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June2021.indd 4 5/18/2021 8:47:48 AM Bee Culture June Features . . .
TECHNOLOGY TIPS FOR ‘BEE MAN’ NORM GARY 59 Urban beekeeping. BEEKEEPERS 19 Abstracts from WAS 2020. Kathy Keatley Garvey submitted by Malcolm Sanford 15 YEARS OF NATIONAL PROPOLIS FOR COVID-19 23 POLLINATOR WEEK 64 Evidence that propolis can help reduce the impact of COVID-19. Celebrate with us June 21-27, 2021.
Andresa Aparecida Berretta, Kelly Rourke Marcelo Augusto Duarte Silveira, José Manuel Còndor Capcha, David De Jong DRONE CONGREGATION AREAS 66 DCAs – what you should know. GRANT MONEY TO START Theresa Martin BEEKEEPING? 41 Everyone is concerned about the plight of our honey bees. U.S. HONEY PRODUCERS 70 Jon Zawislak Fear of the future. Pamela Parker HOW TO HAGGLE ON THE FARM 46 Poor dirt farmer – be wary! WAYS TO MOVE BEES 72 Stephen Bishop In the early 19th century. Jim Thompson APIARY INSPECTION 53 What’s happening in South Carolina TASTEFUL BEES 75 Stephen Cavin Yumo. Sher Hackwell ALMONDS AND BEES 54 It’s a partnership. THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF
Josette Lewis ROBOTIC POLLINATORS 79 It’s happening. POLLINATOR WEEK 55 R. Michael Magnini Honey Bee Health Coali on. Matt Mulica SUCCESSFUL QUEEN REARING 83 Queen cell incubator. MINDING YOUR BEES AND CUES 56 Daniel Kluger It’s ge ng warmer. How will bees respond? Becky Masterman and Bridget Mendel
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 • Kim Lehman • Jay Evans Connie Krochmal • Jessica Louque • 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), June 2021, Volume 149, Issue 6, 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] Retreaving a swarm. Photo by Lynda Published by The A.I. Root Co. Copyright© 2021. All rights reserved. Bracken, Rural Retreat, VA.
June 2021 BEE CULTURE 5
June2021.indd 5 5/18/2021 8:47:51 AM 6 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 6 5/18/2021 8:47:55 AM June 2021 BEE CULTURE 7
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NEW FOR YOU 11 BEEING DIVERSE: INSPIRING Varrox Eddy. New at NOD Apiary Products. LEADERS IN BEEKEEPING 48 Bee Culture’s Annual Event returns with an incredible lineup of speakers. SUMMER READING 30 Bee Culture Team Honey For Dummies; Work I Knew I Must BEE VET 50 FOUND IN TRANSLATION 32 “Sylvatic” with Dr. Lòpez-Uribe. News from the management. Tracy Farone Jay Evans BIGGER PICTURE 62 A CLOSER LOOK – HONEY BEE Feeding your bees. Think ahead. POLLINATION 35 Jessica Louque
Sex between flowers. Clarence Collison THE FORAGING SEASON 88 Pollination, only a part of the bees’ foraging life. BEE KIDS’ CORNER 38 James E. Tew
All the buzz . . . for the kids? Kim Lehman RECIPES 93 Pan Fried Bananas. RENEWAL TIME FOR ME 47 Shana Archibald Re rement or me for renewal? John Miller BOTTOM BOARD 96 First the bees. Ed Colby
In Every Month – Honeycomb Hannah 9 What’s going on in the hive. From The Editor – 14 It’s Summers Time! 15 Bees, plants and maybe Summer. Next Month 16 What should you be doing? Honey Market Report 17 Comparing regional prices. Study Hall 20 Q&A.
June 2021 BEE CULTURE 9
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June2021.indd 10 5/18/2021 8:48:01 AM inspiring time for us,” said Kathleen New For The Beekeeper – Ireland, Director of Sales and Mar- keting of NOD Apiary Products Ltd. NOD’s future Honey bee Health The fi rst oxalic acid evaporator the device at the touch of a button. Education Centre, which will aim to with Li-Ion technology The treatment time and temperature provide hands on beekeeping cours- Varrox Eddy is the fi rst oxalic are electronically controlled by the es through mentorship, aligns with acid evaporator with included bat- device and stopped as soon as the Dr. Heather Broccard-Bell’s new role tery. No more towing of power gen- fi lled amount has vaporized. and her passion for delivering inter- erators or heavy car batteries. Var- To speed up the treatment, active educational lectures on honey rox Eddy is lightweight, handy and when the light fl ashes white, remove bees. weighs less than 1.3 lbs including the Eddy, turn the Eddy upside Dr. Broccard-Bell shares, “It’s a the battery. A single key press on down to release the used pan and common perception that successful the device is enough to start the replace it with an OA fi lled one. This agricultural practices must be op- treatment. With a fully charged bat- helps dissipate the heat and readies posed to environmental concerns. tery, you can treat up to 15 hives! the Eddy for insertion into the next However, NOD's products and focus The full battery charging time is a hive. Seal the hive and as soon as on education make it abundantly maximum of four hours. The Eddy the lights are green, start the next clear that there are ways in which requires an opening of at least .6 of treatment. agricultural practices can minimize an inch high and 3.54 inches wide. Just follow the lights and push impacts on native ecosystems and Well within most hive openings. buttons! It does not get any simpler. human health, while supporting Want to learn more? Go to productive and profi table business- Description OxaVap.com! es. I am absolutely delighted to join An oxalic acid dihydrate treat- NOD in their efforts to further real- ment with the evaporator Varrox ize this goal!” Eddy is not only gentle for the bees, NOD Apiary Products Ltd. is but also safe for the user. Place the proud to announce the addition of About NOD Apiary Products device under the beehive and start Dr. Heather Broccard-Bell to the NOD Apiary Products Ltd. is a the treatment with a single push of NOD team as Honey Bee Health Canadian company formed in 1997 a button. The user can walk away Researcher, effective immediate- by beekeepers in Canada. Honey- from the beehive until the end of ly. As head of research activities, bee and animal health is our focus. the treatment. Thanks to the LED Dr. Broccard-Bell will contribute to The founders at NOD developed a lights, it is possible to monitor the NOD Apiary Products’ commitment practical, sustainable miticide for progress of the treatment from a dis- to innovation, quality and education the beekeeping industry that uses tance. The device signals with extra for the betterment of the global bee- formic acid as the active ingredient bright and colored LED lights what keeping community. to control varroa, tracheal and tro- to do next. Dr. Broccard-Bell joins the NOD pilaelaps mites. When properly for- team with an impressive education mulated, this organic miticide elimi- Application (B.A. in Psychology, M.Sc. in Neuro- nates the risk of residues in the hive Treatments with oxalic acid di- science and Ph.D. in Behaviour and and can be used safely during the hydrate are best in a brood-free Evolution), as well as research expe- honey fl ow. Formic Pro® and Mite state. Vaporization is great to use rience specifi c to beekeeping, honey Away Quick Strips® after catching a swarm as there is bees and animal health. (MAQS Beehive Strips) are reg- no brood and you start with a mite She has spent over 15 years de- istered in several countries across free hive! signing and conducting studies on Europe, and in Canada, The United Simply load the proper amount animal health, and the past seven States, and New Zealand. of OA into the cup of the Varrox Eddy years focusing on honey bee health, NOD Apiary Products Ltd. con- and slide it into the entrance. Seal disease prevention and under- tinues to aid the developing apicul- the open parts of the entrance with standing how bees communicate. ture industry by producing organic a damp cloth or foam strip and start Dr. Broccard-Bell has also devoted and sustainable Honey bee health many years to teaching biology, psy- products. NOD Apiary Products chology, and neuroscience universi- was awarded the Ontario Premier!s ty courses, making her a perfect fi t Award for Agri-Food Innovation Ex- to lead NOD’s research and educa- cellence, 2006, Innovation Project of tion programs. the Year, 2008 and Agri Business of “We are beyond excited to wel- the Year, 2011. Our passion is Hon- come Dr. Broccard-Bell to the NOD ey bee health and young livestock team. We have always put a strong wellness, and as such, we are dedi- focus on innovation and education cated to environmental stewardship. here at NOD, and to have Heather To fi nd out more about NOD Apiary leading our upcoming Honey bee Products Ltd., please visit www. Health Education Centre is a very nodglobal.com.
June 2021 BEE CULTURE 11
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June2021.indd 13 5/18/2021 8:48:15 AM A little History. As an offi cial knowledgeable, experienced, wise beekeeper (Old) here is what I was swept along in. Varroa mites were fi rst ID’d in the U.S. in 1987. This started the slip- pery slope that many of you have ab- sorbed as ‘normal’ honey bee colony health and management issues. For me as a beekeeper this was trans- formative. Before this the only thing beekeepers generally had to think Any recognition of the impor- would look like without Honey Bees. about was AFB and EFB. Several tance of managed Honey Bees and Then think about you and your years later we had this thing that we other pollinators is valuable. Why? neighbors backyard vegetable and named Colony Collapse Disorder or I am going to guess that none of us fl ower gardens. Let’s say for easy CCD. We called it Colony Collapse are totally self-suffi cient in food pro- math reasons that Honey Bees can Disorder in 2006 because we didn’t duction. When you walk into your forage effi ciently in about a two mile know what it was at the time so it favorite Big Box or little box grocery radius of their colony. That is ap- was a ‘Disorder’. Now we know it is you don’t walk into the paper tow- prox. 8000 acres. Think about what a multi-factorial chronic issue that el or toilet paper aisle. No, you walk is growing in 8000 acres around is primarily the impact of Varroa/ into the Produce Section. This is your home and/or home apiary or Varroa Virus Legacy. But, these and where color, smell, taste and nutri- outyard. How many fl owering plants other additional pest, predators and tional value reside. And these fruits, are there over a years time? How diseases, such as SHB, and viruses nuts, veg, greens are there predom- many of those are producing food for like DWV that caused a rise in honey inately because a managed honey the grower to eat or sell? How many bee colony deaths from an average bee helped that plant have ‘sex’ and are producing food for deer, turkeys, of approximately 10% to 30%-40%- move pollen from one fl ower part birds of all sorts, raccoons and who 50% and more brought reality to the to another. Plants can’t pull them- knows what else? How many seeds rest of our world about the health of selves up by the roots and walk over go uneaten that germinate and allow honey bees. Honey Bees were con- and fertilize a seed embryo. They the plant or tree to extend its genetic sidered the ‘Canary in the Coal Mine’ have come up with this amazing col- survival? because they interact with our en- laboration with an insect. Two differ- The impact of what you do as a vironment in many ways and what ent species cooperating. They some- hobby beekeeper with two colonies was this dramatic change in honey how agreed that if you will take my in your backyard, a sideline bee- bee health? What did it mean for pollen over there to that other fl ow- keeper with a 150 colonies or a com- us? What did it mean for pollinator er I’ll share some sweet nectar with mercial beekeeper with 5000 is un- dependent food production? What you and you can keep some of the believably tremendous. That is why did it mean for the environment that pollen too. Wind pollination is very National Pollinator Week is for you also depended on pollination for ineffi cient and resource dependent. to highlight with your friends, neigh- plants to reproduce and the seeds, These two totally different species, a bors and community in a variety of nuts, berries that feed wildlife? The plant and an insect, decided to co- different ways how vitally import- media grabbed ahold of this apoca- operate. We humans are the same ant honey bees and other pollina- lyptic scenario. And most everyone species and we can’t even cooperate. tors are. The place to go to get some who is not a beekeeper knows of our A few years ago Whole Foods fo- ideas is; https://www.pollinator. struggles. Then add in the 4,000 or cused on the importance of pollina- org/pollinator-week so other ‘bee’ species in the U.S., tors. Here is a before and after pic- Do it:) along with some butterfl ies, moths, ture of what their produce section beetles and birds that add value as well and the general public now was informed and was concerned be- cause it was real to them. In 2006 the United States Senate created National Pollinator Week to recog- nize the tremendous value of man- aged honey bees and other pollina- tors. It was fi rst celebrated in 2007. Now there are hundreds of Federal, State, and Local agencies, conser- vation organizations, environmental groups and of course the Honey Bee Industry who have broad and spe- cifi c activities to encouraged all of us to do during this week in 2021 of From The Editor – June 21 thru 27th.
14 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 14 5/18/2021 8:48:22 AM Jim Thompson and Jim Tew taking a minute It’s Summers Time – to catch up.
Bees, Plants and Maybe Summer? The fi rst weekend in May we drove to Wooster, about 45 minutes from us, to pick up some package bees. It was a nice drive and we caught up with several familiar faces. Jim Tew and his long time friend Bob were there. Jim Thompson, who used to work with us here at the Root Company and our editor Jerry. It was good to see these guys, but the reality is we were all there because we all had Winter losses. But we diligently try again and this year we promise ourselves that we’ll do better – we’ll try new and different things. So good luck to all of us who lost bees. We picked the bees up on Sunday and went right home to install them because the forecast was rain for the next two or three days – and it did. And it’s been mostly cold and rainy since we got them in. Not a great way to start. Most of you might not know this about Kim and I but we have an addiction – to plants. We seem to not be Bee Culture’s able to drive or walk past any kind of plant sale without own Jerry stopping and about every time buying something. Hayes heading There is an abundance of nurseries in our area home with his packages. within a half hour drive at the most. Several are family owned businesses that have been in NE Ohio for a long time. So in addition, to our love of plants – any kind of plant – we get a lot of pleasure in supporting local busi- nesses. This past weekend in the cold and the rain our local Herb Society had a plant sale and you know we went home with a several new plants to add to the ones we already need to get potted or in the ground. Our Medina Farmer’s Market opened two weeks ago and we also visited them in the cold and the rain. I hope you all have access to good local food, plants, crafts, whatever it may be. I encourage you to support your neighbors. They work hard and of course, this past year has been particularly hard on them. Speaking of the weather – as I write this yesterday was Mother’s Day. It rained – ALL DAY! Except for the time that it was snowing. Yes, snow on Mother’s Day. Not a lot, but enough to remind us of what a strange weather year this has been already. Can’t wait to see what Summer brings. Don’t forget about our October event. Check out the information on page 48 and watch our web page for registration. That will be June 1. We wish you all a warm, sunny Summer and hope to see you somewhere along the way.
Our backyard and deck on April 21. We are ever Kim with plants from the hopeful that we’re done with snow until October. herb sale. Keep a good thought.
June 2021 BEE CULTURE 15
June2021.indd 15 5/18/2021 8:48:23 AM NEXT MONTH Region 1 Region 6 • Add Supers • Monitor Swarming Honey Reporters • Alcohol Mite Wash Sample • Early Spring supers if anticipated • Monitor for Swarm Control • Check colony for space to expand Wanted • Feed Splits and Nucs • Alcohol Wash for Mite check • Be sure colony has room to • Make early splits We are expanding our Honey expand • Feed if required Reporter popula on and need new • Consider Rearing Queens • Check for Disease Control needs • Put Comb Honey frames in. • Re-Queen aggressive colonies in reporters in EVERY region. We ask SW that you fi ll in most of the whole- Region 2 sale or retail or both sec ons, most • Monitor Colony Strength Region 7 months, and our short survey on • Add Supers if needed • Alcohol Sample and treat for the back. We give you a FREE sub- • Sample for Mites/Alcohol Wash Varroa as needed • Swarm Control • Add supers scrip on for your service. So if you • Hope Flow Starts and stays Thru • Inspect colonies for overall hive are interested send an email to June health [email protected] and put • Check Queen Laying Pattern • Anticipate early spring fl ow REPORTER in the subject line. In- • Be sure Splits and Nucs are • Re-Queen where needed clude name, email, phone number Queenright • Make splits • Check for SHB • Leave them alone if you have and mailing address and we’ll get • Replace Queens done your job you the next Honey Report form. Sign up today and be a part of the Region 3 BEST Monthly Honey Price and Bee- • Continue to Monitor Space/Add keeping Management Report in the Supers • Extract Honey industry. • Alcohol Wash for mites • Check SHB Traps • Split Hives/Make Nucs • You should have already done everything.
Region 4 • Alcohol Wash for Mites Survey • Add Supers • Make Summer Splits • Check Mite Sticky Boards 1 • Manage Swarming 5 • Re-Queen where needed 7 • Keep entrances clear of tall weeds 4 • Make Comb Honey 2 • Extract Late Spring Honey Region 5 6 3 • Feed • Sample with Alcohol Wash for Mites/ Treat if needed • Check Queen for Pattern and area laid • Super for early Spring Flow • Supplemental Feeding if needed • Consider Early Splits • Inspect colonies for disease
16 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 16 5/18/2021 8:48:25 AM JUNE – 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 2.06 2.18 2.42 2.20 2.33 2.03 2.50 1.70-3.00 2.23 2.23 2.23 - 55 Gal. Drum, Ambr 2.08 2.15 1.91 2.24 2.35 1.88 2.93 1.10-4.00 2.14 2.14 2.19 - 60# Light (retail) 212.22 186.50 187.50 202.00 186.67 170.13 218.33 120.00-300.00 198.70 3.31 204.26 - 60# Amber (retail) 207.00 185.00 187.50 179.50 220.00 164.18 198.70 120.00-285.00 193.46 3.22 198.17 -
WHOLESALE PRICES SOLD TO STORES OR DISTRIBUTORS IN CASE LOTS 1/2# 24/case 104.48 74.20 113.58 81.65 126.60 113.58 113.58 61.20-194.40 99.36 8.28 89.16 - 1# 24/case 160.89 128.73 121.60 117.45 197.67 82.38 156.00 45.00-300.00 142.91 5.95 134.01 - 2# 12/case 138.53 101.20 100.00 105.84 76.26 131.07 132.00 40.68-246.00 118.81 4.95 124.11 - 12.oz. Plas. 24/cs 105.33 149.98 100.00 94.42 94.72 107.76 108.00 66.00-288.00 106.96 5.94 107.81 - 5# 6/case 149.45 114.13 144.59 113.90 113.16 144.59 144.59 71.50-240.00 133.44 4.45 139.22 - Quarts 12/case 179.69 171.06 137.20 151.92 149.37 155.44 183.00 69.54-300.00 160.11 4.45 163.53 - Pints 12/case 88.98 98.19 80.33 95.46 106.03 109.00 96.00 60.00-144.00 96.21 5.35 95.03 -
RETAIL SHELF PRICES 1/2# 5.77 5.11 4.25 5.44 5.90 2.48 5.59 2.48-9.00 5.44 10.88 5.25 - 12 oz. Plastic 7.32 7.17 4.95 5.85 5.13 4.88 5.40 3.79-12.00 6.29 8.39 6.11 - 1# Glass/Plastic 9.24 8.22 7.32 7.35 9.01 6.10 8.13 4.79-17.00 8.30 8.30 8.68 - 2# Glass/Plastic 14.66 14.83 11.27 12.71 13.90 6.49 13.00 6.49-25.00 13.54 6.77 14.06 - Pint 11.73 11.29 9.99 12.89 9.42 11.18 9.80 4.00-26.25 11.08 7.39 10.90 - Quart 22.87 18.30 15.12 17.18 16.46 24.33 18.05 7.99-42.00 18.80 6.27 18.31 - 5# Glass/Plastic 32.34 27.50 16.00 26.50 27.09 17.89 30.88 15.00-50.00 29.27 5.85 30.76 - 1# Cream 9.87 8.16 8.00 8.97 7.00 10.53 13.00 5.36-18.00 9.38 9.38 13.02 - 1# Cut Comb 13.37 12.45 10.24 12.61 12.67 13.56 13.00 7.00-22.00 12.63 12.63 13.02 - Ross Round 11.16 7.10 11.31 12.50 11.31 12.00 13.75 7.00-16.80 10.71 14.29 11.02 - Wholesale Wax (Lt) 7.79 8.95 5.58 6.11 5.06 4.17 8.25 2.00-16.00 6.75 - 7.20 - Wholesale Wax (Dk) 6.86 5.00 4.53 4.58 7.33 3.00 15.00 2.00-15.00 6.16 - 6.90 - Pollination Fee/Col. 91.27 68.33 70.00 97.50 140.00 106.65 50.00 50.00-200.00 88.29 - 92.11 -
What a difference a year makes. Last year because of COVID we did not have a May Honey Report. Happily we are all back in place here at Bee Culture and hopeful for the future.
June 2021 BEE CULTURE 17
June2021.indd 17 5/18/2021 8:48:26 AM 18 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 18 5/18/2021 8:48:26 AM Technology Tips For Beekeepers Malcolm T. Sanford DIAGNOSIS AND MAPPING OF EMERGENT HONEY BEE HEALTH ISSUES VIA AN AI-POWERED SMARTPHONE APP
Jerry Bromenshenk, Robert Seccomb, Colin Henderson, David Firth, Geoffrey Pepos;Bee Alert Technology, Inc.; USA; [email protected] The Bee Health Guru app provides a way to improve honey bee colony health by letting bees communicate their health status to their keeper. The bees become the guru, indicating colony health via their sounds. Our app: (1) Allows beekeepers to record colonies with a smartphone; and (2) Uses Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to diagnose each colony's health. These algorithms are not static but can learn based on new training data. Currently, we are tuning the app for accuracy. Our first step consisted of years of audio recordings from research projects. These provided the proof-of-concept, demonstrating accuracies ranging from 86- 98% for eight critical colony health variables. Starting in August 2019, our second step recruited beekeepers worldwide to download the application, inspect colonies, and upload the app's diagnoses along with their recordings. Within two weeks of the app's release, we had 653 participants and 400 data uploads, which yielded geo-referenced data maps. These maps showed locations reporting healthy colonies and those reporting colonies with pest or disease problems. Our smartphone application automatically creates a copy of all recordings, beekeeper observations and combines them into a comprehensive, transformative AI colony health diagnosis system featuring real-time monitoring and mapping. All electronic records are stored in a secure, cloud- based destination with safeguards to protect data privacy, confidentiality, and security. We recently added a report-back to the beekeeper feature based on user feedback, automated the mapping, and began producing training videos to use the app effectively. 13 minutes: https://tinyurl.com/jpm995wy
TOOLS FOR TRANSFORMING DATA INTO KNOWLEDGE Jerry Bromenshenk; Bee Alert Technology, Inc.; Andrew Dudley; Golden Software; USA; [email protected] and [email protected]
Regardless of the size of a beekeeping operation, there are times when it is useful to visualize spatial data. Suppose that I have two hives in my backyard; I suddenly discover an infestation of mites, and I would like to reference regional or national maps of varroa outbreaks? If I had 10,000 colonies across multiple states, I might ask whether there are tools to chart where my hives are at, how they are doing, and where, if any, are there problem spots. Also, I might want to overlay my apiary locations over vegetation and habitat maps, or maybe pollen maps. Routinely used in industry, business, university settings, geo-spatial analytic tools are available to anyone to run on home computers. The best programs are intuitive to use and powerful.
