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Discussion of Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
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Tue, 9 Nov 1993 09:16:00 CST
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        Submitted by Terry Dahms - President
        East Central Iowa Beekeepers
        internet: [log in to unmask]
        -----------------------------------------------------------------
                   THE BUZZ                     OCTOBER, 1993
        -----------------------------------------------------------------
        A  newsletter  published monthly as a cooperative effort  by  The
        Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and The  Iowa
        Honey  Producers Association (IHPA),  an affiliate member of  the
        Iowa  Horticultural Society.   Copy deadline is the 20th of  each
        month.   Your  ideas,  comments  and  letters  are  welcomed  and
        encouraged.   EDITOR:   Bob Cox,  State Apiarist,  Iowa Dept.  of
        Agriculture, Wallace Building, Des Monies, IA.  50319
        phone:  (515) 281-5736
        IHPA  MEMBERSHIP:   Membership dues in the Iowa  Honey  Producers
        Assn. are $5.00/year.  Send to Robert Shepherd, IHPA Treasurer.
        -----------------------------------------------------------------
        STATE APIARISTS REPORT
             We have just finished a good time of honey promotion  during
        National  Honey  Month and are in the middle of  inspecting  bees
        that  will be shipped south for the winter.   Now we just need  a
        better honey crop to sell and a better price when we do sell  it.
        It is unclear whether any part of the federal honey program  will
        survive this congressional session and administration.
             During  Honey Month and State Fair many people  heard  about
        beekeeping  and  had a taste of delicious Iowa honey.   The  nice
        booths  and beekeepers left the public with a positive  image  of
        honey and beekeeping.  The honey queen candidate,  Amber Buckley,
        American  Honey Princess,  Heather Pomeroy and volunteers at  the
        booths at State Fair, Cattleman's Congress, Honey-Walnut Classic,
        Living  History  Farms,   and  Taste  of  Honey  Day  should   be
        congratulated for their extra effort in promoting honey.
             There  are  a number of beekeepers who  had  not  previously
        moved  bees  south in the winter who are  planning  on  migrating
        because of poor wintering success lately.   The poor honey crops,
        parasitic   mites   and  unfavorable  weather   have   encouraged
        beekeepers to examine the way they operate the business.   If you
        are moving bees out of state,  be sure to contact me at the State
        Apiarist's Office (515) 281-5736 with a request for a Certificate
        of Inspection.  All states require this document for entry.   All
        colonies  must be free of American Foulbrood Disease  and  Varroa
        mites  or,  in the case of Varroa,  treated with an  EPA-approved
        product  for  honeybee hives.    Speaking of  Varroa  mites;  our
        inspectors have detected some Varroa mites in most counties  this
        year.   Most colonies with Varroa had low levels (i.e.  less than
        10 mites/300 bees by ether roll method).  However, in areas where
        we've detected Varroa for several years,  the Varroa  infestation
        was  more  serious  this year.   Serious  outbreaks  occurred  in
        Council Bluffs,  Forest City, Jefferson,  Waterloo,  Charles City
        and Dubuque areas,  as well as most of Northwest Iowa.   See  the
        reminder about Varroa mites on page 5.
             The  latest  research concerning honey  bees  were  recently
        presented  at  the American Bee Research  Conference  in  College
        Station,  Texas.   About 1/3 of the papers dealt with mites,  1/3
        with  Africanized  bees and the  remainder  miscellaneous  topics
        related to bees.  (See "Heat Treatment" article on page 2.)
                            Letter to the Editor
 
        REPRESENTATIVE  GRANDY VOTES AGAINST HONEY BILL - Just a note  to
        say  that I think we (honey producers) ought to try to have  more
        representation  on boards such as the Iowa Farm  Bureau's  recent
        Iowa  Farm Bill Study Team (represented by Iowa  Dairy  Products,
        Iowa Pork Producers,  Iowa Cattlemans,  Iowa Soybean,  Iowa Sheep
        Industry and Iowa Corn Growers Associations).
             We  are controlled by the USDA-ASCS offices around Iowa  and
        we  have no representation on their boards either.   What can  we
        do?  Many  of  us  are members of the  Farm  Bureau.   Also  more
        publicity  should be given to the fact that  U.S.  Representative
        Fred Grandy voted against us in the House bill.   The very  least
        that could be done is to explode it in THE BUZZ.
             I'm  sick and tired of being in such a great profession  and
        not  fighting back.   I'm tired of our trust being violated,  and
        just sitting back while we take a thrashing by the media.
             Let's vote for people we can trust!
                                          - John E. Kroon, Sheldon, Iowa
 
