Andrena species (numerous ones, I'm sure) appear to be most common, but also Halictus (other Halictids are just too small!), Osmia, and Megachile in certain circumstances. The importance of native bees varies with crop, site, etc. as we all know. Andrena is especially common in lowbush blueberry in the Maritimes, while bumble bees are numerous on cranberries in Massachusetts incidently. I am just really beginning to seriously look at bee diversity in lowbush blueberry and try to tie site attributes to abundance. Time will tell if this pans out. In terms of being able to increase native bee numbers, this is a very difficult question with little research effort dedicated to it. I know that work has been done with nest boxes, with very limited success, for bumble bees. Incidently, Chris Plowright indicated to me a number of years ago that the critical period for alternative forage for bumble bees would be after bloom during the reproductive phase of the colony. Adequate forage would need to be available in late summer to ensure that colonies produce maximum numbers of queens and drones. He suggested planting forages that could be cut during bloom, but would flower after cranberry or whatever is finished. I, too, would suggest that current commercial bumble bee colonies are too expensive and there are a few problems with their use in a field situation that need to be addressed (at least with the colonies I've used). However, more research is needed to answer questions about their use. Anyway, the main problem with trying to use honey bees on these crops is that pollen, although abundant) is difficult for Apis to collect. This is especially true on blueberry where it is rare to see pollen collection. I have only seen bees with miniscule pollen loads on either highbush or lowbush blueberry. On cranberry, probably because the flower is more open, honey bees can and do collect pollen, sometimes collecting large loads. And, there is more and more evidence that pollen collecting bees on these plants are much more effective pollinators - it is not so much species of bee but rather foraging behaviour that is important. On lowbush blueberry, we find that pollen collecting bees (in this case, alfalfa leafcutters) deposit 10 times as much pollen per visit and pollinate 85% of the flowers they visit compared to nectar collectors which pollinate under 10% of the flowers visited. Honey bees tend to only forage for nectar so are very similar to nectar foraging alfalfa leafcutters in their pollination effectiveness. Therefore, the question of increasing pollen foraging in honey bees does become an important question. Can it be done effectively and predictably? I don't know as my first experiment on this question is in progress. The best method may be the use of young queens with lots of unsealed brood in colonies so pollen is needed. High pollen collecting lines of honey bees would also be important. All in all, it seems to me that beekeepers need to think of managing for pollination - which is different than for honey production. My last point is one that I am beginning to feel very strongly about. Pollination, even on commercial fields, is carried out by both managed (when they are brought in) and Native bees. The importance of native bees is often overlooked and all the crop is attributed to whatever managed pollinator is used. I am striving in my lowbush blueberry work to take an overall approach to pollination - kind of "Integrated Pollination Management", if you will. Cheers, Kenna ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Jun 1995 16:32:30 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Mike High Subject: Re: Bees and the third estate Anyone wearing gel in his hair around the bees is an idiot.I doubt the bees were "agressive" as they did'nt bother anyone else. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Jun 1995 21:29:50 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jim Wagner Subject: Buckfast Help I want to thank each and everyone of you who took the time to reply to my question about Buckfast Queens. Jim Wagner ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Jun 1995 00:28:45 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Steven A. Davis" Subject: Various Hello Fellow Bee Keepers, I am a beginer and need some help. This April I started two colonies of Italians, alpha colony and beta colony. On the second day after introducing them to their new homes I pulled away the grass from their entrances and let them to their own devices. Upon checking them the next day I found that at least half of the bees in beta drifted to alpha. This made beta colony very weak. Since that time I have transfered two full frames of capped brood from alpha in an attempt to bolster their ranks, with some success. Also, it appears that alpha colony is just better at doing everything; drawing comb, foraging, stinging! (they are very cross). A few questions then. 1. I have heard that such a difference in colonies is due to the vigor of the queen. Is this so? 2. Why did so many bees drift all at once on the second day? 3. Is beta colonies queen inferior? And if so should I requeen this colony? 4. I believe my bees expend a tremendous amount of energy drawing out foundation. In fact they don't apparently like to do it at all. I put two small shallow supers of new foundation above a queen excluder and all they did was ignore it and store their honey in the bottom deep. I have since removed the excluders. Is it unrealistic in the so so spring we are having in the northwest to expect a crop from new packages? 5. On advice from the beekeeper I purchased the packages from I have not medicated for Varoa yet this spring. (he maintained that their population would be small this time of year, and that I could wait until after harvest to medicate). I have now found adult Varoa on some of my bees. Should I give up on making a crop and just medicate now? I know this is a great deal for any one person to address, but I would sure appreciate anyones help. Steve Davis Clackamas Co. Oregon, USA pmgeophys@aol.com ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Jun 1995 22:17:20 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Rob Bidleman Subject: Re: Increasing pollen gathering In-Reply-To: <00992441.56458080.11@NSRSKE.AGR.CA> On Thu, 22 Jun 1995, Kenna MacKenzie wrote: > First and foremost, there can be no doubt that native North > American bees are better Vaccinium (cranberry and blueberry) > pollinators than are honey bees. ** I have witnessed several varieties of Vaccinium (myrtillus and uliginosum) being well visited by wild (as well as domesticated) honeybees. In 1976 through 1987 I have cultivated/harvested and wildcrafted vaccinium as well as photographed and recorded the areas of its occurence in Sonoma. Marin, San Mateo amd Santa Cruz counties as well as other areas in Northern California and the Siskiyou Plateau. Since 1986/87 I have seen a general decline in the number of berries per plant which coincides with a decline in the number of wild/kept hives in those areas. While it is obvious that the honeybee is not indigenous and vaccinium is, it still causes me to reflect on the impact of the loss of the wild hives. In 1993 the areas that I have grown over the years for the forage of wild hives as well as my own (bottlebrush, clover, etc) revealed no honeybees in an eight hour period (June 2nd, bright and warm with no wind). That area was, in the past one of the busiest for bee traffic I have ever seen considering it was at least 4 miles from any hives (commercial). The decimation of wild hives in Northern Sonoma county is almost complete. A clump of Rosemary that I have used for over seven years to observe foraging bees which is about thirty feet by forty feet was completely vacant earlier this year in prime forage times. Bombus and one other small bee which I have heard called a "sweat" bee were the only visible working foragers. Rob - ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Jun 1995 10:47:23 +0100 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jean-Marie Van Dyck Subject: Re: _Apidologie_ Bonjour Adam ! Aims and scope of this 3 languages apicultural journal : Apidologie publishes original research articles and reviews on the biology of insectes belonging to the superfamily Apoidea, the term "biology" being used in the broader sense. ... The accepted languages are English, French and German. The manuscripts are published in *the original language* with a detailed summary in the other two languages. Hope this helps ! Jean-Marie ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Jun 1995 08:19:39 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Carl Mueller Subject: Re: Various Steve Davis wrote: >Hello Fellow Bee Keepers, > >I am a beginer and need some help. I have now found adult Varoa on some of my bees. Should I give up on making a crop and just medicate now? > >I know this is a great deal for any one person to address, but I would sure >appreciate anyones help. > >Steve Davis >Clackamas Co. >Oregon, USA >pmgeophys@aol.com > By all means put strips in both of your hives. The bees are more important and the honey can always be fed to the bees. If you are seeing them then you really have an infestation. Carl Mueller Email: cmueller@emi.net West Palm Beach, Florida USA " Knowledge is where you find it." " Seek and Ye shall find, knock and it will be opened onto you!" ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Jun 1995 07:59:47 -0600 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Eric Abell Subject: Re: Bees and the third estate Comments: To: "Paul van Westendorp 576-5600 Fax: 576-5652" In-Reply-To: <01HS03C0H21AHXQY8H@gems.gov.bc.ca> On Thu, 22 Jun 1995, Paul van Westendorp 576-5600 Fax: 576-5652 wrote: > Gentlemen, > > I think there is no need to call the man with the hair gel an idiot or the > bees that were attracted, unacceptably aggressive. > > If we ignore the sensational tone of the newsreport (and accept the reported > bee behavior as factual), it is interesting that some odor caused the bees > to behave the way they did. The question would be to determine the exact > nature of this odor and what kind of possibilities substances like these > could offer in controlling bee behavior. > > Paul van Westendorp pvanwesten@galaxy.gov.bc.ca > Provincial Apiarist > British Columbia I had similar situation a few years ago. A young man, Pat was working for me and he was often driven out of the bee yard by the intensity of the attacking bees around his head and shoulders. Meanwhile, no one else had any difficulty at all. We tried different veils and making certain that he came to work with clean hair and do scents sprayed on his hair or body. Nothing worked until I asked him to use no shampoo. That was it. The shampoo he was using was called 'Wild Strawberry' or something similar and it drove the bees mad. He changed his shampoo and the problem went away. Eric Abell email: eabell@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca Gibbons, AB, T0A 1N0 Canada (403) 998 3143 > ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Jun 1995 09:30:37 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "La Reine de la Cite' des Phoques (Liz Day)" Subject: smells that drive bees crazy Does any of this apply to bumblebees? Or is it only honeybees who will attack someone who wears the wrong shampoo/hair gel/perfume/ pheromone ? anybody? Liz Day LDAY@indy.net Indianapolis, Indiana, USA ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 15 Jun 1995 14:22:00 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Kerry Clark 784-2225 fax (604) 784 2299" Subject: Strategy for mites I'd like us to discuss a concise, broadly applicable strategy to live with parasitic mites of honey bees. There is a lot of information available, and we're a lot better equipped now than a few years ago, but still there appears to be a lack of consensus about basic things such as treatment or damage thresholds, or spring cf. fall treatment. Although there are glimmers of hope for a symbiotic relationship between bees and varroa, they seem uncomfortably far in the future, considering the likely loss of relatively good chemical controls, and the risk of honey contamination from other, relatively bad chemical controls. It would be good to have a model for sustainable management (one with a low likelihood of failing within a few years). Below is an attempt that I offer for discussion. It's based on some experimental results, some basic principles of pest management, and some choices (for lack of anything better). It has not been demonstrated to work. The control products are those available for commercial operations in Canada and in some European countries (Bayvarol can be substituted for Apistan as far as the strategy goes, I think). I've omitted drone brood removal, heat treatment and lactic acid as too labour intensive, fragrant oils as unsubstantiated ? and other chemicals such as amitraz as undesirable for various reasons, although I'd like to hear from anyone who feels another product is justifiable for general use. An equivalent "high labour" version of a strategy would be easier, since more options are available. I'd appreciate hearing from those of you with varroa experience, with comments on how you think specific parts of the strategy compare to what is the current practice in your area (including the probability of development of resistant varroa). Options, new ideas, criticism welcome. 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 FOR DISCUSSION Strategy for sustainable, integrated management of bee mites Assumptions: varroa and tracheal mites are established in an area. tolerable tracheal mite infestation: 15 % of bees in an apiary sample in fall. tolerable varroa infestation: 100/colony spring (=15/d1Api) (15 varroa on a sticky board on day 1 of Apistan exposure) 1000/colony fall (= 150/d1Api) varroa will increase as modeled in Fries '94. colonies must be treated to survive. adequate treatment: 90 % reduction, (once per year when reinfestation is minor, twice per year when reinfestation is major) commercial beekeeping (cost, labour minimized) General Advice: non-chemical strategies against tracheal mites: consider mite resistant stock, installation of vegetable oil patties (March through June), increased requeening and hive splitting with removal of splits after a few days flight. Check varroa drop (5 to 10 hives/ apiary) on first day of each treatment (as below). When tolerable mite populations are exceeded, continue treatments. Coordinate regionally: mite checks, treatment material and timing. Monitor efficacy. Short-treatment option (reduces treatment to fit lower varroa levels): Based on mite fall on first day of treatment, reduce treatment A or B: Less than 100 v mites: Apistan, leave only 2 weeks. Formic, apply 120 ml/ 3 doses. 100 to 500 v: Apistan, leave 4 weeks. Formic, apply 160 ml/ 4 doses. Over 500 v mites: Apistan, leave 6 weeks. Formic, apply 200 ml/ 5 doses. 1. Short winter region: (bees forage early March through October) For 1 treatment/year, alternate years, one of A, one of B. For 2 treatments/year, use one A and one B per year. Spring A: 2 Apistan hive strips, installed Feb. 1 through March 10, Fall A: 2 Apistan hive strips, installed Sept 1 through Oct 10 Spring B: 200 ml formic acid, dispensed continuously or in 5 doses, over 3 weeks in March, Fall B: 200 ml formic acid, dispensed continuously or in 5 doses, over 3 weeks in September, 2. Long winter region: (bees forage mid April through August) For 1 treatment/year, alternate years, one of A, one of B. For 2 treatments/year, use one A and one B per year. Spring A: 2 Apistan hive strips, installed April 1 through May 10, Fall A: 2 Apistan hive strips, installed Sept 1 through Oct 10 Spring B: 200 ml formic acid, dispensed continuously or in 5 doses, over 3 weeks in May, Fall B: 200 ml formic acid, dispensed continuously or in 5 doses, over 3 weeks in September. Thanks KC ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Jun 1995 13:22:41 -0600 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Peter Skrla Subject: Re: PROPOLIS - RESEARCH In-Reply-To: <9506231817.AA35849@ds1.acs.ucalgary.ca> I spent more than 10 years in Africa (Sierra Leone, Malawi) working with leprosy and AIDS victims. I would like to evaluate healing properties of propolis on deep ulcers commonly found in leprosy patients. I would appreciate any advice on how to prepare water soluble propolis extract that would be suitable for this research. Dr. Peter Skrla, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada e-mail: skrla@acs.ucalgary.ca; fax: (403) 547-3843 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Jun 1995 16:36:13 -0700 Reply-To: uc779@freenet.victoria.bc.ca Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Conrad A. Berube" Subject: bats in the belfry or bees in the bonnet? I'm not sure why the reputation of a newscaster wearing hair gel is being maligned-- is the prejudice against male cosmetic users or media folks? Regardless: When one is stung by a honeybee, membranes in the venom sac of the bee rupture and release pheromones at the wound which will guide other defending bees to the spot-- inciting them, too, to sting. It should come as little surprise then, that one of the first tricks of the trade that a beekeeper learns is that, when stung, the sting should be removed immediately and the area of the wound should be dosed with a few puffs of smoke-- which serves to mask the odor that will attract other bees to the wound. The pheromone can also be released when alarmed workers open their sting chambers in response to some perceived threat. Most beekeepers are familiar with the odor, similar to bananas, which can waft up from a hive that has been disturbed, and from which most wise beekeepers learn to make a careful retreat. An acquaintance once swore to me that a number of bees entered through an open window of a chemical laboratory where he was working and stung the researchers there-- they had been preparing banana oil (amyl acetate), a close cousin to the isoamyl acetate which is the major component of alarm pheromone. I'd imagine that some of the "tropical blends" of shampoos or hair gels might contain amyl acetate or maybe even isoamyl acetate to give it an odor of bananas. Not the kinds of things I'd want to use before entering an apiary-- of course, I'm way to macho to use male cosmetic products anyway ;-) - Conrad Berube " ` ISLAND CROP MANAGEMENT " ` 1326 Franklin Terrace _- -_`-_|'\ /` Victoria, B.C. _/ / / -' `~()() V8S 1C7 \_\ _ /\-._/\/ (604)480-0223; fax (604)656-8922 / | | email: uc779@freenet.victoria.bc.ca '` ^ ^ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Jun 1995 23:04:01 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Keith Murray Subject: Dragonfly company In-Reply-To: We were checking our hives last weekend and noticed the bees were quite touchy. After moving back, we noticed several dozen dragonflies swarming through the bees we had stirred up. Do the dragonflies eat the bees and would this be a contributing factor to their testiness of the hive? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Keith Murray * Don't worry about people stealing St.Mary's Academy * an idea. If it's original, you 550 Wellington cres. * will have to ram it down their Winnipeg, Manitoba * throats. -H. Aiken ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 23 Jun 1995 16:43:14 -0600 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Joan Tuckey Subject: Danger in Honey House? This article was originally prepared for and published in the June, 1995 edition of Alberta Bee News, which is published by the Alberta Beekeepers Association (ABA). See the end of the article for further information and addresses. We feel that the subject matter is serious enough that it should receive wide publication. This is our first attempt to post something like this and we apologize if the formating is not good. DANGER IN THE HONEYHOUSE by Kenn Tuckey Is your health in danger from your work as a beekeeper? A new study suggests that at certain times of the year beekeepers are at great risk of disease from airborne mold spores. This article is based on the final report on "ASSESSMENT OF AIRBORNE MOLDS AS A BIOLOGICAL HAZARD FOR ALBERTA COMMERCIAL BEEKEEPERS" by Henry Gauvreau, Lynne Sigler and Sean Abbott, dated March 1995. Dr. Gauvreau was at Fairview College, Alberta, Canada and is currently at the Fairview Diagnostic Veterinary Laboratory, Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. Sigler and Abbott are at the University of Alberta Microfungus Collection and Herbarium, Devonian Botanic Garden, Devon, Alberta Canada. The study was funded by Alberta Occupational Health and Safety, Heritage Grant Program and in part by the Canadian Honey Council (CHC) (using FSAM II funds). The study was prompted by observations of mold growth in the Fairview College honey bee overwintering facility. Dr. Gauvreau did a preliminary study of mold spores in the facility when the dead bees were being swept from the floor and when the bee equipment was being cleaned. In both cases the results showed that the levels, and types, of airborne mold spores were sufficient to cause concern for worker safety. This led to the larger study named above. Depending on the species involved, mold spores have the potential to create many problems for beekeepers (or any humans). Many people are allergic to mold spores and frequently have adverse reactions at specific times of the year eg. snow mold in the spring. Some molds are known to have toxic effects on people and under the right conditions other molds can lead to disease. The report states "The presence of known toxigenic, potentially pathogenic and allergenic molds at all sites suggests that prudent action is needed to minimize worker exposure". A health survey questionnaire was returned by 64 beekeepers. The survey asked about respiratory and flu-like symptoms as well as eye, ear, nose and throat problems. The beekeepers reported that there seemed to be a relationship between the work being done and the symptoms being experienced. The report indicates that more studies are needed in this area but concludes that "there appears to be a strong association between reported respiratory symptoms, eye, nose and throat irritation and the activities monitored (sweeping and cleaning) where there was exposure to high levels of airborne molds". Testing Methods The co-operating beekeepers were selected to give results from all across the province as well as for size of operation. For the wintering section air quality samples were taken in the fall (shortly after the bees were moved in), in mid-winter (January/February), and again just before the bees were moved out. A air sampler was used during each of the tests. The machine draws air into it at a constant, known rate for 4 minutes and a fan knocks the spores down onto a agar strip that contains nutrients that induce the spores to germinate and grow into mold colonies. After incubating for 5 days the strips are examined to count the number of mold colonies. The mold colonies were then recultured on new agar so that they could be identified. Background samples were taken outside and upwind of the building (or, rarely, in an adjacent room). In the wintering buildings air samples were taken in the wintering room before the bees were cleaned from the floor and during the cleaning process. In the other part of the study samples were taken in the work room while the bee equipment was being cleaned. The air samples in the buildings were taken 5'5" from the floor to approximate the breathing level of workers. The large numbers of mold spores found in the air required some deviation from normal procedures. The testing time was reduced from the four minute standard to tests of 30 seconds and one minute in order to reduce the number of spore colonies to countable levels. In addition, the incubation time was reduced from 5 to 3 days to prevent the spore colonies from growing into each other and being difficult or impossible to count or identify. After the examination at 3 days the strips were reincubated for an additional two days and recounted if possible. The incubation, counting and identification of the molds was primarily done at the Herbarium. Results The results for counts of mold spores in air is given as CFU/m3. This means the number of Colony Forming Units per cubic meter of air. Theoretically, each spore that is captured will produce a colony that can be counted. The report indicates that there are no hard and fast standards for minimum levels of mould spores in the air in work places but that the most commonly accepted standards "suggest that levels of airborne molds greater than 150 CFU/m3 for a mixture of species are unacceptable in indoor air. Counts as high as 500 CFU/m3 are acceptable only if the species recovered are primarily phylloplane (plant litter) fungi and reflect outdoor mycobia." (Note: molds are fungi but not all fungi are molds eg. mushrooms.) As the table from the report shows, in all cases the number of CFU/m3 found during the floor cleaning process exceed this minimum level. In most cases the contamination is many times the acceptable level. Colony forming units (CFU) of airborne molds at overwintering facilities. Airborne mold levels (CFU/m3) Site Sample Period Presweep Sweep Outside 30 sec 1 min 30 sec 1 min 4 min ----------------------------------------------------------------- FC fall 100 425 13500 NE 56 winter 600 1550 26100 10175 63 spring 350 725 8450 10100 16 JS fall 3300 1175 11850 6025 128 winter 350 325 1650 4675 38 spring 300 175 9600 3700 44 PB fall 300 350 19700 NE 934 winter 300 750 3900 7200 38 spring 550 750 8850 4625 25 RP fall 600 350 600 1250 34 winter 800 650 9900 11925 150 spring 550 1075 14350 5350 406 RR fall 650 425 1400 1975 94 winter 400 675 1350 4400 613 spring 400 475 1550 11575 131 SW fall 400 100 850 325 88 winter 200 275 4800 2100 106 spring 250 200 5450 7100 38 DB fall 500 225 1050 525 75 winter 950 1100 2400 4425 650 spring 1050 725 3500 1300 238 DP fall 500 450 4200 1475 231 winter 300 375 400 1000 188 spring 1900 4025 9250 7300 2613 EW1 fall 600 425 4150 2250 363 winter 300 500 6750 4350 69 spring 1150 1550 3700 7100 94 EW2 fall 1550 1250 11400 NE 225 winter 650 450 19850 4175 100 spring 2350 2400 20300 NE 69 NE =3D not enumerable due to extremely high colony density or overgrowth by rapidly growing molds. The results from the equipment cleaning part of the study, as shown in the table, show similar numbers. Colony forming units (CFU) of airborne molds at equipment cleaning facilities Airborne mold levels (CFU/m3) Site Sample During cleaning Outside Period 30 sec 1 min 4 min ------------------------------------------------ TEG fall 7050 5725 76 (inside adjacent room) DBW spring 24400 8750 3425 RRW spring 47700 NE 463 HT spring 23750 20825 319 HW spring 52450 NE 719 LW spring 43450 NE 2469 PBW spring 8000 4850 394 JG spring 17900 17575 125 DM spring 54700 NE 369 MW spring 2250 5350 375 BL spring 750 875 144 BLY spring 2400 11925 69 GH spring 22300 10025 81 JC spring 300 350 125 SM spring 13850 10650 3806 NE =3D not enumerable due to extremely high colony density or overgrowth by rapidly growing molds. >From the table, it is very obvious that the act of cleaning the dead bees from the floor creates a cloud of mold spores and exposes the worker to a much increased level of spores. The report notes that one beekeeper used a squeegee rather than a broom and that the increase in spore count was reduced in that facility. Appendix A of the report lists each of the molds identified in each facility. The report also lists the 82 species of mold that were collected during the study. Forty-eight of those molds are reported to be potentially pathogenic, potentially toxigenic, allergenic or two or three of those factors. The report gives details of the negative effects many of these molds have on human health and indicates their frequency of occurrence in each facility. The report indicates that while the molds may not be especially dangerous to healthy individuals the effect of long term, frequent exposure to such high levels of spores in unknown. Recommendations The report provides five recommendations: 1. Airborne mold levels are extremely high in all beekeeping overwintering and equipment cleaning facilities sampled in Alberta, regardless of physical attributes of buildings and maintenance practices. Therefore, these buildings should be considered as highly contaminated sites and appropriate precautions should be taken while working. 2. Workers need to follow safety precautions while sweeping and cleaning in order to reduce or eliminate exposure to airborne mold spores, organic particulates, mycotoxins and volatiles. This should include wearing a respirator capable of filtering small organic particles (<2 =B5m diameter) and volatile chemical compounds. Wearing eye protection, overalls and gloves which can be removed and washed is also recommended. 3. Advise beekeepers of potential risks of exposure to molds through development of an information brochure. 4. Maintenance practices which reduce aerosolization of mold spores, and therefore reduce worker exposure, should be encouraged. This may include using a rubber squeegee rather than a broom to sweep dead bees from the floor. 5. In cooperation with the industry, investigate alternative management practices in overwintering facilities to reduce airborne mold levels. Notes on the recommendations: #2 These respirators are available from safety supply houses. Dr. Gauvreau indicates that for an increased margin of safety filters effective down to 1 =B5m (1 micron) should be used. I have found that at least two companies (Scott and Wilson) make suitable respirators at a cost of $30 to $35. Each respirator requires a pair of cartridges at an additional cost of $25 to $30 per pair. HEPA (high efficiency particulate) Organic Vapour Cartridges are required. To find these products contact safety supply companies close to you. At least one of the equipment cleaning sites (BLY) was located outdoors. The table shows that the mold level was greater there than at some of the indoor cleaning sites. This indicates to me that we cannot rely on good ventilation to protect us from high levels of spores. However, since the mold spores are very small and light, a good ventilation system that moves a lot of outside air through the work room has to be helpful. A ceiling fan that just circulates air could very well be harmful. #4 Moistening the bees on the floor may be an alternative but the ramifications would have to be carefully thought through. What would be the effect of the extra humidity in the air and on the floor for further mold growth? The cleaned up bees could rot in the containers if moisture is added. #5 If you have suggestions on how to reduce the health risk please pass them on so that all beekeepers may weigh their use for their own management. Conclusion The full report is 72 pages long and has a great deal more detailed information than I have been able to include in this article. Contact me if you would like to borrow the report for more in depth study. Further Information: Study Senior Author: Dr. Henry Gauvreau Fairview Diagnostic Veterinary Laboratory Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development= Fairview, Alberta, Canada T0H 1L0 Phone 403-835-2238 Fax 403-835-2185 Study Junior Authors: Lynne Sigler Sean Abbott University of Alberta Microfungus Collection and Herbarium Devonian Botanic Gardens Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E1 Phone 403-987-4811 For a copy of the full report: (There may be a charge.) Denis McKenna Fairview College Box 3000 Fairview, Alberta, Canada T0H 1L0 Phone 403-835-6633 Fax 403-835-6698 Article Author: Kenn Tuckey Provincial Apiculturist Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development RR 6, 17507 Fort Road Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5B 4K3 Phone 403-422-1789 Fax 403-422-6098 Internet: tuckey@agric.gov.ab.ca ABA Alberta Beekeepers Association 16713 - 113 Ave Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5M 2X2 Phone 403-489-6949 Fax 403-489-3041 Submitted by Joan Tuckey for Kenn Tuckey (joan.tuckey@nn.lcrnet.org) ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 22 Jun 1995 21:00:07 +0000 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Keith Hooker Organization: Technology Management Ltd Subject: Re: mosaic Dave Green mentioned problems of moving bees in hot weather. I have moved hives by soaking 2" square strips of foam rubber in water before inserting them across the entrance. The crown boards were replace with screen boards with fine mesh and the hives transported with the roof off. When the foam gets pulled out of the entrance the bees are just sitting and taking up water in order to remove heat. Has anyone else tried this? >>> Keith JM Hooker <<< >>> Technology Management Ltd <<< >>> WHITSTABLE Kent CT5 4ED UK <<< ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 25 Jun 1995 15:32:18 NZS Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Nick Wallingford Subject: Bees in his bonnet... The store of the reporter got to NZ yesterday. NZ Herald section 1, page 9: "A television reporter's hair gel attracted a swarm of bees that stung him more than 30 times on the scalp and face in Kennewick, Washington. Mychal Limric, aged 24, was doing a story on beekeeping when bees from a hive about 15m away suddenly descended on his head." It seems to me there may be two related (in the sense that they are both smells...) to the discussions thus far: (1) Alarm pheromone similarities. All of the discussions on chemically similar materials makes good sense to me. I would not expect the bee's pheromonal expectations to have a super narrow range of interpretation - if something gets close, it is probably enough to cause the expected behaviour. (2) 'Sweet smelling' or 'fruity smelling' materials. I don't recall references to much of this in serious bee science, but anecdotal is common. Even from me! I spent much of my childhood with the nickname of 'Jet' in reference to the speed of my exit from the back garden where the beehives were, after venturing too close while wearing 'Wild Roses' (?), 'Four Roses' (?) or some such hair oil compound favoured by old fashioned barbers in the 1950s. But wait, that too