In this video presentation, I interview Andrew Dudley, Product Manager, and Training Lead for Golden Software. I have been using their 2-D and 3-D modeling and visualization software for nearly 40 years ago. One of the founder partners has ties to the University of Montana. Think of them as a geo-spatial counterpart to the MS Office Suite of Programs, such as MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint, One Note, Outlook, Teams, and OneDrive, where Golden has Surfer, Grapher, Strater, Voxler, MapViewer, and Didger. They offer powerful analytic tools and publication-quality, high-resolution plots. They are not the only company offering visualization tools, but their pricing is comparable to others' annual costs and I have always found their technical support to be readily available and helpful. 13 minutes https://tinyurl.com/jwhbh4uu
BEEXML: STANDARDIZING THE WORLD'S BEE DATA Joseph Cazier; Appalachian State University; Dick Rogers; Bayer Crop Science; Ed Hassler; Appalachian State University; Agnes Gambill; Appalachian State University; USA; [email protected] https://beekeep.info/ vita_details This presentation explores the role that data science and machine learning can play in helping bees and illustrates the need for data sharing. We then summarize efforts by Apimondia Working Group #15 to enable data sharing through data standardization, data policy recommendations, and data harmonization efforts. A new journal, BeeXML: Journal for Bee Data Standardization, is introduced as a vehicle for data standardization. We June 2021 BEE CULTURE conclude with ways you can help these efforts. 13 minutes: https://tinyurl.com/dm3dwcuj19
June2021.indd 19 5/18/2021 8:48:27 AM STUDY HALL this observation. In the literature one treat – like Kirk Webster, who is the discovers sometimes an answer to only person I‘ve ever purchased bees odd questions like this one. Enclosed from – but my most recent purchase you will fi nd such an alternative in- was 15 years ago. I replace loss- terpretation why such crashes can es from splits and swarms so have happen, published in a book by Eva not brought any outside bees into Crane (chapter 6.54, copy enclosed). my apiary, aside from the occasion- In Winter if the sun shines on al “abandoned” hive that desperate a hive the rising temperature at the homeowners have begged me to take the hive entrance will lure bees out- when their beekeeper disappeared. side and they even start fl ying, even I’ve used oxalic acid – two treatments though the air temperature is way during a broodless period- exclusive- below optimal. As explained in the ly, for the 17½ years I’ve been keep- Q – I'm no scientist, but I think the book, bees can get confused in this ing bees, with great success for the biggest problem with glyphosate is situation with their up/down orienta- fi rst 13 years or so, with losses av- that it enables farmers to be very ef- tion and will crash on the snow and eraging 6% for 11/13 years, eight of fective and effi cient at killing weeds. die of cold. those with 100 hives. I thought that Result: no fodder for the bees. In an old Swiss beekeeping man- was a compromise between treating I agree that surfactants could ual (1985) it is recommended to scat- and not treating. Since my queens be lethal to insects. But if it isn't ap- ter ash on the snow or cover it with are open mated and I can’t control plied while pollinators are present (ie a dark blanket. This will get ground- who they hook up with, I thought it no fl owers present), I don't see how ed bees a foothold and will melt the unfair to go no treatment. I’ve had it could be a signifi cant threat to the snow faster. Helpful idea but worth signifi cant, for me, losses three out of honey bee or to native insects. the extra work? I haven’t applied this the past fi ve years. Was I just lucky Blaine Nay trick myself since the observed loss- (because there weren’t many other es are minimal/negligible. beekeepers where I live) for those A – You are correct on both counts The fact that bees can get con- fi rst 13 years? I live on the East End Blaine. fused with the up/down orientation of Long Island, aka “The Hamptons” But, in this imperfect world is in my opinion remarkable and in- where in recent years bees are the more weeds mean less production teresting. As delineated in the book new chickens, so there are suddenly and less value for a farmer. And who it can also happen on a white sand a lot more bees. Now that everyone is pays ultimately for short supply? beach. This time without any grave treating so much more are bees less We the consumer wind up paying consequences to the bee, dusting off resistant and my bees are now cross- more for less supply. the wings is all that is necessary! ing out with those bees? And, yes spray before plants Hope this is helpful? Thanks again for all You do to bloom. FOLLOW LABEL DIREC- Best regards from Coro- support both bees and their keepers. TIONS which most suburban home- na-lock-down-stricken Zurich (Swit- Sincerely, Mary Woltz owners fail to do to keep their lawn zerland) – Hans looking like the 18th Hole at Augus- A – Not to be a pain but that is why ta. A – As I have thought about this, I sometimes get so frustrated that generally do you think it is sunlight/ we are still losing 30%-40%-50% Q – Hi Jerry, UV refl ecting off the snow and caus- of colonies every year since Varroa Just downloaded the April issue ing what you and I may have expe- were found in Florida on Sept.25th and on page 20 came across yours rienced going from a dark room to 1987. and Tom Seeleys answer about bees sunshine in our eyes. For those in The best document to use is the and snow. snow areas sometimes it is called Honey Bee Health Coalition, 'Tools Your answer was: I don’t know snow blindness. Or you are asleep for Varroa Management' Guide. all about honey bees and Tom Seeley in your bed and somebody comes in Memorize it. https://honeybee- writes: and turns the light on and you can’t healthcoalition.org/varroa/. “I think this is a good example of see for bit. Every honey bee colony has Var- how the housing arrangements that roa mites in it in the U.S. Because we beekeepers provide for the bees Q – I have a burning question about of isolation from other colonies some can make life harder for them.” Varroa mites. On the one hand I colonies can stabilize this parasitic Certainly both answers have constantly read test, test, test and relationship for a short time because some truth in it. However, there treat, treat, treat. On the other hand they are not being subjected to other might be a scientifi c explanation to there are those who neither test nor colonies in the vicinity that become
20 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 20 5/18/2021 8:48:28 AM 'Varroa Bombs' due to lack of bee- Q – When beekeepers apply Oxalic Q – I just was able to get in a col- keeper management. The Varroa/ acid, especially the vaporizers, the ony and clean off the bottom board. Virus legacy has different effects on label direction say to wear a respira- There were many dead bees and different genetically based bees as tor, goggles, gloves etc. so they are their heads had come off. What’s up? the bees’ individual immunity and protected from the Oxalic acid. But – Arnold the immunity of the colony infl uenc- the way I understand it certainly the es how the signifi cant individual Vi- acid itself is a potential burn agent, A – When bees have died, and they ruses impact the bees/colony. but you don’t want to get it inside lay around for weeks they simply dry Any beekeeper who does not your body. That is because when out. The honey bee head is only mar- sample for Varroa using an alco- Oxalic acid gets in contact with calci- ginally connected to the thorax by a hol wash multiple times a year and um in your body it causes Chelation. thin tube that contains the nerve then use the 'Tools . . .' Guide above Chelation means to ‘grab’ or ‘bind’. cord, hemolymph ‘vein’ and the to make management decisions is Oxalic grabs calcium and when it esophagus. When the bee is dead, jeopardizing every honey bee colony is trying to be excreted from the and dries out, body parts get brittle in close or far proximity. This is no body sometimes it results in ‘kidney and the weight of big head breaks different than someone with a dog or stones’ ie. calcium particles that hurt the tube and it falls off. a cat who does not manage for fl eas like the dickens as they make their and ticks. If they don't manage for way out through urine. Q – I am thinking about retiring fl eas and ticks and the pet gets in Honey bee adults, larva and and want to expand my colonies and contact with other pets at the kennel pupae have calcium in them. Does start a business based on beekeep- or the Park guess what happens? this happen to them with Oxalic acid ing. I can’t seem to fi nd a really good And they must have their house fu- too and cause additional honey bee example of what I should look at. migated. health issues? Sample, treat if needed (Tools A – List what products or services Guide), Sample again to see if treat- A – (Ans. Dr. Jay Evans) So 600 you most enjoy producing. ment worked. mg/kg is 120 ug/bee (if a bee weighs Investigate the market demand for Those who do not treat and suc- 200 mg). those products. cessfully manage colonies to stay Multiply that by 30,000 bees Write down how many hours alive are few and far between. and the needed dose if an entire you are willing to work a year, and We in the U.S. have such high treatment were ingested by bees is how much you want in return. losses EVERY YEAR because most 3,600,000 ug or 3600 mg or 3.6 g. Then do the math on a spread- hobby beekeepers don't know how Dribbled in sugar water, oxalic sheet to see how many hives it would to get past buying packages every is legally given at 35 g /liter or 1.75 take to realize your goals. spring as they blame somebody or g per 50 ml colony-dose.. so they You may fi nd that it just doesn't something else for their losses. would have to eat it all and then pencil out. If not, adjust, or let it go. some and hopefully are too smart On the other hand, you may fi nd Q – When is the best time to spray to do so.. but if it accumulates over yourself in a perfect position. fruit trees? time?? I think oxalate breaks down The goal is to have a waiting list in days so there should not be car- for every product and service you A – Honey Bees are attracted to ry-over between treatments so that produce, and keep your prices low ’fl owers’ as a nectar and pollen food is not a big worry. enough to sustain that demand. resource. You don’t want to spray So unless someone did some- Make a decent income, and plow open fl owers that honey bees may thing totally crazy like feed a colo- investment back into our employ- be on and get sprayed or have your ny 80 g of oxalic in a chewable shop ees and business. But this may only fruit tree pesticide spray contami- towel (???) I think these acute ef- work if one lives where one can pro- nate the nectar or pollen in the fl ow- fects are not likely to manifest them- duce a diversity of products (pollina- er that honey bees may collect, take selves. tion services, bee and queen sales, back to their colony and poison their honey and wax sales, specialty prod- sisters. ucts). So spray when there are no There is a hard learning curve to blooming fl owers or after fl ower running a bee business, and many bloom and fruit is beginning to form. ways that can work (compared to an Honey bees won’t be there as there infi nite number of ways that don't is no food for them in the form of work). pollen and nectar. You might also want to take a And it isn’t just the fruit tree look at Kim Flottum’s book, In Busi- blooming. What fl owering plants are ness With Bees. growing on the ground under the fruit tree. Dandelions are typical on the orchard fl oor at spring fruit tree spray time. Honey bees love Dande- lions because they are a rich source of pollen and high sugar content nectar.
June 2021 BEE CULTURE 21
June2021.indd 21 5/18/2021 8:48:28 AM **Roberts Bee Company** Over 100 Years of Commercial Package Shipping and Queen Raising Experience. All packages come from Hives stored in the Jesup, Ga area year-round. Young , Fresh, Healthy Honeybees and Queens. **No old bees off pollination from California**
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22 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 22 5/18/2021 8:48:29 AM Summary of evidence that propolis can help reduce the impact of COVID-19. Propolis: P F 1. Has antiviral properties. 2. Can potentially block attachment of the virus to host cells. 3. Improves the immune response against infections. COVID-19 4. Can reduce exaggerated immune response that damages lungs and other organs. 1 5. Helps reduce the symptoms of comorbidities associated Andresa Aparecida Berretta , with high mortality rates in COVID-19 patients. Marcelo Augusto Duarte Silveira2, 6. Is safe and inexpensive, and widely available (without a 3 prescription) and can easily be consumed as an extract José Manuel Cóndor Capcha , diluted in water, as a mouth spray or in capsules. David De Jong4 7. Was found to be safe and effi cient in the treatment of kidney disease (a common problem in hospitalized substances. They manipulate these resins and plant COVID-19 patients). parts, adding enzymes and other substances, such 8. Reduced symptoms and anticipated release from as beeswax, to produce propolis. Propolis protects the medical care in hospitalized COVID-19 patients in a colony against invaders, creating a physical barrier that clinical trial. is chemically active. The inner surfaces of the hive are “painted” with propolis to help maintain a healthy home Why consider propolis as an option for treating for the bees. Man discovered the properties of propolis COVID-19? long ago, a fact that is recorded in ancient cultures, Propolis products, especially extracts and mouth including in Egypt more than 3,000 years ago, and its use sprays, are found in every pharmacy in Brazil and are by man continues in many regions of the world. widely recognized as a health aid by the public there. The demand for these products has greatly increased because Strategies to confront the COVID-19 pandemic – of the COVID-19 pandemic. This increase in demand for Prevention, Resistance and Tolerance propolis has also affected propolis exports, especially Prevention would be everything that we do to avoid to Asian countries, including China, South Korea, and being contaminated with the virus, including quarantines, Japan. South Korea made a change to the legislation social distancing, masks, cleaning, testing for infection, involving functional foods in March 2020, to facilitate and contact tracing. Prevention measures have been the registry of new propolis products and formulations. the main tool used worldwide to control the COVID-19 Currently, there are many research projects investigating pandemic. Unfortunately, despite drastic measures, possible remedies for treating COVID-19, and among the including border controls, school and business closings, numerous alternatives, propolis and its components have infection and mortality rates continue high. The high risk appeared as a promising alternative. However, although of infection and its consequences will continue until a there is considerable evidence that propolis can be a large percentage of the population has become infected useful health aid, we need to understand how propolis or vaccinated. could help against this new disease. Resistance involves factors that interfere with the infection process and multiplication of the virus in What is propolis and why does it have medicinal host cells, including staying healthy and having a fully properties? functional immune system. Other measures include Plants, through a long evolutionary process, have treatments that can block infection or in some way developed bioactive substances that allow them to survive interfere with replication of the virus after someone is the attack of enemies, including herbivorous insects and infected. pathogenic microorganisms. These substances can be Tolerance to a disease would be the ability to an integral part of the plant, or they can be produced live with infection, with minimal disease effects and as exudates in response to the attacks of insects or damage, eventually overcoming the disease. In the case pathogens. Many of the medicines that we use today of COVID-19, in a large proportion of people who become were originally derived from plants and man continues to infected, tolerance has been insuffi cient to avoid serious investigate plants around the world in a search for new damage and considerable mortality. Most interventions options. The bees take advantage of these antimicrobial have involved trying to reduce the impact of the worst properties, choosing and collecting these materials from symptoms, with few safe treatment options available that the plant species that have the most useful bioactive can control the disease course.
Propolis can help with resistance and tolerance? 1 Research, Development and Innovation Department, Apis Flora Indl. Coml. Propolis has many characteristics with potential Ltda., Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. andresa.berretta@apisfl ora.com. br to help increase resistance against the SARS-CoV-2 2D’Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Hospital São Rafael, Salva- virus and tolerance to COVID-19 disease. However, to dor, Brazil. [email protected] determine if it would be worthwhile to investigate propolis 3Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute at Miller School of Medicine, University of as an aid to help deal with this pandemic, we evaluated Miami, Miami, Florida, United States. [email protected] the evidence that propolis has useful properties for this 4Genetics Department, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. [email protected] endeavor.
June 2021 BEE CULTURE 23
June2021.indd 23 5/18/2021 8:48:30 AM Propolis could increase resistance against infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus To invade a host cell, the SARS-CoV-2 virus attaches to a cell surface receptor for ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2). Research done in silico (using computer simulations) have demonstrated that various propolis components would strongly bind to ACE2, which would interfere with the attachment of a surface spike protein of the virus to this receptor. This in silico evidence has been confi rmed in vitro in the laboratory. Another protein key to allowing the virus to enter the host cell is the serine protease enzyme TMPRSS2, well studied because of its importance in various types of cancer, and which cuts the viral spike protein, allowing it to invade the host cell. Propolis also has properties that reduce the production of TMPRSS2. Bees on Baccharis dracunculifolia (Asteraceae), known in Brazil Other evidence that indicates that propolis could as alecrim do campo or “wild rosemary” because it looks like help with resistance against the SARS-CoV-2 virus is the spice plant rosemary, though it grows wild as a bush, six to that various propolis components have shown antiviral 10 feet high. This is the origin of Brazilian Green Propolis. properties in animal models, including flu, herpes, HIV, polio, adenovirus, rotavirus, and various types of storm”. Cytokines are chemicals that cells use to coronavirus. In the case of herpes, clinical studies in communicate with each other. Although they are essential humans have shown that it effectively reduces infection. for life, they can get out of control and cause damage in various disease conditions. An enzyme, a kinase named Propolis could increase tolerance against COVID-19 PAK1, is an important mediator of the exaggerated Different from the fl u, the common cold, and all infl ammatory process provoked by COVID-19, resulting the other viral diseases that have affl icted humanity in in an overproduction of pro-infl ammatory cytokines, modern times, COVID-19 has caused high mortality rates including interleukin 6, interleukin 1 tumor necrosis throughout much of the world. This happens because our factor (IL-6, IL-1 and TNF). Various studies have shown tolerance to infection by the virus is insuffi cient to avoid that propolis is a natural PAK1 blocker, reducing or even considerable damage. One of the most relevant factors avoiding the overproduction of these pro-infl ammatory is that infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus provokes an cytokines. A recent publication investigating natural PAK1 exaggerated infl ammatory process, especially affecting blockers for treating COVID-19 indicated that propolis the lungs. This lack of tolerance is greater in various was one of the most promising options. comorbidities associated with high mortality in COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 inhibits the host immune response patients. Many of the conditions considered to be of high during early stages of infection, facilitating viral risk in this pandemic also involve infl ammatory processes, replication. However, in advanced disease stages, this including diabetes, high blood pressure, various types of same virus can provoke an exaggerated immune response cancer, obesity, and chronic kidney disease. The elderly, that damages the lungs and other vital organs. Different besides having more problems with comorbidities, also from most modern immunosuppressing medications, tend to have a weakened immune system, with low overall which have strong and specifi c effects, propolis has tolerance to diseases. properties that can help avoid immunosuppression This infl ammatory process, which has overloaded during initial infection and in later disease stages avoid intensive care units with patients, involves a “cytokine an exaggerated inflammatory response by the host, protecting against damage that can be fatal. This type of regulatory activity is called immunomodulation. Among the types of damage found in severe cases of COVID-19, thromboses and microthromboses can affect various body organs, especially the lungs, and can eventually result in mortality. Respiratory function can be compromised, sometimes provoking problems such as chronic tiredness even after the patient has been cured of the viral infection. Propolis has demonstrated anticoagulant properties that could protect against these effects, without the problems posed by much more powerful anticoagulant drugs, the use of which has generally been avoided for COVID-19 patients because of the risk of undesirable collateral effects. A natural remedy that has less potent activity could be useful in situations where the modern and more potent medicinal alternative Bees foraging on Baccharis dracunculifolia to collect resins and would not be advisable. plant parts to make propolis. This plant is mainly found in Minas Gerais state in Brazil, where almost all Brazilian Green Propolis is produced (one of 12 offi cially recognized types of propolis in What limits the use of propolis as a medicine? Brazil). One of the criticisms that limits that use of propolis as 24 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 24 5/18/2021 8:48:30 AM Hive boxes spaced so that bees will build propolis strips in the gaps.
a medicine is the natural variability of this bee product. Its the most active components against cancer in Brazilian properties can vary according to the species of plants that green propolis, synthesizing and registering patents produce resins and other bioactive plant materials in each for these substances. Nevertheless, the mixture of the region. Propolis from different countries or in different various components of propolis, without separating regions of a country varies according to the available them, has various important effects, frequently involving plants that produce these substances. Considering synergisms, which can be more useful for combatting the only Brazil, at least 12 different types of propolis have multiple noxious effects caused by disease organisms. been characterized. The most famous is Brazilian green propolis, produced by honey bees in regions where there Standardized Propolis is an abundance of the wild bushy plant that is called Given the great variability found in propolis, a “fi eld rosemary” (Baccharis dracunculifolia), mainly in standardized propolis extract, denominated EPP-AF@ the state of Minas Gerais. Each lot of propolis harvested was developed. It is standardized in terms of phenolic from the colonies to produce extracts and other products compounds and fl avonoid content and has a characteristic can vary in the content of bioactive substances, such and reproducible (lot to lot) “fi ngerprint”, which includes as terpenoids and fl avonoids, and consequently have the components caffeic, p-coumaric, and cinnamic acids, variable biological properties. Though almost all types aromadendrene, isosakuranetin and artepellin C, besides of propolis have relevant medicinal effects, the lack of standardization of the biological activities. In Europe, a uniformity in the product has inhibited its acceptance similar initiative was made to characterize a standardized and widespread use, especially in the USA and Europe. propolis composed mainly of substances bee collect from It is unlikely that a company would make the buds of poplar trees (Populus spp.). necessary investment to register a natural product as a The standardized propolis extract developed and medicine because there is no guarantee of exclusiveness produced in Brazil has gone through various tests to of sales to recover the investment. An example of this determine its biological activity, showing its effi cacy, and situation is Brazilian green propolis, which is highly determining the useful dosages in antimicrobial activity valued in other countries for various uses, including models, with gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, for treating cancer. Companies in Asia have identifi ed and pathogenic yeasts (Candidiasis). Other evidence of greater relevance for COVID-19 was obtained in animal models of immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory
Collecting propolis strips in the apiary. Note that hive boxes are not painted. They are soaked in hot linseed oil and/or other non-contaminating materials to preserve the wood and avoid contanminating the propolis when harvested. Strips of green propolis brought in from the fi eld.
June 2021 BEE CULTURE 25
June2021.indd 25 5/18/2021 8:48:31 AM are thankfully now available and are being applied throughout the world, propolis will continue to be a useful option as an adjunct treatment for reducing the impact of this and other diseases in Brazil and in other countries where it is a recognized “functional food”. BC
Acknowledgements Much of the research mentioned in this text and in the revision on propolis for COVID-19 (reference 2 below) involving the authors of this report was fi nanced by the Brazilian state and federal government fi nance agencies FAPESP (https://fapesp.br), CAPES (https://www.gov.br/capes/ pt-br), FINEP (http://www.fi nep.gov.br/), CNPq (https:// www.gov.br/cnpq/pt-br) and by the bee product company Apis Flora (https://www.apisfl ora.com.br/). The clinical trial of propolis for COVID-19, conducted at Sao Rafael hospital in Salavador, Bahia, Brazil, was fi nanced by Apis Flora and by A single strip of propolis, showing the holes that the bees leave to allow passage. the D’Or Institute for Research and Education (https://www. rededorsaoluiz.com.br/instituto/idor-eng). activity, showing that propolis can reduce the production of the infl ammatory IL-6 and TNF-alfa, and increase REFERENCES the levels of the regulatory cytokine IL-1. Tests made 1. Berretta AA, Nascimento AP, Bueno PC, Vaz MM, Marchetti JM. in human macrophage cultures also showed that (2012). Propolis standardized extract (EPP-AF®), an innovative propolis can inhibit the infl ammasome, a key problem in chemically and biologically reproducible pharmaceutical diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and other compound for treating wounds. International Journal of autoimmune diseases. This type of data helps support Biological Sciences 8: 512–521. https://doi.org/10.7150/ our hypothesis that consuming propolis could aid in ijbs.3641 (Publication that explains the development of the minimizing the pathogenic effects of COVID-19. standardized propolis extract used in the clinical trials for A clinical safety trial was made with the standardized COVID-19 and chronic kidney disease). propolis extract at a dose of 375 mg/day, with no adverse 2. Berretta AA, Silveira MAD, Cóndor Capcha JM, De Jong D. effects. Also, a study was made to determine if this extract (2020). Propolis and its potential against SARS-CoV-2 infection interfered with or interacted with medicines, analyzing mechanisms and COVID-19 disease: Running title: Propolis the principal hepatic enzymes. The results showed that against SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19. Biomedicine this standardized propolis product is safe, with no risk & Pharmacotherapy 131: 110622. http://doi:10.1016/j. of interaction with treatment medicines, based on World biopha.2020.110622. (A revision with 256 references, Health Organization criteria. demonstrating that propolis has potential as an adjunct We hope that this text and the review paper (reference treatment for COVID-19 – this article has been the most widely 2 below) helps the public and medical personnel accessed on the Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy journal site understand why propolis can be a valid adjunct treatment for fi ve months) for COVID-19 and its comorbidities. Propolis extracts in 3. Silveira M, Teles F, Berretta AA, Sanches TR, Rodrigues CE, Brazil graduated from homemade extracts sold by a few Seguro AC, Andrade L. (2019). Effects of Brazilian green beekeepers door-to-door in the 1970s to a product that propolis on proteinuria and renal function in patients with for decades has been the main livelihood of hundreds of chronic kidney disease: a randomized, double-blind, placebo- beekeepers and is sold in every pharmacy in Brazil and controlled trial. BMC Nephrology 20: 140. https://doi. extensively exported. Though vaccines for COVID-19 org/10.1186/s12882-019-1337-7 (Results of a clinical trial
Propolis processing tanks at Apis Flora, a pioneer among the hundreds of companies in Brazil that produce propolis products for local and foreign markets.
26 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 26 5/18/2021 8:48:33 AM Analysis and quality control lab for bee products at one of the Apis Flora production facilities (such analyses are necessary for the ISO 9000 qualifi cation process). All raw materials are analyzed before going into production.
that used propolis to treat chronic kidney disease – it reduced Lima WG, Brito J. da Cruz Nizer WS. (2020). Bee products as proteinuria and improved liver function). a source of promising therapeutic and chemoprophylaxis 4. Silveira MAD, De Jong D, dos Santos Galvão EB, et al. Effi cacy strategies against COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2). Phytotherapy of propolis as an adjunct treatment for hospitalized COVID-19 Research PTR: 10.1002/ptr.6872. https://doi.org/10.1002/ patients: a randomized, controlled clinical trial. https://www. ptr.6872 medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.01.08.20248932v1 Miryan M, Soleimani D, Dehghani L. et al. (2020). The effect of (Results of a clinical trial of propolis – patients using propolis propolis supplementation on clinical symptoms in patients spent less time in the hospital and had less kidney damage, with coronavirus (COVID-19): A structured summary of a which is a common consequence of COVID-19). study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials 21: 996. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-020-04934-7 Other recent publications that discuss propolis as a Sahlan M, Irdiani R, Flamandita D, Aditama R, Alfarraj S, Ansari treatment option for COVID-19: MJ, Khayrani AC, Pratami DK, Lischer K. (2021). Molecular Bachevski D, Damevska K, Simeonovski V, Dimova M. (2020). interaction analysis of Sulawesi propolis compounds with Back to the basics: Propolis and COVID-19. Dermatologic SARS-CoV-2 main protease as preliminary study for COVID-19 Therapy 33: e13780. https://doi.org/10.1111/dth.13780 drug discovery. Journal of King Saud University - Science 33: Fiorini, A. C., Scorza, C. A., de Almeida, A., Fonseca, M., 101234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jksus.2020.101234 Finsterer, J., Fonseca, F., Scorza, F. A. (2021). Antiviral activity Scorza CA, Gonçalves VC, Scorza FA, Fiorini AC, de Almeida of Brazilian Green Propolis extract against SARS-CoV-2 (Severe AG, Fonseca M, Finsterer J. (2020). Propolis and coronavirus Acute Respiratory Syndrome - Coronavirus 2) infection: case disease 2019 (COVID-19): Lessons from nature. Complementary report and review, Clinics (Sao Paulo) 76: e2357. https://doi. Therapies in Clinical Practice 41: 101227. https://doi. org/10.6061/clinics/2021/e2357. org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2020.101227
Propolis extract (dried) in capsules. This product was used in successful clinical trials for chronic kidney disease and for hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
Green propolis mouth spray with lemon and peppermint oil packaged in English for a foreign company. Similar products, some with medicinal herb extracts, are found in every pharmacy in Brazil. Propolis mouth spray ingredients label. Note that this product is labeled as a supplement, which is common in Brazil.