        HEAT TREATMENT OF MITE-INFESTED BEES
             Dr.  John Harbo, a researcher from the USDA Bee Lab in Baton
        Rouge,  presented  an  interesting  paper  at  the  Bee  Research
        Conference  this  week.   In his  experiment  Dr.  Harbo  treated
        mite-infested packages with various amounts of heat.  The results
        indicated  that 108 F killed tracheal mites in about one day  but
        the bees also died about 2 days later.  Package bees kept at
        102 F did not die and the tracheal mites were killed in about two
        days.
             The  bees in the experiment were also infested  with  Varroa
        mites.  The heat caused the Varroa mites to fall off the bees but
        were  not  killed.   However,  if a sticky paper  with  vegetable
        shortening was placed under the cage,  the Varroa mites died upon
        contact with the vegetable shortening.   Apparently vegetable oil
        or shortening made from the oil is deadly to Varroa mites.
 
        OBITUARY
             September  5,  1993 was a sad day for Iowa beekeepers.   Bob
        Gott of Ollie, Iowa passed away at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines.
             Bob  did  not manage a large number of colonies but  he  was
        outstanding in Iowa's honey industry.  Bob and his wife,  Phyllis
        gave many hours of labor as officers and members to the Southeast
        Iowa   Beekeepers  Association  and  the  Iowa  Honey   Producers
        Association.   In fact,  they were in Des Moines volunteering  at
        the State Fair Honey Booth when Bob became ill.
             Our thoughts and prayers are with Phyllis and the family.
 
 
                                 QUOTABLE QUOTE
 
        "Breeding bees resistant to Varroa mites is like trying to  breed
        lambs that are resistant to wolves" (Tibor Szabo, Bee Researcher,
        University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada)
        DEAR FELLOW BEEKEEPERS
             Here  it is almost the first of October and the summer  flew
        past  again as usual.   With all the rain it hasn't been  a  very
        good  year for honey again for most of us.   Although I've  heard
        some in the southern part of the state had a fair honey crop, our
        average will only be about 15-20 pounds.  Usually we are finished
        pulling honey by now, but with all the wet weather we are running
        a little behind.
             We are finding colonies that had their brood chamber full of
        honey  several  weeks  ago,  but now are  getting  pretty  light.
        Because  these  colonies  have eaten  up  their  stores  already,
        feeding  is going to be a must if you intend to winter them.   So
        we  have started feeding high-fructose corn syrup.   At the  same
        time  were are treating them with Terramycin and putting  in  our
        rings and entrance reducers.  Hopefully next year will be better.
             The  annual  meeting is the first weekend in  November  (see
        tentative schedule on page 8.   We have a nice array of  speakers
        with many interesting topics. So come join us. We look forward to
        seeing you there.             - Leroy Kellogg, IHPA President
 
        USDA/APHIS AFRICANIZED HONEY BEE PROGRAM LEAVING TEXAS
             The  Africanized  Honey Bee (AHB) Program  field  activities
        administered by the U.S.  Department of Agriculture's Animal  and
        Plant Health Inspection Service have been discontinued in  Texas.
        However,  Elba  Quintero,  coordinator for the program,  will  be
        moved to Phoenix, Arizona where she will assist individual states
        wanting to set up a cooperative AHB management plan.   The  AHB's
        are  now  established in southern Arizona and are  not  far  from
        southern California.
 
        YOUR NEIGHBOR BEEKEEPER  (by Tom Schuster)
             Sitting  on  the east edge of Lisbon,  just  north  of  U.S.
        Highway  30 there is a small well tended home nestled  among  the
        tall  pine and oak trees.   As you approach the driveway you  are
        greeted by a sign:  "Welcome to the Denisons".   Now retired from
        farming,  but still keeping a few bees,  this happy couple have a
        little  extra  time to enjoy their lifelong  love:   playing  and
        listening to bluegrass music.
             Earlier  this month,  seeing Walter's travel trailer  backed
        into  the  driveway and remembering the sign,  I stopped  to  say
        "hello".   Walter  and his wife had just returned  from  a  music
        festival in southern Illinois.   Several cups of coffee later,  I
        mentioned  that it would be nice to hear them play sometime.   To
        my surprise and with a gleam in his eye,  Walter reached for  his
        favorite Martin guitar and was quickly joined by his wife.
             For  the  next  hour  the  music  never  stopped.   As  huge
        weathered  hands glided across the strings,  the Martin  came  to
        life.   However,  all too soon,  the Walter Denison home faded in
        the rear view mirror as I drove away.
             Thanks  again  for the private concert,  Walter.   Maybe  we
        should  all take a little extra time to hear the music  in  life.
        (Oh, by the way, Walter's beehives were doing just fine.)
 
