I am looking for a legal contract that I can use for swarm removal. A
local beekeeper uses one and says I should have one too.....I think he wants
to sell it to me...Anyone have any suggestions?
He charges up to $200.00,so he says, and guarantees they won't come
back or next time is free. Thanks in advance .....Randy
Adams -----Original Message-----
From: Automatic digest processor <[log in to unmask]>
To: Recipients of BEE-L digests <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Friday, March 17, 2000 11:11 PM
Subject: BEE-L Digest - 16 Mar 2000 to 17 Mar 2000 (#2000-74)
=========================================================================
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000 07:55:32 -0500
Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology
<[log in to unmask]>
Sender: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology
<[log in to unmask]>
From: mike Bassett <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: eastern seaboard nile virus
Our local newspaper reported that the centers for disease control
has alerted the eastern seaboard to come up with plans for
surveilance and control of the nile virus. Massachusetts is planning to
spray b.t. immediately if the virus is located. If this is not enough
they will add aerial fogging using Malathion. I have also seen articles
from Conn. and N.H. Barbra G. Warner the associate director of the Mass.
Dept of public health laboratory is helping to coordinate the statewide.
investigation. probably would be a good idea to contact the appropriate
agencies and find out what can be done to limit the damage to all bees.
mike
=========================================================================
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000 08:19:59 EST
Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology
<[log in to unmask]>
Sender: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology
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From: John Mitchell <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: eastern seaboard nile virus
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In a message dated 3/20/00 8:09:50 AM, [log in to unmask] writes:
<<Our local newspaper reported...>>
Can you give the name of the newspaper and whether the story is accessible
online? Or better yet, post the story here?
=========================================================================
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000 08:39:59 EST
Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology
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From: Jean-Francois Lariviere <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: eastern seaboard nile virus
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For anyone in the NYC metro area, plans are underway to hit the area with a
vengeance to kill the mosquitos. Not sure what they are going to spray, but
are we to assume that either of these pesticides are lethal to honeybees?
Jean-Francois Lariviere
BeeHealthy Farms, Inc.
NY NY 10025
<< centers for disease control has alerted the eastern seaboard to come up
with plans for surveilance and control of the nile virus. Massachusetts is
planning to
spray b.t. immediately if the virus is located. If this is not enough they
will add aerial fogging using Malathion. >>
=========================================================================
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000 06:49:52 -0500
Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
Sender: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology
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From: Michael Palmer <[log in to unmask]>
Organization: French Hill Apiaries
Subject: cost of pollination
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Has anyone ever figured out the real cost of pollination? I've moved
bees onto apples for many years. I am wondering now, is it really worth
it? Upon reversing, before pollination, I mark colonies that will need
to be split. I do the splitting in the orchard, so I don't have to drive
all over the county. Many of the colonies marked as strong are no longer
splittable after the move. Many of the bees are gone(lost?). Colonies
not moved are still "booming" with bees. They usually yield a nuc, and
at least an extra super of honey. Do the math. A nuc, and an extra super
of honey has to be more valuable to the keeper than the check from the
orchard. Any ideas?
=========================================================================
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000 09:21:27 EST
Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology
<[log in to unmask]>
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From: Bill Skriba <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Used extractor on ebay
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Am I missing something here? I watched this item on ebay and noticed that the
same thing selling brand new goes for $3 less than what the buyer paid for it
used.
<A HREF="http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280067764">Use
d Extractor</A>
And for those interested, also seen currently running on ebay is an electric
uncapping knife and apistan strips.
Bill Skriba
=========================================================================
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000 08:29:26 -0600
Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology
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From: Blane White <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: eastern seaboard nile virus
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Hi Everyone,
Sounds like you and other beekeepers on the east coast of the US need to be aware of the problems with the Nile virus and mosquito control efforts to reduce the impact. As for the treatments being used, the Bt. products are for larval control and will not impact honey bees but the Malathion can cause problems if it is not applied properly and carefully as has been noted in the past by Dave Greene. It would not hurt for beekeepers to let county extension offices know that they have honey bee colonies in the area and enlist their help in letting applicators know that any pesticides need to be applied carefully and properly to avoid killing honey bees and other beneficial insects.