was probably heavily alcohol based, so rather than the sweet response, it too may have been alarm pheromone related. ------------------------------------ Nick Wallingford, President National Beekeepers Assn of NZ nickw@wave.co.nz ------------------------------------ ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 25 Jun 1995 23:38:18 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Steven A. Davis" Subject: Vetch My bees (started as packages this spring) they are just now getting enough strength to effectively forage wild blackberry. Unfortunately the honey flow for blackberries is comming to an end. A local farmer has about 20 acres of vetch sown which is just now comming into bloom. Does anyone out there know what kind of a crop, if at all, can be made from vetch. I'm not sure if honey bees even forage this plant. Any sage wisdom would be greatly appreciated. Steve Clackamas Co. Oregon, USA ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 25 Jun 1995 23:40:23 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Steven A. Davis" Subject: Thank you Thanks to everyone that responded to my questions about Varoa infestation the other day. Steve Davis Clackamas Co. Oregon, USA ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Jun 1995 09:18:54 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Marc Party Subject: Re: Dragonfly company Interesting you should note dragonfly activity near your hives. Dragonflies tend to appear in the landscape all at the same time and in huge numbers around here - north of Ottawa. For the first time, I saw some lurking around my hives on the weekend, apparently trying to ambush the bees, though I didn't actually see any captures. - been a dry summer too, much fewer mosquitoes etc....than usual - maybe the dflies are getting desperate.... Marc Patry Ottawa, Ontario ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Jun 1995 09:40:50 CST Reply-To: mbristow@palomo.chillan.udec.cl Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Marion L.Bristow" Subject: Re: Vespula Germanica Control It's winter time down here , so are bee activity is at a minimum , however , yesterday while check a few on my hives , I noticed some wasp activity . Generally , they where trying to go in through the hive mouth and where being booted out shortly after entry . What was so distressing for me is that these THINGS where flying in the rain and cold like some all wheather attack aircraft . I have some traps built up for use this comeing spring and I plan initally use horse meat as a bait , but I'd like to find a more reliable (and durrable ) bait . Dose anybody have an idea of what I could use that would be a better bait . Marion L.Bristow - Director Seccion Informatica Direcion del Campus Chillan Universidad de Concepcion Casilla 537 Chillan , Chile e-mail: mbristow@palomo.chillan.udec.cl ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Jun 1995 08:17:29 -0600 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Allen Dick Subject: Re: Bees and the third estate In-Reply-To: <01HS0HJ9V4HU8YAJ4W@delphi.com> On Thu, 22 Jun 1995, Mike High wrote: > Anyone wearing gel in his hair around the bees is an idiot.I > doubt the bees were "agressive" as they did'nt bother anyone > else. I am really concerned about this 'blame the victim' approach. This episode is a serious public relations problem for all beekeepers. Doubly, inasmuch as the media was involved. It appears to be a regretable anomaly, however identifying causes and making them known - as did Eric Abel in his post - is useful. We cannot just call an invited naive visitor who is severely attacked 'an idiot'. Any such statements are a disgrace to this industry. Blaming the victim only exacerbates a bad situation. We must do everything in our power to avoid incidents like this and everything we can to ensure that nothing but support and apologies flow towards any victims. That is assuming we wish our pursuits to receive the blessings of thepublic, the authorities, and the landowners on whom we depend for good will. I personally wear aftershave, shampoo regularly and sometime even use soap. Afterwards I often work my bees without a veil. I don't think this makes me an idiot. I've done it for twenty-five years. There are, however some products that antagonise bees and we don't know which ones until and incident like this occurs. When we find out, we should take steps to make the problem known and perhaps notify the manufacturer - who might be interested in knowing about the potential for death or injury to his customer and the possible subsequent liability. A small change in the formulation might make everyone happy. Allen W. Allen Dick, Beekeeper VE6CFK Rural Route One Swalwell Alberta Canada T0M 1Y0 Email: dicka@cuug.ab.ca or allend@internode.net Futures, Art & Honey:http://www.cuug.ab.ca:8001/~dicka ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Jun 1995 14:40:49 -0300 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: David De Jong Subject: Re: Vespula Germanica Control Comments: To: mbristow@palomo.chillan.udec.cl In-Reply-To: <555.mbristow@[146.83.231.10]_POPMail/PC_3.2.2> On Mon, 26 Jun 1995, Marion L.Bristow wrote: > It's winter time down here , so are bee activity is at a minimum , > however , yesterday while check a few on my hives , I noticed some wasp > activity . Generally , they where trying to go in through the hive mouth > and where being booted out shortly after entry . > What was so distressing for me is that these THINGS where flying in the > rain and cold like some all wheather attack aircraft . > I have some traps built up for use this comeing spring and I plan > initally use horse meat as a bait , but I'd like to find a more reliable > (and durrable ) bait . Dose anybody have an idea of what I could use that > would be a better bait . > Marion L.Bristow - Director Seccion Informatica > Direcion del Campus Chillan > Universidad de Concepcion > Casilla 537 > Chillan , Chile > e-mail: mbristow@palomo.chillan.udec.cl > In the spring there will only be queens, which will probably not go to the traps. David De Jong Brazil ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Jun 1995 14:38:01 -0300 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: David De Jong Subject: Re: PROPOLIS - RESEARCH In-Reply-To: On Fri, 23 Jun 1995, Peter Skrla wrote: > I spent more than 10 years in Africa (Sierra Leone, Malawi) working with > leprosy and AIDS victims. I would like to evaluate healing properties of > propolis on deep ulcers commonly found in leprosy patients. > I would appreciate any advice on how to prepare water soluble propolis > extract that would be suitable for this research. > > Dr. Peter Skrla, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada > e-mail: skrla@acs.ucalgary.ca; fax: (403) 547-3843 > Here we grind up the propolis (previously cooled down) and soak it in 100% ethanol (can be pharmacy grade grain alcohol) for several weeks, mixing once a day (or constantly with a machine). Normally 30 g of propolis are used per 100 ml of alcohol. At the end the solution is filtered. It has to be kept capped to prevent the alcohol from evaporating. This solution becomes a suspension when mixed with water, when someone is going to drink it. We use it pure on wounds, though some prefer 10 or 20 gram solutions. It works well on skin fungus. David De Jong Brazil ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Jun 1995 20:39:00 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Jeff Boyle (803) 250-8265" Subject: Propolis I am fairly new to bee keeping and I have some questions on propolis. On a trip to Brazil a few years ago my wife had a cough and she was give a stuff call Extract of Propolis. It worked very well for her and eliminated the cough. I have not seen any of this stuff in the US. Being I have two hives I would like to learn a little more about propolis and how to harvest it. I understand that it is a plant resin modified by bees and used like a glue. Where in the hive would you find propolis and how do you identify it as being propolis. In what quanities could you expect to find it in the hive. Are there ways of incouraging bees to produce more of it. I noticed a posting earlier asking how to distill it and I am interested in seeing the responses. Thanks in advance for your help. Jeff Boyle Greenville, SC BOYLEJOB@GVLTEC.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Jun 1995 17:17:28 -0300 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: David De Jong Subject: Re: Propolis In-Reply-To: <01HS61JN0XZ28XMP67@gvltec.gvltec.edu> On Mon, 26 Jun 1995, Jeff Boyle (803) 250-8265 wrote: > I am fairly new to bee keeping and I have some questions on propolis. > On a trip to Brazil a few years ago my wife had a cough and she was > give a stuff call Extract of Propolis. It worked very well for her and > eliminated the cough. I have not seen any of this stuff in the US. > Being I have two hives I would like to learn a little more about > propolis and how to harvest it. > > I understand that it is a plant resin modified by bees and used like a > glue. Where in the hive would you find propolis and how do you > identify it as being propolis. In what quanities could you expect to > find it in the hive. Are there ways of incouraging bees to produce > more of it. > > I noticed a posting earlier asking how to distill it and I am > interested in seeing the responses. > > Thanks in advance for your help. > > Jeff Boyle > Greenville, SC > BOYLEJOB@GVLTEC.EDU > You could try separating the supers a little with some twigs. The bees will usually fill in spaces, at least ours will. Some people also place a plastic screen over the top bars and later place it in a freezer. Once cold it is easy to wring the propolis peices out. The propolis extract is used locally a lot for coughs etc., but not pure, usually a fews drops, about 10-20 are placed in a third of a glass of water, and that is consumed or gargled (with the latter it is OK to make it a little stronger). I do not say this as a recommendation, but that is how it is done here. David De Jong Brazil ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Jun 1995 16:23:09 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Marc Party Subject: Re: Propolis I love the perfume of propolis (tropical propolis, at least in the Yucatan, is odourless..... pity). Up here in temperate Eastern Canada, the smell is strong. I detect the same smell coming from areas where poplar or aspen trees are numerous. Perhaps propolis here is gathered from these trees only. I love the smell so much, I tried mixing proplis with some white rum. I let the concoction sit for weeks, shaking it at times, like our brazilian friend suggested we do. After what seemed a great deal of patience, I poured myself a stiff one. Conclusion: Apply rum-propolis mixture to diseased skin and not to mouth. Marc Patry Eastern Ontario Model Forest Kemptville, Ontario K0G 1J0 Canada tel (613) 258-8239 fax (613) 258-3920 e-mail mpatry@emr1.emr.ca ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Jun 1995 22:49:10 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Carl Mueller Subject: Oders Hi folks, I can not wear my after shave (English leather) and work some of my hives. I hardly ever get stung and I work in shorts with no shirt, but if I wear my after shave, watch out. There must be a chemical reaction with the acidity and skin oders with the after shave that causes this behavior. Carl Mueller Email: cmueller@emi.net West Palm Beach, Florida USA " Knowledge is where you find it." " Seek and Ye shall find, knock and it will be opened onto you!" ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 26 Jun 1995 23:41:28 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Mike High Subject: Re: Bees and the third estate Obviously we want good press but at what cost?So every reporter trying to get a "cute" human interest story can bumble into the apiary and when they get stung decry the bees?I think we've been doing fine public-wise without the media who only report the bad things.(case in point)The public and land-owners are easily disarmed by giving out samples of our wares. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Jun 1995 11:05:41 +0100 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jean-Marie Van Dyck Subject: Re: Vespula germanica control Hi all bee-lovers ! On Mon, 26 Jun 1995, Marion L.Bristow wrote: > Does anybody have an idea of what I could use that would be a better > bait . David De Jong answered: > In the spring there will only be queens, which will probably not go to > the traps. OK ... in the spring they are queens AND they are going in the traps so when you got one you destroyed the whole nest. Here in the North Europe (50deg LatN) the best time to catch them is Maart-April-May. I'm using common beer as a bait and it is quite convenient to our wasps AND hornets. Beer don't catch bees at all but is attractive to some night butterfly. Common flies are also attracted. Hope this helps ! Cheers Jean-Marie ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Jun 1995 09:21:27 CST Reply-To: mbristow@palomo.chillan.udec.cl Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Marion L.Bristow" Subject: Re: Vespula germanica control Comments: To: jmvandyck@cc.fundp.ac.be Thanks Jean . I initally didn't want to start a potential argument with ddjong , as that I have captured Queens in the spring ( they have to eat too) using decomposed meat or dried fruit soaked in olive oil . I didn't kill they , however . I extracted ( milked ) poison from them . I'll most certainly try the beer . It occurs to me that a bark beer may be better as that the nutritional value is greater and as such will propably decompose better ( more stink ) . I know that I'll be having some fun this sping mixing up some pretty odd conctions . We have been having quit a lot of trouble this last year with Vespula Germanica here in Chile . One fellow was totally wiped out last year ( 225 hives ). Thanks again . Marion L.Bristow - Director Seccion Informatica Direcion del Campus Chillan Universidad de Concepcion Casilla 537 Chillan , Chile e-mail: mbristow@palomo.chillan.udec.cl ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Jun 1995 08:23:57 -0600 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Allen Dick Subject: Re: Bees and the third estate In-Reply-To: <01HS6HOGFPOY921W5D@delphi.com> On Mon, 26 Jun 1995, Mike High wrote: > Obviously we want good press but at what cost? Bad press can cost us everything. What is the excessive cost of good press you are implying? If we want objectivity, concern for our welfare and fairness, shouldn't we give a little of the same? > So every reporter > trying to get a "cute" human interest story can bumble into the > apiary and when they get stung decry the bees? Reporters are people and when people get stung, any responsible beekeeper has reason to be very concerned. As far as the reporter's purpose in being there, it is pretty irrelevant to the seriousness of the matter. I've been the subject of a number of articles which were not "cute", but rather were written for the purpose of giving the public honest information about an industry that has a problem from time to time with scary misinformation becoming widespread. > I think we've > been doing fine public-wise Well, I wonder how many will agree with you on that -- and how much work you are doing to make sure it is the case. As a director for many years of the Alberta Beekeepers Association, I can assure you that seldom does a meeting go by without some mention of our concern about the encroachment of housing on sites, the necessity for better public relations, the question of insurance for bee sting incidents, the fact that insurance companies are getting leary about covering us, government (municipal) restrictions on bees, etc. etc. We are fighting an uphill battle on the behalf of each and every beekeeper. One of our worst enemies is the loudmouth beekeeper who thinks that he has an absolute right to keep bees anywhere he likes and that they can sting anyone anytime. He might even say publicly that it serves people right - especially if they belong to a group or profession he doesn't like. One guy like that undoes the work of many dedicated beekeepers making friends. > without the media who only report > the bad things. Like the "cute" human interest stories mentioned above? THat is a pretty wide brush you are wielding. If the media used the same wide brush - and read what you are saying, the public would think the whole industry had a pretty bad attitude. > (case in point) I don't get what you mean by the above. > The public and land-owners are > easily disarmed by giving out samples of our wares. Personally, I don't 'disarm' anyone. I try to deal as fairly as I can with everyone and make sure that there is as little risk as possible to my neighbours and employees. I would respectfully request that anyone who doesn't share that same concern and empathy for others to please get out of the business, because such people will destroy it for themselves and others (and all bees). Allen W. Allen Dick, Beekeeper VE6CFK Rural Route One Swalwell Alberta Canada T0M 1Y0 Email: dicka@cuug.ab.ca or allend@internode.net Futures, Art & Honey:http://www.cuug.ab.ca:8001/~dicka ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Jun 1995 18:41:10 +0000 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Rees, Simon" Subject: Bees in cavity wall - summary Hi all, A couple of weeks ago I asked you all for your views on how - & if - one can remove bees from a cavity wall. Here's a synopsis of the replies: There seem to be two possible ways of removing the bees - by removing the bricks and cutting the comb out (the messiest job in the World?), or by setting up a small colony nearby and using a one - way (e.g. Porter) bee escape to allow them out. The principle is that the bees come out, can't get back in, and join the other colony. There was some scepticism about this working, however - not least because bees tend to find another way in somewhere else in the building. The only other suggestions were to leave them be, or to destroy them (for which I was recommended whitefly powder). Many thanks are due to all who contributed (most of whom, as it happens, were from the UK) - I'll let you know what happens when (if!) we muster up the courage to do something! Simon Rees (almost a Twickenham beekeeper) simon.rees@mcl.com.uk ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 27 Jun 1995 17:19:16 +22300129 Reply-To: adamf@vtaix.cc.vt.edu Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Adam Finkelstein Subject: Korean Journal of Apiculture Hello, I'm trying to locate: Choi, K.S., Shin, M.J., Yun,D.H., and Park, H.K. _Korean Journal of Apiculture_, 6:1 1991 pp.31-38. "Studies on Bee Breeding for Improvement of Honey Production ll Selection of Superior Queens Using Designated Characteristics" If you have this, maybe I could send you $ for a copy? thanks, Adam Adam Finkelstein Entomology 324 Price Hall VA Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24001-0325 adamf@vtaix.cc.vt.