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B-MAIL
 
A monthly newsletter on issues and events in the bee world, provided
by IBRA, the world information service for bee science and beekeeping.
 
From Andrew Matheson, Director
 
**May 1995**
 
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CONSERVING EUROPE'S BEES
 
We had over 100 people at the scientific symposium of that name,
organized by IBRA and the Linnean Society of London and supported by
the European Commission DG12.  The gathering was characterized by a
high standard of presentations, both oral and poster papers, eager
discussion (it was very hard to close up the coffee breaks!), and a good
spirit of collaboration.
 
There will be a full review of the symposium by Rob Paxton in the next
Bee World, and early 1996 will see a book on bee conservation published
by IBRA, the Linnean Society and Academic Press.
 
BUT WHICH HABITATS?
 
Yes, we're all getting switched on to realising that bees need conserving,
and that conserving habitats is the key to protecting nesting sites and food
sources.  But is conserving habitats simply a matter of protecting land from
human interference?  Locking land up is good for some conservation
purposes, but for bee species the matter isn't that simple.   The session at
our meeting on 'Habitats for bees', convened by Paul Westrich, threw
some light on this.
 
Paul discussed the concept of partial habitats, making the point that nest
sites, pollen sources and building materials must be available in
combination within the home range of a female.  Some types of habitat
such as moors, heaths, inland dunes or unimproved meadows actually
contain all the resources a female needs for reproduction and the home
range of the bee does not exceed the habitat boundaries. Therefore
conservation and management of these habitat types are effective means
to protect the species inhabiting them.
 
But the entire habitat complex of a bee species very often consists of
several partial habitats, especially when each partial habitat contains only
one of the required resources. The nest site can lie several hundred
metres away from the foraging site and a completely different type of
habitat not used by the bee can divide them. Typical partial habitats are
cliffs, unstable slopes or rocks (nesting sites) and ruderal places or fens
(pollen collecting sites).
 
Intensive land use very often leads to the destruction of one partial habitat
and thus to the loss of either the nesting or the foraging site. As a
consequence the bee population depending on the resource provided by
this partial habitat is extinguished. Therefore protecting bees in many
cases requires more than conserving just one single site. It must always
give special attention to the whole range of activity and all the resources a
given species' needs.
 
A fascinating example of how urban areas can provide important habitats
for bees was given by Chris Saure.  I found this particularly interesting
partly because I love Berlin, but also because of the interplay between
political events and the natural habitats.
 
A big surprise to many first-time visitors is how green Berlin is (and how
flat; it has more canals than Venice).  Within Berlin 262 bee species have
so far been recorded; this comparatively high number is due to the
favourable conditions of the local climate, the light and sandy soil and the
large number of different habitat types. Berlin has many disturbed areas
and ruderal places like disused railways, abandoned airports, heaps of
rubble, roadsides and sand pits.
 
Ruderal areas are places which have been disturbed by human
intervention, but which are currently undisturbed or abandoned.  For bees
these are most beneficial in their early years, but as the habitats move
towards supporting a climax community fewer nest sites and food
resources are provided for bees.  The fascinating thing about Berlin is that
the dates can be determined very accurately for when land (such as
railway lines) became unused, making the sequence of recolonization by
plants and animals easier to study.
 
Ruderal areas can function as refugia and centres of dispersal for many
species and as stepping stones in the habitat network. These urban
habitats merit much more protection. But in the last few years many
valuable ruderal areas in Berlin have been destroyed by building houses
and industrial plants, due to the political and economic changes after
German reunification. Saure considers that it is imperative to protect the
most important habitats and develop management strategies to maintain
the species richness and prevent a further decline. The first nature
conservation area is already in the planning stages.
 
HONEY BEES AND NATIVE SPECIES
 
Where honey bees are an introduced species, beekeepers are concerned
about possible restrictions on their industry for conservation reasons.
Managers of conservation land in some countries are becoming more alert
to the possible impact of honey bees on native plant and animal species.
 
One study from New Zealand presented at our bee conservation meeting
gave honey bees a relatively clean report.  The authors, Vivian Butz Huryn
and Henrik Moller of the University of Otago, reported that although honey
bees in that country use a taxonomically rich array of native flora only a
small proportion of native plants are visited intensively.  It seems there is
little potential for disruption of specialized plant-pollinator relationships.
 
Introduced weeds are a problem in protected natural areas; do honey
bees add to their impact through pollination?  Though honey bees visit
many (43 percent) of these species, honey bees are probably effective
pollinators of few of them.
 
Another area of possible conflict is in the beech honeydew areas, where
bees remove much of what is a very rich food source for insects and birds.
The most intensive stocking of an area with honey bees could deplete
honeydew standing crop by up to 82 percent for brief periods, but average
colony densities would cause only a 13 percent decline.  Introduced social
wasps have been observed causing a decline of as much as 91-99
percent.
 
The biology of New Zealand's 40 or so species of native bees is poorly
understood, and any competitive effects of honey bees are not yet known.
 
Only 0.6 percent of managed honey bee colonies in New Zealand are kept
in protected natural areas.  The Department of Conservation, responsible
for managing these areas, has adopted a flexible strategy of allowing
beekeeping to continue while reserving the right to exclude if evidence
demonstrates a conflict between apiculture and conservation.  Butz Huryn
and Moller conclude that there is only a limited threat posed to
conservation by beekeeping in New Zealand.
 
