FILENAME: MAYAPIS.90
 
 
                   Apis--Apicultural Information and Issues
                    Florida Extension Beekeeping Newsletter
                       Volume 8, Number 5, May 1990
 
                             RESISTANT BEE STOCKS
 
The USDA folks are interested in finding bees resistant to tracheal mites.
That's the word from Dr. Anita Collins at the Weslaco Bee Laboratory.  She
would like to be in contact with beekeepers who have noticed either
susceptibility or resistance in their bee stocks and would be willing to
donate a queen or two to the project.  She would also appreciate any
information beekeepers might give on purchased stock; whether certain
breeders' queens appear more susceptible or resistant.  Anyone interested in
participating in this project should contact Dr. Collins or Dr. Bill Wilson,
USDA Bee Laboratory, 509 W. 4th St., Weslaco, TX 78596, ph 512/968-3159.
 
                          AMERICAN FOULBROOD-OLD FOE
 
An old enemy has reared its head in Florida.  American foulbrood (AFB) is on
the rise it seems.  Over the last few months on at least two occasions, 300
bee colonies have been destroyed by the Division of Plant Industry.  Mr.
Laurence Cutts, the State Apiarist, is rightfully troubled.  It seems that
other concerns may have contributed to a decline in vigilance for AFB.
Inspectors have had their hands full with added duties which include
inspection for Varroa mites.  It is easy in these hectic times for both
inspectors and beekeepers to put AFB control on the "back burner."
 
As I mentioned in the last issue of this newsletter, many factors can be
limiting in beekeeping.  American foulbrood certainly is one.  It is caused by
a spore-forming bacterium (Bacillus larvae) and is greatly feared anywhere
bees are kept.  The disease is highly contagious and can quickly spread
throughout an apiary. However, because it's been around a relatively long
time, the technology to control AFB is available.  This amounts to feeding the
antibiotic called oxytetracycline hydrochloride.
 
The only labelled formulation of oxytetracycline is known by the tradename,
Terramycin (R).  It is TM-25 Soluble Powder manufactured by Pfizer.  The
product must be used exactly as prescribed on the label.  Unfortunately, the
package containing the material does not have the bee label printed on it.
Rather, an insert comes with the packages in bulk shipment.  As a consequence,
often the seller does not provide a label.  Insist on getting at least a copy
of the label at the time of purchase.  It must be in one's possession while
applying the material.
 
Although Terramycin (R) is available and effective, many beekeepers do not use
it.  There continues to be controversy about the policy of feeding the
material as a preventative.  One problem is that once a regimen has begun, it
must continue indefinitely.  The antibiotic does not kill the bacterium; it
only prevents growth and thus, the symptoms of AFB fail to appear. If feeding
stops, symptoms will reappear provided the Bacillus is present.  Feeding the
antibiotic, therefore, means the beekeeper will not know if the bacterium is
present.  Those who prefer not to feed and allow the bee inspector to burn any
colonies with symptoms will have a better idea about how prevalent the
bacterium is in their operations.  More importantly, they will have many fewer
problems if the disease should become resistant to the antibiotic.  If
symptoms appear in a colony that is being fed Terramycin (R), the best course
of action is to burn the hive, for it may harbor a resistant strain of
bacterium.  Florida pays a small remuneration for colonies destroyed because
of AFB.  However, in order to collect, the area bee inspector must burn the
colony.
 
A potential problem exists when colonies are purchased.  If the new owner does
not know to continue a preventative antibiotic feeding program, a disease
problem may quickly develop.  Thus, the best course of action is to have
any equipment that is being purchased inspected.  If any doubt exists about a
colony's disease history, a preventative feeding program should be carefully
considered.
                               RESIDUES IN HONEY
 
A word to the wise from Canada.  Douglas McCrory in the Ontario Apiculture
Newsletter writes about chemicals used in beekeeping.  He notes that
Agriculture Canada continues to monitor honey and has found both sulfa (used
for American foulbrood control) and carbolic acid or phenol (used to remove
supers) residues.  Nine of twelve samples in Ontario had sulfa, a disquieting
figure.  Neither sulfa nor carbolic acid are legal uses and should not be
used, Mr. McCrory says.  Any detection will result in detention of the
product and ensuing bad publicity with untold losses in the market place.
 
