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Lawrence John Connor Lawrence John Connor with Robert Muir Best book on queen rearing available, widely used to teach A basic beekeeping book with meat the craft to beekeepers. on its bones—the book you have been looking for.

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Paper Paper $28.00 Postpaid $25.00 Postpaid ISBN 978-1-878075-61-1 ISBN 978-1-878075-51-2 6 x 9 inches 6 x 9 inches 130 pages 256 pages Full Color First Edition Full Color First Edition NEW APRIL 2020 Lawrence John Connor William Blomstedt Start and grow your bee- Just out of college, the author keeping operation with pack- shares tales from a decade of work- age colonies. Learn how to ing for commercial install, manage and support beekeeping arond the world. them.

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May2020.indd 4 4/8/2020 7:24:45 PM Bee Culture May Features . . .

APIARY INSPECTORS 29 NMR HONEY TESTING POLICY 74 Up close and personal. Adopted at 2020 NFU convenƟ on. Joey Caputo submitted by Sarah Red-Laird

TROUBLED TIMES 35 VARROA RESISTANT BEES GET Commercial beekeepers and unique challenges. $1 MILLION IN NORWAY 75 John Miller The Terje Stock. Erik Osterlund A GOOD DIET 36 . . . is more than just tasty food. Reprinted with permission from Science CERTIFIED NATURALLY GROWN 78 Review Grassroots goes a long way. Alexandra Nastasa Suzannah Schneider

A SILVER BULLET 46 PROPOLIS 87 Or a brilliant dead end. Valuable to you and your hive. M.E.A. McNeil Rowan Brown

FARMER KEITH 55 COMMUNICATING ON Don’t villanize . . . collaborate. PESTICIDES . . . HOW? 88 Becky Masterson 10 Rules. David Zaruk HORIZONTAL BEEKEEPING reprinted with permission from PART IV 58 European Seed What’s next. Tina Sebestyen THE AZ HIVE JOURNEY 91 ALMOND SET VS. FINAL YIELD 63 Everything old is new again. Honey bee pollinaƟ on. Debra Langley-Boyer Joe Traynor

800.289.7668 Executive Publisher – Brad Root Associate Publisher, Senior Editor – Jerry Hayes, [email protected], Ext. 3214 Assistant Editor, Design – Kathy Summers, [email protected], Ext. 3215 Social Media, Event Specialist & Subscription Coordinator – Amanda DeSimone, [email protected], Ext. 3255 Advertising – Jean Newcombe, [email protected], Ext. 3216

Contributors Clarence Collison • James E. Tew • Ann Harman • Kim Lehman • Jay Evans Connie Krochmal • Jessica Louque • Toni Burnham • Ross Conrad • Jennifer Berry • Ed Colby

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to BEE CULTURE, The A.I. Root Co., 623 W. Liberty St., Medina, OH 44256 Subscription Information U.S., one year, $25; two years, $48. Newsstand price: $4.99. All other countries, (U.S. Currency only), $20.00 per year additional for postage. Digital Edition $15. Send remittance by money order, bank draft, express money order, or check or credit card. Bee Culture (ISSN 1071-3190), May 2020, Volume 148, Issue 5, is published monthly by The A.I. Root Co., 623 W. Liberty Street, Medina, OH 44256. Periodicals Postage Paid at Medina, OH and additional mailing offi ces. Subscriptions, Book Orders – www.BeeCulture.com • [email protected] Advertising – 800.289.7668, Ext. 3216; [email protected] Bee wooly buterfl y bee bush (Buddleja Published by The A.I. Root Co. Copyright© 2020. All rights reserved. marrubiifolia). photo by Joan Fox

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NEW FOR YOU 25 THIS YEAR WILL BE VERY Old Castle Women’s Beesuit; Upstairs Downstairs Intrance. DIFFERENT 70 I really mean it – just like I meant it last year. GOOD READING 27 James E. Tew Bee People and The Bugs They Love; Honeybee. The Busy Life of Apis mellifera. THE LAND OF FLOWERS 81 Florida. FOUND IN TRANSLATION 31 Connie Krochmal Spring Beauties and the beast. Jay Evans FRIEND OR FOE 84 Wasps and hornets. 2019 NATIONAL HONEY REPORT 39 Ann Harman All of the numbers from last year. Kim FloƩ um BOTTOM BOARD 96 We fall down, we get back up. A CLOSER LOOK – HONEY BEE Ed Colby QUEENS 51 They aren’t perfect. Clarence Collison

REQUEENING: A SPIRITUAL PERSPECTIVE 67 Our everyday lives. Ross Conrad In Every Month – Honeycomb Hannah 9 What’s going on in the hive? Mailbox 10 From The Editor – 14 Honey Market Report 16 making comb honey: the Hogg Halfcomb and Ross Rounds How was the Winter? systems are ready-to-use (with some hive preparation), Next Month Tasks 17 while hand cut comb is more of a manual process using thin It’s Summers Time! 19 foundation, cutting, and packaging. The results are delicious, Spring meeƟ ngs, poultry and friendships. ready-to-eat comb honey! BEETALK 20 Your quesƟ ons answered by our writers. All Around The Beeyard 23 Collect pollen using one of our pollen traps. Pollen can Good ideas from beekeepers. Page 31 Calendar 94

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May2020.indd 9 4/8/2020 7:25:02 PM the rule in September 2019,” Clean Water Lightfoot says. As you know, the “The new Navigable Waters Bee Culture Environmental Protection Agency Protection Rule largely adopts 623 West Liberty St. (EPA) released new federal clean- Justice Scalia’s approach Medina, OH 44256 water regulations today that are in Rapanos. Emphasizing the [email protected] less restrictive than those adopted term “navigable waters” in its title, under the Obama administration. the rule provides that only four Thaddeus Lightfoot is a partner categories of waters are federally at the international law fi rm regulated as “waters of the United Dorsey & Whitney who has spent States” under the Clean Water Act: almost three decades specializing (1) territorial seas and traditional in environmental law. Lightfoot was navigable waters; (2) perennial and previously a trial attorney with the intermittent tributaries to those US Department of Justice. Of the waters; (3) certain lakes and ponds; new regulations he says, and (4) wetlands immediately “EPA’s announcement of the adjacent to jurisdictional waters. fi nal Navigable Waters Protection There are also 12 categories of Rule, effective 60 days of January exclusions, including features that 23, 2020, makes good on the Global Warming Again contain rainfall, all groundwater, Bee Cul ture is about bees but Agency’s vow in October 2019 most ditches, prior converted from time to time is used to bring to publish a new fi nal rule after cropland, and waste treatment leftist point of view about Global repealing the former Waters of the systems,” Lightfoot says. Warming. About half of the article Unites States rule. It also satisfi es “Taken together, the rule not of Ed Colby is about it. (Bee Culture a Trump campaign pledge and a only substantially narrows the Feb 2020). 2017 Presidential Executive Order reach of the WOTUS rule. It also He starts with the sentence promising a rule that refl ected excludes most wetlands formerly “Marilyn and I talk a lot about Justice Scalia’s concurrence within the jurisdiction of the climate change.” Then he writes: in Rapanos v. United States, 547 Clean Water Act under Justice “The dissenting “opinions” of a U.S. 715 (2006). Justice Scalia’s Kennedy’s “signifi cant nexus” test. handful of nay saying “scientists” plurality opinion rejected the US Wetland types that EPA and the merely muddy the waters.” Army Corps of Engineers position U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have I am a scientist (retired) and I that “land” wet seasonally could regulated for decades are outside feel offended. constitute a “water of the United the jurisdictional scope of the fi nal Global Warming was a States” under the Clean Water Act. rule,” Lightfoot says. scientifi c issue long time ago. Now According to Scalia, a water of the “EPA Administrator Andrew it is a political tool in the hands of United States should include only Wheeler opined in a statement the same people who want open relatively permanent, standing, announcing the rule that borders, medicare for all, free or continuously fl owing bodies landowners no longer must rely “on college etc. of water, or waters and wetlands expensive attorneys to determine Ed Colby uses their language with a continuous surface water what water on their land may like “Men made climate change connection between it and a or may not fall under federal is established science which is to permanent water body,” Lightfoot say universally agreed upon in the regulations.” But landowners says. scientifi c community.” and other interested parties will “Justice Kennedy’s concurring Universally agreed upon undoubtedly have to rely on opinion in Rapanos adopted a science was around always. Few expensive attorneys for the courts fact-based “signifi cant nexus” thousand years ago scientists to determine the viability of the test, observing a water body must claimed that earth was fl at. Few new rule. Environmental groups have a “signifi cant nexus” to a hundred years ago almost all have already vowed to challenge traditional navigable waterway. The scientists claimed that sun rotates the rule. And if the amount and US Army Corps of Engineers used around earth (do you know how level of intensity of litigation over the “signifi cant nexus” test until dissenting scientists were treated? the WOTUS rule it replaces was 2015, when EPA and the Corps Ask about Giordano Bruno burned any indication, it may be many promulgated the fi nal “Waters at the stake). years before the courts determine of the United States” or WOTUS So universally agreed upon that landowners may rely upon the rule. Although EPA and the Corps science means nothing. apparent certainty in the Navigable argued the WOTUS rule simply Our science funding is such Waters Protection Rule,” Lightfoot “clarifi ed” existing law, many that climate scientist must satisfy says. commentators maintained the rule politicians or look for another job. Laura Kelley expanded federal authority. The No matter what is the truth w/Dorsey & Whitney LLP WOTUS rule was the subject of a movement that has such intense litigation and a nationwide spokeswomen as poorly educated stay. It was in effective in only former bartender (AOC ) or mentally about 20 states when EPA repealed challenged Swedish teenager is a joke. 10 BEE CULTURE May 2020

May2020.indd 10 4/8/2020 7:25:06 PM Even if you believe that earth beehives is not an allowed Program is in trouble try fi nd workable use. Application denied. solutions. Beekeepers are struggling. In Read the article in The Guardian 2020, Honey Prices have fallen. by James Hansen (considered Winter hive losses are stubbornly to be a father of global warming high. Adulterated funny hunny science.) “Nuclear power paves the damages American markets. only viable path forward on climate Beekeeper access to the change”. FSFLP to help fi nance temporary Jacek Wierzbicka refrigerated storage of honey bees will really help American * Beekeeping. Can you help me? I always enjoy the monthly John Miller column by Ed Colby, Bottom Board. Gackle, ND He tells good stories and usually throws in some humor and actual helpful tips. Pesticide Seed I was born and raised in the In the February issue his Sacramento Valley. We often went comments on Climate Change were Coatings for drives through the farmland in excellent. He gives appropriate I was a big supporter of the upper valley to go fi shing, and examples of what we are facing. Jeff Anderson’s lawsuit that the over to San Francisco to visit grand Thus, science is science and planting of insecticide-treated seeds parents. My Mom always pointed incontrovertible. constituted a pesticide application. I out different fl owers each season The effect on various species can’t understand why he lost, as we passed by. One of the most including honey bees and humans since the treatment was NOT to to awesome to both of us was the wild looks grim. But, there is still protect the seed, but rather to kill mustard and wild radish fl owering opportunity for humans to change insects later consuming the plant beneath the Almond trees in full behavior. Hopefully we will have the (as opposed to the legit treatment bloom. will to act soon. exemption for fungicides). I moved from Sacramento in Thanks, Ed, for your I feel strongly that anyone 1993 to Oregon, I was saddened comments. We will look for the introducing large quantities of any by John’s description and picture winds of change. pesticide into the environment in his article. I’m not sure why R. Stephen Rankin, M.D. should be considered as a pesticide growers have scraped the ground Farmington, NM applicator, and be responsible. bare. It’s not not necessary to clear Randy Oliver “weeds” until harvest. Mr. Miller’s Grass Valley, CA article will hopefully get grower’s Farm Stored Facility www.Scientifi cBeekeeping.com thinking about the “old ways” and what seemed to be a benefi cial Loan Program relationship with crops and those Letter from John Miller to Secretary Almond Orchards “weeds” our bees love and need to Sonny Purdue, U.S. Dept. of Ag I was surprised to read John prosper. Miller’s article in the March 2020 P.A. Wackford Dear Secretary Perdue: issue about the almond orchards. Enclosed please fi nd information on the Farm Stored Facility Loan Program. By including ‘temporary refrigerated storage of honey bees’ to the eligible uses of the Loan Program, beekeepers could use loan funds to construct indoor beehive storage facilities. The amount of temporary storage capacity for beehives increases dramatically because indoor wintering is a safer way of protecting agriculture’s most important pollinator. I applied for a FSFL in 2015. We constructed the fi rst-in-the- state indoor storage facility in North Dakota. I was informed that even though the Program allows for storage of honey, storage of May 2020 BEE CULTURE 11

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May2020.indd 13 4/8/2020 7:25:13 PM We construct, build, piece together Bee Culture approximately two months What the management goal is before it is sent out to you. I am writing this on March 23rd, 2020 for the May or should be is to be checking your 2020 Bee Culture issue. Hopefully by May all the scary Coronavirus health is- colony often and if there is a visual sues will have passed and we will have changed for the better. I have never been to March 23rd, 2020. I have never experienced this thing weakening of the colony fi gure out called a COVID-19 Pandemic. I have never been forced to work from home, which why and then fi x it. Most of the time starts tomorrow here in Ohio. I have never experienced working with Great peo- its Varroa weakening the colony ple like Kathy, Jean, Amanda and a dozen or so fantastic writers on Bee Culture and the beekeeper has not been on from a remote digital platform. I have certainly lived through various historical markers that for the most part I have only seen on the 6 o’clock news or PBS the game. You are the Honey Bee NewsHour. But I have never lived in a moment in History such as now. A History manager in 2020. Do it! driven by an invisible agent. I must believe my elected governmental leaders, the media, health care and bankers. It is Scary and interesting. We don’t know QUESTION when it will end or what it will look like when it does and what changes in so- Jerry ciety and culture and fi nancial system are going to be artifacts. I hope you are well. Quick I, like you are a puzzle piece on this question. One of my hives absconded. personal and societal journey. Selfi shly One week they were there and the I don’t want to be part of the older 10% next week they were all gone. This who get COVID-19. And I think about and worry about my children, grand- was a healthy appearing group of children, long time beekeeper friends, bees. I treated with oxalic acid vapor neighbors and my community at large. earlier in the season. So, I am going to work from home My question is, can I use the effi ciently with the goal I can bring equipment and the sugar honey from some value to those that read Bee Cul- ture and have trust and confi dence in fall feeding in other hives without Bee Culture. I will get outside and take risk? walks by myself, go to the Big Box and Thanks buy what’s left off the concerning al- Bill Fleming most empty shelves and wait like you for the all clear. Be safe. Be well and lets trust our- ANSWER selves and our neighbors more than we First you have to understand have in the past so when we come out that the colony made the decision of this our neighborhoods, and commu- that this hive/location wasn’t a good nities, places of worship, stores, stop light and every place we get the chance place to be living in. They were losing for eye contact with our brothers and population getting weaker because sisters will register friendship, respect they were mostly like ‘sick’. and acceptance. Sick generally means Varroa Now how about some Q&A’s and the Varroa/Virus Legacy. My question is did you follow the protocol QUESTION if it’s life cycle can somehow be in the ‘Tools for Varroa Management SMALL HIVE BEETLE LARVAE interrupted. Guide’ developed by the HBHC Can you address controlling the Thanks, Dan in (Honey Bee Health Coalition)? How LARVAE stage of the SHB? It seems Southern California often did you sample and when you like intervening here is a great control treated did you sample after to see if method, given that the larvae jump ANSWER the treatment worked? from the landing board in order to Remember that SHB are a Unless you had an AFB secondary pupate in the ground below as an secondary predator of honey bee infection most likely all the equipment integral part of its life cycle. I’ve tried colonies. They are looking for a colony and stored food resources will be OK placing a few inches of pea gravel that is weak or weakening so they can to start another colony. directly below the board in hopes reproduce and make baby SHB and I would encourage you to of deterring pupation, but I’ve read there simply are not enough honey download the “Tools . . .” Guide and that the larvae can simply wiggle bees to ‘guard’ the colony. memorize it away to “greener pastures” once they Once the hundreds of SHB land. I’m wondering if anyone has females have laid their eggs, an egg is QUESTION any experience or ideas regarding an egg for 1 day, and the aggressive Hi, Jerry interrupting the SHB life cycle by larvae are present with the kodamaea What is different between Russia preventing pupation and therefore slime (just like cow snot) caused by a Hybrid Queen and Purebred Russian reproduction? colleague yeast its for all intents and Queen ? Perhaps something akin to the purposes over. Why try to catch the Thanks!! West Beetle Trap but placed below larvae? It’s after the fact. You failed. Vinnie the landing board instead of on top of it, with a grate designed specifi cally for larvae rather than for the beetle itself, and that somehow prevents their escape to the outside? I don’t have a major problem with SHB, but it seems easy to control From The Editor – 14 BEE CULTURE May 2020

May2020.indd 14 4/8/2020 7:25:18 PM ANSWER In the best of cases and worst of Virgin queens’ mate in an cases grasses are wind pollinated and open air location called an Drone have little value for ANY pollinators. Project Apis m. Congregation Area or DCA with Can you imagine 2%, 3%, 5% of Drones/males who are attracted to 50 million acres being converted into Your “go-to” non- DCAs from miles around hoping to pollinator friendly forage? Doesn’t profit honey bee mate and spread their genetics. She have to be the whole yard but may will mate with 20+ Drones and store along the driveway, or next to the research sperm in an organ in her body called house or that spot in the backyard. a spermatheca for use the rest of her Short story is you are right. organization, with active life. Impossible to control what QUESTION programs in the drones from whose colonies with Hello Jerry variable races of managed honey I’m a backyard beekeeper on USA & Canada bees and feral populations go to the Cape Cod. Haven`t had bees for a few  DCA. Unless the queen is artifi cially years because I keep losing them to PAm is dedicated to enhancing inseminated with declared ‘pure’ the mites and other possible reasons. the health of honey bees while Russian Drone semen with the cost of What is your current advice for mite improving crop and honey the Queen at several hundred dollars treatments? Thanks so much. or more there is no such thing. Bob Baron production.  There are no such things as Italian, Carniolan, Caucasian, ANSWER German bees etc. In North America Memorize this and put into action because we can’t control drones EXACTLY and you will be incredibly in the DCA for commercial Queen more successful. I promise or I owe production. you lunch. We have mutts. https://honeybeehealthcoalition. org/wp-content/ QUESTION uploads/2015/08/HBHC-Guide_ I am living in Appleton, WI. Varroa-Interactive-PDF.pdf Someone here has recommended to the city to make May a “no QUESTION mow” month. To help with the bee Hello Jerry  population. I am not so sure it isn’t I hope you are well. When using just people that don’t like to mow swarm traps, should the bees be left their lawn. to build out some comb and settle If it passes, it would actually be in for a week or should they be mid June before residents would be transferred to a empty hive as soon required to have their lawns mowed. as possible? Do you think it would actually As always thanks for your help. help the bees to do this? I would Bill F. think maybe planting early blooming fl owers may be a better idea? ANSWER Thanks for your input. Any ideas If the swarm trap is an empty you may have are really appreciated! container and is not using honey bee Take care. Dode Walsh comb or beeswax as an attractant the swarm attracted to it should ANSWER be relocated as soon as convenient There are approximately 50 to a hive with frames and comb/ million acres of suburban lawns in foundation. This allows them to the U.S., taking approx.. 80 million begin consolidating their colony begin lbs. of chemicals and 10,000 gallons brood rearing as soon as possible. of water each to make them look like The goal. the 18th Hole at Augusta. ͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲ Apologies From Bee Culture In the March issue, the entire team responsible for the U of Montana Mas- ter Beekeeper’s Certifi cate research project, North American Beekeepers’ Communication Database, was inadvertently omitted.The team included Cesare Del Vaglio, Anastasia Bake, Julie Cahoj, James Harper, Wayne Hodgdon, Melvin Leedle, George O’Neil III, with assistance from Tracy Klein.