June 2021 BEE CULTURE 27
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June2021.indd 29 5/18/2021 8:48:40 AM Summer Reading –
Honey For Dummies. C. Marina sues, blending different honeys, and I enjoy a good mead, and over Marchese and Howland Blackis- government descriptions of honey, the years have looked at several ton. Published by John Wiley & which are still woefully lacking. books on the how-to of this, um- Sons, www.wiley.com. ISBN 978-1- Marina is a world class honey mmm, interesting product of my 119-78093-9. Also available as an tasting expert, learning from experts honey bees. The history, types, tools E-Book. 333 pages, soft cover, col- in Italy and other locations, and has and language of mead making are or photos in center section. $24.99 been teaching honey tasting for sev- spelled out, here, too. available wherever books are sold. eral years now, so it’s no surprise This is followed by almost 60 what’s next. She explores which pages of using honey in recipes of Marina is the creater of the honeys to taste, the tools you’ll any and all kinds, including several American Honey Tasting Society, need, how to create tasting notes, pages of alcohol drinks using honey. author of The Honey Connoisseur and measure the affects of colors, Be careful out there. (with Kim Flottum) and Honey Bee, smells and textures. And the last four chapters are Lessons From An Accidental Bee- She then explores the terroir of called the parts of 10. Ten great keeper, and is also founder of the where the honey was produced, or honey festivals, from Oregon to New Red Bee Honey brand. Howland is rather, where the plants the honey York City, then the ten most asked the author of several editions of Bee- came from were growing. The geolo- questions about honey not already keeping For Dummies, and Building gy of the location, the weather, and covered, including does honey spoil, Beehives for Dummies. even the effects of seasonal rain and honey and allergies, and what is The book that Marina and I put sun on the honey. All of these, and grade A honey, plus more. Next are together several years ago, The Hon- more, affect the fi nal outcome of the ten honeys for your bucket list. I’m ey Connoisseur, had to do with se- fl avor of a honey, and this year may already looking for some of these. lecting and pairing 30 different vari- be different than next because of In the front there’s also a list of the etal honeys, which is Marinas forte these microenvironmental infl uenc- specifi cs of 50 different honeys, and in this genere. My contribution was es. in the appendices they have a de- to look at the plants that produced And what can go wrong with a tailed glossary, and pages and pages those honeys – where and how they honey? Lots. Overheated, mixing in of resources. grew, and how the terroir of the en- brood, too much smoke, plastic con- If you have honey in your life, vironment affected the resulting tainers, crystallization, and fermen- you need this book right next to you honey. tation all should be avoided, and on your desk. It is the fi nal word in The next step, of course, is going what happens to your honey when our world of honey. past the basics of just honey, which you don’t. Kim Flottum Marina explores in grand detail, and Howland takes his experience in basic and advanced beekeeping and bee biology to produce a book all about honey, and how it is made, and how to use it. There is more here about honey than I have ever seen in a single production. For those unfamiliar with hon- eys, and about the bees that produce them, for the fi rst third of the book they offer an overview of the histo- ry of beekeeping from around the world, plus a summary of the biolo- gy of how honey is made by the bees, and the different techniques used to harvest and process, or not, by the beekeeper. They next take on the global issues of adulterated honey, certainly a thorny subject and look at transhipping, country of origin is-
30 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 30 5/18/2021 8:48:42 AM Work I knew I must. Reminiscence Medina, Ohio. There, she took the What Tammy has done is take of Forty-One Years of Factory Life. job working for A.I. Root. Jane Cole’s work and stand it side Tammy Horn Potter, with assistance She wrote about building the by side with A.I. Root’s work to give from Jane Cole and A.I. Root. Pub- new factory, child labor, factory dan- you a very unique look at factory life, lished by the A.I. Root Company. gers (and there were many), factory from the perspective of an employ- ISBN 9 780984 691531. 184 pgs., politics, noon prayers, the hundreds ee, and her employer. Many of the black and white, soft cover $29.95 of people she worked with over the events Jane found worthy of writing (special introductory price of $20) years, the company sponsored pic- about were also mentioned by Root Visit www.beeculture.com. nics, the men, women and children in his work. Because neither was she was in charge of, and the people aware of the other’s work, the telling Jane Cole worked for the A.I. she worked with, and for. Often she of these events is about as straight Root Company for 41 years, starting was laid off from work during the forward from each as you can imag- when A.I. Root was making jewelry slow season, but because she was ine. in his factory on the Town Square, in so good at what she did, was kept The story Tammy as sewn to- Medina, Ohio. She worked through on parttime when many had no job gether tells much about early bee- the construction of the new factory at all. She wrote about factory life, keeping history and equipment, the built on the Country Fair Grounds from the perspective of someone evolution of factory equipment and on the edge of town to manufac- who worked in the factory and knew science, about working as a single ture beekeep- how diffi cult woman in what is mostly a man’s ing equipment, it was, and world, and about life in a small town and the many, how to man- in northeast Ohio at the turn of the many factory age people century. You will not fi nd a book like expansions they and what it this, I believe, anywhere, ever. John made after that. was like to be Root, 4th Generation Root family, During those 41 managed by and Root Company leader for many years she did al- mostly good years said “it is a rare opportunity most every job but some- to have two visions of the same ex- that could be times diffi cult perience presented together such as done in a fac- employer. this book offers. It’s when the two tory that sawed Of course collide, that there is the best of both wood, made the factory worlds in a story unlike any I have smokers, ex- was owned ever read.” – Kim Flottum tractors, bottled and operated honey, printed by A.I. Root, a magazine and who discov- books, and took ered bees orders and fi lled and beekeep- orders and de- ing and L.L. livered orders to Langstroth customers, the in the late railroad and the 1800s. While post offi ce. She working in his did everything factory on the from sweeping the fl oor to being a town square, from a second story general manager of several of the window he watched a swarm fl y by, areas of the factory. And when she and asked one of his employees who retired, she wrote her autobiography saw it too if he could capture those about those 41 years. bees and bring them back in a box, She started her story right af- for a dollar – not knowing that that ter fi nishing high school, when she employee was, in fact, a beekeeper. Enjoy! married. The man she married was He did, and because of that changed dangerous, and diffi cult to live with. the world of beekeeping forever. They moved often, starting over ev- When A.I. Root retired, he, too, ery time. She learned to teach, but wrote an autobiography, about because of moving so often didn’t get running the factory that Jane Cole to do that enough for a career. She worked in. divorced, and moved home, back to
June 2021 BEE CULTURE 31
June2021.indd 31 5/18/2021 8:48:43 AM found in translation
News From The Management
Jay Evans, USDA Beltsville Bee Lab
It is Pollinator Week and produced two papers that mix direct beekeeping). Once settled in adjacent beekeepers in the Northern experimentation and knowledge but non-interacting apiaries, colonies Hemisphere are happily watching about how diseases spread to shed were treated identically. A year later, their colonies in one of the most light on good things beekeepers do, viral loads were assessed. While productive and healthy times of and things to avoid. The fi rst paper colonies show the typical breadth the year. Life is Good! To help keep is one for the theory folks. Here of viruses, levels of viruses trended it that way, numerous research the authors apply two successful higher in high-management versus groups have developed research- models of disease dynamics to predict low management colonies for all virus based criteria for Best Management disease risk at the colony, apiary, species, even those viruses not moved Practices (BMPs) for honey bee health and population levels when changing around by Varroa mites. As expected, and productivity. The below studies apiary size and colony positions based on their genetics and isolation, used either side-by-side trials with (Industrial bees: The impact of colonies from ‘feral’ sources showed different management practices, apicultural intensifi cation on local generally lower viral loads, with the beekeeper surveys, or meta-analyses disease prevalence, Journal of Applied possible exception of sacbrood and of hundreds of individual studies to Ecology, 2019, DOI: 10.1111/1365- Lake Sinai viruses, neither of which come up with lists of key BMPs. It is 2664.13461). Surprisingly, the relies on mite transport for bee-to-bee fascinating to see the commonalities disease impacts (parasite or pathogen movement. as well as the times when some growth) of increasing apiary size from In a related study exploiting the practices are favored by one analysis nine to hundreds of colonies are not same colony sources, it was found and disfavored by others. In the end, too bad. For disease agents with high that mites from feral sources were conventional knowledge holds up growth rates, presumably the very slower to increase in abundance well, i.e., mites must be addressed ones that hurt bees the most, the even in colonies from the other two and hive monitoring for size, food authors predict that local densities populations, suggesting the potential stores, and incipient disease are all will not in and of themselves greatly for mite evolution in response to important. But, for those of us with impact the risks. In a follow-up bee management (Travis Dynes and mortal needs and distractions, or a study in which the authors measure colleagues “Assessing virulence of large number of colonies, it is helpful known bad actor (viruses), Bartlett Varroa destructor mites from different to rank which practices are most and colleagues did see some changes honey bee management regimes”, important. in disease loads with the degree of 2020. Apidologie, https://doi. On the experimental side, Lewis ‘management’. In a nicely planned org/10.1007/s13592-019-00716- J. Bartlett and colleagues in Georgia set of experiments (“Persistent 6). Collectively these studies shed and the United Kingdom have effects of management history on light on the complex pressures facing honeybee colony virus abundances”, bees, mites, and their hitch-hiking Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, viruses under different population 2021, https://doi.org/10.1016/j. and management schemes. While jip.2020.107520), they assessed colony loss studies have shown that virus loads in colonies with different colony loss rates for commercial histories that were grouped together beekeepers are no higher than those in the same environment. Specifi cally, of small-scale beekeepers, these one-third of colonies were ‘feral’ (e.g., studies also suggest that, given collected as swarms in remote parks), identical management, this need not one-third were from low-management be the case. Commercial beekeepers operations (e.g., no large-scale might be reducing their losses movement and at densities and through more intensive, or more scale equal to sideliners or hobbyist effective, disease control. So, what are beekeepers), and one-third were the key management decisions that from high-management operations actually help bees thrive? (e.g., large apiaries and management Giorgio Sperandio and colleagues consistent with commercial (in “Beekeeping and honey bee colony 32 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 32 5/18/2021 8:48:43 AM health: A review and conceptualization of beekeeping management practices implemented in Europe”, 2020, Science of the Total Environment, https://doi.org/10.1016/j. scitotenv.2019.133795) take a deep dive into which beekeeping practices are most essential for colony health and productivity. To do this, they surveyed peer- reviewed data for all types of bee risk and management strategies and came up with a ranking of which processes were most likely to both impact bee health and be adopted by beekeepers. They settled on six feasible BMPs; ‘Chemical control of mites’, ‘Replacement of combs beekeepers and labeled these with ‘Average’ management). Not with brood’, ‘Replacement of combs (appropriately) BMPs. These BMPs surprisingly, given the BMP efforts with feed sources’, ‘Supplementary were to re-use equipment from to keep mid-season mite numbers feeding’, ‘Beekeeper category and dead-out colonies immediately, to in check, levels of four mite-vectored experience’, and ‘Change in the monitor mite levels monthly prior viruses were also lower in the BMP number of workers’. Two of these to making treatment decisions, colonies. Nosema levels did not differ strategies involve evening out colony to start new colonies from splits with respect to colony management. numbers among hives in an apiary, or nucleus colonies rather than So what did the study reveal two involve giving hungry bees a packages, and to freeze older comb about the net gains and losses from boost, and one involves mite control. prior to re-use in colonies. Bravely, beekeeping with a BMP or ‘Average’ The authors argue that if these they tested their predictions by mindset? Most importantly, BMP- worries are addressed beekeepers managing several apiaries either as treated colonies were far more likely will gain more bees for their effort. an ‘Average’ beekeeper or as a ‘BMP- to survive Winter, with ‘Average’ While they did not go on to implement informed beekeeper’. As in almost beekeeping leading to a 50% increase their recommendations, they did all colony studies, the bees faced in Winter losses (from 31% to 45%). an extensive literature search, and successes and tragedies that were Fortunately, these benefits were consulted with experts, to build independent of the studied factors, the same for beekeepers in several confi dence that these six changes so the results were not completely different environments ranging from will indeed lead to healthier apiaries. distinct. Fortunately, the researchers southern to northern U.S. Along Finally, Kelly Kulhanek and a had the patience to manage and study with not having to replace lost wide-ranging team of experts pored colonies for three entire years, and colonies, beekeepers following this through the impressive data resources over this timeframe the BMP cohort BMP regime are expected to have of the Bee Informed Partnership for pulled away. For many standard a higher number of colonies from clues into which practices were most measurements used to assess colony which they can make profi table splits. effective for small-scale beekeepers health, including frames of brood, Across the study, 79 colonies were aiming to keep their colonies healthy. frames of bees, even ‘brood quality’ identifi ed as splittable in the BMP In their paper “Survey-derived best and queen issues, the management cohorts versus only 46 colonies under management practices for backyard regimes were indistinguishable. ‘Average’ management. As another beekeepers improve colony health However, the colonies treated with reflection of longterm gains from and reduce mortality” (2021, PlosOne, BMP techniques carried 25% fewer subtle differences in individual bee https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. mites over the study (averaging health, this difference in splitable pone.0245490), they identifi ed four 2.67 mites/100 bees versus 3.62 colonies was only signifi cant in the practices carried out by successful mites/100 bees in the colonies third year of study. Patience in these practices is a virtue, you might see health gains in your first Fall or Winter, but in reality you have to be in it for the long haul in order to benefi t from BMP practices. Finally, the authors showed there is still much room for improvement. Losses in colonies given all the love of BMP principles were still surprisingly high. Insights from beekeepers and researchers are still needed to curb that loss rate, so keep your eyes open for new BMPs on the horizon. BC
June 2021 BEE CULTURE 33
June2021.indd 33 5/18/2021 8:48:44 AM 34 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 34 5/18/2021 8:48:45 AM Pollination is the process by which pollen is transferred from the male to the female parts of fl owers, thereby enabling fertilization and sexual reproduction. Self-pollination occurs when pollen is transferred from the anther to the stigma of the same fl ower, other fl owers on the same plant or other plants of identical genetic material (clones). Whereas, cross-pollination occurs when pollen is transferred from a fl ower of one plant to a fl ower on another plant that is not genetically the same. “Pollen can be transferred by wind or water, but many plants rely on insects to pollinate their fl owers. Pollination by honey bees occurs because of the behaviors of foraging bees and the reproductive strategies of plants. Foraging occurs when fl owering plants are in bloom and weather conditions are suitable for bee fl ight. Honey bees will forage a particular plant species when there are enough open and rewarding fl owers to enable foragers to gather resources of greater caloric value than the bees expend collecting them (DeGrandi-Hoffman 2015).” “Honey bees are well known for producing honey, but they also provide critical ecosystem services through pollination (Potts et al. 2010). While the demand for pollination services have been increasing, continued declines in honey bee colonies have put the cropping sector and the broader health of agro-ecosystems at risk (Ritten et al. 2018).” “Pollinators are required for A Closer producing 15-30% of the human food supply, and growers rely on managed honey bees throughout the world to provide these services. Yet honey bees are not always the most effi cient pollinators of all crops and are declining in various parts of the world. Crop pollination LOO k shortages are becoming increasingly common (Greenleaf and Kreman 2006).” “Each year, millions of commercial honey bee colonies are moved throughout the United States for the pollination of crops. Moving honey bee colonies for pollination is essential for the production of crops HONEY BEE that comprise more than one third of the U.S. diet. It is necessary to move colonies into fi elds and orchards POLLINATION for pollination because there are usually not a suffi cient number of native pollinators (honey bees and non-Apis Clarence Collison bees) to fully pollinate the crop (DeGrandi-Hoffman 2015).” To date, no commercially satisfactory substitute for bee pollination has been found for any major Sex Bet een Flowers insect-pollinated crop. Adequate pollination results in increased yields, faster maturing fruit, larger, better (a stingless bee) collected only nectar, during a mean shaped fruit and possibly increased sugar content. The time of 60.5 seconds per fl ower and represented 26.6% number of colonies needed will depend on the location, of the visits by bees. When no insect visits occurred, attractiveness of crop, fl ower density, length of blooming there was no production of fruits. In the fl owers with period, colony strength, competitive plants in the area free visitation by insects, fruit set was 40%. The higher and the number of native pollinators present. Each crop the number of visits, up to 16 by honey bees to female and often varieties of a crop have unique characteristics fl owers, the greater was the fruit set, fruit size and weight, which may require different pollination approaches. and number of seeds. In fl owers visited by insects from “The production of fruits and seeds of many crops the onset of anthesis (opening of the fl ower) until 9:00 is increased when bees visit their fl owers pollinating A.M., fruit set was 35%. After 9:00 A.M., there was no them. Nicodemo et al. (2009) studied the pollination of fruit set, demonstrating the important role of honey bees pumpkins (Curcurbita maxima Duch. Var. Exposicão), to as a pollinating agent of pumpkin, since it was the only determine the diversity of insects visiting its fl owers, the insect visiting up to 9:00 A.M.” time and type of provision obtained and the effect of the “Walters and Taylor (2006) measured honey bee visits on fruit set, fruit size and weight, and number of impact on seed set, fruit set and yield of jack-o-lantern seeds. Honey bees accounted for 73.4% of the visits made (Cucurbita pepo L.), large-sized (C. maxima Duch.) and by bees, collecting pollen during 34.5 seconds per fl ower processing pumpkins (C. moschata Duch. Ex Poir) under and nectar in 43.9 seconds and 29.3 seconds from female fi eld conditions. There were suffi cient natural pollinators and male fl owers, respectively. Trigona spinipes (Fabr.) [including bumblebees (Bombus spp.), carpenter bees
June 2021 BEE CULTURE 35
June2021.indd 35 5/18/2021 8:48:48 AM (Xylocopa spp.), honey bees and (or female) watermelon flowers squash bees (Peponapis pruinosa require multiple honey bee or Say)] provided under fi eld conditions other wild bee visitations after to induce fruit set of jack-o-lantern visiting staminate (or male) fl owers pumpkins as fruit number obtained for fruit set, and pollination per hectare was not affected by is even more of a concern in the addition of a honey bee colony. triploid watermelon production However, the addition of honey since staminate fl owers contain bees did increase fruit number per mostly nonviable pollen. Six hectare of the C. moschata and C. honey bee visitation treatments maxima cultivars evaluated. Honey – 1) no visitation control, 2) two bee pollination resulted in larger- visits, 3) four visits, 4) eight sized fruit, increasing individual fruit visits, 5) 16 visits, and 6) open – size of all but small-sized pumpkins pollinated control – were evaluated (<0.5 kg). Individual pumpkin fruit to determine the effectiveness weights of the Cucurbita pepo, C. of honey bee pollination on moschata and C. maxima cultivars evaluated increased ‘Millionaire’ watermelon fruit set, yield and quality by about 26%, 70%, and 78%, respectively, when honey utilizing ‘Crimson Sweet’ at a 33% pollenizer (viable bee colonies were included. Natural pollination was pollen source) frequency. ‘Millionaire’ quality characters insuffi cient to stimulate maximum fruit size development (hollow heart disorder or percent soluble solids) did not and seed number and seed weight per fruit. Although differ between honey bee pollination treatments. The pumpkin fruit set will occur with natural pollinators, the open-pollinated control provided the highest fruit set addition of honey bee colonies will ensure the presence rate (80%) and the greatest triploid watermelon numbers of pollinators to maximize fruit size. Since pumpkins are and weights per plant compared to all other honey bee generally sold on a weight basis, growers may generate visitation treatments. Fruit set and fruit numbers and greater revenues with the addition of honey bee colonies weights per plot increased linearly as number of honey in pumpkin fi elds.” bee visits to pistillate fl owers increased from 0 (no visit “Chagnon et al. (1989) determined the infl uence of control) to the open-pollinated control (about 24 visits). the number of visits by the honey bee on the pollination This study indicated that between 16 and 24 honey rate of strawberry (Fragarla x ananassa, Duch.) fl owers. bee visits are required to achieve maximum triploid Pollination rate is defi ned as the number of fertilized watermelon fruit set and yields at a 33% pollenizer achenes divided by the total number of achenes per berry. frequency, which is twice the number of honey bee ‘Veestar’ cultivar plants were caged before fl owering visits required by seeded watermelons to achieve similar began and cages were opened to observe bee visits. The results. This is probably due to many honey bees visiting cumulative effect of the number and length of visits to staminate triploid watermelon fl owers (that are in close these fl owers signifi cantly increased the pollination rate. proximity) before visiting pistillate fl owers, thus providing Four visits with a total of approximately 40 seconds mostly nonviable pollen that is useless for fruit set of foraging were required for adequate pollination. In and development. Therefore, more honey bee visits to the absence of pollinators, primary fl owers had lower pistillate triploid watermelon fl owers would be required to pollination rates than secondary and tertiary fl owers. achieve maximum fruit set and subsequent development Pollen transported by bees is thus particularly important compared to seeded watermelons (Walters 2005).” for optimal development of these fi rst berries harvested “In a two-year fi eld study, mature orchard plants for market.” of rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium ashei Reade variety “Honey bee visits to watermelon flowers were ‘Climax’, plus potted pollenizers (‘Premier’) were caged mechanically controlled to determine how many were with varying densities of honey bees (0, 400, 800, 1,600, needed to pollinate a single flower. Although there 3,200, 6,400, or 12,800 bees plus open plot) during the was some fruit development even after only one visit, bloom interval (Dedej and Delaplane 2003). The rate of eight visits were considered the minimum required for legitimate fl ower visits tended to increase as bee density normal development. There was a positive relationship increased within a range of 400-6,400 bees; there were between fruit set and ovary length. Fruit set following more legitimate visits in cages with 6,400 bees than in bee visitation generally increased from 6 to 9 AM and those with 1,600 bees. Similarly, within a range of 400- from 6 to 10 AM following hand 6,400 bees there was a trend for pollination. According to the a corresponding increase in fruit- method of measurement used, set with means ranging from 25.0 fi eld bee populations exceeded to 79%. the minimum necessary for fruit Fruit-set was higher in cages set in two years of observation. with 6,400 or 3,200 bees than in Honey bees were used at the rate those with 800 bees. Regression of one colony per acre (Adlerz analyses showed that fruit-set 1966).” increased linearly with the rate of “Honey bees are important legitimate bee visits. Mean weight pollinators of triploid watermelon of berries was unaffected by bee [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) density but varied signifi cantly Matsum & Nakai]. Pistillate between years. Within a range
36 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 36 5/18/2021 8:48:49 AM of 0-3,200 bees/cage the average seeds per berry tended pest management tactics. Their analysis showed that to increase with increasing bee density; there were more disruption in supply of honey bees would result in nearly seeds in open plots than in cages with 12,800 honey bees a 30% decrease in crop yield, buffered in part by wild bees or 1,600 bees. Sucrose content ranged from 12.1 to 16.7% that provide “background” levels of pollination. Honey- and fruits tended to have more sugar in cages with lower bee stocking density and, thus, the activity density of bee densities. Speed of ripening tended to be higher in honey bees was greater in larger fi elds, but not for wild cages with higher bee densities. Earlier work has shown bees. Therefore, a decrease in crop yield would be greater that the effectiveness of honey bees as a pollinator of than 30% for large fi elds due to the proportionally greater rabbiteye blueberry is variety-dependent. The data of investment in honey bees in large fi elds and a relatively this study indicated that the effectiveness of honey bees lower contribution by wild bees.” BC is also density-dependent.” “Avocado (Persea americana) is an important tree crop References globally, and the fruit have high nutritional value. Fruit- Adlerz, W.C. 1966. Honey bee visit numbers and watermelon set percentages in avocado are typically less than 0.3%, pollination. J. Econ. Entomol. 59: 28-30. while hand-pollination often achieves about 5% fruit set. Bushmann, S.L. and F.A. Drummond 2020. Analysis of This suggests that fruit set could be limited by insuffi cient pollination services provided by wild and managed bees pollination. Pattemore et al. (2020) investigated pollination (Apoidea) in wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton) processes in avocado orchards in Australia and New production in Maine, USA, with a literature review. Agronomy Zealand in order to understand whether poor pollination 10: 1413. was limiting avocado production. They recorded no pollen Chagnon, M., J. Gingras and D. De Oliveira 1989. Effect of deposited on more than 80% of all female fl owers. While honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) visits on the pollination rate receptive female fl owers were visited multiple times by of strawberries. J. Econ. Entomol. 82: 1350-1353. potential pollinating insects, few of them carried more Dedej, S. and K.S. Delaplane 2003. Honey bee (Hymenoptera: than 100 pollen grains (e.g., just 6% of fl ower-visiting Apidae) pollination of rabbiteye blueberry Vaccinium ashei honey bees. Honey bees, bumble bees (Bombus spp.) var. ‘Climax’ is pollinator density-dependent. J. Econ. and fl ies caught off either pollenizer male-phase fl owers Entomol. 96: 1215-1220. or ‘Hass’ female-phase fl owers carried different amounts DeGrandi-Hoffman, G. 2015. Crop pollination. In: The Hive of avocado pollen grains, suggesting that differences in And The Honey Bee, (Ed. Joe M. Graham), Dadant And Sons, behavior between pollinator species may affect the rate of Hamilton, IL, pp 803-830. pollen movement between pollenizers and ‘Hass’ fl owers. Greenleaf, S.S. and C. Kremen 2006. Wild bees enhance honey Improving the rate of pollen movement between cultivars bees’ pollination of hybrid sunfl ower. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. and deposition in avocado orchards is critical to ensure USA 103: 13890-13895. that pollination does not limit fruit production.” Nicodemo, D., R.H.N. Couto, E.B. Malheiros and D. De Jong “Maine is the largest producer of wild blueberry 2009. Honey bees as an effective pollinating agent of (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton) in the United States. pumpkin. Sci. Agric. (Piracicaba, Braz.) 66: 476-480. Pollination comes from combinations of honey bees, Pattemore, D.E., L.E. Evans, H.M. McBrydie, A. Dag, B.G. commercial bumble bees (Bombus impatiens Cresson), Howlett, B. Cutting and R.M. Goodwin 2020. Understanding and wild bees. Bushmann and Drummond (2020) pollination processes in avocado (Persea americana) orchards. sampled bee communities in 40 fi elds over three years Acta Hortic. 1299; 317-328. (2010-2012) and bee activity densities were estimated Potts, S.G., J.C. Biesmeijer, C. Kremen, P. Neumann, O. for bumble bees, honey bees, and other wild bees. These Schweiger and W.E. Kunin 2010. Global pollinator declines: data were applied to an economic model to estimate the trends, impacts and drivers. Trends Ecol. Evol. 25: 345-353. value of bee taxa. Bumble bees and honey bees predicted Ritten, C.J., D. Peck, M. Ehmke and M.A. Buddhika Patalee fruit set and reduced its spatial heterogeneity. Other 2018. Firm effi ciency and returns-to-scale in the honey bee wild bees were not signifi cant predictors of fruit set. pollination services industry. J. Econ. Entomol. 111: 1014- Yield was predicted by fruit set and fi eld size, but not 1022. Walters, S.A. 2005. Honey bee pollination requirements for triploid watermelons. HortScience 40: 1268-1270. Walters, S.A. and B.H. Taylor 2006. Effects of honey bee pollination on pumpkin fruit and Made in MAINE Quantity Pricing Available! seed yield. HortScience 41: 370-373.
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June 2021 BEE CULTURE 37
June2021.indd 37 5/18/2021 8:48:49 AM ĞĞ͘YƵĞĞŶ tĂůƚĞƌ<ĂŶĂŐLJ͕ϵ͕W Hello Friends,s, ŚĂůůĞŶŐĞ
Summer is here! dĂŬĞĂƉŚŽƚŽŽĨĂdĂŬĞĂƉŚŽƚŽŽĨĂ I wish you many ďĞĞŽŶĂƉůĂŶƚ͘ď ů outdoor adventureses this month.