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Jun 1995 02:31:00 GMT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Andy Nachbaur Organization: WILD BEE'S BBS (209) 826-8107 LOS BANOS, CA Subject: Purple Loosetrife EA June 95 originally in conference IN-BEEKEEPING on (WILD BEE'S BBS) ---------------------------------------- Environmental Assessment on control by release of introduced pest insects of Purple Loosetrife Hello All Beekeepers and Friends! I received today, 27 June, (5 day's after asking via e-mail) a copy of the Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Environmental Assessment on their plan to destroy, damage, and make a unsightly mess of the naturalized plant Purple Loosetrife. The total report is only 22 pages. You don't have to be smart to realize that a project that is going to effect every state and our north and southern neighbors can not be honestly presented in 22 pages...not to mention that NO notice was made to the beekeeper's involved when government mailing lists are available of all beekeepers, or the short comment period of less then 30 days. Have you ever voted and when your side lost you felt your vote was wasted? Maybe your wife canceled out your vote. But your participation in this Comment Period which ends July 12, 1995 is not just a vote but your chance to have real input in what the Fish and Wildlife Service does to control Purple Loosetrife. You see they have already decided that this beautiful, productive naturalized bee forage plant is all bad and must be dealt with. The US Fish & Wildlife Service Three Alternatives Plans: Plans ------- A> NO ACTION, which transulated from US goverment code means: Plants will be removed by hand pulling; controlled by flooding or drying; plants stressed by mechanical treatment; herbicidal treatment and fire to temporarily control plants in selected areas. B> RELEASE ALREADY APPROVED BEETLES: Service would release the two beetles when they have been bred without internal parasites. C> BIOLOGICAL CONTROL: Release three additional bettle species that are host specific to purple loosetrife. Long-term, continuous control, not eradication. Well I ask you all to join with me in requesting the EA and making your personal comments to the Fish & Wildlife Service and support NO ACTION as an alternative to the release of any kind of new pests. PURPLE LOOSETRIFE IS AN VALUABLE NATURALIZED ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE TO BEES AND THEIR KEEPERS THAT SHOULD BE PROTECTED NOT ERADICATED OR DAMAGED BY THE RELEASE OF FOREIGN PLANT PESTS Purple Loosetrife has been an important late summer and fall pollen and nectar plant to honey bee's for the last 50+ years and is found from coast to coast and boarder to boarder. It is also knows not our political boundaries, nor do the pests that would be released to damage it if those in the Fish & Wildlife service are allowed to work their will on this beautiful naturalized wild flower that has improved the environment for bees and other insects and added much to the natural beauty of our swamps, waterways, and gardens. It is not a major source of honey, but to those beekeepers who do produce honey crops from Purple Loosetrife, the loss, or damage to the Purple Loosetrife range would be a major loss. No scientific study has been done to see how many people will be adversity affected. My own estimate is that 5000 beekeepers will be negatively affected and 50 to 500 of these will quit keeping bee's all together because of the loss of this bee pasture plant. (Your guess is as good as my own.) Purple Loosetrife is a source of bee pasture to all who keep bee's that can reach it, one hive or 10,000 hive beekeepers. It is a good to excellent source of pollen and nectar to build up and condition bee's for the winter and has the advantage of promoting late season brood rearing which to some extent mediates the loss from both mites. No scientific studies have been made to determine it's value to beekeepers, my own estimates are this plant provides pollen and nectar to one million hives of bees for a month each year. I would place the lost value at five gallons of sugar syrup times one million bee pasture months plus the value of the pollen. A conservative estimate would be a twenty five million dollars ($25,000,000.) loss to beekeepers. But it is well to remember that the loss of bee forage plants native or naturalized, flowers like Purple Loosetrife can not be replaced in any person's lifetime, and more then likely will not be replace at all. There is and has not been any meaningful government sponsored plan to improve the environment for bee's in the history of the United States. All plans have been to regulate bee's and or beekeepers. Protect them from pesticides by moving them away from pesticides, kill them if they have disease, spend dollars for pennies worth of government researched and approved chemicals, and so on. Purple Loosetrife is also a pasture plant for Bumble Bee's of one stripe or another. No studies or research has been done to place a value on the loss of pasture for these, many are in short supply or endangered, and beneficial insects or any other insect, bird, or animals that may be benefiting from this naturalized plant and will suffer from it's loss. The government plan states that these pest's will work only Purple Loosetrife, but admits that they will also work on native plants related to Loosetrife. This means two or more native wild flowers will be the secondary target and will be lost or damaged. NOT one government job or one dollar will be lost if they are wrong and these pests take a liking for plants of critical importance to beekeeper's like the Wild Buckwheat or Sage of California or any other cultivated or wild flower. Only the public will pay the price if these kinds of un-necessary risks don't work out. The cost to agriculture and the environment for additional chemical control of a new pest would be astronomical if the few who propose such introductions mis spoke the risks and a new agricultural pest was introduced. A limited test on 50 plants is not an adequate safeguard from disaster. NO consideration is given to those who have found this plant to be of value and beauty to plant in their own gardens for over 50 years. Much is made that some states have outlawed Purple Loosetrife, but guess who has pushed them into it? Not the public, but the same agency's who would release these pests to control it. Here is a group of destructive insect pests, five all together that have never demonstrated any ability in their native land to eradicate Purple Loosetrife, only to make it a unhealthy, unsightly mess, that are going to be released all over the US with full knowledge that they will not honor political boundaries and move from government owned lands to private lands and into private gardens and only tested on 50 plants to determine if they would become pests on them. Talk about the government coming to help you...! The Fish and Wildlife Service admits that the release of these non native pests will have a negative effect on Honey Bee's, what they don't know is how you and I feel about it and the effect it will have on ourselves if Purple Loosetrife or any other bee forage plant is damaged, or destroyed. Join me in trying to tell them, get the EA and make your comments before July 12, 1995. ttul Andy- (c)Permission to reproduce, granted. Opinion is not necessarily fact, check the fact's and make your own opinion know. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Jun 1995 01:42:25 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Edward Sterling Subject: Re: Purple Loosetrife EA June 95 Regarding Andy's comments on purple loosetrife EA etc. I am not professional in either beekeeping nor the environmental field, however it is my understanding that p.l. is VERY serious threat to the health of ponds and waterways. I am in fact a conservation commissioner here in Massachusetts, and I am quite familiar with wetland plants and wetland biology. Am I missing something here? I would think that "in general" our friends the bees tend to have a lot of choices as to where they forage and gather their nectar. Granted we truck bees around the country and site them for specific pollenation, so yes in some cases, certain plants or trees are important in the whole pollenation cycle. I am not in favor of totally eradicating p.l., I find it visually appealling myself, yes, and agree with Andy on that point. It *is* beautiful to see a large stand of it in full bloom... But....I think our need to deal head-on with the p.l. problem in ponds and waterways (far?) outweighs concern over where bees are going to get their nectar from. I mean, as beekeepers, we do have control, in most cases, over where we locate our hives. If poison ivy produced a great flower and made great honey, would I champion the laissez-faire, and indeed the propagation of, poison ivy, for the sake of honey production? No way, not me.... You're right Andy, that a 22 page report from the US Government sounds a bit brief for a problem as complex and widespread as the p.l. invasion. But I think this species represents a significant threat to freshwater ecosystems, and thus may impact many many species very negatively. I think our friends the bees have plenty of other plants on which they can forage, and we can help them by locating our hives sensibly. Respectfully, Ed ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ed Sterling, GPCC | ACTUAL quotes from my kids: "Daddy, hummingbirds Bolton, MA 01740 USA | help the bees put honey in the flowers!" "In the Phone/FAX: 508-779-6058 | daytime, the sun melts the moon into cloudpieces!" "ed@gpcc.ultranet.com" | "A snowman makes the quietest sounds in the world" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wish you had a favorite childhood toy from the 1950s/60s/70s back again? Barbie? GI Joe? Fanner 50? Girder and Panel? See http://www.ultranet.com/~ed ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Jun 1995 11:57:53 +0100 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Malcolm Roe Subject: Honey and Parrots. Occasionally someone on Bee-l mentions a strange or unusual use for hive products but this one must be one of the oddest - feeding honey to parrots! I had a replacement window salesman call on me yesterday. It turned out that he breeds parrots in his spare time. This is quite lucrative. The species he specializes in sells for 200 pounds ($300) a bird. Nutrition is very important for success and he has a food mixture he has developed himself. The formula was quite disgusting, mainly consisting of various dried pulses and other seeds, chicken meat and honey! Anyway, rather than him selling me windows, I sold him a number of bottles of honey. Since he chose my nicest (and most expensive) variety I was relieved to hear that he did intend to eat some of it himself. -- Malcolm Roe Phone : +44 1442 345104 Crosfield Electronics Ltd Fax : +44 1442 343000 Hemel Hempstead, Herts. HP2 7RH, UK E-mail : roe@crosfield.co.uk ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Jun 1995 12:58:26 +0100 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jean-Marie Van Dyck Subject: Re: Bees in cavity wall Hello Simon ! Your summary is quite complete : there is almost nothing to do cleanly ! In any case, and if the bee presence is not welcome (it is in some countries) don't forget to STOP the entrance hole if the colony is dead after the winter. Else you can surely get another swarm in the next spring time ! Regards Jean-Marie ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Jun 1995 13:35:54 GMT+2 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "@" Organization: NIPB Subject: Re: Purple Loosestrife Greetings all I note a number of posts concerning purple loosestrife, and it looks like the ground is being laid for a lengthy battle. I know nothing about this weed, but the whole situation has surely been repeated many times in many countries. The example that I am familiar with is Echium (called Paterson's curse or Salvation Jane) in Australia. [We also have it in South Africa, but it is not such a problem]. In Australia the authorities wanted it removed, the beekeepers wanted it kept. Nine years later, numerous Supreme Court actions, and millions of dollars later, the authorities won. They also produced a cost/benefit analysis that is superb, and detailed in the extreme. Perhaps the records in this case might be useful before the Loosestrife battle begins? Regards Mike Mike Allsopp Honeybee Research Unit email: rietma@plant2.agric.za Plant Protection Res. Inst. pprima@plant1.agric.za Agricultural Research Council Tel: (0027) (021) 887-4690 Private Bag X5017 Fax: (0027) (021) 883-3285 Stellenbosch 7599 South Africa ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Jun 1995 08:22:16 CDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Rich Pelikan Subject: Re: Purple Loosetrife EA June 95 In-Reply-To: In reply to your message of TUE 27 JUN 1995 21:31:00 CDT Hi All To add some facts that should be considered about Purple Loosetrife. The plant has a pretty flower that is good in a garden. It produces many tiny seed. The small size of the seed make it very low importance as a food source to bird. If Loosetrife was not taking over the swamps and waterway to the detriment of other higher food value plant. It would not be consider as bad. Stress by fire, flood, and mechanical are ineffective to Loosetrife. Fire and flood actual help increase f the area the plant grows because it out produces the other plants of the area. Cutting the plant doesn't reduce its area only the amount of seeds it produces. Cutting plants in wet areas is also expensive. I don't however like the introduction of non native insect to control the plant. Insects are not controlable. If the insects could be limited to wetland and only Loosetrife, then use them, but not before The amount of Loosetrife lost for bee forage would also not be so vast. Richard A. Pelikan, A275CCR Southeast Missouri State University BITNET: A275CCR@SEMOVM INTERNET: A275CCR@SEMOVM.SEMO.