Buzzwords April 2017 - barnstablebeekeepers.org · #3. The photo below is of a Sublimator that has...
14
Barnstable County Beekeepers Association buzzwords http://www.barnstablebeekeepers.org April 2016 April Meeting MEETING DATE: Tuesday, April 11th, 7:30 pm at the West Barnstable Community Building on Route 149. Speaker: Dr. Bruce Gordon, MD Doctor Gordon will be coming to speak on bee sting allergies. From the Board As the spring-like February (!) days of our crazy winter/spring/winter pulled me outdoors to wander through my winter-dormant garden, I found that I was not alone- the bees were happily packing their baskets with the abundant pollen offered by tiny wild crocus. It seems our warmish January was enough to coax them into bloom. Though not as handsome as their larger- flowering cousins, wild crocus, also called species or snow crocus, is the earliest to bloom- easily two weeks before the Dutch varieties. Meanwhile, out at the Cape Bee Project, Claire reported bees bringing in yellow and white pollen, probably from crocus and witch hazel (I ordered one the next day).
Transcript of Buzzwords April 2017 - barnstablebeekeepers.org · #3. The photo below is of a Sublimator that has...
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,[email protected] 508-274-8754
MiguelZamora, [email protected] 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:[email protected],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,[email protected].
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
“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,[email protected]: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 [email protected]
VicePresident MichaelD.Smith [email protected]
Secretary ClaireDesilets [email protected]
Treasurer LynnHeslinga [email protected]
Directors
Marthe Ayers [email protected] Julie Lipkin [email protected]
John Beach [email protected] MaryAnne Mann [email protected]
Maria Cashdollar [email protected] Joseph McClure [email protected]
Melissa Caughey [email protected] Andy Morris [email protected]
Kimberly Concra [email protected] Brian O'Donnell [email protected]
PeterB Cooper [email protected] Melissa Sanderson [email protected]
Claire Desilets [email protected] Lisa Sheehy [email protected]
Kalliope Egloff [email protected] Mark Simonitsch [email protected]
Lynn Heslinga [email protected] Michael Smith [email protected]
Paul Lefebvre [email protected] Miguel Zamora [email protected]
