Dear Subscribers,
It's the end of January and the bees are flying here in Gainesville. It's been colder than normal, like most of the U.S., and wetter. With a warm up today of around 66 degrees F, the maples look ready to “pop.” This is usually the first sign of Spring, but there can be surprises as more cold might be in the offing. It's time to take a look at colonies for a food check as the spring season approaches. It's a time of waiting and watching for honey bee and beekeeper alike in North Central Florida as Spring makes it unpredictable appearance.
The annual convention of the American Beekeeping Federation (ABF) is history. It took place in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, home of the
Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics, and Physiology Research Laboratory of the U.S. Agricultural Research Service (ARS). I was lucky enough to stay with John Harbo, now retired from that laboratory and one of the team of discovers of what is being called Varroa Sensitive Hygiene (VSH). Dr. Harbo continues to be a bee breeding consultant through
Harbo Bee Company.
After several discussions on the topic and a tour of the laboratory along with 50 others as part of the American Beekeeping Federation convention, my understanding is that bees with the VSH trait are able to identify cells with reproductive Varroa mites and concentrate their efforts to opening and removing the offending mites. In the
process, they ignore cells containing female mites that are not reproductive, a percentage of which occurs naturally. The VSH trait was originally called suppressed mite reproduction (SMR). For an in-depth discussion of VSH see the
Glenn Apiaries web site that is still in operation although
Tom and Suki Glenn no longer actively maintain it after retiring some years ago.
It's important to keep in mind that VSH is a trait probably found in most honey bees. It is not a breed or type of honey bee. Because of this it requires constant attention to detail in breeding operations to ensure a measure of the VSH trait is retained. This is not easy. Part of the laboratory's mission continues to be isolating the trait in queens and distributing it (usually via sperm) to those around the country who request it. Honey bee populations that have the trait are well known to keep Varroa mite levels at low levels, often requiring no treatment.
The Baton Rouge Bee laboratory is also known for its pioneering work in importing Varroa-mite-resistant honey bees into the U.S. The most important population of these bees occurs in eastern Russia (
Primorski region). Over time the laboratory was able to bring in a number of queens into the U.S., which are now the basis for the Russian bee breeding program. Again, perhaps the best discussion of these bees is found at the
Glenn Apiaries web site.
The Russian stock has been turned over to the
Russian Honeybee Breeders Association, Inc., which is responsible for conserving and marketing the stock to U.S. Beekeepers.. In contrast to VSH stock, based on having a certain genetic trait, Russian honey bees are known principally by their brand name. Why Russians are more tolerant to Varroa mites than other populations of honey bees is not well known, but is probably a mixture of genetic traits, one of which might conceivably be VSH. Again, as with VSH breeding, it is expensive and time-consuming to ensure that the Russian stock maintains its characteristics. The effort is backed up by the ARS laboratory via DNA analysis. Bee Culture Magazine in Medina is due to host the Russian breeders in October 2014. Ought to be quite a show.
Presentations at the Baton Rouge lab revealed that the VSH and Russian breeding programs are not at all related to each other. Therefore, courtesy of U.S. Government research, beekeepers in the U.S. have the possibility of two distinct well-established breeding programs that are the sources of Varroa tolerant honey bee stock.
The ABF convention in Baton Rouge as always was a mixture of various kinds of activities. It is possible to see my past reviews of some of these conventions at
Squidoo.com. The Board of Directors approved that its Apimondia Exploratory Committee go forward in determining a city in the country they recommend to host Apimondia 2019. The final candidates are Orlando, Washington, D.C., Minneapolis. San Francisco and San Diego. Discussion of the future of honey bees and beekeeping given the challenges both face in a changing world was evident in many areas. Dr. Marla Spivak of
TED Talk fame at the University of Minnesota stole the show with her characterization of honey bees exposed to low levels of pesticides as similar to humans being constantly under the influence of
3.2 beer. Finally, Florida honey queen Susannah Austin, was selected as American Honey Queen, the first since the mid-1980s for the
Sunshine State.
Joe Traynor has shared his
newsletter with pithy observations for the 2014 pollination season, including the honey bee research situation in California. Florida is also gearing up for a major
push in an attempt to upgrade bee research and extension facilities at the University of Florida (IFAS).