They do a fair amount of mosquito control here but mostly use larval treatments and I have not had any problems nor have any been reported from other beekeepers here in the twin cities area of St Paul and Minneapolis Minnesota. Every year they do larval treatments to a pond right across the street from my bees with no noticable impact at all. So they can control the mosquitos without killing the bees.
blane
******************************************
Blane White
MN Dept of Agriculture
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Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000 10:03:12 EST
Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology
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From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: eastern seaboard nile virus
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Anyone know if the widespread application of the BT mosquito larvicide will
have an effect on wax mothes and other lepidopterous insects?
=========================================================================
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000 10:27:56 EST
Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology
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From: John Mitchell <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Honey bees best monitors of the environment
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(on enn web site)
Animal Sentinels
by Claude Morgan
Jerry Bromenshenk has been monitoring levels of pollution in the
environment with specially equipped chemical "sniffers" for nearly 30 years.
On a moment's notice, he and a team of scientists from the University of
Montana in Missoula can transport their laboratory, set up their finely-tuned
instruments and put these highly-sensitive sniffers to work.
On site, the sniffers take millions of samples from the air, soil and
water, and process them into scientific data.
But these are no ordinary, off-the-shelf tools. They're bees — honeybees
to be exact. And if what the University of Montana team says is true, then
these little buzz-units may be our best hope for accurately monitoring the
environment.
Bees and other so-called "animal sentinels" are supplying scientists with
a surprisingly complete picture of the natural world we inhabit.
Unlike mechanical monitoring equipment, bees (Apis mellifera) are
inexpensive, replaceable and give instant feedback.
"We do all of this in real time," says Bromenshenk. "When our little honey
bees are in trouble, so are the humans."
For the full article, go to www.enn.com and check out "Animal Sentinels"
=========================================================================
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000 11:10:43 EST
Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology
<[log in to unmask]>
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From: John Mitchell <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: eastern seaboard nile virus
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Long quote from the article in the Worcester Telegram and Gazette
State set to attack deadly Nile virus
Saturday, March 18, 2000
By John J. Monahan
Telegram & Gazette Staff
State officials are preparing a rapid response plan, which includes
widespread spraying of pesticides, in the event a mosquito-borne outbreak of
the deadly West Nile Virus occurs this spring in Massachusetts.
The preparations come on the heels of advisories from the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta for the Eastern Seaboard
states, including all of New England, to come up with plans for the
surveillance and control of possible outbreaks of the virus.
Federal officials hope the states can reduce the likelihood, or at
least contain, a possible outbreak of the virus that hit New York City last
summer.
State health officials say that in about a week they will begin
sampling mosquito larvae across Massachusetts for signs of the virus. If it
is located, they may immediately resort to widespread application of a
natural larvicide called BT to kill off immature mosquitoes before they turn
into adults.
If further monitoring determines that maturing mosquitoes and birds
migrating back to New England are carrying the virus, the officials say they
may have to go to more intensive widespread applications of pesticides across
large areas in the state.
In addition to aerial fogging with the pesticide Malathion, which
was done throughout the New York City area last summer, urban drainage
systems also may be treated with pesticides or larvicides to kill mosquitoes.
The virus, which had not previously been seen in the Western
Hemisphere, turned up in New York City last summer. The outbreak was noticed
after large numbers of birds around Central Park were found dead from the
virus.
Aerial fogging of the New York City area helped keep to 47 the
number of people who contracted the disease. Four residents died from the
virus.