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Jun 1995 07:28:15 -0600 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Allen Dick Subject: Re: Purple Loosetrife EA June 95 In-Reply-To: <199506280543.BAA27175@remus.ultranet.com> On Wed, 28 Jun 1995, Edward Sterling wrote: > Regarding Andy's comments on purple loosetrife EA etc. > > I am not professional in either beekeeping nor the environmental > field, however it is my understanding that p.l. is VERY serious > threat to the health of ponds and waterways. I am in fact a > conservation commissioner here in Massachusetts, and I am quite > familiar with wetland plants and wetland biology. I got the impression from Andy's post that the measures proposed would not control the plant particularly well - except for mechanical approaches and that the idea of releasing bugs had not been very well researched. I don't think that there was any argument that in those specific places where the plants are a problem that something could/should be done. The concern is that an extemely shotgun a pproach is being proposed that would impact on areas where there are no problems with the plant and it is indeed beneficial. There is also the (justified) fear that there is risk of releasing agents that might not be specific to the problem. That's what I got anyhow. Allen W. Allen Dick, Beekeeper VE6CFK Rural Route One Swalwell Alberta Canada T0M 1Y0 Email: dicka@cuug.ab.ca or allend@internode.net Futures, Art & Honey:http://www.cuug.ab.ca:8001/~dicka ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Jun 1995 08:03:39 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: WILLIAM G LORD Subject: afb decontamination An ex-beekeeper wants to make me a deal on several hundred supers, but he had a history of AFB (probably why he is an "ex"). Can someone refresh my memory about decontaminating boxes and frames? North Carolina has an ETO chamber, but it is not a large one and I don't know if it is worth the trouble to gas 4-500 supers. Is a lye bath necessary? I am also not real keen on the old flame- out technique - I don't think it is rreal thorough and the flames can eatthe supers up if you don't pay strict attention. Any advice appreciated. Bill Lord Louisburg, NC USA -- WILLIAM G LORD E-Mail : wglord@franklin Internet: wglord@franklin.ces.ncsu.edu Phone : 9194963344 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Jun 1995 09:59:44 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Dave Einhorn Subject: vetch > From: "Steven A. Davis" > Subject: Vetch > > .... A local farmer has about 20 acres of > vetch sown which is just now comming into bloom. Does > anyone out there know what kind of a crop, if at all, > can be made from vetch..... If the plant that you are referring to is "Crown Vetch" then it is purchased in either seed or "crown" form, to be planted as grown cover, usually in hard-to-mow areas and roadsides. The plant has a double row of oblong leaves, and small flowers. Reproduction of the plant is by seed and root sytem. The plant is not eaten by our horses, and since the plant is agressive, has to be limed in areas where it is not supposed to grow, otherwise it will crowd out pastureland grasses. Dave Einhorn deinhorn@isnov.ab.umd.edu ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Jun 1995 10:27:22 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: JOHN IANNUZZI Subject: HELP! Friends, 1. What is the easiest & fastest way to remove excessive moisture from a four- gallon white plastic pail of honey?? 2. Small hobby b-man w/limited resources. 3. Mille grazie in advance for any reply. Cheers. wed 28jun 95 1029 ellicott city md usa _______________________________ **Jack the B-man ** **john iannuzzi phd ** **ji0079@epfl2.epflbalto.org** **ellicott city md 21042 usa** _______________________________ ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Jun 1995 09:08:06 -0600 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jerry J Bromenshenk Subject: Re: Bees in his bonnet... In-Reply-To: <9506250332.AA12384@wave.co.nz> from "Nick Wallingford" at Jun 25, 95 03:32:18 pm Hi: Sorry to see this article, bad publicity. Fortunately, the speculation about hair gel diverted attention away from the basic issue: the reporter was stung, not once, but many times. Over the last 20 years, we have had many television reporters and photographers in our beeyards. Only two have ever been stung, and they did not get more than one sting each. The first was my mistake and was similar to the Washington case. The second was the reporter's, and he knew it. While doing a story in Tacoma, I took a television crew to the home of a hobbiest with three colonies in a suburban neighborhood. The bees were in the back yard, down a hill, on the shore of the bay. The hives were barely visible from the front driveway. We pulled up in the car, got out, and a bee immediately got caught in the hair of the reporter. Since he had longish hair, he probably would have been okay if he had let me pinch her, but he started swatting, freightening the bee even more, and she let him have it. I got him immediately back into the car and removed the stinger. His hair had a strong floral smell - turns out he was into "herbal shampoos". I never take a television crew into a beeyard without first setting them down and briefing them on what to expect, how to act, how to dress, and what not to do (the most important part). I also keep a good eye on them and the bees and choose yards where I have a reasonable chance of predicting the behavior of the bees. My rules are: Do not wear perfume, scented hair products, or other scents Wear loose fitting, light colored clothing Wear shoes that cover your ankles When buzzed by a bee, act like a post Don't swat, jump around, etc. If you get a bee in your hair, clothing, etc. - ask me to remove it. If you get a bee in your veil, turn towards the sun so that the bee will fly against the veil, not at you. Keep your vehicle close by and leave the windows and doors closed - if something goes wrong, jump in the car (the number of bees in the car with you will surely be fewer than the number outside) I also warn the camera person that the black or dark parts of the camera may draw bees. Most camera folks have to work without gloves, so I make sure that their sleeves are secured with a band and instruct them to "grin and bear it" when a bee walks over their hand - which almost always happens. Which brings me to the second person ever stung while doing a story on our work. It happened two weeks ago. This photographer was in the yard for three hours while we re-queened, inspected hives, etc. Shot lots of 35 mm film. Just as he was finishing, I saw a bee light on his hand. Sure enough, he swatted it. And she got him. I called out - don't do that, but too late. We then rinsed off his sting and got him out of the yard - the x marks of the spot pheromone would have drawn more bees. He was a good sport, kind of grinned, and said, "guess I shouldn't have done that." My point is: I always tell reporters and camera persons that I can't guarantee that no one will get stung, but no one should ever get more than one sting, and the odds of getting stung are very low. Ever since Tacoma, I make them suit up while still well outside of the main flight path. My impression is that my instructions not only prepare them for being around bees, but also helps them feel more comfortable. I "preach" respect, not fear. Finally, I usually smoke the reporters and camera operators - to help cancel any scents that might attract/agitate the bees. I keep an old white lab coat handy - you can toss it over someone (e.g. such as the fellow that got all the bees in his hair) as a shield. A mist any sting areas with alcohol. We carry alcohol in spray bottles to disinfect and to remove propolis from gloves, etc. May not be a real good disinfectant, but it helps keep things cleaner. It also seems to reduce the amount of alarm pheromone on gloves, sting sites, etc. I don't think it totally removes the pheromone, but it certainly seems to reduce the odor and cools down the bees. Cheers Jerry J. Bromenshenk The University of Montana jjbmail@selway.umt.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 Jun 1995 08:32:47 +1200 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Robert Rice Subject: Honey and Parrots. - Reply >I had a replacement window salesman call on me yesterday. It turned out >that he breeds parrots in his spare time. This is quite lucrative. The >species he specializes in sells for 200 pounds ($300) a bird. Nutrition >is very important for success and he has a food mixture he has developed >himself. The formula was quite disgusting, mainly consisting of various >dried pulses and other seeds, chicken meat and honey! Anyway, rather >than him selling me windows, I sold him a number of bottles of honey. >Since he chose my nicest (and most expensive) variety I was relieved to >hear that he did intend to eat some of it himself. Hi Malcolm, As an ex Australian beekeeper I've spent many summer days working under flowering gum trees (eucalypt sp.) absolutely full of parrots. These birds thrive on nectar, pollen (pollen not essential), fruit (while still on the trees), grains (while still on the plant) and are considered by some farmers (ie, fruit and grain growers ) to be pests. Over the years I have hand reared young birds that have fallen their nests on honey etc before returning the to the wild. We have a bird sanctuary on the Gold Coast in Queensland where you can go and feed the parrots honey and bread. The parrots are wild and flock to the sanctuary once a day to be had fed and there are thousands of birds there. During our honey extraction process we produced about 600kg of dark honey each year that was unsaleable for human consumption and we sold all of it to people to feed to the wild parrots. It's a most amazing site having 100's of wild parrots flock to your yard and quite happily perch on you to be fed and then fly off back into the trees. I have also sold large quantities of honey for people to feed to their racing greyhounds and horses, in fact I once had a wealthy racehorse owner who not only fed his horses the best quality honey but dosed them with royal jelly as well. Again truth is stranger than fiction. Robert Rice Apicultural Service Manager South Island, New Zealand. e-mail ricer@lincoln.mqm.govt.nz ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Jun 1995 13:00:11 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "La Reine de la Cite' des Phoques (Liz Day)" Subject: repost of bad post Loosestrife - [SNIP] B> RELEASE ALREADY APPROVED BEETLES: Service would release the two beetles when they have been bred without internal parasites. C> BIOLOGICAL CONTROL: Release three additional bettle species that are host specific to purple loosetrife. Long-term, continuous control, not eradication. Well I ask you all to join with me in requesting the EA and making your personal comments to the Fish & Wildlife Service and support NO ACTION as an alternative to the release of any kind of new pests. PURPLE LOOSETRIFE IS AN VALUABLE NATURALIZED ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE TO BEES AND THEIR KEEPERS THAT SHOULD BE PROTECTED If you were in natural areas management you would disagree. PURPLE LOOSTRIFE IS AN EXOTIC PEST THAT HAS ALREADY RUINED UNTOLD AREAS OF WETLAND FOR NATIVE FAUNA. It forms monocultures that obliterate native plants and the animals that depend on them, and is nearly impossible to get rid of. We'll be lucky if we do it any harm at all. this beautiful naturalized wild flower that has improved the environment for bees and other insects and added much to the natural beauty of our swamps, waterways, and gardens. It is an EXOTIC that in the last 50 years has destroyed the native environment wherever it goes. well to remember that the loss of bee forage plants native or naturalized, flowers like Purple Loosetrife can not be replaced in any person's lifetime, Let's pray that we do not see anything like it again! and more then likely will not be replace at all. Nor will the natural areas it has already wiped out. Purple Loosetrife is also a pasture plant for Bumble Bee's of one stripe or another. Correct me if I'm wrong - but I don't think it's an importnat Bombus plant. plants related to Loosetrife. This means two or more native wild flowers will be the secondary target and will be lost or damaged. True and worrisome. The beetles eat other loosestrifes too. and these pests take a liking for plants of critical importance to beekeeper's like the Wild Buckwheat or Sage of California or any other cultivated or wild flower. No, I think they are specific to loosestrifes. Here is a group of destructive insect pests, This is pure rhetoric. If the plant is a pest, the insects that eat it are not. OR, if you want to call all plant-eating insects pests, I suppose you could. have never demonstrated any ability in their native land to eradicate Purple Loosetrife, That's right - they don't eradicate it. BUT they keep it under control, just enough that it doesn't take over every damp landscape it enters. So there are checks and balances, it doesn't run rampant, just grows 'normally'. tell them, get the EA and make your comments before July 12, 1995. Yes. Liz Day LDAY@indy.net Indianapolis, Indiana, USA ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Jun 1995 12:54:08 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "La Reine de la Cite' des Phoques (Liz Day)" Subject: reply about loosestrife From: Andy Nachbaur [SNIP] B> RELEASE ALREADY APPROVED BEETLES: Service would release the two beetles when they have been bred without internal parasites. C> BIOLOGICAL CONTROL: Release three additional bettle species that are host specific to purple loosetrife. Long-term, continuous control, not eradication. Well I ask you all to join with me in requesting the EA and making your personal comments to the Fish & Wildlife Service and support NO ACTION as an alternative to the release of any kind of new pests. PURPLE LOOSETRIFE IS AN VALUABLE NATURALIZED ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE TO BEES AND THEIR KEEPERS THAT SHOULD BE PROTECTED NOT ERADICATED OR DAMAGED BY THE RELEASE OF FOREIGN PLANT PESTS If you were in natural areas management you would disagree. PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE IS AN EXOTIC PEST THAT HAS ALREADY RUINED UNTOLD AREAS OF WETLAND FOR NATIVE FAUNA. It forms monocultures that obliterate native plants and the animals that depend on them, and is nearly impossible to get rid of. We'll be lucky if we do it any harm at all. this beautiful naturalized wild flower that has improved the environment for bees and other insects and added much to the natural beauty of our swamps, waterways, and gardens. It is AN EXOTIC that has destroyed the native wetland environment wherever it goes. well to remember that the loss of bee forage plants native or naturalized, flowers like Purple Loosetrife can not be replaced in any person's lifetime, Let's pray that we do not see anything like it again! and more then likely will not be replace at all. Nor will the natural areas it has already wiped out. Purple Loosetrife is also a pasture plant for Bumble Bee's of one stripe or another. Correct me if I'm wrong - but I don't think it's an importnat Bombus plant. plants related to Loosetrife. This means two or more native wild flowers will be the secondary target and will be lost or damaged. True and worrisome. The beetles eat other loosestrifes too. and these pests take a liking for plants of critical importance to beekeeper's like the Wild Buckwheat or Sage of California or any other cultivated or wild flower. No, I think they are specific to loosestrifes. Here is a group of destructive insect pests, This is pure rhetoric. If the plant is a pest, the insects that eat it are not. OR, if you want to call all plant-eating insects pests, I suppose you could. have never demonstrated any ability in their native land to eradicate Purple Loosetrife, That's right - they don't eradicate it. BUT they keep it under control, just enough that it doesn't take over every damp landscape it enters. So there are checks and balances, it doesn't run rampant, just grows 'normally'. tell them, get the EA and make your comments before July 12, 1995. Yes. Liz Day LDAY@indy.net Indianapolis, Indiana, USA ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Jun 1995 11:24:34 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Marc Party Subject: Re: HELP! >1. What is the easiest & fastest way to >remove excessive moisture from a four- >gallon white plastic pail of honey?? What to do with a 4 gallon pail of high moisture honey: 1. Feed it back to your bees and let them do the job. 2. Throw in some yeast and enjoy the Mead (best option). 3. Eat it fast before it starts to smell funny. 4. Sell it now as industrial grade honey. 5. Get some very low moisture honey and mix it with the stuff. 