May 2020 BEE CULTURE 15

May2020.indd 15 4/8/2020 7:25:19 PM MAY – REGIONAL HONEY PRICE REPORT

1 7 5 4 2 6 3

REPORTING REGIONS History 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 SUMMARY Last Last EXTRACTED HONEY PRICES SOLD BULK TO PACKERS OR PROCESSORS Range Avg. $/lb Month Year 55 Gal. Drum, Light 2.10 2.21 2.23 2.38 2.34 2.03 2.10 1.05-3.00 2.17 2.17 2.22 2.23 55 Gal. Drum, Ambr 2.00 2.15 2.16 2.35 2.00 1.87 2.00 1.35-2.50 2.07 2.07 2.14 2.08 60# Light (retail) 209.85 186.40 177.50 186.94 155.00 196.79 220.00 105.00-325.00 204.69 3.41 212.92 195.46 60# Amber (retail) 214.70 188.67 191.25 184.44 214.70 189.46 228.33 119.74-325.00 207.03 3.45 211.64 192.47

WHOLESALE PRICES SOLD TO STORES OR DISTRIBUTORS IN CASE LOTS 1/2# 24/case 95.14 75.50 101.51 74.80 61.20 90.00 95.14 57.60-144.00 89.49 7.46 91.23 87.71 1# 24/case 140.81 125.32 135.45 108.69 134.00 147.66 136.20 86.40-211.20 132.82 5.53 130.13 126.79 2# 12/case 125.20 96.58 119.08 101.20 111.84 116.40 114.00 78.00-192.00 115.39 4.81 120.90 112.61 12.oz. Plas. 24/cs 111.46 101.17 100.00 91.25 83.76 110.32 103.20 66.00-175.00 102.41 5.69 104.66 99.52 5# 6/case 130.46 110.06 122.83 124.70 113.16 132.00 130.46 52.99-210.00 129.43 4.31 135.08 128.77 Quarts 12/case 159.63 154.16 136.80 142.80 151.23 169.71 144.00 109.20-222.00 153.66 4.27 158.64 151.89 Pints 12/case 110.41 93.70 83.25 82.00 111.00 90.04 84.00 60.00-192.00 94.81 5.27 90.70 99.52

RETAIL SHELF PRICES 1/2# 5.21 4.63 4.51 4.44 3.89 4.72 6.38 1.98-9.00 4.92 9.85 4.95 4.94 12 oz. Plastic 6.96 6.14 5.66 5.01 4.58 6.25 5.90 3.50-12.00 6.17 8.22 6.09 6.12 1# Glass/Plastic 8.05 7.54 7.66 6.45 6.67 7.23 9.88 2.50-14.00 7.86 7.86 7.79 7.46 2# Glass/Plastic 13.98 12.61 13.36 11.23 11.75 11.66 15.25 6.70-23.00 13.11 6.55 13.52 12.51 Pint 12.32 10.83 9.21 8.73 10.63 9.98 10.80 6.00-22.00 10.65 7.10 10.33 10.22 Quart 21.36 17.33 15.81 15.21 17.62 18.32 18.86 9.00-40.00 18.21 6.07 18.14 17.88 5# Glass/Plastic 30.06 27.85 37.24 26.17 24.93 23.72 30.06 15.89-48.00 28.18 5.64 29.14 26.43 1# Cream 10.41 8.57 8.00 8.70 10.24 7.75 9.67 6.00-16.00 9.82 9.82 9.89 9.40 1# Cut Comb 13.50 12.99 10.39 9.60 12.67 11.25 14.00 6.00-24.00 11.99 11.99 11.51 11.61 Ross Round 9.89 7.40 9.89 9.89 9.89 10.50 12.49 6.00-13.50 10.02 13.36 9.52 9.33 Wholesale Wax (Lt) 8.16 4.78 5.75 5.77 6.13 6.30 10.50 3.00-16.00 6.81 - 6.64 6.44 Wholesale Wax (Dk) 5.55 4.38 4.18 4.17 5.55 3.00 5.55 2.00-10.00 5.10 - 5.23 5.77 Pollination Fee/Col. 95.61 77.17 71.67 90.00 95.61 95.00 67.50 50.00-160.00 86.22 - 92.39 86.96

16 BEE CULTURE May 2020

May2020.indd 16 4/8/2020 7:25:19 PM NEXT MONTH

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May2020.indd 17 4/8/2020 7:25:20 PM 18 BEE CULTURE May 2020

May2020.indd 18 4/8/2020 7:25:20 PM IIt’st’s SSummersummers TimeTime –

May 2020 BEE CULTURE 19

May2020.indd 19 4/8/2020 7:25:21 PM Send us your questions, we’ll fi nd the answers. Our reglars and our gests will share what bthey know. Send your questions to Jer@BeeCultre.com, with BEETALK in the subject line. time, which is about 24 mites on that might better be left until later. a drop board in 24 hours. See the The truth is that monitoring is im- guide at https://honeybeehealth- portant at all times, and disrupting coalition.org/varroa/ the bees for a day is not nearly as e If the hives have a solid bottom, hard on them as fi ghting through you may want to wait for the warm- high mite numbers, or an outbreak est day to do a quick alcohol wash of Chalkbrood (a spring disease) will of the bees when they have broken be for them, for instance. As far as e cluster. You may want to take a counting for mites, keep in mind smaller sample if the bee population that numbers will be artifi cially low is low. A low population of bees may in spring, as a higher proportion of indicate that mites have already im- adult mites will be behind cappings, paired the colony. The colony should reproducing. This is refl ected in the have a mite level of 1% or less, so lower “acceptable percentage” list- less than 1/100 bees. Barbara ed on the HoneyBeeHealthCoaliton t Bloetscher, OH website, which will also tell you what can be done at this time of A. Yes, you should defi nitely year. Tina Sebestyen, CO sample for Varroa ASAP! Overwin- a tered hives often have a Spring- Question 2 burst of Varroa populations given Do I need to treat for Varroa? the exponential and quick growth the bees experience along with the A. See #1 – If the mite level is l fl ower burst as you mention. It is above 1%, you should treat. If the best to sample at least 1x per month queen is affected, her progeny could using the alcohol wash, if possible. have viruses vectored by mites. If If you are accustomed to using sug- the nurse bees have mites, the de- k ar shake, no worries continue to veloping larvae will have mites as use it, the key is being consistent well. With a forecasted long wet Question 1 so you can have comparison data Spring, you will need as many forg- Do I need to sample for Varroa throughout the season. I challenge ers as possible to fi nd whatever is now, should I? you to experiment and see if counts fl owering. Bees damaged by mites differ using both methods!:) Always have shortened lives and often can’t A. I am writing this form a North- take the time to sample, this vital in function in a hive. Let’s not start ern Ohio perspective so depending managing honey bees! Kim Skyrm, the spring with sick bees. Barbara upon the temperature, you may or MA Bloetscher, OH may not want to expose the brood to outside temperatures. I have looked A. The way your question is A. Possibly, it depends on what at some brood on warm days and phrased makes me think that you you get when doing your sampling worried about the amount of heat look at monitoring colony conditions - if sample value is between three escaping. The remaining bees have as too disruptive, and something to nine mites, consider treatment, to consume their stores to obtain the energy to maintain a steady tem- perature for the brood. Opening the hive disrupts their efforts. If it is too chilly to access the brood, and the hives have a screened bottom board, simply slide a white board (‘plenty of election signs to choose from!) and spray the white side with cooking oil. Slide the board, white side up, under the hive and pull it out in 24 hours. The Honey bee Health Coalition provides guidelines for the level of mite infes- tation depending upon the stage in which the bees are developing. The guide says that a mite level over 1% (1 mite/100 bees) is the limit at this

20 BEE CULTURE May 2020

May2020.indd 20 4/8/2020 7:25:22 PM if value is below, no need to treat, A. It is up to you and weather in but continue to sample monthly. your area. It is best to do a Spring Remember if you do apply a treat- inspection for overwintered hives to ment, sample BEFORE and AFTER. see what you are working with an The AFTER is what most folks for- set the stage on your seasonal man- get, and then bees/beekeepers suf- agement. If the hive is dwindling – fer trying to remedy poor hive health “Spring Dwindle” you may need to situations in a pinch. Applying mite consider getting additional colonies treatments when Varroa popula- to boost your apiary numbers and tions are very high, is often too late, revitalize. How is the queen looking so sample often, sample consistent- - wings tattered? age? Queen viabil- ly, sample, sample, sample! Kim ity is the key to Spring buildup and Skyrm, MA ultimate seasonal colony success – if she is not in great shape physically A. For myself, any colony that and the brood pattern (i.e. location had higher than 0 count in Septem- and amount of eggs/larvae) are not ber got a mid-Winter OA treatment, great, then perhaps, you need to or- so I probably won’t need to use a der a queen ASAP to replace that ole’ miticide in Spring. Tina Sebestyen, girl – queens do not last forever, like CO most things in life, we all have an expiration date. How are food stores Question 3 – Do they need to be fed? Bringing in Do I need to bust open a hive and look pollen? Food is key to producing new for other pests and diseases? bees, so you may want to consider feeding if the hive is light.:( Regard- A. I would be very careful open- ing pests and disease, it is a great ing colonies in early Spring. Bees idea to check on brood, particular- use propalis to glue the box and ly larvae – they should bee “pearly- frames together and block out cold white” and “C-shaped” if you do air if the hive corners are broken or not see this, then consider taking a damaged. “Busting open a colony” sample and sending to USDA-Belts- sounds more disruptive than neces- ville Bee lab for diagnosis. There are sary. great guidelines on sampling list- Look for debris that has fallen ed on the website: https://www. on the bottom board. Pieces of bees ars.usda.gov/northeast-area/ and comb may indicate that a mouse beltsville-md-barc/beltsville-agri- has moved in. The mouse/mice are cultural-research-center/bee-re- probably in the bottom box. Remove search-laboratory/docs/how-to- the top boxes together if possible to submit-samples/ Kim Skyrm, MA look in the bottom box. On a warm day, you can remove the top boxes A. Culling the fi rst sheet of and check for mites and mice at the drones is a great way to help the same time. Don’t disrupt the frames bees keep mite numbers low, and or boxes any more than possible should be done even in colonies that though as the bees will need their had a 0 count in fall, because there insulative propolis for the upcoming are really never 0 mites in a colony. months. Barbara Bloetscher, OH Tina Sebestyen, CO

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Number 1 Tip of the Month – Bee Collector DIY Bee Collector for Mite Tests screw the luan sides to the 1¾-inch strips as shown in Control and testing for Varroa mites continues to be the bottom picture. Fill a pint jar with ½ cup of water a challenge for beekeepers. I felt there must be an better and use a permanent marker to mark this water level on way to collect that ½ cup of bees for a powdered sugar the outside of the jar. (½ cup gives you about 300 bees.) or alcohol test. I was never a fan of shaking bees into a Cut a circle of ⅛-inch hardware cloth to fi t snuggly in tub and scooping them out or of scooping straight off the the top of a canning jar ring. A second plastic lid can be brood comb to get the bees needed for the test. I devised used when shaking/coating the bees. a single frame bee collector as described below. Once assembled insert a brood frame of bees and Cut a ¾-inch thick board or ¾-inch plywood scrap with just a shake or two enough bees fall into the jar. into 1 ¾ inch wide strips. You will need about four feet Remove the jar and screw on the 1/8 hardware cloth which will get cut into fi ve pieces. You will also need a lid, add powdered sugar or alcohol and replace with the 19⅞ x 17¼-inch piece of luan, ¼-inch plywood or tem- solid lid to shake for a bit to continue the mite check. pered hardboard panel for the two sides, most any ma- There is plenty of info on other sites as to how this mite terial will work, but I like the light weight of the luan. check works so I will not cover it here. The dimensions Cut the 1¾ inch wide strip at 45° on both ends with two are for deep frames so if you are using only mediums pieces each 11 inches on the long side, two pieces at 45° you can adjust sizes accordingly. Happy beekeeping. on only one end that are 9½ inches on the long side, and Richard Wahl, Richmond, MI one piece that is 6½ inches at 45° on both ends on the long side. The two pieces with a straight cut get a ¼-inch deep x one-inch wide notch where the brood frame rests. These notches stick up about ⅜-inch above the luan sides making it easier to grasp the inserted brood frame. The shortest piece is the bottom and will need a 1½- inch hole through the center with a hole saw or 1½-inch wide drill bit. The pieces are assembled as shown in the picture where one side of the luan is missing. The piece with the hole gets a plastic canning cover mounted with the same 1½-inch hole. Fasten the cover to the bottom wood strip with small fl at-head screws leaving enough space where the jar screws into the lid lip so as not to interfere or chip the jar glass. Cut two pieces of luan or sides of your choice at 19⅞ (the same length as a Langstroth hive with ¾-inch walls) x 17¼ inches and lay out the 1¾-inch strips to mark where to cut the 45° bottom corners off. Nail or

When I visited my brother in Ohio, I saw the per- fect idea for all of us screened bottom board guys. Take old chair cushions or sofa cushions apart and using a bandsaw, cut up the foam pieces in- side into one-inch strips, 15 inches long and use the strips as entrance closures to move hives or splits. You can press it in and it will expand to any size openings. The one-inch square strips can also be pulled apart by hand to make small pieces for clos- ing upper entrances. Enos Miller, NY

May 2020 BEE CULTURE 23

May2020.indd 23 4/8/2020 7:25:26 PM 24 BEE CULTURE May 2020

May2020.indd 24 4/8/2020 7:25:28 PM The Upstairs Downstairs Intrance from BeeSpace in the UK New For This Summer – The basic kit contains four en- trances. Normally, three are placed eration, we made several prototypes, in the bottom brood box in place of and fi nally, the Sentinel Queen Bee the standard long opening, and one Range was born. is placed further up. The kit can be Now we can offer women a bee used with either wood or poly hives suit that’s designed to fi t from size as long as they have standard di- 10 to 24 in a subtle shade of lilac. mensions that respect bee space. It has all the features of the Senti- Following the instructions included nel Pro range, but importantly it is in the kit, you start by drilling three designed to fi t the characteristics of one-inch holes in the bottom brood the female body. box. A super-sharp, high-quality Forstner bit is included, should you • AVAILABLE IN UK WOMEN’S SIZ- need it. ES 10-24 The UD Intrnace starter kit con- • GREATER PROTECTION THAN tains all the parts you need to con- CONVENTIONAL BEEKEEPING vert your current hive. CLOTHING Inside the brood box you at- • THE VENTILATED BREATHABLE tach three internal entrances with MATERIAL HELPS KEEP YOU the stainless-steel screws provid- COOL ed. These are plastic devices with • PREVENTS BEE STINGS openings on the bottom that direct • LIGHTWEIGHT, COMFORTABLE the bees downward to get inside the & PRACTICAL TO WEAR hive. The space inside the plastic de- The Sentinel Queen Bee Women's • DESIGNED BY A BEEKEEPER vice is like a vestibule of sorts. From Beekeeping Suit – The Modern FOR BEEKEEPERS outside, the bees enter the one-inch Beekeeping Suit designed hole and then must go through a exclusively for Women Features of the Sentinel Queen second opening onthe bottom ont he Bee Beekeeping suit include: device to actually access the hive. For beekeepers, stings are an • Dual security at neck junction The fourth internal entrance occupational hazard – which is why • Excellent visibility through strong, is included for installation into an in 2018, we launched our ‘virtually clear view veil upper brood box or a honey super, sting-proof’ Sentinel Pro Bee suit. • YKK durable zips depending on your set up. In addi- We’re delighted with the fantas- • Velcro fastening at cuffs tion, four solid plugs are included tic response from beekeepers who • Waterproof kneepads that can be used to reduce winter- have told us how the suit has rev- • Two lined hive tool pockets time ventilation or for temporarily olutionized their chosen pastime. • Queen marker pen pocket on closing your hive to facilitate oxalic Extremely lightweight, it keeps you sleeve acid vaporization. On top of that, the cool in Summer months and offers • Mobile phone breast pocket with standard kit also contain four vent- the protection needed against bee zip fastening ed plugs that can be used to keep stings – therefore giving the bee- • Extended ankle zips the bees indoors during pesticide keeper more confi dence when work- • Detachable interchangeable hat or spraying or to quickly block extra ing with bees. veil entrances in case of robbing. Since then, we’ve had many • Machine washable For more information on the requests for a suit specifi cally de- • The suit is lightweight, weighing product and on pricing visit www. signed for women. Having spent just 1.2kg beespace.xyz. some time looking into the prospect, • Matching gloves available we could see that all bee suits are sized generically – without consider- For more information and to ation for a woman’s size and shape. purchase visit www.oldcastlefarm- So, after much research and delib- hives.com.

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May2020.indd 26 4/8/2020 7:25:28 PM HONEYBEE. The Busy Life Of Apis Good Reading For Strange Times – mellifera. By Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann. Published by Neal BEE PEOPLE And The Bugs They Poter Books:Holiday House Publish- Love. Frank Mortimer. Kensington ing Inc. 40 pages, 10” x 12”, color, Publishing Corp. www.kensington. Hard cover. ISBN978-0-8234-4285- com. ISBN 978-0-8065-4083-2. 5.5” 0. $18.99. x 8.5”, 312 pages, hard cover, black and white, $25.00 at book stores. This multiple award-winning duo has published a whole library This is far more about the peo- of children’s books about all man- ple who keep bees than the bees ner of topics, and this exceptional themselves, but it does a pretty good example should gather them even job of telling about them also. The more awards. author, who has written a few pieces The full-page art is extraordi- for this magazine, is the president nary in detail and color and design, to the Northeast Beekeepers Associ- and it simply and completely de- ation and has guided it well in the scribes the life of a bee. She emerg- decade he’s been in that position. es from her cell and begins to eat. He’s also a Master Beekeeper, so has After a bit she begins cleaning other done much of the homework needed cells, then starts taking care of her to do right by his bees. younger sisters. Next comes queen He’s also met some really inter- care until she’s about 12 days old. esting people in his day, and, not Building waxen combs then is her surprisingly, some of these people job, and she’s waiting, waiting to fl y. are just like the beekeepers you’ve As he learns, he makes mistakes, But not yet. already met, or will if you stick to just like we did. But if you haven’t Guarding is next, keeping out this long enough. Knowing them is started yet, you can avoid some of the bad guys and helping keep her one thing, knowing about them be- the most common, and, most dan- home safe. But fi nally the day ar- fore you meet them is altogether dif- gerous of these and save your self a rives and she can fl y, fi nding mil- ferent. You’ll see. whole heap of trouble. lions of fl owers and coming home There’s lots of learning going on If you are just getting start- fi lled with nectar and carrying all here, and if you haven’t already stat- ed this is background you should the pollen she can muster. And she ed with bees the author goes over a be aware of. You’ll end up meeting returns triumphant, sharing what lot of things you won’t have to learn some, maybe most of the people she has found, and where she found the hard way, which is how a lot of Frank meets, because beekeep- it with her very, very happy dance. beginners seem to learn. ers tend to be more alike than not. But, gradually she grows old, be- First packages, fi rst spring, fi rst You’ll see these people here, before coming thin, losing hair and hardly summer, fi rst harvest, fi rst bee meet- you meet them out there. fl ying at all. And one warm, sunny ing, mentors, friends and neighbors. Kim Flottum morning, Apis is still. But back at the nest a new bee is born, and the life of the colony and cycle of her bees continues. At the end of the book there is a drawing of a bee showing, and ex- plaining, all of her body parts, and a couple of pages of what people can to do help bees and beekeepers. There’s even some references for more of this story. If there is a child in your life, this is a must share story book. And I think maybe even experi- enced beekeep- ers will learn something from this up close and personal story. Kim Flottum

May 2020 BEE CULTURE 27

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May2020.indd 28 4/8/2020 7:25:30 PM Short History of your state Apiary Program: In the late 19th century, AAPIARYPIARY IINSPECTORSNSPECTORS beekeeping was common in the territory of Utah; foulbrood diseases Joey Caputo, Utah were too. It became so diffi cult to control the spread of these pathogens 2) Chalkbrood was fi rst detected in Utah Share a short story from an and keep colonies healthy, that in 1965. exciting day on the job- (could the state’s beekeepers sought help Source: Baker, G.M., Torchio, G.M., 1968. be a best, worst or anywhere in from the esteemed entomologist A.J. New records of Ascosphaera apis from between): Cook of Michigan Agricultural North America. Mycologia 60, 189–190. A few years ago, an elderly lady College. Cook helped organize a called a state inspector to request statewide beekeeping organization to Overview of beekeeping in your an inspection of a recently installed coordinate disease interventions. The state- Honey production, crop package. Before the inspector opened fi rst president of this organization pollination etc: the hive, the beekeeper noted that Oliver B. Huntington and newly Honey production 2018 – 1,066,000 under the advice of another apiarist formed organization lobbied the pounds she had added a box recently so territorial legislature to pass a bee Honey bees provide pollination that the bees would not become too inspection act. It is believed that services for Utah’s apple, berry, crowded. When the inspector opened the Utah Apiary Program is the cherry, peach, melon and squash the lid, he saw that sure enough longest continuously operating bee industries. a box had been added, but there inspection program in the United • # of Beekeepers: 2019 - 1,600 were no frames inside of it! The bees States. registered (UDAF) had haphazardly drawn out comb • # of Colonies: 2018 - 26,000 everywhere. The inspector carefully Source: A. Glen Humpherys, “Oliver B. (USDA NASS) removed the freeform comb, piece by Huntington and His Bees,” Beehive piece and shook the bees into another History 2 (1976). Upcoming (or recent) events in box with frames. It was a messy and your state: tedious operation, but the bees were 2-3 Interesting facts about your 2020 SLC Bee Fest (June) https:// safely transferred. BC program: catalystmagazine.net/ 1) Utah is one of only three slcbeefest/ states in the U.S. that has county (in 5th Annual Utah Honey Bee Health addition to state) bee inspectors. The Conference (November) https:// other two being California and Ohio. ag.utah.gov/farmers/plants- industry/apiary-inspection-and- 2) Southern Utah is home to three beekeeping/ unique haplotypes of Africanized honey bee. Feral colony in Source: Szalanski et al., Undated. southern Utah. Genetic Variation of Honey Bees (Apis mellifera L.) from Utah. University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.

Big beeyard in Utah.