People seem fascinated with
zombies, so it's no surprise that honey bees presumably affected by these creatures have been making the blogs on the Internet. It seems that on the west coast a phorid “zombie” fly Apocephalus borealis is beeing detected with increasing frequency. Phoridae is a
family of flies with a large repertoire of behaviors, mostly as parasites. Now citizen scientist beekeepers can be on the alert for A. borealis via a
web site. Where this might lead is completely unknown at the moment, but worth keeping one's eyes open. The saga of the
small hive beetle is but one example of unintended, unknown consequences due to a heretofore improbable existence/introduction of an insect species.
Thanks to loyal reader Jimmy Mahuron for his reference to
high fructose corn syrup. Read about this substance's history and use in both human and honey bee food..
New technology in honey bees is beginning to get some traction. The latest has to do with putting microchips on the
backs of worker bees: ”To track these insects, CSIRSO is using 5,000 2.5mm x 2.5 mm long sensors, which they stuck on the backs of bees from Hobart, Tasmania, before releasing them back into the wild. These sensors use Radio Frequency Identification (
RFID) to record when the bees pass certain checkpoints and then relay that information to a central location, where the scientists, working along with the University of Tasmania and the Tasmanian Beekeepers Association ... can build 3D models based on the data using a technique is referred to as “swarm sensing.”
This reminds me of Bee Alert Technology Inc. Its products also involve keeping track of bees using RFID and other
technologies. It turns out Jerry Bromenshenk of Bee Alert Technology is 2014 President of the Western Apicultural Society and recently posed the following to the Bee-L network;
“I'm the 2014 President of WAS - which means, its going to be held in Montana this fall. Consider this your invitation to note this on your calendars, come to Montana.
We Anticipate 6 Events:
1) Wednesday, Sept 17, 2nd International Workshop on Electronic Hive Monitoring;
2) Thursday and Friday, Sept 18-19, WAS Trade Show and Conference Speakers;
3) Friday Evening, Sept 19, WAS Banquet;
3) Saturday Morning, Sept 20, Concurrent Workshops and Short Courses for Beginning, Intermediate, and Commercial Beekeepers;
4) Saturday Late Morning and Afternoon, Sept 20, Honey Harvest Festival;
5) Saturday Optional Tour, Darby Overwintering Shed.
The Host Hotel is the Doubletree Inn, Edgewater at the Hilton, on the Clark Fork River. A footbridge crosses the river onto the University of Montana Campus. The Trade Show and Main Conference Program is scheduled for the Theater and Ballroom of the University Center.
" will provide hives and colonies for the Monitoring Companies to demonstrate their equipment set up and capabilities.
Please note, Missoula is a resort town, nestled in the Rocky Mountains. The river has trout, and a Tackle Shop sits across the street. Everything you need is within walking distance of the hotel, and there are other hotels nearby. There are hiking, jogging, and bicycle trails along the river. Our campus is voted one of the most scenic in the US.
"Lots of opportunities for outdoor activities. Lots of artists and shops. About 2 hrs from Glacier National Park, 1 to the National Bison Range, bit over an hour to Western Bee and Flathead Lake, 4 hrs to Yellowstone National Park. We are the Liberal Arts University.
"Hope to see you in Missoula - we're going to have a great slate of speakers and activities. For more, see conference details when they become
available.
All that so-called “
junk DNA” that scientists have discovered continues to be of greater significance than previously thought. The newest thing is a so-called “
double-meaning,” worthy of any novelist's imagination . I can see Dan Brown's
new book on the stands now beside his best selling The Da Vinci Code.
“Since the genetic code was deciphered in the 1960s, scientists have assumed that it was used exclusively to write information about proteins. UW scientists were stunned to discover that genomes use the genetic code to write two separate languages. One describes how proteins are made, and the other instructs the cell on how genes are controlled. One language is written on top of the other, which is why the second language remained hidden for so long.”
This opens up a whole new area of study for humans and honey bees as well. Get ready for more surprises.
Amazon.com reports 98 units of
Storey's Guide to Keeping Honey Bees were sold from December 16, 2013 to January 12, 2014. The Minneapolis St. Paul, MN area again lead the nation with 20 copies purchased.
As always, see the latest on bee health at the Bee Health Extension site. Read about
Northeast Pollinator Security.
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Gleanings from the January 2014 Bee Culture:
Remember that Bee Culture now has a
digital edition.
John Miller, Miller's Honey Farm, clears the air about extraordinary times in the honey business. Read about possibilities coming from the Groeb Farms bankruptcy, along with record honey prices and crops. Adam Stockman, Concord, NH registers disappointed editor Flottum visited Monsanto for the latest “honey bee summit,” netting a response that such a large corporation now involved with honey bees cannot be ignored. Jim Cowen missed predicting the exact timing of a swarm by only five minutes and also coaxed one into a bait hive, proving you can fool Mother Nature some of the time.