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WĞŽƉůĞďĞŶĞĮƚĨƌŽŵŚĞƌďƐŝŶŵĂŶLJǁĂLJƐ͘tĞ ĐĂŶĞĂƚƚŚĞŵ͕ƵƐĞƚŚĞŵĨŽƌŵĞĚŝĐŝŶĞ͕ŵĂŬĞ ĐƌĂŌƐ͕ƐŵĞůůƚŚĞŵĂŶĚũƵƐƚĞŶũŽLJƚŚĞŝƌ ďĞĂƵƚLJ͘,ĞƌďƐĐĂŶďĞƵƐĞĚŝŶĐŽŽŬŝŶŐĂŶĚƚŽ ŵĂŬĞŇĂǀŽƌĨƵůƚĞĂƐ͘ĂƐŝůĂĚĚƐƐŽŵƵĐŚƚŽ ƉŝnjnjĂĂŶĚƉĂƐƚĂ͘ZŽƐĞŵĂƌLJĐŽŵƉůŝŵĞŶƚƐ ƉŽƚĂƚŽĞƐ͘DŝŶƚĐĂŶďĞŵĂĚĞŝŶƚŽƚĞĂƚŽŚĞůƉ ǁŝƚŚĚŝŐĞƐƟŽŶ͘ĂƚŶŝƉĐĂŶďĞƵƐĞĚƚŽŵĂŬĞǁŝƚ How to Plant an Herb Garden ƚŽLJƐĨŽƌĐĂƚƐƚŽĞŶũŽLJ͘dŚĞƐĐĞŶƚŽĨůĂǀĞŶĚĞƌƚŽLJ ϭ͘&ŝŶĚĂƐƵŶŶLJƐƉŽƚŝŶLJŽƵƌLJĂƌĚ͘'ƌŽǁŚĞƌďƐŝŶƉŽƚƐŽƌĚŝƌĞĐƚůLJŝŶƚŚĞ ĂĚĚƐƐŽŵƵĐŚƚŽĂƐĂĐŚĞƚŽƌďĂƚŚǁĂƚĞƌ͘ĂĚĚ ŐƌŽƵŶĚ͘ Ϯ͘DĂŶLJŚĞƌďƐŚĂǀĞŇŽǁĞƌƐƚŚĂƚĂƩƌĂĐƚďĞĞƐ͘'ŽƚŽƚŚĞǁŽƌĚƐĞĂƌĐŚŽŶ WůĂŶƚƐŽŵĞŚĞƌďƐ͘ ƚŚĞŽƉƉŽƐŝƚĞƉĂŐĞƚŽƐĞĞĂůŝƐƚŽĨŚĞƌďƐƚŚĂƚďĞĞƐůŽǀĞ͘ zŽƵĂŶĚƚŚĞďĞĞƐ ϯ͘,ĞƌďƐůŝŬĞƚŽďĞƐŚĂƌĞĚ͘ƐŬŶĞŝŐŚďŽƌƐ͕ĨĂŵŝůLJ͕ĂŶĚĨƌŝĞŶĚƐĨŽƌŚĞƌď ǁŝůůďĞŐůĂĚLJŽƵĚŝĚ͊ ĐƵƫŶŐƐĂŶĚƉůĂŶƚƐ͘zŽƵĐĂŶĂůƐŽďƵLJƉůĂŶƚƐĂƚĂŶƵƌƐĞƌLJ͘,ĞƌďƐƚŚĂƚŐƌŽǁ ŐƌĞĂƚĨƌŽŵƐĞĞĚƐŝŶĐůƵĚĞďĂƐŝů͕ĐŽƌŝĂŶĚĞƌͬĐŝůĂŶƚƌŽ͕ĚŝůůĂŶĚĨĞŶŶĞů͘KŶĐĞ LJŽƵŐĞƚLJŽƵƌŐĂƌĚĞŶŐŽŝŶŐ͕LJŽƵĐĂŶƐŚĂƌĞLJŽƵƌƉůĂŶƚƐǁŝƚŚŽƚŚĞƌƐ͘ ϰ͘,ĞƌďƐůŝŬĞŐŽŽĚĚƌĂŝŶĂŐĞƐŽĂĚĚƉůĞŶƚLJŽĨĐŽŵƉŽƐƚƚŽĐůĂLJƐŽŝůŽƌƉůĂĐĞ ƐƚŽŶĞƐĂƚƚŚĞďŽƩŽŵŽĨƉŽƚƐďĞĨŽƌĞĂĚĚŝŶŐƉŽƫŶŐŵŝdž͘ ϱ͘'ŝǀĞƚŚĞƉůĂŶƚƐƉůĞŶƚLJŽĨƌŽŽŵƚŽŐƌŽǁ͘ZŽƐĞŵĂƌLJǁŝůůŐƌŽǁŝŶƚŽĂďƵƐŚ͘ DŝŶƚŶĞĞĚƐƌŽŽŵƚŽƐƉƌĞĂĚ͘ ϲ͘>ĞĂƌŶŵŽƌĞĂďŽƵƚĐĂƌŝŶŐĨŽƌLJŽƵƌŚĞƌďŐĂƌĚĞŶďLJĐŚĞĐŬŝŶŐŽƵƚŬƐĂƚ ƚŚĞůŝďƌĂƌLJŽƌƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚŝŶŐŽŶƚŚĞŝŶƚĞƌŶĞƚ͘ ϳ͘ŽŶ͛ƚĨŽƌŐĞƚƚŽƵƐĞƚŚĞŵ͘^ƵƌƉƌŝƐĞLJŽƵƌĨĂŵŝůLJĂŶĚĨƌŝĞŶĚƐǁŝƚŚĂŶ ŚĞƌďĂůďŽƵƋƵĞƚ͘DĂŬĞƌĞĨƌĞƐŚŝŶŐƐƵŵŵĞƌƚĞĂƐ͘>ĞĂƌŶƚŽĐŽŽŬǁŝƚŚƚŚĞ ŚĞƌďƐŝŶLJŽƵƌŐĂƌĚĞŶ͘DĂŬĞĚƌĞĂŵƉŝůůŽǁƐ͕ƌŽƐĞŵĂƌLJƐǁĂŐƐ͕ŽƌďĂƚŚŚĞƌďƐ͘ Thyme 38 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 38 5/18/2021 8:48:50 AM WƌŽĚƵĐĞĚďLJ<ŝŵ>ĞŚŵĂŶͲǁǁǁ͘Ŭŝŵ͘ůĞŚŵĂŶ͘ĐŽŵ Make a Sachet www.beeculture.com ϭ͘DĂŬĞĂƐŵĂůůďĂŐƵƐŝŶŐ ĐŽƩŽŶĨĂďƌŝĐ͘ :ƵŶĞϮϬϮϭ Ϯ͘DŝdžĚƌŝĞĚŚĞƌďƐƚŽĮůůƚŚĞ Herbs That Bees Love ďĂŐ͘hƐĞĨƌĂŐƌĂŶƚŚĞƌďƐůŝŬĞ Word Search ůĂǀĞŶĚĞƌ͕ůĞŵŽŶďĂůŵ͕ŵŝŶƚ͕ ƌŽƐĞŵĂƌLJ͕ĂŶĚƚŚLJŵĞ͘ ϯ͘ĚĚĂĨĞǁĚƌŽƉƐŽĨĞƐƐĞŶƟĂů Žŝů͘ ϰ͘&ŝůůƚŚĞďĂŐǁŝƚŚƚŚĞŚĞƌďƐ͘ Fennel ϱ͘^ĞǁŽƌŐůƵĞƚŚĞďĂŐĐůŽƐĞĚŽƌ ƟĞƚŚĞƚŽƉƟŐŚƚůLJǁŝƚŚƌŝďďŽŶ ŽƌƐƚƌŝŶŐ͘
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Diagnosis and Treatment of Common Honey Bee Diseases
SECOND EDITION
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June2021.indd 40 5/18/2021 8:48:58 AM Grant Money To Star Beekeeping
Jon Zawislak
Government agencies, private bee colonies won’t even produce a emails that begin this way, so I entities and virtuous citizens have surplus crop of honey until their started trying to track down the all been concerned for the plight second year. It can take you a while source of these rumors to see what and peril of pollinators for over a to see a return on your investment in opportunities do exist. I found some decade now. Since CCD entered our bees, but it can happen if you stick vague articles online, but trying to vocabulary in 2006 we have seen it out. trace their origin leads in a circle alarming headlines with gloom and Where can you turn for help? A of web pages and social media doom predictions for the disappearing recurring question I receive at the posts linking to each other and honey bee, and by extension, the Cooperative Extension offi ce is how back around to where you started, end life as we know it. Many have to get a government grant to start with little useful information. Some considered picking up a hive tool keeping honey bees. People complain stories promise plenty, but are and trying their hand at beekeeping, about crooks in charge and having short on concrete details. So after a and it has taken on a new image. No to pay taxes, but the same folks line few rounds of frustrating clicks on longer a quaint pastime for bearded up with their hands out when checks vague posts, many people will call old men named Burt, tending bees is are being issued. Have you heard their Cooperative Extension offi ces a trendy way to hold Mother Nature’s rumors that there is free federal cash for clarifi cation. And unfortunately, hand while you help save the planet. available for bees, and wondered how folks may not fi nd the answer they Celebrities like Morgan Freeman, you could get in on that? hoped for. Scarlet Johansson and Leonardo The short answer is a It’s not that public funding for DiCaprio keep bees. Guitar wizard disappointing no. There is no large beekeeping hasn’t been tried. In Steve Vai and funky bass thumper federal fund writing blank checks 2005 Dr. David Tarpy, a honey bee Flea have joined our ranks. Michelle to pay citizens to start new bee researcher at North Carolina State Obama had a hive installed in her hives. The long answer is yes, there University, received a grant from white house vegetable garden. The are numerous programs that can the Golden LEAF foundation, which Pope has a number of hives at what benefi t beekeepers, either directly or funded agricultural development has been the Vatican’s Summer indirectly. projects through their state’s tobacco residence since the 16th century. Despite increased awareness of settlement. Under this program, they Even the fi ctional sleuth Sherlock the plight of the humble bee, and were able to provide pairs of hives and Holmes has helped to popularize the the imperative need to maintain a package bees to new beekeepers who hobby. healthy pollinator population, the took an introductory class and joined But, as you well know from government simply isn’t going to a local beekeeping association. experience, getting started with fund your hobby interest backyard Participants still had to purchase honey bees is not cheap. Many of the beehives any more than they will pay their own protective clothing and other expenses are on the front end, leading you subsidies to grow a tomato patch, accessories, but that was a relatively to sticker shock for some who just learn to knit, take up the banjo, or minor expense by comparison. A wanted to do their part to protect and collect rare stamps. couple of standard bee hive kits and promote these invaluable pollinators. Perhaps you think they should. two spring packages of honey bees Of course, no agricultural venture Pollinators benefi t the environment can easily run you $600 or more in comes cheap. Want chickens? Price in countless ways. And there is today’s money. Dr. Tarpy estimates out the feed, watering trays, heat certainly a vested public interest in that the half-life for new beekeepers lamps and a good coop, then calculate keeping honey bees around, for their sticking with it runs about 2½ years. how much each delicious farm fresh agricultural and economic benefi ts. That is, every 2½ years, about half egg is actually costing you. The same But given the economic state of of those who take up beekeeping goes for bees. You may have seen the things in the wake of the pandemic, will quit for one reason or another. price tag on a jar of fresh local honey don’t hold your breath for a bee hive Another half of those who remained at your farmer’s market and thought bailout. will be fi nished in another 2½ years, you could just bottle your own liquid “I heard there was a program…” and so on. The initial program funded gold. But then you learned that most I receive many phone calls and 250 individuals. So by his estimate,
June 2021 BEE CULTURE 41
June2021.indd 41 5/18/2021 8:48:59 AM there may be about four individuals cookbooks, tend to present the most books, blogs and online videos that from that original group who still light encouraging information – pretty often seem to give confl icting advice. their smokers today. fl owers, smiling beekeeper families Someone new to the craft will have to Another annual program, holding frames of honey, and jars dive in and claw their way up a very administered through the Virginia of freshly bottled and neatly labeled steep and confusing learning curve Department of Agriculture, has tried honey that suggests a free gold mine. for the fi rst couple of years. Which is to promote beekeeping by providing And like the California gold rush, why so many will throw in their veil up to three hives to households people have fl ocked to beekeeping and try other pursuits. If you can that apply for them. Recipients only to fi nd out they can’t simply pick stick it out without losing your shirt, are selected randomly from a pool up big nuggets from a stream by the though, you might have what it takes of eligible applications received shovel full. to succeed with honey bees. each year, with the number of Cookbooks show beautifully But what about all those supposed hives available being contingent on staged photos of delicious looking grant programs? Most granting recurring funding from their state’s meals, with a note that says “feeds agencies prefer to fund projects that legislature. While bee produce results – either hives were distributed, practical solutions or honey bees and “pure science” endeavors other tools were not to increase knowledge provided. Recipients for its own sake, which were required to will (hopefully) lead to establish bee colonies practical applications. in their new hives And most want you to within one year of include a statement about receipt. No data was how your results will be available about the made public (with a little success of the Virginia credit to themselves for program to increase their funding). Even the the number of bee most generous grants colonies in their state. rarely fund “brick and Fortunately for the mortar” structures for bees, there are always you. They may help more people who want you with equipment and to join the noble ranks supplies, salary or labor, of beekeepers every but will not simply pay year. Unfortunately, you to build yourself a many of them will also barn or honey house give up on it after a or other structure – short time. But why including those relatively the exponential drop- small structures we call off? beehives. Those types of There have been real estate improvement some other attempts to are generally going to jump start beekeeping require your own capital with other programs, since they are ultimately but most have had for your own use and similar results as convenience. And for North Carolina. Why a hobby beekeeping is that? Well, you may operation, you will have have discovered that to fi nd a way to fund your successful beekeeping involves work. four, cooking time 10 minutes” but own fun. Some chores have to be done on the conveniently omit showing you how If you are considering beekeeping bees’ schedule, and not at our leisure. many pans and measuring cups on a commercial scale (large or small), We endure hot weather in bee suits, you’ll have to scrub. We love garden- you can look into a small business heavy lifting, and those pesky stings – fresh veggies, and many have been loan. The USDA offers a farm loan some people don’t seem to like those. known to plant in the spring with program specifi cally to help farmers Generally speaking, when people the best intentions, but before long and ranchers start up an operation, have to invest their own funds, they we become overwhelmed with other or to expand or maintain a family are more likely to put in more effort. Summer activities, and before long farm, often with low interest rates But when they have no financial the weeds are higher than the corn. and credit terms. Adding working skin in the game, it may be easier to Likewise, modern beekeeping pollinators to an existing operation, simply shrug it off and say we tried, has challenges. There are mites and or producing honey as a specialty but that bee thing really wasn’t for us. viruses, bacteria and beetles, fungi crop, can qualify for this type of A lot of beekeeping books and and failing queens, pesticides and farm expansion. These loans can blogs, like gardening books and pollution. And there are scores of help with operating costs such as
42 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 42 5/18/2021 8:49:00 AM livestock and feed, new equipment, or and deliver environmental benefi ts. even family living expenses while an This voluntary conservation program operation gets up and running. Farm helps farmers make conservation Ownership Loans can be used to work for them. Each state has specifi c purchase a farm or ranch, to expand priorities and geographic regions they an existing one, or to construct or wish to target. Their Conservation improve buildings, or even help Stewardship Program (CSP) helps conservation efforts to protect or landowners build on current improves soil and water resources. efforts while strengthening existing Microloans are particularly agricultural operations. By improving intended for small operations and grazing conditions in pastures or non-traditional or specialty crop establishing and improving wildlife operations. They may be smaller in habitat, landowners can improve scale, but often require less daunting nutritional conditions for bees. And paperwork. There are even special the Conservation Reserve Program categories of funds earmarked to (CRP) actually pays landowners help Native American tribe members, annually to voluntarily remove youth agricultural projects, or to land from agricultural production assist women and minorities to and plant species that improve purchase and operate a farm or environmental health and provide ranch. The USDA’s Farm Service wildlife habitat. Agency has a Beginning Farmers and The Natural Resources Ranchers program that can provide Conservation Service (NRCS) is a guaranteed credit to assist a new branch of the USDA that works generation to purchase land and with farmers and landowners to begin to operate in agriculture. Go to improve the quality of soil, water www.farmers.gov/fund/farm-loan- and air with practices that also discovery-tool to see what options enhance habitat for pollinators are available, or visit with your local and other wildlife. Their programs organizations to promote and improve FSA offi ce to talk to a representative can potentially benefi t beekeepers pollinator habitat on public and in person. by improving the forage conditions private lands. In particular, they If you already keep bees, you for bees. NRCS programs provide seek to connect fragmented habitats know that they are most productive technical and fi nancial assistance along the monarch butterfl y’s annual when they are healthy and have to help landowners provide safe migration route with more suitable access to good, diverse forage. There and diverse sources of nectar and native wildfl owers. Of course, these is only so much that beekeepers pollen for bees. This can be through habitat improvement efforts will can do inside the hive to help out planting cover crops, planting native make the world a better place for (controlling mites and diseases, for wildflowers and grasses in buffer the birds and the bees as well the instance). A lot of what happens to areas and other areas not in crop butterflies. Visit pollinator.org/ bee colonies is dictated by outside production, and improving the wingspan to learn more. conditions, literally from the ground management of grazing and timber Beekeepers and landowners can up. By improving habitat in areas lands. More than three dozen NRCS also benefi t from talking to a Farm Bill around an apiary, we increase the conservation practices currently Biologist. These specialists are trained bee’s access to a greater diversity of benefits pollinators. Contact your to assist private landowners and fl owering plants. When done right, local NRCS offi ce to learn more about farmers in navigating the numerous a succession of plants can provide what you can do on your property. government programs. They can pollen and nectar all season long. Individual states may also have help tailor conservation programs This is especially important in the specifi c initiatives. Here in Arkansas, specifi cally to your goals, and can early build-up period before the main landowners can enroll in the Acres assist you after programs have been nectar fl ow, as well as late fall, when for Wildlife program administered implemented. Their one-on-one hives are building up their winter by the Arkansas Game and Fish consultations are free of charge, and stores, and fattening up the brood Commission. Citizens and wildlife these experts can even make site that will become the overwintering biologists work together to improve visits and specifi c recommendations bees. Ideally bees should be self- habitat by considering the needs for your situation. To find your sustaining, but humans have often of wildlife (including pollinators) nearest specialist, visit quailforever. modifi ed the environment to make in conjunction with good farming, org/Habitat/fi ndBiologist.aspx. that harder. So anything that livestock production and forestry Even if you don’t want to enroll improves their surroundings is a practices. See what programs your in a government program, or your good thing. own state’s wildlife agencies are property doesn’t qualify, you can The USDA’s Environmental offering. still take advantage of free technical Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Another broad program called advice and resources from many provides financial and technical Project Wingspan is administered of these agencies to help plan and assistance to agricultural producers through numerous cooperating implement your own conservation to address natural resource concerns government agencies and private efforts.
June 2021 BEE CULTURE 43
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44 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 44 5/18/2021 8:49:01 AM The government has deep pockets Without a reliable paper trail, ELAP This may be an area to consider for and they bail out everyone else, so claim processing could be delayed organic farmers looking to improve why not beekeepers? Well, actually or denied. production with the addition of a they do, under some circumstances. The federal Rural Business pollinator workforce. The USDA’s Emergency Assistance Enterprise Grant Program fund While there are technically no for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm- projects that will start businesses, federal grants available specifi cally raised Fish Program (ELAP) helps create jobs, and inject cash into for beekeeping, there are many other these producers by reimbursing a local economy, and often center awards and programs that can include a portion of eligible losses due to on improving community access to an aspect of beekeeping. Grant adverse weather or other disasters, produce and other food. Bees can programs come and go over time, including blizzards and wildfires, be an important component of that. and different agencies offer different as determined by the Secretary of Conservation Innovation Grants types of assistance to different people Agriculture. ELAP covers losses that focus on sustainable agriculture, and groups. All federal grants are are not included under other disaster so you will need to demonstrate a advertised and administered through assistance programs, such as the pioneering approach to beekeeping the website grants.gov. Users can Livestock Forage Disaster Program and promoting conservation efforts. search categories and look for things (LFP) and the Livestock Indemnity that may apply to their situation. Be Program (LIP). prepared for a lengthy application ELAP is also administered by the process. These can be simple to FSA. For more information on this understand, but may be very detailed and other programs, visit farmers. in structure, and can be time- gov/recover or contact your local consuming to complete. FSA County Office to see if your Getting started with beekeeping situation qualifi es for this program. ain’t cheap. It’s a challenging activity, Good record keeping is vital to which is why many who take up a processing a claim. Take advantage smoker will extinguish it within the of your state’s Apiary inspection fi rst few years. But it can be richly services. An on-site colony inspection rewarding. And doing it yourself will will help you maintain clear records make your fi rst jar of honey taste all of colony numbers and health. that much sweeter. BC
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June 2021 BEE CULTURE 45
June2021.indd 45 5/18/2021 8:49:03 AM How To Haggle On A Farm Stephen Bishop
If you ever hear a farmer say, “I’m just a poor dirt farmer,” you’re about to be bamboozled. Don’t fall for it. It’s a pity-play farmers use when haggling. Just last week, I had a farmer come up to me lamenting his agricultural status, trying to get a free hive of bees. He should have known better than to try that line on a poor struggling beekeeper with a bad back. “Poor dirt farmer?” I said, “You grow hydroponically.” The farmer had recently jumped on the hydroponic bandwagon and literally left dirt behind, buying a fancy new greenhouse. It was one of those pre- trying everything, even tickling the just be toting beehives every ole place packaged deals where you fork over cucumber blooms, but my fi ngers and not getting recompense.” your life savings and a greenhouse are too fat.” “What will it take?” he said. “My company comes out and erects “Honey bees aren’t usually used fi ngers have been cramping for days. the Taj Mahal of greenhouses. The for greenhouse pollination,” I told I’m seeing cucumber blossoms in my greenhouse had heated concrete the farmer. “You need bumble bees sleep.” floors for grow pots, a computer- for that.” “Well, I do like pickles,” I said, operated drip-irrigation system, and “Where do you get bumble bees “so maybe a heaping bucket of cukes an automated self-rising trellis. It from?” he asked. will do.” even came with a pallet of perlite “Don’t know,” I said. “Alright I reckon I can agree to a thrown in for free. “Well, can’t you just bring a box bucket of cucumbers,” he said. Despite all these feats of modern of bees over here and give it a try?” “Five-gallon bucket?” I asked. technology, the farmer was still down he pleaded. “Two two-gallon buckets,” he on his luck. This isn’t unheard of. With no bees to properly pollinate said. We all know farmers with combines his high-tech indoor greenhouse, “Heaping?” I asked. so big they need a plane hangar to his cukes looked like crooked-neck “One heaping; one level,” he said. park in who still consider themselves squash, albeit green and shriveled. “Alright,” I said, “deal.” poor dirt farmers. Frankly, it’s like It’s really fi tting that just when a We shook on it, and there you your momma always said, “you can’t man thinks he’s triumphed over have it, that’s how farm haggling is judge a farm by its combine.” The Mother Nature and can grow food done. Of course, we both thought farmer with the 2021 edition of the without dirt, he’s brought back down we’d gotten the better end of the deal. GPS-guided soybean destroyer with to earth by bees. It happens to the But, to be honest, it was a pretty fair tracks like an army tank and 50-foot best of us, even beekeepers. In fact, trade: He gave me two buckets of his cutting head may be closer to the somehow last year I managed to grow worst, most misshapen cukes. I gave verge of bankruptcy than the little a watermelon in a clogged-up gutter. him my meanest hive. BC old fella with the Gleaner circa 1978. Upon noticing the feat, the next day You just never can tell. I stepped on a bee barefooted and Stephen Bishop is a poor struggling I guess the same goes for farmers had to stop, drop, and roll back beekeeper with a bad back. You can with fancy greenhouses. down to earth. Thus, I wasn’t entirely see more of his humor writing at “Can’t you just bring a bee insensitive to the farmer’s plight and misfi tfarmer.com or follow him on Twitter box over here and set it inside?” said – @themisfitfarmer. You can check out the farmer asked. “I got all sorts “Well, I’m just a poor struggling John Martin’s beekeeping cartoons at of strange-looking cukes. I’ve been beekeeper with a bad back. I can’t beezwaxcomic.wixsite.com/beeswax. 46 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 46 5/18/2021 8:49:04 AM Since our last visit, I’ve mused not only on ‘letting go’ – but on Renewal. I’m not writing about miracle Renewal Time For Me cures, miracle ears, miracle hair John Miller growth. A recent Wall Street Journal Board lacks a non-profi t status with Rotary, CA State Beekeepers, Tedx section addressed Are You Ready for the IRS and ND Secretary of State. Talks will evaporate – because a Retirement? I’ve never registered a non-profi t. But renewal occurred. Thankfully, I am offered work at I did. It took time I used to spend The public views Beekeepers as Miller Honey. I help with the almond running a business. It is renewing. a throwback curiosity. We are. With run, my area is Modesto. I get about We can now accept corporate training, we can articulate our role eight loads of bees to place, evaluate, donations. Corporations require as gatekeepers of the food supply. feed, pollen sub, and prepare for a W-9 to confirm the charitable It’s a cool thing when the audience is measured strength inspection. I love donation. leaning forward in their chairs, locked this work. I also help with the queen Now, the Gackle Community on your remarks. work in April, which I savor. Boosters can accept corporate My other friend Mark is a retired In the Fall, I’m tasked with ‘the donations. Now our little community dentist. Twice a year he fl ies into rent’; an opportunity to once a year, can fundraise. central America with a couple of other visit location owners to deliver the My friend Mark ported from dentists. For three or four days, they rent honey, a goody bag; and most a career in tourism to a volunteer set up a dental clinic, sometimes importantly – a visit. Some of these position with the North Dakota beneath a shade tree – and provide families I have dental care for known for over 50 a long line of years. Locations folks who have are precious; no dental care. as are our None. relationships with He returns our landowners. exhausted and Am we ready renewed. The for retirement? focus of his effort The WSJ piece dovetails with a addresses the resource he had sometimes little of earlier in jarring change his career – time. when a long-time I have no employee receives desire to go to his watch and a Chili to teach sendoff – and beekeeping. I then confronts know nothing of the couch, a six- how bees are kept pack of beer before noon and [I’m Legislature. After a couple of years, he in South America. But I have time being dramatic] a vegetative state. fi nds himself as Clerk of the Senate now to go, and see Ag through a Spouses who have long kept a home, – a job he really enjoys. We often different lens. Instead of talking, I’ll a career, raised children and their ride bike on a superb trail system in listen. The old chestnut, fi rst seek own network of friends and family Bismarck/Mandan. We used to run understanding before seeking to be fi nd the newly retired spouse under marathons – but we now ride bikes. understood is a challenge for me. I foot and in the way. I want to Page for the Clerk of the can do it. I might learn – a lot. This is the time of renewal. Senate in 2023. The Mandarin Trees are in full In my little town, Gackle, North I used to fret over presentations bloom in late April in Newcastle. I Dakota – a group of dedicated and talks. I joined Toastmasters planted trees in 2000; when I didn’t volunteers work to improve the International, accepted the challenge have time to properly care for the community. A project to improve a to finish the Able Toastmaster trees. Now – I can. And really enjoy local park includes a warming hut, program requirements. Toastmasters husbanding trees – and for a few more a hockey rink, replace the pickle ball is kind of a relic in 2021. But I promise years – from time to time – the bees. court. In little towns, project funds you the discomfort, the anxiety when BC and donations are scarce. The Park speaking to the local Lions Club,
June 2021 BEE CULTURE 47
June2021.indd 47 5/18/2021 8:49:05 AM TheBee Magazine OfC AmericanAm Beekeeping BEEing Diverse: Inspiring Leaders in Beekeeping Mark Your Calendars for October 1-3, 2021 The Return Of Bee Culture’s Annual Event
We have an impressive lineup of speakers. The mee ng will be held in our Bee Culture Conference Room. Watch these pages and our web page for more details as we fi rm up the details. We plan to start registra on on June 1.
