Barnstable County Beekeepers Associat ion

buzzwords http://www.barnstablebeekeepers.org April 2016

AprilMeeting

MEETINGDATE:Tuesday,April11th,7:30pmattheWestBarnstableCommunityBuildingonRoute149.

Speaker:Dr.BruceGordon,MD

DoctorGordonwillbecomingtospeakonbeestingallergies.

FromtheBoard

Asthespring-likeFebruary(!)daysofourcrazywinter/spring/winterpulledmeoutdoorstowanderthroughmywinter-dormantgarden,IfoundthatIwasnotalone-thebeeswerehappilypackingtheirbasketswiththeabundantpollenofferedbytinywildcrocus.ItseemsourwarmishJanuarywasenoughtocoaxthemintobloom.Thoughnotashandsomeastheirlarger-floweringcousins,wildcrocus,alsocalledspeciesorsnowcrocus,istheearliesttobloom-easilytwoweeksbeforetheDutchvarieties.

Meanwhile,outattheCapeBeeProject,Clairereportedbeesbringinginyellowandwhitepollen,probablyfromcrocusandwitchhazel(Iorderedonethenextday).

Soonafterthecrocusbloom,theCornelianCherry,Cornusmas,begantoflower.Whattheblossomslackinsize,theymakeupinnumber,witheachlittle“popcorn”ballmadeupofmanytinyflowers.Whilethebeeslikeit,theydon’tgocrazyoveritastheydothecrocus.Luckily,thistree,akindofdogwood,wasalreadygrowingintheoldgarden,aswasthewildcrocus,whenIboughtthishouse.

Sincetherewasnothingmuchintheoldgardenforthetailendofthegrowingseason,IplantedsomeperennialsthatbloomwheneventhesturdyEchinaceahaspackeditinforwinter.Soacoupleofyearsandnarrowescapesfromrovingbunnieslater,thepurpleaster,Raydon’sFavorite,providesalmostasmuchbee-

delightinthefallasthewildcrocusinspring.

Boththeastersandthehardygardenmum,CambodianQueen,werestillgoingstrongattheendofOctober.

Withgrowingevidenceoftheimportanceofproteinprovidedbypollenforhoneybeedevelopmentandqueenquality,I’llbelookingformoreideasforgardeningattheedgesofthegrowingseason,aswellasfortheentiregardeningyearatourMay9thmeeting,“PlantingforBees”,tobepresentedbyourownMasterGardener,MelissaCaughey.Seeyouthere.

MaryAnneMann

BeesintheNews

http://www.capecodtimes.com/news/20170326/buzz-on-developing-bee-utiful-solutions

NOMINATIONCOMMITTEE

TheNominationCommitteeisstilllookingforvolunteerstocomeforwardtofillourvacanciesofVicePresidentandRecordingSecretarywithacoupleopeningsformembersontheBoardofDirectors.

WehaveourcurrentVicePresident,MikeSmith,asanominationforPresident.

Asmentionedinlastmonth'snewsletterthesepositionsarenottimeconsumingorcomplicated.TosimplifytheVicePresidentandPresident'sposition;mostofthetimeyoumerelyintroducethespeakerandannounceanynotices.TheRecordingSecretarywilltakenotesatthe3BoardofDirectorsmeetingsperyearandanypossiblecorrespondence,whichcurrentlyiswritingathankyounotetoourspeaker.

Wereallywouldliketohavemorenewfacesinvolvedinoperatingtheclub.Thisaddsnewideastoourclubandadditionalinterests.Pleaseconsidercomingforwardtovolunteeratthemeeting.It'shardfortheBoardofDirectorstoknowallofyouandyourqualitiesthatwouldhelptheclub.

ThankYou,

MartheAyers,mfoura32@aol.com 508-274-8754

MiguelZamora, zamorasmiguel@gmail.com 508-444-2059

WereceivedagrantfromCapeCodHealthcaretosubsidizeticktestingcostsforCaperesidents.Thecostis$15vs.astandardpanelcostof$50.Thebenefitofgettingaticktestedisthatitprovidesharddatathatpeoplecansharewiththeirdoctorsaboutpotentialexposure.Wehavenowfivepathogenscarriedbydeerticksandwefoundthatco-infectionisquitecommon.