The West Nile Virus is carried by birds and can be transmitted to
humans by mosquitoes that feed on the infected birds, then bite humans. It is
uncertain how the virus might act in the United States, which has far
different wildlife patterns and climates than the Middle East, where the
virus originated.
Massachusetts officials expect to learn the answers to key questions
in the first weeks of April, when migrating birds and mosquito larvae can be
examined for the virus.
Barbara G. Warner, the associate director of the Massachusetts
Department of Public Health laboratory who is helping to coordinate the
statewide investigation, said officials need to quickly determine if the
virus has survived the winter, and, if so, how prevalent it is along the
Atlantic and Gulf coasts.
So far the virus has not been found in Massachusetts, but it was
found last year in Connecticut and in wintering mosquitoes in the New York
City drainage system in January and February.
Massachusetts was included in the recommended surveillance and
response area because it is in an area where transmission is likely to occur
this spring because of bird migration patterns.
“What we don't know is how that organism behaves in this part of the
world,” said Brad C. Mitchell, director of the state Pesticide Control Board.
Although birds tend to die from the virus, which could limit
continuation of the outbreak that occurred in New York, scientists still need
to monitor birds to determine if the disease has spread during the winter and
spring migrations of birds.
“This may have been a one shot deal in New York last year, but we
are monitoring it and preparing for the worst,” Mr. Mitchell said.
The state already monitors and kills mosquitoes in Southeastern
Massachusetts to protect against the spread of eastern equine encephalitis.
However, because a different mosquito species that is more likely to
live in urban areas is believed to carry the West Nile virus, the monitoring
and control plans for the disease are being expanded across the state. Urban
areas included in the plans include Worcester, Springfield and Boston.
“Where we spray would depend on where it is isolated,” Mr. Mitchell
said. If the state identifies potential “hot spots” early in mosquito larva,
then a mosquito larvicide called BT, a natural toxin, could be used. BT kills
mosquito larva but its toxicity is limited.
If the virus is later found in adult mosquitoes, other, stronger
pesticides may have to be used, Mr. Mitchell said.
Ms. Warner said the public can take precautions, guarding against
mosquito bites by wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts and using
mosquito repellent.
Mr. Mitchell emphasized that residents should take steps to
eliminate standing water around their homes to reduce breeding by mosquitoes.
He said residents do not have to worry about contracting the virus
from birds.
Before applying any larvicide or resorting to widespread use of
pesticides, state officials would weigh the environmental risks posed by the
chemical applications and the risks posed by the virus.
“I have no doubt that if it is determined there is significant risk,
there will be prompt action,” Mr. Mitchell said.
Mr. Mitchell said it is hoped that applying larvicide would be
sufficient to curb the problem. However, larvicide may not be adequate,
because it is difficult to spray the substance into covered areas where
mosquitoes lives.
If Malathion is applied from airplanes, he said, it would be applied
in the form of a light fog and cover large areas.
“None of us want to see it reach that point,” Mr. Mitchell said.
© 2000 Worcester Telegram & Gazette
Send this page to a friend Last updated:
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Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000 11:36:52 EST
Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology
<[log in to unmask]>
Sender: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology
<[log in to unmask]>
From: John Mitchell <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: eastern seaboard nile virus
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In a message dated 3/20/00 11:00:07 AM, [log in to unmask] writes:
<< Not sure what they are going to spray, but
are we to assume that either of these pesticides are lethal to honeybees? >>
The Bt is harmless. Malathion is another matter.
Dave Green posted an extremely useful Web site listing several weeks ago
over on alt.sci.beekeeping to look up pesticides. It is
http://www.cdms.net/manuf/manuf.asp You can go there and look up pesticides
by label or generic name. I searched for Malathion and came up with 20
companies selling different (or similar) configurations.
Here is the recommendation from the label for a Malathion product sold by
the Gowen Company:
"This product is highly toxic to bees exposed to direct treatment on
blooming crops or weeds. Do not apply this product or allow it to drift to
blooming crops or weeds, if bees are actively visiting the treatment area."