Susan Cobey runs Honey Bee Insemina on Tammy Horn Po er helped her Service and holds a 50% appointment with grandfather with his beehives be- Washington State University. She founded ginning in 1997. In 2006-2010, she the New World Carniolan Program, now in worked winter seasons with Big its 40th genera on. Her focus is enhance- Island Queens in Hawaii. In 2008, ment of honey bee stocks and improvement she started Coal Country Beeworks, of colony health through selec ve breeding. working with surface mine compa- To diversity the U.S. gene pool, his includes nies to establish pollinator habitat the collec on and incorpora on of honey and apiaries in Eastern Kentucky. In bee germplasm from their na ve European 2014, she became the KY State Api- range. She provides training, instruc onal arist, helping create the KY Depart- material and informa on in presenta ons, ment of Agriculture Pollinator Pro- publica ons for both scien fi c and public au- tec on Plan, the KY Cer fi ed Honey diences, worldwide to promote honey bee Producers program, and the KY stock improvement. Her experience includes Queen Bee Breeders Associa on. From 2015-2020, she has coordinated the management of Honey Bee Research Labo- USDA Honey Bee Health Survey in Kentucky. She also serves on the boards ratories at the Ohio University State and the of Eastern Apiculture Society, Project Apis M, Honey Bee Health Coali on, University of California, Davis. and Green Forests Work. She is the author of the following books: Bees in America: How the Honey Bee Shaped a Na on (2005); Beeconomy: What Women and Bees teach us about Local Trade and Global Markets (2012); Flower Power: Establishing Pollinator Habitat (2019); and Work I Knew I Dr. Tracy Farone is a Professor of Bi- Must: Reminiscence of Forty-one Years of Factory Life (Root, 2021). ology at Grove City College in Penn- sylvania. She has worked in various Dr. Kim Skyrm is the current President areas of private prac ce, academia, of the Apiary Inspectors of America and research for over 21 years. Since (AIA) and the Chief Apiary Inspector late 2016, Dr. Farone has been re- for the Massachuse s Department of searching beekeeping and bee med- Agricultural Resources (MDAR). Pri- icine. In 2018, she was granted a or to these appointments, Dr. Skyrm sabba cal to allow addi onal me received a Ph.D from Oregon State to pursue apicultural studies and de- University focused on the environ- velop a teaching and research apiary mental impacts aff ec ng bumble bees at her college. In 2019, Dr. Farone na ve to the Willame e Valley of worked in the fi eld with dozens of Western Oregon, was a Research and back yard, sideline, and commer- Development Scien st for Koppert cial beekeepers. She visited France, Biological Systems, Inc. specializing where she worked with mul ple ex- in commercial bumble bee rearing perts in bee medicine and research and a Post-Doctoral Researcher at the at ONIRIS College in Nantes and the University of Massachuse s-Amherst OIE in Paris. Addi onally, she visited The University of Edinburgh and the Ro- evalua ng bumble bee colonies in the slin Ins tute in Scotland, mee ng with addi onal bee experts. She traveled cranberry agroecosystem. Dr. Skyrm to Montana/Crow Reserva on to work with 10K hive, migratory, commer- is an alumni of Georgia Southern University (Bachelors in Science, Biology) cial beekeeping opera ons. These experiences provided Dr. Farone with a and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Masters in Science, Entomology with unique perspec ve in the development of rela onships between veterinar- Educa on minor). In addi on to being a bombiculturist (i.e. bumble bee ians and beekeepers. Dr. Farone has given and con nues to give bee lec- rearing), Kim is also a hobby honey beekeeper. Dr. Skyrm has always been tures at mul ple universi es, veterinary associa ons, and various bee clubs driven by an intense love of bees to serve in suppor ng roles informed by around the country. She has published several ar cles on bee medicine, in- the latest scien fi c research. This is evident since Kim has been working with cluding a monthly “Bee Vet” series for Bee Culture and BEEkeeping: Your na ve and managed bees, beekeepers, farmers, and pes cide applicators First Three Years, wri en biosecurity industry guidelines for veterinarians for the past 14 years through outreach educa on, research, and extension. entering beeyards, and developed an educa onal website, h ps://www.gc- Dr. Skyrm has a “bees-eye view” of the world and is truly passionate about cbeeproject.com/ . Dr. Farone’s work has also been featured in the JAVMA. con nuing to do work that preserves the viability and sustainability of bee popula ons! 48 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 48 5/18/2021 8:49:05 AM The Magazine OfC Americanmultureerican Beekeeping
Barbara Bloetscher has been the State Entomologist/Apiarist at the Ohio Department of Agriculture since 2009, a er 23 years at The Ohio State University Extension. Maggie Lamothe Boudreau is the As State Apiarist, she oversees the sole owner of “Rayons de Miel” a Apiary Program and iden fi es in- 350 hive farm that produces 4000 sects and other arthropods submit- queen/year. She recently enrolled ted from Ohio Nursery inspectors for a Master’s Degree in beekeep- and businesses. Barb monitors the ing at Laval University in order to County Apiary Inspec on Program keep improving her knowledge of and addresses honey bee issues in beekeeping sciences with the goal the state. Barb has kept her own of improving research through- colonies of honey bees for over 35 out Canada and more par cularly years and belongs to several bee- Quebec. All this for the purpose keeping clubs as well as The Ohio of helping the beekeeping indus- Lepidopterists and other insect re- try in its quest for self-suffi ciency lated organiza ons. in bees and especially in quality queens. Canadian commercial queen breeders are currently unable to supply queens before the beginning of June. Without access to queens early in the season, the opportuni es Joan Gunter was raised in rural ND on the family for beekeepers to save their hives or create nucs very early in the season is farm. She a ended college and earned a degree greatly reduced, if not impossible. Maggie’s farm is directly contribu ng to in educa on and business. A er gradua ng, she her research project by producing queens during the previous fall with the taught school on all levels for 10 years while aim inser ng them in a "queenbank" un l the following spring so that they raising two boys with her husband Dwight. Joan can be used very early in the season. These wintered queens would save and Dwight of Towner, ND, have been commer- a considerable amount of hives from which the queen died, or to produce cial migratory beekeepers for over 30 years nucs suffi ciently early they could contribute to the pollina on eff ort of crops. traveling to MS, TX and CA. The family-owned She also as many volunteer involvements with offi cial beekeeping organiza- company is primarily engaged in honey produc- ons such as the Quebec Beekeepers Associa on AADQ (1st Vice-President), on, queen rearing, pollina on and the sale of the Quebec and Eastern Quebec Beekeepers Commi ee (administrator) and bees. Joan currently serves as President of the the na onal organiza on the Canadian Honey Council (3rd Vice-President) American Beekeeping Federa on (ABF) as well just to name a few. as Trustee for the Founda on for the Preserva- on of Honey Bees. She is also ac ve with the Na onal Honey Board, the Honey Bee Health Coali on and the state beekeeping organiza- ons of ND, MS and TX.
Other Speakers We’ll Introduce You To Next Month Include – Jackie Park Burris was born into the Park Beekeeping Family of Northern California and is owner of Jackie Park Burris Queens Anne Marie Fauvel, University of MD (Bee Informed Partnership) Julianne Grose, Brigham Young University. Associate Professor. Microbiology and Molecular Biology Geraldine (Jeri) Wright is an insect neuroethologist in the United Kingdom. In 2018 she became the Professor of Compara- ve Physiology/Organismal Biology at the University of Oxford and Tutorial Fellow of Her ord College.
We are optimistically going for ard with our planning of this event, due in par , to the apparent rapid advances in the public health sit ation. We will continue to monitor the sit ation and make rational/safe decisions going for ard. The way it stands at this time, we will most likely limit a endance based on recommendations as we go for ard. We hope to see you in October! June 2021 Be sure and visit www.BeeCulture.comBEE CULTURE 49
June2021.indd 49 5/18/2021 8:49:07 AM wild bee pollinators. Much of her and more difficult to define. For work has focused on squash bees, example, “squash bees” originally BEE bumble bees, and relationships came from areas of Mexico and the between genetic diversity and the southwest U.S. to what is now the VET environment. She also assists honey northeastern U.S., a thousand years bee beekeepers overcome some of ago as pumpkins and squashes were the challenges they face with their cultivated in northen latitudes of operations. Over Easter Break, we sat North America. So, what does “native” “Sylvatic” down (over ZOOM) and discussed the really mean? When is the timeline sylvatic side of bee medicine. Below in the sand drawn? I will be using Dr. Tracy Farone are some highlights from questions I “wild” instead of “native” for the rest posed to Dr. López-Uribe during our of this article. discussion. To further clarify terminology, certainly honey bees can go “feral”, 1. How many species of native but honey bees are best managed as pollinators in the U.S. are domesticated, agricultural animals considered threatened/ and are not considered “wild” (or endangered? native to the Western Hemisphere). According to Dr. López-Uribe, During the discussion, we also there are approximately 3,600 discovered that we both use cats as species of bees in North America. an analogy to honey bees, in that cats However, Dr. López-Uribe points out are a domestic species, who can also that, “The question of how many live ferally, but like honey bees, this species are in trouble is still very situation is not best for the health much in development.” Dr. López- of the animal, native wildlife, or the Uribe considers the Xerces Society environment. to be a great resource for information on native pollinators and notes that 3. How does your work promote the they list 20 bee species, mostly from health of wild pollinators? In honor of pollinator month this Hawaii, as species with populations In addition to providing education June, I have decided to highlight at risk. Only one species in the about “real problems with pollinators” the sylvatic side of bee medicine: continental U.S., the Rusty Patch through many lectures and writings, Our wild bees. “Sylvatic” is a Bumble Bee, is offi cially listed as Dr. López-Uribe’s lab is currently word used to describe wild animal endangered. Dr. López-Uribe does investigating the medical ecology populations and is often used in the believe that evidence is pointing to “a of pollinators and the possibility description of disease lifecycles in drop in species richness” associated of “any spillover of pathogens” wildlife populations. For example, with “the homogenization of the between bee species. There certainly the “sylvatic cycle” of Rabies viruses landscape and then the domination is interest to see if honey bees and is important to understand in the of a handful of species that adapt wild bee populations can transmit prevention of the disease in domestic well to human-modifi ed landscapes.” disease back and forth and/or act animal species and humans. While However, she points out that more as reservoirs for pathogens. At this much of veterinary medicine is monitoring research is needed in this point, Dr. López-Uribe says, “While focused on the treatment of domestic area, so we can have the data to fully animal species, veterinarians may understand what we may be losing in also receive training in wildlife the fi rst place. medicine. I had the privilege of working at a wildlife center, while 2. Are some native pollinators I was a veterinary student at Ohio managed to increase pollination State. It was yet another experience of crops? that taught me to consider the bigger According to Dr. López-Uribe, in picture of how all health is connected, the U.S. only a couple of truly native, the environment, domestic animal wild bee are “managed” as pollinators, species, wild animal species, and including the Blue Orchard Bee and humans. To help examine this One- the Alkali Bee, primarily on the health relationship, as it relates to West Coast. Other “managed” bee bees, I decided to do something we pollinators, the Japanese Orchard often do in science and medicine: Bee and Alfalfa Leaf-cutter Bees are consult. So, I recruited the help wild but not native. Our discussion of a wild bee health specialist, then included an interesting Dr. Margarita María López-Uribe, tangent on the definition of the Assistant Professor of Entomology word “native” as it is currently used at Penn State University to address with “native pollinators”. Dr. López- Bee shown is of the Melissodes genus, some of the key concepts that we Uribe prefers the use of “wild” bees/ “ Long-horned” bee. Photo credit – Katy should keep in mind regarding our pollinators, as “native” may be more Evans 50 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 50 5/18/2021 8:49:08 AM pathogens are everywhere . . . There exposure through soil can be very is no good evidence yet that honey high.” bees’ pathogens are doing anything Regarding diseases, there is some terribly bad to solitary bees – like good news but also much more to the squash bee. Bumble bees are the learn. The good news: Varroa does exception. We know that bumble bees not involve wild bees, however, some share a lot of pathogens with honey viruses like Deformed Wing Virus, bees, and that bumble bees can get (DWV), has been found in several sick when infected with honey bee wild pollinators including bumble pathogens” One interesting fi nding bees, solitary bees, and fl ies. Nosema, from recent papers from Scott McArt Crithidia, Apicystis, and Spiroplasma and her lab suggest that more fl owers are among the other “pathogens” in a landscape can actually dilute identifi ed in wild bees, but according pathogens. Dr. López-Uribe states to Dr. López-Uribe, the real question that “increased fl oral diversity and is: “Are wild bees actual hosts?” abundance may cause a dilution These potential honey bee pathogens of pathogens on fl owers, which will have not been shown to cause severe lower the pathogen pressure on all disease in solitary wild bees even species.” This research points to the though they can replicate in some environment as a plausible solution species. Dr. López-Uribe emphasized Peponapis is a genus of solidary bees. for decreasing disease threats for the need for more disease research to Photo credit: Dr. Lopez-Uribe both wild bees and honey bees. provide solid evidence of the fi tness costs of honey bee pathogens on wild bee! Dr. López-Uribe explained that 4. What health concerns do you solitary bees. these different behavioral approaches have for wild pollinators? to working flowers demonstrate Infectious diseases? Parasites? 5. Honey bees get lots of credit for how domesticated and wild species Pesticides? Nutrition? crop pollination. How important can have very complementary Dr. López-Uribe considers are wild pollinators to pollination relationships, especially in large nutrition to be “likely the single of our crops? acreage of monoculture where wild most limiting factor” for wild bee Backed by plenty of strong bees may only benefi t crop fl owers health. She also believes this is the science, Dr. López-Uribe emphasized at the edge of fields. Diversity of potential “point of confl ict” between “If you want to maximize crop plantings and larger portions of conservationists and honey bee pollination in large agricultural natural habitat within farms can be keepers, as competition for floral systems, you need wild bees and used to attract more wild pollinators resources between honey bees and managed bees like honey bees.” to supplement honey bee pollination. wild pollinators can be a difficult Here is where wild bees and honey fi ght for wild pollinators to win. The bees can really work together. Honey 6. What would you like honey bee small colony size of social native bee bees are largely effective due to the beekeepers to understand to species or the solitary lifestyle of wild large numbers of foragers working promote wild bee health? bees may make it diffi cult to compete the land and our ability to place Dr. López-Uribe emphasized two in areas saturated with honey bee them anywhere (for example, in the main points for honey bee beekeepers colonies boosting tens of thousands middle of a farm). Overall, wild bees or potential honey bee beekeepers of foragers. Honey bees also have are often more effective pollinators that she believes are critical to beekeepers that can feed them when on a per visit basis. Think of a big, understand. First, “honey bees are natural forage runs low. Dr. López- super fuzzy bumble bee working a an outlier to the biology, behavior Uribe points out “wild bees don’t have fl ower, compared to the sleek honey – everything compared to other beekeepers to feed them.” Limiting honey bee colony numbers per area can help level the playing fi eld for wild bees. Dr. López-Uribe also states that loss of habitat has played a large role in nutritional challenges for all bees. While both honey bees and wild bees are exposed to pesticides, Dr. López-Uribe considered two things that may make wild bees more sensitive to pesticides compared to honey bees. She explained, “Wild bees have solitary lifestyles – feeding of brood is much more direct – leading to potential increased pesticide exposure of larvae. (Secondly), many A Carpenter Bee. wild bees nest in the ground . . . and Photo credit Katy Evans studies have shown that pesticide
June 2021 BEE CULTURE 51
June2021.indd 51 5/18/2021 8:49:09 AM A sweat bee. Photo credit Kathy Demchak
bees, and they often compete for the Bee Biodiversity in same floral resources.” Secondly, Pennsylvania (Margarita López-Uribe) she accentuated, “We do need to – Pennsylvania is home to over 430 understand that honey bees are species of bees but who are they? domesticated animals that need food, How are they different from each care, treatments. This takes training, other? Are all species native to North equipment and understanding.” America? How can you help conserve She believes the challenge is to get bees? You will fi nd answers to all past the “save the bees, romantic these questions in this seminar. idea and that buying a (honey) bee Mason bee management for backyard colony is helping – when in fact and orchard pollination (Natalie you may not be helping anyone Boyle) – Mason beekeeping is a – by introducing honey bee hives fun and easy way to harness the to an area and not taking good care pollination power of solitary bees for of the colony you may actually be agricultural producers and backyard just trashing the environment and gardeners alike. This seminar will spreading pathogens.” Her advice introduce you to the mason bee life to new beekeepers is to be sure cycle, and provide instruction on you are being “a good steward of where, when, and how to manage the environment” by being sure them sustainably and responsibly. you have enough knowledge and forage/flowers/habitat for your Bumble bee biology and management colony before considering getting one. for pollination (Erin Treanore) – Ultimately, better understanding the Bumble bees are well-known for their balance of relationships between our fuzzy appearance and charismatic domesticated species and wild species buzzing as they fl y from fl ower to with our environment will lead to the flower, but did you know these best health of all pollinators. BC characteristics are part of the reason they’re such great pollinators? Helpful Links to Pollinator Gardeners, farmers, and bee- Seminars: enthusiasts alike will benefi t from Pollinator Health Challenges: A learning more about the bumble bee bee’s perspective (Margarita López- life cycle and why they’re so important Uribe) – Several bee populations are to our ecosystems. This seminar will in decline around the globe. Like for also provide recommendations for many other animals and plants, the landscape management to support drivers of bee declines include habitat these pollinators and discuss the destruction, exposure to pesticides, commercial bumble bee industry. increased pathogen burden, and climate change. This seminar will Information on the Alkali Bee https:// explain in detail how these stressors www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/ impact bee health throughout each pollinators/pollinator-of-the- step of the bee’s life cycle. month/alkali_bee.shtml
52 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 52 5/18/2021 8:49:10 AM The Apiary Inspection Program samples collected are screened for in South Carolina is housed in Tropilaelaps, Apis cerana and Varroa the Department of Plant Industry Mite loads by visual and microscopic (DPI) in Regulatory Services at analysis. A second set of live bees are Clemson University. In January of collected and sent to the USDA lab in 2020 a fulltime apiary inspection Maryland where molecular and visual program started. While DPI has analyses are conducted on multiple always inspected apiary operations viruses. Additionally, samples of bee throughout South Carolina, the bread are collected and sent to the inspectors involved in the apiary USDA Agricultural Marketing Service program were also involved in other (AMS) in Gastonia, NC. The AMS lab aspects of DPI. Currently, there is test screens the bee bread for 199 one fulltime employee and three DPI known pesticides. These surveys have inspectors working in the apiary provided beekeepers a comprehensive program. management strategy for honey bee In South Carolina, beekeepers pests and health. are not required to register as In May of 2020, the Asian Giant beekeepers, register honey colonies Hornet (AGH) received a lot of press or register apiary locations. Honey coverage even in South Carolina. Apiary bee Import and Exports Permits are The calls and emails from the public required by beekeepers moving honey were too many to count, I’m happy to bees in and out of South Carolina. report that all reports were negative These permits include colonies, nucs, for AGH. Most of the reports were for packages and queens. Eastern Cicada Killer, Yellowjackets, Additional services include colony European Hornets and Bald-faced inspection and testing for foulbrood Hornets. South Carolina participated Inspection diseases and Africanized Honey bees. in a planned Invasive Pests of Honey Samples collected by inspectors are bees Survey led by the Pennsylvania sent to the Molecular Plant and Pest Department of Agriculture. South Detection (MPPD) Lab. The MPPD Carolina had traps set in high-risk Lab is housed in the Plant and Pest areas of the state to monitor for AGH. Diagnostic Clinic in Regulatory The traps were monitored every two South Services. The MPPD Lab utilizes weeks for three and half months. No molecular techniques to identify Asian Giant Hornets were found in pathogens. Pathogens are identifi ed South Carolina. by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) The Apiary Inspection Program and by real-time PCR. DNA is in South Carolina works together extracted from symptomatic tissue with beekeepers in a partnership to and prepared for PCR. The PCR protect honey bees. We rely on the Carolina process allows us to amplify a trace beekeeping industry to contact the amount of pathogen DNA into a larger program and work hard to engage and detectable amount of DNA. This our stakeholders through various Stephen Cavin technique identifi es pathogens much outreach programs. BC faster than traditional techniques and identifies pathogens that are Contact Info: diffi cult to isolate and culture. The Stephen B. Cavin (Brad) purpose of the lab is to support South Chief Apiary Inspector/Apiary Carolina Beekeepers in the early Inspection Program Coordinator detection of bee issues. Test results Department of Plant Industry are usually received, and beekeepers Clemson University notifi ed within fi ve business days of 612 Chesnee Highway sample collection. Spartanburg, SC 29303 Since 2011, South Carolina has 511 Westinghouse Road participated in the USDA National Pendleton, SC 29670 Honey bee Survey. One set of 864-594-0426 [email protected] https://www.clemson.edu/ public/regulatory/plant- industry/honey-bee/index.html
June 2021 BEE CULTURE 53
June2021.indd 53 5/18/2021 8:49:10 AM A B It’s A Par ership! Josette Lewis
Almonds and bees are truly a partnership designed potential exposure of their hives. Fortunately, these are by nature. Almonds evolved over millennia to require rare occurrences. cross-pollination, and the almond blossom is designed to In the last two years, our commitment has expanded draw the bee inside. In turn, almonds reward bees with to add forage to orchards on top of almond blossoms. If nectar early in the year when few plants are fl owering in the Fall rains cooperate, a cover crop or hedgerow can the landscape and almond pollen provides high quality tide bees over with fl owers if they arrive in our orchards nutrition for bees. In almond farming, the same is true: early or provide food if they stay past bloom. In all cases, farmers do well when they have a trusted relationship it provides added diversity to the bees’ diets. Research at with good beekeepers. UC Davis shows that hives coming out of almond orchards Today, almond farmers spend an average of more with cover crops are healthier. Working with Pollinator than $400 per acre on pollination, accounting for 15-20% Partnership, almost 55,000 acres of almond farms have of their annual cost of production, on par with irrigation been certifi ed as Bee Friendly Farms. We also launched and harvesting costs. Safeguarding that investment the Bee+ Scholarship, an incentive for growers to access in honey bees is in the interest of every grower and a free cover crop seed from Project Apis m. or to cover the high priority of the almond industry. When I joined the cost of registration as a Bee Friendly Farm. Project Apis Almond Board of California just over two years ago, little m.’s Seeds for Bees now provide 7,000 acres of pollinator did I know how much cover crops in almond I would learn about orchards. Incentives honey bees, and now aim to get growers to native bees, and how give these pollinator much I would work forage practices a try with the beekeeping without bearing all the community. What a cost and risk. It creates fantastic addition to momentum. Farmers my job. Who knew I learn by looking over would be a regular at what their neighbor reader of Bee Culture is doing. and subscribe to As we look at how two beekeeping and to create a healthy pollination podcasts environment for all to deepen my pollinators, honey bees understanding of the and native pollinators world of bees while alike, it is clear that driving miles up and we have to look to our down California’s almond growing region. working lands as part of the solution. It is because of our Honey bees spend an average of six to eight weeks natural partnership with bees that we were instrumental each spring in our almond orchards. Our most important in launching the California Pollinator Coalition in April priority is to make sure they can do their job safely and of this year. With more than twenty founding members, effectively. The Almond Board began funding research on representing most of the farming and ranching acreage in bee health and pollination in 1995. That science – together the state, together with conservation organizations, and with practical input from farmers, beekeepers, and of course our California State Beekeeping Association, we state and federal agencies underpin the Honey Bee Best are united in the goal of expanding habitat for pollinators. Management Practices guide – the most comprehensive The Almond Board is funded by almond growers, and crop guide for advancing bee health. We have not shied all our activities are approved by committees of industry away from research that showed that we need to change members. All the activities I have talked about here are some of our practices. And evidence shows that is not only a great part of my job, but more importantly, happening, with dormant pesticide use down almost 70 are an indication of almond growers’ commitment to the percent, for example. To ensure the Honey Bee BMPs partnership with bees and beekeepers. The Mission of become standard practice, we conduct training every the Almond Board is to “Make the world better by what year for farmers and other industry professionals. We we grow and how we grow.” While bees visit our orchards fund the Bee Informed Partnership to research trends for less than two months of the year, research shows that in bee health (hope you fi lled out this year’s BIP survey), they leave stronger than when they arrived. Evidence but we also contact their fi eld tech transfer teams to that we are off to a good start on achieving our mission. investigate any concerns we hear from beekeepers about BC