In Florida, these substances are also not registered nor legal to use.  The
use of sulfa is especially difficult to understand.  TM-25 is a legal
alternative that works just as well.  With reference to phenol, Mr.
McCrory says, bee escapes have been re-evaluated and improved, and bee
blowers are also available, as is the registered chemical, Be Go (R).
 
                          BEES DON'T HAVE CHOLESTEROL
 
Recent emphasis on a healthy diet brings to issue what insects are the best to
consume.  Dr. Karla Ritter writes in the latest issue of The Food Insects
Newsletter, that being animals, most insects are sources of cholesterol; on an
average they have 0.1% sterol (i.e., 1 mg sterol/grams of tissue).  This
includes the tobacco horn worm (Manduca sexta) and the house cricket (Acheta
domesticus). For the latter insect, the newsletter reprints a recipe for
Crispy Cajun Crickets which are "crunchy and have a tasty flavor all their
own."
 
Fortunately, Dr. Ritter says consumption of insects does not always mean
eating unwanted cholesterol.  The honey bee does not produce the substance and
so can be eaten and presumably labelled as many foods are now as "free from
cholesterol--never had it, never will."  Now if it could be determined that
honey bees were also high in fiber...
 
 
                               OILING YOUR BEES
 
This provocative title above is quoted from Dr. Eric Mussen's newsletter,
From the UC Apiaries.  There have been several references in recent bee
journals about preliminary studies suggesting that lipids (shortening/oil)
interfere with tracheal mite transfer between bees.  Dr. Mussen suggests some
facts should be kept in mind.
 
1.  Waxes and lipids forming the outermost layer of the insect integument
(shell) function mostly to retain moisture and protect against abrasion.  In
very young bees, the skin has not "cured" and is different from older bees.
This difference may be used by tracheal mites to determine which bees are the
best candidates to transfer to.
 
2.  Introduction of extra lipids into a colony to disrupt mite transfer needs
to be done in a limited way.  A slowly-released source that will work over a
long time is probably the best.  Experience in California suggests "extender
patties," pioneered by Dr. Bill Wilson now at the Weslaco Bee Laboratory, will
work in this manner.  Dr. Mussen's recipes follow:
 
Vegetable Shortening Based:           Oil Based:
 
1 lb. vegetable shortening           1 lb. vegetable oil
2 lb. granulated sugar               3 (?) lb. granulated sugar
 
According to Dr. Mussen, hand mixing will lead to granular end products that
may crumble if they are short on lipid.  Powdered sugar can be substituted for
granular, but this increases cost and produces a somewhat sticky end product.
Blending with a heavy duty mixer will result in a smooth product quite similar
to frosting made by commercial bakeries.  Dr. Mussen also suggests that lipids
NOT be added to pollen supplement/substitute patties.  Too much lipid making
its way into larval food can be deleterious.
 
It is important to remember that like so many things in beekeeping, the
costs and benefits of oiling bees are not fully known; much needs to be
learned.  One example, the question mark concerning the oil based
recipe above.  Beekeepers should approach this technology carefully and employ
caution in its use.
 
                                PROFESSIONALISM
 
Mr. James Ladlie has written an article in the March issue of Agrichemical
Age called "Professionalism in the Age of Regulations."  This provides food
for thought across the production agriculture spectrum.  According to Mr.
Ladlie, although production agriculture has made impressive progress and
provided many benefits, it suffers from public apathy and misperception.
People want safe, high quality, inexpensive food.  Society, Mr. Ladlie says,
is easily led by emotion; thus, it has a positive view of low-input,
sustainable agriculture, but a negative one of what has evolved as
conventional agriculture based on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
 
The future demands those in production agriculture be better stewards of
resources, Mr. Ladlie says.  And reexamination of the present use of resources
will inevitably result in better and more intense management.  We are moving
toward a management-intensive rather than capital-intensive agriculture.  This
demands an interweaving of agricultural production and social responsibility.
Those who succeed in this new climate, Mr. Ladlie says,  must stress a systems
approach which integrates technologies and attitudes promoting better resource
stewardship.
 
