FILENAME: MARAPIS.90
 
 
                   Apis--Apicultural Information and Issues
                    Florida Extension Beekeeping Newsletter
                      Volume 8, Number 3, March 1990
 
 
                    ON CERTIFICATION--PROPOSED RULE CHANGE
 
A meeting of regulators from the Eastern U.S. Migratory Beekeeping Circuit was
held in Gainesville February 20 through 22, 1990.  It was called by the
Commissioners of Agriculture of Maine, New York and Florida to try to come to
agreement concerning the orderly movement of bees out of Florida into the
northeastern states for commercial pollination purposes.  The result of that
meeting was a proposed cooperative agreement concerning Varroa mite
certification for interstate movement.  It calls for a one-year certification
of colonies based on annual treatment for Varroa control.
 
For colonies to be certified under the proposed agreement, a copy of the sales
receipt or bill of sale for the pesticide used is required and random checks
will be carried out to ensure the material is applied according to compliance
agreements and current labelling.  A follow up survey to determine the
effectiveness of treatment and a six-month "quality control" check will also
be performed.  Part and parcel of this agreement is to collect, evaluate and
report on data from these surveys.  This will provide the required information
for the final goal of the project, determining "best management practices" in
developing criteria for a long-term beekeeper certification program.
 
Certifying bee colonies for movement came up time and again at this meeting.
Each time, however, sufficient basic information was not yet available on the
necessary criteria.  Finally the participants were forced to confront the
issues and certain mite threshold limits were set.  By definition these are
not perfect (more than 2 mites/sample in the post treatment check will
invalidate movement certification and require retreatment within 60 days; more
than 20 mites/sample in the six-month check will require retreatment within
60 days).  Fortunately, the criteria can be changed easily as new information
presents itself.   As a result of this meeting, the Division of Plant Industry
is proposing to ammend Rule 5B-53 on the Varroa mite; a comment period will
close April 14.  For further information on the agreement and details on what
it might mean for individual beekeepers, contact the Chief Apiarist, Mr.
Laurence Cutts, P.O. Box 1269, Gainesville, FL 32602, ph 904/372-3505, ext.
128.
 
In view of the difficulties involved in certifying colonies, Dr. H. Shimanuki
of the Agricultural Research Service suggested the time had come to certify
operators instead.   In essence, this was reflected in the stated long-term
goal of the proposed agreement described above.  It is becoming clear to many
that bee inspection services simply will not have the resources in the future
to regulate colonies of bees for tracheal and Varroa mites and African bees.
This technique is already being tried by North Carolina.  The inspection
service in that state will only allow bees into the state produced by
certified queen and package bee producers.
 
The advantages of certifying operations rather than colonies are many for
inspection services.   A good deal of money and energy will be saved by not
having to concentrate efforts at the colony level.  Instead, inspection
services will be able to put more resources into gathering and disseminating
information valuable to those operators who are certified and training other
beekeepers to become certified.
 
                                EARTH DAY 1990
 
April 22, 1990 marks twenty years since the First Earth day was proclaimed.
There is a tremendous amount of published information coming out on this
event and there will be more.  Lester Brown, in World Watch, March-April, 1990
sums up the last twenty years:  "The environmental movement is now worldwide.
And yet, the planet is far more degraded...The health of the earth has
deteriorated to the point that its capacity to support an ever-growing human
population is in question."
 
Besides spreads in traditional environmental publications like Audubon, others
are entering the fray.  A whole issue of National Forum, published by The
Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is dedicated to environmental issues.  Four
commons (resources shared by all) are pinpointed as needing attention in the
future:  the oceans, outer space, Antarctica and weather and climate.  In the
past, before Earth Day provided the concept of a global community, shared
commons were often split up between groups; there was constant danger of
depletion.  The danger facing the the global commons, however, according to
Harlan Cleveland writing in the Forum, is not depletion but mismanagement.
 
The potential tragedy of the commons is not without relevence for beekeepers.
Apiculture is based on an open system and it is an extractive agricultural
activity.  Its success, therefore, relies heavily on resources held in
common.  And there seems little question that experiences by beekeepers
indicates a consistent degradation of the bees' environment.  Of particular
concern is that honey flows are not what they used to be in most parts of this
country.
 
Fortunately, the beekeeper can look to a very good model which might provide
insight into competently managing the commons, the bee colony itself.  The
honey bee's communication and resource gathering systems are fine examples
of sharing food and living space, something the human community must learn to
do more adequately.  As Earth Day approaches, it might be worth taking an
observation hive to some of the events celebrating this special event and
explaining how the bees go about preserving the colony they inhabit in common.
A resource providing a wealth of information for those coordinating Earth Day
activities is a packet developed by Zero Population Growth, 1400 Sixteenth
St., N.W., Washington DC 20036, ph 202/332-2200.
 
                              BEE SCIENCE REVIEW
 
Bee Science Review is a new publication dedicated to all species of bees. It
will be published by Wicwas Press.  This journal has some unique features,
according to the Managing Editor, Dr. Lawrence J. Connor, which will help
solve some of the problems associated with other publications.  Manuscripts
can be submitted on computer disks, eliminating typesetting time and allowing
quality graphics to be generated.  There will be a large range of scientists
working on reviews.  Page charges will ensure rapid, quality publication and
lower subscription charges ($20 per year for individuals, $25 per year for
institutions).
 
