From MAILER-DAEMON Sun Feb 13 07:13:03 2000 Received: from listserv.albany.edu (listserv.albany.edu [169.226.1.24]) by luna.oit.unc.edu (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id HAA08355 for ; Sun, 13 Feb 2000 07:13:02 -0500 (EST) Received: from listserv.albany.edu (listserv.albany.edu [169.226.1.24]) by listserv.albany.edu (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id HAA02340 for ; Sun, 13 Feb 2000 07:13:01 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <200002131213.HAA02340@listserv.albany.edu> Date: Sun, 13 Feb 2000 07:13:01 -0500 From: "L-Soft list server at University at Albany (1.8d)" Subject: File: "BEE-L LOG9912D" To: adamf@METALAB.UNC.EDU Content-Length: 48458 Lines: 1060 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 22 Dec 1999 00:02:31 -0500 Reply-To: nickw@beekeeping.co.nz Sender: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology From: Nick Wallingford Subject: Re: How to kill bees Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary="_uReach_com_2691673499458389515720xxx_" --_uReach_com_2691673499458389515720xxx_ Content-Type: Text/Plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > A question: Will chlorine gas kill AFB spores? Following from http://www.nba.org.nz/pms/manual - 8.7.2 Sodium Hypochlorite Sodium hypochlorite is a commonly used sterilising agent, and is one of the few common disinfectants that is effective against AFB spores. Sodium hypochlorite is the active ingredient in household bleach (eg., Janola(r), and is present in such products at about 3% concentration. Research conducted at Ruakura has shown that concentrations of 0.5% sodium hypochlorite in water will kill all AFB spores in 20 minutes.34 Sodium hypochlorite is potentially useful to treat beekeeping equipment such as plastic or metal feeders and plastic frames. It is important to note, however, that sodium hypochlorite will only kill what it comes into contact with, so any material to be sterilised must be very clean before treatment. Care also needs to be taken with the types of materials being treated. Some plastics, metals, and especially leather, can degrade when put into sodium hypochlorite solutions. It is therefore worthwhile carrying out a small trial run before doing any major sterilisation of equipment. The material is not recommended as a disinfectant for gloves, hive tools or smokers, since the 20 minute contact time is crucial to successful destruction of AFB spores. Sodium hypochlorite solutions must be kept in the dark, since the chemical breaks down in sunlight. The solution should also not be kept for long periods and must be disposed of safely after use. Finally, a note of caution. The effects of bleach on clothing are well-known, so protective clothing should be worn when using the material. Eye protection is recommended. Some individuals also react adversely (dizziness, fainting) to the fumes of sodium hypochlorite, so extreme care is needed when using the material. ________________________________________________ Get your own "800" number - Free Free voicemail, fax, email, and a lot more http://www.ureach.com/reg/tag --_uReach_com_2691673499458389515720xxx_-- ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 Dec 1999 22:56:34 -0600 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology From: Bob Fanning Subject: Practical Bekeeping Calss. MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit ATTN: Madison County, Alabama area. The next "Practical beekeeping" course will begin January 11, 2000 at the Huntsville Botanical Garden in Huntsville, Al. The class is split into two sections. Sections 1 consist of 5 one and one half-hour classroom lectures (one of which is devoted to the building wood ware and installing foundation. This equipment will be used section 2). The class meets from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM, every other Tuesday (starting Jan 11). Section 2 starts around March 18, 2000 and ends around September 16, 2000. It meets every other Saturday morning at 9:30 AM in the Botanical Garden apiary. Section 2 is a "hands on" application of the class room knowledge. The students install one package of bees, make one split and monitor the progress of 6 colonies through the entire summer, add supers, harvest honey and medicate for winter. (Sessions change to once a month when production supers are added) The Huntsville Botanical Garden is located at 4747 Bob Wallace Ave, in Huntsville, Al. See http://www.hsvbg.org/visitors.htm for a road map to the garden. Contact Bob Fanning, k4vb@hiwaay.net or phone 256 883 9601 for details and or questions. This is a free course, both sections. Bob Fanning Huntsville, Al 35802 k4vb@hiwaay.net ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 22 Dec 1999 09:43:14 -0500 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology From: Aaron Morris Subject: Chemestry 100 (was How to kill bees) MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Someone asked how to kill bees. An interesting chemestry experiment was put forth as a possible solution, mixing ammonia and bleach, gives