54 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 54 5/18/2021 8:49:11 AM Pollinator Week Matt Mulica By now we’re all familiar with property, like behind sheds, more Million Pollinator the sobering statistics of population natural by not mowing. Garden Challenge declines among honey bees. From Beyond doing no harm, you (millionpollinatorgardens.org) 2013-2020, annual managed bee can also enhance your property which we have already referenced, is losses were high, between 35-40 with pollinator plantings which an initiative from the American Seed percent nationally according to the look great and provide a varied and Trade Association and other partners Bee Informed Partnership. With nutritious diet. The fi rst approach to within the National Pollinator Garden about a third of our food in the United accomplish that goal for most people Network that calls on Americans to States being supported by pollination living in suburban areas is planting preserve and create gardens and from bees, it will require an all- a pollinator garden. Creating a landscapes that help revive the health hands-on-deck approach to revive pollinator garden is simple but there of bees, butterfl ies, birds, bats, and bee populations and reverse these are steps that need to be followed to other pollinators. negative pollinator health trends. ensure it not only effectively supports Pollinator Partnership (https:// One key to reversing bee health pollinators but also incorporates www.pollinator.org/learning- decline is establishing pollinator sensible conservation practices. center/gardens) is an organization forage and habitat. This is central to According to the Million Pollinator dedicated to promoting the health the mission of the Honey Bee Health Garden Challenge, which is a of pollinators through conservation, Coalition, which brings together nationwide call to action to create education, and research. It has beekeepers, growers, researchers, gardens for pollinators, a pollinator a wealth of information on how government agencies, agribusinesses, garden should: homeowners can improve bee health conservation groups, manufacturers, Use plants that provide nectar and of their land. and consumer brands to improve the pollen sources Buzzing Gardens (beesmatter. health of honey bees. And while a Provide a water source ca), created by a Canadian-based majority of our work is focused directly Be situated in sunny areas with organization called Bees Matter, on helping beekeepers and farmers wind breaks provides Canadians with seed kits implement practices, the coalition Create large “pollinator targets” of to support honey bee and pollinator promotes collaborative strategies that native or non-invasive plants forage across the country. The effort, develop high-quality, bee-friendly Establish continuous bloom which has been underway for several environments in all places – from throughout the growing season years, has provided residents with rural farmland to densely populated Eliminate or minimize the impact enough seed to plant 350,000 sq. urban landscapes to sprawling of pesticides by following the label ft (32,516 m2) of pollinator-friendly suburban areas. Everyone has a role closely. gardens. to play in reviving honey bee health. From roadside ditches to Feed a Bee (feedabee.com) is “People in urban areas can public parks to office rooftops, an initiative from Bayer CropScience put habitat down in grass ways, there are numerous projects and that plants forage in 50 states with backyards, fl ower beds, and urban initiatives assisting the general over two billion wildfl owers planted settings like parks. There’s just public to help support bee health. in the past two years. tremendous opportunities for places The Focus on Forage Series The plight of the honey for habitat. We like to engage in (honeybeehealthcoalition.org/focus- bee is reaching a critical point, that conversation both with the on-forage) from the Honey Bee Health the consequences of which are farmers and with the non-farmers,” Coalition highlights some of the reverberating throughout the says Wayne Fredericks, a corn and projects working on the ground and landscape and can have impacts to soybean farmer from Osage, Iowa who leading innovative efforts to create our food supply. But we can also be serves on the board of the American honey bee and pollinator forage. encouraged by the comprehensive Soybean Association. Some of those projects include: and innovative efforts we are now There are simple things you can seeing not only among the general do to avoid harming bees on your public but from Federal and State property. These include following the agencies, municipalities and local label on all landscaping products, government agencies to develop the paying special attention to application habitat needed to support a pollinator rates and ensuring you are using the population rebound. Together we right amount of any product for the can achieve a healthy honey bee area you are treating; letting fl owers population that supports productive grow, even those considered weeds agricultural systems and thriving like dandelions, as they are often ecosystems. Check out the resources the fi rst springtime forage for bees; we’ve detailed in this article to learn providing adequate ground cover for more. For more information about pollinators to use during the Winter; the Honey Bee Health Coalition, visit and leaving certain areas of your honeybeehealthcoalition.org. BC
June 2021 BEE CULTURE 55
June2021.indd 55 5/18/2021 8:49:12 AM Minding Your Bees And Cues It’s Ge ng Warmer. How Will The Bees Respond? Becky Masterman & Bridget Mendel
Remember the 80s? For those of seasonably “normal” temps will now handle other environmental stresses. you who have been keeping bees for be warmer, too. Studies by two Saudi Arabian 30 years or longer, or who can look Change is a constant in scientists reported how indigenous back at generations of beekeepers beekeeping, but the updated climate and introduced subspecies of in the family, you know that what’s data makes us think about how honey bees fared in desert and “normal” today is very different from warming temps might impact the semi-arid conditions (Alattal and “normal” a few decades ago. But bees and beekeepers. What do we Alghamdi, 2015). Their results show we’ve adapted and kept at it, despite want the new normal to be a decade significantly higher survival rates the worries about nutrition, mites, from now, in terms of climate and in the indigenous Apis mellifera viruses, and pesticides. In fact, the landscape? And what can we do to jemenitica colonies versus the A. m. number of beekeepers has probably get there? ligustica (Italian) and A. m. carnica increased in the last decade. As Minnesota based beekeepers, (Carniolan) colonies. It is important to In May of 2021, the National we think we’re experts on cold note that the researchers mentioned Oceanic and Atmospheric weather beekeeping. And no, the the signifi cant impact of varroa and Administration (NOAA) reset the blizzard most likely didn’t kill your nosema on colony mortality in their data that climatologists use to predict bees. Honey bees are resilient when study (i.e., mites are always trying weather and to describe what is it comes to temperature extremes to confound our picture of what else “normal” at a given time of year. So and are able to regulate and maintain may be negatively impacting the they’re getting rid of data from the colony temperatures in both cold bees). 80s, and adding the 2010s to the and hot weather. They can generate The bees’ solution to temperature 30 years of temps they use to tell us heat by clustering and shivering their extremes is going to be based on where we stand on a given day. Since fl ight muscles, or cool the hive by their genetic and behavioral abilities the 20-teens was a very warm decade spreading out and moving moisture to adapt, not based on human- on average, what are considered through their home through fanning centric fi xes. Don’t install an HVAC droplets of water with their wings. system in your beehive or take If average temperatures rise, how them for a dip in the lake. While could it impact your bees? Scientists all honey bee subspecies in the have been asking this question U.S. are introduced, they have through controlled experiments remarkable abilities to accommodate and decades-long observations. a wide range of temperature extremes We are reporting some interesting and fluctuations. Some honey fi ndings that have been published bee subspecies have great traits in peer reviewed journals over the for managing cold Winters or hot past several years. We only report a Summers. Carniolan and Russian fraction of their results due to space; bees tend to pack honey down lower we encourage you, dear reader, to in the brood nest before Winter. They use the article references if you want consume less honey over Winter and more details. their Spring build up is temperature and resource sensitive. Italians do Heat Wave the opposite and tend to be better for Researchers in France examined warmer Winter locations. both colony and individual responses to heat waves that they simulated Honey (Bordier et al. 2017). This study Accessing individual beekeeper reported an increase in foragers data in both Poland and the UK, returning with water to cool the hive. researchers reported on some sweet Good news for these bees was that trends, most notably an increase in the increase in water foraging did honey production over 45 years at not come at the expense of nectar both sites (Langowska et al. 2017). and pollen collection. While the The increased yields were attributed researchers reported remarkable to warmer temperatures. In early Despite the sudden rain shower, these adaptability of honey bees to their season, the bees could build up bearding bees are hanging onto each other outside their hive to help cool the simulated heat waves, they also faster, increasing their foraging force. interior temperature. Photo credit Becky warned that the colony response Later in the season, researchers Masterman could make the bees less ready to suggested that bees might be able to 56 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 56 5/18/2021 8:49:12 AM take advantage of novel nectar fl ows A peek into a Winter hive available through prolonged warm reveals tightly packed bees weather in Fall. generating heat to warm their cluster (not their home). Although climate changes might Photo credit Becky mean more fl oral resources in some Masterman locations, temperature extremes also have negative impacts on plants, many of which are less likely to thrive in warmer conditions. Read Matt Suwak’s article to learn more about how these changes can impact your garden and other plantings (https:// gardenerspath.com/how-to/ hacks/hardiness-zone-changes/).
Concerns Honey bee temperature response data support the resilience of honey bees to climate changes, which is not surprising considering how adaptable honey bees are to their conditions. Changing conditions should remind us that while it is important to propagate stocks of bees that thrive in your particular (and changing) climate, it is likely more important to consider the traits of disease and pest resistance and or tolerance in combat climate change is one of the subspecies, Apis mellifera, under your bees. most important ways we can support desert and semiarid climates. One of the threats of climate our vulnerable native pollinators and Bulletin of Insectology 68 (2): 219- change is that animals (like wild, the ecosystems they sustain. BC 222, 2015 ISSN 1721-8861 http:// native bees) may become extinct if www.bulletinofinsectology.org/ they are not able to adapt to quickly- References pdfarticles/vol68-2015-219- changing habitat conditions. We https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/news/ 222alattal.pdf all agree on the need to put more Upcoming-NOAA-2020-Climate- Langowska, A., Zawilak, M., Sparks, T.H. fl owers in the ground for pollinators, Normals et al. Long-term effect of temperature on but some pollinators have life cycles Bordier, C., Dechatre, H., Suchail, S. et al. honey yield and honeybee phenology. dependent on a specifi c fl ower. If the Colony adaptive response to simulated Int J Biometeorol 61, 1125–1132 fl ower and the bees are not in sync, heat waves and consequences at the (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/ the results could be disastrous for individual level in honeybees (Apis s00484-016-1293-x both. We are less concerned about mellifera). Sci Rep 7, 3760 (2017). https://www.bbc.com/news/science- the impact of climate change on https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598- environment-24021772 honey bees, but more so on the crops 017-03944-x and pollination networks, including Alattal, Y. and Alghamdi, A. Impact Acknowledgement the vulnerable wild bees that connect of temperature extremes on survival The authors would like to thank them. We think that taking actions to of indigenous and exotic honey bee Dr. Marla Spivak for helpful edits and suggestions.
Authors Becky Masterman led the UMN Bee Squad from 2013-2019 and currently alternates between acting as an advisor and worker bee for the program. Bridget Mendel joined the Bee Squad in 2013 and has led the program since 2020. Photos of Becky and Bridget confi rm NOAA’s claim that the 80s were cooler.
June 2021 BEE CULTURE 57
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June2021.indd 58 5/18/2021 8:49:14 AM ‘B M ’ – N G Kathy Keatley Garvey Urban Beekeeping
Pesticides, parasites, predators, and a multitude environments vary greatly, from the heart of New York of microorganisms threaten the survival of honey bees, City or San Francisco where small residential lots typically says retired apiculturist Norman Gary of the University have limited vegetation to smaller urban areas that often of California, Davis, but so do hobby beekeepers in urban have “open countryside within the foraging area of your environments who are rearing too many colonies for bees bees.” to “survive and thrive.” “The yield of honey per colony is declining significantly They should limit their hobby to two colonies, says in urban environments,” he says. “These declines leave no Gary, 85, whose expertise in beekeeping, including doubt that overpopulation of bees in urban settings is the professor, scientist, author and professional bee wrangler, primary cause. Few beekeepers are aware that each bee spans seven decades. colony consumes at least 100 pounds of honey annually, “Increasing populations of bees can easily ‘overgraze’ made from approximately 200 pounds of nectar! When the resources,” Gary explains. “Excessive competition for nectar is abundant and there is good weather for foraging, limited nectar and pollen sources also threatens hundreds a typical honey colony has the potential to produce more of native bee species, such as bumble bees, that have than 100 pounds of harvestable honey per year.” similar dietary requirements.” “This is far more than typical hobby beekeepers are In his newly published second edition of his book, harvesting these days,” Gary relates. “It should be obvious Honey Bee Hobbyist: The Care and Keeping of Bees (Fox that hobby beekeepers are keeping too many colonies in Chapel Publishing, East Petersburg, Pa.), he includes a the typical urban environment.” chapter on “Urban Entomology” that “treads on sacred “Hobby beekeepers typically start out with one or two beekeeping ground by proposing a radical change to hives, but that often leads to several more due to their beekeeping in urban environments.” enthusiasm for keeping bees and harvesting more honey But it’s time “to recognize the realities of the urban and equating the number of hives with elevating their environment and make appropriate changes in beekeeping status as beekeepers.” practices,” he declares. In his book, he shares his beekeeping knowledge, Gary, a Sacramento-area resident known dispels many beekeeping myths and provides science- internationally as “The Bee Man” says that urban based information. He covers such subjects as “To Beekeep or Not to Beekeep,” “The Bees’ Home,” “Reproduction,” “Colony Defense and Sting Prevention” and activities inside and outside the hive. New additions include chapters on beekeeping clubs, entertaining with bees, and formal beekeeping education (including the UC Davis-based California Master Beekeeper Program, headed by Extension apiculturist Elina Lastro Niño). Gary, who holds a doctorate in entomology from Cornell University, joined the UC Davis entomology faculty in 1962, retiring in 1994 after a 32-year academic career. He has authored more than 100 publications, including scientific papers, book chapters and popular articles in beekeeping trade journals. A 70-year beekeeper – one of the longest in the nation – Gary began keeping bees at age 15 in Florida. His career includes hobby beekeeper, commercial beekeeper, deputy apiary inspector in New York, honey bee research scientist, entomology professor, author, bee wrangler and Guinness World record holder. During his professional bee wrangler career spanning four decades, “The Bee Man” served as a consultant and bee stunt coordinator for 17 movies, 70 TV shows and six TV commercials. Among his credits: “Fried Green Tomatoes” and appearances with Johnny Carson and Jay Leno on Tonight Shows. Norm Gary with his newly published book, second edition. Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey. He launched the Thriller Bee Shows, performing more June 2021 BEE CULTURE 59
June2021.indd 59 5/18/2021 8:49:16 AM Norm Gary gets ready for bee wrangling. Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey
than 100 times in three western states, with venues that included the California State Fair. He drew widespread acclaim for wearing a head-to-toe suit of clustered bees while “Buzzin’ with His Bee-Flat Clarinet.” Gary once trained bees to fly into his mouth to collect food from a small sponge saturated with artificial nectar. He holds the Guinness World record (109 bees inside his closed mouth for 10 seconds) for the stunt. He’s also the person behind the “bee suit” record in the Guinness World Records; Gary clustered more than 87 pounds of bees on a friend. Today, as a musician, he plays the clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax, and flute with several groups, and is updating his website, http://www.normangary.com. No more “Buzzin’ with His Bee-Flat Clarinet,” though. BC Reprinted with permission from Entomology & Nematology News.
UC Davis emeritus professor Norm Gary examines a frame at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility, UC Davis. Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey
60 BEE CULTURE June 2021
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June2021.indd 61 5/18/2021 8:49:18 AM BIGGER PICTURE Jessica Louque Feeding Your Bees. Think Ahead. Last year, our community fi rst time I’ve had the space to grow bigger commercial guys have a lot couldn’t have our normal farmfest so many fl owers, it defi nitely made of success overwintering their hives so we had a Sunfl ower Trail instead. a difference. I won’t be giving you a in cold storage, so that they get a By sheer luck, the sunfl owers we statistical analysis or anything, even brood break, the temperatures are planted here were right on time for though I normally lean towards a consistent so the colony doesn’t start the trail. This was mostly due to scientifi c observation, but it’s enough producing earlier than they need to, the fact that I had that and the daylight is controlled skateboarding accident for queen laying. In normal and broke my everything weather, our Winter conditions and we had to wait until I vary wildly and can cause a could move a little better lot of dead colonies trying to to plant the seeds, but it keep their brood warm in a worked out in the end. We cold snap. It can be hard to planted what was roughly predict the true end of Fall in four acres of sunflowers cases like these, and I think our that bloomed in the last two sunfl owers hit it just right. The weeks of September and brood will obviously be winding lasted a short while into down as the days get shorter, October. There were around and Winter is coming no matter 11 hives in the immediate what. Having an abundance vicinity, plus three more at of pollen at this time gives a our ag barn about half a huge boost of nutrition to your mile away. Out of all of our Winter bee babies and the bees, these hives by far did nectar coming in will add to the the best in overwintering. Winter honey stores. There were no colony I did make a large batch deaths in these, and most of AP23 pollen patties that were double deeps by the everybody received a couple fi rst week of April. We lost times before Winter and then a handful to a bear with two again in February and March. cubs while we were gone Once we had a couple of warmer with the dogs one weekend, days and I could see the bees but it hasn’t been back fl ying, I knew there would be around since Pickle and brood on the way. We have a lot Pumpkin have returned to of problems with colonies dying guard the house. One of the right next to food to keep brood hives it destroyed was only warm, so feeding pollen patties about 20 feet from our back door, and to see how much more robust and – before the spring blooms starts really it looks like it might have hung out not dead – those hives are compared keeps the bees healthier and gives with the chickens and pigs for a little to bees that didn’t have access to them in-hive access that conserves while. Those casualties aside, these those fl owers. their energy. particular hives look better than all In North Carolina, we basically Now obviously, it’s just not our others, and I’m guessing it’s from have magic eight-ball weather where possible for everybody to go out and the food. you can shake it around and get plant several acres of fl owers for their I am all for some sugar syrup just about as good of a prediction bees. If you can’t do this, try your feeding. As much as I hate it, I as watching the news. It’s not that best to fi nd a good natural foraging also believe feeding pollen patties uncommon to have 70s and 20s in area and supplement them as much is necessary for healthy colonies in the same week. A couple days ago, it as you can to keep them healthy. I dearths. Both of these will typically was 80 and then we had tornadoes normally use Honey B Healthy with rely on artifi cial food sources though, and a hailstorm. It makes keeping my sugar syrup to give a little boost, and I just don’t think they can bees alive over the Winter diffi cult. but just plain sugar syrup is better compete with the real deal. Maybe I’ve If you’ve been keeping up with the than nothing. The important thing is never really paid attention, but as the trends, you’ll see that a lot of the to provide what your colony needs.
62 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 62 5/18/2021 8:49:21 AM Always remember that something is place you have to put their hive. As better than nothing. Find a pollen almost every aspect of beekeeping mix that is something you like, and involves human manipulation and feed your bees what they can handle. intervention, it’s not a bad idea to err Don’t over feed them or you’ll end on the side of success. up with too many hive beetles to Do your research on additives, deal with, but feed them enough to sucrose solutions, and different keep them busy for at least four to types of pollen patties. Compare your fi ve days. If they don’t eat it by then, options to what you can afford, both it will be dry and gross anyway and in money and in time. It’s no small they’ll throw it out. Some people ordeal to make pollen patties and to have access to different syrup mixes clean up the mess it makes (maybe through companies like Dadant, and that’s just me?). You could also order these are fine too. The important actual pollen baskets to make patties, thing is to keep them fed. Nutrition or use extra of your own hives to for your bees is really only secondary collect pollen and feed back to your to Varroa control, and could arguably bees in the wintertime. It’s up to be the most important part of keeping you if it’s worth the cost of a smaller bees alive. I don’t know why I didn’t hive to produce your own, or to buy pay more attention to the timing, but someone else’s pollen from a different I would defi nitely say that the late area of the country. There’s also the about $24 for you to make it yourself, Fall food source contributed to the possibility that there could be various or a 40-pound bag for around $90. success of the hives. chemicals in pollen baskets produced Global Patties sells for around $1.77/ If you do happen to have in a separate place, but it’s something pound and has rave reviews. You can availability to plant for your bees, you can also talk to the producer get a 10-pound box of pre-made Ultra consider the timing of bloom. We were about if you’re concerned. Bee patties for $37, or a 10 pound box cutting it close to our frost date, but There are plenty of resources of Mega Bee pollen patties for $35. we were lucky. The sunfl owers also available to educate yourself on the Most pollen patties will have people provided ample pollen and nectar, benefits of adequate nutrition for who swear by them in a cult following, but there may be other fl owers that your colonies, but the most important but no patty will work during a pollen you prefer that could also provide thing is to do what you can within fl ow, so if you put it in at the wrong for your bees. This year we will try your means. If you suddenly decide time, don’t expect success. Again, to plant eight acres of sunfl owers, that you need to feed your bees every take the time to do some research, and try to start it with buckwheat other day, eventually you’re going sift through some forums, and take before we plant the sunfl owers to to get tired of the bar you’ve set the advice of beekeepers in your local give a nitrogen boost from the dying for yourself. Try to fi nd something area. If you take your bees’ nutrition buckwheat stalks. reasonable that you can handle seriously, I think you’ll have a great As I mentioned in a previous with the time you have, and the cost return on your investment in the article, I think Winter blooming compared to what you’re willing to next Spring. BC plants may also be incredibly helpful spend on your bees. Buying pre-made to bees, but I haven’t seen this in AP23 patties will probably be more Jessica Louque raises bees, children, action. I am hoping this year to be consistent than what you can make dogs, birds and lots of other things and able to start planting with this in at home, but it will cost you around grows sunflowers, with her husband mind, particularly with camellias. $5 per patty, plus shipping. A fi ve- Bobby in North Carolina. Everybody has a different situation pound bag of dry mix will cost you where they keep their bees, and some of you guys probably live in an area that the additional feeding might not even be necessary. If your primary goal is using your bees for pollination, it might be a good boost to have larger colonies in the Spring. If you have bees for honey, you probably don’t want to sugar feed too much unless it’s after your honey harvest to make sure you’re not selling sugar water honey to people. Ideally, you would want minimal input to the bees from the beekeeper side so they are more self-maintaining and less expensive, but in reality, beekeeping is too expensive to gamble on whether your bees can take care of their nutritional needs based on the most convenient
June 2021 BEE CULTURE 63
June2021.indd 63 5/18/2021 8:49:22 AM POLLINATOR WEEK – 2021 Kelly Rourke
2006 was a big year for pollinators. This was the year beekeepers that practice sustainability. 4) Conserve the National Academy of Sciences, National Research resources to reduce your carbon footprint, as pollinators Council conducted a study on the “Status of Pollinators are also negatively affected by climate change. 5) Lastly, in North America.” This study garnered so much attention support organizations and advocacy groups that are they ultimately published it as a stand-alone book in working to protect all pollinators. early 2007. 2006 was also the year when the fi rst inklings Each year, Pollinator Partnership requests of Colony Collapse Disorder began circulating, causing proclamations from the Governors of all 50 states as well anxiety for the stability of our food supply. With much as from the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary cause for concern Pollinator Partnership took the lead on of the Interior. We also request for landmarks to display establishing a designated time to raise awareness, take their colored lights in honor of Pollinator Week. In the past action, and celebrate these essential species. It was an we have had the Empire State Building, Niagara Falls, idea that Dr. Larry Stritch, former Forest Service National and the CN tower in Toronto light up in celebration of Botanist, and Pollinator Partnership’s President and CEO, Pollinators, as the celebration has grown internationally. Laurie Davies Adams, incepted. The team initially secured At the local level, Pollinator Partnership provides a a resolution from the Senate and then a proclamation platform for groups and individuals to share their own from the Secretary of Agriculture, and in 2007 National activities on our website so that nearby community Pollinator Week was born. members can join in on the celebration. Each year we Pollinator Week is about raising awareness about the have over 200 events registered on our map, many being importance of pollinators and celebrating these animals virtual this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Activities that provide critical ecosystem services. Pollinator Week have ranged from planting days and plant sales, parties encourages people to engage in local and national efforts with pollinated foods and drinks, nature walks, and during the third week of June, this year June 21-27th, beekeeping or pollinator identifi cation classes. In a time of to learn and educate others. During this time, Pollinator uncertainty, it is wonderful to see people gather, virtually Partnership aims to promote several critical messages and safely outdoors, to celebrate pollinators. that will help promote pollinators: 1) Plant for pollinators You’ve probably heard the phrase “one in three bites and provide nesting sites. 2) Reduce or eliminate the of food we eat is a result of animal pollination.” This use of harmful chemicals. 3) Support local farmers and year Pollinator Partnership’s annual Poster, “Pollinators 64 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 64 5/18/2021 8:49:23 AM and Agriculture: A partnership on the land”, portrays exactly that, how pollinators support healthy food systems and ecosystems and how promoting biodiversity in agricultural settings can be benefi cial. Also represented on the poster are the many, diverse sponsors that support pollinator conservation. Here at Pollinator Partnership, we value diverse on pollinators or spraying at night when bees are less perspectives and believe active. that bringing everyone ● Providing different blooming plants throughout the to the table will create the biggest impact for pollinator growing season, especially in early spring and late conservation. autumn. Promoting healthy pollinators in agricultural settings ● Minimizing tillage to protect ground nesting pollinators. has a direct impact on the quality and quantity of our ● Creating designated permanently untilled areas and crops, while simultaneously benefi ting the health of leaving woody or pithy stems for native bee nesting. humans, plants, and the planet. Actions for pollinators ● Ensuring clean water sources are scattered throughout on farms, like the planting of habitat including buffers, the landscape. pollinator gardens, hedgerows, and cover crops, improves ● Choosing a variety of native plants to act as windbreaks, the health of our air, water, and soil, positively impacting riparian buffers, and fi eld borders throughout the farm. farming operations. Pollinators and their habitat can ● Planting unused land with temporary cover crops that economically benefi t farmers through increased yield, can provide forage. decreased maintenance, and less reliance on chemical inputs. Pollinators in-turn rely on croplands and adjacent The many ways to help pollinators, as outlined in natural areas for forage, nesting, and refuge. This poster is this article, align directly with Pollinator Partnership’s an artistic depiction of the harmony that can be achieved mission to promote the health of pollinators, critical to when agricultural landscapes embrace pollinator- food and ecosystems, through conservation, education, friendly management practices. Such Best Management and research. We are constantly striving to convey the Practices focus on maintaining healthy populations of importance of pollinators in our daily lives. Visit www. both managed honey bees and wild pollinators in farm pollinator.org to learn, take action, and donate in the settings. Best Management Practices include: name of the health of pollinators, people, and the planet. ● Minimizing the use of pesticides to reduce the impact Happy Pollinator Week!