Manuscripts will be accepted from a wide range of individuals, including
bee specialists, learned beekeepers and other interested parties.  Contents
will include original scientific work, review and summary articles, scientific
notes and opinions, letters to the editor and news and events.  Advertising
will be limited to bee-science oriented subjects and page charges will be $95
each.  A special publication assistance fund has been set up for those unable
to pay the page charge.
 
Papers submitted to Bee Science Review must have already been reviewed by
two persons.  The Managing Editor will then send the manuscript out for
further examination before publishing it.  For detailed information on
submitting manuscripts or subscribing, send a letter of inquiry to Wicwas
Press, P.O. Box 817, Cheshire, CT 06410-0817, ph 203/250-7575.
 
                                 DNA REVISITED
 
It has come to my attention that the discovery of DNA was not reported in
Nature, as I stated in the February APIS.  DNA itself was discovered much
earlier.  Rather, it was the fact that the molecule was made up of the now
famous "double helix" consisting of two complimentary strands.  The two
strands separate and each acts as a template to make an exact duplicate of the
original double-stranded DNA molecule.  It was only after its intricate
structure was determined that DNA's function and mode of action could be
understood.  Each DNA strand can be compared to a written sentence.  A
sentence consists of a linear arrangement of words;  DNA is made up of
thousands of smaller molecular units (called bases) strung together.  Any
language can theoretically have an almost unlimited number of words arranged
in unique sequences.  The same is true for DNA, responsible for cataloging the
immense amount of genetic information found in the earth's living organisms.
It is the translation and recombination of this language that is the basis for
modern genetic engineering.
 
Several comments were provoked by Dr. Hall's research reported in the same
newsletter.  It has been suggested that the sample size was small and European
mitochondrial DNA was present in some bees tested.  Unfortunately, it is not
clear how large a sample must be to be convincing. The fact remains that 85 of
87 neotropical wild and managed colonies sampled in the papers in Nature had
African mitochondrial DNA and that this is extraordinary given the distance
the bees have travelled and the number of European colonies present in areas
where most samples were taken.  Subsequent research by Dr. Hall is confirming
the preponderance of African mitochrondrial DNA found in the neotropical
honey bee population.
 
The idea that little hybridization is taking place in the neotropics as
reported by Dr. Hall does not mean that no hybridization is taking place.
Again, absolutes must be avoided.  There is evidence that hybridization is
taking place in Argentina to a greater extent than in more tropical areas of
South and Central America, and this is good news for temperate North America.
This, however, cannot be used to refute what is reported to be occurring in
tropical areas.
 
                      INFOTAINMENT--DOING THE UNEXPECTED
 
A very important subject was addressed at the recent National Honey Board's
sales seminars in New Orleans.  Much of what is dubbed information these days
must also be entertainment or it is often considered not newsworthy, according
to Mr. David Bean of Evans/Kraft Bean Public Relations.  From this comes the
term "infotainment."  The possibility that beekeepers will be involved in some
form of infotainment is very great, Mr. Bean said, considering the interest by
the media in everything from the effect of predaceous mites to pollination by
the African honey bee.
 
According to Mr. Bean, infotainment often dwells on the negative and the
results can be catastrophic as evidenced by the recent Alar-Apple affair.  The
key to derailing negative facts in an infotainment session is to direct or
deflect the conversation to a more positive focus by doing the unexpected.
And there is plenty of ammunition for the well-prepared beekeeper to do just
that.  One way is to simply begin a discussion of practically any aspect of
bee biology.  This is fascinating stuff for reporters and the general public.
For example, if the conversation gets around to stinging, one might say it is
thought the sting is evolved from the ovipositor (egg-laying apparatus) of
ancestor insects.  Another hot topic is the sex life of bees.  How bees modify
nectar into honey, divide tasks in a colony, dance to communicate, make
preparations to swarm, or determine that a larva will become queen or worker
are all possbilities.  For this to work, however, one must be careful to have
the facts straight.  Studying the bee books can get one adequately prepared.
 
Another strategy, suggested by Mr. Bean, is to unexpectedly put out a press
release on a subject that is receiving attention.  If it is perceived that one
is trying to generate publicity, the item is often dropped from consideration.
In summary, Mr. Bean said, it is important to become a contrarian by doing the
unexpected, establishing that safety and credibility are number one concerns,
and becoming pro-active in directing conversation to survive an infotainment
session.
 
                           1990 BEEKEEPERS INSTITUTE
 
Preparations are under way for the 1990 Beekeepers Institute to be held at 4-H
Camp Ocala deep in the heart of the Ocala National Forest.  The event is
scheduled for August 24-26.  There have been a great many changes in
beekeeping in the last few years and the Institute will be the place to be
adequately informed of the latest events surrounding tracheal and Varroa mites
and the African honey bee.  Mark your calendar.  Detailed information on
registration will be forthcoming to the mailing list in the near future.  I
look forward to seeing everyone there.
 
Sincerely,
 
 
Malcolm T. Sanford
0312 IFAS
202 Newell Hall
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611-0312
Phone (904) 392-1801
BITNET Address: MTS@IFASGNV
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