6. Put it in the freezer and worry about it later (least effort). Marc Patry Near Ottawa, Ontario ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Jun 1995 09:18:00 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Paul van Westendorp 576-5600 Fax: 576-5652" Subject: Re: Purple Loosetrife EA June 95 Andy, I suggest you check the facts and broaden your horizon by not just argiung from a beekeeping perspective. Indeed, Loosestrife has become an important plant to some beekeepers in some areas but I would argue that beekeeping in north America (ps this issue is not limited to the US but includes Canada) did just fine a few decades ago before Loosestrife was introduced and became a serious weed. The weed has been so remarkably successful as an invader of wetlands, bogs, ditches, etc. because no natural enemies were there to limit it. For many areas this weed has been an ecological disaster where it caused many native plants to dwindle if not disappear. This also had serious effects on the fauna in many of these areas. The release of the three biological agents is in my view an excellent proposal and environemntally sound. It does not mean that Loosestrife will disappear (we don't talk here about eradication) but that some control is achieved and that Loosestrife will take its "appropriate" place within plant communities without being over-dominant. Biological control agents are environmentally attractive because without them people generally resort to the chronic use of pesticides which are much more damaging, especially when used in wetlands and bogs. Although I am not familiar with the approval procedures used by US agencies, but as I stated in a previous e-mail, the significance of this proposal may not be great because the exact same control agents were released in Canada some years ago. Paul van Westendorp pvanwesten@galaxy.gov.bc.ca Provincial Apiarist British Columbia ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Jun 1995 17:48:22 +22300129 Reply-To: bernd@lascar.phc.cl Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Adam Finkelstein Subject: Wasp preying on bee query From: bernd@lascar.puc.cl (Bernd) Newsgroups: sci.bio.entomology.misc Subject: Wasp vivisecting Bee Date: 25 Jun 1995 00:53:15 GMT Organization: Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile Yesterday morning I made the following observation: A wasp was "fighting" (I'm not sure if the wasp did actually hunt the bee, but it looked like the bee was still alive during the process I describe next) with a bee and after that did the following: I was able to hear certain "clicks" and later realized what the wasp had done: In addition to cutting off the legs of the insect, it cleanly separated the torax from the abdomen and then the head of the bee. Then the wasp took the torax and flew away with it. I still have the rests of the bee. What I would like to know is: What is so interesting about the torax of an insect? (I have been lucky a long time ago, and observed a wasp hunting a much heavier spider in an avocado tree. They fell together to earth, and after a short fight, the wasp pulled the motionless body of the spider to a prefabricated hole on the floor. I know that story: the wasp lays its eggs into the fresh and still alive victim, which is then the aliment for the growing larvae). But the torax itself is dead, or all its cells will soon die, and: why not the abdomen, why did the wasp so selectively cut out the torax?? A prof here told me (after my description of the wasp), that it may be a yellow jacket, which is not a chilean species, but was introduced by accident and is now very common from north to south (emmm... there is not much "west to east" in chile :):) Is this a typical behaviour for yellow jackets? I'm curious to know the answer. Thanks in advance, bernd rohwedder ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Jun 1995 18:55:59 CST Reply-To: mbristow@palomo.chillan.udec.cl Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Marion L.Bristow" Subject: Re: HELP! Try pooring the honey trough about 15 - 20 clean dry filter rags ( cheese cloth or clean flour sack works pretty good ) . Poor the honey though on rag at a time , changing the rags after each filtering . The rags should absorb the excess moisture and you are going to have very clean honey . The other ( more effective but more expensive ) method is centerfuge . Chao ... Marion L.Bristow - Director Seccion Informatica Direcion del Campus Chillan Universidad de Concepcion Casilla 537 Chillan , Chile e-mail: mbristow@palomo.chillan.udec.cl ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Jun 1995 12:45:29 CST Reply-To: mbristow@palomo.chillan.udec.cl Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Marion L.Bristow" Subject: Re: afb decontamination My advice is ... DO NOT BUY THOSE BOXES !!! Marion L.Bristow - Director Seccion Informatica Direcion del Campus Chillan Universidad de Concepcion Casilla 537 Chillan , Chile e-mail: mbristow@palomo.chillan.udec.cl ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Jun 1995 17:30:46 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Kim Patten Subject: Re: Purple Loosetrife EA June 95 I am interested in reading this report on from the Dept of Interior on Purple loosestrife - how do I get a copy?? ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Jun 1995 19:51:39 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "La Reine de la Cite' des Phoques (Liz Day)" Subject: Re: vetch If it's regular purplish climbing vetch, bumblebees like it a lot but I don't know how honeybees do on it. Hope someone is of more help than this! Liz Day LDAY@indy.net Indianapolis, Indiana, USA ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Jun 1995 18:08:41 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Jim G. Shoemaker" Subject: "MITE SOLUTION" Hello Bee-L: At a recent meeting of our local bee association (Springfield, MO USA), one of the members presented information on a new mite control called "MITE SOLUTION". I watch bee-l rather closely and usually keep up with some of the journals and was surprised by this new product that I had never before seen mentioned. Says it is a natural miticide, antiseptic and fungicide. Contains petroleum jelly and natural plant extract. Has a US Patent Pending No. 365951 and an EPA Registration No. 68922. It claims 80 to 100 percent kill (both mites) in 30 days. Costs less than 20% of current strip prices. I realize that I am not in the main stream of bee activity and may be the last to hear of "MITE SOLUTION" but was wondering what others on the list might know about this product. Jim Shoemaker Brookline, MO USA (near Springfield and Bass Pro Shop) ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Jun 1995 19:59:41 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "La Reine de la Cite' des Phoques (Liz Day)" Subject: Re: Bees in his bonnet... I wish everybody prepared visitors as Bromenshank describes - how considerate! Liz Day LDAY@indy.net Indianapolis, Indiana, USA ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Jun 1995 20:05:50 -500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Dan Buchsbaum Subject: Re: Honey and Parrots. - Reply In-Reply-To: <9506290839.4ff1bdda.HOG@lincoln.mqm.govt.nz> > > I have also sold large quantities of honey for people to feed to their racing > greyhounds and horses, in fact I once had a wealthy racehorse owner who not > only fed his horses the best quality honey but dosed them with royal jelly as > well. > > Again truth is stranger than fiction. > > > Robert Rice > Apicultural Service Manager > South Island, New Zealand. Juliette de Bairacli Levy states in her book, The Complete Herbal Handbook for Farm and Stable, that Arabian horsemen routinely fed honey to their horses to give them strength, vitality, and fertility. It is considered the first of the heart tonics, seconded by rosemary. I feed it to any of my goats who are ill. It soothes internal inflamations and calms those annoying coughs. It's interesting to note that Hippocrates ("Father of Medicine") considered hydromel (honey and water) and oxymel (vinegar and honey) the basic medicines for most treatments. I bought this book initially to naturally treat my livestock, but it also has a section on naturally treating bees! -Cynthia Houston, TX * To the uninitiated..we're talking raw honey here! ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 28 Jun 1995 21:24:17 -0600 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Allen Dick Subject: Re: "MITE SOLUTION" In-Reply-To: > It claims 80 to 100 percent kill (both mites) in 30 days. Only if you rub it directly on the mites ;-) W. Allen Dick, Beekeeper VE6CFK Rural Route One Swalwell Alberta Canada T0M 1Y0 Email: dicka@cuug.ab.ca or allend@internode.net Futures, Art & Honey:http://www.cuug.ab.ca:8001/~dicka ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 Jun 1995 01:31:41 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "- please, Sue Bingham" Subject: Re: HELP! I too vote for the mead option - but did recently read that you can mix it with low moisture honey. Sue B. Washington ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 Jun 1995 08:46:30 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Boyd C Dickens Subject: Nectar Crops Does anyone know of a crop that can be seeded that will extend the nectar flow season. Maybe a crop that blooms in August. Also what crop produces the largest amount of nectar ? Thank you for your help. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 Jun 1995 09:43:13 -0300 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: David De Jong Subject: Re: Wasp preying on bee query Comments: To: bernd@lascar.phc.cl In-Reply-To: <199506282148.RAA42729@vtaix.cc.vt.edu> On Wed, 28 Jun 1995, Adam Finkelstein wrote: > From: bernd@lascar.puc.cl (Bernd) > Newsgroups: sci.bio.entomology.misc > Subject: Wasp vivisecting Bee > Date: 25 Jun 1995 00:53:15 GMT > Organization: Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile > > > Yesterday morning I made the following observation: > > A wasp was "fighting" (I'm not sure if the wasp did actually hunt > the bee, but it looked like the bee was still alive during the > process I describe next) with a bee and after that did the following: > > I was able to hear certain "clicks" and later realized what the > wasp had done: In addition to cutting off the legs of the insect, > it cleanly separated the torax from the abdomen and then the head of > the bee. Then the wasp took the torax and flew away with it. > > I still have the rests of the bee. What I would like to know is: > > What is so interesting about the torax of an insect? (I have been > lucky a long time ago, and observed a wasp hunting a much heavier > spider in an avocado tree. They fell together to earth, and after > a short fight, the wasp pulled the motionless body of the spider > to a prefabricated hole on the floor. I know that story: the wasp > lays its eggs into the fresh and still alive victim, which is then > the aliment for the growing larvae). But the torax itself is dead, > or all its cells will soon die, and: why not the abdomen, why did > the wasp so selectively cut out the torax?? > > A prof here told me (after my description of the wasp), that it may > be a yellow jacket, which is not a chilean species, but was introduced > by accident and is now very common from north to south (emmm... there > is not much "west to east" in chile :):) > > Is this a typical behaviour for yellow jackets? > > I'm curious to know the answer. Thanks in advance, > bernd rohwedder Wasps are after protein. The thorax is full of flight muscles. This protein is used to feed the wasp larvae. David De Jong> ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 Jun 1995 10:38:56 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Randy Lynn Subject: Re: moving bees In a message dated 95-06-22 10:55:20 EDT, you write: > Re: your second question. In hot weather it is extremely risky to >close up hives. When they discover they can't get out, they >become exited. That creates more heat, which gets them more >excited. You can get a runaway chain >reaction, which can actually melt down comb. Too right! I just moved 18 hives from the Piedmont (foothills) of North Carolina up to the Mountains for sourwood. I didn't have enough moving screens for the whole load. That was a big mistake! The heaviest three hives suffocated and melted down. What a mess. I had about 100 pounds of honey running out of the hive entrances and over everything, and piles and piles of dead bees. At first I thought I could salvage the combs and put them on weak hives. Then I realized that the combs had melted and collapsed like wet tissue paper. From now on I won't move bees unless I have a moving screen for the top and front of every hive. Randy Lynn Blossom Ridge Bee Farm 5402 Ashbey Lane, Summerfield, North Carolina, USA 27358 Phone 910-643-4494, email RCLynn@AOL.COM Sideline beekeeper with 35 hives. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 Jun 1995 13:04:44 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Chris Eckert Subject: Purple Loosestrife Info As someone who has been working on the population biology of purple loosestrife (especially colonization genetics), I have been following this exchange with interest. Below is a list of relevant sources of information. Basically, we don't know too much about the population ecology or colonization biology of this species. There is very little scientific evidence that it is as nasty as it's supposed to be but certainly no empirical evidence to the contrary. However, there is a strong feeling among people who work in wetlands (including muself) that it is a VERY aggressive plant and can drastically change the species composition of wetland vegetation in a very short time. The biological control program appears to be well planned and there has been fairly extensive tests done on the three principal insects. They ARE fairly specific to purple loosestrife, and would appear to be quite appropriate for the job (i'm no bio-control expert). While they do feed to some extent on other loosestrifes and other members of the Lythraceae, these other taxa are probably in greater danger from purple loosestrife competition than from the bio-control agents. I agree with one of the previous contributors that we will not be successful in wiping out this species. Genetically, it is a very poor candidate for complete erradication. Beekeepers will be particularly interested in the cost/benefit analysis of loosestrife control (including the cost to beekeepers) presented in Thompsopn et al. (1987). In Ontario, purple loosestrife is visited by both honeybees and Bombus spp. I hope this information is useful. As a final note, the root of the purple lossestrife problem is probably wetland disturbance and habitat degradation. This species thrives in disturbed wetlands. If we want to control its spread, we should concentrate on controlling our own impact on wetland habitats. Thompson DQ, Stuckey RL, Thompson EB. 1987. Spread, impact, and control of purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) in North American wetlands. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. NTIS, 2. Stuckey RL. 1980. The distributional history of Lythrum salicaria (purple loosestrife) in North America. Bartonia 100: 3-30. Ottenbreit KA, Staniforth RJ. 1994. Crossability of naturalized and cultivated Lythrum taxa. Canadian Journal of Botany 72: 337-341. Mal TK, Lovett-Doust J, Lovett-Doust L, Mulligan GA. 1992. The biology of Canadian weeds. 100. Lythrum salicaria. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 72: 1305-1330. Malecki RA, Blossey B, Hight SD, Schroeder D, Kok LT, Coulson JR. 1993. Biological control of purple loosestrife. BioScience 43: 680-686. Christopher Eckert ------------------------------------------------- Department of Biology Queen's University Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6 Phone: 613-545-6158 FAX: 613-545-6617 E-Mail: eckertc@biology.queensu.ca ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Jun 1995 00:18:44 EDT Reply-To: kdelapla@gis.lislab.uga.edu Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Keith Delaplane Subject: Re: "MITE SOLUTION" This sudden appearance of a purported new pesticide for honey bee mite control caught many of us by surprise. I searched for this product in an electronic database of U.S. EPA-approved pesticides (current as of Feb. 1995) and found no product with an EPA registration number of 68922 nor the name "Mite Solution." The nearest find was a "Zeromite Ear Mite Solution," EPA Reg. no. 10075-1, approved for use on ear mites in dogs and cats. Let me caution beekeepers to only use pesticides approved and fully registered by their country's appropriate regulatory agency. Dr. Keith S. Delaplane Department of Entomology 200 Barrow Hall University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602 USA phone (706) 542-1765 fax (706) 542-3872 kdelapla@service.uga.edu ksd@uga.cc.uga.edu ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 Jun 1995 15:18:27 +0600 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Rick Fell Subject: Honey - plants and flavors I am looking for information on plants with nectars that produce a poor quality, bad tasting honey. An example would be something like privet (Ligustrum) which produces a dark, bitter honey. I am particularly interested in plants found in the eastern part of North America. I have checked both Pellet's book on American Honey Plants and Eva Crane's book on Honey, but would appreciate any additional information. Thank you for any help you can offer. Rick Fell Richard Fell e-mail: rfell@vt.edu Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA 24061 703-231-7207 Fax 703-231-9131 ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 Jun 1995 19:48:03 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: David Morris Subject: Bumblebee problem I have a friend in England who has discovered a bumblebee nest in a rubbish heap in her backyard. I told her about Slayden's book, "The Humble Bee", and suggested she get the book and make this her daughter's science project. Let's hope she likes the idea. She is concerned that they may become a nuisance later. Plus, they are in a heap of yard trash which she may eventually consider unsightly. Question: Can she move this nest easily? Question: If the bumbles become a nuisance, what is the best way to remove them? I suggested Sevin dust or soapy water. Any other ideas? Question: Does anyone have any practical experience with this problem? She lives nears Gloucester, for any interested 'local' beekeepers. Thanks, David Morris ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 29 Jun 1995 21:11:40 -0700 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Kim Patten Subject: Re: Bumblebee problem >I have a friend in England who has discovered a bumblebee nest in a rubbish >heap in her backyard. I told her about Slayden's book, "The Humble Bee", and >suggested she get the book and make this her daughter's science project. > Let's hope she likes the idea. She is concerned that they may become a >nuisance later. Plus, they are in a heap of yard trash which she may >eventually consider unsightly. > >Question: Can she move this nest easily? > Yes, but wear a bee suit to avoid getting stung. All you have to do is dig around it and transfer it to a box. However, depending on the species that nest may only last a very short time before all the bee dye and the new queen fly off. >Question: If the bumbles become a nuisance, what is the best way to remove >them? I suggested Sevin dust or soapy water. Any other ideas? > >Question: Does anyone have any practical experience with this problem? > >She lives nears Gloucester, for any interested 'local' beekeepers. > >Thanks, > >David Morris > > ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Jun 1995 06:59:31 GMT Reply-To: ibra@matheson.demon.co.uk Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: ibra Subject: Re: Bumblebee problem In your message dated Thursday 29, June 1995 you wrote : > I have a friend in England who has discovered a bumblebee nest in a rubbish > heap in her backyard. I told her about Slayden's book, "The Humble Bee", and > suggested she get the book and make this her daughter's science project. 