I hope the authorities have the political courage to move forward with
this quickly before the purple loosestrife starts blooming in the swamps and
wetlands, which I imagine would be a prime target for this kind of thing.
Otherwise, its going to be a honey bee massacre. Also, the sooner we have a
dieoff, if any, the better the chance the bees can be built back up to
survive the winter. That's no consolation to commercial operators, I'm sure.
This will also have an effect on those of us who wanted to see how the new
Russian queens would perform. Hard to hold them accountable for a harvest
where the foragers got clobbered with Malathion.
=========================================================================
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000 13:53:58 -0500
Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology
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Comments: SoVerNet Verification (on garnet.sover.net) lindena from
arc2a545.bf.sover.net [209.198.81.228] 209.198.81.228 Mon, 20 Mar
2000 13:55:09 -0500 (EST)
From: Charles Frederic Andros <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: calendar items
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Here are 4 items for your calendar for Y2K:
"Charles Andros, former NH/VT Apiary Inspector, will hold a beekeeping
workshop from 1-3 PM on Saturday, April 15, at the Paul Harlow Farm on Route
5 in North Westminster, VT, 1/2 mile north of the I-91 Exit 5 ramp. Look
for the "BEE" sign on the west side. Topic of discussion will be early
spring management: locating apiaries, equipment, handling bees, feeding
syrup and pollen supplements, mite treatments, making nuclei, reversing, and
requeening. Bring a veil, if you have one, as we shall be opening some
colonies. Rain date: April 16. To register by email: [log in to unmask] or
call 603-756-9056."
"Charles Andros, former NH/VT Apiary Inspector, will hold a beekeeping
workshop from 1-3 PM on Saturday, May 13, at the Paul Harlow Farm on Route 5
in North Westminster, VT, 1/2 mile north of the I-91 Exit 5 ramp. Look for
the "BEE" sign on the west side. Topics of discussion: finding queens,
requeening and 2-queen colonies, pollen collection, swarm control, supering,
and bee venom therapy. Bring a veil, if you have one, as we shall be
opening some colonies. Rain date: May 14. To register by email:
[log in to unmask] or call 603-756-9056."
"Tracheal and Varroa mites are notorious killers of bees in New England.
American Foulbrood disease is on the increase as dead hives are being
robbed. Beekeepers must take timely steps to control these pests to SAVE
THE BEES! Charles Andros, former NH/VT Apiary Inspector, will hold a
beekeeping workshop from 1-3 PM on Saturday, July 22, at the Paul Harlow
Farm on Route 5 in North Westminster, VT, 1/2 mile north of the I-91 Exit 5
ramp. Look for the "BEE" sign on the west side. The topics of discussion
will be taking off and extracting honey, wax processing, treatment of mites
and foulbrood, and making propolis tincture. Bring a veil, if you have one,
as we shall be opening some colonies. Rain date: July 23. To register by
email:
[log in to unmask] or call
603-756-9056."
"Charles Andros, former NH/VT Apiary Inspector, will hold a beekeeping
workshop from 1-3 PM on Saturday, September 30, at the Paul Harlow Farm on
Route 5 in North Westminster, VT, 1/2 mile north of the I-91 Exit 5 ramp.
Look for the "BEE" sign on the west side. Topics of discussion will include
treatment of nosema and tracheal mites, winter preparations, winter protein
and carbohydrate supplements, and making beeswax handcreams. Bring a veil,
if you have one, as we shall be opening some colonies. Rain date: October 1.
To register by email: [log in to unmask] or call 603-756-9056."
Thank you.
Thank you,
Charles Andros
Linden Apiaries since 1973
Walpole, NH 03608-0165
Residence: Latitude: 43° 05’ North, Longitude: 72° 21’ 15" West, Elevation
1200’
Keeper of 43 two-queen colonies for honey, pollen, propolis, beauty
products, pollination, nuclei, beeswax, candles, apitherapy, and education
“Learn, experiment, innovate, educate!”