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June 2021 BEE CULTURE 65
June2021.indd 65 5/18/2021 8:49:25 AM DRONE Theresa Martin Dones in DCA and House: This picture is taken from the UAV looking back at the house. The DCA we located is about ¼ mile from our house. There are 8 drones in CONGREGATION this picture indicated by the red arrows. AREAS Do you have access to a drone (unmanned aerial vehicle – UAV)? Do you think honey bees are one of the most fascinating creatures on the planet? Do you enjoy contributing to efforts that are bigger than yourself? If you answered yes to these three questions, you can be a citizen scientist by locating drone congregation areas (DCA) near you. It is easy, exciting, and fulfi lling to contribute to worldwide research about honey bees. I fi rst heard about this citizen I went to www.mapmydca.com queen pheromone can be detected scientist opportunity from Georgia to learn how to locate a DCA, how by the drones. I inserted my queen Master Beekeeper Julia Mahood to fashion a lure that simulates a pheromone stick into the bottle and when she explained her breakthrough virgin queen, and how to attach the tied the bottle to the UAV using about idea of using a UAV to fi nd DCAs on lure to the UAV. The website is clear 20 feet of thread. Could it really be the “Beekeeper Confi dential” podcast and easy to understand. I then went that simple? It turns out: yes, it is (Episode 45, 1/22/2020). She talked to the Facebook page https://www. that simple. about the value of drones, honey bee facebook.com/mapmydca and I looked at the weather forecast to genetics and reproduction. She then asked a few clarifying questions. fi nd a sunny afternoon in mid-June invited beekeepers to locate and map The hardest part was obtaining and made a date with my husband DCAs on the website she created, queen pheromone. I happened to for him to fl y his UAV with my lure www.mapmydca.com. I thought run into a queen breeder who had attached. The first time we flew, “That sounds fun and becoming artifi cial queen pheromone sticks so we went out in one direction from a citizen scientist is IT right now: I bought a few from her for a $1 each. our house. We flew over a few of people all over the world doing their I fashioned my lure using a small my hives and sure enough, several small part that together makes a pill bottle with holes drilled through drones came up to investigate. The major contribution and impact. I’ll it so air can pass through and the queen pheromone lure worked! We try it.” were thrilled at this small success. We fl ew a bit further but did not fi nd anything more, so decided that was a good enough practice run for our fi rst attempt. A few days later, we fl ew a second time in a different direction and BOOM! We found a DCA less than ¼ mile from our house. It was exactly as Mahood described: a depression in the landscape surrounded by trees with a stream delineating one side. It was exciting to see hundreds of drones fl ying around the lure, darting and racing in a blur of interest. After we fl ew the UAV safely home, I added my DCA and video to www. mapmydca.com. Success! DCA Looking Down at Drones and Lure – This is a picture from the UAV looking down As a beekeeper with 11 hives into the DCA. The red circles show the location of the drones. The yellow box shows the within ¼ mile of this DCA, I wondered lure. For video of drones fl ying in the DCA, go to http://mapmydca.com/detail/?id=14 what this might indicate for my
66 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 66 5/18/2021 8:49:26 AM colonies. Research shows that drones UAV on Landing fl y to a DCA closer to their own hive Pad: My husband’s and virgin queens fl y to a DCA farther unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is a away from their own hive. Drones fl y DJI Mavic Pro. to the nearest DCA so they can invest energy flying longer in the DCA. Being in the DCA longer increases the probability of being present when a virgin queen enters the DCA. Drones return to their hives to refuel and then go back out the DCA, often multiple times a day. The shorter the travel distance from the hive to the DCA, the longer the drone can stay airborne in the DCA to increase his chances of mating with a virgin queen (Sorel et al., 2018). Conversely, a virgin queen fl ies to a DCA farther away from her own hive. This makes it less likely that she will be in the same DCA as her brothers which reduces the probability of inbreeding. The research shows in southeastern Kentucky. The valley has occurred for my colonies for the virgin queens can fl y up to fi ve miles fl oor is 1000 feet below a ridge that past several years. away to reach a DCA. She stays in the surrounds the valley on all sides. Understanding the science of DCA a relatively short amount of time There is a one narrow pass to exit the queens and drones fl ying to DCAs, my and then fl ies back home to her hive. mountains. In addition, my neighbor beekeeping methods, the topography She often takes just one mating fl ight, located ½ mile towards the mountain of my farm location, and my positive but studies show she may go out on pass has 11 colonies as well. Our 22 queenright results, I could now add subsequent days as well. (Koeniger colonies, my 11 and my neighbor’s to this the knowledge that there is et al, 2014) 11, are at least partially restricted by a DCA located ¼ mile from my 11 We also know that beekeeping altitude from fl ying the several miles colonies. Could this close DCA be is local and impacted by local in any direction we often read about. a contributing factor to the high conditions such as climate, terrain, Bee behavior and outcomes queenright results? The science says and available forage. My house, farm are also infl uenced by beekeeping it is not likely that my virgin queens and 11 of my colonies are located in methods. I practice natural are fl ying to this close-by DCA and a valley in the Appalachia Mountains beekeeping following most of the instead, are fl ying to a farther away recommendations of Dr. Thomas DCA. Yet, with many colonies in Seeley and his Darwinian beekeeping my isolated valley surrounded by guidelines. For example, I do nothing 1000-foot high mountains, could it to prevent swarming and instead, be that my virgin queens are using catch the swarms when I can reach this close DCA anyway to avoid fl ying them. I also space my hives as far over the mountains? Could it be apart from each other as possible that because of the high number of to reduce pathogen transfer due colonies (22) fl ooding the close DCA to drifting (Seeley, 2019). Greater with drones that my virgin queens distance between hives also ensures would have a lower probability of virgin queens returning from mating mating with drones from their own fl ights enter the correct hive (Gabka, colony? Would not fl ying just ¼ mile 2018). to the DCA mean less opportunity for In Spring 2020, I witnessed 16 virgin queens to get eaten by a bird, swarms from the 11 colonies located become lost, or blown off course and at my house. Several colonies emitted therefore, result in higher queenright both a primary swarm and multiple success? afterswarms. Of those 16 swarms, I The truth is, I do not know. I do caught 12 of them. The other four not know why my queenright results were too high in a tree for me to are so high. Without DNA testing and retrieve. Every one of the 12 swarms rigorous studies, I cannot conclude I caught and every one of my original that my virgin queens are fl ying to 11 colonies became queenright all by the DCA located ¼ mile from my Drone Lure: The lure is a pill bottle with themselves. Every one. Not a single house. What I can do is continue holes drilled into it. There is an artifi cial queenless hive. As unusual as this to track swarming and queenright queen pheromone stick inside the bottle. may seem, a nearly identical level of results for my colonies located at my The lure hangs on a thread about 20 feet below the fl ying UAV. swarming and queenright success isolated valley and compare to results
June 2021 BEE CULTURE 67
June2021.indd 67 5/18/2021 8:49:27 AM for my other colonies located in you work hard to apply what you References four separate out-apiaries. Because learn to understanding your bees. Gabka, J. (2018). Drifting of honey bee my beekeeping methods are the One way to do this is to try to queens returning from fl ights. Journal same for all my colonies, the major find a DCA using a UAV. I invite of Apicultural Research, 57(4), 580-585. differences between multiple apiaries you to contribute to the worldwide Koeniger, G., Koeniger, N., Ellis, J. & are terrain and DCA location. I can knowledge of DCA locations following Connor, L. (2014). Mating Biology of continue to learn and gather data to the methods Julia Mahood developed. Honey Bees (Apis mellifera). Wicwas try to understand bee biology and In doing so, you will deepen your own Press. behaviors. I will continue to wonder understanding of colony reproduction Seeley, T. D. (2019). The lives of bees: The and think and study. and possibly gain new insight into untold story of the honey bee in the wild. This is one of the aspects I enjoy your own colonies’ behavior and your Princeton University Press. most about beekeeping. There are beekeeping methods. It is not often Sorel, A., Martin, G., Emile Houle, E., & continuous opportunities to merge we have an opportunity to contribute Giovenazzo, P. (2018). Finding DCAs. science with experiences, combining to an effort that is this exciting, easy, Bee Culture: The Magazine of American the details of location, methods, and useful. I hope you locate a DCA, Beekeeping. https://www.beeculture. and observation. Beekeeping has place it on www.mapmydca.com, com/fi nding-dcas/ it all. It is mentally challenging to and in doing so, become a citizen apply new learning and gather data scientist. BC Theresa Martin has 17 hives in while being cautious to not jump to southeastern Kentucky. She focuses on conclusions. There is much we do keeping healthy, alive bees by using more not yet understand about bees and natural practices. She is the President of beekeeping. her local bee club and the Secretary of the You are likely a beekeeper Kentucky State Beekeepers Association. somewhere in the world who is Theresa is pursuing her master beekeeper working to grow your knowledge of certifi cation at Cornell University. You can bees and to apply that knowledge to see video of the DCA Theresa and her increase your success as a beekeeper. husband found at http://mapmydca. You likely have a curiosity about com/detail/?id=14 bee biology and behaviors, and
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June2021.indd 69 5/18/2021 8:49:29 AM u.s. honey producers Pamela Parker
Skyrocketing demand for honey has meant that prices in the U.S. have almost doubled over the past decade – so why are American beekeepers struggling to make ends meet? The price of honey on US shelves has almost David Bradshaw has been a beekeeper for almost doubled over the past 10 years. Pamela Parker photo half a century. Born in Pasadena, and raised in California’s rural Central Valley, he purchased his fi rst 200 hives while for some metrics of honey, such as moisture, content, still in high school. He then worked alongside his father colour and clarity. Grades B and C are also available. until they each had about 2,000. So a jar of A could be labelled as such and then also With the average price of honey on US supermarket say, often in very small print, that it is a mixture of honeys shelves at $8.09 (£6.48) per pound (454g) last month, from a number of other countries. up from $4.66 in May 2010, you’d think that it was boom The problem for US beekeepers is that while they say times for Mr. Bradshaw and the other 36,000 or so US they need to be paid $2 per pound to break even, foreign beekeepers. honey can be imported for as little as 81 cents per Instead, many are on the brink of going out of pound. business, despite the big price rise as U.S. honey The US imports its honey from a number countries, consumption has grown by more than a third over the with India the biggest source, followed by Vietnam, same period. Argentina and Brazil. “It’s hard,” says the 63-year-old. “It’s hard selling So the people making big profi ts from honey sales in the honey. the U.S. are the importers and honey retail companies, “I do some commercial extraction for other beekeepers. not the domestic beekeepers. And since they can’t sell their honey either, they have However, Nicholas Sargeantson, owner of the largest problems paying me.” importer of honey to the U.S., Sunland Trading, points “These days I get paid only $1.25 to $1.50 per pound out that the imports are vital to meet demand. of honey, with prices falling further. To break even, I need “Imported honey, in general, is coming in large to be paid at least $2 per pound, which hasn’t happened volumes because the consumption here is over 500m for about three years.” lb (227m kg) [per year] and only 150m lb are produced So what is the cause of the problem? There are a domestically,” he says. number of factors, from the U.S. importing huge volumes While it is perfectly legal to import and sell foreign of low-cost honey from overseas, to insuffi cient labelling honey in the U.S. if the origin is stated, in some cases the rules, and even outright cheating - whereby honey is country or countries of origin can be illegally hidden or mixed with cheaper ingredients, such as corn syrup. mislabelled. The honey can also have been secretly and A trip to any U.S. grocery store indicates the issue fraudulently adulterated, or bulked out, with corn syrup regarding honey labels. There are shelves stacked with or other cheaper ingredients. honey jars labelled “U.S. grade A”. Sweetwater Science Labs, an independent testing So a patriotic American might think that this is the lab in Missouri, says that roughly 35-40% of consumer- very best quality honey to buy. Unfortunately it doesn’t instigated honey testing it conducted over the past 18 actually mean that the honey in question is from the U.S. months was either adulterated, of false origin, or of poor Instead the term “U.S. grade A” is a guideline issued quality because it had been overly processed, such as by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) being overheated. “I have been seeing more and more testing requests to verify the origin of honey, [not just from consumers] but even from growers and smaller packers testing the origins of competitor products,” says Sweetwater’s chief chemist James Gawenis. Accusations of fraud have dogged the U.S. honey trade for decades and Mitchell Weinberg, chief executive of food fraud detection agency Inscatech, says things remain as bad as ever. “I’ve done numerous honey investigations over the past 10 years, and I can say with certainty that the problem of honey fraud today is still huge,” The problem for the U.S. honey industry in dealing America's beekeepers say that they are struggling. Pamela with this all is that the sector remains largely self- Parker photo regulated, with very little government monitoring. 70 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 70 5/18/2021 8:49:30 AM Could the honey you buy actually contain other ingredients, The U.S. gets more than two-thirds of its honey from over- such as added corn syrup? seas, with India its biggest supplier.
Take the USDA’s grading system – it isn’t actually enforced. Honeys are not routinely tested by the department, or any other federal agency. Michael Roberts, executive director at the Resnick Centre for Food Law and Policy at the University of California Los Angeles School of Law, says the government must do more to police the U.S. honey sector. “There is insufficient coordination between government agencies to police honey fraud in a way that would make it effective,” he says. This lack of coordination is quickly revealed when the USDA was asked whether its honey grading system should be strengthened. It replied to the BBC that “overall authority for food labelling is the responsibility of the FDA [the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which is part A jar can say "US grade A", but then the small print can of the US Department of Health and Human Services]”. reveal that the honey is from other countries. Its response was similar when it was asked what it was doing about the problem of adulterated honey: “Again this is ultimately the authority of the FDA.” adulterated honey whose production costs are extremely A spokesman for the FDA said that it “does not have low.” any regulations governing country of origin labelling.” Beekeeper David Bradshaw is clear about what he Instead it said it was a matter for the USDA. would like to see. “I’d like to see [more] prominent labelling However, he added that regarding honey adulteration: of the country of origin of all honey sold,” he says. “The FDA considers product labelling, and the statements He also hopes to see stronger enforcement to protect and representations made therein, on a case-by-case U.S. beekeepers from adulterated honey, or honey that basis. [And] all statements on a food label must be truthful tries to hide its country of origin, both of which suppress and not misleading.” prices. The problem of adulterated foreign honey coming Chris Hiatt, vice president of the American Honey into the U.S. is the biggest issue, says Ron Phipps, of Producers Association, says that something has to be the International Federation of Beekeepers Associations. done. “We need a decent price to keep our businesses “The reality is not that American beekeepers are non- going,” he says. “It is a serious problem.” BC competitive,” he says. “The problem is other countries are using means of production, which have been observed and documented, that allow production of huge quantities of Mountain Grey Caucasian Republic of Georgia Queens 3# Packages $60.00 $145.00
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June 2021 BEE CULTURE 71
June2021.indd 71 5/18/2021 8:49:31 AM Four wheeled cart Several years ago I purchased a Ways To Move four wheeled cart to haul my honey judging equipment. It has a folding handle and the platform is large enough to place a beehive. Because Bees, Part II it has four-inch wheels, it is good to wheel on hard smooth surfaces but In Early 19th Cent r is diffi cult to pull through grass and Jim Thompson gravel. Cars used for bee vehicles Trailers In 1906 G.M. Doolittle used his The trailers used during this car for hauling his bees and bee time period were high because they equipment to his out-yards. When he had wagon wheels. Thus you would wasn’t using it for bees, he was using have to make sure the ground was it to haul his friends and guests. solid. There were no ramps so the Beekeepers used many different hives would have to be hefted onto models of cars like a Rambler, Buick, the trailer. On the other hand, if you Cadillac and more to haul equipment. loaded the trailer right you could An automobile could be hooked up to unhitch it in the pollination area and power a saw blade and cut fi re wood. the hives being so high wouldn’t be bothered with the weeds. Two wheeled Cart Wagons There are several two wheeled A wagon full of beehives just carts on the market, but the pictured makes me cringe, thinking of how one works well. It was homemade much work it would take to load the and has large wheels and nose deck hives. Unload would be slightly easier that is large enough to fit under but leaves you always looking for a most hives. However it is heavy, so I place to stand. Even with a helper it usually look for a younger helper to is a lot of work. help load it onto the trailer if there isn’t room to wheel it on. Last year I found an aluminum model that I like well. Besides being lighter, the tires are solid, and it has fold down extra set of wheels.
Cars modifi ed into a bee vehicle Sometimes a car is modifi ed to haul more packages, nucs, or hives. In this picture, we see bees being unloaded from a box car in 1915. The car was once an old touring car.
72 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 72 5/18/2021 8:49:32 AM Trucks for hauling bees a Ford Top Loader four speed manual It seems by the pictures of hauling transmission and a Ford 9” rear end beehives by truck the practice was with 3.50 gears. Allen or should I to throw the hives in or on in any say “The Gadget Guy” as some EAS direction and see how high you could people know him, has taken honey get the load. Maybe the trucks didn’t to some of the car shows where he go as fast as the ones today, but takes his car. we have to worry about the frames My 2004 Chevrolet SSR, although rocking within the hive and make I often refer to it as a car, it is really sure the frames are parallel to the a convertible truck. It has a 300 length of the vehicle. The entrances horsepower engine that has been are placed to the rear, so the wind modifi ed by adding a supercharger, created by the movement of the truck power chip, and a special exhaust, doesn’t get forced into the hive. so it now produces more than 500 I don’t know what type of truck horsepower. It didn’t balk one bit George J. Van de Vord used, but when I was hauling a swarm that I he loaded 41 hives on it using only had hived. BC tobacco smoke. I hope he didn’t have to go very far as I see only one rope References: holding the load. He was hauling Gleanings in Bee Culture, 1883 - 1915 bees in the daylight, which I have Photograph of Allen Hayes’ 30 Ford never done. Photograph of my 2004 Chevrolet SSR Here is a picture of Danielson’s International Auto Wagon which may have been a pickup. It looks as if he secured the load well and it was a Unusual bee vehicles good thing as he drove thru some 1910, A steam engine was used mud. It looks like his fun is just to move four wagons of bees in beginning and I hope that he has Canada. some galoshes. This 1930 Model A Ford two Several different types of trucks door sedan is owned and built by were used to haul bees. The favorite EAS Master Beekeeper Allen Hayes. seems to be Reo, but Ford, Chase, It has a Ford 302 cubic inch V8 International, and others were used. engine, with a four-barrel carburetor,
Hauling bees in a boat There were several pictures of moving bees by boat from 1910 to 1915, so it was tough choosing one picture. However I wonder if it was hard to move the hives in the daylight or if the beekeepers had to wait until dark to release them? Was it diffi cult to unload the hives that were stacked on the roof of the boat? All the boats looked similar, except for the paddle wheel boat that A.I. Root used to take bees to Florida. Seeds for honeybee habitat
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74 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 74 5/18/2021 8:49:36 AM Sher Hackwell tasteful bees
Tasteful Bees edible – leaves, stalk, buds, and A remarkable transformation Food surprises, delights and head. Anything but a garnish, a occurs when the pollinated sunfl ower even disgusts. Today’s chefs aim to mammoth sunflower head is the head or capitulum’s disc florets engage peoples’ senses and emotions; ideal grilling ingredient. These giants transform into thousands of edible the eating experience being highly grow 10-12 feet high, producing a seeds. When they’re ripe yet still soft, subjective, as what one person 12-inch diameter flower in under the sunfl ower is ready to harvest for considers delicious and comforting, four months. grilling. The entire head is grilled, another finds disagreeable. With nectar-packed disc fl orets creating a dish that’s not unlike Unfamiliar foods expand the palate and brilliantly hued, petal-like ray eating corn-on-the-cob. The head’s beyond its quotidian comfort-zone, florets, sunflowers are composed flip side is edible, too, and just and some of these unusual foods can of thousands of tiny flowers that requires a brief blanch pre-grilling. be credited to bees. Bees contribute attract multiple pollinators, chiefl y Roughly 75 days in, depending to our culinary landscape in myriad bumblebees and other wild bees, and on the growing zone, it’s essential ways – as pollinators and ingredients some honey bees. to regularly monitor the sunfl ower’s and through by-products like honey, honeycomb, and beeswax. The following bee-forward dishes will surprise, delight, and may even disgust . . .