State Inspector Stephen Stanko (r) with a Utah beekeeper. May 2020 BEE CULTURE 29

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May2020.indd 30 4/8/2020 7:25:33 PM ffoundound inin ttranslationranslation

Spring Beauties And The Beast Jay Evans, USDA Beltsville Bee Lab

This was to be an article on May that the silencing of those jokes will Years” which my Bee Culture editors fl owers, another expression of my hit hard (the latest was the guy try- seem to think I will need indefi nitely, (well hidden, even to me) insights ing to telework saying, “my cowork- and they are right!. into the plants that are everything er has just LOST it, she chases the Enough about our species, this to bees and our food chain. Indeed, mailman, pees on the neighbor’s is a bee magazine and there are plen- early garden seeds are in the ground property, and won’t come back in- ty of smarter people discussing the as I write this, trees are attracting side, I’m calling HR!”). human predicament. Instead, I am Pro-Sweet Liquid Feed gives your bees, and you can taste and smell What is truly missed worldwide thinking of hopeful signs that hon- bees the carbohydrates they Spring. When Bee Culture comes is the ability to stop by and check ey bees can and do solve their own out in May, the salad greens we’ve on elderly neighbors, the abilities of disease challenges. As beekeepers need to stay buzzing and unlike planted will be ready to gulp down, spouses and friends to visit people know, honey bee colonies take the plain sugar water will not ferment and I can’t wait. Nevertheless, I am in assisted living, rehab, or prison bad with the good. They tower over or crystalize. Pair it with our Pro unable to think of much beyond settings, and the million other ways other pollinators not just through Health Feeding Supplement Pr infectious diseases right now, and we as a species help each other. All individual smarts (although they o Sweet viruses in particular. have plenty of that, as and your bees will be stronger, availab COVID-19 has upended leading bee researcher healthier, and encouraged to draw le many of our lives and has Dr. Gene Robinson has for bul out new foundation even faster. p k already brought its share shown, https://lab. ick up! of tragedy to the world. igb.illinois.edu/rob- Pro-Sweet + Pro Health COVID-19 also comes inson/) but through with a worldwide cloud their relentless cooper- hardworking bees. of worry, as we fear infec- ation. While most bee tions ourselves, sharing species thrive on soli- infections with neighbors tude, a solitary honey and loved ones, and the bee would lack pur- effects this is having on pose in all ways. Bees our remarkable species in a healthy colony can as a whole. direct thousands of One of the saddest nestmates to fl owers parts of the current pan- or nest sites and can demic is the impera- defend against bears tive for social isolation. that outweigh them by I don’t mean the “Spring 2,000,000 times (yes, I breakers” who are curtailed from of these are more challenging in the looked that up). At the same time, Florida beaches. They might well short term, although brave caretak- honey bees live in close quarters benefi t from less sunburn and less ers are doubling down to make sure and share microbes in ways that indulgence in liquids that are best everyone is emotionally and phys- make germophobes cringe. Entire used to sterilize their hands. I am ically attended to. It is also fi ne to bee colonies can be brought down thinking of our normal circles: con- mourn the silencing of bee clubs, by disease, and they are, but that tacts with friends and family, caring wherein the most senior of the club’s is not the norm. Despite being at- for neighbors, chats on the street, members would right now (March) tacked by everything from viruses to hugs. My own young-adult daugh- be showing newbies how to install bears, honey bees persist. They have ter is self-isolating at someone else’s packages, and would in May be ar- even worked out the social isolation house, making me long for the days guing about splits, how early they thing. As a group, hygienic bees en- of looking at her eating cereal in can possibly treat for mites, and how force social isolation. This group of the morning, completely undefend- to get a few pounds of honey from bees, appropriately ‘nurses’ for the ed against an attack of dad jokes. those fi rst packages. These meetings most part, protect the mother ship Thank goodness for the grid of elec- will be back, and for now there are just like our immune cells do with- tronic communication. If that falters many thoughtful translations of this in us, and our nurses and doctors by the time you read this, just know wisdom. I like “Beekeeping: My First do at the group level. At some risk

May 2020 BEE CULTURE 31

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32 BEE CULTURE May 2020

May2020.indd 32 4/8/2020 7:25:45 PM to themselves, they remove diseased bees, groom parasites and spores from their nestmates, and generally fi ght back against the biological en- emies of the hive. How they do this has been a topic of study since the days of Walter Rothenbuhler and students at Ohio State University, and the subtleties of nurse bee di- agnostics and care continue to be revealed. Hygienic behavior depends on bee diagnostics. Not the types that employee bee scientists and commercial outfi ts, but the kind bees do on their own. Like other animals, honey bees pick up smells from their environment and the per- ception of these smells primes them to act. If you want a quick review of this for us, as we face our own pan- What do you need in honey bee di- bee pheromones check out an excel- demic, but I have hope. First, our agnostics? lent Youtube lecture on “Applying own ‘noses’ in terms of disease diag- The Basics Of Honey Bee Biology” nostics are enviable, and the knowl- During 2020 our team will con- by my esteemed colleague Dr. Clar- edge derived from our ability to iden- duct a survey of colony manage- ence Collison, from minute “15:00” tify and act is power. Second, I would ment needs for beekeepers of all onward. This lecture (https:// put a lot of trust in, and thanks for, scales and experiences. This project www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUL- our nurses and doctors, and anyone is supported by the U.S. Nation- jCfKX8_k) and several linked ones else who is honestly working to calm al Science Foundation under its on bee biology by Dr. Collison are and help us in this or any crisis. Fi- I-Corps customer discovery program well worth the time, even when nally, there is nothing like a crisis to (https://www.nsf.gov/news/spe- you aren’t practicing social dis- remind us we are all in this togeth- cial_reports/i-corps/teams.jsp). If tancing. Sujin Yi and colleagues at er, and our actions, good and bad, you are interested in participating, Incheon University, including long- impact humanity. There has been please send your preferred email to time bee researcher Hyung Wook an overwhelming amount of shared [email protected]. Kwon, recently updated the world science during this crisis and that on cues used by bees to sniff out has to prime some solutions. Be David Hawthorne, Department of Ento- American foulbrood disease (Vol- well bee friends, spring is still spring mology, University of Maryland Jay Evans, USDA-ARS Bee Research Lab- atile disease markers of American and beekeepers old and new will get oratory foulbrood-infected larvae in Apis through this. Help a nestmate if you Jerry Hayes, Editor, Bee Culture mellifera, Journal of Insect Physiol- can. BC Raymond Peterson, Granite Point Ven- ogy, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jin- tures sphys.2020.104040). Three volatile Photos courtesy of Peggy Greb, USDA-ARS (smelly) compounds released by sick larvae trigger reactions in nurse bees and presumably help them tend to these larvae while ignoring the many healthy ones. My searching of the internet also shows that two inspir- “We love your uncapper! ing researchers, Drs. Kaira Wagoner It’s the best!” and Olav Rueppell from the Univer- Steve Hiatt Bowman, ND sity of North Carolina-Greensboro (Dr. Rueppell is now at the Univer- sity of Alberta), have recent patent- ed “Methods and compositions for inducing hygienic behavior in honey We sell liquid sucrose and bees”, (https://patents.google.com/ patent/US10524455B2/en). Given 55% High Fructose Corn Syrup these advances there will likely be as feed for your bees. additional practical outcomes from the decades of studying how bees re- act to and suppress disease threats Dakota Gunness, Inc. from within. That is good news for P.O. Box 106, Abercrombie, ND 58001 breeding and medicating, a hopeful sign for a challenging spring. 888.553.8393 or 701.553.8393 I am not sure there is a lesson in [email protected] • www.dakotagunness.com

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34 BEE CULTURE May 2020

May2020.indd 34 4/8/2020 7:25:48 PM TROUBLED TIMES Commercial Beekeepers And Unique Challenges John Miller

Here are a few economic impacts the Congress to enact stupid public By removing 100,000 acres of end- beekeepers might anticipate during policy. Sugar is protected. Pollination of-cycle trees, almond growers might the remainder of 2020. These are is not. blunt the supply increase in 2021. troubled times. Operations providing Beekeepers using the H-2A The important consideration pollination services, engaged in program [1870 H-2A workers in N.D.] in the U.S. Honey Market: U.S. honey production, honey producers or domestic workers will likely see produced honey has never been to and producer/packers face unique little wage adjustment relief. Labor is Asia. On March 14, 2020 – in Fargo, challenges and opportunities. beekeeper’s biggest expense. North Dakota Costco store, where the I’ll list a few. Others – please Perhaps the most important data water shelves were empty – sparkling make observations. I have learned set beekeepers and almond growers water from Italy sat ignored. One that all the good ideas are not John’s. will watch is: Monthly export volume. shopper saying to another, ‘Oh don’t Beekeepers now have their 2020 began with a very small prior by Italian water, they have the fl u.’ almond checks. These checks are year almond crop carryover. Export A perfect illustration of how markets vital to surviving the rest of 2020. sales are a growing majority of the can remain irrational a lot longer Take care with that cash. almond market. If export markets than my bank account can stay Several opportunities come to loose 100-200 million pounds during solvent. mind. Fuel expenses and freight 2020, the market should be ok. If These are a few thoughts, not all expenses should drop. We know no exports drop >500mm pounds in the ideas. Be careful with operating one ever passes along every saved 2020; the carryover into 2021 will be cash, always. The Black Swarm of penny when prices fall. Assume a 75 signifi cant. What might an almond 2020 is a good reminder. As Kim cent drop in fuel prices. For diesel grower consider? Trees planted prior Flottum said . . . ‘Keep your hive fuel, this represents a 25% price to 1990 should be harvested in 2020; tool sharp.’ I am not sure what Jerry change from $3.00/gallon to $2.25/ then pushed out. Growers know would say. gallon. If your operation consumes 300,000 acres of non-bearing acreage Jerry says; “What doesn’t kill 50,000 gallons of fuel annually; look will begin producing in 2020 & 2021. you, makes you stronger” BC forward to $37,500 in savings. We all contract for freight. Harbor-sourced truck volumes have sharply fallen. Lots of trucks chasing not so many loads. Look for lower shipping costs. Global sugar prices have fallen. Brazil is a major global producer. In a currency exchange situation, the dollar is now strong; the Brazilian FOR ALL YOUR PROCESSING NEEDS Real is weak, aggravating the recent 20% slide in global sugar prices. In a recent article by Wall Street Journal writer Joe Wallace, traders now estimate over a million tons of sugar will not be consumed in 2020. If your outfi t feeds 1.5 Million pounds of feed; and the price drops AMERICAN MADE IN OUR NEW FACTORY from .32/lb. to .28/lb.; those four 3100 EXTRACTOR cents = $60,000 in savings. However, 978-772-BEES never underestimate the power of www.MaxantIndustries.com

May 2020 BEE CULTURE 35

May2020.indd 35 4/8/2020 7:25:49 PM A Good Diet . . . Is More Than Tast Food Alexandra Nastasa

A good diet is about more than just good food. La- ony needs to grow (Wright et al., 2018). Of course, not all sagna might be your favorite meal in the world, but af- nutrients can always be found in any one type of pollen, ter a week straight of eating it you’d start to feel a little and some pollens contain more of the essential amino sick. And few can survive on fi ber bars and nutrition- acids that bees cannot produce in their own bodies or al smoothies alone. Life is about sampling fl avors, and more valuable sterols, making them ostensibly healthi- human beings aren’t the only animals who understand er pollens. Di Pasquale’s research supports this theory that a balanced breakfast means variety. Honey bees (2013 and 2016). may pollinate the food that ends up on our table, but In her 2013 paper, Di Pasquale and her colleagues how often do we think about what we’re feeding them? compare the survival rates and development of nurse The importance of pollen diversity in colony health bees fed with pollen from four distinct superspecies/ has been the subject of discussion for decades now, with genuses of plants: Rubus, Cistus, Erica, and Castanea. most feeling that higher diversity must be for the best, Rubus pollen (blackberries, raspberries, etc.) had the according to common sense. But the science is nowhere highest quality by far, high in essential amino acids and near so straightforward. Restricting bees’ access to only with considerably more antioxidants. This increase in particular types of pollen usually requires confi ning quality translated to in increase in survival rates in both small groups of bees in the laboratory, and the discon- healthy bees and those infected with Nosema, a com- nect between fi eld studies of fl oral diversity and cage mon bee pathogen. It also led to more development of studies of bee survival is large enough that it can be the nurse bees’ hypopharyngeal glands, which they use hard to make the leap. Garance Di Pasquale is one of the to produce food such as royal jelly for larvae. When they researchers looking to build a bridge, although her stud- mixed all four pollens together, the survival of the bees ies remain primarily in the lab. In two consecutive pa- didn’t improve. Healthy bees fed on this more diverse pers, one published in 2013 and the other in 2016, she diet actually had shorter lives than those fed on just and her co-authors claimed that pollen diversity doesn’t Rubus pollen, so it seems that pollen diversity doesn’t seem to be that big of a boost. Rather, it’s quality and matter as long as the pollen in question contains all the quantity that improve worker bees’ survival and ability nutrients the honey bees need. to feed their brood. But what is it about pollen that’s so Further experiments in 2016 by Di Pasquale et al. important in the fi rst place? confi rmed that pollen quality is the key to a healthy hon- While nectar is the primary source of nutrition for ey bee diet. When fed with pollen mixes collected during worker bees, pollen is what provides the hive with pro- different fl owering seasons, honey bee survival once tein, lipids, vitamins, minerals, and sterols. Although again correlated with availability of certain pollens and some nectar has been found to contain low concentra- quality and not with diversity. The amount of oilseed tions of amino acids, these are unlikely to contribute rape pollen was found to be important for nurse devel- substantially to honey bee nutrition, meaning that pol- opment, and the late July pollen mix in particular, (al- len is the source of everything (besides sugar) that a col- though not the lowest in pollen diversity), had an over- whelmingly large proportion of maize pollen and was the worst for bee survival by far because maize pollen is low in essential amino acids. The experiment found that even pesticide content didn’t have a noticeable effect on bee survival. The most important factor of all appeared to be simply the quantity of pollen available to the bees: “The more pollen the honey bees received, the longer they lived.” Of course, in an agricultural beekeeping setting, pollen quantity and pollen diversity are not completely disjointed things. A blueberry crop itself provides very small quantities of low quality pollen, while an almond crop provides lots of pollen, leading to an overall lower pollen diversity (Colwell et al., 2016; Topitzhofer et al., 2019). The pollen from an apple crop is collected in large quantities by honey bees and is high in nutritional val- ue, while cranberry is not as plentiful despite being of a similar quality (Colwell et al., 2016). And wildfl ower (fal- low) sites in one fi eld experiment did not provide pollen

36 BEE CULTURE May 2020

May2020.indd 36 4/8/2020 7:25:51 PM can help drag a hive out of starvation and make up for low pollen yield from their surroundings. However, on average, bees digest 75% of pollen they eat but only 25% of pollen substitutes such as soy protein (Wright et al., 2018), and it’s not clear that these supplements can pro- vide the range of additional nutrients that honey bees need. True substitutes for pollen do not exist (Wright et al., 2018). With this in mind, we can recognize the importance of providing more nourishing surroundings for both domesticated honey bees and the wild bees of the world, regardless of the direct effect of pollen diver- sity. By providing them with a feast to choose from, we ensure they can adjust their diets as they need to and continue to provide us with the variety of crops that add spice to our lives. BC Reprinted with permission from Science Review. with high nutritional content, despite their higher pollen diversity (Colwell et al., 2016). So is it time to stop plant- Barroso-Arévalo, S., Vicente-Rubiano, M., Ruiz, J.A., Bentabol, ing clover patches and bee gardens? A., and Sánchez-Vizcaíno, J.M., 2019. Does pollen diversity Pollen diversity on its own does not appear to af- infl uence honey bee colony health? Spanish Journal of Agri- fect the quality of bee nutrition or the likelihood of a cultural Research 17(3): e0504. healthy colony, but the availability of good food sources Bernklau, E., Bjostad, L., Hogeboom, A., Carlisle, A., and Arathi, and the “bee friendliness” of the landscape does (Barro- H.S., 2019. Dietary Phytochemicals, Honey Bee Longevity and so-Arévalo et al., 2019). And although one type of pollen Pathogen Tolerance. Insects 10(1): 14. may be able to provide all the amino acids a hive needs, Colwell, M.J., Williams, G.R., Evans, R.C., and Shutler, D., there are other important compounds that are a little 2017. Honey bee-collected pollen in agro-ecosystems reveals more plant-species-specifi c. The fat content of royal jelly diet diversity, diet quality, and pesticide exposure. Ecology and depends completely on the fl oral resources available to Evolution 7: 7243–7253. nurse bees, and all sterols the honey bees need must Di Pasquale, G., Salignon, M., Le Conte, Y., Belzunces, L.P., come from plants too (Wright et al., 2018). Phytochem- Decourtye, A., Kretzschmar, A., Suchail, S., Brunet, J-L., icals such as caffeine and p-coumaric acid have been and Alaux, C., 2013. Infl uence of Pollen Nutrition on Honey found to improve longevity and pathogen resistance in Bee Health: Do Pollen Quality and Diversity Matter? PLoS ONE honey bees in certain concentrations, and these phyto- 8(8): e72016. chemicals are unique to certain fl owers (Bernklau et al., Di Pasquale, G., Alaux, C., Le Conte, Y., Odoux, J-F., Pioz, M., 2019). The importance of pollen diversity to the survival Vaissière, B.E., Belzunces, L.P., and Decourtye, A., 2016. of honey bee colonies out in the fi eld is still to be de- Variations in the Availability of Pollen Resources Affect Honey termined, and ensuring access to a variety of pollen re- Bee Health. PLoS ONE 11(9): e0162818. sources in case some are diffi cult to harvest or defi cient Topitzhofer, E., Lucas, H., Chakrabarti, P., Breece, C., Bryant, V., in particular nutrients is the key to a well-fed hive. If and Sagili, R.R., 2019. Assessment of Pollen Diversity Available the resources are available, bees will actually bias their to Honey Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Major Cropping Sys- foraging sources to things the colony is depleted in nu- tems During Pollination in the Western United States. Journal tritionally (Wright et al., 2018). of Economic Entomology 112(5): 2040–2048. When a colony cannot adjust to a nutritional defi - Wright, G.A., Nicolson, S.W., and Shafi r, S., 2018. Nutritional ciency by themselves, there is always beekeeper inter- Physiology and Ecology of Honey Bees. Annual Review of En- vention. Pollen patties and other protein supplements tomology 63: 327-344.

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May2020.indd 45 4/8/2020 7:26:06 PM A SIILVERLVER BUULLETLLET M.E.A. McNeil OR A BRILLIANT DEAD END “Brilliant. Just brilliant.” Oregon on the microbiome of insects, an RNA virus is introduced, it creates State University microbiologist elected member of the National molecules called double-stranded Maude David was speaking about a Academy of Science and a MacArthur RNA (dsRNA) that a healthy cell honey bee gut bacterium engineered Fellow. Moran pioneered the fi eld, detects as foreign. “You usually only to defend against varroa and a virus. documenting the evolution of get signs of these molecules when an It was the cover story (January 31) in relationships between bacteria and RNA virus is replicating,” Moran said. Science, the oldest and largest peer- white flies, spittlebugs, cicadas, “It’s a signal that this might be an reviewed American academic journal, leafhoppers, and psyllids. She has evil thing and you should attack it.” not prone to hyperbole. The editors done extensive research on honey The triggered RNAi immune response had to have thought there is evidence bees and logged, for the fi rst time, the causes the degradation of any like- for a real breakthrough. Here, their core bacteria of the bee gut. Following sequenced RNA that’s present. title is repeated more from hope. a quarter century of related papers, This antiviral immune process We beekeepers are inured to she has published a study concluding can be used to set RNAi to work by reports of the latest cure for the that the agrichemical glyphosate feeding or injecting dsRNA. But so pests and pathogens that ail our perturbs the gut microbiota of honey far, as a tool, that’s been elusive. bees. Mostly, those silver bullets have bees. When administered to bees, dsRNA turned out to be lead. We heard the Colleagues have been curious to has been seen to suppress varroa and claims and bought into a lot of them, see what Moran learns next from the Nosema, but it is expensive, unstable, but the remedies we have are either insect biome. “She’s not just a one- and diffi cult to work with, although it ineffective, short-term, expensive, hit wonder,” said German researcher had no negative effect on bee survival. cause for escalating resistance, Ute Hentschel. “She has an amazing Here’s what the Moran lab damaging – or all of that. Even our capacity to focus things so that [new has done: Leonard and the team wax is saturated with chemicals. So, insights] precipitate out.” engineered one of the core honey sure, we’re ready to pay attention to Moran was looking for a bee symbiotic gut bacterium, a solution with the potential for being microbiological key to activate honey Snodgrassella alvi, to induce RNAi effective, cheap and easy to apply. bee immunity and limit pathogens. immune responses. To address Nancy Moran, a professor and She and her lab team, headed by each problem, the team engineered researcher at the University of Sean Leonard, have come up with a one strain of bacteria to target the Texas at Austin is a foremost expert genetically modifi ed honey bee gut virus and another for the mites. The bacterium tailored to induce host RNAi-based defense. What does that mean? They have induced bees’ natural biological factories to create protection against Varroa mites and deformed wing virus. How does that work? To begin with, DNA is a structure that encodes biological information in all living organisms – the recipe book to create an animal, plant, bacteria or virus. RNA is mostly a messenger carrying instructions from DNA for building proteins. Like humans, honey bees have an antiviral defense mechanism called RNA interference (RNAi) that plays a natural role in Nancy Moran is the preeminent authority regulating that process: Small pieces on the honey bee gut biome, a professor of RNA bind to the messenger RNAs at the University of Texas at Austin. She and interfere – possibly an ancient The cover of the January 31, 2020 Sci- is lead researcher for a project that genet- antiviral mechanism that effectively ence Magazine, the world’s oldest and ically modifi ed symbiotic bee gut bacteria leaves the message lost in translation. largest magazine with peer-reviewed pa- to release specifi c RNAi to trigger an im- pers, announcing what it calls “A microbi- mune response in the host. RNAi helps fight off certain ome silver bullet for honey bees” – RNAi Photo courtesy Moran Lab viruses, called RNA viruses. After an research. 46 BEE CULTURE May 2020

May2020.indd 46 4/8/2020 7:26:06 PM week. The reason that is unusual, according to Leonard, is that dsRNA previously administered to individual bees resulted in patchy and transient gene knockdown, and it degrades rapidly in the environment. It appears that bee-symbiont- mediated RNAi has the potential for protecting honey bees from pests and pathogens in a targeted manner. Where are we now? However promising, this work was done with bees housed in a lab. So the next step is to do a field study, which is in the planning stages. But the question with any genetically modified organism is whether it will spread into the environment. It was observed that engineered S. alvi strains were transferred Bees in the Moran lab during testing for Rooftop hives at the University of Texas the RNAi project. Photo courtesy Moran Austin used for the Moran Lab study of between cohoused bees. What about Lab. RNAi. Photo courtesy Moran Lab. spreading a FrankenSnodgrassella further? Although the experiments engineered S. alvi was sprayed on with the GM (Genetically Modifi ed) were carried out under the strict the bees in a sugar syrup for them to bacteria also successfully challenged biocontainment protocols used with groom off. The bacteria they ingested Deformed Wing Virus. Leonard’s genetic engineering, Moran said that stably recolonized in the bees and paper also reports that 11 days after even without those cautions, the risk of produced double-stranded RNA to colonization, the engineered S. alvi the engineered bacteria escaping into activate RNAi. was found along the bee gut wall the wild and infecting other insects is Results: Varroa mites feeding on with the same localization as the wild not a risk. “It lives only in bees,” she bees treated with the mite-targeting type strain. So the GM gut bacteria said. Such symbionts have evolved strain of bacteria were about 70% persistently produce dsRNA and over millennia, trading off genes more likely to die by day 10 than mites the bee host responds by activating to function in narrow, mutualistic feeding on control bees. Bees treated immune pathway genes. relationships so specialized that they with the strain of bacteria targeting “It lasted!” said David, the OSU can’t survive outside of the bee gut. the virus were 36.5% more likely to microbiologist, who, as an outside The bacterium “doesn’t go outside survive to day 10. The engineered S. observer, found that remarkable, of bees and doesn’t recombine. I’m alvi killed varroa mites by triggering noting that the engineered S. alvi cells confident that it won’t move into the mite RNAi response. The bees remained functional for well over a another host.” Moran said, “Most biologists and environmental scientists are not afraid of GMO genes. The main thing that people underestimate is the damage done by agrochemicals. People accept the chemicals but not GM.” Still, the paper says, further research will be needed to determine the effectiveness and safety of the treatments in agricultural settings. The use of RNAi against honey bee pests and pathogens has been explored before. Beeologics was a firm that was working toward developing RNAi to protect honey bees from Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus. Leonard Foster, a University of British Columbia biochemistry professor who worked on the project, said that the company had developed a process to scale up and reduce the cost of synthesizing double stranded RNA, which they considered to be New bee suits, new research: Working with hives for the Moran Lab study of RNAi at the commercial product in RNAi the University of Texas, Austin. Photo courtesy Moran Lab. technology. After Montsanto acquired

May 2020 BEE CULTURE 47

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May2020.indd 48 4/8/2020 7:26:07 PM Creators of the original

Sean Leonard is the lead researcher in American AZ Hive the Moran Lab for the RNAi project, which took several years to develop. Photo cour- designed to use Langstroth foundation. tesy Sean Leonard

Beeologics, Jerry Hayes, editor of this magazine, spent eight years there in pursuit of a game-changing chemical-free product. “I left because we couldn’t deliver it in a fi eld setting consistently. Montsanto spent about $14 million, and we couldn’t get it done.” There is no indication that the project will be pursued, now that the company has been bought by Bayer. The Moran lab may have come up with a microbiological key – mediating RNAi with a bee gut symbiont. Their goal is to improve honey bee resilience, but at the very least they have provided a new tool to study bee biology, enabling new insight into the bee genome that could inform breeding choices. The researchers believe their method could one day scale up for agricultural use because the engineered bacteria are easy to grow, inoculating the bees is practical for the beekeeper, and the engineered bacteria are unlikely to spread beyond bees. BC

M.E.A. is a journalist, Master Beekeeper and organic farmer. She can be reached at [email protected].