=========================================================================
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000 12:47:44 -0800
Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
Sender: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology
<[log in to unmask]>
From: Matthew Shepherd <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: eastern seaboard nile virus
In-Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]>
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There are several varieties of Bt available. The varieties usually used against mosquitos and other flies are Bt var. israelensis and Bt var. sphaericus (known as Bti and Bts, respectively). The Bt variety that seems to be most widely used as a control for lepidopteran insects is Bt var. kurstaki (Btk), although Bt var. aizawai (Bta) may also be used.
The use of Btk, in particular, seems to be less devastating to the ecology of the application area when used to control caterpillars than previous pesticides, but still causes concern. For example, Fenitrothion was used in New Brunswick forests to control the 1969-71spruce budworm outbreak, and lead to the loss of pollination services to the blueberry growers of the region. Btk is better targeted in that it will not damage bees, but research indicates it has the capacity to kill up to 85% of nontarget lepidoptera individuals. Sadly, many nontarget species appear to be more susceptible to the control measures than the target pest species.
Given the known impacts of Btk on nontarget lepidopteran species, it seems sensible to be aware of the potential impacts on nontarget species of the application of other Bt varieties.
Matthew Shepherd
*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********
On 3/20/00 at 10:03 AM [log in to unmask] wrote:
>Anyone know if the widespread application of the BT mosquito larvicide will
>have an effect on wax mothes and other lepidopterous insects?
_______________________________________________
Matthew Shepherd
Director, Publications and Pollination Programs
The Xerces Society
4828 SE Hawthorne Boulevard, Portland, OR 97215-3252
Tel: 503-232 6639 Fax: 503-233 6794
Email: [log in to unmask]
_______________________________________________
=========================================================================
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000 22:11:29 +0100
Reply-To: Jorn Johanesson <[log in to unmask]>
Sender: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology
<[log in to unmask]>
From: Jorn Johanesson <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: This is not Apidictor! But;}
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Dear friennds
Since I started the programming of my software back in 1972, I have been
thinking of a way to collect data in the beeyard, and then in an easy way
getting those data into the computer for futher processing.
What have kept me away from this aproach have been the cost. But now the
littel handheld computer has got a reasonabel price and the little PALM V, I
am writing on now cost here in Denmark around $300.
So now back to write on the computer :-)
I have investigated in software to create a handheld software for
beekeeping, and I came to, that what was convenient was Satellite forms,
because it is using a Dbase V database, and the forms can be designed to
match my bidata software.It also shows that this hanheld can be used by Mac
Users and that the handheld software therefore can be used by those people
owing this kind of PC. The only drawback is, that it cost Money, A lot of
Money, so I will not investigate further unless there is an interest in this
approach: Using a handheld computer to make notes and judgments in the bee
yard and then transferring the data to the PC, for further processing. So
Your comments Please.
About taking notes I still have the feeling that you are doing much to much
Paperwork, and I still feel that the Bidata and its data file is doing what
is needed for processing relevant data of both queen breeder and normal
beekeeper interest. If that is not the fact then please tell me what you
need. I am programming for the beekeepers, not for me myself, and I want to
have my software doing what is needed.
EDbi now has a new CD,Including the litle writing offered shown and given
out on Apimondia 99, about Nordic Beekeeping, Why not get this CD that
contains a lot of beekeeping stuff.