off chlorine gas, kills bees real quickly - Dave Green warns about killing beekeepers! Good advice! Then Adrian asks if chlorine gas kills AFB spores and Nick replies that sodium hypochlorite WILL kill AFB spores. Lots of advice and information, reader beware! Heed Dave's warnings. Regarding Adrian's question, he asked if chlorine gas kills AFB spores and Nick answers sodium hyporchlorite will. I ask semi tounge in cheek, is it the sodium, the hypo or the chlorite that kills the AFB spores? It's good to know that bleach can be useful for treating some equipment in some situations, it's not rocket science that chlorine gas will kill most carbon based life forms, and I don't think Adrian's question has been answered. And I wonder if we should be flirting with chlorine gas as an agent to mix with beekeeping when there are alternatives. I'm sure regulatory agencies would insist that beekeepers avoid chlorine bleach until there is a gel formulation! Anyway, beekeeper beware! Gas away if you want to, but do so at your own risk and with care. In the meantime, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Joyous Festivus, Solstice and/or holiday of your choice (funny reading in the archives) and may we all have a safe beginning of the new millennium. Speaking of the new millennium, the U of A will be shutting down all computing platforms on New Year's eve, starting at noon EST, and will power up on New Year's day. BEE-L will not be available during that time. It's not the foretold end of the world, we'll be back, promise. Aaron Morris - thinking peace on earth, good will towards everyone. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 22 Dec 1999 10:48:46 -0600 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology From: Roger Flanders Subject: Re: evaporating nectar MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit In Frank C. Pellett's "A Living From Bees," 3rd edition published 1947, he wrote that it isn't high temperatures alone which diminish nectar flows in several important "bee pasture" plants, it is the thee lack of temperature variation each day. High daytime temperatures with comparatively low night-time temperatures seem to stimulate nectar flows; hot nights and hot days diminish the flows, he wrote. This might also help explain why some legumes, such as alfalfa, are important nectar sources in parts of their range and not in others, and, in the same regions, some summers and not others. What do the list's more learned writers think? Is there anything to Pellett's theory? --Rog Flanders, Nemaha County, Nebraska >In a message dated 99-12-20 08:51:08 EST, honeybush_99@YAHOO.COM (Karl >Dehning) wrote: < We recently have experienced very hot weather in Cape Town and the bees have not produced to my expectation.Has anyone info regarding the the effect of hot weather on honey production. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 22 Dec 1999 18:39:57 +0100 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology From: Jean-Marie Van Dyck Subject: More with Brother Adam and his works. Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Hello all, The new edition of an out of print book, what a godsend when it is, seems to me, so important to continuously recharge one's batteries. It would be difficult to me to speak better that Michel Jacquin who prefaces this very new second French-speaking edition ... " Seldom beekeeper will have been so extremely delighted by the publication of an old book. Because this book is old: started at the beginning of the century with a perspicacious and baited young monk, visionary undoubtedly, Brother Adam recently dead, this real sum continues here, with the considerable contribution of Raymond ZIMMER.... " a French friend of BA for more than 20 years. ... to announce to you the recent publication of the French book: "The Buckfast bee in Question(s)" "L'abeille Buckfast en question(s)"(450 pages) You can have a small idea of it by consulting the URL of the advertisement (in French): http://www.fundp.ac.be/~jvandyck/homage/artcl/zimmann99.html Some extracts are also available to the URL (in French) http://www.fundp.ac.be/~jvandyck/homage/artcl/zimmpre99.html Bee-ly Jean-Marie Van Dyck Owner of the French-speaking list "Abeilles" ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 Dec 1999 18:13:57 -0600 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology From: Mike Subject: Re: Apistan Lifespan MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit You might wrap the unused Apistan strips in aluminum foil with the edges folded and sealed before placing inside the ziplock bags. The aluminum foil would be a lot less impervious to the passage of fluvinate. Mike Stoops Excel, Alabama, USA ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 Dec 1999 17:53:54 -0700 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology From: John Edwards Organization: Hayden Bee Lab, USDA-ARS,Tucson, Arizona Subject: Re: U.S. Public Lands MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Roger Flanders wrote: > My search of the Bee-L archives revealed