buzzwords http://www.barnstablebeekeepers.org August 2017

UpcomingMeetings

Summervacation!ThereisnomeetinginAugust,butdon’tforgettheincrediblespeakerwe’rehavingforSeptember.

Dr.ThomasD.SeeleyistheHoraceWhiteProfessorinBiologyatCornellUniversity.HeisbasedintheDepartmentofNeurobiologyandBehavior,whereheteachescoursesonanimalbehavioranddoesresearchonthebehaviorandsociallifeofhoneybees.Hisworkissummarizedinthreebooks:HoneybeeEcology(1985),TheWisdomoftheHive(1995),andHoneybeeDemocracy(2010).

Moredetailsfollowbelowincludinghowtosignuptoreserveyourspot.ItwillbeatDYHighSchoolinSouthYarmouth.Whileitisfree,youmustreserveyourseatifyouwanttobeguaranteedtheopportunitytoseeoneofourmostinterestingpresentationsoftheyear.

HIVEOPENINGFORAUGUST

NOHIVEOPENINGSINAUGUST

BUTDONOTFORGETTOTESTYOURHIVESFORVARROA,AUGUSTISTHECRITICALMONTH!!

STAY TUNEDFOR

Checkoutourclub’sFacebookpage

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

SEPTEMBER

FromtheBoard

First,Iwanttothankeveryoneforcomingforthtovolunteertoworkashift(ortwo)inourbuildingandforfillinginthelastfewslots.Everythingseemtohaveworkedoutsmoothly.Everyonefiguresoutthepadlock.The"newbees"didwonderfullyandIhopetheyenjoytheirtime.Iknowafewthatstayedaftertheirshifttoseethefair.

Thesaleswererobustandwesoldoutofhoneyandhoneycandyonthelastday.Prettygoodestimations!!!!ThankyoutothosewhobroughtinmorehoneywhentheSOSwentout.Theglasscaselookedtobehalfemptyofitsoriginalsuppliessohopefullyeveryoneishappywiththeirsales.

Peopleweredefinitelyreadingtheliteraturedisplayedaroundtheinsideofthebuildingandthequeenseemstohavemadeherselfvisiblealotofthetime.Notonlythekidsbutalsotheadultswanteda"foundthequeen"sticker!!!!!!Weareallkids

atheart.

SpeakingofKidsatHeart,eventhoughthiswasmyfirst-timemeetingHenry;hecomesineveryyeartopurchasehis"year'ssupply"ofhoneysticks.Helaiddown$55.00thisyear.Whatahappyfellow.

Thankyoueveryoneforhelpingtomakethisyear'sfairasuccess.

MarteAyers

RSVPforSeptemberDr.SeeleyTalk!WehaveanexcitingspeakeratourSeptembermeeting!Dr.TomSeeley,honeybeebiologist

Photo1:Henrywithhisannualfixof$55worthofhoneysticks.

fromCornellUniversity,willbejoiningusfortheevening.Hispresentationsdrawabigcrowdandweareopeninghistalkuptothegeneralpublic,sowewillhavealargervenuefortheeveningandyouwillneedtoRSVP(it'sfree).ClickheretosignupfortheSeeleytalkHerearethedetails,notethechangeinlocationfromusualmeetings:Tue,September12,20177:30PM–9:00PMEDTDennis-YarmouthRegionalHighSchoolAuditorium210StationAvenue,SouthYarmouth,MA02664JoinustohearCornellhoneybeebiologistDr.ThomasDSeeleytalkaboutwhathisteamislearningaboutthehoneybeeliving(andthriving)wildintheArnotForest.Itisafascinatingstorywithfoursortsofactors:humans,bees,mites,andviruses!AndwhattheyarelearningabouttheArnotForestbeesisprobablytypicalforhoneybeeslivinginwildplacesintheeasternU.S….theyaredoingfinewithoutmitetreatments.Prettycool!Andveryinformativeforthefutureofbeekeeping.Wecouldstilluseafewmorevolunteerstohelpwithcheck-inanddirectingthehundredsofexpectedattendees.Contactmelissa.a.sanderson@gmail.comtovolunteer.