best regards
Jorn Johanesson
EDBi = multilingual Beekeeping software since 1987
http://apimo.dk (USA)
http://home4.inet.tele.dk/apimo (Denmark)
[log in to unmask]
[log in to unmask]
Multilingual Beekeeping software since 1972
http://apimo.dk
[log in to unmask]
[log in to unmask]
=========================================================================
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000 18:27:25 -0600
Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology
<[log in to unmask]>
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From: Scott Moser <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Bt Usage
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Greetings all,
One thing about the use of Bt that confuses/concerns me is the fact
that everyone says that it is used against "caterpillars" or the larval
stage of the insect. By design and definition, honeybee larvae IS the
caterpillar stage of the honeybee. This concerns me that it is designed to
attack a specific time period in an insects life, but it is not SPECIES
specific. I feel the same way about the use of Bt corn plants. No matter
how much massaging and re-assuring Monsanto and other large seed producers
do, I still feel that the pollen could pose a risk to all insects, not just
Monarch butterflies, but bees as well. I find it difficult to believe that
a non- species-specific product can be safe around insects that go through
the same life cycles as those insects being targeted.
Scott
Visit the Jefferson County Beekeepers Association web site at:
http://JeffersonCoBeekeepers.homestead.com/
=========================================================================
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000 20:16:17 -0600
Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology
<[log in to unmask]>
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From: John Caldeira <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Making Foundation
In-Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]>
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What is a good way for a small beekeeping operation to make wax foundation?
I am looking for a low-cost mold or roller system that beekeepers have found
to be practical. My preference is for a hand-powered tool, so that it can
be used in rural locations without electricity.
My initial thoughts are a waffle-style mold with a non-stick surface, if
such a product exists. Years ago, I experimented with dipping boards
and even coating cloth and paper with wax, but never got it right.
Thanks,
John
John Caldeira
Dallas, Texas, USA
http://home.earthlink.net/~jcaldeira/beekeeping/
=========================================================================
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000 21:39:56 -0500
Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
Sender: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology
<[log in to unmask]>
From: Frederick Chase <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Pierco frames
Does anyone know why Pierco does not make a shallow plastic
frame? Each year I hope they will be available but with no
luck. I would order them immediately if I could, and I think
many other beekeepers would also.
Fred Chase
=========================================================================
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000 21:48:19 EST
Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology
<[log in to unmask]>
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From: John Mitchell <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: COMPETITION
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The Environmental News Network is conducting a poll today alongside the
article on Jerry Bromenshenk's work that asks the following question:
"Is it dangerous to move hives of bees around the world where they might
interact with other bee species?"
The response? 82% yes. 18% no.
The intense negative focus on honey bees is apparent in the phrasing of
the question to only cover the honey bee species (hives of bees), without
broaching the question of moving around other bee species, like leaf-cutter
bees (recently introduced in Australia) or bumblebees. A bumblebee will chew
out the base of a flower evolved to be pollinated by another creature to
steal the nectar and leave the flower unpollinated.
Here's a clip from a recent post on the Bombus discussion group from Jim
Cane:
"Escaped Bombus terrestris have a solid foothold in Japan, as I
understand it, and have established in Tasmania in the past several
years (see papers by Andrew Hingston). Colonies sold by an Israeli
vendor are active in Mexican greenhouses as you read this, greenhouses
which I am told lack screened vents, and I gather that several South
American countries are to receive colonies from that same source this
year. There is hope that the colonies shipped to South Africa last year
did not establish any feral populations."
Interestingly, the generally upbeat feature on honey bees is illustrated
with a picture of a bumblebee. Perhaps they have purged honey bee pictures
from their photo files, which seems to be the case with many gardening
publications that only show pictures of "native" pollinators these days.
Where do these ideas come from?
Here's a quote from the New York Times garden column (June 1st, 1997) by
Anne Raver in an interview with Gary Paul Nabhan, co-author of "The Forgotten
Pollinators."
"Honeybees are nasty competition for the native pollinators -- because
of their famous wiggle dance," he (Nabhan) said. "As soon as they find a
tree, they dance their brains out, and soon 40,000 to 50,000 sisters are there
-- tens of
thousands of little mouths sucking up the nectar."