        LETTER FROM THE AMERICAN HONEY PRINCESS
        Fellow Iowans,
             Hi!   With  the  summer finally coming to  a  close,  I  can
        honestly say that I've been as "busy as a bee."   July and August
        kept me travelling throughout Iowa, Illinois,  Pennsylvania,  and
        Montana.
             A  Renaissance  Affair in Des Moines started  the  month  of
        July.   Sponsored by a Methodist church,  this fair recreated the
        times  with  a  king  and  queen  coronation,  lancers,  jesters,
        fire-eaters and plenty of homemade goodies.   I was introduced as
        the only "true princess" there--what a surprise!
             Also  in July,  I presented honey bees and beekeeping to  my
        local Lions Club.   They referred to me as their  "entertainment"
        for the night, and I think by the interest they showed, they were
        actually  entertained.   The next group to which I spoke was  the
        Wayland  Fire  Department.   I spoke on  "Honeybee  Emergencies",
        showing a video and answering questions.
             July 26-29, I helped the Eastcentral Iowa Iowa Beekeepers at
        the Johnson County Fair.   It was a pleasure to work with them at
        their informative and educational  booth.   Although no honey was
        sold,  I  feel  their  efforts were  very  helpful  in  promoting
        beekeeping   and   increasing  public  awareness   of   what   we
        "beekeepers" really do.
             The  beginning  of  August  took me  to  Illinois,  where  I
        attended  an  Agricultural  Field Day.   Dave  Hester,  a  family
        friend, invited me to promote the honeybee pollination that takes
        place in their sunflower fields.
             Pennsylvania was the next stop for this travelling princess.
        I  helped sell honey ice cream at the Pennsylvania  Ag.  Progress
        Show.    Honey   ice  cream--does  that  sound   familiar?    The
        Pennsylvania  Beekeepers Association hired a company  to  produce
        chocolate,  vanilla, strawberry, and butter-pecan flavors for the
        ice cream lovers at the show.
             From  Pennsylvania I travelled to Montana where  I  attended
        Montana Fair Time.   Working with the Eastern Montana Beekeepers,
        I  helped  man  a  honey  booth,   answered  questions  about  an
        observation hive, and gave frequent radio interviews.
             The final event of August was the Iowa State Fair.   It  was
        great  working  with  "old friends"!  Two days,  I  gave  cooking
        demonstrations  on the gazebo stage in the Agriculture  Building.
        Selling honey,  passing out honey samples,  and spending time  on
        radio and T.V.  were just some of the highlights.   Thank you for
        asking me to attend; I'm glad I could help my home state.
             Since them,  I've travelled to West Virginia,  where I had a
        first-time experience.   I wore a bee beard!   With the queen bee
        strapped  to my chin,  I patiently sat as three  thousand  worker
        bees  started  congregating  towards  my  chin.    They  actually
        tickled,  and by the time they were all hanging from my chin as a
        beard, the mass became quite heavy with vibrations.
             So  far,  that's all,  but I leave tomorrow for Maryland  to
        continue my journey...Next weekend (Sept. 23-26),  I'll be in Des
        Moines  for  "A Taste of Honey" day at the Botanical  Center,  so
        maybe I'll see some of you there!            - Heather Pomeroy
        APITHERAPY SOCIETY
             Recently, there seems to be a surge of interest in bee venom
        and bee pollen as a treatment for various human ailments.  The TV
        show about using bee stings to combat Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and
        Senator Tom Harkin's endorsement of bee pollen as a cure for  hay
        fever  and  allergy symptoms are two factors  in  this  increased
        interest.    Maybe  there  is  another  market  niche  here   for
        beekeepers to explore.
             Anyone wanting more information on this topic should contact
        the American Apitherapy Society, P.O. Box 74, North Hartland,  VT
        05052.   This organization publishes a quarterly newsletter:  Bee
        Well.
 