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May2020.indd 50 4/8/2020 7:26:11 PM “The honey bee queen during reproduction transmits to the progeny her own characteristics as well as those of the drones which mated with her and thereby determines the good and bad characters of her colony. Under such conditions, it is easy to understand that the entire bee colony is adversely affected when the queen is affected with hereditary or structural defects, or becomes ill and ceases egg laying (Fyg 1964).” Two major studies have investigated anomalies and diseases associated with honey bee queens (Fyg 1964; Porporato et al. 2015). “Fyg (1964) upon examining and dissecting some 5,000 normal and abnormal queens became familiar with many anomalies and diseases which impacted her reproductive potential. They were concerned with malformations, infections, disturbances of mating and metabolism, as well as hereditary disturbances of development and anomalies which occur either within the queen herself or in her progeny.” “While observing: non-acceptance, frequent replacements, and reduced performance in honey bee queens, Porporato et al. (2015) proceeded to analyze a certain number of queens to detect the causes. For this purpose, 99 newly mated queens were bought from 20 Italian queen breeders. In addition, 109 older or at-the-end-of-their-career queens, that showed poor productivity, were collected from honey production A CCloserloser hives throughout Italy. All the queens were dissected to check the status of their reproductive system and/or the presence of various anomalies and diseases. Anatomical and functional anomalies, pertaining to ovaries and spermatheca, also in association with tissue alterations LLOOOO k and microorganisms like Nosema spp. and protozoa, were common in both newly mated and older queens, but they were more prevalent in the latter. Observed differences permitted them to highlight the causes of the reduced performance of the queens.” “Porporato et al. (2015) found that the sum of queen HONEY BEE QUEENS defects was greater than the number of defective queens because many queens showed more than one anomaly. Clarence Collison Up to six defects per queen were observed in old queens, who altogether showed many more anomalies than newly They Aren’t Perfect mated queens. Most of the newly mated queens had no defects and only 20.5% of the defective, newly mated queens showed two defects.” “Dwarf Queens – One of the principal external anomalies of the queen bee may be seen in the so called “dwarf queens” that are occasionally reared by the bees when insuffi cient pollen and nectar are available, and which seldom ever attain the size of the worker bee. One should not confuse them with egg-laying workers, because dwarf queens possess small but otherwise normally developed sex organs. Usually, however, they remain unmated and sterile. The dwarfi sm should not be attributed to a hereditary factor in such cases but, to insuffi cient nutrition during the larval stage (Fyg 1964).” Ovarian Anomalies – “The queen may have a variety of internal anomalies and malformations. First there is developmental failure or hypoplasia (underdeveloped or incomplete development of a tissue or organ) of the ovaries (Fyg 1964). This condition was found in two queens that appeared normal externally but were sterile breeding queens. The gonads were quite rudimentary but all other parts of the reproductive organs were well developed. The few ovarioles in the rudimentary ovaries contained only degenerated germ cells.”

May 2020 BEE CULTURE 51

May2020.indd 51 4/8/2020 7:26:14 PM Accessory ovarioles – “Another interesting anomaly In 22 queens, protozoa were obsered in is that of accessory ovarioles, which are not infrequently found in the queen in various places in the abdomen. the speratheca. Involved are ovarioles which develop independently of the ovaries at abnormal positions. Probably they are derived “Another frequent queen disease, which also causes from misplaced germ cells which, in a very early stage a permanent sterility, is the atrophy of the ovaries. It of embryonic development, have not immigrated into the attacks young as well as older, prolifi c queens and is gonads. Most frequently, the accessory ovarioles lie more characterized by a rapid disintegrating of the contents of or less coiled together beside the cardiac tube (heart, the ovarioles. The degeneration products of the germ cells, aorta) in the pericardial sinus (Fyg 1964).” egg cells, and nutritive cells are absorbed somehow, so Multiple spermathecae – “Normally, the queen that the ovarioles shrivel completely (Fyg 1964).” possesses only one spermatheca for the storage of the “Porporato et al. (2015) also frequently found ovarian spermatozoa. A rare exception, is fi nding a queen with atrophy in queens. It was observed in young as well as two spermathecae. In the case examined by Fyg (1964), in older queens. Ovarian atrophy was characterized by the two spermathecae, which contained many sperm, laid a rapid disintegration of the contents of the ovarioles, closely together and led separately into the vagina. Since with relative withering and volume reduction. A yellow the spermatheca is formed in the prepupal stage from coloration was frequently found in the terminal parts of two separated anlagen (initial clustering of embryonic the ovaries and corresponded with the presence of dead cells from which an organ develops), one must assume tissues.” that they did not unite during this stage, but continued “Melanosis, another very important pathological effect to develop independently.” on the queen’s ovaries, was observed in 42 of the 109 “Queens with two spermathecae appeared twice out older queens, but in not one of the newly mated queens of 208 queens (Porporato et al. 2015). In these cases, (Porporato et al. 2015). the two spermathecae were always in a single tracheal Melanosis is characterized by discoloration of the wrapping. It was possible to observe spermathecae only egg cells and trophocytes which turn from yellow-brown after the removal of the tracheae; the average number of to black.” “Fyg (1964) while examining sterile queens sperm was 2,005 and 208. Other interesting anomalies of found two similar infectious diseases which affect mainly the spermatheca were: the absence of the spermatheca, the reproductive apparatus. H-melanosis is caused by the small size of the spermatheca compared to average a yeast-like microorganism. The causative organism, dimensions, and an abnormal spermathecal shape. The probably enters from outside via the sting chamber, average number of sperm inside these irregularly shaped through the vaginal orifi ce into the reproductive organs spermathecae was 9, 560, and 417. The spermatheca is and produces in the oviducts and ovaries, typical lumpy characterized as having an external pearl color, but they foci of infection of brownish-black or black coloration. found different kinds of colors with relative differences. In The affected queens cease egg-laying within few days and all of their fi ndings, white spermathecae never had sperm become sterile. Healthy queens can be infected by vaginal inside. Queens with white spermathecae were always inoculations in the laboratory. After six to eight days replaced; they were not accepted, and they failed to lay their reproductive organs show aspects of the disease, eggs. Transparent spermathecae were found in a number which do not differ from those exhibited by the naturally of queens. The transparent spermathecae were without diseased queen. The other, equally frequent type of sperm. In one case, a black spermatheca was found. This parasitic melanosis which affects the reproductive organs queen was characterized by nonacceptance and she failed of young queens exclusively, is caused by a bacterium to lay eggs, yet she presented a high number of vital sperm and is therefore called B-melanosis. The foci of infection inside the spermatheca.” caused by the pathogen in the ovaries are also black “In 22 queens, protozoa were observed in the but they are distinguishable from the knobby necrosis spermatheca. Two different kinds of protozoa were occurring in H-melanosis.” identifi ed: ciliate and fl agellate protozoa. The ciliate Imperfectly developed oviducts – “Frequently protozoa are representatives of the order Hymenostomatida, imperfectly developed oviducts are found. The genital genus Tetrahymena, probably T. rostrata. The fl agellate ducts of the queen are formed during postembryonic protozoa could not be identifi ed (Porporato et al. 2015).” development from paired imaginal discs on the ventral Mating disturbances – “In natural mating of the side of the tenth segment and initially are not connected queen, the semen from the copulating drone does not with the ovaries. During the prepupal and pupal stages, immediately reach the spermatheca from the female the lateral oviducts extend into the body cavity towards genital ducts. The vagina and the oviduct are more or the gonads as hollow ectodermal invaginations and less enlarged by the introduced mass of the semen. The connect with the ovaries generally at the third day of the quantity of semen taken in is usually so great that only pupal period. Occasionally, the oviducts may stop growing a small part of it may enter the spermatheca. When the before they have reached the ovaries, in which case there spermatheca is fi lled, the excess is usually expelled. will be no connection between the normally developed It sometimes happens that a mass of semen remains ovaries, which are closed at the posterior ends, and the vagina. Oviposition is impossible under such conditions. Occasionally, only one of the oviducts is malformed. Such An occasional queen will stiff en up and queens are able to lay eggs to a limited extent. As far as Fyg (1964) could observe, these defects of the oviducts fall over on her side as if she had did not exclude successful mating.” been stng. 52 BEE CULTURE May 2020

May2020.indd 52 4/8/2020 7:26:15 PM in the genital duct and becomes a viscous plug which permanently impedes oviposition. Sometimes the “mating Another equent queen disease, which sign” remains fi xed in the genital opening and protrudes from the sting chamber. In such queens, normal, motile also causes a peranent sterilit, is the spermatozoa are found in the spermatheca, whereas those in the vagina and oviducts are dead or very often atophy of the ovaries. peculiarly curled (Fyg 1964).” Drone-laying – “The most common disturbance of the queen is picked off the comb by her wings. According normal reproductive function of the queen is drone laying, to Latham (1922) the queen hooks her abdomen by the i.e., her inability to produce female progeny. Colonies are sternite with a hind leg, pulls the tip of the abdomen often seriously weakened due to this and their existence forward, then stiffens momentarily, next becomes threatened by the lack of young worker bees. The drone- motionless for a few minutes, and then gradually revives laying may be attributable to many causes. She is able and returns to normal activity. Not every queen who hooks to only produce drones because she is unable to fertilize her abdomen is so affected, but Latham believed it most the eggs. This results from the lack of successful mating likely in large queens with enlarged abdomens that are trips or as she ages, she runs out of semen stored in the laying heavily. In Mile’s (1922) experience, catalepsy spermatheca. The most frequent cause of drone-laying happened to only young queens; moreover, most of the is a very severe disease of the queen which does not cases described by Brunnich (1922) were also young depend on mating and is described as morbid drone- queens. In some cases, the queen does not revive, but dies laying. It manifests itself quite suddenly in properly mated (Miles 1922). Catalepsy is apparently due to a temporary queens, in the fi rst or second year of life and long before nervous disorder (Reviewed by Tucker 1978).” BC the reserves of semen are depleted, become drone layers and lay unfertilized eggs into the comb cells reserved References for the worker brood. Usually the affl icted queens cease Brunnich, K. 1922. Catalepsy in queens. Am. Bee J. 62: 69-70. egg-laying after some time. A peculiar anomaly of the Fyg, W. 1964. Anomalies and diseases of the queen honey bee. spermatozoa has been described, and is often observed Annu. Rev. Entomol. 9: 207-224. in affected queens. Beside normal, motile spermatozoa, Laidlaw, H.H. Jr. and J.E. Eckert 1962. Queen Rearing. 2nd ed. the spermatheca contains distinctively degenerated Univ. Calif. Press, Berkeley. spermatozoa which are curled into ringlets (Fyg 1964; Latham, A. 1922. Some more about catalepsy in queens. Am. Porporato et al. 2015). Each ring consists of only one Bee J. 62: 163. spermatozoa. Fyg (1964) has shown that morbid drone- Miles, E.S. 1922. Catalepsy in queens; death from fright. Am. laying is a disease of the queen which is characterized Bee J. 62: 162-163. by the appearance of specifi c intranuclear inclusions in Porporato, M., G. Grillone, A. Patetta, A. Manino and D. Laurino all ectodermal organs and tissues. The degeneration of 2015. Survey of the health status of some honey bee queens in the spermatozoa in the spermatheca is not the primary Italy. J. Apic. Sci. 59: 27-36. cause, but rather a secondary phenomenon associated Tucker, K.W. 1978. Abnormalities and Noninfectious Diseases, with the disease. The queens often become drone layers Chapter 16. In: Honey Bee Pests, Predators And Diseases (Ed. before the spermatozoa have visibly degenerated. This Roger A. Morse), Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, pp. disease also occurs in unmated queens that have never 257-274. come in contact with drones which prove that the disease is not transferred from the drones and does not depend Clarence Collison is an Emeritus Professor of Entomology and on mating.” Department Head Emeritus of Entomology and Plant Pathology at “Another interesting anomaly were the pathological Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS. stone formations or enteroliths found in the rectum of the queens. These enteroliths were reminiscent, in many cases, of gall-stones, renal and urinary calculi of human and domestic animals. The enteroliths appeared in the rectum as single or several hard, spherical or polymorphus concretions (ovid or spherical in shape, hard compact mass), which often formed agglomerations Mountain Grey Caucasian (clump of material) (Porporato et al. 2015). Four of the Republic of Georgia examined queens had enteroliths. 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May2020.indd 54 4/8/2020 7:26:15 PM Farer Keith Don’t Villanize . . . Collaborate Becky Masterson

Farmer Keith preparing the soil for planting at a Bee Squad pollinator habitat project. Photo, Judy Griesedieck

I remember the Spring day in 2013 managing populations of the parasitic over 4000 kits to beekeepers and when Keith Johnson motorcycled into mite, Varroa destructor. Throughout beekeeping supply stores. our honey house parking lot and the season, we encouraged students I wonder if readers are stuck on introduced himself as a conventional to monitor Varroa using the powdered the introduction of Keith as a soybean corn and soybean farmer and new sugar roll technique researched by and corn farmer? When Keith told me beekeeper who had just established the University of Nebraska (Ellis that he was a farmer, it was at a time an eight-colony apiary. I was surprised and Macedo, 2001). At season end when many were debating the use at his ambitious start to beekeeping when we asked students if they of neonicotinoid insecticides. Keith but quickly learned that his new had assembled their own jars with was eager to discuss pesticide use apiary size met the requirements for screened lids, measuring cups, decisions and why farmers planted a pollinator habitat program he had and powdered sugar, they had not. specific crops, like soybeans and just established. Keith’s passion for Farmer Keith quickly recognized corn. He explained the business of bee-friendly fl owers and including the need for a reusable test kit to farming and how it was the public honey bee management into his be sourced and marketed, making it and governmental policies that already successful framework of easy for beekeepers to monitor varroa directed which seeds farmers sowed livestock management changed my populations. Months after Farmer each spring. Keith’s suggestion was approach to teaching beekeeping. Keith signed up for beekeeping for everyone to curl up with a cup of After a few classes with the Bee classes, he showed up in my tea and the Farm Bill to learn how it Squad, Farmer Keith transitioned office having sourced and priced impacted people and pollinators. It from student to mentor and our bees the necessary components for the was simple to Keith: If people were benefi ted from this relationship. Bee Squad Varroa Mite Testing Kit concerned about the amount of corn That Summer in our ongoing (now the MiteCheck Kit the starting and soybeans planted, they needed to “Mentoring Apiary” classes Keith and I point for www.mitecheck.com). Six direct change with their dollars and observed a major barrier to beekeepers years later, the Bee Squad has sold input to elected offi cials.

How do you install pollinator habitat? Farmer Keith shows up ready to plant a lot of fl owers. Photo Judy Griesedieck.

May 2020 BEE CULTURE 55

May2020.indd 55 4/8/2020 7:26:17 PM and protect fl owers from powdery mildew. I hear about ineffective backyard beekeepers and their pest management practices from those with larger operations. Conversely, small scale beekeepers often report their concerns about commercial beekeepers and their practices. I hear from homeowners, who have decided to fi re their lawn service and let the dandelions, creeping-charlie and clover bloom in their yards, that the manicured lawns of their neighbors are harming bees. Everyone who cares about bees seems to have their list of what practices need to be changed by others in order to create solutions. I admit to having a list too. Farmer Keith’s playbook doesn’t focus on lists, but forges ahead to making connections among groups with different needs and practices. Farmer Keith talking about pollinator habitat installation at the Plant Seeds Field Day. It is a brave and novel way to effect Photo Judy Griesedieck change. Are we wasting our time Instead of villainizing farmers, plantings, successful government expressing concerns to those who Keith called for collaboration. The habitat programs and the exploration hold similar beliefs? Keith’s way Bee Squad has connected with other of organic and conventional farming encourages us to know the perceived conventional farmers who were methods. enemy, understand their motivations grateful for opportunities to support A common thread when talking and fi nd common ground. pollinators. These relationships to groups about bees is where we Farmer Keith played a critical can result in more bee friendly should put the blame for issues role in designing one of Bee Squad’s fl owers. Farmer Keith strategically that impact bee health. From urban most successful fi eld days that was places pollinator habitat throughout and suburban areas, audiences defi ned by its diverse audience and his farming operation and makes express concerns about agriculture, focused on fi nding connections. Our decisions that support soil, water, specifi cally corn and soybean farming. Plant Seeds Field Day was funded by pollinators, and the environment. His In rural areas, there are concerns a North Central Region SARE Grant. diversifi ed farm business includes about amateur growers (homeowners) We brought together backyard and installations of solar panels with who purchase and apply chemicals to commercial beekeepers, farmers, surrounding pollinator habitat beautify their lawns, save their trees scientists, extension professionals and the bee-supporting public for a day of education. Sixty attendees learned about bee health challenges, integrated pest management, Varroa management (beekeepers received a free MiteCheck Kit), and pollinator habitat installation from Farmer Keith, governmental programs, and the Bee and Butterfl y Habitat program (bee and butterfly fund. org). Presenters were faced with the difficult but productive task of gearing their presentations to a diverse audience. Who received and installed the free fl ower seed? Those with an acre or more of land available for new pollinator habitat received free seed from the Bee and Butterfl y Habitat Fund. Backyard and commercial beekeepers, farmers and the bee supporting public all installed new bee habitat. Attendees noted that the Farmer Keith leading a group through his newly installed pollinator habitat at one of highlight of the Plant Seeds Field Day his solar farms. Photo Judy Griesedieck was making connections to people. 56 BEE CULTURE May 2020

May2020.indd 56 4/8/2020 7:26:17 PM Meeting with people with different ways of earning a living and with diverse practices and beliefs about bee health was energizing for our fi eld day attendees. Providing a space for groups to learn about one another’s challenges and successes made for a day where the attendees still ask about when the next fi eld day will happen. While we would love the opportunity to bring together another sixty people from diverse perspectives to explore bee health opportunities, we encourage beekeeping clubs to hold these fi eld days. Inviting a diverse community of beekeepers, farmers, scientists, outreach experts Since and the public to an educational 1997 day about bee health and habitat might help your bees and their many supporters. Remember to include opportunities for the groups to make Becky Masterson connections with each other. Farmer Keith says, “If you plant Your source for double vetted Pacifi c it, they will come.” While he was Acknowledgements Northwest bred queens and nucs. Selecting for vigor, disease tolerance, and productivity. referring to feeding bees, his vision The author would like to thank both Caucasian and Survivor Stock has always been greater. When Dr. Marla Spivak and Bridget Mendel for www.oldsolbees.com Keith plants fl owers, he is trying to their helpful edits and suggestions. 541.582.2337 support all fl ower visiting pollinators, and while there, he is trying to Reference improve soil and clean water. He is Ellis, Marion D. and Macedo, Paul asking everyone to include farmers A., “G01-1430 Using the Sugar Roll in conversations and opportunities Technique to Detect Varroa Mites to improve bee health through better in Honey Bee Colonies” (2001). nutrition. Planting seeds for Farmer Historical Materials from University Keith has been about creating a of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension. 1173. network that supports bees and https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/ conversations. I am grateful that extensionhist/1173 I listened to a new beekeeper who eagerly showed up to our beekeeping Becky Masterman earned a Ph.D. in classes. Based on who learned and Entomology at the Univ of MN under the benefi ted the most, we might just direction of Dr. Marla Spivak studying have to issue Keith a refund for those honey bee hygienic behavior and sessions. BC neurobiology. She led the UMN Bee Squad from 2013-2019 and currently alternates between acting as an advisor and worker bee for the program.