only > scattered references to bees on public lands. I'm > wondering if it is legal, and if so, how is > permission obtained, to "pasture" bees, even > temporarily, on U.S. Forest Service or BLM public > lands? It would be nice if someone could pull the western state requirements together into a table for easier access - Arizona loosened up after the beekeepers got the registration system flushed, but BLM, State Trust Land, Forest Service are all different. I can't think of one apiary on Indian reservation land, and wilderness areas are off-limits altogether. I managed to gain access to wildlife refuges only with a research collecting permit, which was OK, since I was trying to avoid beekeeping areas. John F. Edwards "Feral Bee Tracker and AHB Identifier" Carl Hayden Bee Research Center Tucson, Arizona 85719 ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 21 Dec 1999 17:33:19 -0600 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology From: Mike Subject: Re: how to kill bees MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Della Cortiglia Paolo said that "I put in the hive one half glass of Bleach and half glass of liquid Ammonia". That is potentially an explosive combination. Bleach is a fairly dilute acid and of course ammonia is a pretty strong base. You mix an acid and a base together and..... BOOM, with the liquids going everywhere, including on you. Be VERY careful doing that. Personally you'd never catch me mixing that combination together. Mike Stoops Excel, Alabama, USA (Half way between Montgomery and Mobile) ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Dec 1999 09:15:02 -0500 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology From: Peter Borst Subject: Re: Chemistry 100 In-Reply-To: <199912230500.AAA16590@listserv.albany.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed Greetings! Since I started this thread I would like to make an observation on where it has gone. I was looking for a way for people to kill colonies without ruining the honey and combs, ie., if a colony has mites so bad that they won't survive (or if the temper indicates they may have African parentage...). I think one of the best tips was to shake the bees off the combs into soapy water. If one had several hives to do, one could probably use a trash can or some other large container. The talk of sterilizing AFB hives is a different matter altogether. I think most beekeepers have come to the conclusion that it is not cost effective to salvage AFB infected equipment, except the heavy wood like the supers, covers and bottoms. These can be quickly sterilized with a propane torch and repainted. I would just burn up the frames and combs. Now the hard plastic foundation is another matter. One shouldn't burn this and it could very likely be salvaged by removing it from frame, scraping off the comb, and soaking the plastic in a chlorine solution. I haven't done this. I would avoid chlorine gas at all costs. Beekeepers have died from gases, including EDB (ethylene dibromide) which used to be used for fumigating combs and killing bees. I don't think cyanogas is readily available nor is it approved for use on bee hives (in the US). Peter Borst ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 22 Dec 1999 15:55:11 -0700 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology From: John Edwards Organization: Hayden Bee Lab, USDA-ARS,Tucson, Arizona Subject: Re: How to kill bees MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Adrian Wenner wrote: > > A question: Will chlorine gas kill AFB spores? Oh, dear .... please don't get them all to setting up chlorine generators in their honey houses. We have few enough beekeepers as it is - next will be carbon monoxide, then phosgene, then ... ?? - All much too simple to set up. ----------------------------------------------------------- John F. Edwards Biological Lab. Technician - (and OSHA-trained Safety Officer and former chemistry student) Carl Hayden Bee Research Center Tucson, Arizona http://gears.tucson.ars.ag.gov/home/edwards/index.html ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 18 Dec 1999 11:42:03 -0800 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology From: johnson robinson Subject: hydroxylmethylfurfural Comments: To: BEE-L@CNSIBM.ALBANY.EDU MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Halow Sir/Madam Thanks very much for heard some information about hydroxy methyl furfural through the net. Iam a student at Sokoine University of Agriculture - Morogoro and I want to determine the level of HMF in locally produced honey. Please would you assist me the methodology ie High Perfomance Liqiud Chromatography Contant: E-mail sonrjohn@yahoo.com. Address Johnson Robinson Po Box 3137 Morogoro Tanzania __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place. Yahoo! Shopping: http://shopping.yahoo.com ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Dec 1999 08:54:12 -0700 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology From: Jerry J Bromenshenk Subject: Bee Seasons/Access to Lands Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Hi: I'm looking for help. John Edwards suggested constructing a table for western states concerning bees, land use, regs, policies, etc. We have been asked to provide maps of the world, showing the times of year when honey bees could be set out and expected to fly. I suspect that for North America, one could use meteorological maps showing average time of first and last frosts or some version of the temperature maps used by gardeners (Zone 1, 2, 3 etc.) to provide an "at a glance" snapshot. Do similar maps exist for South America, Europe, African, Asia, Australia, etc.? If so, where can I find them (and digital maps would be preferred). If people can provide me information about bee forage seasons and land use regs and policies, I will be glad to pull them together and post the results (probably as maps on our web page - with credit given to contributors. Individuals can help also. Any general maps will lack specificity for local areas. For example, I can fine tune any map for Montana (where forage season is partially a function of altitude and whether you are east or west of the Rockies). Thanks Jerry J. Bromenshenk Research Professor The University of Montana-Missoula jjbmail@selway.umt.edu 406-243-5648 406-243-4184 http://www.umt.edu/biology/bees ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Dec 1999 10:17:21 -0700 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology From: Adrian Wenner Subject: Re: How to kill bees Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" John Edwards wrote: >Oh, dear .... please don't get them all to setting up chlorine generators in >their honey houses. We have few enough beekeepers as it is - next will be >carbon >monoxide, then phosgene, then ... ?? > - All much too simple to set up. Actually, my query about whether chlorine gas would kill AFB spores was only meant to be rhetorical and not as a suggestion. While working for a beekeeper in the early 1950s, I almost got killed while using cyanide gas to fumigate a warehouse (legal then) --- not getting out of the building fast enough after gas began forming. John is correct; we lose too many beekeepers (and other farm workers) that way. Sorry for any confusion. Adrian Adrian M. Wenner (805) 963-8508 (home phone) 967 Garcia Road (805) 893-8062 (UCSB FAX) Santa Barbara, CA 93106 **************************************************************************** ******* * * "The history of physics is the history of giving up cherished ideas." * * Andrew Strominger, Harvard physicist (1999) * **************************************************************************** ******* ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Dec 1999 19:25:26 +0100 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology From: Giacomo Omallini Organization: Apicoltura on-line Subject: mailing list aol-mondoapi MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Gentlemen new mailing list,italian language, aol-mondoapi mail Majordomo@pc.eurolink.it body subscribe aol-mondoapi or mail http://www.apicolturaonline.it/form.htm Thank you. _________________________________________ Giacomo Omallini Apicoltura on-line mailto:aol@fr.flashnet.it http://www.apicolturaonline.it Via Termini 11 03011 Alatri Tel ++39 0775 408019 ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 22 Dec 1999 19:08:24 -0000 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology From: Harry Goudie Subject: Re: Colloidal Silver MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Tom Stanford wrote:- > I have been asked about feeding colloidal silver to honey bees in water. > It appears to have worked in humans, chickens, dogs, etc...why not insects? I have been waiting patiently (or perhaps impatiently!) for some response to this question but none appears to be forthcoming. Perhaps Tom could explain what "colloidal silver" is and how it is used in humans etc. Harry ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Dec 1999 17:55:24 -0500 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Comments: RFC822 error: Incorrect or incomplete address field found and ignored. From: Jack Griffes Subject: Fw: just in case MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit this part below was sent out earlier by me (First Counselor to Bishop - Adrian Ward, Ann Arbor, MI Stake) to our church folks along with a funeral announcement - a seventeen year old member of our ward (congregation) died on Tuesday evening - he had AML (luekemia). I deleted all the funeral announcement info but thought ya prudently oughta know this next part just in case since ya are in my address book. ====this begins the important part of the message==== One other thing - and it is a serious thing - a computer virus got sent into the email system of my workplace today (Midbrook Products). This particular one sends an executable file as an attachment (ex. filename.exe) - executable files are programs and if you open them they run on your computer. Sound counsel is to DELETE as per NEVER open exe (executable) files sent to you UNLESS the party sending them has VIA PHONE OR