PleaseseetheattachedTickTestingbrochureforfurtherinformation

LarryDapsis,DeerTickProjectCoordinator–Entomologist,CapeCodCooperativeExtension

ImprovingWinterSurvival

Withthearrivalofvarroamites,it’sbecomeprettymuchimpossibletobeacasualhands-offbeekeeperandconsistentlybringyourbeesthroughthewinter.Unlessyoudon’tmindthefrustrationofhighwintercolonyloss,andcanaffordtheregularreplacementofcolonies,successfulover-winteringintheageofvarroatakesalotofworkthroughoutmostoftheyear.

Theworstpart,forme,oflosingacolonyisnotunderstandingwhy.Mybestguess,giventheliterature,lotsofmitesamplingandtheobservationthatmostofmycolonylosseshappenedinfallandearlywinter,wasthatmostofthoselosseswereduetovarroaandvarroa-vectoredviruses.

Despitethatperspective,manyold-timerslikemewhokeptbeesduringthosehalcyonpre-varroadaysofthe1980s,andwhoareaversetousingsyntheticpesticides,havebeenindenialandeverhopefulthatourbeeswoulddevelopresistanceontheirown.SomelikeKirkWebsterinVermont,withapiariesinisolatedareasawayfrompoorlyadaptedsouthernbees,havebeensuccessfulinlettingtheirbeestoughitoutwithoutmiticides.Butintheprocesstheylostmostoftheircolonies.Itseemedliketherehadtobeamanagementprogramthatdidn’trequiresacrificingallthosebees,noruseofhardmiticides,andstillworkedtowardtheselectionofmiteresistance.Thetrickwasfirsttogetthecolonythroughthewinter,andthentobreedfromthosequeenswhosecoloniesneededtheleasttreatmentinterventions,basedonfrequentmitemonitoringwellbeforetherigorousbottleneckofwinter.

SolastsummerIdecidedtogetseriousaboutmonitoringandtreatment,thelatterusing“soft”chemicalsincludingformicandoxalicacids.BelowisasummaryofrecentcolonymanagementandresultstodateinmylittleWellfleetapiary.

August2016–March2017ColonyManagementHistoriesNarrowLandFarm,Wellfleet

• Allqueens/beeslocallyrearedfromoriginalopen-matedCarniolanstock.• PollensubstitutewasfedtoallbutonecolonyinAugustandearlySeptember(total~3

lbs/colony).• Alllightcoloniesfed2:1sugarsyrupmid-AugustthroughSeptember.• Mitecounts(sugarshake)performedonallcoloniesinAugust,SeptemberandOctober.• Threecoloniesneededmitetreatment(>2mites/100bees,MAQSformicacid)inAugust,

SeptemberorearlyOctober.• Fourcoloniesneededmitetreatment(>2mites/100bees,oxalicaciddribble)in

November(wintercluster).• TwonucsstartedinJulyrequirednomitetreatments(=<2mites/100beesinOctober).• Allhiveswrappedwithtarpaper,toppedwith1-inchfoaminsulation,andprovided

upperentrance.Screenedbottomboardblocked;bottomentranceblockedonlywith½-inchmeshscreen.

• FedfondantontopbarsinJanuaryandMarch.• Allninehomecoloniessurvivedtomid-Marchwith5-9seamsofbees.

It’sknownthatifwecankeepvarroainfestationdownwhen“winterbees”arebeingrearedinAugustandSeptember,thenthosewinterbees,whowillnotbereplaceduntilMay,won'thavetodealwithseverevirusinfectionsandhaemolymph-suckingmitesallwinter.Secondarily,thoseAugustandSeptembercoloniesneedadequatenutritionandespeciallyproteintoproducefatwinterbees,thusthepollensubstitutefeedingstartinginAugust.AIso,Iknowfrommyscalehivedata(since2001)thatwedon'tgetmuchofafall(afterClethra=sweetpepperbush)nectarflow,thusthethicksyrupfeedingtoloadupcolonieswithcarbohydratebeforeshut-downinOct/November.Andfinally,thefondantinwinterisinsurance;I’dmuchpreferthebeestowinteron/inthecombunderanadequatecapofhoney/syrupwithoutpilingsugarontothetopbars.

Thisprogramseemstohaveworkedthisyear,andI’mguardedlyoptimistic.It’sgreatbeingrichinbeesand,whoknows,maybeI’llgetsomehoney!

JohnPortnoy,Wellfleet

VolunteersNeededforTuesdaySept12th!Dr.ThomasDyerSeeleywillbepresentinghisworkonwildhoneybeesattheSeptember12thBCBAmeeting.Sincewe'reexpectingalargeturnout,we'llbeaskingfolkstopre-registerandcheckinuponarrival.That'swhereyoucomein!Weneedvolunteerstohelpcheckfolksinanddirectcarsintheparkinglottofiteveryonein.Ifyoucanarrive45minutesearlytohelp,pleaseemailMelSanderson:melissa.a.sanderson@gmail.com.Wearestillworkingoutalocation,butwilllikelybemidtoupperCape.