May 2020 BEE CULTURE 57

May2020.indd 57 4/8/2020 7:26:19 PM hhorizontalorizontal bbeekeepingeekeeping – partpart iviv Tina Sebestyen

It is May, the month that portends how the beekeeping package of bees starts off without a heavy mite load. An season will go. Here in Southwestern Colorado, we will oxalic acid dribble on a new, broodless colony gets them have dandelion blooming, the apple and pear trees off to the right start. Oxalic acid does not penetrate brood bloom, and it still freezes and snows occasionally. As cappings, so this only works without capped brood. Once soon as willow and maple pollen start coming into the the package has been installed, and the queen released hive in abundance in March, the bees really ramp up from her cage after three days, she begins laying eggs their brood production. There isn’t much nectar coming soon after. Those fi rst eggs will be capped on day nine. in during most of April, and it comes in fi ts and starts in This gives us time to leave the colony undisturbed while May. For colonies that were just installed in April or May, they get comb started, and once the queen begins laying feeding sugar water is very important, as it may also be eggs, the colony will not abscond. Then we apply an OA for colonies that have gotten ahead of themselves raising dribble on the eighth day after the queen is released. The brood without enough stored honey. oxalic acid dribble is delivered with a syringe for accurate It may be tempting not to feed sugar water, since we dosing, fi ve ml per seam of bees. First check to make see spring blooms everywhere, and think there is plenty sure there is a live, viable queen by looking for eggs. Do of food for the bees. Feeding allows the bees to rapidly not spend a lot of time disturbing a new colony while build the comb they need for brood and for honey. It looking for the queen. Once her presence is assured by sets the stage for the entire rest of the year. Without the sighting of eggs, put the frames back with shoulders supplemental feed, new colonies will struggle to take touching. Run the OA down the seams of bees. In a top advantage of honey fl ows. One of the fi rst real quandaries bar hive, move the bars apart just enough to allow the a new beekeeper encounters is when to stop feeding. Every tip of the syringe to fi t between them and deliver the 5 ml beginning beekeeping book has a different answer. Here each. There will be enough bees to catch the liquid and is the one that makes sense to me… feed until the bees distribute it amongst them all. have at least some capped honey. They only cap honey Whether a new or an established colony, it is critical when they feel like they have an abundance of it. This at this time of year that we guard against the colony answer comes from our understanding of bee behavior, becoming honey bound. The queen will be laying as and making decisions in this way rather than following many eggs as the bees can cover and keep warm. Soon, someone else’s calendar is a better way to go. it will be warm enough and there will be enough bees for The fi rst of May is a great time to ensure that the new a sizeable foraging contingent to begin bringing in more

58 BEE CULTURE May 2020

May2020.indd 58 4/8/2020 7:26:21 PM honey than is immediately needed by the colony. When this occurs, a full sheet of honey comb will be drawn and fi lled right behind the brood combs, limiting the queen to the few combs in front of the honey. This is called being honey bound. When all of the brood cells are fi lled with developing larvae, and there is no room for the queen to lay more eggs, the colony begins to think about swarming. In established colonies, it might be necessary to remove some honey if it is clogging the brood nest. It is important not to remove all of the honey from a colony. A good rule of thumb is to leave 10 pounds of honey (two frames or bars). This is a nice advantage of horizontal beekeeping. We can simply move honey frames or bars toward the back, inserting drawn comb or empty bars behind the brood, and in front of the honey. The bees will continue to grow the brood nest and be better able to take advantage of nectar fl ows. Swarm management is one of the most challenging, Using a syringe, deliver 5ml per seam of bees, eight days after and one of the most important parts of being a beekeeper. queen release in package; or to split containing only open brood, One of the biggest mistakes I made as a new beekeeper immediately after splitting; and to queen-raising split three weeks after queen emergence. Randy Oliver photo (and for about the fi rst six years) was in trying to manage to bees to avoid the necessity of splitting. I thought I was just trying to keep them from swarming through queen and move her and three or four frames of brood management, but splitting would have been a much easier and bees, and over half of the honey and bee bread into and more sure way of accomplishing this goal. The next a new hive in another location. This way, the queen gets mistake beekeepers make is to try to wait until the last what she wants, to move with a few bees and start a new minute before the colony swarms to split it. colony. The old colony gets what it wants, a new queen. Let’s take a minute here and think like the super- The balance between foragers and nurse bees is preserved organism that is a honey bee colony. In spring, like most in both colonies. other creatures, their main goal is to reproduce. Look It is a fact, though, that many beekeepers cannot around at the bunnies, kittens, and calves. Honey bees fi nd their queen, or are not patient enough to do so, would like to send more colonies into the world, and they especially in Spring when the population is high. And, do this by swarming. That is why it is almost impossible many backyard beekeepers do not have another apiary to stop the swarming instinct. Rather than waiting to location, and the split must stay in the same yard. In that split until it is so late in the season, we might better serve case, the Reverse Doolittle is very easy and effective. It our bees by splitting them early enough that they have moves the queen and all of the nurse bees to a new hive plenty of time to raise a new queen and recover population across the yard, and leaves the foragers and emerging numbers for the main nectar fl ow. Splitting the colony has brood to raise a new queen. There will be enough bees the added and very important benefi t if providing a brood with the queen to support her, and few enough that she break to the part(s) that raise a new queen. Rather than won’t get back to swarming size until after the main fl ow. waiting to see if the colony “needs” to be split, it should This can be done in a new box, or in the unoccupied end be our plan from the start, every year, for every colony of a long Langstroth or top bar hive. Simply move the open that is strong enough. If the beekeeper doesn’t want or brood to the new location, shake the bees off of the frames need more colonies, re-combining is always an option after the new queen is well established. Even better would be to sell the resulting nuc to a fellow beekeeper, reducing the movement of bees, mites, and pathogens around the country. Colonies not strong enough to be split probably have a problem that needs to be investigated, and should probably be re-queened. So, we have established that it is important to split colonies, and to do it early. The right time is when the colony is strong enough, and there is a good nectar and pollen fl ow coming in. This should be long before the colony has decided to swarm on its own. The colony will start out with a few queen cups, then there will be lots of queen cups, then lots of drones, then back-fi lling of the brood chamber, then larvae in queen cells. The right time to split is at step two; when there are tons and tons of drones. This will ensure good mating for our new queen, and should be at least a couple of weeks before back- fi lling begins. The colony should have at least six frames of brood, and eight is better. This is a getting-ready-to-go beard. Once they have decided to One of the best ways to split a colony is to fi nd the swarm, it is too late.

May 2020 BEE CULTURE 59

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60 BEE CULTURE May 2020

May2020.indd 60 4/8/2020 7:26:22 PM containing capped brood into the new end, and give more happy combining like using duct tape to affi x a piece of than half of the honey and bee bread to the queen, who newspaper to the sides and bottom of the top bar hive. has few foragers and a lot of mouths to feed. The frames Cut a few half inch slits in it, so that two colonies can containing capped brood go back in the original location smell each other and the queen, they remove the paper along with one frame of eggs. The foragers will return in a few days and go on about their business without to their accustomed home to cover the emerging brood killing the queen. Another simple way of helping them and raise a new queen. Nurse bees don’t like to fl y, so be happy with a re-combine is to spray everyone with a won’t abandon the queen, and will be available to care 4 times concentration of Honey-B-Healthy. By the time for the open brood. We have helped the bees do what they get done licking each other off, they have forgotten they wanted to do, and have saved our honey production, who the enemy was. while providing the brood break essential to reduce mite I like to use a follower board in a top bar hive or numbers and miticide use. long langstroth that houses a new or smaller colony. This same method, the Reverse Doolittle split, can The follower board may not be necessary, but can be be used to split a framed hive into a top bar hive. Simply helpful in making the bees feel that they have a defensible shake all of the bees out of the parent colony into the top space. A honey bee colony in a space the right size grows bar hive. The queen and nurse bees will stay while the faster than one with too much space. In a new colony, foragers go back to the original hive. The capped brood the follower board should start in about the number and at least one frame of open brood stay in the parent 10 position, counting from the entrance. As the colony colony, while two frames of mixed brood should be left grows, there should always be three to fi ve empty frames in the new colony as an anchor to keep the bees from in place for the bees to work. Move the honey back, and absconding. If the frames are left standing on their tops, insert frames with or without foundation , or bars with upside-down, the brood will emerge, but the queen will guiding foundation strips behind the brood nest. Most not lay eggs in them. By then the bees will have drawn top bar and long Langstroth hives hold about 32 bars or some comb on the top bars, and the queen will migrate frames. Once the colony is occupying half of this space, to the new comb. The now-empty frames can be removed. remove the follower board completely. Also be sure to leave honey and bee bread with the new So now, we have helped guide our new colony to colony, as they have no foragers. Feeding is critical for grow quickly by feeding and providing a properly sized, just-split colonies, to help them build new comb and defensible space, and helped keep both the new and the grow the colony in time to take advantage of the coming established colony from becoming honey bound. We have nectar fl ow. split our colonies early enough that they can recover If swarm cells are found, the colony has decided to and take advantage of the fl ow, or we have re-queened go, and they will do so, even if all of the cells are removed, the colony that was too weak to split. Next month, we’ll potentially leaving the colony hopelessly queenless. Move discuss better ways to count for mites in foundationless the queen to the far end of the horizontal hive and keep the situations like top bar hives, how to treat for mites using swarm cells in the original location. Remember to brush treatments meant for regular Langstroth hives, and how the bees off of comb containing swarm cells if necessary, a two queen system works in a long Langstroth hive. BC never shake queen cells. We have helped them do what they wanted to do. If they still swarm, or one side ends http://scientifi cbeekeeping.com/the-learning-curve-part-3- up queenless for any reason, simply slide the frames or the-natural-miticides/ Mixing proportions for OA and tips for bars containing bees together. I like to play it safe, and use. Randy Oliver; July, 2009 usually take some kind of precautionary step to ensure

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May2020.indd 62 4/8/2020 7:26:26 PM ALLMONDMOND SEETT VS. FIINALNAL YIIELDELD Joe Traynor Honey Bee Pollination

The sole purpose of plant and An almond tree not only has to income for almond growers; it used to animal species is to pass on their bring it’s kernels to the fi nish line be enough to cover hulling costs, but genes to the next generation and to (to harvest), but must also must not anymore. The almond industry is future generations. For almonds, it drag the hulls and shells along working on and is optimistic about is the seed or kernel that transmits with them. Because green almonds developing new markets for their these genes. Before modern farming, are 52% hull (vs. 14% kernel and nutritious almond hulls. isolated almond trees produced 32% shell) bringing hulls to harvest Like almond trees, peach trees maybe 100 almonds per tree. Today, represents a signifi cant drain on a also drop pollinated fruit after with ample compatible pollinizer tree’s resources. The hull burden petal fall, but not enough for the varieties for cross pollination and on almond trees is analogous to remaining peaches to reach optimum with good populations of pollinating requiring a runner to carry 50# marketable sizes. As a result, peach insects (mainly honey bees) an weights during a one-mile race – growers spend up to $1400/acre to almond tree can produce 14,000 the runner can discard the weights thin peaches, a major expense not almonds (aka kernels or meats) per before reaching the fi nish line, the incurred by almond growers. Unlike tree, which translates to roughly almond tree cannot. The almond almond growers, peach growers get 3,000#/acre. tree compensates by shedding green little or nothing for their peach pits or Almond flower for the seeds within the pits. production can vary During almond bloom from 40,000 to 90,000 in 2013, USDA workers blossoms per tree so all counted the number of it takes in most years is a pollinated almonds set on 25% set to get a 3000#/ limbs in a Kern County acre crop. Individual almond orchard stocked at almond fl owers produce three bee colonies/acre and 40,000+ pollen grains compared them with those per flower. Since all from an orchard stocked it takes is one pollen at 1.5 colonies/acre. The grain to set an almond, almond set was determined accomplishing a 25% set after petal fall and was is not an unreasonable signifi cantly higher (around task for bees. Barring 80%) at the higher stocking catastrophic weather, rate. This higher initial set many more almonds will did not translate into higher be set from pollinated yields because of the higher flowers than the trees can hold. almonds – hulls, shells and kernels. drop of green almonds – the higher Drop of pollinated nuts starts after Almond trees and peach trees are the initial set, the greater the later petal fall in March and continues closely related. Peaches command drop. Final yields on both plots were through June. The tiny nutlets from a high price (around $500/ton) about the same. The take-home fl owers that were not pollinated start because of their tasty fl esh (called message: higher bee stocking rates dropping within a few weeks after “endocarp”) that surrounds the seed- will increase the number of almonds petal fall and can be distinguished containing pit. The endocarps (hulls) that are set, but will have no effect on from pollinated nutlets by pushing of almonds are, like peaches, high in fi nal almond yields. them with your thumb – pollinated sugar and nutrients making them Current bee recommendations nuts will remain on the branch or an excellent and tasty feed for dairy for almonds are to use two colonies spur, those that weren’t pollinated cattle. With current problems in the of bees per acre, with the colonies won’t. A signifi cant drop of pollinated dairy industry plus more hulls from to average eight frames of bees nutlets occurs every year. This drop increased almond acreage, hull prices per colony. Some crop insurance can be discouraging but is Nature’s have dropped from $120 to $60/ton companies accept 16 frames of bees way of balancing crop load with in recent years. Income from almond per acre, which can be supplied by overall tree health. hull sales is a nice source of extra 1.5 colonies of 12-frame strength. two

May 2020 BEE CULTURE 63

May2020.indd 63 4/8/2020 7:26:29 PM 64 BEE CULTURE May 2020 

May2020.indd 64 4/8/2020 7:26:30 PM colonies/acre has been and currently is, the accepted bee stocking rate for almonds, in spite of the fact that there is no solid data to back up this recommendation. Because the fl ight range of bees is two+ miles, an adequate test for bee stocking rates would require comparing yields on an isolated orchard stocked at two colonies per acre with one or more orchards at least two miles away stocked at one colony per acre or less – both orchards would need to have identical cultural practices. Such isolated orchards have never been found, which is why there never has been, and probably never will be, an acceptable study on bee stocking rates. The original bee-stocking rate was published by UC in 1947 in Circular 103 on almond culture: “In general, one hive per acre is ample, even in adverse seasons.” One could quibble about the use of the term “hive” (rather than colony or frames of bees), but this recommendation should still hold today. A number of growers use only one strong bee colony per acre and are happy with their excellent yields. The cool, rainy 2019 almond bloom certainly qualifies as an “adverse season” for almond pollination, yet fi nal almond yields were far better than many expected or predicted in March – a good indication that bee stocking rates were more than ample. Most almond growers could trim their operating budgets signifi cantly by using half as many bee colonies as they currently use. They may have to show their crop insurance agent that they are renting strong bee colonies and spend time convincing these agents that they are supplying their orchards with ample numbers of bees, even at a stocking rate of one colony/acre. Crop insurance requirements are the biggest impediment to growers that would like to cut back on their bee numbers. Almond growers should enlist the support of UC and the Almond Board to convince crop insurance people that current bee requirements are excessive. BC

References: Almond Pollination Math. PNP January 2013; Flower Density and Almond Yield. PNP December 2015; Cutting Bee Rental Costs. PNP July 2018

Photos courtesy of Kim Flottum

May 2020 BEE CULTURE 65

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May2020.indd 66 4/8/2020 7:26:31 PM RRequeening:equeening: A SpiritualSpiritual PPerspectiveerspective Our Everday Lives

I received and interesting message and asked him why he thought it was crops. So why do we beekeepers not on my voice mail this Winter. After a a good idea to kill off his queens just share a similar benevolence towards round of phone tag I fi nally connected because they were a certain age, his the pollinators in our care? with the caller who turned out to be voice changed and I could tell I had a fellow from Ohio who was relatively got him to stop and think more about Symptom of a larger issue new to beekeeping. He apologized for this plan and how he might bring his When contemplating why we the diffi culty I had reaching him and spiritual values to his beekeeping. beekeepers have this idiosyncrasy explained that his family only had a there are several possible single phone in their household. He Special treatment explanations. They include the said he loved working with the bees. We beekeepers are a peculiar perception that we are separate and It fi t right in with his farm plan that bunch. While it may exist, I cannot apart from nature, as well as our included fruit trees and chickens. think of any other animal kept by general negative attitude toward Unfortunately, he had lost his hives humans that we kill just because it insects that we tend to consider in both of the last two Winters and reaches a certain age, unless they pests and a threat. These attitudes, had some questions for me. During are being harvested for food, are reinforced by sensationalism in the our conversation he mentioned that incurably sick, or injured beyond media, have resulted in a society that he was being mentored by a neighbor repair. A two-year old queen does not goes to great lengths to kill off most down the road which he greatly fi t into any of these categories, and insects and remove them from our appreciated, but it was a bit of a yet we consider it normal and even daily lives. chore to visit him, as he had to hook “proper management” to destroy this Another contributing factor is that up his horse and carriage in order to perfectly healthy queen. the economic penalty for destroying make the several mile journey to see We rationalize the killing of the part of a honey bee colony that his beekeeping neighbor. Judging a queen due to characteristics of carries the super organism’s genetic from our conversation I am guessing her performance that are judged information is low. Queens are widely he was a god-fearing religious man undesirable. “Poor brood pattern” available at certain times of the who was a member of a Mennonite we say; or “need to stop the colony year and are relatively inexpensive, community. from swarming.” And yet, this type usually costing from $20-$35 each. He mentioned that one of the of rationalization seems particular things he was planning on doing in to beekeeping, since it is not typical Honey Bees as a resource the future was to requeen his hive for folks to kill off animals in their A root cause of our requeening every year. When I asked him why care just because they don’t like the behavior appears to be a world view he felt a need to do so, he said that way they act. The exception is when that prioritizes the world around us requeening is what his mentor does an animal is no longer productive, by what it can do for us, valuing most and recommends. When I pointed out or they present danger to the health the things that we can use to earn to him that these are God’s creatures and safely of other people, animals, or money. We have even codifi ed this

Genetic resistance to diseases that have yet to appear in North America is one example of the vast amount of information we lack when we judge a queen bee solely on her age." Ross Conrad

May 2020 BEE CULTURE 67

May2020.indd 67 4/8/2020 7:26:32 PM too often when we treat non-human the original queen dies, and even entities as a resource and prioritize though the bees inhabiting the hive our needs over theirs, the other is are the same (for a few more weeks) treated disrespectfully and the long- the superorganism becomes a new term health and well-being of that one with different DNA. organism and our ecosystems suffer. Biodiversity Beekeeping is no exception The honey bee like the rest of The idea of exploiting bees for nature, is not a passive substrate to be money may conjure up the image of endlessly appropriated, manipulated, large-scale commercial beekeepers, and controlled. The importance of however, the harm referred to and the interdependent and dynamic caused by the “resource” state of relationships between human beings mind is just as easily implemented and nature and the values we ascribe by the backyard beekeeper. Even to nonhuman entities deserve some beekeeping best management serious reconsideration. Nature practices fall into this category. and natural entities have their own Feeding of sugar syrup not particular goods and services that to prevent colony starvation, but they provide for the world. Such gifts to replace honey needed by the are independent of human purposes, bees but taken from the hive to and deserve a certain kind of moral maximize profit is an example of and spiritual respect. Virgin unhatched queens have the po- the commodifi cation of beekeeping. What actually constitutes respect tential to lead a new super-organism we Becoming comfortable with allowing toward nonhuman entities like honey call a honey bee colony. It is not until she large numbers of bees to die each bees? The answer for each organism successfully mates that this potential has the ability to be fully realized upon her year knowing the survivors can be certainly has to do with supporting its re-joining the rest of the colony that raised split and losses made up is another. ability to live, thrive, and reproduce her and will allow the development of a Some rationalize such behavior by at will. But how can we know what new individual colony that is genetically claiming that we are perpetuating is good for a species or ecosystem? unique from all others." the strongest survivor colonies. While And additionally, how do we balance this motivation appears sincere, our divergent responsibilities toward thought process in our language by American bee breeders have been multiple human and nonhuman referring to the things found in the working to produce mite resistant entities? Nature and natural entities natural world as “natural resources,” bees for decades, and yet a truly cannot speak for themselves. as if the entire planet exists simply to resistant commercially available bee A good place to start is to admit supply people with the raw materials remains elusive. Honey bee colonies that interests other than human for economic activity. end up being treated as a resource to ones should be considered. Since we This “nature as resource” be exploited for maximum economic face huge uncertainties about how to world view forms the basis of our potential. respect and enhance opportunities economy which tends to value the In a similar vein is the practice for the rest of creation, collective destruction of the natural world of viewing nucleus colonies as a “half exploration, experimentation, over its protection. There is simply a hive” and regularly “harvesting” and deliberation is called for. The more money to be made destroying their brood, bees, queens, honey, biophysical and ecological limits nature than preserving it. Things etc., thereby cannibalizing the nucs of the planet provide both a moral that are not managed are considered for use in other colonies throughout imperative for respecting nature. a “wasted resource.” All this leads the season, or when a colony needs The present unstable condition to the degradation and exploitation re-queening. We create all kinds of the biosphere symbolizes our of our natural world for human of rationales for killing the queen troubled relationship with non- convenience and profi t. and replacing her: from poor brood human organisms and, at the same The term “resource” negates pattern or colony performance, to time, is an indicator of how we might the inherent value of the plants and disease issues, or simply blame the rebalance this relationship and animals that exist in our world. It hive’s instinctual drive to swarm. achieve a renewed respect for the converts them from living organisms What is rarely acknowledged after natural world which we rely on for that are intrinsically valuable to re-queening is that the hive cavity is our survival. maintaining the life support systems now occupied by a different colony. Unfortunately, a combination of of our planet, into things whose Scientists base the defi nition of denial, uncritical faith in technology, value is judged by its usefulness to an individual honey bee colony on and the deadening effect of our humans. For believers, it represents a the unique set of DNA held by the comfortable modern lives results failure to carry forward the Christian queen that carries the genetic code in a psychological weakening that values of putting others before for the super organism. As such, prevents a decisive shift from the oneself. For non-believers, it is the queen defi nes the colony. Each current age of plunder toward an age simply a perspective that ignores all queen-right colony whether full size, of respect. the host of environmental services or nuc, is an individual in its own that non-human beings provide. All right. The old colony is killed when

68 BEE CULTURE May 2020

May2020.indd 68 4/8/2020 7:26:33 PM Gaia Hypothesis Researchers have dis- In the early 1970s, James covered that not only can Lovelock proposed the Gaia some colonies identify mites reproducing in hypothesis that theorizes “that sealed brood cells and living organisms interact with their remove them opening inorganic surroundings on Earth to up cells in the brood form a synergistic and self-regulating, area, but under certain conditions bees will also complex system that helps to maintain intentionally leave come and perpetuate the conditions for life cells empty in the brood on the planet.” (Wikipedia) Similar to nest in order to be able to a honey bee colony, the Earth itself more effectively in-cubate may be a vast super-organism. This their developing young. This makes re-queening concept echoes the words of Aldo a colony based upon a Leopold who wrote that it is possible "poor brood pattern" a “to regard the earth’s parts – soil, questionable practice." mountains, rivers, atmosphere etc, – as organs or parts of organs of a human involvement whatsoever. The behavior will eventually compromise coordinated whole, each part with its tree is more perfect than anything we the ability of the spaceship to defi nite function . . . In such case we humans have ever produced (with maintain its life support systems would have all the visible attributes the exception of another human and trajectory dooming its occupants. of a living thing, which we do not being), and yet we think nothing of Today we find ourselves on realize to be such because it is too cutting down this incredibly valuable spaceship Earth. In order for us big, and its life processes too slow.” and perfectly developed being to to continue safely on our journey Such perspectives resonate with the create things like tables, telephone through the stars, it is time we Christian view that each believer is a poles and paper to write on. Even start accepting a world governed part of the body of Christ. though they may not be as perfect by biophysical limits to growth, We keep destroying perfectly and some things we create are very development and manipulation. developed organisms that make useful and even necessary, too often Through our thoughts, words and up our world in order to make we create in a wasteful, ineffi cient actions, we collectively decide relatively basic and crude tools and and unnecessary way. We now whether we will develop a different knickknacks, while congratulating understand that when such activity relationship with the natural world. ourselves on our skill. That tree is carried on with little thought to the A relationship in which bringing growing outside feeds and creates effects on the non-human organisms forth our spiritual and moral beliefs living soil, prevents soil run off, and ecosystems, instead focusing in into our everyday lives (such as our and provides carbohydrates so soil on profi ts, growth and development, beekeeping), will be crucial. BC micro-organisms can thrive. That serious problems arise. tree provides food and habitat for Humanity can be compared to Ross Conrad is author of Natural countless insects and animals, astronauts on a spaceship traveling Beekeeping and co-author of The Land of helps purify the water and air, while among the stars and we passengers Milk and Honey: A History of Beekeeping in helping to stabilize the atmosphere keep tearing off parts of the spaceship Vermont. Ross will be teaching an organic and climate. If the tree is injured it and using them to manufacture beekeeping for beginner’s class the has the capacity to heal itself. That simple tools while congratulating weekend of May 16-17 in Lincoln, VT. For tree also has that potential to live themselves on how industrious information contact Visit http://www. on indefi nitely through the act of they are. One can imagine that this dancingbeegardens.com/events.html reproduction. All this without any