FACE TO FACE told you IN ADVANCE that they are sending you an executable file (even then I would definitely run a virus scan on it and you have to keep your anti-virus program UP TO DATE). I assure you that I am not sending you and will not send you any executable file(s) without prior warning - if you get one that claims to be from me DELETE IT PRONTO. The emailed virus at work today goes into the address book and sends emails apparently at random - it also seems to use "subjects" gleaned from the "sent items" folder (making them believable) - it also sends you virus infected email "from yourself". So here is a real virus warning and what to do about it. So far here at home I have not recieved email today from work BUT my home email addresses are in at least one of the work computer address books so thus the advance warning in case the worst starts happening before I catch it. They did manage to stop it at work on the computer of the fella that opened it but it took shutting down and going into DOS mode to search for and delete it without it being able to replicate itself. As the New Year approaches it is a fairly safe bet that more virus vandals will be at work attempting to create their own "Y2K" computer glitches. May God bless you and yours, Jack Griffes Country Jack's Honeybee Farm Onsted, MI USA ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Dec 1999 11:46:34 -0500 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology From: William Morong Subject: Fins on frame bottoms Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" A question arises from study of the past season's notes: Most of my bees persistently build fins, like an inverted dorsal fin of a fish, of thin burr comb on the bottoms of their frames, even when properly supered. They deposit no honey in these fins, and sometimes these fins appear in scallopy sets. Sometimes the sets occur in parallel pairs, usually with the fins offset rather than opposed. Even bees who build no honey laden burr comb build them. The bees seldom attach them below, merely making them droop in catenary shapes. I always remove these fins, and the bees determinedly replace them. For what purpose do bees build these fins? Bill Morong ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Dec 1999 16:12:06 EST Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology From: John Mitchell Subject: Re DE and SHB MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit The problem with DE (diataenous earth) is that it is inert; that is, if the larva manage to get by the DE, or if you miss a spot, your treatment has failed. What I think might be a better idea is a treatment that actively searches for and destroys the SHB pupa, and for that bio-control, or beneficial nematodes might fit the bill. The nematodes are voracious parasites of soil-dwelling insects, and especially target those in their larval and pupal stages. The nematodes have not yet been scientifically tested against the SHB, but they have proven deadly to nearly all other agricultural beetle pests that live the pupal or larval stages of their lives in the soil. They are sold commercially in Europe and the North America. The nematodes probably aren't going to be a threat to your bees unless you spray them in the hives on the brood. Good choices that I am considering include: Heterorhabitis heliothdis, a nematode that works in the top 6 inches of soil (SHB pupae inhabit the top 4 inches), can be purchased from a company called Hydro Gardens in Colorado Springs, CO under the commercial name Lawn Patrol. This one can penetrate soft tissue directly, and doesn't need a body opening to infect its victims. Heterorhabditis megidis, a nematode that releases a symbiotic bacteria in the gut of infected larva, is available from Bunting Biologicals in England (commercial names Nemasys-H, Bio Nem HI) Neoaplectana carposcapsae, a cold-resistant strain of nematode that can survive temperatures of -20F. Available from a company called Biologic in Chambersburg, PA under the commercial names Scanmask, or Ecomask. First collected near the Arctic Circle in Sweden. Another good source, I am told, for beneficial nematodes is a company called M&R Durango in Bayfield, CO. I was appalled to read of beekeepers using insecticidal soil drenches in Florida in the recent ABJ. Isn't Coumaphous enough? Lacking a surefire magic bullet that will take out the SHB once and for all, a good IPM strategy should include organic and biological controls too, where possible. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Dec 1999 20:05:11 -0500 Reply-To: info@beeworks.com Sender: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology From: David Eyre Subject: Re: Fins on frame bottoms In-Reply-To: <199912241815.NAA19793@listserv.albany.edu> On 24 Dec 99, at 11:46, William Morong wrote: > appear in scallopy sets. Sometimes the sets occur in parallel pairs, > usually with the fins offset rather than opposed. Even bees who build no > honey laden burr comb build them. The bees seldom attach them below, > merely making them droop in catenary shapes. I always remove these fins, > and the bees determinedly replace them. For what purpose do bees build > these fins? I would suggest incorrect bee space for the building of 'fins' or burr comb between supers. In a correctly spaced hive the maximum should be 1/4" plus or minus 1/16th" this prevents unnecessary space which the bees want to fill If built on the bottom frames, then it's used as ladder comb and allows the bees the reach the frame bottom off the bottom board. Merry Christmas everyone, 'may your blossoms be filled with nectar and the road all downhill'. ***************************************** The Bee Works, 9 Progress Drive, Unit 2, Orillia, Ontario, Canada.L3V 6H1. Phone (705)326 7171 Fax (705)325 3461 David Eyre, e-mail http://www.beeworks.com This months special:- Beekeeping Jacket **************************************** ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Dec 1999 15:51:54 -0500 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology From: Al Subject: Re: Re DE and SHB In-Reply-To: <199912242320.SAA24511@listserv.albany.edu> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII > The problem with DE (diataenous earth) is that it is inert; that is, if the > larva manage to get by the DE, or if you miss a spot, your treatment has > failed. What I think might be a better idea is a treatment that actively > searches for and destroys the SHB pupa, and for that bio-control, or > beneficial nematodes might fit the bill. > The subject of nematodes was rasied at EAS and they have/are being looked at. At that time there was no indication that they attacked the SHB larvae. There are however different types of nematodes and I do not think that the testing had considered all of them at that time. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Dec 1999 23:19:42 -0500 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology From: Paul S LeRoy Subject: Small Hive Beetle MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Please, someone who is not connected to the Chemical Industry, not tunnel sighted and is really interested in finding a simple, inexpensive solution to the SHB and is knowledgeable in the SHB arena please look into the use of the material that is put across drainage areas that allows water to pass but will not let sediment pass. This material is usually black and must be relatively inexpensive because so much is wasted at sites that I have observed. It also is very strong and durable. As I understand the SHB, the larvae must drop almost directly to the ground and penetrate the soil before it dehydrates or it will perish. Would it be possible to put some quantity, say a 6 foot square under each colony or overlay an area under a line of colonies which would be adequately wide to dehydrate the larvae and or expose them to ants, other insects, birds etc. thereby breaking their life cycle? In addition, it would reduce or eleminate the cost of time and labor of weed and grass control in close proximity to the colonies and eleminate the cost and polution of another chemical application. If this could be done it would be simple, inexpensive and we wouldnt even have to wear chemical resistant gloves to apply it and could wash our hands as we normally would just before eating and could enjoy our non toxic honey without concern for our future health or the health of those to whom we have sold or given honey. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 24 Dec 1999 09:57:43 PST Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology From: GREGOIRE@ENDOR.COM Subject: Re: Bee Seasons/Access to Lands MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII <> Hello Gang, I recently did a presentation at my local bee club on the merits of keeping records. Although it was very well received and some folks promised to begin keeping some kind of record, most of them thought that they would not keep records to the same extent that I do. Call it lazy, call it lack of interest, but some folks are just not going to do it. Some are not always new beekeepers, and ask very fundamental questions. Questions that are easily answered by reading a beekeeping magazine for a year. Keeping records is essential for unique micro climates that exist here in New Hampshire. The state has a sea coast and mountains and valleys. Micro climates change in just a few miles here. Lebanon NH is just 15 miles from Canaan where I live, but the bloom is three weeks earlier there. Lebanon has a major river flowing thorough it, and is at a 364 feet elevation. We are at 1100 ft. elevation and near a 3200 ft. mountain. This makes a big difference in bloom times. I have been frustrated in getting folks to keep local records. They agree that it is very useful but I have not been able to motivate them all to do it. I should be glad that SOME of them will do it. El Nin~o, La Nin~a, will change bloom times by a month. We used to get snow cover and a lot of it in Novemver. Now the major snow fall is in March. Christmas week was traditionally very cold, with sustained temps of minus 25,f. Now it might get down to zero but