'Bumble bees for pleasure and profit' is a one-day meeting IBRA is holding in London on Saturday 23 September. There will be talks on rearing bumble bees and using them in education and at home. Your friend might be interested. She can contact IBRA for details. Andrew ************************************************************************** * From Andrew Matheson, Director, International Bee Research Association * * * * E.mail (home): ibra@matheson.demon.co.uk * * (office): ibra@cardiff.ac.uk * * * * IBRA, 18 North Road, Cardiff CF1 3DY, UK * * Fax (+44) 1222-665522 Telephone (+44) 1222-372409 * * http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/ibra/index.html * * * ************************************************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Jun 1995 11:43:40 +0100 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Jean-Marie Van Dyck Subject: Re: Nectar Crops Comments: To: bcdickens@aol.com On Thu, 29 Jun 1995 08:46:30 -0400 Boyd Dickens wrote: > Does anyone know of a crop that can be seeded that will extend > the nectar flow season. Maybe a crop that blooms in August. Also > what crop produces the largest amount of nectar ? Thank you for your > help. Phacelia is really a good plant to seed for extra honey crop. Blooming occurs about 6 weeks after seeding. Interesting for bees with 2-3 ares (0.1 acre?). Very clear and sweet honey, fine crystallization. Jean-Marie Van Dyck ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Jun 1995 07:50:26 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Lucy Cronin Subject: Re: Nectar Crops Anise-hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) is sometimes called the Wonder Honey Plant. It is estimated that 3 acres of this plant is sufficient pasture for 200 hives! It blooms for much of the summer, and is perennial. Yields a light fragrant Hope this is of some use to you. I'm not too sure about growing conditions for Anise-Hyssop, but Bergamot likes some shade. Lucy Cronin sometime beekeeper sometime herbalist sometime librarian ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Jun 1995 07:50:27 CST6CDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: BLANE WHITE Organization: Minnesota Dept of Agriculture Subject: Re: "MITE SOLUTION" Thanks Keith for the information on "Mite Solution". I also found that it is an unregistered product. I have also never seen or was able to find any information about independent testing of the product so there is no reliable information available that it even works as claimed. When the seller has already lied about EPA registration do you really think that the stuff actually works?? Blane ****************************************** Blane White State Apiary Inspector Minnesota Department of Agriculture Division of Plant Protection 90 W Plato Blvd St Paul, MN 55107 ph 612-296-0591 fax 612-296-7386 bwhite@mda-is.mda.state.mn.us ******************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Jun 1995 13:55:05 +0100 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Malcolm Roe Subject: UK Regional Bee Inspectors. Until recently I wouldn't have posted on a subject like this but there must be at least 25 beekeepers from the UK subscribed to Bee-l now. I'd be interested in your impressions of the new Bee Health Inspection Service and the Regional Bee Inspectors. Also, all I know about is the arrangements in the nine regions of England. What's happening in the rest of the UK? I met our Inspector, Beulah Cullen, on Wednesday at a meeting of my local beekeeping association. She was enthusiasic about her responsibilities and very approachable. There seems to be a more pro-active attitude than previously with a much greater emphasis on education. Mind you, with such a small number of inspectors it will be essential to rely on beekeepers becoming more self-sufficient in disease detection. I was impressed with the demonstration/talk given by Dr Cullen. She gave a demonstration of disease inspection on a couple of association hives (including finding a small amount of sacbrood that I don't think any of us were aware of). We then returned to the classroom to look at a number of frames supplied from Luddington that were infected with AFB, EFB and some of the secondary infections that can confuse diagnosis. A very useful evening. I did wonder though, how much this was typical of what's happening throughout the country and how much it was just Dr Cullen's obvious enthusiasm for her new job. -- Malcolm Roe Phone : +44 1442 345104 Crosfield Electronics Ltd Fax : +44 1442 343000 Hemel Hempstead, Herts. HP2 7RH, UK E-mail : roe@crosfield.co.uk ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Jun 1995 04:57:00 GMT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Andy Nachbaur Organization: WILD BEE'S BBS (209) 826-8107 LOS BANOS, CA Subject: Re: Purple Loosetrife EA (Continued from previous message) More: If I were to change the reference in the EA to the release of 5 new foreign insect pests to a new chemical that had the same disadvantages to man and the bee's environment as these pests admittedly will, who would support the use other then the manufacture, and chemical sales person? ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Jun 1995 04:57:00 GMT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Andy Nachbaur Organization: WILD BEE'S BBS (209) 826-8107 LOS BANOS, CA Subject: Re: Purple Loosetrife EA >From: "Paul van Westendorp AXY.GOV.BC.CA> >Date: Wed, 28 Jun 1995 09:18:00 -0700 >Subject: Re: Purple Loosetrife EA June 95 > I suggest you check the facts and broaden your horizon by not just argiung from a beekeeping perspective. Hello Paul, Hard not to think like a poor beekeeper after 40 plus seasons supported by the bees. If I am skeptical about government plans to alter the naturalization of Purple Loosetrife it is only my own opinion based on my own experience with similar government plans, most recently, to spray to death Mesquite and Cat Claw on government lands on the Mexican boarder of Arizona, because it was competition for Oak trees. We, (my x wife and myself) won that one with the help of a coalition of environmental groups and much political effort over several years. And to eradicate Yellow Star Thistle, one of the principal surplus Honey plants of Northern California and the introduction before ER's and AP's were required, of a weevil to do the same to the great SAGE range of Central and Southern California. Not to even mention the government search and destroy mission on bee's for mites and the "Tex-Mex" bee quarantine based on pure Bee Science that will not be valid US regulatory science in the year 2000 or anytime before if any beekeeper were to mount a serious challenge. In both of the projects involving introduced plant pest insects nothing has been demonstrated but to lessen the value of these native and naturalized plants as bee forage plants and create evil area's of sick and dieing plants where once stood beautiful healthy productive plants that were once forage for someone's bee's, God's or those kept by man. > Indeed, Loosestrife has become an important plant to some beekeepers in some areas but I would argue that beekeeping in north America (ps this issue is not limited to the US but includes Canada) did just fine a few decades ago before Loosestrife was introduced > and became a serious weed. Yes, I know and understand that argument, in fact it could be said that since Honey Bee's are not native to the US or Canada that life was as good then, before honey bees, as now and little would be lost and many lives saved if all Honey Bee's were killed by varroa mites also a pest that was not supposed to live on Honey Bees according to the best minds in the scientific community who have lost nothing by being wrong at the time they made those scientific observations and statements. Loosetrife may be a serious weed to you and other's in your area, I would not be the one to dispute that, it is not to me in my own neighborhood or do I know any beekeeper who believes that it is, other then what I have gleaned from the post's I have made on the subject of the EA. In my opinion and experience Purple Loosetrife is a beautiful naturalized wild flower, worthy of the home garden and beneficial to honey bee's and bumble bees, and other insects. We here are blessed with several of the dozen or so native species that grow in the US that in fact will also be damaged by the introduction of these new pest insects that we only have the work and opinions of a small handful of scientists and their follower's they will not in time harm other plants. The EA plan only list's 17 papers as reference by 10 authors hardly adequate for a project that will effect people and their land use in 48 states. > The weed has been so remarkably successful as an invader of wetlands, bogs, ditches, etc. because no natural enemies were there to limit it. For many areas this weed has been an ecological disaster where it caused many native plants to dwindle if not disappear. This also had serious effects on the fauna in many > of these areas. Los Banos, my home for most of my adult life was once a market hunting area from waterfowl. It continues to be an important waterfowl and wildlife area with several large refuges and many duck hunting clubs. We also have much rice farmed here and I am not a stranger to the wetlands, rice patties and marsh and bogs and some of the remarkable bee pasture plants that grow in them. I have never killed a duck, I am a rank conservationist and a life member of the Whooping Crane Society and I personally have made a marsh garden in my own back yard surrounding three fish pounds and have collected many bog plants over the years and even am visited each winter by a few rare water birds that proceeded to clean my pounds of baby fish with any color. I have seen nothing done in the government wetlands, the private wetlands or the agricultural wetlands that would not have to be done with or without Purple Loosetrife or the native verities that grow wild here. Yes wetlands do require planning, capital, and work the same as growing rice, or a back yard water garden. The use of indiscriminate pesticides and chemicals to control pests and weeds is a well know problem that is being more or less successfully addressed by those concerned with protecting the environment. The pending release of these 3 or more plant pests that will indiscriminately destroy the naturalized Purple Loosetrife and it's native relatives is not legitimized because some would claim it's though or hoped to be a environmentally sound plan. I believe that all the wetlands in this area which no doubt will be a target for the release of these pests because of the government wetlands, which suffer today not for the good care they are receiving, but the lack of it, nothing will change, except there will be one man's problem plant replaced by another and less pasture for honey bee's. The lack of labor is the problem or the lack of funding for it. Program's such as the planned release of these plant pest's look good to government planners and are easy sells to bureaucrats, politicians and the public because the initial cost is low and the buzz words are right. I do not believe that make's it right or the best plan. > The release of the three biological agents is in my view an excellent proposal and environemntally sound. It does not mean that Loosestrife will disappear (we don't talk here about eradication) but that some control is achieved and that Loosestrife will take its "appropriate" place within plant communities without > being over-dominant. It is as many as five plant pests that may be released from coast to coast, tested only superficially for a limited amount of time on a small number of prospective host plants. These pests will not be confined to government wet lands and are expected to invade private wet lands as well as back yard gardens that have enjoyed the ornamental value of Purple Loosetrife and it's many variants for many years. > Biological control agents are environmentally attractive because without them people generally resort to the chronic use of pesticides which > are much more damaging, especially when used in wetlands and bogs. I guess a lot depends on the eye's of the bee holder on what is, or not "environmentally attractive". I am not convinced that diseased, dying or dead Purple Loosetrife plants are a attractive addition to my environment and know from personal experience that this will become another costly clean up project in many areas that won't happen. Some old time beekeepers would say that since early in World War II, when pesticides were first spread from air planes over a wide area in California and elsewhere, someone has been trying to use pesticides to kill our bees. Never did they get them all, and never have so many reported the complete lack of feral bee's in our wood's and cities as today. This is thought by many to be the direct result of a pin head sized insect pest introduced into the America's by accident. A insect studied by scientists in its own native lands who at the time did not expect it to be a problem of Honey Bees. It makes no sense to me to take the same approach and chance with 5 foreign plant pest insects introduced to predicate Purple Loosetrife because a few say it will never destroy more then 10% of that bee pasture resource. That 10% may be a 100% of the native Lossetrife in my area. I can't stretch my imagination to include the reduction of bee pasture as being environmentally right, and only in my nightmares do I see a world stood still or put back 50 or 100 years as some would have it because it would be advantages ecologically or environmentally. Purple Loosetrife is a naturalized useful plant resource that provides food for bee's, and other insects. It's time we learned to utilized our natural resources and enjoy the natural changes in our environments that we can not change, but surely can mess up trying. Who in any government can make real guarantee's that one or more of these five pests will not favor some other wild flower or crop and cost millions of pounds of additional pesticide use to control it. No one dare suggest's that the loss of bee pasture be compensated for on public or private wetlands, but I am sure if a good plan goes bad and crop's are lost or damaged by these foreign insects some will think compensation would be a good idea. > Although I am not familiar with the approval procedures used by US agencies, but as I stated in a previous e-mail, the significance of this proposal may not be great because the exact same control > agents were released in Canada some years ago. This is good that in your area it is working without problems, you are certainty fortunate to be ahead of us. But then Purple Loosestrife must no longer be a problem to the people of Canada or soon will not be, it's good to bee on the winning team. Here any individual can make comment pro or con on this Environmental Assessment of the Proposed Release of non native insect pests targeted to damage the naturalized wildflower Purple Loosestrife and have reasonable expectations that what is said or written will be considered in the final decision without regards to his or her status. I encourage all to do so, pro I hope or con.. Comments must be received on or before July 12, 1995. Send comments to: Robert Schallenberger, Chief, Division of Refuges, U.S Fish and Wildlife Service. 