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May 2020 BEE CULTURE 69

May2020.indd 69 4/8/2020 7:26:33 PM This Year Will Be Different I really mean it – just like I meant it last year. In my bee world, I’m looking for something. I’ve yet Old beekeeping postcards to fi nd it. For all my devotion to all things honey bee, I do not “But I still haven't found truly, aggressively collect bee stuff. I certainly have odds What I'm looking for and ends, but I have never had both the funds or facility But I still haven't found to truly collect and store bee-related artifacts. Even so, What I'm looking for…”1 somewhere along the way, I have come to possess a few antique post cards that show bee related scenes. As another Spring and Summer season starts, I On a picture postcard that I have, a young beekeep- nearly feel as though it is the beginning of a new year. er in 1915, known to me only by the initials, “S.B.T.” had Some of you have bees that are already brooded up. No his picture “struck” while sitting in his beeyard. He is matter what our calendar predicts, our bees are already holding a deep frame as he apparently sits on an upend- on the job – with or without us. My Spring season, as I ed deep hive body. The young man seems to have been write, is just starting. Every time a new season starts, I confi dent in his bee management. He even mentions in go through this procedure of making plans for the new his brief postcard comments, “This picture shows how bee season. This is the year. I feel it. This year, I will afraid I am of getting stung.” If I consider how feisty Apis fi nally put together something that I have been looking mellifera mellifera (German Black Bees) are, he could for. I’m going to be sure that this year is different. Yeah, have been taking a real chance on being “lit up” if he right. had not handled them with adroitness. I don’t want to go all sappy on you, but after all these I enjoy forensically studying such old photos. Look decades of working with bees, there is an ambience – at the complete absence of herbicidal chemicals. There maybe satisfaction or maybe a sense of safety – that fi - are weeds and biotic growth everywhere. The nearness nally comes to those established beekeepers who can of nature just barely being kept at bay. The hive equip- look backwards as well as looking forward. I love that ment appears to be homemade, but that would be dif- bee-related ability. The musty odor of old bee books. A fi cult to determine. At that time, S.B.T. only had issues well-used hive body with failing corners. The memory of with American foulbrood – maybe some European foul- old beekeepers wiring frames and themselves, making brood. I doubt he had a supply of improved queens. I plans for some long past season that was to be “their would guess that he made splits and hived swarms. season.” None of this plastic stuff for them. It seemed Judging by the growth fl ush, in 1915, the season that they practiced “Classic Beekeeping.” An apicultur- was well underway – even advanced. Yet, he had no tall al process to be coveted and revered. colonies. He seems to have been in a colony increase Recently, every one of us were required to review our phase. If his bees were making any honey, the colonies personal world as we experienced the novel threat posed would need it for themselves to survive during the Wis- by COVID-19. Unkept that it is, I found a familiarity and consin winter that was only a few months away. comfort in my scruffy bee yard; as if it were, my safe What about robbing? That many colonies that close place. I reaffi rmed how much my bees and beekeeping together would result in drifting and thieving. As the mean to me. season passed into warm weather, I would doubt that he could whimsically hold that frame without protection. James E. Tew I have noted in many old bee photos that the sur- rounding forest appeared to be abused. The woodland bit that shows seems to indicate that the surrounding forest had been recently cut or even cleared. Note the leaning tree behind the central building. It has the look of an abused tree that was recently near a logging oper- ation. Not exactly woodlot management procedures for our time, but it was probably routine for S.B.T.2

1Partial lyrics. “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for.” Artist: U2; Album: The Joshua Tree; Released: 1987; Recorded: 1986; Produc- er(s): Daniel Lanois; Brian Eno 2If you care – S.B.T. addressed his card to his friend, Elmer Shaw in River Falls, WI. What are the chances? I did a web search and found an Elmer Shaw in River Falls attending the University of Wisconsin in 1915. He would have been a similar age to S.B.T. I actually have a photo of Mr. Shaw. These two young men would now probably be more than 120 years old. Could be coincidence or they could have been the friends described on the card. 70 BEE CULTURE May 2020

May2020.indd 70 4/8/2020 7:26:34 PM S.B.T. (no name presented) with his bees in 1915.

An enlargement of S.B.T. from Wisconsin in 1915. A visit to the Apivar manufacturing facility in Chaillac, France3 Last year, I had the unique opportunity to visit Ve- to-pharma facilities in Chaillac, France. This company manufactures Apivar, a Varroa control product that is sold worldwide. The company also designed and pro- duces the Varroa easyCheck device that is popular in the U.S. The device simplifi es the Varroa washing proce- dure. In all my years of beekeeping wanderings, this was my fi rst (and only) opportunity visit to a company that produces a popular Varroa control product. Though several people were involved, I was hosted by: Joanna Collin, Product Manager, Phil Craft (North American Technical Advisor) and Fredrick Proni, North American Area Manager, Veto-pharma, and Ludo DeFer- audy, Chief Operating Offi cer, Veto-pharma.

My observations were: 1. The staff was young, intelligent, confi dent, and com- mitted to Apivar production. 2. Specifi cally, the staff I met were personable, likeable, When looking at such old bee photos, is this the and multilingual. time and place where I should be searching for ambi- 3. The facility was immaculate – even warehouse areas. ence, continuity, and consistency? Was this the good, 4. The commitment to quality control – at every step – ole timey place where there were no Varroa and no pes- was powerful and apparent. ticides? Or is this the time and place in our beekeep- 5. Apivar label data was scrupulously accurate. ing history where tin honey tanks were sealed with lead 6. A consistent recurring theme was that beekeepers are solder and 60# square metal cans were used for honey getting exactly the product dose they think they are storage. Our protective clothing was marginal and our getting. smokers unimproved and frustrating. The video Nope. I still have not found for I am looking for The primary intent was to video the facility visit and Maybe it’s just the the search for beekeeping plac- post for public review. Part of the video production was idness and fulfi llment that drives me. Keeping bees has live and occasionally presented some technical challeng- never been static - not for S.B.T. or for J.Tew. Maybe es. Nevertheless, the production is viewable, explains Classic Beekeeping was always furtive and elusive. the production procedure, and shows pertinent parts of Stings have always hurt. Colonies have always died the facility at Chaillac. Questions and clarifi cations of during Winter seasons. High swarms routinely got away. the video or Apivar use can be directed to Phil Craft, Poor queens have always been with us. Who knows? Maybe I am indeed a classic beekeeper – just decades and decades ahead of my time. 3I suppose a commitment to my openness and honesty is in order. Specifi cally, for the facility tour, my expenses were paid. Nothing more. International travel and travel to the Veto-pharma facility visitation amounted to two full days. The remainder of the trip was at my wife’s and my expense. Presently, though I personally use Apivar and vaporized oxalic acid as my present varroa control plan, my comments here do not comprise a recommendation of Apivar or any other product.

May 2020 BEE CULTURE 71

May2020.indd 71 4/8/2020 7:26:35 PM The Bee Pavillion at Luxembourg Gardens, Paris, France. Phil and Jim, a couple of beekeepers on a Parisian sidewalk cafe.

Veto-pharma Technical Representative for the U.S. at: Personally, I was struck by the long commitment to [email protected] honey bees and to this specifi c apiary. I don’t know of a one-hundred, sixty-four-year-old apiary in the U.S. The video is located at: https://youtu.be/S8NDlfo1J4Y Roof top bees in Paris My wife and I were only there for a few days. That’s nothing in a city such as Paris. I admit, I was an inex- perienced tourist in that great city. Having said that, it Luxembourg Gardens would appear that rooftop bees in Paris are frequent – Results from several previous reader surveys, indi- maybe even common. Nearly everyone seemed to know cate that reviews of tourist events are not high on your of rooftop bees somewhere. Happily, rooftop bees are a bee reading lists. I apologize, but I hope you will suffer thing in this country, too. I have visited rooftop bees in through a couple of the major bee things my friend, Phil Denver and a few other places, so I could at least look Craft, showed my wife and me. sensible as I stood on the roof looking at bees fl ying from My wife and I were 22 years old the last time we ten fl oors up. toured France, specifi cally Paris. That was 50 years ago. Frequently, (with my limited experience, may I say At that time, I had not experienced my passion for hon- “frequently”?) rooftop bees were sought out by some ey bees, so I missed all things bees. I did not make that commercial businesses – not just hotels and restau- mistake this time. Even though we visited many of the rants that were pushing their rooftop honey. In some routine tourist attractions, Bees were on the top of my instances, new building blueprints included bee niches agenda. It was surprisingly easy to fi nd bee-related lo- or bee rooms – not just rooftops. cations. As I searched the web, several hits came up where I had not heard of the bee exhibit at Luxembourg users asked, “Why are there so many bees in France?” Gardens. There have been bees and bee classes taught That one I cannot answer, but I was reminded by our there since 1856. The bee gazebo and the antique-styled French hosts that Charles Dadant was a native French- bee hives presented a sophisticated view of a long-term man. He founded the Dadant Company in Hamilton, commitment to beekeeping. Iron fencing, a uniquely de- Illinois. signed bee fountain, and posted French language warn- ings admonishing us to stay back. Since we could not read French, we got remarkably good views of the fa- mous apiary and a couple of stings. This bee exhibit is well known. There are numerous web pages. I randomly selected this one.

https://www.ipreferparis. net/2012/01/-bee-house-in-lux- embourg-gardens.html

4https://www.veto-pharma.com/var- roa-control/61-126-varroa-easycheck. html#/41,contenance,unit Beehives and the bee fountain at Luxembourg Gardens, Paris, France. 72 BEE CULTURE May 2020

May2020.indd 72 4/8/2020 7:26:35 PM some of those transferred larvae have been accepted by nurse workers. An interesting aspect of this procedure is that the accepted cells are not required to be beautiful. You and your bees did this. In this situation, any cell can be a good cell. The primary expense has been your time and effort. I don’t think any authority has ever clearly shown that a good queen cannot come from a scruffy mature queen cell. So, for you beekeepers who have trained yourself to produce queens – great job! Great job. And thanks for letting me know that you gave it a shot.

As always As always, thank you for reading. I’m humbled and appreciative that you have spent some of your valuable time in this way. I’m working on next month already. A breezy rooftop apiary that we visited that is about 10 fl oors high. Sincerely, Jim BC Dr. James E. Tew, Emeritus Faculty, Entomology, The Ohio Personally, I was struck by the ease and acceptance State University and One Tew Bee, LLC. [email protected]; of bees within the city of Paris – including rooftops but http://www.onetew.com not excluding apiaries on the ground. As stated, I do not know the registration details, but I did not sense the restrictions that could possibly be encountered here. For instance, at the Luxembourg Gardens, people were strolling by and even sitting near the apiary. Surely, https://youtu.be/ieO5les-lIg France must have the usual bee-terrifi ed people, but I did not see any. One last time – I was only there briefl y. Likely I was seeing and opining what I wanted to see and opine. I came back to Ohio, tired, bee-exuberated, and energized. It was a great 50th anniversary trip for my wife and me.

Do-it-yourself queens I acknowledge a select group of beekeepers who STRACHANSTRACHAN go the extra distance in our craft. Those who produce queen cells and queens for their personal use are a APIARIESAPIARIES INC.INC. unique subgroup of beekeepers. Yes, it does take coordi- nation and commitment, but it also produces suspense and enjoyment. After transferring the larva, waiting for a couple of days and then checking the results, adds some zing to otherwise routine beekeeping management procedures. It’s a surge of beekeeping adrenalin when www.strachanbees.com [email protected]

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May 2020 BEE CULTURE 73

May2020.indd 73 4/8/2020 7:26:36 PM NNMRMR HoneyHoney TTestingesting PPolicyolicy AAdopteddopted atat thethe 22020020 NNationalational FFarmersarmers UUnionnion ConventionConvention

The National Farmers Union (NFU) 118th Anniversary Convention concluded earlier this month following the adoption of the organization’s policy book and special orders of business. More than 500 family farmers and ranchers convened in Savannah, Georgia, to set policy positions and priorities that support American farm and ranch families and strengthen rural communities. Delegates to the convention adopted the NFU Policy Book and six special orders of business that will guide the organization’s government affairs priorities over the course of the next year, especially as they relate to the tough economic circumstances and sustainability issues facing family farmers. Before the policy review began, they elected Rob Larew to succeed Roger Johnson as the organization’s president and reelected Patty Edelburg of Scandinavia, Wisconsin, to serve as NFU Vice President. “The reason for Farmers Union’s longstanding success – and the reason why I am so enthusiastic about leading this organization – is its grassroots structure,” said newly elected Farmers Union President Larew. “Each year, our members set organizational directives and federal policy priorities in a democratic process, which ensures that the work we do in our national offi ce is really in the best interest of the hard-working family farmers and ranchers feed, fuel, and clothe our nation.” Utah farmer and beekeeper, XX, proposed adoption of NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) honey testing under the “Health and Inspections Standards for Food and Fiber” section. The proposal which reads, “{We support} nuclear magnetic resonance testing on all imported products that are labeled as honey to ensure the purity of honey,” was adopted unanimously. While addressing his NFU co-delegates, XX stated, “This is an quick and affordable test that protects the beekeeper and consumer through proving the adulteration of pure honey with sugar syrups and/or chemical additives, as well as country of origin.” NMR honey testing has been used for decades, however became newsworthy when the procedure was used to test honey entered into the Apimonida Montreal 2019 Honey Show. Forty fi ve percent of the entries were pulled, citing NMR’s detection of illicit sugars, antibiotic and pesticide residues, HMF, and country of origin discrepancies. The Farmers Union Policy Book is a member-driven dynamic, working document that refl ects the priori- ties of our country’s agricultural producers. The policies adopted at the 2020 convention will determine the NFU’s priorities for the coming year. Past policy positions approved by delegates have been adopted into farm bills and other pieces of important, impactful legislation. Farmers Union members are welcome to suggest ideas for integrating NMR into the supply chain by con- tacting Sarah Red-Laird, or Bob Redmond, at [email protected]. Full text of the adopted policy manual will be available soon at www.nfu.org.

About NFU National Farmers Union has been working since 1902 to protect and enhance the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers, ranchers and rural communities through advocating grassroots-driven policy positions adopted by its membership.

About NWFU Northwest Farmers Union is a grassroots advocacy organization for family farmers, ranchers, and fi shers in Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

submitted by Sarah Red-Laird, NWFU President 541.708.1127 [email protected]

74 BEE CULTURE May 2020

May2020.indd 74 4/8/2020 7:26:37 PM Dr Melissa Oddie, a Canadian Reinertsen. They don’t have a lot of researcher, will continue her research suitable agriculture land for growing for at least two years based on the crops in Norway so they use every Varroa Varroa resistant bees with Terje little piece of land possible to grow Reinertsen in central Norway. Her food. Quite steep slopes had recently doctoral dissertation was based been harvested. Norway is no longer Resistant on research with these bees. The Sweden’s little brother as it’s been Norwegian authorities have allocated for many years. It’s the big brother $ 1 million (NOK 8.5 million) for this now, with oil and gas and Varroa Bees Get research. resistant bees! February 21-23 the commercial beekeepers in Sweden The Varroa resistant bees $1 Million (Biodlingsforetagarna)had a Some years ago, researchers conference in Sunne in western began to be interested in a population Sweden close to the Norwegian border of Varroa resistant bees in Norway In Norway at the newly built hotel Selma Spa. around Terje Reinertsen. The It was fully booked. Beekeepers from important thing is that you don’t Erik Osterlund Sweden, Norway and some from have to treat them at all against the Finland were listening to Terje and Varroa mite, and they are therefore that do not need to be treated against Melissa and many others, from the not treated. The mite population parasites and diseases, and how to University of Agriculture in Sweden in a hive of Terje can vary during get there. Melissa Oddie participated, (SLU), from Belgium and Canada to the season. His bees hasn’t been together with several other speakers mention a few. Sunne is the place treated for about 25 years. It was including also Kirk Webster from where Selma Lagerlöf lived, a famous about the time when the mite came Vermont. And now in February 2020 author, the fi rst woman to get the to Norway. When I became aware of he and Melissa Oddie were speaking Nobel Prize in literature. this, I wondered why we hadn’t heard in Sunne. Dr. Oddie discovered a salient or read more about his bees during trait in Terje Reinertsen’s bees which these many years. Varroa in Norway expresses itself in that bees uncap Now there has been some In 1994, the Varroa mite had pupae in which there are mites and exciting research reports from the made its presence so well known recap them again without damaging works of Dr. Melissa Oddie and her among beekeepers in Norway that the pupae. This apparently interferes coworkers.1,2,3,4 Research on these it was decided that bee colonies with the mites’ reproduction. The bees was the basis for her doctoral had to be treated against the mite. characteristic that is otherwise very dissertation. Since then, articles and The central association took help much in focus today is called VSH reports of the bees of Terje Reinertsen from countries where they had had (Varroa Sensitive Hygiene). Here, the have been published. more experience of the mite. Among bees remove pupae that are invaded He has been focused on other things, it was recommended to by mites (mites that have offspring). developing a stock of Varroa resistant use ”Krämerplatten” that evaporate VSH is not a prominent feature of the bees since the mite began to create formic acid in the bee colony.5 resistant Norwegian bees. problems in Norway. And he has Terje listened carefully to the done that together with beekeepers advice and treated his bees in the Visit in Norway in his vicinity. In April 2019, he was recommended way in the Autumn In the Fall of 2019, my wife one of the speakers at a conference of 1994. He lost 70% of his colonies Gunvi and I visited Anita and Terje in southern Sweden on healthy bees in the Winter of 1994-95. Other

Dr. Melissa Oddie and Terje Reinertsen in Sweden.

May 2020 BEE CULTURE 75 

May2020.indd 75 4/8/2020 7:26:37 PM Anita and Terje mites was not a problem for Terje’s Reinertsen. bees. He also started at once with the simple breeding concept he has followed through the years since. He focused in various ways to identify the worst and the best bee colonies when it comes to keep down the mite population and being resistant to viruses.

Breeding strategy Today Terje Reinertsen doesn’t estimate the varroa level in his colonies. He doesn’t care about varroa mites anymore. Others have beekeepers also lost about the same if chemicals in suffi cient quantities though made estimates. And it seems amount of beehives. Several lost affect the bees.8 Defense against the Varroa levels mainly is 1-3%, with 100%. Spring treatment with formic harmful microbes is weakened, for some exceptions at a higher level. The acid was then mentioned as an example against pathogenic viruses. interesting thing is though that no additional alternative to save colonies Another hot topic in research is signs of virus damage could be seen. that survived the Winter. Then fewer epigenetics.9 Changes in how genes His main traits for selection is holes in the plastic around the formic in the DNA are used, in kind of a 1 – Good temper acid soft board plate were used so contrast (or rather complement) to 2 – High egglaying capacity that the evaporation speed would not how the composition of the genes in Every year he replaces the queens be so high.5 Terje applied this method the DNA is changed through breeding in the worst 30 % of his hives. They to the survivors. (natural or beekeepers).10 Changes are today about 250. Once they were in the environment create changes 350. He is in his retiring age, but he’s Decision not to treat in the DNA so that some genes are working all days. If not with bees, he’s After analyzing the results of all turned off and others turned on. hunting or fi shing. the treatments, Terje and a some Among the best 10 % of his other beekeepers concluded that Purchase of never treated bee hives he checks the very best. Good if you were to loose so many bee colonies hives are of course also giving a good colonies after treating, you could just In 1995, Terje compensated for enough crop. He breeds queens from as well not treat, because you didn’t his colony losses by purchasing several of these. He does not regularly lose more colonies if you didn’t treat. about 35 bee colonies. These came replace queens who have grown old. At that time, little was known from an area where the Varroa hadn’t Only when the bee colonies are bad, about the importance of the balance yet arrived to, so these colonies had whether the queens are young or between all different types of never been treated against Varroa. old. Colonies in the mid range (and microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, Some of these colonies were splits the best) are allowed to replace their and other types of microbes) for the raising new queens of their own. queens themselves. Young queens immune system. Such an ecological The new colonies developed well and are mostly mated in the center of an system of microorganisms in and on wintered successfully. These were area where many good colonies of a living being is called a microbiome. more in number than those that somewhat different heritage are kept. For example, we humans have about survived Varroa and formic acid. This type of mating system you can 2 kg of microbes on and in us. In the Winter of 1995-1996 and call population mating, actually the Without them we die. onwards, the losses were again about old type of line breeding where all normal, fi ve to 10 %, despite the lack bees in an area could be called a line. Microbiome and epigenetics of Varroa treatment. I remember Steve Taber explained The microbiome6 is now a hot topic Because of the large losses of what a line really was at the Bee-85 in research, even among bees7. The bees for many beekeepers in the conference in Sweden many years microbiome will become unbalanced winter of 1994-95, the reinvasion of ago. This could be likened with a kind of closed population breeding. In this way, high vitality, good harvest and genetic variation is maintained. Terje wasn’t sure it was suffi cent with the buckfast variety of bees he had initially, so he tried other buckfast types and some other Terje Reinertsen varieties of bees. Today, Terje’s bees shows a split in could simply be called Terje bees. September, grown in strength to be ready for Winter Comb foundation and well fed. Terje got smaller cellsize wax foundation from Hans-Otto Johnsen,

76 BEE CULTURE May 2020

May2020.indd 76 4/8/2020 7:26:38 PM a beekeeper colleague. Shortly after A small mini mating nuc the year of 2000 he reduced the cell with three mini frames. size to 5.1 mm, then to 4.9 mm. Now When the queen is egg laying, Terje harvests he is in the process of setting up his it and introduces it in a own, almost commercial equipment colony that needs a new for manufacturing wax foundation. queen.