MelissaSanderson

WHY?WHY?WHY?

Allthreeofmyhiveshavenotgainedanyweightsincelatespring-thisdespiteanice,wet,spring,andabalancedsummer(nottoohot,nottoodry)andbigbloomsofblacklocustandmorerecently,athree-weekrollingbloomoflinden.Allofthehivesseembusyandhealthywithlotsofpollencomingin.TwoofthehivesarethehalvesofanoverwinterednucthatIsplitinJune,andwhiledoingwellseemtobebuildingslowly(onegotthequeen,theotherraisedtheirownqueen).

ThethirdisastrongoverwinteredhivethatsupersededitsqueeninMay.ThishiveIwouldhaveexpectedtoputonsomehoneysincetheyhadthelullinbroodrearingandsonomouthstofeedallthattime.UsuallyatthistimeofyearIwouldhavetwosupersonthebighive,whichwouldbemostlyfullandreadytoextract.Anyoneelsehavingsimilarordifferentexperiencethisyear?

ThiscomesfromamemberinPlymouthareabutitseemstobethenormhereontheupperCapealso.Thehivesbuiltnicelyontheautumnoliveandtheearlyspringblooms.Wewaited

DIDYOUKNOW?

Honey storage, including its container and temperature, can also affect the pace. Honey resists crystallization the best at warmer temperatures around 77 degrees F, and in glass or a container that won’t let moisture in. If stored properly, it can last an eternity.

patientlywithhoneyshallowsonfortheblacklocusttobloomaftertheyhadleafedoutafewweeksearlier.Thebloomwassporadicwithsometreesbareofbloom.Andsomethatweredrippingwithlongwhiteblossoms,hadnoodorandnoactivity.Onetreerightovertheendofmydrivewayhadhugeblossomsbuttherewasnotafloralscenttobehadeverymorningwhilewalkingtogetthepaper.Arethetreescyclicoraretheystillsufferingfromthedroughtafewyearsback?OrperhapsthosenicewarmdaysinFebruaryfollowedbythereallycoldweatherdamagedsomeoftheblooms-to-be?NotsurebutwhatIdoknowisthatmystrongestoverwinteredhiveshadonlypartialframesofhoneyintheshallows.ItappearstobeaverypoorharvestwhichwasquiteobviousfromwhatwasavailableatthefairinJuly.Somedidhavesmallamounts,butnotlargeharvestsasinpastyears.ItwaslearnedthattherehasbeenaharvestintheBrewster/Harwicharea.ThinkingwehavesomanymicroclimatesacrosstheCape,thismightmakesomesense.

Andanotherproblemtoponderisthedisappearanceofqueens.Orafterswarmingorremovingthequeenwithasplit,newcellswerenotcreated.Howdoesoneexplainthis?FromwhatIhear,varroacountsareverylowandfewtonovarroahavebeenseenwhenremovingdronebroodespeciallyattheclub’sfarmapiary.Thisisagoodsignbutarethevirusesstilllurking.Dowetreatwithlowcounts?Youwillhavetomakethatdecisiononyourownbutwehopeyouallhavedoneamonthlyvarroacheckbecauseitiscriticalforthesurvivalofyourhives.Ifstillnotclearastojusthowtodoit,checkout:www.honeybeehealthcoalition.org/varroa.Thisisagreatwebsitewithinformationbeingupdatequitefrequently.

BCBASwarmClub

IhavehadsomeinterestingconversationswiththoseinterestedinbeepropagationwithinourAssociation.JohnPortnoyoutinWellfleethastoldmethatPackageshavebeendoingverypoorly,comparedtonorthernnucsandCape-propagatedcolonies.

