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Date: | Thu, 21 Jan 1999 08:35:35 -0500 |
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For the past 10 years I have been adding iodized table salt to the
spring TM dust mixture and pollen substitute fed to hives in
March-April. The reason has nothing to do with what I was taught,
read or science. Rather, the "logic" pertained to nuisance complaints
I have received over the years from the public regarding honey bee
behavior and perceived agressive behavior.
The specific complaint that got me thinking was called to my office
from my home town. The individual had returned home from a fishing
trip and hung out the rugs from the boat to dry. He had been fishing
in the Atlantic. He claimed that bees were covering his boat carpets
by the 10's of thousands in search of water. I soon realized that
these had to be my bees from my home apiary of 12 hives across the
stream & woods from his place(1/4 mile). The stream never goes dry
and ranges from 1-2 feet deep to whitewater. I know that the bees get
water there from the banks of wet sand. I made an official
investigation not letting on that I knew the beekeeper quite well.
He was correct in his estimate on the number of bees. They covered
the rugs like a bee beard. However, the rugs had been long dry and
the bees were gathering the sea salt....hmmm.
Additional evidence of bees' need for salt have arisen from nuisance
complaints regarding animal feces. A couple years back a rabbit farm
called concerning "millions" of bees working piles of rabbit manure
that had been piled up. I have had calls from both chicken farmers
and beekeepers regarding the bees on chicken manure piles. Two Maine
beekeepers claim that the bees stopped rearing brood after working the
chicken manure. One theory we came up with, but was never proven
pertained to Larvadex which is a systemic fed to poultry to control
flies (IGR for the maggots). The most recent complaint was this past
August where a kennel owner complained that bees were all over the dog
feces at his kennel. His concern was that the husky sled dogs were
snapping at the bees and he didn't want to loose any of the valuable
dogs. I suggested that he hose out the kennel which he would not do
since they were dirt not concrete. I put the dog guy in contact with
the keeper and suggested that they provide either moist cow licks or
canning salt near the kennel to train the bees away from the dogs. I
recommended that if the bees wouldn't leave the feces to try adding a
little sugar or honey to the salt to entice them away. The guy
stopped complaining after working with the keeper. I don't know if
they were successful in getting the bees out of the kennel, but no
news is good news from where I sit.
To make a long story longer, bee behavior indicates that they need
salt and/or minerals at certain times. My experience suggests that it
is during spring buildup and during hot spells. I have also noticed
butterflies workinng bear and coyote droppings. Enough bull for now.
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