Establishment of another Varroa resistant strain Ten years ago he acquired 14 Norwegian carniolan queens mated in an area with only carniolan bees in Norway. These queens were introduced to splits from Terje bees. The splits were placed with a beekeeper about 60 km from Terje, isolated from other bees. Today, the 14 colonies have grown into a population of about 100 bee colonies. All new queens (and splits) come from the group and mated in its minutes north of Oslo, the capital. al. Rapid parallel evolution overcomes area. These colonies have never been One of these beekeepers, I call him global honey bee parasite. Sci Rep 8, treated against varroa. There have Tim (his name is something else), 7704 (2018) doi:10.1038/s41598-018- always been low winter losses in has eight colonies and lives on the 26001-7 – https://rdcu.be/bZasw this group, which has become kind outskirts of the Terje area. There are 4. Oddie, M.A.Y., Neumann, P. & Dahle, of a stock, a resistant stock. Maybe many bee colonies other than Terje B., Cell size and Varroa destructor you can do it this way if you want to bees around him. The closest is 200 mite infestations in susceptible and produce a Varroa resistant bee stock meters (yards) away. naturally-surviving honeybee (Apis of a bee variety other than Terje bees. Tim has done a small mellifera) colonies, Apidologie (2019) measurement study on the daily 50: 1. – https://doi.org/10.1007/ Terje queens in a different natural down fall of mites during a s13592-018-0610-2 environment season. It varies during the season 5. A piece of soft board, drenched in 250 A number of years ago, Terje and although from some colonies it ml 85% formic acid, 15x17x1 cm in size, queens were purchased to some can be quite big in May, it is low at put in a tight plastic bag with 2 x 10-15 universities in Europe. From the end of the season. BC of 15 mm round holes in the plastic for Switzerland I have heard results how evaporation, described here. – https:// they managed. They were introduced References wiki.bienenzeitung.de/index. to tcolonies of local bees managed 1. Oddie, M.A.Y., Dahle, B., Neumann, P. php?title=Kr%C3%A4merplatte in their traditional way. After the 2017. Norwegian honey bees surviving 6. https://golden.com/wiki/Microbiome introduction of Terje queens, these Varroa destructor mite infestations 7. https://mbio.asm.org/content/7/2/ colonies were not treated against by means of natural selection. PeerJ e02164-15 Varroa, and they managed well. 5:e3956 – https://peerj.com/ 8. https://doi.org/10.1073/ articles/3956 pnas.1314923110 Active in the bee association 2. Oddie, M.A.Y., Dahle, B., and Neumann, 9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Terje has always helped beekeeper P., Reduced Postcapping Period in Honey Epigenetics_in_insects colleagues and beginners. He has Bees Surviving Varroa destructor by 10. https://www.whatisepigenetics. held beginner courses for many Means of Natural Selection, MDPI: com/the-epigenetics-of-honeybee- years. And he has helped them with Insects 2018, 9(4), 149 – https://www. memory-offers-a-glimpse-into- splits and new colonies. He has been mdpi.com/2075-4450/9/4/149 our-own-minds/; https://doi. the chairman of the local association 3. Oddie, M., Büchler, R., Dahle, B. et org/10.3389/fnmol.2016.00082 for 20 years and vice president of the district association for many years. Once a month from April to September, the local association has a club meeting in his garden. There are gathered in average 30-35 people.

The Terje stock There are now 1500-2000 Terje bee colonies in Norway. There are about 100 beekeepers who have these bees and they do not treat against Varroa. Most of these have their bees in the area where Terje lives, 20

May 2020 BEE CULTURE 77

May2020.indd 77 4/8/2020 7:26:39 PM CERTIFIED NATURALLY GROWN Grassroots Goes A Long Way Suzannah Schneider

Valhalla Organics Since 2002, Certifi ed Naturally certifi cation standards focus on the hives is more work, but we know Grown has offered certifi cation for health of the honey bees and the it’s worth it,” says Dave Davenport farmers using natural methods to sustainability of beekeeping, with a of Good Job Bees! Honey House in grow food for their local communities. secondary focus on the agricultural Hawaii. “People tell us they can taste In 2010, CNG launched an Apiary products of the hive. Included in the Aloha in our honey.” certifi cation as a direct response to these holistic standards are natural Rosalind Severt of Canebrake feedback from beekeepers concerned methods of Varroa Mite control, Apiary in South Carolina about colony collapse disorder. minimal colony relocation, and emphasizes, “Bees work way too Today, there are nearly 800 beekeeper safety. hard for us to contaminate their producers across the United Christina Neumann of Apoidea product with additives that are not States and Canada who hold Apiary in Pennsylvania has chosen good for them, or us!” CNG certifi cation, with about 50 CNG as the framework for her 75-90 The standards for holistic hive beekeepers who participate in CNG’s hives to make her Good Food Award health were developed with the Apiary certifi cation. winning honeys. She elaborates expertise of an Apiary Advisory on Certifi ed Naturally Grown Council that includes Jennifer Berry Sensible Standards standards, in her own words: “The of the University of Georgia Bee Because honey bees can cover a CNG logo symbolizes the factors I geographic range of more than 8,000 consider to be most important to my acres, the concept of organic honey apiary management: no antibiotics, can seem like an oxymoron: it’s no high fructose corn syrup feed, no impossible to control where honey synthetic treatments, humane bee bees fl y, and what they encounter care, and healthy bee landscapes.” along their way. And, as the most discerning Acknowledging this fact, beekeepers know, “Not using any Certifi ed Naturally Grown’s Apiary harsh chemicals in or around our

Valhalla Organics Dayempur Farm. 78 BEE CULTURE May 2020

May2020.indd 78 4/8/2020 7:26:39 PM Lab, Pam Fisher of the Beekeepers Good Job Bees Guild of Southeast Virginia, Master Beekeeper Dr. Buddy Marterre, and Master Beekeeper Jon Zawislak of University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. CNG offers two publications on natural beekeeping: Handbook for Natural Beekeeping, now in its third edition, and Help the Honey Speak: A Marketing Guide for Beekeepers with Naturally Managed Apiaries. Both are available for free online at CNGfarming.org/handbook_info, and can be purchased as printed booklets for a small charge.

Th e Power of Peer-Review CNG’s annual peer-review eyes, and they often want to know can serve as a landing page for inspection is a requirement for more about it. As we redesign our customers, and in many cases, it certifi cation. Its primary goal is to labels, we are paying extra attention functions as beekeepers’ main web verify high standards, but it also to where the CNG logo is placed.” presence. boosts knowledge sharing among In fact, when we asked Talib- beekeepers, promotes transparency, Mark Fletter of Dayempur Farm Grassroots Goes A Long Way and builds trust. in Illinois about his favorite aspect Many beekeepers fi nd that USDA In addition, CNG’s model of the CNG certifi cation, he asked, organic certifi cation just doesn’t minimizes paperwork and keeps “Would it be absurd to say . . . the make sense for their operation, for certifi cation dues affordable. cute labels?!” one reason or another. As it turns Ruby Reid of Valhalla Organics Once applicants complete the out, a grassroots alternative can be is the fi rst Certifi ed Naturally Grown certifi cation process, they’re eligible just as powerful. honey producer in Oregon. Like to use the CNG logo on product “People know it’s a rigorous many CNG beekeepers, she fi nds labels and elsewhere. Members can certifi cation and you’ve done value in the inspection experience. also purchase marketing materials your due diligence,” says Peter She says, “Our peer-to-peer such as logo stickers, laminated O’Donnell of O’Donnell Apiaries in inspections have resulted in new certifi cates, and signs. Pennsylvania. “You’re working hard friendships and an opportunity to Plus, Certifi ed Naturally Grown to provide the best care of the bees, learn from farmers and beekeepers offers affordable custom design decreasing the risk of chemical who truly understand the challenges services for banners, sticker labels, exposure. People recognize that it’s of growing your crop in your area.” business cards, and more so farmers worth all of the extras that a person and beekeepers can benefi t from the goes through.” Boun tiful Marketing Perks cachet of a full suite of customized “Certifi ed Naturally Grown Many beekeepers choose CNG marketing supplies. means high recognition, high as a way to spark curiosity among Finally, all CNG producers standards, high expectations,” says customers. David Davenport says, earn a profi le on the CNG website Peter. “The CNG logo catches customers’ at CNGfarming.org. This profi le Are you ready to pursue a holistic certifi cation and grow your community? Please join us! You can learn more, get certifi ed, and register for updates at CNGfarming.org/apiary BC

For more information: CNGfarming. org; Instagram: @CNGfarming; Facebook.com/CNGfarming

Apoidea Apiary PA

May 2020 BEE CULTURE 79

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May2020.indd 80 4/8/2020 7:26:41 PM Florida is blessed with a good number of Winter blooming plants. However, due to space limitations only a certain number is discussed below. Let’s begin with some vines. Coral vine (Antigonon leptopus) was mentioned in an earlier article on late TThehe LLandand blooming bee plants in California. In Florida, this can bloom year-round and provide a dark colored honey. Very appealing to bees, the blossoms also supply pollen. Carolina jasmine or yellow jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) is a twining/trailing evergreen vine that OOff FFlowerslowers appears to be a mixed blessing for beekeepers. Inhabiting woods, thickets, sandy soils, and roadsides, it is native Connie Krochmal to the Southeast from Virginia southward to Florida and westward into Arkansas and Texas. The scented, very showy yellow blossoms form Carolina willow (Salix caroliniana) is also known as clusters in the leaf axils. In Florida, these fl owers emerge coastal plain willow, Ward’s willow, and swamp willow. during February and March. A source of nectar, they can The plant is found in marshy areas, stream and river bring surplus honey. However, some beekeepers have banks, shores, low woods, and other wet spots. Most reported that their bees have suffered harm and in some common in the coastal plain, it is native in the Midwest cases died from exposure to the blooms. and in the East from Pennsylvania to Florida westward to Although it hasn’t been proven that the honey is Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and Iowa. indeed harmful, some sources report that the uncapped This resembles black willow. The small slender tree or honey is toxic. What is defi nitely known is that the various much branched shrub can be over 30 feet tall. It features plant parts, including the fl owers, contain poisonous an open broad crown and thick spreading branches. alkaloids with the effect of the poison accumulating in The gray bark is much checkered. Yellowish when victims over time. young, the branchlets later become purplish or red. These Red maple (Acer rubrum) is sometimes called swamp are usually hairy. maple. The tree is native to the East and Central U.S. The alternate, deciduous, papery, lance-like to lance- Hardy to zone three, it reaches 40 to 70 feet in height. ovate, fi rm leaves are green above and whitish with hairs The very adaptable plant withstands ozone and beneath. These are 2½ to 5½ inches long. Conspicuous, poorly drained or wet sites. Generally free of pests, this wing-like stipules are found at the base of the leaves. is suited to most soil types but prefers an acid pH. Full In Florida, the catkins open during February and sun to partial shade is best. Red maple limbs can break March with this occurring elsewhere in March and April. during storms. The male and female catkins open near the ends of the This tree is one of the very fi rst sources of nectar branchlets. The males have four to eight stamens. The and pollen with the blossoms emerging in January and female catkins are open and lax. February in Florida. Elsewhere, this is generally in March All willows are early sources of nectar and pollen. and April. Despite the common name, this tree can Both the male and female catkins yield nectar, but sometimes bear yellow blossoms. pollen only comes from the males. The bees also collect In its native range, red maple is an important nectar honeydew from these species. source. All maples are valuable for brood rearing as they When enough plants are available, a surplus crop of bring generous quantities of pollen and nectar. These honey can result. Willows are valuable to bees because trees can provide a surplus honey crop of fi fty pounds they bloom early and aid in brood rearing. The plants can or so per colony. result in up to ninety pounds or more of honey per colony. This is usually white or light amber to amber, possibly Thin bodied with a light aroma, it granulates to with a pinkish or green tinge. Crystallizing very gradually, develop a fi ne texture. The fl avor is mostly delicate and it can develop coarse or fi ne granules. The honey has a distinctive, but can sometimes be stronger. The color mild aroma and a distinctive taste that improves as it varies widely from white and various shades of amber ages. to yellow. Willows prefer wet or moist soils and full sun for at least half of the day. They’re easily propagated by cutting a stem and rooting it in water. Avoid planting willows near water or sewer lines. Citrus is an important bee plant in Florida with fl owering occurring from February to April, depending on the type being grown. These honey plants were covered in some detail in an earlier article on Southwestern Winter blooming plants. Rosemary (Rosmarinus offi cinalis) tends to bloom Carolina in the Winter in warm climates. Thriving in Florida, this Jasmine plant withstands heat, humidity, and salt. An excellent bee shrub, this yields pollen and over a hundred pounds of rich tasting water white to white honey per colony. Ti-ti (Cyrilla racemifl ora) is a native shrub or small

May 2020 BEE CULTURE 81

May2020.indd 81 4/8/2020 7:26:45 PM Citrus

Rosemary tree that reaches 25 feet in height. The thick, leathery, An avocado grown as a dooryard tree can live for a alternate leaves are shiny. The small white blooms appear century. The average for commercial trees is thirty-fi ve in February in Florida on six-inch-long pendulous spikes. to fi fty years. The tree is related to a native honey plant, The plant occurs from Virginia throughout the South red bay (Persea borbonia) westward to Texas in sandy swamps and in moist, peat- rich soil. Description of Avocado Some bee experts believe that this plant causes Native to Central America and Mexico, avocado is ‘purple brood,’ which affects only the brood and not typically a beautiful evergreen tree with a large spreading the adult bees. An article in the December 1935 edition canopy, but it can also be an upright shrub. Providing of Gleanings described the effect of ‘purple brood’ on heavy shade, the plant can reach 20 to 60 feet in height colonies. This indicated that the problem was restricted with a 25 to 35 foot spread. Dwarf types are only eight to those areas where ti-ti was in bloom with the hives to 10 feet tall. recovering after fl owering ceases. The large, lush, leathery, deep green leaves are heavily Other Winter fl owering bee plants in Florida include veined. The new foliage is reddish-copper to bronze. This blueberries (pollen, honey), crimson clover (delicious is four to ten inches long and up to three inches wide. honey), cherry (pollen, sometimes honey), hawthorn The leaves of the Mexican avocado varieties have a (pollen, honey, honeydew), plums (pollen, honey), yellow spicy aroma. Leaf drop can occur year-round on avocado sweet clover (superior honey plant), viburnums (honey), plants, but this tends to be more pronounced during beauty berry (nectar), coreopsis (pollen, honey), and mist windy periods. fl ower (pollen, honey). According to S.E. McGregor, author of “Insect Pollination of Cultivated Crop Plants,” avocado blooms Avocado (Persea americana) are “structurally bisexual and functionally unisexual.” While the plants above have appeared in previous The very fl oriferous plant is covered with small blooms, articles, the avocado is new. In Florida, this generally ½ by ½ inch, borne in terminal clusters. Blossoms can be blooms from February to April, depending on the variety. yellow-green, green or cream. These feature three green Elsewhere, this can be from Winter into Summer. petals and three sepals. While the main production in America occurs in Flowering can last for six months. The individual California, this is also grown in Hawaii, Florida, Puerto fl owers are only open for two days. Avocado blossoms Rico, and along the Gulf states to Texas. are classifi ed as type A or type B. The former open in the morning of the fi rst day, and during the afternoon the second day. On the other hand, type B fl owers emerge in the afternoon on Day 1 and the morning of Day 2. Each fl ower secretes nectar both days but from a different set of nectaries. Avocado fruits can vary greatly by length, overall size, shape, color, and weight, according to the variety. Avocadoes ripen from Summer into Winter, depending on the variety. Harvest typically ranges from eight to fourteen months from the time of bloom.

Growing Avocado Avocadoes thrive in zones 10 and 11. Hardiness differs according to the type being grown. West Indian avocadoes, the least hardy type (25°F.) is best suited to Hawaii, Florida, and the Caribbean. For the Southeast and California, both the Guatemalan Avocado and Mexican races and hybrids are recommended.

82 BEE CULTURE May 2020

May2020.indd 82 4/8/2020 7:26:45 PM Guatemalan avocadoes are hardy to 21-25°F. The Mexican Bees are strongly attracted to avocado blossoms. type is the hardiest – to 18°F. However, they reportedly don’t work avocado blossoms Avocado trees must have high humidity and good nearly as vigorously as they do those of temperate tree wind protection. A rich, deep, quick draining soil is best. fruits. Although a surplus honey crop is possible, most Poorly drained, wet, or salty sites are unsuitable. beekeepers use avocado plants to build up their colonies. These are propagated by seeds, budding, and grafting. The thick, dark to profound dark amber honey is The latter methods promote earlier fruit crops – bearing heavy bodied. Reluctant to granulate, it features a strong in two to three years. Seedlings can take eight to 12 aroma and a robust fl avor. When bees consistently work years. Avocado plants are available from Logee’s and One avocado blossoms, there can be a large crop of honey. Green World. Bee gardeners will harvest larger fruit crops if Spacing depends on the plant’s ultimate size. cross pollination is provided despite the fact that some Standard sized avocado trees are usually planted twenty gardening books describe the plants as self fruitful. to forty feet apart. A single plant can have more than one McGregor recommends two to three colonies per acre. variety budded or grafted onto a single rootstock. Interplanting different varieties in the grove promotes When planting an avocado, place the crown so that better pollination. it will be slightly higher in the soil than it was in the Although other pollinators can play a minor role pot. Avocado plants require little training or pruning. in avocado pollination. McGregor concludes that “only Normally, pruning is needed only if a branch dies. honey bees are suffi ciently abundant on the blossoms Generally, the plants require less care than temperate at all times to set satisfactory crops of fruits.” This is fruit plants. Fertilize lightly in California. Elsewhere, use assuming that neither mustard nor citrus are growing a small amount of complete fertilizer from early Spring nearby for bees will likely abandon the avocado blooms into late Summer. Iron chlorosis sometimes develops, to work the other fl owers. mostly in California. If this occurs, apply iron chelate. In Florida, bee gardeners can expect one to two These plants benefi t from mulch. Water when needed bushels of avocadoes per plant, while in California, a until the avocado is established. Then, add enough water 10-year-old plant can bear two or three bushels. Avocados to keep the soil moist in the upper two feet of the soil on are essentially alternate bearing plants, which means they established plants. bear a heavy fruit crop one year followed by a lighter crop Usually, avocadoes in California experience fewer pest the following year. BC and disease issues than elsewhere with the exception being root rot. Rot resistant varieties are recommended. Connie Krochmal knows all about plants and bees and lives Scab resistant varieties are good choices for Florida and in Kentucky. the Southeast. In the Southeast, fungal diseases can occur, mostly powdery mildew, scab, and anthracnose. In California, snails can be a problem, while in Florida scales can damage the plants. Recently, avocado lace bugs were found on avocado plants in Hawaii.

Bee Value and Pollination of Avocado Avocado blossoms are a rich source of pollen and nectar. The sticky, heavy pollen is released during the second opening of the fl owers. Plants receiving adequate soil moisture are more fl oriferous. Climate, weather, and growing conditions can affect the nectar fl ow.

Avocado blossom. May 2020 BEE CULTURE 83

May2020.indd 83 4/8/2020 7:26:46 PM Friend Or Foe Wasps & Hornets The recent discovery of one of the deadly blow. inspecting the bean plants I realized Asian hornets, Vespa mandarinia, in This is the time of year when I had the larvae and a few adults Washington State and neighboring gardens, vegetable and fl ower, are of bean beetles, an unwanted pest. British Columbia, has increased being planted across the country. As I stood there, a yellowjacket fl ew awareness of stinging insects that Some of the warmer areas have in, grabbed a larva and fl ew away. cause problems. This particular gardens well under way. The garden In about two or so minutes the hornet does have an appetite for shops have been raided for seeds, yellowjacket returned then fl ew off honey bees, thus making it an young plants, fertilizers, garden again with her prey. Her nest must unwanted critter in the vicinity hoses and in many cases for “bug have been close since the fl ight time of honey bee hives. In Western sprays” to keep the garden pests was short. Or perhaps her nestmates Europe and now extending into under control. Beekeepers may prefer were also collecting the bean beetle the United Kingdom a problem is to use controls that would not be larvae. My beans were being cared a second, different, Asian hornet, lethal to their pollinating honey bees. for by yellowjackets. I needed to do Vespa velutina, that also prefers However, outside of the gardens, nothing. honey bees as a large part of its diet insect control methods might be A yellowjacket out foraging for and that of the hornets’ developing used. Quite a number of stinging larval food is no more dangerous larvae. There is no doubt that these insects are happy to be of service in than a honey bee out foraging for two are a distinct problem for honey insect control. These insects need to pollen and nectar. Yes, you could bees and their beekeepers, not only be appreciated and conserved. get stung by either one if you get in outside their native range, but also It may seem strange to someone their way and have a collision. So inside it. These two are true hornets. who has encountered yellowjackets step aside and let the yellowjackets Beekeepers realize that their own and their stings that these and honey bees get on with their honey bees can sting but have learned yellowjackets are a very desirable work. If you do fi nd the entrance how to avoid those stings. The honey garden helper. Unfortunately the hole to a yellowjacket nest, mark bees bring praises for their pollination majority of yellowjackets, in the it with sticks or little fl ags to avoid work and honey production. However genus Vespula, nest in the ground, in your disturbing them and their honey bees are just one of an old rodent cavities. Only a small hole defensive actions. They and their assortment of stinging insects that in the ground is the only entry/exit to nest will be gone by late Summer and are actually extremely valuable. the underground nest. All is well until defi nitely by frost. In warm climates Unfortunately these stinging insects someone mows or walks over the hole. an imported yellowjacket, Vespula are misunderstood, unappreciated Then, rightfully so, the yellowjackets germanica, can continue to live and frequently annihilated for one become defensive – defending their through warm Winters especially in reason only – they sting. However, home with developing young and sheltered places. V. germanica is the if you ever have to cope with either food supply. A normal reaction to yellowjacket most frequently found (or both) mandarinia or velutina I disturbance. Our honey bees do living in walls of houses and other can recommend a control used in a exactly the same but beekeepers have structures. number of countries where these are learned how to cope. Yellowjackets especially, as well native – old, used cricket bats. They The diet for the developing as other kinds of wasps, can become have fl at surfaces and will deliver a yellowjacket larvae is protein. Other quite a problem as the Summer is wasps and hornets also need to feed ending and the workers lives are Ann Harman protein to developing larvae. Our ending. There may be no more larvae honey bees collect pollen, laden with to feed so the unemployed adults are proteins. The nurse honey bees use out searching for food, energy for pollen to manufacture brood food and also mix with other substances for brood food. The yellowjacket’s source of protein is other insects, adult or larval stage, that are actually made of an assortment of proteins. The adult yellowjackets will forage – search for sources – and your gardens may be excellent places to search. Mine was. Many years ago I was raising pole beans in my vegetable Wasp garden. One morning when I was