Dr.SeeleyisahoneybeebiologistatCornellUniversity.Hewillbetalkingaboutwhatheislearningaboutthehoneybeeliving(andthriving)wildintheArnotForest.Itisafascinatingstorywithfoursortsofactors:humans,bees,mites,andviruses!Hisfindingsareveryinformativeforthefutureofbeekeeping.Markyourcalendars!

MelissaSanderson

Checkoutourclub’sFacebookpage

https://www.facebook.com/groups/BarnstableCountyBeeA/

OxalicAcidSublimators

ItwasboundtohappenthatnewproductsandapplicatorswouldbegintobedevelopedfortreatingwithOxalicAcid.Herearelinkstonew"Sublimators"thatcanbeusedforfumigatingyourhives.

#1.ThisisalinktoaSlovenianbeeequipmentwebsite.ItfeaturesathirtysecondvideoabouttheirOxalicSublimator.Thedemoappearstoshowadevicethatisquickandeasy.Cautionisalwaysadvisedtobeusedbythepersongivingthetreatment.Nopersonalsafetyprecautionsareusedinthisvideodemonstration.

http://www.kipgo.net/izparilnik-za-oksalno-kislino-kipgo

#2.OxaVapislocatedintheUSAandhasagoodwebsite.Theysellacoupleofversionsofapplicators.TheirnewlydesignedSublimatorpromisesafastermethodapplicationanduses110voltsandisavailablethroughtheirwebsite:https://oxavap.com

#3.ThephotobelowisofaSublimatorthathasjustwonsecondprizeattheSerbian"BeogradBeeExpo"inearlyMarch.Itispropanepoweredwithtemperaturecontrolandhasasmallfan.Itiscompletelyportable.ASlovenianfriendofminelivinginIllinois,(whohatesVarroawithapassion),hasorderedonefortreatinghis50Langstrothhives.Howwellitworkswillbereportedlaterthisyear.Myfriendtreatsforvarroafrequently.Hiscolonymortalityrateisbelow10%.

MarkSimonitsch

2017BarnstableCountyBeekeepersCalendar

FINALLY!WehaveONEphotograph!Anyoneelse?

Non-photographiccontributionsarealsogood.Doyouhaveasayingorcatchphraserelatedtobees,beekeeping,honey,wax,etc?I’mnotlookingforpoetry,butthepractical.

Whicheveryoucansupply,pleaseemailjoegetsmail@gmail.com.

JoeMcClure

CONSIDERJOININGTHEMASSACHUSETTSBEEKEEPINGASSOCIATION

Formoreinformationontheeventandotherstate-widehappenings,youcandownloadtheMassachusettsBeekeepersAssociationbrochurehere.

MassBee

Thereareopportunitiesforparticipationandsupportinghoneybeekeepingatthestatelevel.TheboardofdirectorsreengagedintheMassBee.orgafterahiatus.

IattendedtheboardmeetinginWorcesterthiswinter.Allpresidentsofthecountyassociationswerepresent,aswellasdesigneesfromthoseassociations.

Howyoucanbeinvolved:BCBAneedstohavetwopeopledesignatedtoattendMassBeeboardmeetings.Generally,itisthecurrentpresidentandanotherinterestedparty.

AllassociationsshouldberepresentedatthestateAgriculturalDaybyhoneydonationsandphysicalrepresentationonApril4,2017.Visitstostaterepsanddroppingoffthedonatedhoney,aswellasmeetingandgreetingaretheduties.

DonationsforauctionforthespringmeetingofMassBeeareaskedofeachassociation.ThespringmeetingisApril18,2017inTopsfield@Fairgroundsfrom8-3:45.Anofficialagendawillbeemailedlaterthismonth.

Action:IfyouareinterestedinbeingadesigneetoMassBee,donatinghoneyforAgDay,alittlesomethingforthespringmeeting,and/orattendingStateAgDay,pleaseletmeknow,kalliopeegloff@yahoo.com.ClairehassmallbottlesforhoneydonationstoAgDay,ifyouwantthemforhoneydonationsforAgDay,contactClaire.

KalliopeEgloff@yahoo.com

KalliopeEgloff

“TheOwlandthePussycatwenttoseaInabeautifulpeagreenboat,Theytooksomehoneyandplentyofmoney,Wrappedinafivepoundnote.”