AND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TASMAN
 
This issue is also hot in Australia.  David Paton is looking at the effect of
honey bees in a national park in South Australia which during winter
contains up to 80% of the state's beehives.  Despite this high density of
honey bees, observations reported in the January 1995 'Australian
Beekeeper' showed that after honey bees stopped flying for the day there
was still nectar and pollen available.  One bird could obtain its daily
requirements by visiting only 10 inflorescences (of Banksia spp.) and 100
birds could feed per hectare.  It's fair to point out that in winter native bees
aren't active.
 
In the next issue of Bee World we will be publishing an excellent review by
Evan Sugden, Robbin Thorp and Stephen Buchmann of how beekeeping
in Australia has been challenged by concern about competition between
honey bees and native bees, and how it has responded to the issues
raised.
 
VARROA INVADING BROOD CELLS
 
There has been quite a bit of discussion lately about what triggers varroa
to enter a brood cell, and whether any chemical stimuli can be used to lure
these mites into a trap instead.
 
Some of the finest work on this subject has been done by a team at
Wageningen University in the Netherlands.  One member, Willem Boot,
has recently published his thesis entitled 'Invasion of varroa mites into
honey bee brood cells'; but in the European style this thesis is in fact a
collection of research papers that have been published or accepted by
peer-reviewed journals.  There are nine papers included, four published
between 1992 and 1994 and the remaining five in press with different
journals.  Being from a Dutch university, of course these papers are in
English (!).
 
I don't know if copies are available for sale anywhere, but IBRA members
can borrow this title from our library.
 
GET TO GLOUCESTER
 
Those of you lucky enough to be in Britain now that spring is here, can
make your way to Gloucester on 27 May.  IBRA will be holding its annual
day with the Gloucester beekeepers and Hartpury College, and a good
day will be enjoyed by the large crowd sure to attend.
 
It starts at 1030 at Hartpury College, which is on the A417 between
Gloucester and Ledbury.
 
BUMBLE BEES FOR PLEASURE AND PROFIT
 
The registration form is now out for this enjoyable and informative
programme.  Here it is, and remember that we filled the venue in April for
'Conserving Europe's bees' so it would be wise to register soon.
 
The programme was in last month's B.mail, and can be obtained from
IBRA.  This meeting will be in London on Saturday 23 September.
 
Print this and post or fax it, or snip it out, fill it in, and e.mail it back to
 us.
 
Yes, please register me for the IBRA meeting 'Bumble bees for pleasure
and profit'.
 
1. Select your options
 
......... tickets at 15 pounds each for members of IBRA =
 
 ..................pounds
(individual members, or up to three delegates per corporate or BKA
member)
 
or
 
......... tickets at 17 pounds each for non-members    = ................pounds
 
 
This price includes participation in all sessions, and tea and coffee.
 
......... lunches at 8.25 pounds each (must be booked by 8 September ) =
 
..................pounds
 
 
The meal will comprise sandwiches, cold buffet, fruit, hot and cold drinks
 
2. Indicate your payment method
 
My total payment is: ...................pounds
 
...... Cheque made payable to IBRA (sterling cheques on UK banks only)
 
 
...... Credit card
 
 
Type of card:
 
Number:
 
Expiry date:
 
Name of cardholder:
 
Address if different from that given below:
 
Signature (if you're mailing or faxing this):
 
.....No, unfortunately I will not be able to attend, but please contact me
 
when the book Bumble bees for pleasure and profit is published.
 
3. Complete your details
 
Name:
 
Address:
 
Mail this to 18 North Road, Cardiff CF1 3DY, UK
or fax to (+44) 1222-665522
or e.mail to [log in to unmask]
 
AND ONE MORE MEETING
 
If you're going to be in southern Africa next month, you might like to make
it to the conference on 'Bees and agriculture', organized by the Zimbabwe
Beekeepers' Council and being held on 17 and 18 June 1995 at the
University of Zimbabwe.  Contact Athol Desmond, Zimbabwe Beekeepers'
Council, PO Box HG255, Highlands, Harare, Zimbabwe.  Fax (+263) 4-
490625.
 
WHAT IS IBRA?
 
In response to feedback from a number of you, I am starting an series of
snippets which will answer your queries about the International Bee
Research Association: the IBRA-FAQ I guess we have to call it now.
 
IBRA is a non-profit trust formed in 1949 and devoted to advancing
apicultural education and science worldwide.
 
It works to:
 
* interpret and communicate information on bee science and beekeeping
to those who need it.
 
* promote beekeeping as a practical and sustainable form of agriculture for
developing countries.
 
* act as a contact point and information exchange on beekeeping for
governments, international agencies, research institutes, beekeepers and
rural development workers.
 
IBRA' charitable aims have been recognised by the English Charity
Commission, so the association is a registered charity under English law.
IBRA does not receive core funding from governments or universities; it
relies for its income on membership subscriptions, grants, sales and
income from services.  That means it needs your support for its continued
existence.
 
Next month: what does IBRA do?
 
 
 
 
 
 
Return address:
E.mail: [log in to unmask]
Fax: (+44) 1222-665522
Telephone: (+44) 1222-372409
Snailmail: 18 North Road, Cardiff CF1 3DY, UK