84 BEE CULTURE May 2020

May2020.indd 84 4/8/2020 7:26:47 PM themselves. That “energy food” can be near human traffi c. provide food for the developing wasp rotting fruit in an orchard or a sweet My barn is kept clean of too larvae. When you actually see the drink in a can or glass. At this time of many spider webs by a few of very white cocoons, the caterpillar is year the helpful yellowjackets, wasps hard-working, but very docile wasps, basically dead. The wasp larvae, and hornet can indeed become pests the Pipe Organ Mud Dauber wasps, many of them, have consumed the themselves. The workers will be dying Trypoxylon politom. Some spiders and entire inside of the caterpillar. Wasps but the mated queens are searching their webs are useful in keeping fl ies at their best! Insect control. Never for protected locations where they will under control. But a barn can have destroy those white cocoons because sleep through the winter. New nests too many spider webs. So somehow the adult wasps will be emerging to will be established in Spring. a balance had been achieved with continue their pest control. There are two yellowjackets fl ies, spiders and wasps. When the Now we must consider another that make large paper-encased female Mud Dauber is hard-at-work group of insects that are hard at work nests in trees or bushes. One, with bringing in mud to construct her for us but unfortunately are killed typical yellow and black stripes, is “organ pipes” she fl ies quietly around because of their appearance. The Dolichovespula arenaria. The other people, horses, dog and cats. It’s mimics! You can have bumble bee one, misnamed “bald-faced hornet” hard work bringing in the mud and mimics, wasp mimics, yellowjacket (or white-faced hornet), is not a shaping the tubes, but the “organ mimics and bee mimics. They cannot hornet at all, but is a yellowjacket, pipes” are impressive. Fresh mud sting for a very good reason – they Dolichovespula maculata, that preys “organ pipes” are made each year by are all different types of fl ies! Flies on many kinds of fl ies. At the end of the new female. She was mated last do not have the sting apparatus that the season the gray paper nests can autumn and found a sheltered place bees and wasps have. Flies have only be seen in trees and are frequently to overwinter. one pair of wings; bees, wasps and collected for display. Unfortunately Not all wasps construct nests hornets have two pair. Flies usually they are usually called “hornet nests.” to live in colonies. There are many have large eyes and short antennae; But what is more unfortunate they solitary wasps that are working very bees and wasps have smaller eyes are sometimes shown as honey bee hard to keep harmful insects under and longer antennae. However, you hives in cartoons or other drawings. control. Some of these solitary wasps may not want to inspect such insects Back in the middle of the 1800s are so small that we never notice too closely or for too long a time. the one true hornet in the U.S., them or perhaps think they are some (They are fascinating to watch. But Vespa crabro, was brought into New sort of tiny gnat just fl ying along. they do have work to do.) One trait York. Its native area is Europe. It Those people in the Eastern half of can be more easily noticed – many of constructs a paper nest in a cavity the U.S., and also along the coastal them hover. Just fl ying in one place, such as a hollow tree. It preys on a part of California, have had to cope frequently over flowers. Bees and number of different insects. It does with the Asia brown marmorated wasps do not hover. have one peculiar habit of hovering stink bug. This pest arrived in The adults do eat nectar and around porch lights at night. They the eastern U.S. and proceeded to pollen from fl owers but the larvae will not sting if left undisturbed but damage ripening fruit and vegetables, consume aphids. So these mimics can capture prey—other insects fl ying not only in small gardens but also can be considered quite valuable for around the light. Just try not to have in commercial farms. Furthermore keeping pests under control. Many a collision. The hornets will return it became a house pest, invading of the mimics do not have hairy home when the light is turned off. homes by the hundreds or thousands bodies but the bumble bee and bee The paper wasps, Polistes spp. to winter over in a protected place. In mimics are quite fuzzy. The mimics that build small paper combs under its native eastern countries of China are considered pollinators but the eaves of houses and barns keep and Japan, a small solitary wasp kept extent of their pollination has not various caterpillars under control. this pest under control. Today, one of been studied in depth. The small open combs usually our native small solitary wasps has During your late Spring and disappear during the winter winds discovered this stink bug and is now defi nitely during the Summer months and rain, but the wasp’s work has working hard to keep it controlled. visit your vegetable garden and any been done during the warm season. Those gardeners who raise fl owers whether in your garden or The Polistes wasps can be quite tomatoes are always happy to see just growing wild. See if you can fi nd defensive and will readily sting if a tomato hornworm decorated with any of the yellowjackets, wasps and disturbed. Fortunately the small numerous upright white cocoons. mimics. Of course you may also fi nd combs in the eaves are usually not The tomato hornworm is actually the some of the solitary bees. Yes, you larval or caterpillar stage of a Sphinx can wear your bee veil if you wish. Moth. It is related to the tobacco Remember when these insects are at hornworm. Now you know what work they are not interested in you these caterpillars like for food! Both but collisions can occur. You may see can be very destructive to their host quite an assortment of solitary wasps plants. Those upright, white cocoons and mimics on fl owers, sipping some are the work of a small parasitic nectar – their energy drink. Always wasp, one of the Braconid family keep in mind that although some of of wasps. These are all very small, these insects can sting they all are much less than an inch, and are only keeping the gardens and meadows interested in having the caterpillars thriving. BC

May 2020 BEE CULTURE 85

May2020.indd 85 4/8/2020 7:26:47 PM A Closer Look Basic Honey Bee Biology

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Clarence H. Collison July86 2018 BEEBEE CULTURECULTURE May 202065

July2018.inddMay2020.ind d 65 86 7/5/20184/8/202 0 10:20:24 7:26:47 AM PM A Closer Look Basic Honey Bee Biology Rowanppropolis Brownropolis You may know propolis mostly as so that the hive remains sanitary and that propolis may have anti- a nuisance. It cements boxes together protected. carcinogenic properties that help and leaves dark tacky stains on bee In the past, beekeepers tried to to treat specifi c forms of cancer. In suits. It runs down the side of your remove propolis from hives because a laboratory setting, compounds hive like molasses in the Summer they thought it led to a decrease in the in propolis were shown to slow the and shatters like ice in the Winter. amount of honey produced. Groups growth of cancerous cells by up to It may gum up tools and ruin the attempted to breed species that didn’t sixty percent. Propolis kills the cancer neat aesthetic of the combs, but it produce propolis at all, but that led to by interfering with its reproductive is absolutely essential for a healthy hives that were far more susceptible abilities. This allows propolis to be hive. to parasites and pathogens. Now, toxic to the harmful cells without The word propolis, coined by beekeepers understand that more hurting anything else in the body. So Aristotle, is the same as the Greek propolis leads to a healthier hive and far, it has been tested against cancers word for “suburb” or “extended are fi nding new ways to make their of the nose, throat, and colon. city.” Supposedly this is because hives produce more propolis, either Unregulated products containing the Greeks recognized it as an to bolster the health of the hive or propolis should be used with caution essential material for hive growth the health of their human caretakers. as they can contain contamination and construction and even from pesticides and may harvested it for themselves result in an allergic reaction to use in medicine and if used consistently over long religious ceremonies. They periods of time. weren’t the only ancient societies to recognize its Harvesting Your Own value. The Assyrians used Propolis it to treat cancer and the If you’d like your hive Egyptians used to embalm to produce more propolis their pharaohs. either for the health of the bees or for your own use, What is Propolis? the harvesting process is Propolis is essentially fairly simple. Bees naturally hive glue. Its main try to fi x any imperfections ingredient is plant resin. with propolis, so all you need Though the most famous to do is add some artifi cial examples of resin are the blemishes to your boxes and sticky saps from conifers, the bees will do the rest. the substance is actually produced Some easy ways to do this include by many different types of trees, Propolis and Human Health adding grooves to the inside of the shrubs, and even fl owers. Bees collect Propolis’s antiseptic and boxes with a chisel or scraping up these of resins while they are warm antioxidant characteristics make it the wood superfi cially with a wire and liquifi ed, then grind them up perfect for use as a natural treatment brush. If you’d like to harvest the and mix them with enzymes in their for minor cuts and bruises. It has been propolis for yourself or keep it more stomachs. Finally, they extrude the shown to reduce swelling and prevent contained within the hive, there are mixture out onto any imperfections the spread of infections. Propolis can propolis traps available for purchase. in the hive. Propolis is most often be applied as an ointment to heal These traps are essentially fl exible located around the openings and everything from sunburns to canker screens made of wire mesh or plastic. cracks of the boxes where it acts as sores, or it can be ingested to help The bustling bees make quick work a sealant, regulating the size and with stomach and intestinal issues. of sealing up all of the individual location of exits and keeping the The most common propolis product openings leaving you with a sheet temperature stable. It can also be is a throat spray. Supposedly, this of pure propolis. Removing the used to neutralize threats or just tidy is an immunity booster that can be product is typically quite easy, all you up the bee’s living quarters. Say an administered at times of sickness or have to do is take advantage of its outsider, like a small lizard, makes its stress. The argument is that if it can temperature sensitivity. Simply place way into the hive and dies. Instead of protect the health of the hive, it may the screen in a refrigerator for a few letting the invader putrefy, the bees be able to protect your health as well. minutes and when you take it out, mummify the remains with propolis Some newer research indicates the propolis should fl ake off easily. BC Clarence H. Collison May 2020 BEE CULTURE 87

July2018.indd 65 7/5/2018 10:20:24 AM May2020.indd 87 4/8/2020 7:26:48 PM CommunicaƟ ng On PesƟ cides RULES David Zaruk 10One of the biggest challenges for any risk When people feel vulnerable, they seek out someone communications professional today is to deliver they can trust and who understands them. Don’t answer positive messages on pesticides. Like any their questions with data, alienating chemical names communications process, trust is essential, but in or titles of important scientists or institutions. Try to put a chemophobic world, trust in chemicals is a rare your answer into a personal story, compare the risk commodity. Pesticides found on the food the public to an everyday exposure (like a cup of coffee) and try consumes creates a vulnerability (fear) that cannot to demonstrate why farmers use these products. Anti- easily be overcome. People have to be convinced that chemical gurus became popular because they understood their food is safe, any pesticide residues are of no and shared the vulnerabilities the public felt. risk and are there for a reason. In this case, we are asking a mother feeding her child to trust the chemical 2. CELEBRATE ACHIEVEMENTS: HIGHER YIELDS, industry – a challenge indeed. SECURE HARVESTS, LESS LABOR It wouldn’t be half as hard were it not for the Malthus thought the world could not feed one billion opportunists seeking to take advantage of a vulnerable people. Agri-technology has allowed man to feed an ever- population worried about their health and the growing population with higher yields and less input environment. With social media networks making it and this should be celebrated. Man is a story-telling feel like cancer is found in every spoonful, frightened animal and the development of each pesticide is a story consumers reach for their wallets and the dream of of how scientists were able to fi nd a means to solve a a chemical-free world. The narrative driven by the problem and allow farmers to successfully bring a crop chemophobic activist community is that pesticides are to harvest. Children in most countries no longer need dangerous to consumers, unnecessary and destroying to spend their Summers pulling weeds. The best story the environment. They have left most of us thinking to tell is one of food security: We no longer live in fear there must be some evil industry conspiracy wanting of major global crop failures – the technology is proven to pollute the countryside, poison children and profi t and trusted. from some intentional cancer plague. Anti-GM campaigners have recently shifted their 3. MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE NATURAL VS strategy to focus on how seeds are bred to resist SYNTHETIC SOURCE IS NOT AN ISSUE certain pesticides. The activist attacks on glyphosate A dominant cultural narrative today is that were part of an anti-GM campaign. Their logic is clear: natural is trusted. Organic food lobbyists like to claim attacking golden rice or GM brinjal was not going to their pesticides are safer because they come from a increase memberships or donations, but pesticides natural source. But the public needs to understand attract public fear with minimal effort. that all pesticides contain toxins that are used to So for those taking up the challenge of getting solve specifi c problems (if they weren’t effective, they the public to warm to pesticides (or pesticide-resistant would not be used). Consumers must be reassured that seeds), allow me to catalogue what I feel are 10 best all toxins used in crop protection, whether natural practices. There have been mis- takes in the past or synthetic in origin, have been well tested and are as there will likely be in future, but perhaps an open safe. The organic industry needs to behave in a more discussion is the best place to start. ethical manner here.

TEN RULES FOR COMMUNICATING ON 4. USE PRECISE TERMS WHEN POSSIBLE: PESTICIDES INSECTICIDE, HERBICIDE, FUNGICIDE 1. DON’T DIMINISH HOW PEOPLE FEEL The word “pesticide” obviously has a bad connotation. FRIGHTENED OR DISMISS THEIR CONCERNS More importantly, it does not say what the substance Scientifi cally literate individuals understand the does. An insecticide kills insects – insects eat crops. If insignificant levels of pesticide residues found on the public has a better idea what a substance does, they most foods, the comparatively high levels of hazardous can better accept its necessity. While we don’t want natural chemicals and the decades of research that have pesticides, we also don’t want insects in our food, weeds gone into registration and compliance of all pesticides. in our garden or moulds or blight on our plants. A But the public does not and they have been made precise vocabulary is essential in risk communications. to believe, most recently with the Monsanto Papers, that nobody knows with any certainty if any pesticides are 5. SHOW WHY FARMERS USE PESTICIDES safe at all. A scientist who dismisses their concerns, (BENEFITS) AND ONLY WHEN NECESSARY regardless how ridiculous they sound, is quickly Farmers and farming are seen differently. dismissed. Farming is seen as a rather simple process: you plant

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May2020.indd 88 4/8/2020 7:26:50 PM a seed and in a couple months you take a harvest to attracted to advanced technologies. Precision agriculture market (. . . and I grew beans in my garden once!). is one such example of an attractive technology that Conventional farmers, on the other hand, seem to work could capture the public imagination if the story is told for some industrial complex, poison the land and don’t well. care about public health. The organic food lobby bias that conventional farmers spray (douse, drench . . .) 8. DEMONSTRATE VISUALLY THE VOLUME OF indiscriminately is inexcusable. The public needs to COMPLIANCE RESEARCH STUDIES understand that farmers use pesticides only when there The pesticide risk assessment process is not is a reason, at the lowest levels possible (it costs money) widely understood and trust in regulators is declining. and with prevention in mind. There are clear benefi ts in Activists have made the process seem sinister: that using them. If a farmer could successfully grow crops a company puts a poison on the market with no data, without pesticides, surely he or she would. and when cancers start to increase, the company then lobbies regulators to allow them to continue to make 6. PRESENT PESTICIDES AS PART OF A FARMER’S profi ts. If people understood the amount of testing and TOOLKIT USED IN DIFFICULT TASKS compliance measures required before a product goes Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a good on the market, and the levels of research required to example of how a farmer has many tools to deliver a keep it on the market, their trust in the process may crop to market, including pesticides. But these tools improve. I often hear the terms “10 years and 10,000 need to be of the best quality (farmers generally use pages” to describe how the risk assessment process the best crop protection tools available). Each time works. That image needs to be visualized in a way to a pesticide is removed from the market (and this is show the volume of work and research required to happening in Brussels at an alarming rate), farmers comply. have to look for alternative tools (often older pesticides with less sustainable profi les). The public, especially 9. PUT TOXICITY INTO A BANALISING the media and policy-makers, have to understand that CONTEXT banning impor- tant farming tools is not necessarily a Most people are numerically illiterate (they step in the right direction. buy lottery tickets to pay off their credit card debt). Expressing toxicity in terms of LD50s to a person 7. HIGHLIGHT THE 50-YEAR TREND OF LOWERING who equates “chemical” with “cancer” is a waste of DOSE LEVELS, BETTER TECHNOLOGIES time. You need to put the toxicity into a context people The fi rst pesticides on the market in the 1960s understand. For example, if you get people to remember were admittedly rather harsh (like any emerging there are more carcinogens in a cup of coffee than in the technology). But over the last 50 years, scientists pesticide residues of a year’s consumption of fruit and have worked to continuously improve agri-technologies vegetables (Bruce Ames), they may begin to understand (product stewardship), lowering dosages, reducing the risk a bit better (or stop drinking coffee). To say environmental and health impacts and providing glyphosate has a very low toxicity is meaningless, but if better crop performance. Activists like to portray you show how it is less toxic than ingredients found in the industry with old images of crop dusters and chocolate or biscuits, maybe they will get it. I call this military grade chemicals – they know the public might be the banalisation of risk.

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May2020.indd 89 4/8/2020 7:26:50 PM 10. HELP PEOPLE FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION FOR THEMSELVES An essential element of trust is agency. I fear flying more than driving my car to the airport because I Stuttering know I am in control of the vehicle. If I can fi nd correct infor- mation on pesticides myself I will gain my own understanding. Any communication effort should Gets the Royal leave the audience with a means to find out more information by themselves. When I tell people there are more carcinogens in a cup of coffee, I ask them to Treatment Google “Bruce Ames + coffee + pesticides.” There is a lot of information out there, but people need to be sent in a good direction. A passive receiver hears information, an active one learns it. These 10 rules make communicating on pesticides seem easy. Of course anyone who has tried this challenging task will attest it is not. There are many clever and manipulative activists who are always one step ahead of you, using fear tools like children, bees and fear of cancer to undermine public trust. NGOs or social media gurus have no ethical codes of conduct restricting their behavior (so their lies and fear-mongering can be justifi ed in a sort of Machiavellian zealot ethics). Neither industry nor regulators can play by the same rules. An important element of trust is the messenger. An industry spokesperson is probably the least credible voice to deliver a positive story on pesticides. Farmers and scientists need to step up and be the story-tellers. They too will suffer from the continued aggressive assault on agri-technology. I am sure there must be 10 more rules to King George VI, whose live broadcasts of add to this conversation and each pesticide or class hope and inspiration kept the spirits of the of substances are different. Cultures have different British people alive during the dark days of perspectives (many languages consider pesticides as World War II, met the challenge of stutter- medicines for plants) and there are different levels of ing with courage. scientifi c literacy. One point is certain: we have a general If you stutter, you should know about this idea today what doesn’t work when communicating on gentle and courageous man, dramatized in pesticides. Things can only improve – right? BC The King’s Speech. For more information on how you can meet your challenge, contact us. David Zaruk is a professor based in Brussels writing on environmental-health risk policy within the EU Bubble. He writes a blog under the name: The Risk-Monger. The comments in the THE Risk Corner are his own and does not necessarily represent the STUTTERING www.StutteringHelp.org FOUNDATION® views of European Seed. www.tartamudez.org A Nonprofit Organization Since 1947—Helping Those Who Stutter reprinted with permission from European Seed. 800-992-9392 Who’s Keeping Whom?

By our hands, they’ve reached stange lands: All continents, save one. From humble beginnings, they keep on winning, Toiling under foreig suns.

They do our bidding? Who are you kidding? Who’s really in contol? You’ve been colonized, open your eyes, The bees reversed the roles.

We get honey, sure. But it’s just the lure They use to keep you sweet. We’ve all been played, but it’s ok. Just relax, and admit defeat. Peter Keilt Beesforall.com

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May2020.indd 90 4/8/2020 7:26:50 PM Corner view of AZ frames. Concave top/bottom.

The AZ View inside AZ hive. shows parts of three Hive chambers. Bottom with some frames, middle no Journey frames and top with inner door on. Debra Langley-Boyer

Who thought a daughter and one beekeeping class could cause chaos in my life? In 2016 my daughter talked me into taking a two-hour beekeeping class. She said she wanted to keep bees. Now my life includes four AZ hives and thousands of bees, yet she has no hive or bees. Once I decided to keep bees, my initial research revealed that I had a serious problem, the Langstroth hives were too heavy for me. I found the solution in an article in ‘Mother Earth News’ magazine on AZ hives. Although I was told by more than one beekeeper that “you must start with Langstroth hives,” I knew the Slovenian AŽ hive had been used in Europe for over 100 years. The AZ hive has similar attributes to the Langstroth hive. It has frames, chambers (boxes) and the traditional bee space. The AZ hive enhances the design to make it easier for beekeepers to use with less disturbance for the bees. It is especially designed to fi t those who have trouble lifting heavy boxes. The AZ hive is designed like a cabinet with the bee entrance on the back and the beekeeper access through a door. It consists of individual chambers, that are accessed through a separate inner door and a set of frames. The frames slide in and out on horizonal rods placed below the frames. Lifting is limited to one frame at a time, which is perfect for me. Between each chamber is a separating divider board. This board can be solid (to separate completely), slotted (for easy bee fl ow), or a Inside shelter, looking at two two-chamber hives and two queen excluder. four-chamber hives with one outer door open.

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May2020.indd 91 4/8/2020 7:26:51 PM Front view of shelter with hives bee entrances. Two four-cham- View of AZ feeder. jars of sugar water on either side. Empty ber hives with yellow fl owers. On right inset two two-chamber hole in center for another jar. hives. Murals of Mt. Rainier and Olympics with garden and na- tive fl owers for bees.

Working AZ Hive inside shelter. Corner of shelter working chamber two of the four- chamber hives.

Club AZ bee entrance. Landing board and bee entrance on AZ hive.

AZ hives are kept in a bee house or similar building, in the U.S. An AZ hive cost about $500 but lasts longer I converted a shelter that was for my llamas to one for and are often passed on to the next generation. Based on my bees. The bee house protects the bees as well as cost, I designed and built my own. This was a challenging the beekeeper and equipment from the elements. The project as there were no plans available. After many hours beekeeper accesses the bees from inside the bee house of design and construction, I have two wonderful four- via the chamber they want to inspect. This allows elderly chamber AZ hives that are installed in my bee shelter. or handicapped beekeepers to easily work their bees The bees came next. I purchased two fi ve-frame nucs (including wheelchair users). The hives can be opened in in Langstroth frames. I then removed the foundation with the rain if needed. They can also be made mobile when comb, brood, and honey by cutting off the Langstroth put on a trailer. frame and put the foundation in my new AZ frames. This AZ hives seemed ideal for me except I encountered was a bit messy but worked well. a lack of information and access to supplies, including Bees are bees. Naturally, bees propolis and add bur hives. After more research, I only found a couple of people comb wherever they can. To help limit this the frames only in the USA that sold AZ hives and even less information, have a few contact points. Metal spacers at the front and especially in English. I chose the American AZ hive which on the inner door to keep 3/8-inch bee space. The frames is a variation of the Slovenian AZ beehive with frames have concave top and bottom that sit on the rods, with the same size as the Langstroth frame. Thus, they fi t the no tabs. This makes removing the frames easy, unless same foundation and honey extractors commonly used the bees have added extra bur comb. Sliding the frames

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May2020.indd 92 4/8/2020 7:26:51 PM AZ frame spacers on inner door holding frames.

hives are a good choice for those needing less lifting, weather protection and hobby beekeepers like me. I have since added two more hives with two-chambers each for queen rearing. My daughter continues to manipulate me and loves the honey. I love my bees and the AZ hives. BC

Further information can be found online below are View on inside an AZ Hive with two frames out. Slotted some recommended sites. divider boards on top and bottom. Rods frames sit on  The Bee Shop – Drebbieville hives – Information and bottom. sales (American AZ hive)  Slovenian Beekeeping – information and sales to the side after removing the frame next to it usually (traditional AŽ hives) disconnects it easily. If you do not regularly tend your  Facebook has a few groups – AZ Hivers and AZ Hive hive, and the bees build too much in the wrong place, it Creators. AZ Hives -Pacifi c Northwest is diffi cult just like a Langstroth hive. The AZ hives are worked by moving frames, not adding new chambers to the top. The hive still has the brood chamber on the bottom and honey above. Since the number of chambers never changes, you must tend them via moving the frames. Feeders can be added to the back between the inner and outer door. Ventilation is done with openings at bee entrance and in the top outer back door. My bees have done very well in the AZ hives. I’ve had 100% Winter survival so far after three Winters. I like being able to work them in any weather. I even treat them in the late Fall with rain. I can heat the shelter to keep the hive from getting a chill when I open it up, not breaking the Winter cluster. With the screen I can peek in and see my bees year-round, adding to my enjoyment, as well as checking on my bees. The American AZ hive has not been in the U.S. too long but is taking hold as more find the benefi ts of this style of hive. AZ

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