Editor Flottum in the inner cover travels to Ireland promoting the Root candle brand, in the process visiting the
County Cork Beekeepers Association. He reflects on last year, calling it "interesting," and makes comments on the Monsanto situation in conjunction with the 2013 Clinton Global Initiative.
Kathy Summers awaits Spring with some anticipation. Besides chickens and bees, are puppies and pygmy goats about to join the Flottums in Medina? Read her account of a visit to Washington, DC while Kim talked to the Maryland Beekeepers Association.
New products to start 2014 include a
calendar (beyond the one from Bee Culture), something called a "
shizel," a new book on Why Not Top Bar Hives? Published by
Northern Bee Books and the hive saver ant barrier http://parsonsgold-honeybees.com
Clarence Collison takes a closer look at kin recognition and nepotism in honey bees. Read why blood (haemolymph?) is indeed thicker than water.
Susan Kegley, The Curious Beekeeper, writes about the activities of The National Honey Bee Advisory Board (NHBAB) and its association with the
Pesticide Research Institute. Read this first in a series about how honey bees are exposed to and affected by pesticides, including the neonicotiniods.
Gary Shilling's speech on "Funding Honey Bee Research," delivered to the 2013 annual convention of the California State Beekeepers Association is required reading for all. Read what he says about the gaps in collecting data and the considerable issues surrounding cooperation of entities doing research. His possible approaches to getting large corporations that promote honey from whiskey to chocolate to iced teas are intriguing. Finally, he proposes homework that the industry needs to do to provide to potential donors value to the economy and society. This approach is already being done in Florida with the
taxwatch study already moving forward.
Larry Connor looks at what he calls "The Settled Beekeeper." Read what he says it takes to "enjoy your bees."
Ross Conrad considers hive covers and their several uses to keep a colony healthy. Read how this mundane piece of equipment fits into the bigger management picture.
Jim Tew asks whether bees need water even in winter? Read his conclusion and tips on keeping colonies hydrated.
Ed Simon builds a hive body with a butt joint. Read how he does it and why those "fancy joints" may not be the "cat's meow!"
Richard Crespin says that problems with problems are the challenges to beekeeping. It's the social problems that are most concerning and most of these occurr in what he calls "the commons." Although not saying it specifically, Mr. Crespin appears to be revisiting a theory known as "
The Tragedy of the Commons."
Peter Seiling says every beekeeper thinks their honey is the best! Read his adventure in the land of subjectivity, a local honey tasting contest.
Phil Craft continues to answer questions. This month's are concerned with crystallized honey, high moisture honey and joining local beekeeping associations.
Jessica Lawrence plans a "bee-themed" wedding. Read what went awry as she married Mr. Right. She concludes that so-called "Apis love" carried the day.
Toni Burnham writes that when it comes to urban areas it's tough to overestimate the effectiveness of honey bees. Read why this is so and her tips on ensuring that one good environment in the city (for people) means another (for bees.)
Jeff Harris applauds too farmer-beekeeper partnerships. Read how the Mississippi Honey Bee Stewardship program fits the bill. He rounds up the usual suspects (education and communication) and provides some innovations (the "Bee Aware Flag) that make this this initiative something to emulate.
Connie Krochmal conducts Bee Culture's latest interview. Read about the Brown family, homesteaders, foragers, locavores and practioners of a sustainable lifestyle.
Ann Harman provides a dozen honey ideas this month. They will intrigue and challenge anyone interested in the fate of nature's most perfect sweet.
Rose Marie Lee makes a beeswax dandelion. Look at the finished product; seems well worth the effort.
Editor Flottum visits those White House bees under the care of Charlie Brandts. Read why 2013 was a pretty good season.
In all the news that fits, read about the weekly ethanol production, Alan Harman becoming a U.S. Citizen, largest food fraud case ever, not a good year for British beekeeping, more manuka honey sold than produced in New Zealand, huge increase in Illinois beekeeper numbers, the bees need for food in the almonds, and how neonicotinoids let viruses thrive in bee colonies.
Ed Colby delivers his annual Christmas story. Read more about his Apimondia experience in Ukraine, recent activities selling honey, and participating in singing carols in the rarefied Colorado air.
Sincerely,
Malcolm T. Sanford
beeactor@apisenterprises.com
http://apis.shorturl.com
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