600 ARLSQ, 1849 C. St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20240. ttul Andy- (Continued to next message) ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Jun 1995 08:26:01 EST Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "Kenneth A. Foster" Organization: Agricultural Economics UNSUBSCRIBE BEE-L |~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| | ! Ken Foster ! | | \|/ Dept of Ag. Econ. \|/ | | ! | 1145 Krannert Bldg. ! | | | \|/ |/\ Purdue University \|/ |/\| | ! | /\| West Lafayette, IN ! | /\| | | \|/ |/\ | 47907-1145 \|/ |/\ | | | | /\| ~^~ | /\| ~^~ | | |/\ | |/\ | | |/\| ~^~ Greetings from /\| ~^~ | | | the corn fields of Indiana! | | | ~^~ ~^~ | | | | Phone: (317) 494-1116 | | FAX: (317) 494-9176 | | e-mail: foster@agecon.purdue.edu | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Jun 1995 10:29:00 EDT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: "MacFawn, Dave" Subject: Re: UK Regional Bee Inspectors. Comments: To: BEE-L Regional Bee Inspectors is an interesting concept when applied to the US. With bee inspectors currently funded by the states, would there bee any economies to scale or benefits of having a regional inspection service? One thought that pops up is a more coordinated regional approach to bee mites, outbreaks, etc. ---------- >From: BEE-L >To: Multiple recipients of list BEE-L >Subject: UK Regional Bee Inspectors. >Date: Friday, June 30, 1995 1:55PM > >Return-Path: > >Received: from ncrcae.ColumbiaSC.NCR.COM by msgate.ColumbiaSC.ATTGIS.COM id > <2FF3C6C2@msgate.ColumbiaSC.ATTGIS.COM>; Fri, 30 Jun 95 09:41:22 edt >Received: by ncrcae.ColumbiaSC.NCR.COM; 30 Jun 95 09:05:09 EDT >Received: by ncrhub4.ATTGIS.COM; 30 Jun 95 09:06:21 EDT >Received: by ncrgw1.ATTGIS.COM; 30 Jun 95 08:57:42 EDT >Received: from CNSIBM.ALBANY.EDU by UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with > BSMTP id 2923; Fri, 30 Jun 95 08:51:53 EDT >Received: from UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU (NJE origin LISTSERV@ALBNYVM1) by > CNSIBM.ALBANY.EDU (LMail V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 7688; Fri, 30 Jun 1995 > 08:51:49 -0400 >Received: from UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU by UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU (LISTSERV release 1.8b) > with NJE id 7490 for BEE-L@UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU; Fri, 30 Jun 1995 08:51:41 > -0400 >Received: from ALBNYVM1 (NJE origin SMTP@ALBNYVM1) by CNSIBM.ALBANY.EDU (LMail > V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 7686; Fri, 30 Jun 1995 08:51:41 -0400 >Received: from crosfield.co.uk by UACSC2.ALBANY.EDU (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with > TCP; Fri, 30 Jun 95 08:51:03 EDT >Received: from suneng1.SS (suneng1.crosfield.co.uk) by crosfield.co.uk > (4.1/SMI-4.1) id AA03894; Fri, 30 Jun 95 13:55:08 BST >X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4 PL23] >Content-Type: text >Content-Length: 1692 >Message-ID: <9506301255.AA03894@crosfield.co.uk> >Date: Fri, 30 Jun 1995 13:55:05 +0100 >Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology >Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology >From: Malcolm Roe >Subject: UK Regional Bee Inspectors. >To: Multiple recipients of list BEE-L >--------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- >Until recently I wouldn't have posted on a subject like this but there >must be at least 25 beekeepers from the UK subscribed to Bee-l now. I'd >be interested in your impressions of the new Bee Health Inspection >Service and the Regional Bee Inspectors. Also, all I know about is the >arrangements in the nine regions of England. What's happening in the >rest of the UK? > >I met our Inspector, Beulah Cullen, on Wednesday at a meeting of my >local beekeeping association. She was enthusiasic about her >responsibilities and very approachable. There seems to be a more >pro-active attitude than previously with a much greater emphasis on >education. Mind you, with such a small number of inspectors it will be >essential to rely on beekeepers becoming more self-sufficient in disease >detection. > >I was impressed with the demonstration/talk given by Dr Cullen. She gave >a demonstration of disease inspection on a couple of association hives >(including finding a small amount of sacbrood that I don't think any of >us were aware of). We then returned to the classroom to look at a number >of frames supplied from Luddington that were infected with AFB, EFB and >some of the secondary infections that can confuse diagnosis. A very >useful evening. I did wonder though, how much this was typical of what's >happening throughout the country and how much it was just Dr Cullen's >obvious enthusiasm for her new job. > >-- >Malcolm Roe Phone : +44 1442 345104 >Crosfield Electronics Ltd Fax : +44 1442 343000 >Hemel Hempstead, Herts. HP2 7RH, UK E-mail : roe@crosfield.co.uk >------------------------------------------------------------------------ > ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Jun 1995 10:35:42 -0500 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Michael Stoops Subject: Re: Why are our bees so weak and sickly? In-Reply-To: <950605101650_86693938@aol.com> Haven't I read somewhere, sometime in the past, that if you report bee kills to the county agricultural agent that the beekeeper runs a chance of getting recompense ($$) for the kill? Of course, that doesn't help with the current loss. Also, if you keep your agent abreast of where your bee yards are, you might get notification for the agency of upcoming spray schedules so that you can put screens on the entrances of your hives and keep your bees in on the day of the proposed spray. It also helps if you communicate, and possibly give a jar of honey in the fall, with surrounding farmers and ask them to keep you updated with their spray schedule so as to prevent further bee kills. A lot of work, I know. But that might help prevent future drastic bee kills in you yards. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Jun 1995 08:20:54 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: WILLIAM G LORD Subject: Re: Honey - plants and flavors In-Reply-To: from "Rick Fell" at Jun 29, 95 03:18:27 pm Rick; Once in a rare while someone makes tobacco honey here. Now most tobacco growers top their crops prior to flowering, so it is unusual, but I understand not uncommonin the old days. Bull bay (Magnolia grandiflora) makes a dark, bitter honey in the coastal plain of N.C. Do you still have those slides from Israel? Bill Lord -- WILLIAM G LORD E-Mail : wglord@franklin Internet: wglord@franklin.ces.ncsu.edu Phone : 9194963344 ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Jun 1995 12:53:26 +22300129 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Adam Finkelstein Subject: Re: Why are our bees so weak and sickly? In-Reply-To: from "Michael Stoops" at Jun 30, 95 10:35:42 am Getting compensation from the State for pesticide kills seems very unlikely. Adam -- ______________________________________ Adam Finkelstein adamf@vtaix.cc.vt.edu ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Jun 1995 13:06:54 -0400 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Bernd Blossey Subject: purple loosestrife This is a response to a letter placed onto this list by Andy Nachbaur regarding the biological control of purple loosestrife Dear Beefriend, I have read your tirade against the proposed release of biological control agents against the wetland weed purple loosestrife. I have been working on biological control of purple loosestrife for almost a decade but such a conglomerate of ignorance and special interest concerns has never crossed my path. I would recommend you become familiar with the published literature (just because you don't know about scientific studies demonstrating the negative effects of purple loosestrife does not mean there aren't any!!). I also recommend you become familiar with biological control as a safe and environmentally sound method to control exotic plants (used in the United States for over a century with great success), where success is measured in overall costs and benefits, not only considering a special interest group. And your hate speech against the government (here represented as the Fish and Wildlife Service) acting against the interests of the public is not only dangerous it is simply wrong. The alliance across the entire North American continent fighting against exotic weeds (including purple loosestrife) involves concerned environmentalists (individuals and groups) as well as hunters, fishermen and local, state and federal agencies. I agree that often beekeepers are on the other side of the fence since these introduced exotics are an abundant forage source for bees. However, we have to weigh the overall health of our ecosystems against special interests, and sorry for you, bees and beekeepers are a special interest group (that at least in part were creating the purple loosestrife problem by spreading plants and seeds). Plants, bees and beekeepers will not be eradicated but some beneficial effects that an exotic plant may have for bees does not outweigh the overall negative environmental effects. All this has been determined for purple loosestrife and very clearly, control of purple loosestrife is desirable. You might not like this result but considerable effort was spent to consider all affected parties. Your tirade against government and the proposed action is based on your gut feeling instead of considering the facts. Putting it into hate speech does make a rational discussion rather difficult. Fortunately, I have experienced a deeper understanding of this issue among your fellow beekeepers in the past. Sincerely Dr. Bernd Blossey ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Jun 1995 16:48:08 GMT Reply-To: Gordon@apis.demon.co.uk Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Gordon Scott Subject: Re: Bumblebee problem David Morris writes: > I have a friend in England who has discovered a bumblebee nest in a rubbish > heap in her backyard. I told her about Slayden's book, "The Humble Bee", and > suggested she get the book and make this her daughter's science project. > Let's hope she likes the idea. She is concerned that they may become a > nuisance later. Plus, they are in a heap of yard trash which she may > eventually consider unsightly. No problem, they will disperse later in the year anyway, so if they're not an actual problem now, watch & enjoy. > Question: Can she move this nest easily? They can be dug out (Sladen describes it). They make a lot of fuss but don't *tend* to sting. They probably should be moved a mile of so at minimum. They can be put into a mini-hive about 8inch cube with a small hole (1/2 inch) in one face. Again Sladen describes some designs. > Question: If the bumbles become a nuisance, what is the best way to remove > them? I suggested Sevin dust or soapy water. Any other ideas? The best way is the one above. Pretty well any insecticide would kill them, but that would be very sad indeed. They really shouldn't be a problem, bumbles are *very* benign and very rarely sting. > Question: Does anyone have any practical experience with this problem? Yup, I've rescued a few, typically from half demolished sheds. I have two nests in parts of my house at this moment, one right by the bedroom window so we easily watch them coming & going. There are undoubtedly a few around the garden too. > She lives nears Gloucester, for any interested 'local' beekeepers. Not local enough. If she really needs them rescuing, the local police or town council should be able to put her in touch with a beekeeper. Finding one prepared to move bumbles can be a minor problem -- many aren't interested (shame!). Regards, -- Gordon Scott Gordon@apis.demon.co.uk 100332,3310 on CompuServe Newsletter Beekeeper@apis.demon.co.uk ditto Beekeeper, Kendo Sandan, sometime sailor. Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG22 5HP, UK ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Jun 1995 19:56:42 +0000 Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology From: Keith Hooker Organization: Technology Management Ltd Subject: Re: UK Regional Bee Inspectors. As someone who has 25 yrs + involvement with bees and their local association, and run 40+ colonies on the 300 acre fruit farm that I managed, I have bumped into problems of all sorts including Bee Inspectors. >From the outset my impression was and still is that the UK government via the MAAF is making a token effort towards beekeeping. Unfortunately the majority of beekeepers int he UK are small scale and get branded as 'Hobyist' and therefore not serious. While the key persons employed by the ministry may be very loyal to and knowledgeable about beekeeping, my impression is that they are handcuffed by the system. The Bee Inspectors that looked at my bees have been as follows: A printer who retired early who kept bees An agricultural worker who kept bees and had been made redundant An ex ministry employee who did not keep bees Although there is a 3 year inspection written into legislation my colonies have NEVER been inspected this often. In the early/mid 1970's I arranged for two people from the Ministry who were beekeepers to bring to Canterbury their 'Magic Roundabout'. This is a circular display of sections of comb showing all the different conditions of comb and was used to train inspectors at the time. This event was advertised to beekeepers in the Kent area at short notice and took place in late May. We had nearly 100 beekeepers visit and recieve instruction by the two leading Ministry instructors of the time including several commercial beekeepers from other parts of the country that were collecting their hives from pollination in Kent. This magic roundabout was at Sparshalt at one time. It is a very valuable resource and should be used to the benefit of beekeeping in the whole of the UK. Perhaps it could be tracked down. Keith (who has an attitude towards 'Token' efforts of the Ministry) ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 30 Jun 1995 22:55:47 GMT Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology Sender: Discussion of Bee Biology Comments: RFC822 error: Incorrect or incomplete address field found and ignored. From: "D. Kall" Subject: Wing length AHB Hello all, I recently read, in Bee Culture magazine, an off-hand reference to morphological differences that can distinguish an africanized honey bee (AHB) from one that is not. Obviously other than aggressive reactions it would be advantageous to have a reliable way to assess AHB in a hive. But it would also be nice to do this in the field, at the hive rather than sending samples off to a lab. Wing length was one of the more obvious things mentioned in the Bee Culture article. First I was wondering if this is a reliable and/or significant difference? Is the AHB wing length significantly different from Europeans bees as a whole and is it significantly separate from the difference between individual European breeds? Is it strictly a length difference or other dimensions as well? Second, given that the this physiological difference exists is it sufficient to create an acoustic difference during flight? I work in an acoustics research laboratory. A co-worker pointed out that in the 1990 book "Earth" by David Brin, page 262, Brin uses wing-beat frequency to discriminate between AHB and regular stock, and then a small "Star War's" laser to fry the AHB's out of the air. Aside from the issue of the laser, which I know nothing about, there are several unknowns and several criticisms in the acoustics of this fabrication. Wing-beat frequency alone would not be sufficient because there are frequency changes associated with maneuvering shifts, and with various flight behaviors (I know when a bee is just flying to land on me and when it is being aggressive by the sound in flight near my veil) that probably create a variance that would include the distinctions between AHB and regular bees. If the sound is acoustically rich enough there might be fundamental signatures that could go across changes in frequency that could be detected, maybe not. Then there is the complex issue of isolating and detecting a small, maneuverable, moving object like a bee; not simple. Then put this bee in an open acoustic environment (outside, variable weather, humidity, background noise, echos) and in the presence of false targets; other bees and other flying insects; what a mess. Okay, so the problem of using acoustic measures in the environment are fraught with difficulties; what if we brought the bees into the lab? Could I do controlled acoustic measures on an AHB in the lab and distinguish it from a regular honeybee? If a reliable difference could be established it could lead from the fanciful bee-killing laser to a practical, field-test device. Imagine a portable lab chamber and a laptop to take measurements. Field bees are caught individually and inserted in the chamber. Based on acoustic signatures AHB are distinguished from regular bees. No need to do complicated and time consuming physiological investigations that are difficult/impossible to do in the field. So what does everyone think? Possible? Thanks, darren kall AT&T Bell Laboratories 600 Mountain Ave., Murray Hill, NJ, 07974 Darren Kall Rm: 2C-545 Voice/TDD:(908)-582-3974 fax :(908)-582-7308 email:dakall@research.att.com