This is hyperbole. I can't remember the last time I saw 40,000 to 50,000
honey bees pour over one tree. And as we've seen in a study in "The Hive and
the Honey Bee" (Chapter 11) beekeepers report most of their bees' forage
comes from introduced species, not natives. As described by Buchmann and
Nabhan, honey bees seem to have more in common with cattle, sheep and plagues
of locusts, than with other bee species.
The article continues with the other author:
"Everybody thinks about honeybees, but there are 5,000 species of native
bees," Dr. Buchmann said. And they pollinate many crops far more efficiently
than the honeybee, which is an import from Europe.
"Blueberries, cranberries, eggplants, chilies, kiwis and tomatoes are all
buzz-pollinated," he said. The anthers, those doodads that hold the pollen,
"look
like saltshakers with two holes," he said. A female bumblebee grabs hold of
the anther with her mandible. She "curls her body around it, and the pollen
comes blasting out the holes," he continued, adding, "It can harvest pollen
five times faster than a honeybee."
Some of the alternative pollinators are also imports from Europe (alfalfa
leafcutter bees), and many others are imports from somewhere else—whether its
from Japan or Asia or from west of the Rockies to east of the Rockies. We are
a nation of pollination immigrants.
If bumblebees can harvest pollen five times faster than a honeybee,
imagine what competition it is to native pollinators when it is introduced
outside of its native range. With its propensity to rob nectar and damage
flowers without accomplishing fertilization, and its ability to sequester
pollen resources with great speed, the bumblebee species deserve much closer
attention than they are currently getting as potentially harmful invasives.
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Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000 21:49:24 -0600
Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology
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From: AL <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Making Foundation
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John Caldeira wrote:
>
> What is a good way for a small beekeeping operation to make wax foundation?
> I am looking for a low-cost mold or roller system that beekeepers have found
> to be practical. My preference is for a hand-powered tool, so that it can
> be used in rural locations without electricity.
John,
The Thorne catalog has a wax mould press that makes sheets up to 16 3/4"
x 10 3/4". I have no idea how well it works. They claim you can make up
to 60 sheets an hour. I have my doubts.
You wouldn't be planning this for your TBH would you? :)
AL
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Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000 23:39:27 -0500
Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology
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From: Steven Moye <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Bt usage
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Bt's are not species specific, but order specific. They kill larval stages of the order Lepidoptera, which are the insects that undergo egg-larva-pupa-moth/butterfly. Honeybees are in the order Hymenoptera and are not affected, neither are houseflies which are in the order Diptera, etc.
The Bacillus thuringiensis toxic causes a gastroenteritis in the larval stage which stops feeding. Most insects that feed on plants in the larval stage are from the order lepidoptera. Common examples include the corn earworm, bollworm, european corn borer, tobacco budworm, hornworm, etc.
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Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 17:33:10 +1000
Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology
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From: T & M Weatherhead <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Competition
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> "Everybody thinks about honeybees, but there are 5,000 species of
native
> bees," Dr. Buchmann said. And they pollinate many crops far more
efficiently
> than the honeybee, which is an import from Europe.
> "Blueberries, cranberries, eggplants, chilies, kiwis and tomatoes are
all
> buzz-pollinated," he said.
How many of the above mentioned plants are native to North America? I know
that kiwis (Chinese gooseberries) are not. Why is it OK for a native bee to
pollinate an imported plant? Is not it producing competition for native
plants? If one species of native bee does better on an imported plant than
another won't that species have an unfair advantage over the other species?
Seems to me that if you want the 5,000 species of natives to live in
pristine conditions then you had better get rid of those imported plants and
only plant native species that those native bees are synonymous with. You
might not get any food to eat but, hey, you will get a nice warm feeling in
your belly that will overcome the hunger pangs, won't it?
Trevor Weatherhead
AUSTRALIA
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Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000 21:46:17 -0800
Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology
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From: "Paul Cronshaw, D.C." <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Contract for Swarm removal
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Hi Randy,
Are you looking for a contract dealing with swarm removal from trees or
removal from stuctures?