                             **  R E M I N D E R  **
 
        ALL VARROA MITE-INFESTED APIARIES MUST BE TREATED BY OCTOBER 15TH
 
             Now that the main nectar flow is over and you've had time to
        get  honey  supers removed,  it's time to apply  an  EPA-approved
        miticide  product that will control Varroa mites.   The new  Iowa
        Bee  Rule requires you to control the parasitic mites to  prevent
        spread of the mite to neighboring apiaries.  Our field inspectors
        will be in contact with you to make sure that treatments are made
        in a timely and proper manner.
             The alternative to chemical treatment is to kill the  Varroa
        infested bees and start over again next spring.  If you leave the
        equipment  vacant for at least 30 days it is safe to  use  again.
        This certainly is the best alternative if colonies are not strong
        or  you  have a heavy infestation of Varroa mites.   We  consider
        over  10 mites on an ether roll test with 300 bees to be a  heavy
        infestation  of  Varroa mites.   The bees can  removed  from  the
        equipment with a bee blower by blowing them into a 55-gallon drum
        containing  dish  detergent  and water.   Because  the  detergent
        breaks  the surface tension on the water the bees  quickly  drown
        and die.  WARNING: If you use an insecticide to spray or dust the
        hive to kill the bees,  the equipment will be unfit to house bees
        again.
             Apistan   (fluvalinate   impregnated  plastic   strips)   is
        available  from  the Beekeeping Supply Houses.   Like  any  other
        pesticide  it  must be used according to the instructions on  the
        label.   Miticur  was  withdrawn from the market and  so  is  not
        generally  available.   Most areas of the state are now  infested
        with  both tracheal and Varroa mite.   Therefore,  treatment  for
        mites is advised for most Iowa beekeepers.
             If  we  work  together on controlling  these  damaging  mite
        parasites,   we  can  maintain  healthy,   productive   colonies.
        However,  if  we neglect to treat the  infested  apiaries,  large
        scale  loss of colonies is inevitable, not only for you  but  for
        your neighboring beekeepers.
 
                                HONEY OF A VERSE
        Pleasant  words are like a honeycomb,  sweetness to the soul  and
        health to the bones.  (Proverbs 16:24)
        THANK YOU:   Tom Schuster says "thanks" to all who helped at  the
        honey  booth  at  the  National  Cattleman's  Congress  Saturday,
        September 18th in Waterloo.
        WANT  TO  BUY:   Light honey in 5-gallon  containers.   Call  Tim
        Laughlin in Grundy Center at (319) 824-6462.
        WANT TO BUY:  Light honey.  Contact Paul Goossen, RR 1, Box 83A
        Homestead, Iowa  (319) 622-6410.
        FOR SALE:   1966 2-TON Chevy flatbed truck - $2400.   E-Z  loader
        and  ramps  -  $1200.   Contact  Dick  Blake,  RR  2,  Box  112B,
        Shenandoah, IA 51601  Phone (712) 246-3412.
        FOR  SALE:   Three barrels of light amber honey.  Dadant  4-frame
        extractor  on  wooden stand - $150 hand-crank  or  $175  w/motor.
        Three boxes (ca. 50 sheets/box) of medium brood foundation 16 1/2
        x 8 in.  for craftwax - $14/box.  Electric uncapping knife - $25.
        Assorted 8-frame and modified Dadant equipment available.
        Contact Phil Ebert in Lynnville, Iowa (515) 527-2639.
        FOR SALE:   Pack-King stainless,  water-jacketed 25-gallon  honey
        packing tank.
        Contact  M.  Fackler,  5903 SW 13th Pl.,  Des  Moines,  IA  (515)
        285-3917.
        FOR SALE:  Complete bee operation - 100 two-story hives with bees
        plus equipment for 150 colonies.  Call (712) 225-5207.
        FOR SALE:  8 - 6  5/8 supers of sealed honey ready to extract.
        4  -  2-story  colonies of bees $45 each.  Call  Gene  Cluney  in
        Pleasant Hill at (515) 265-2819.
 
        =================================================================
                            ** BEEKEEPING AUCTION **
 
                           Saturday November 13, 1993
                                    1:00 P.M.
                               Central City, Iowa
 
        LOCATION:  One block east of State Highway 13 - Gib Sellers
        Phone no. (319) 438-1324
 
        160  single-story  hives  with tip and bottom  board,  contain  8
        frames  plus  an internal feeder, metal entrance  closures  -  no
        bees.
        Cappings  spinner;   40-frame  merry-go-round;   Kelley  33-frame
        extractor;   100-gallon  storage  tank;   sump  and  pump  -  all
        stainless.
        Power  super hoist,  2 electric knives,  20 metal drip pans,  686
        shallow supers with 9 drawn combs, 16 deep supers with frames, 38
        shallow supers most with frames.  Box of new deep frames, 200 all
        wire metal-bound excluders, 17 all-wire, wood-bound excluders, 11
        5-frame  nuc  boxes,  20-gallon dispenser tank and  stand,  4-can
        liquifying tank,  grid and heater, 15 new bottom boards,  18 used
        bottom boards,  super cart, barrel cart, Dadant blower and chute,
        metal  wedge embedder,  syrup mixing tank,  150 5-gallon  plastic
        jugs.
        ================================================================
 
        *****************************************************************
        DADANT  BEE SUPPLY DEALER specializing in providing supplies  for
        the hobbyist and small sideline beekeeper.
 
                 AUTUMN APIARIES, INC. - GORDON & BEVERLY POWELL
                               4012 - 54TH STREET
                              DES MOINES, IA. 50310
                              PHONE (515) 278-1762
        *****************************************************************
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                 --THE BUZZ--
                 Apiary Bureau
        IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
             AND LAND STEWARDSHIP
               Wallace Building
             Des Moines, IA 50319

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