FromTheOwlandthePussycat,EdwardLear,1871

~~~~

Botulismisararebutdangeroustypeofpoisoningthataffectsthenervoussystem.Honeycancontainbotulismspores;thesesporesreleaseatoxinthatcanpoisoninfants.Themostdangerouseffectisparalysisofthediaphragm,whichmeanstheinfantscannotbreatheontheirownwithoutarespiratoruntilthediseaseiscured.Forthisreason,honeyshouldnotbefedtochildrenunder12monthsofage.

Source:poison.org

~~~~

Hereisaveryusefulguidetorenderingbeeswax,withvideos:https://snapguide.com/guides/clean-and-render-beeswax/

~~~~

Propolisisstronglyallergenicandcancauseanunpleasantrashinsusceptiblepeople,particularlywhenappliedtotheskin.Alwayswearglovesforhiveinspectionsifyouexperienceareaction.

Source:TheBeekeeper’sBible

JulieLipkin

ForYourViewingPleasure

MiteResistantQueenStockMeghanMilbrathNYBeeWellness

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j062Yf6LJLc

SuggestedbyJohnPortnoy

AmazingTime-Lapse:BeesHatchBeforeYourEyes|NationalGeographic

Whileyoufolksarepatientlywaitingforspringtoarrive,checkoutthisYoutubevideo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6mJ7e5YmnE

Itjustnevergetsold,butnewbeekeepersshouldreallytakeapeek.

SuggestedbyClaireDesilets

SomeReally,ReallyGoodFacts

TheVarroamitewilldoubleinnumbereachmonth

It'snotsomuchthemiteloadontheadultbeesthat'stheproblem--it'sthepercentageofthepupaethatareinfested.Oncethepupalinfestationrateexceeds~25%,thecolonyis"walkingdead."Thisrateisgenerallyreachedinautumnasthedecliningbeepopulationconcentratesthemitesintheremainingbrood.(AcommentbyRandyOliverinarecentblog).

ANDANOTHERCOMMENTBYRANDYOLIVER:

Duetothedronecell'slargersize,andthegreateramountoffeedingvisitsrequiredbyadronelarva,thereismorechanceofamite-carryingnursebeestickingherheadintoadronecellthanintoaworkercell.Couplethatwiththeobservationthatthereisalonger"open"periodfor

invasionofdronecellsthanforworkercells.Andfinally,thekairomonalcueofadronepupatotriggeramitetoclimboffherrideismuchstrongerfromadronethanfromaworkerpre-pupa.Theendresultisthatanydronecellhasagreaterprobabilityofbeingenteredthanacorrespondingworkercell.Agoodreasontopracticedronecombremoval.

AND ANOTHER:

Thevarroamitesinacollapsingcolonyspreadondriftingbeesintootherhivesforadistanceofatleast2milesineverydirection.”RandyOliver,ABJMarch,2017

Oldernon-reproducingfemalevarroamitescancontinuetotransmitvirusesbyfeedinguponbroodandworkers.

ClaireDesilets

Booklet review | Splits and VarroaWhenacolonyiswithoutalayingqueenlongenoughthatnoopenbroodisleftinthehive,varroamiteshavenoplacetoreproduce.Thislackofbroodcangreatlyreducethenumberofvarroamitesinacolony.InSplitsandVarroa,WilliamHesbachofWindDanceApiarydetailsallthestepsabeekeepermusttaketoproduceviablesplitsandreducethe[…]ReadMore

SuggestedbyClaireDesilets

ThePlightoftheHoneybees

Forbes,Wired,andMSNBChavepublishedpiecesthatApismeliferaisnotatrisk.Beekeeperscaneasilyreplacetheirlostbees.Beepopulationsareincreasing.

BeekeepersacrosstheUnitedStateslost44percentoftheirhoneybeecoloniesduringtheyearspanningApril2015toApril2016,accordingtothelatestpreliminaryresultsofanannualnationwidesurvey.

Figure1

Summaryofthetotaloverwintercolonylosses(October1–April1)ofmanagedhoneybeecoloniesintheUnitedStatesacrossnineannualnationalsurveys.Theacceptablerangeistheaveragepercentageofacceptablecolonylossesdeclaredbythesurveyparticipantsineachyearofthesurvey.

(TheBeeInformedTeam,2016)