DanSmithtabulatedtheresultsofthe2013-14winterlosssurvey:

83memberssubmittedresultsfortheHoneybeeWinterSurvivalSurvey(2013-2014).Datawasobtainedfor230hivesonCapeCod.Ofthe230hives,108or47%werereportedasaliveand122or53%werereportedasdead.Ofthe230hives---102or44%werefromPackages,103or45%werefromNucsand25or11%werefromlocalswarms.ThebeesofCapeCodhadaveryhardwinterwithanoverallsurvivalrateof47%.ThesurvivalrateforPackagesofbeeswas27%.(myemphasis)Nucsandswarmsfairedfarbetterwithsurvivalratesof63%and60%respectively.

CONSIDERJOININGTHEMASSACHUSETTSBEEKEEPINGASSOCIATION

Formoreinformationontheeventandotherstatewidehappenings,youcandownloadtheMassachusettsBeekeepersAssociationbrochurehere.

Todate,I’vehadonlyfourpeoplerespondwithinterestinpropagatinghiveswithintheBCBA.OurexcellentqueenrearingprojectisagreathelptothebeekeepersonCapeCod.Ifwehavetoreplacethreequartersofourhivesatanever-increasingexpense,we’regoingtopriceourselvesoutofbeekeepingwherewecancreateasustainableprogram.Talktoyourfellowbeekeepersandhelpgenerateinterestoverthewinter!I’mhopingthatwecankeeptrackofhowmanyover-winteringhiveswehaveasresources.Iespeciallywanttohearfrombeekeeperswhowenttothehiveopeningswherewediscussedmakingsplits.Didyoumakeasplit?Howisitdoing?Whatmethoddidyouuse?Didyouhavethemraisetheirownqueen,ordidyougetonefromoutside?Ifitwasapurchasedqueen,wasitfromourCapeBeeprogram?JoeMcClure

The“beesknees”

ThankstoClaireandheroutreachtolocaleducationalprogramswithherwonderfultravellingobservationhive,wewereinvitedtobepartoftheWaquoitBayEstuarineResearchReserve’sJuniorRangerProgram.Kidsandtheirparentsfoundthequeen,triedonbeekeeperjackets(whichcamealmosttotheirfeet!),builtaLangstrothhiveandsawclose-upsofthe“beesknees”andpollenbasketsunderthemicroscope.MaryKayFoxprovidedbackgroundandansweredquestionsgleanedfrom15yearsinbeekeepingand

establishingapollinatorgardenatthereserve.DanielleBelletete,programco-ordinator,ledkidsintotheyardtofind“pollenballs”andsilently“waggle”theirlocationtotheothers.FamiliesleftwithsmilesandapacketofMaryKay’sbutterflyweedseeds,eagertohelptheirlocalbees.

MaryAnnMann

BlesstheBeesandtheChildren

MyhusbandToddandIhadthechancetoworkattheHoneyHutattheBarnstableCountyFairagainthisyear..Webothagreethatitisoneofthehighlightsofoursummers.Myfavoritepartistalkingtothekidsandhearingtheirgreatquestions.Oneofmyfavoritesthisyearwas,"Ifthatisthequeen,whereistheking?"OneofthethingsInoticedthisyearisthatthechildrenwereeagertosharefactstheyknewaboutbees.Itwasevidentthatmanyofthemhadlearnedquiteabitaboutbeessomewherearoundtheway.Theyknewthatbeesareimportant.Theyknewthattheyareindangerofdisappearing.Theyknewthatpeopleneedtodowhatwecantohelpthem.

Forage

Bee Hunting

Breakingapromise:revisitingthesugarsyruprecipe.

Thiscommonherbwillkeepbeepollinatorsbuzzinginyourgarden

Lawmakertakesaimatpesticidesharmingbeecolonies

IfthekidsthatcamethroughtheHoneyHutareanyindicationofthewisdomofthisgeneration,theremaybehopeforthebeesafterall!