not stay there all day. Dandilions were four weeks early in 1999, 3 weeks early in 1998. Locust was early and did not last long. This is the main flow here and began on June 1. Last frost date here was May 15, this year. I have seen it as late as June 12. I also record tell tale signs. Harbengers of coming events like the first dead skunk on the road, ice out on local lakes, bird arrivals, ant hill appearance, snow fleas appearance, maple sap running and first bloom of Pussy Willows, our first bloom of the year. I also keep track of high temps, low temps, number of days in a month below 45 degrees f, and below 32f, number of days with the high and low below 32. This year I plan to keep track of barometric pressure as well. I also make a brief note on weather, wind, snow, overcast, etc. After frost danger is past I keep track of inches of rain fall. Rain fall is a major factor in nectar production and can be highly localized. I would like to see a computer program that could compile this data for analysis. It's a big job to input the data collected from local sources, but it would be very valuable. Ernie Gregoire "Beekeeper," definition= partially brave, partially excentric Grist Mill Apiary Canaan, NH. USA ------------------------------------- 12/24/99 09:57:43 ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 25 Dec 1999 10:40:54 -0600 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology From: Gordon Hayes Subject: Re: Bee Seasons/Access to Lands MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit ----- Original Message ----- From: To: Sent: Friday, December 24, 1999 11:57 AM Subject: Re: Bee Seasons/Access to Lands > I recently did a presentation at my local bee club on the merits > of keeping records. Although it was very well received and some > folks promised to begin keeping some kind of record, most of them > thought that they would not keep records to the same extent that > I do. This seems to be the nature of people in general. A lot of people don't see the need to keep records of data like you listed in your message. But the keeping of records is important in any business/hobby endeavor. Soemtimes the difference between a good ? and a great ? is the extent of their record keeping. It probably wouldn't be tooooo hard to set up a spreadsheet to collect your data. Or maybe a database template. After all, if someone came up with a software program to collect this data it would be in reality a standalone spreadsheet or database. It would be nice if there was a localized place to compare data from various areas. Maybe we could find some bit of information that would help us combat diseases and pests of honeybees more effectively. What say ye all? Gordon Hayes flashgh@evansville.net http://www.evansville.net/~flashgh http://www.sixfigureincome.com/?122477 ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 26 Dec 1999 13:14:12 EST Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology From: John Mitchell Subject: Re: Small Hive Beetle MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit <> Sadly, even if we find good nontoxic alternatives to treat SHB, I think we will still need to keep quick-acting chemicals in our arsenal to defend against reinfestation by "free-flying beetles." It might be possible though, to move the chemicals out of the beehive itself. In the Dec. 1999 issue of ABJ, on page 934 there is an article about SHB where the authors talk about speedy infestation rates: "Part of the problem is the rapid developmental rate for beetles during hot temperatures....This was brought home in July when we hung up some traps baited with a piece of brood comb about 4 inches square and 300 adult bees. This comb was free of beetle eggs or larvae when we hung the traps on a Wednesday. By Monday following the weekend, there were lots of good-sized beetle larvae in the traps. This meant that free-flying beetles had found the traps, laid eggs, which hatched and larvae developed to the quarter inch size—all in about 5-6 days." This prompts two questions: 1) Has anybody studied the range and behavior of "free-flying beetles"? 2) Could such "free-flying beetles" be enticed into poisoned bait traps positioned around an apiary that would seem even more attractive than the beehives, perhaps using a powerful pheramone lure? ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 26 Dec 1999 12:53:21 EST Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology From: John Mitchell Subject: Re: Small Hive Beetle MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit <<...a simple, inexpensive solution to the SHB and is knowledgeable in the SHB arena please look into the use of the material that is put across drainage areas that allows water to pass but will not let sediment pass. This material is usually black and must be relatively inexpensive because so much is wasted at sites that I have observed.