In2012,theUSDApublishedastudythatfoundthatcropdiversityhasdecreasedoverthepastfortyyears.Manyofthosecropshavebeengeneticallyaltered.

Thepopulationcontinuestogrowanddevelopmentmustkeeppace,whichputsmorestressonnativebeesandpollinators.Asthesuburbspushoutwardsmall,diversefarmsarelost.Pesticideuseincreasesduetohomeownermisuse.

JoeMcClure

2ndAnnualBEEBALL:9/30/17

WhatistheBeeBall?Asocialandeducationalopportunityforbeekeepersandpollinatorpromoters

Isitformal?NO!dress-uporcomeincasualattire,justcomehavefun.WhathappensattheBeeBall?Foodfromlocalrestaurantsusinghoneyintheingredients,acustomhoneybrewfromCapeCodBeer,non-alcoholicteaandlemonadewithhoney,educationalexhibits,GREATraffleprizes,musicalentertainment.When:September30th5-9pmWhere:CulturalCenterofCapeCod,YarmouthHowcanyouhelp?Raffleprizesanddonations,and15-20poundsofhoneywillbeneededtosharewithchefstouseinthefoodtheywillpreparefortheevent.Volunteerswillbeneededclosertotheeventtohelppickupfoodatparticipatingrestaurants,andattheeventwithtickets,refillingfoodstations,andmore.Ifyou’reinterestedinhelpingorganizethe2017Beekeepers’Ball,pleasecontactKimConcraklconcra@msn.comorphone:508-237-6616formoreinfoanddirections.KimConcra

DIDYOUKNOW?

DidyouknowthattheGreekPhilosopherAristotle(384to322BC)iscreditedasthefirsttowriteascientificaccountofthehistoryofthehoneybee?

ClaireDesilets

Orange,Sesame,andHoneyCookies

Serves36(servingsize:1cookie)

Ingredients

• 11/4cupsgranulatedsugar• 1/2cupbrownsugar• 1/2cupunsaltedbutter,softened• 1teaspoonvanillaextract• 1largeegg• 7.9ounces(about13/4cups)all-purposeflour• 1teaspoonbakingsoda• 1/4teaspoonsalt• 1/3cuptoastedsesameseeds• 2tablespoonshoney• 2teaspoonsgratedorangerind• 1/3cuptoastedsesameseeds• Parchmentpaper• 1tablespoonorangejuice• 1tablespoonhoney

HowtoMakeIt

1. Preheatovento350°.Combinegranulatedsugar,brownsugar,butter,andvanillainalargebowl;beatwithamixeratmediumspeeduntilfluffy.Addegg;beatjustuntilblended.Beatinflour,bakingsoda,andsalt.

2. Beat1/3cuptoastedsesameseeds,2tablespoonshoney,andgratedorangerindintocookiedoughatmediumspeed.Place1/3cuptoastedsesameseedsinabowl;scoopdoughbytablespoonfuls,androllinsesameseeds.Arrangecookies2inchesapartonparchmentpaper-linedbakingsheets.Bake10to12minutes.Combineorangejuiceand1tablespoonhoneyinabowl;drizzlemixtureovercooledcookies.

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/orange-sesame-honey-cookies/print

RESOURCES(accurateasof1/17)

Thefollowingofficersanddirectorsareagreatresourcetoanswerquestionsandrequestsforassistance.

Officers

President KalliopeEgloff kalliopeegloff@yahoo.com

VicePresident MichaelD.Smith michaeldgetsmail@gmail.com

Secretary ClaireDesilets beekeepr@gmail.com

Treasurer LynnHeslinga lynneheslinga@gmail.com

Directors

Marthe Ayers mfoura32@aol.com Julie Lipkin julie.lipkin45@gmail.com

John Beach john.a.beach@comcast.net MaryAnne Mann hummann@outlook.com

Maria Cashdollar winter64@aol.com Joseph McClure joegetsmail@gmail.com

Melissa Caughey pcmc2000@msn.com Andy Morris andymorris02553@gmail.com

Kimberly Concra klconcra@msn.com Brian O'Donnell bjmdod98@gmail.com

PeterB Cooper brpbc1@gmail.com Melissa Sanderson melissa.a.sanderson@gmail.com

Claire Desilets beekeepr@gmail.com Lisa Sheehy lisasheehy@msn.com

Kalliope Egloff kalliopeegloff@yahoo.com Mark Simonitsch fishweirs@capecod.net

Lynn Heslinga lynneheslinga@gmail.com Michael Smith michaeldgetsmail@gmail.com

Paul Lefebvre lefbvr@gmail.com Miguel Zamora zamorasmiguel@gmail.com