In short, agriculturalists, according to Mr. Ladlie, must demonstrate to
society that they are capable of managing precious resources.  The only way to
do this in this age of regulations is to become a qualified professional.
This means developing a common body of knowledge and a certification
procedure, and implementing an ethical standard.  Mr. Ladlie says there are
some examples of agricultural professionalism already in existence.  One is
the Nebraska Certified Crop Production Adviser program (NCCPA) with the
following purposes:
1.  To increase knowledge, ability and professionalism of the crop production
industry.
2.  To show regulatory agencies that there are efforts to improve the
industry.
3.  To reduce possible harm to the environment.
4.  To promote the concept of profit-oriented production.
5.  To enhance the crop production industry's professionalism.
 
Another example, Mr. Ladlie says, is the Registry of Environmental and
Agricultural Professionals (REAP).  This organization is a consortium of
professional societies proposing to address the need for professional, uniform
standards.  Programs similar to those proposed by REAP would provide assurance
to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the general public that
agriculturalists are well informed and only using chemicals when necessary and
in the proper manner.   Unofficial sources in the EPA, according to Mr.
Ladlie, say that the day is not far away when anyone applying a farm chemical
of any type will have to be certified.
 
The beekeeping industry is not immune to this issue.  There are signs that a
greater degree of professionalism will be demanded from beekeepers in the
future. Introduction of exotic bee mites has resulted in greater use of
chemicals by beekeepers, as well as more complex regulations concerning moving
bees.  The coming of the African honey bee will mean greater attention to
apiary management to avoid nuisance law suits and retain current bee
locations.  The concept of certifying operators rather than colonies as
reported in the March issue of this newsletter is gaining acceptance.  Two
critical elements are required, according to Mr. Ladlie, to begin to develop a
cadre of professionals:  a credible association and a commitment to continuing
education.  There has been recognition of this in the bee industry.  One
proposal for certifying operators is being developed by NASDA in conjunction
with USDA APHIS and other groups.  The idea of professionalism in the craft
should also be on the agenda of beekeeping associations; launching a program
might be one way for groups to attract membership which appears to have
greatly declined around the nation.
 
                               NEW BEE INSPECTOR
 
The Division of Plant Industry reports that a new bee inspector has been hired
for District 12 which includes Dade, Monroe and Collier counties.  His name is
Ashraff Hosein, 13603 Old Cutler Rd., Building 8, Miami, FL 33158.  Mr.
Hosein's phone number is 305/251-9540.  He also has a Suncom state telephone
number: 8-466-9402.
                                GOODWILL GAMES
 
There is good news for beekeepers and others watching the Goodwill Games this
summer in Seattle.  Honey has been designated the official sweetener for the
largest athletic event in North America in the 1990s.  Over 50 countries and
2,500 athletes will be present during the period July 20 thru August 5. The
event will be televised worldwide by Turner Broadcasting.
 
As a sponsor for the games, the National Honey Board has planned an impressive
array of public relations activities including a sports drink for athletes,
press kits and features on athletes using honey.  In addition, honey will be
mentioned on television tags and the Goodwill Games/Honey logo featured on
posters, table tents and banners.  Finally, U.S. honey will be promoted at the
Games' International Trade Exhibition.  Those of you selling honey are urged
to get on the bandwagon and piggyback your efforts to get as much as possible
out of these promotions.
 
                            SUPERIOR ACCOMPLISHMENT
 
In 1988, the Florida Legislature authorized a State University System-wide
Superior Accomplishment Awards Progam.  The Institute of Food and Agricultural
Sciences (IFAS) is one division within the University of Florida.  Seven award
categories within IFAS were established.  Ms. Glinda Burnett was chosen a 1989
Charter Award Recipient for Clerical and Office Support in the first round of
competition.  This makes her eligible for the University-wide award in that
category.
 
Many of those receiving APIS over the years know Ms. Burnett; largely through
her efforts this newsletter has been typed, printed and delivered to your
mailing address.  In this capacity, she has come in contact with a good many
beekeepers in Florida.  Perhaps most have met her in conjunction with the
annual Beekeepers Institute which she not only has helped to administer, but
as part of the program, has also conducted food demonstrations using honey. I
know many of you recognize the valuable contributions to the beekeeping
extension program provided by Ms. Burnett over the years and join with me in
congratulating her for receiving the first IFAS Superior Accomplishment Award.
 
 
 
Sincerely,
 
 
Malcolm T. Sanford
202 Newell Hall--0312 IFAS
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611-0312
Phone (904) 392-1801
FAX: 904-392-5660
BITNET Address: MTS@IFASGNV
INTERNET Address: [log in to unmask]