>> Interesting...I'm not familiar with this material, but dark colors absorb heat. Isn't it true that by placing hives in the middle of a big black square in hot weather, wouldn't we be raising the temperature around the hive? With at least 5 of the 10 hottest years recorded having occurred in the past decade, temperature (along with ventiliation) are big stress factors for bees these days. If it could be found in other colors, then yes, perhaps. This would also make the hives more visible — a good thing where hives are near commercially sprayed crops. A not-so-good thing where vandals and thieves are an issue, like in California around almond pollination time. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 27 Dec 1999 06:39:57 -0500 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology From: Bill Truesdell Subject: SHB- how much of a problem? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I may be totally off base here, but my read of the problems with the Small Hive Beetle is that it is proving to be a localized problem and mainly in the honey house and not hives. So before we start treating for the SHB and paving over our apiaries, how much of a problem is it really for those of us outside of Flordia and who do not have honey houses? Anyone in the North decimated by it? It is in Maine and have heard nothing, compared to tracheal mites and varroa. One of the great things about this list is you can hear from beekeepers from all over. That is also one of its drawbacks, because beekeeping conditions vary, and the problem in one area may be nonexistrant in another, but our nature is to apply what happens in our area, universally. Bill Truesdell Bath, ME ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 27 Dec 1999 14:43:19 -0000 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology From: Joe Hemmens Subject: Apidictor Information MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Seasonal Greetings. Some bee-l subscribers have expressed interest to me to receive further information about Eddie Woods' Apidictor. Thanks to my father-in-law (hi Bob!) I now have some scanned images, the quality is not too good because they are scanned copies of x generations of photocopies but they are easily understood. Each file is 113kb in size and in Windows bmp format. api1 - Circuit diagram of Apidictor Mk4/5 api2-7 - Various descriptions of the Apidictor, use of the Apidictor and principles of the use of the Apidictor. If anyone would like a copy of these bmps please email me - joe@golberdon.prestel.co.uk stating whether or not you want just the circuit diagram, accompanying notes or both. Joe Hemmens -------- To search the amazing resource that is bee-l, point your browser at - http://listserv.albany.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=bee-l If you want some of the most enjoyable and stimulating information about beekeeping enter 'nachbaur' in the the author's address field. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 27 Dec 1999 09:16:26 -0700 Reply-To: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology Sender: Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology From: Jerry J Bromenshenk Subject: SHBeetle Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" John Mitchell asked: 1) Has anybody studied the range and behavior of "free-flying beetles"? 2) Could such "free-flying beetles" be enticed into poisoned bait traps positioned around an apiary that would seem even more attractive than the beehives, perhaps using a powerful pheramone lure? Several individuals and groups are working on these issues. Frank Eischen has been looking at hive infestation dynamics and a variety of odors. At least two groups are working on pheromones - one government sponsored, one private. These things take time. The beetle is smaller than a bee, so you can imagine the logistics of "tracking free-flying beetles". Since insects can distinguish among stereoisomers of the same compound, one doesn't just whip up a bucket of beetle pheromone. In other words, insects may not respond to a synthetic pheromone that seems to be chemically identical to the insect-produced pheromone - the difference being the relative positions of atoms or groups of atoms attached to the carbon backbone of the pheromone. Write down the chemical formula, and both compunds would seem to be the same. Draw the two, and if you can determine the position of the isomers, you will that the two chemicals look different, such as being mirror images of each other. A colleague at another University almost went bankrupt after taking on a contract to produce a moth pheromone for the forest service. The pheromone looked easy to make, so he bid low. But the fine print required proof that the male moth's would respond to the synthetic pheromone. With great confidence, he produced a batch AND nothing! The moth's couldn't care less. Then he found that the moth only respond to a very specific isomer, which occurred in a very low amount in his batch of pheromone. Making up the lure with the proper structure turned out to be very difficult and expensive. I'm not apologizing for anyone, but I thougt this might give a glimpse into the logistics of such a task. Jerry J. Bromenshenk jjbmail@selway.umt.edu http://www.umt.edu/biology/bees