MariaCashdollar

Feeding

Whileweawaitthebloomingofcletherafollowedbygoldenrodandaster,hereareafewcommentsonfeeding.Toavoidrobbing,itisbesttouseadryfeedaswhitegranulatedsugarifyouhivesappearlightwhenheftedfromthebottomboardintheback.Thesimplestmethodistopurchaseacheapwhitepaperplateatthelocalmarketanddumponthesugar.Mistwithabitofwatertoclumpsothebeesdonotcarryitoutofthehiveastheyclean.Thisplateorplatescanbeplacedrightontopoftheframesinthetopdeep.Honeyshallowsshouldberemovedofcourse.Thismoundofsugarcanbeprotectedbya1or2”shimandthentheinnercoverisreplaced.Youwillbeamazedathowquicklythesugarwillbeconsumedifthebeesareinneedofstores.Andtheywillchewrightthroughthepaperplatetogetatthesugar.

Ifyoufindyourqueenhasstoppedlaying,thislackofincomingfoodcanbethereason.RussianbeesandCarniolanswillstoplayingwhenthelevelofstoresdrops.Thequeenrealizesshehastoomanymouthstofeedandwilltakeashortvacation.Andyoumightfindsomedeaddronepupaonthefrontstoopifstoresdrop.Theyarethefirstbroodtobesacrificedwhenthehiveisheadingtowardsstarvation.

ClaireDesilets

LOOKINGFORHONEY

Wehadapersonstopbythefairbuildingwhoislookingtopurchaselocalhoneytouseinhisrestaurantonaregularbasis.Aboutonequartpermonth.Contacthimdirectly.

Mark@themillsrestaurant.com149Rte149MarstonsMills508-428-9814www.themillsrestaurant.com

MarteAyers

PlantingforBees/TruroAgFair

MygoodfriendRandBurkertandIhavebeenworkingonaprojecttocreateaninformalCapeCodconsortiumregardingbees.We'dliketogetsomemembersofBCBAinvolved.

Thiswillbeacollaborativeefforttodevelopanevolvinglistofplantsthatsupportbeeshereon

theCape–bothhoneybeesandnative,wildbees.Ourgoalistobringtogether“endusers"(beekeepers,homeowners,farmers,etc.),suppliers(gardencenters,farms,gardenclubs,etc.),andotherstakeholders(educators,residents,etc.).

Honeybeesandhivelosshavecreatedacommongroundofconcern.We'dliketoleveragethisconcerntobringmembersofourcommunitytogethertofindsharedsolutionsviagardening.Mysenseisthatmanyfolksfeelhelplessinthefaceofsomanyenvironmentalcrises.Thisisaplatformforfindingwaystoactuallyhelpwithaproblem,recognizingthatahealthyhabitatforbeesstartswithbiodiverseplantings,andinvolvingfolkswithdirectworkontheland.Whatcouldbemoreuplifting?

WeareplanningafirstTruromeeting(hopefully)onSundayofLaborDayweekend,butwecanhaveanadditionalkickoffmeetingifTruroisnotareasonableoption.We’dliketohavearoundtablemeeting,bringingtogethersomeexpertswithboththeBeekeepersGroupandFoodForestInitiative(alocalgroupseekingwaystoreplanttheCapewithfood-producingtrees).Ourfirstgoalwouldbetodraftaplantoinvolvethecommunityinanempiricalstudy:observingbee(andwildbee)behaviorandcomingupwithamorecomprehensivelistofbeeshrubs,trees,andherbaceousperennials.

RandhasalreadyspokenwithFrancieRandolphofSustainableCapeaboutthis,andsheisveryamenabletohavingusetheTruroAgriculturalFairforthefirstworkshop/discussion.Whenwefixadate,wewillseektoinviteotherstakeholdersandexpertstoattend.Also,itseemslikeitwouldbeagoodideaforBCBAtohaveapresenceattheAgriculturalFairinTruroonthatsameday,soamhopingthatmightcometogetheraswell.

Pleasebeintouchwithmeifyou’dliketobeinvolved…andthanks!