I don't charge for swarm removal from open spaces. I consider it a
community service and use it as an opportunity to educate the public.
After all the bees are worth $$$ to a beekeeper when in the clustered swarm
state. I don't have to spend $$ buying package bees. Nature has already
packaged them for me. :)
However, I do charge for removing bees from stuctures - usually from
$50-$100 depending on complexity of the task. I use the bait hive technique
which works very well. The County Ag dept has put my name me on their
special bee removal list.
Let me know if you get a good looking contract that you can share with
members of this list.
Paul Cronshaw DC
Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2000 14:25:12 -0600
From: R & S Adams <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: legal contract/swarm removal
I am looking for a legal contract that I can use for swarm removal. A
local beekeeper uses one and says I should have one too.....I think he wants
to sell it to me...Anyone have any suggestions?
He charges up to $200.00,so he says, and guarantees they won't come
back or next time is free. Thanks in advance .....Randy
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Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 12:38:03 -0300
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From: Farrington/Bequia Canvas <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Pierco frames
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Hello all;
Fred Chase asked:
>Does anyone know why Pierco does not make a shallow plastic frame?
I asked exactly the same question of Pierco. Their reply was that the demand
for shallow super foundation is simply not there. Brushy Mountain sells
this - it appears to be full size foundation cut in half. I use plastic
foundation cut in half for my shallow supers - I cut it myself - quite cost
effective.
Bob in Bequia
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Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 10:55:53 -0700
Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology
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From: Jerry J Bromenshenk <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: COMPETITION
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At 09:48 PM 3/20/00 EST, John Mitchell wrote:
I hadn't checked the web page, so I didn't know anything about this poll.
Just to set the record straight, we have never said that we would take bees
from the U.S. (honey bees or any other species, and spread them around the
world). We have always anticipated that we would have to work with the
bees already in the area of interest. This poll is a creation of ENN, not
of our doing.
Jerry
> The Environmental News Network is conducting a poll today alongside the
>article on Jerry Bromenshenk's work that asks the following question:
>"Is it dangerous to move hives of bees around the world where they might
>interact with other bee species?"
> The response? 82% yes. 18% no.
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Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 15:04:10 -0800
Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology
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From: Richard Yarnell <[log in to unmask]>
Organization: Oregon VOS
Subject: Re: Competition
In-Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]>
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I, an interested non-expert, have been following this thread with
bemusement.
My untutored self says to my better judgment that it's probably not
competition among the pollinators at all. Rather, has anyone considered
that loss of range, particularly mixed plant species range, is what's
harming the native insects? Loss of range and competition with us is
what's harming most dwindling species. Surely the same will hold true for
the insect world.
---------------
Richard Yarnell, SHAMBLES WORKSHOPS | No gimmick we try, no "scientific"
Beavercreek, OR. Makers of fine | fix we attempt, will save our planet
Wooden Canoes, The Stack(R) urban | until we reduce the population. Let's
composter, fly tying benches | leave our kids a decent place to live.
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Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 14:23:50 -1000
Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology
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From: "Thomas W. Culliney" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Bt usage
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On Mon, 20 Mar 2000, Steven Moye wrote:
> Bt's are not species specific, but order specific. They kill larval stages
> of the order Lepidoptera...
Strains of Bt also kill species of Diptera and Coleoptera, terrestrial
and aquatic. Bt has no known effect on the honey bee.
****************************************************************************
Tom Culliney Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry,
1428 South King St., Honolulu, HI 96814, U.S.A.
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Telephone: 808-973-9528
FAX: 808-973-9533
"To a rough approximation and setting aside vertebrate chauvinism, it can
be said that essentially all organisms are insects."--R.M. May (1988)
"Bugs are not going to inherit the earth. They own it now. So we might as
well make peace with the landlord."--T. Eisner (1989)