KathyColeridge508.241.8595blackcrowbluesky@gmail.com

2ndAnnualBEEBALL:9/30/17

WANTED:PleaseconsiderdonatinghoneytobeusedbytheBeeBallfoodvendors!Weneedtogetthemouttheresoon!Wewillfeatureyourname/honeycompanynamewiththevendornameattheBall.8ounce,1poundand2poundjarsgratefullyaccepted.Wewilldropthehoneyofftothevendorsforuseintheirrecipes.

Bee-Love-ED:TheBeeBallexistsfortheloveofbeesandtheeducationaboutthem.

Pleaseconsiderdonating:time,money,honeytomakethiseventasuccess.

CalloremailKim508-237-6616orklconcra@msn.comTHANKYOU!

KimConcra

TakeTimetoSmelltheHoney...andtoStopandThink!

(alternatetitle...WhatNotToDo)

Everysooften,mybeesforcemetoslowdown.IwasremindedofthatagaininlateJuly.ItwasSunday,Iwasinarushtogetthroughmytodolist.Andcheckingonmyhiveshadbeenonthelistforthelasttwoweekends,bumpedbykids,chores,gardening,summerboatridesandwork.Ihadnoticedacoupleweeksearlierthatmyoverwinteredhive,completewithhoneysuper,suddenlyseemedalittleshortonbees.Thenewhivehadabiggerbeardofbeesonhothumidevenings,andtheentrancewasn'tasbusyduringtheday.Butcheckingitkeptfallingtothebottomofmytodolist.IfinallygotintothehivesonthatSunday,intentonjustacursorychecktoseewhatwasgoingon.Istartedwiththenewhive,removingthenowunnecessaryfeederpailandnoting2fulldeeps,withfresheggsandcappedbrood.Happyhive.

Movingontotheoverwinteredhive,aproblemwasimmediatelyapparentuponopening.Ihadabout5fullframesinthehoneysuper,likelyfromJune'sflow....butveryfewbees.Iremovedthehoneysuperwithlittleeffort.Oddlydocilebees.Queencellseverywhere.Okay,theyswarmed,perhapsmultipletimes.Nottheendoftheworld.Veryspottybrood...ohwait,allthebroodisdronebrood.Alayingworker.Mytodolistsuddenlygotalotlonger.AsIwentthrougheveryframetomakesure,inmyheadIwasfranticallygoingthroughmyoptions.Whomighthaveaqueen?DoIhavetimetogopickitupandinstallit?ThenIrememberedthatIfinallyhadasecondhiveandthatIcouldmoveoveraframeofeggstomakeanewqueen!Ididn'tstoptodothemathanddetermineiftherewouldstillbeworkersavailabletoraisethequeenandgetthehivethroughtothenewbatchofworkers.

Ididmakeamentalnotetomyself,"remembertobrushthatframebeforemovingit,soyoudon'tmovethequeen."Isetmybeebrushnexttothehive,soIwouldn'tforget.Istartedpullingframesoutofthenewhive.Wherewerethosedarneggs??IknewIhadseenthem15minutesago.IhadalreadyspenttwicetheamountoftimeinthehivesthenIhadintended,andIstartedtomovetoofast.Withmyafternooncommitmentsrushingmealong,Ifinallyfoundtheeggs.Triumphant,Iturnedaroundandplunkedthatframeofeggsintotheoldhive.Asmyhandsletgooftheframe,mybrainsuddenlycaughtuptomyactions.TheQueen!Iforgottobrushtheframe.Blastit!Ifigureitisalreadytoolateandthatifshewasonthatframe,shehaslikelymoveddeeperintothehivealready,awayfromthelight.HopefullytheyhavebeenqueenlesslongenoughthattheyacceptherifIdidaccidentallymoveher.Icrossmyfingers,promisemyselfthatIwillslowdownnexttimeandcloseupthehives.

Inhindsight,IrealizethatImayhavebeenbetteroffcombiningthehives,astheoldhivemaynothaveenoughtimetogettoalayingqueenandthenwaitforheroffspringtohatch.Butnow

wewaitandsee.ButmaybeIshouldmoveoversomecappedworkerbroodtohelpthemalong?MaybeI'lljustgoreadmybeebooksandseewhatthe"experts"recommend?

Beekeeping.It'salwaysanadventureandanexperiment.

…And,agoodremindertoslowdownandthinkbeforeyouact!

MelissaSanderson

2018BarnstableCountyBeekeepersCalendar

Wegotacouplelateadditionsthatwe’readdinginbecauseofspecificsubjectmatter,butwe’vegotenoughphotos.Wewillreviewthephotosandstarttheboringworkofcreatingthenutsandboltsofthecalendar.Remember,thecalendarwillbeunveiledattheBeekeepers’BallonSeptember30th.

JoeMcClure

BarnstableCountyBeekeeper’sAssociationSwarmClub

Overthepastseveralmonths,afewpeoplehaveaskedmeabouttheappropriatenessoforderingGeorgiabeesandquestioningthesurvivalrate.Whatisbetterthanorderingbeesfromdownsouthiscreatinganetworkofbeekeepersinterestedinpropagatinglocalcoloniesfromourover-winteredqueens.

WhileIdidn’thavethesurvivalrateI’dhopedforthiswinter,Iwasabletocreateonesplit.Istucktwoframesofbroodwitheggs,shookinextrabeesforgoodmeasure,addedsomebeebreadframesandalittlehoneyintoadeepandwalkedaway.Theymadetwoqueencellswithinthefirstweek,andIfoundthreemoresincethen.Alas,they’reallonthesameframe,so

I’mnotsureIcansafelycutthemouttomakeanother.Whentheweathergetsbetter,IwillseewhatIcando.

Makingasplitisthateasy,andthesequeenswillbefromoverwinteredstock.It’snotaguaranteethatthehivewilloverwinter,butitwillincreasetheprobability.Italsomeansthatthedecreaseinpopulationofyourhivecanhelppreventswarmingasyou’redoingacontrolledsimulationofaswarm!

I’veonlyhadonepersoncontactmesofar,andweneedmorethanthattogetstarted.Pleaseseethelastnewsletterfordetails.Ifyou’reinterestedinbeinginvolved,pleaseletmeknow.

JoeMcClure

Goatcheeseandhoneydipwithveggies14ouncepackageofgoatcheese,1/2cupGreekorplainyogurt,11/2tablespoonshoney,Halfcupbeingsprouts,mix3/4ofsproutsinandgarnishwiththeremainderEnsuredairy-baseddipsstaychilledbyfillingabowlwithiceandsprinklingwithkoshersalt.Placethebowlontoiceanditwillstaycoolandfresh.Sprucesupanysaladorsandwichasadressing.

MartheAyers

RESOURCES(accurateasof1/17)

Thefollowingofficersanddirectorsareagreatresourcetoanswerquestionsandrequestsforassistance.

Officers

President MichaelD.Smith michaeldgetsmail@gmail.com

VicePresident KayleighCronin kcrone@gmail.com

CorrespondingSecretary ClaireDesilets beekeepr@gmail.com

RecordingSecretary DeborahCarmel deborahcarmel429@gmail.com

Treasurer LynnHeslinga lynneheslinga@gmail.com

DirectorsMarthe Ayers mfoura32@aol.com Paul Lefebvre lefbvr@gmail.com

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

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

Todd Cashdollar thruheavenseyez@aol.com Andy Morris andymorris02553@gmail.com

Melissa Caughey pcmc2000@msn.com Brian O'Donnell bjmdod98@gmail.com

Kathy Clobridge clobridge@comcast.net Steven Pelletier steven@pelletiernet.com

Kimberly Concra klconcra@msn.com Melissa Sanderson melissa.a.sanderson@gmail.com

PeterB Cooper brpbc1@gmail.com Lisa Sheehy lisasheehy@msn.com

Claire Desilets beekeepr@gmail.com Mark Simonitsch fishweirs@capecod.net

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

Mary Johnson mrj9922@msn.com Miguel Zamora zamorasmiguel@gmail.com