SURPRISE Grilled Sunfl ower Heads Flowers from honey plants like clover, sweet lavender, and spicy marigolds steeped in tisanes or as salad garnishes are commonplace. Sunfl ower head with seeds. The sunflower, another popular pollinator plant, is known not only for its seeds, but in fact, it is entirely
June 2021 BEE CULTURE 75
June2021.indd 75 5/18/2021 8:49:37 AM growth to ensure the head is chili powder, cumin and cayenne. harvested green and before Mix Mexican crema with the spice its seeds forms hard shells. An blend and the zest and juice of excellent seed source, Baker Creek one lime. Heirloom Seed Co., recommends the Crumble Cotija cheese Mammoth Grey Striped Sunfl ower and chop cilantro. for grilling because of its fl avorful seeds and generous head-size. Grill Preheat grill to 400°F or medium- Elote-style Grilled Mammoth high heat. Sunfl ower Heads Serves 2 Coat sunflower heads with oil, to Preparation is straightforward prevent sticking to the grill. for this unusual dish. Pluck the When grill is hot, place oiled heads petals, brush off any florets and seed-side down, and cook covered trim the stem. Then, coat with for fi ve to seven minutes. olive oil and grill seed-side down. Check after fi ve minutes and rotate There are endless topping choices; the heads for even char. corn-on-the-cob purists may prefer The sunflower heads are ready butter, salt, and pepper, whereas when seeds are slightly soft the Baker Creek Heirloom Seed with some noticeable char. Co. garnishes theirs with a mix Remove from grill. of sundried-tomatoes and basil. For a twist, grill these giants Dress Shochu Japanese Hornet liquor. Mexican Street Corn (elote) style – a Immediately spoon on the creamy, tangy treat! Mexican Crema mixture, top with the liquor. Japanese cuisine enthusiasts Cotija cheese and cilantro. Squeeze will be familiar with Sunomono salad, Ingredients a wedge of lime over each head and a starter of thinly sliced cucumber Spice Blend sprinkle to-taste with chili fl akes. marinated in rice vinegar and soy 2 teaspoons chili powder* Eat with wakame seaweed, cellophane ¾ teaspoon ground cumin Serve with a plate of lime noodles, and fresh shrimp. The giant Dash of cayenne wedges and more chili flakes. hornet version swaps out shrimp for Enjoy it corn-on-the-cob style! Or, dig hornet larvae, lending the dish a rich, Sunfl owers in with a fork. creamy note that juxtaposes the tart 2 giant (12-14”) sunfl ower heads, cucumber slices. petals plucked and stems DISGUST Asian Giant Hornets In a number of Japan’s rural trimmed Next, a somewhat jarring segue regions, giant hornet venom is added Olive or vegetable oil to coat heads to another over-sized edible: the to a traditional distilled spirit known 1 cup Mexican crema (or substitute murder hornet. While not a bee, as Shōchū. According to Yabai.com, with ½ cup sour cream and ½ it is classifi ed in the same insect live hornets are placed into the alcohol cup mayonnaise) order, Hymenoptera. Sensationalized to infuse it with their potent venom, 1½ cups Cotija cheese, crumbled as murder hornets, they’re more which they release while struggling to (or substitute with feta) accurately known as Asian Giant survive. The venom is said to provide ½ cup cilantro, medium chop Hornets, or its sub-species, Japanese multiple health benefi ts—increased 3 limes 1 lime squeezed and zested, Giant Hornets. Known colloquially in energy, healthy skin, and a generous 2 limes cut into wedges Japan as suzumebachi, these insects dose of vitamin C. Dried chili fl akes—(optional) for a have recently gained North American Grains used in the distillation hit of heat notoriety due to their capacity to process, i.e., barley, rice, or launch aggressive attacks on honey buckwheat, defi ne Shōchū’s taste, *Tajin, a Mexican go-to seasoning bees. the giant hornets adding earthy is a quick and easy alternative Insects as ingredients aren’t charcoal and savory notes. The spice blend. Or, use packaged chili the novelty they once were. Think, hornets are fermented in alcohol powder or create a custom blend house-cricket pasta and bread fl our, for approximately three years and based on your fl avor preferences. or insect ice-cream, burgers, and remain in the bottle once set to I.e. Ground Guajillo chili pepper protein bars. Nearly two billion people imbibe – guaranteeing a portion or mild to medium heat, sweet, smoky, eat insects globally, yet Western two of hornet parts with each pour. tangy notes. Ground Ancho chili society is slow to embrace this pepper mild, chocolate, dried dark alternate protein – widely considered DELIGHT Beeswax-coated Canelés fruit. Smoked Paprika sweet and a means to decrease bovine-generated A more palatable bee-centric smoky. Cayenne pepper fi ery fl avor greenhouse gases vs. a coveted option is the beeswax-coated canelé delicacy. – a centuries-old French pastry using Directions These giant hornets are a featured beeswax as the key to its crispy Prep ingredient in some curious Japanese exterior. Pronounced can-eh-LAY, Prep sunfl ower heads. recipes – a protein in Sunomono it’s essentially a two-bite cake that Make spice blend by mixing together salad and an infusion in Shōchū tempts with a light, creamy vanilla,
76 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 76 5/18/2021 8:49:40 AM exact provenance is unclear; however, to form the white-oil coating, then the consensus is that between the chilled to set. The batter is poured early and high Renaissance – 15th into the molds, baked for an hour, to 18th century, Bordeaux wineries and immediately released to cool, used egg whites as a fi ning agent. while the beeswax and caramelized They gifted the unused egg yolks to sugars set to develop its crunchy, the nearby Couvent (Convent) des bittersweet shell. Finally, the canelés Annonciades whose nuns baked the are ready to eat. Delightful. pastry’s fi rst rendition for the town’s needy children. SOURCES The canelé virtually disappeared Mammoth Sunfl ower Seeds due to government-imposed https://www.rareseeds.com/ regulations forbidding the use of Copper Molds https://debuyer-usa. specifi c ingredients, the dismantling com/ of trades’ guilds, and also due to the Beeswax Local beekeepers or French Revolution. https://glorybee.com/ In the late 20th century, the Confrérie du Canelé de Bordeaux traditional canelé was revived when Facebook @gateauxbordelais nearly 100 Bordelaise pastry chefs formed a society, the Confrérie Sher Hackwell is a culinary writer (Brotherhood) du Canelé de Bordeaux, focusing on food travel, history, Beeswax-coated Canelés to ensure its authenticity. Forty years and sustainability. She’s written on, the Brotherhood holds firm, and developed recipes for Edible and rum-infused center, encased in a protecting the integrity of this storied Publications, was a columnist for crunchy caramelized shell. French for sweet. the Glacier Media Group and has fl uted, canelés are baked in copper, Making the pastry requires contributed to Uppercase Magazine. fl uted molds coated with white-oil, precision and time – happily, the She is a Culinary Historian book bakery-speak for a beeswax, butter bulk of it is hands-off. There are reviewer and an editor for Headlines mixture. multiple recipes online, although by publication. As an artisanal food Beeswax’s purpose is threefold: in following a few steps, canelé victory promotions specialist, she connects addition to creating a glossy, crunchy is within reach. chefs with farmers and purveyors – exterior, its distinct mouthfeel in Working with copper molds is including apiary goods. BC stark contrast to its creamy center, essential – to ensure optimal heat- beeswax prevents the batter from conductivity, quality ingredients, https://sherhackwell.com/wp- sticking to the mold and extends and unbleached, food-grade beeswax. content/uploads/2020/03/Edible- its freshness by sealing the pastry. The batter consists of the usual Vancouver_-Complicated-Coffee.pdf Tip: Although not recommended for suspects – egg yolks, sugar, and https://sherhackwell.com/wp- canelé molds, repeatedly coating a fl our. Accompanied by vanilla-bean content/uploads/2020/04/Tipsy- sturdier baking pan with beeswax seeds and dark rum, all are gently Laird_Edible-Vancouver-1.pdf produces a convenient non-stick combined to prevent air bubbles from coating. forming, then refrigerated overnight. “I value her creative ideas, sharp writing The canelé has seen multiple Before baking, equal parts butter and & reliable professionalism.” – transformations since its inception beeswax are slowly melted together, DEBBRA MIKAELSEN, centuries ago in Bordeaux, France. Its poured into and out of warmed molds, Editor Edible Vancouver & Wine Country
$25 POSTPAID FIRST EDITION $29 PP $34 POSTPAID Classic Reprint $25 PP
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June 2021 BEE CULTURE 77
June2021.indd 77 5/18/2021 8:49:40 AM 78 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 78 5/18/2021 8:49:41 AM T I O R P R. Michael Magnini
“One morning in early June a us from all possible dangers except activity. The included extinctions strange sound woke him. A sound perhaps the machines themselves. span numerous families of plants akin to honey bees, yet it was Following the logic of the technical and animals, including mammals, mechanical and wispy. Unsure revolution, of disruptive technologies birds, reptiles, amphibians, fi shes of what he heard, he staggered and the logarithmic advancement and invertebrates. The current rate sleepily to his bedroom window. In of innovation, research into micro- of extinction of species is estimated the vast machine cultivated field machines and autonomous robots is at 100 to 1,000 times higher than across the county road from his old accelerating. natural background extinction rates.1 house, sunlight glittered from tens of Micro drones, robotic insects, Low cost, low power machines thousands of tiny insects moving in piezoelectric flying machines, are that are reliable, agile, self-sustaining symmetrical waves over the soybeans modern synonyms for artifi cial bees. replicants of the endangered natural in full bloom. He had been asleep. He To enhance biosecurity, prevent insects is the marvelous machine rubbed his eyes with his fi sts to clear weather related crop failures, improve solution. Autonomously pollinating the dream fog from his vision. The profitability and reliability are all fi eld crops is envisioned as one use clicking, whizzing and whirring of the reasons to pursue a program of of the micro-robots that the Harvard tiny objects did not sound right. They artifi cial pollinators. Research Team is developing. were not alive; they were machines. An increased demand for food Although many companies Sunlight refl ected into his are developing mechanical weary eyes; he attempted to bots using the insect form focus. Now, he could see the including ants, dragonflies, signpost. The corporate name moths, hornets and butterfl ies2 blurred – something Dynamic the interest in the bee type of – but the purpose clear. Food micro-robot is the focus of the production by their standards, Harvard Research laboratory. by their controls was their From Harvard University: mandate. No longer was natural “INSPIRED by the biology of selection viable. The Corporate a bee and the insect’s hive Estate with its power and control, behavior . . . we aim to push its deep pockets and infl uence, advances in miniature robotics owners of biotechnology and and the design of compact agricultural lands employ the high-energy power sources; bioengineers who determine spur innovations in ultra-low- the method and the outcome. They as the world population increases power computing and electronic determined the New World Order. while areas of arable land declines “smart” sensors; and refi ne His backyard market garden (as per sea level rise) certainly puts coordination algorithms to manage (subject to inspection for patent pressure on agricultural lands to be multiple, independent machines.” infringement) and his dying bees were more productive. The entire country relics of the past….” [from the short of Bangladesh is at or near sea level WITH OR WITHOUT A.I.? story Time Enough]. and a rise of oceanic water by as little RoboBee’s wingspan is 1.2 as one or two feet would inundate inches (3 cm), which is believed to be PROPHETIC WORDS? and submerge their habitable land. the smallest man-made wingspan to Concern regarding changing All river delta areas exposed to the achieve fl ight. The wings can fl ap 120 climate, pandemics and extinction sea are at risk from glacier and polar times per second and be controlled event possibilities have spurred ice melt as the average ocean depth remotely in real time. Each RoboBee some people to seek a technological increases and tides become higher. weighs 0.0028 oz (80 milligrams) response to these challenges. Electric All ecosystems are locked together without a battery. It achieves fl ight vehicles and Starships to Mars and and what affects one affects all. on two wings more like a fl y (Diptera the dearmoon are an ideological The Holocene extinction, spp.) than a bee sporting the four impetus towards a new, restructured otherwise referred to as the sixth wings of the Apidae. Earth environment. mass extinction or Anthropocene Apis mellifera (workers) measure As if under siege, scientists and extinction, is an ongoing extinction approximately ½ to 5/8 inch (12-15 engineers are craftily designing and event of species during the present mm) in body length, have a wing building the machines that will protect Holocene epoch as a result of human span of ¾ to 7/8 inch (19 – 22 mm),
June 2021 BEE CULTURE 79
June2021.indd 79 5/18/2021 8:49:46 AM weigh about 113 milligrams +/- BDC: which is a 5uAh (Lifecycle nectar and/or pollen load and Capacity = 2.5mAh) rechargeable can fl y between 12 to 18 mph 1.75mm x 2.15mm x 200 microns depending on winds. thick solid state battery bare die Although the research to be co-packaged with other engineers claim that they integrated circuits using wire are not trying to displace or bond attachment in a single replace live bees, the advances package or multi-chip module.3 in the technology of material Flight time may be limited in science and artifi cial intelligence these small battery packages. combined with the uncertainty The challenges of fl ight time in the biosphere may have and re-charging could possibly unexpected outcomes. be overcome using high energy Would it be a coincidence or numerous enzymes that convert the radio waves, but this would still at least convenient that the robot-bee sucrose of the nectar into the fructose require a receiver coil and transducer should be completely immune to all and glucose of honey. Vitamins, circuitry with its associated weight pesticides, herbicides and fungicides. minerals and fl avonoids are preserved. and dimensions. Now then, if they To relieve agricultural behemoths The ‘gut’ of the hive then pumps the can make the device fl y it needs an of costs and concerns involved refi ned liquid into evaporation trays autonomous guidance system (a bee’s with chemical contamination of live (which may or may not be shaped in brain). To program a semiconductor pollinators would be seen as an hexagons) for temperature controlled computer chip which itself would asset. The climate weakens, farmland electrical evaporation and irradiated have considerable relative weight skyrockets in value and the little by UV light. Inside the night time would need an extremely deep and robots are economically effi cient. robot hanger the machinery would lengthy algorithm. Perhaps this Would a reliance on electro- synthesis the nectar into honey to be problem too could be solved by a mechanical agriculture and food extracted by the owners via a ‘honey radio transmitted guidance system production continue to erode our fl ow tap’. or possibly a combination of both. connection with nature? As more Should the brilliant engineers If the power to weight ratio people dwell in cities then ever before of corporate agriculture succeed and guidance system problems are and fewer in rural zones would in these efforts it would return the resolved would the robotic bee be anyone notice the difference? honey bee back to the wild as a relic able to work all day like a natural Of course, inorganic robotic bees of the past. Perhaps it would be bee? Would the robotic bee withstand could not produce honey. In this nostalgic to keep a bee hive of ‘real weather conditions such as rain and/ instance there is hope for the natural bees’ like an old horse buggy in the or wind? Natural honey bees are honey bee. Should the engineers barn. very well able to fl y in strong winds decide to pursue a program of That is the way some bio and withstand rain (which they very synthetic chemical processes within mechanists of the engineering world perceptively avoid). the robotic bee a fully functional would like the future to develop. The next hurdle for the replacement for the natural bee However, despite their confi dence, engineers to surmount would be could be the result. The introduction ambition and fi nancial resources we the actual process of pollination of the Cyborg insect, but we are not must look at the limitations of their using mechanical pollinators – the there yet. objectives. robotic bees. The effectiveness of this Another method to accomplish To begin with there is the power method has yet to be demonstrated. the goal of artifi cial honey production to weight ratio involved with any The robotic bee would require the (perhaps an intermediate way) would fl ying machine either mechanical or ability to locate the fl ower blossom, be to construct a nectar processing organic. Bees are effi ciently powered identify it as a true target and perform ‘hive’ that would merely require the by fructose and glucose. There the pollination operation. Sensors robotic bees to deliver nectar to it. The are 0.01674 joules of energy per in visible light and/or ultraviolet design could follow this procedure: milligram of sucrose. On this small light would require a match to The robotic bees are integrated amount of energy, a honey bee can a “flower recognition” algorithm. machines that are configured to fly and work throughout the day The architecture of flowers varies collect nectar as well as pollen for ‘refuelling’ as necessary by eating in significant ways. The size of pollination. The whisper drones some honey. the blossom can be as small as would fl y to and from the synthetic A mechanical bee would require a few millimeters across to many beehive. Upon arrival they deposit electrical energy to power its wings centimeters; the throat can vary in the tiny load of nectar into reception and guidance system. Would a depth and width and some species slots on the surface of the hive, then fl ying mechanical bee have a solar possess ‘trigger’ mechanisms to fl y off to collect more. The tiny robotic panel strapped to its back? A high access the pollen. Robotic bees would bees never enter the Synthesiser efficiency lithium battery (which most likely need to be designed and Hive. The nectar that is deposited into contains 0.000265 Watt hours of built to service only one type of fl ower. the receptor slots fl ows into a large, energy per milligram) would add to All bees become covered in pollen or series of large, artificial honey the weight of the robotic bee. The when foraging and so too would stomachs. These chambers are loaded world’s smallest commercial battery the robotics. Could they continue with bioengineered lactobacillus and is the Cymbet EnerChip CBC005- to fly vis-à-vis the extra weight,
80 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 80 5/18/2021 8:49:46 AM discriminate between pollinated and brain has an extraordinary capacity bee in its role as pollinator of our unpollinated blossoms? Pollination to process detailed information agricultural crops and producers of by natural bees occurs when and make decisions for itself and honey – we will need them. BC pollen is distributed over the bee’s for its colony. Our little bees are a body adhering to its hairy coat is marvellously adapted and effi cient 1 Wikipedia, Extinction Events, 2021 transferred to the receptive anthers ‘machine’ capable of enormous work 2 Defense Advanced Research Projects of the blossom and so too would with abilities of ‘mind’ far greater Agency (DARPA) the robotic bees become covered in than that of a small computer. Black Hornet reconnaissance drone pollen. These tiny grains are sticky It may happen in some remote Festo Controls, Esslingen am Neckar, and could become lodged in the fl ight technological future (perhaps using Germany. mechanism or obscure the guidance Artifi cial Super Intelligence) but at Ant-bots, Butterfl y-bots and Dragonfl y- system. this time I think it is an impossibility bots Also regarding guidance systems of material realization in the near 3 Cymbet Corporation. New Brighton, MN is the navigation of the robot in terms term. Therefore, it would be most wise 55112 of geolocation. Could they harness to care for and protect the natural GPS satellite signals to remain located within the agricultural fi eld of their task and not drift off into wild areas?
REPLICANT OR REAL? It certainly seems to be a fantastic proposition to recreate a pollinating insect from plastic and metal and have it perform as effi ciently – or better – than a naturally evolved bee. An evolution of biological trial and error occurring over a span of 100 million years in the fl owering fi elds of Earth. Given its size, the bee
June 2021 BEE CULTURE 81
June2021.indd 81 5/18/2021 8:49:47 AM Co Northern Survivor
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82 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 82 5/18/2021 8:49:48 AM SUCCESSFUL QUEEN REARING Daniel Kluger
Introduction Incubation of capped honey bee queen cells accounts Successful queen rearing is often the key to a for more than half the time a cell would remain in a beekeepers long-term sustainability and self-suffi ciency. “fi nisher” colony prior to emergence. The four day old Optimizing a queen rearing system involves close larvae is selected for grafting and is capped on its attention to every step of the development from selecting ninth day. These fi ve days are spent being fed royal jelly a breeder colony to ultimately introducing a virgin vigorously by nurse bees prior to capping and pupation. queen to her designated colony. Mistakes at any step The capped cell is normally incubated for seven days of the queen rearing process can lead to failure, missed prior to emergence on day 16. Several studies have opportunities, and disappointment. Spring is the demonstrated ideal incubation temperatures about optimal time of year to rear honey bee queens; thus, any 93°F. Cooling of the queen cell may delay emergence and production delay can setback apiary plans by a season ultimately disrupt the adult queen development. It is this or more. period of development we wish to control with our queen Small scale queen production relies on the honey cell incubator. bee’s natural instinct to raise queen cells under certain conditions. Most amateur beekeepers only require a Materials dozen or two honey bee queens annually to sustain their My goal of constructing a queen cell incubator resource or production colonies. A common technique is that it met the following criteria: inexpensive, practiced in queen rearing is the use of a queen-less reliable, use of materials on hand, and potentially “starter” and a queen-right “fi nisher” colony. In a queen- expandable to meet any future needs. I have had a right fi nisher colony, any started cells must be fi nished recent interest in low-cost microcomputers, and their by necessity above a queen excluder, separated from the use as microcontrollers. My first incubator project brood nest. Early Spring is marked at times with wide was constructed with the use of a Raspberry Pi as temperature variations. With cold weather, the colony the controller. The Raspberry Pi was introduced in will cluster and the started cells may not be ideally 2012 by the Raspberry Pi foundation. Their goal is to cared for and kept warm by nurse bees. Strengthening make powerful, inexpensive computers widely available these “fi nisher” colonies can help alleviate these concerns, to stimulate interest in STEM (science, technology, however, this remains a signifi cant potential problem with electronics, and math) in young people. By every measure, the use of queen-right “fi nisher” colonies. the Raspberry Pi has been a tremendous success with
Incubator breadboard wiring diagram.
June 2021 BEE CULTURE 83
June2021.indd 83 5/18/2021 8:49:50 AM over 30 million machines produced making it the best- available inexpensively as are relays for switching on selling computer of all time. and off heating elements, and optional LCD displays can Although a $5 Raspberry Pi Zero serves well as nicely render useful operational information in real-time. the microcontroller for my fi rst incubator project, this Alternatively, this data can be collected and shared locally current project is controlled by a generic Arduino Uno on an intranet or even a cloud-based platform. For the R3 compatible board. I chose the Arduino platform due incubator housing, I chose a disposable Styrofoam cooler to its extremely low cost, ready availability of voltage sent to me at work. Because I am reluctant to connect my compatible devices, reliability, and simplicity in terms of incubator to higher (and potentially dangerous) voltage, programming and operation. Though the Raspberry Pi is I determined the incubator could be adequately heated much more capable, I found Arduinos easier to confi gure with a 10 ohm ceramic resistor (rated at 20 watts) and a for this single-purposed task. Both of these devices are 12v wall power supply scavenged from an old telephone open-source “free” (as-in-speech) with a thriving online answering machine. community of users and readily available tutorials. In general, overseas suppliers (eBAY, BangGood.com, For operation, the microcontroller needs to monitor Alibaba, etc.) can provide these components at a fraction temperature and humidity and activating a heating of the cost. Shipping delays on the order of two to three element as appropriate, safely maintaining optimal months are the main disadvantage. Domestic suppliers temperatures for queen cell development. Fortunately, Amazon.com, Adafruit.com, etc., can provide much better high precision temperature and humidity sensors are service, unfortunately often at a higher price.
Part Description Cost Comment Arduino Uno R3 or compatible microcontroller $3 - 20 Purchasing a brand name device helps support the non- profi t Arduino foundation. Smaller less expensive devices such as Arduino Nano should be compatible assuming a 5v device is used 1 channel 5v relay board $1 - 4 Some models are “optically isolated” allowing them to avoid drawing power from the microcontroller itself. Can be useful devices smaller than Arduino Uno R3 DHT-22 Temperature Humidity Sensor $3 - 7 Accuracy reported as +/- 0.5 C and +/- 2% RH. A 10k ohm low power resistor is needed for use to minimize “noise” in the circuit and ensure proper functioning Heating element $2 An incandescent light bulb can be used but in small spaces, there is extreme risk of fi re. Additionally, line voltages should not be used if you are unfamiliar with proper techniques. Line voltage can be deadly. I used a 10 ohm ceramic resistor rated for 20W. Optional 5v 16 x 2 LCD Display $2 - 5 To simplify wiring of this device - look for I2C serial communication in the description Optional 5 volt LED $1 - 5 Can be used to determine operational status – i.e Red Led “Heat on”, etc. This should be driven in line with a 220 ohm resistor to limit current draw. Kits of a variety of low priced, low power resistors are readily available. Optional “breadboard” $2 - 5 Useful in prototyping circuits before committing to a dedicated circuit board Styrofoam container Any suitable size somewhat insulated box can be used. An old hive box might be an attractive option. A few small gauge “jumper” wires to hook it all up Power supply See discussion below
The Arduino’s can accept up to 12v “raw” unregulated The relationship of power, voltage, current, and power. Alternatively, the Uno can be powered by any USB resistance are as follows: charger supplying more than 1000 mA. To calculate power Voltage = Current (Amperes) x Resistance (Ohms) supply requirements for the heating element, you need to - Ohms law know both the power supply output voltage (presumably Power (Watts) = Voltage x Current (Amperes) 12v), and the resistance of the heating element in Ohms. - Power law equation It is important not to draw too much power from a power supply to avoid permanently damaging it. Consider the In a mechanical system, such as a waterfall, voltage is label rating the Amperes on a power supply as an upper the height of the waterfall and the current is the amount of (peak) limit. In general, you should only draw 60% of this water falling. The resistance could be thought of any limit peak to avoid damaging this power supply. to the amount of water fl owing, such as a water-wheel
84 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 84 5/18/2021 8:49:51 AM Incubator with hair rollers. Incubator inside view.
turning in the current. In the incubator, with use of a 10 are automatically installed, though some may need Ohm ceramic resistor, a 12 volt power supply needs to to be added. For this project we need to add the supply at least 1.2 Amperes (ideally 2.0 or more Amperes following libraries: Adafruit_Sensor library, DHT sensor to avoid permanently damaging the power supply) as 12v/ library by Adafruit, and the LiquidCrystal_I2C.h library. 10 Ohm = 1.2 Amperes These can be installed into the Arduino IDE under Tools During operation, the amount of power consumed is Manage Libraries and installing the library as needed. dissipated as heat. Using the Power law equation, 12 Volts The code required is a simple loop run endlessly once at 1.2 Amperes = 14.4 Watts of power. It is important the devices are initialized and variables are set. The Arduino ceramic resistor is rated signi fi cantly above this amount reads temperature and humidity and compares these or the resistor is at risk of melting and can become readings to the desired settings, either turning on or off hazardous before it fails completely. the heating element as indicated. Results are displayed on New regulated power supplies can be expensive. the LCD and are also sent to the serial port for monitoring. If you do not have a suitable power supply available, The code to run this project can be found at: https:// I would consider use of an old XBOX power supply. github.com/vabeek/Arduincubator/. The variable These power supplies can often be found at thrift stores “TemperatureSet” is set to 92.5 degrees by default. This inexpensively and are surprisingly durable. These devices can be changed if desired by simply changing the value at can provide over 15 amps at 12 volts supplying over 150 the beginning of the program. Once this program is loaded watts. These provide far more power than needed for my into the Arduino IDE, it must be fi rst compiled and sent to small scale operation, but remain a good low-cost option. the Arduino. Under Sketch Upload menu, the Arduino As an added bonus, these power supplies can be easily IDE starts the compiler, and if successful, will push the unplugged and stored within the incubator when not in program out to the Arduino. Included in the program is use. For converting such a device into a powers supply output to the serial monitor to aid in debugging if things for the incubator see: https://www.instructables.com/ do not work correctly. The serial monitor is accessed on id/Convert-Xbox-Power-Supply-to-Benchtop-12v-Psu/ the menu Tools Serial Monitor on the Arduino IDE. Excluding the power supply, all of these parts together should be available for less than $15 from overseas suppliers.
Methods To begin, you must establish communication with the Arduino board in order to download instructions to it. Fortunately, the Arduino IDE development environment is available for free download from https://www.arduino. cc/en/Main/Software. After installing this environment, you need to identify which Arduino device you are using under Tools Board menu. Occasionally, the serial “COM port” needs to be assigned in the Arduino IDE to communicate with your device. The correct “COM port” in use can be identifi ed in Windows by checking Windows Control Panel Device Manager Ports (Com & LPT). Make sure the COM port in use matches the COM port selected in the Arduino IDE. Arduino relies on “libraries” of code that allow it to interpret your instructions. Many of these libraries Incubator Flowsheet
June 2021 BEE CULTURE 85
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86 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 86 5/18/2021 8:49:52 AM It is at this point that the controller can be wired to control device in order to actively increase chamber humidity if the incubator. The LCD as well as the LED’s are optional. needed. The device status could be determined through the serial Incubating capped queen cells in a controlled monitor, or alternatively, a web-based server application environment can be an important part of a queen rearing could be added. Some versions of Arduino boards are system. Added control of any system allows for less supplied with built-in wifi making webservers relatively variation and potentially greater chances of success. easy to confi gure. To limit the scope of this project, I This incubator is intended to limit the effects of cold and excluded this feature. unpredictable early spring weather on the rearing of honey bee queens. Beekeepers of any scale can benefi t Construction from reducing their reliance on external inputs to sustain After programming the microcontroller and wiring their operation. Successful queen rearing can help the the components, construction of the incubator can be beekeeper in these efforts. This incubator, utilizing the individualized based on required capacity and material Arduino microcontroller, can scale to a much larger on hand. capacity as needed, though line voltage if used can be A hole is cut in the side of the Styrofoam for affi xing hazardous. the LCD display and operational LED’s. Access for power As an inexpensive project, this incubator provides supply cable is made on the side. Hot glue was applied an opportunity to construct a useful piece of equipment to the various components to secure them to the inside and learn more about microcontrollers and simple of the incubator. Racks for holding grafting frames were programming. Beekeeping is an endlessly fascinating made from scrap wood and a ¾ inch wide slot cut was hobby with aspects of animal husbandry, entomology, made with a dado blade in order to secure these frames in woodworking, and now with the availability of inexpensive place. A platform was also constructed from scrap wood microcontrollers, computer technology. Perhaps this to hold securely “hair-roller” type cages. Images of various project may spark an interest in beekeeping among other types and confi gurations can be found readily on technology enthusiasts in our lives. BC the internet for more ideas. Daniel Kluger, MD is a board-certifi ed infectious disease Discussion physician in Newport News, VA practicing social distancing. He is Ideal incubation temperature for honey bee in his twelfth season of being managed by honey bees.dkluger@ development has been reported to range between 32-35°C yahoo.com in a number of studies. Preferred relative humidity during incubation is thought to range between 50-80% with in- vitro experiments demonstrating a preference for 75%. Although relative humidity is not controlled by this incubator, humidity can be closely monitored. To Under New Ownership easily increase the humidity, a sponge or bowel of water can be added to the incubation chamber. As an added FOR ALL YOUR PACKAGING CONTAINERS FOR PACKING HONEY feature, components from an old ultrasonic humidifi er No orders too Large or Small can easily be used and controlled with a separate relay Our Business Is Built On Service, Quality & Dependability. 515.266.6112 • FAX 515.266.1112 [email protected] www.blplasticiowa.com 12726 Base Line Road Kingston, IL 60145
June 2021 BEE CULTURE 87
June2021.indd 87 5/18/2021 8:49:56 AM The Foraging Season Pollination, only a par of the bees’ foraging life
Pollen, pollination, and relationship? Yes, we help everywhere up the bee knowledge ladder. Too the pollen fl ow we can, but when all is totaled, it many basic fundamentals were For us, it has always been about is the plants and their pollinators omitted. I am suspecting that honey. Our long, long association that are the major players on this Friend Lonnie was correct. with honey bees has always been for biological stage. the honey. Yes, I know. Our ancestors You see, the tyro beekeeper also ate some of the bee brood and Good grief, Jim, what are you who questioned me only wanted probably downed some pollen in trying to say?? some generalized pointers that were the wax as they ate the honey; but I’m trying to say that the nectar readily – Visible. Measurable. Simple. primarily, what our forebearers flow is intricately related to the However, my inclination was to wanted to eat was – honey. It has pollen fl ow and that both of these start with, “Well, the nectar flow only been in recent years that our events are the fundamental drivers actually started 130 million years ago, beekeeping interest really began of generalized pollination. And it during the Cretaceous period…..” It to treat the need for both natural is that processes of generalized is not that I was trying to be a gifted and supplemental pollination with pollination that fundamentally drives academician, but that I was trying the respect it deserved. Pollen and life as we know it and specifi cally – to be to as correct as possible. I was pollination – historically – have fundamentally drives human life as about to overkill my answer, but essentially not gotten their due. we know it. It’s a huge picture. Too thanks to my friend’s admonishment, I mean, for crying out loud, we huge. I took the basic approach – but then I even call it the “nectar fl ow.” On the For instance, when a beekeeper found that I was left with the greater rarest of occasions, an enlightened hypothetically asks another answer to the smaller question. Now presenter may refer to the “pollen beekeeper, “When does the basswood I had questions of my own. fl ow” almost as an afterthought or flow start in your area?” the as a lesser event. In the biological conversational emphasis is on (1) a The beloved nectar fl ow scheme of things, it is clear that surplus honey crop from basswood In a real sense, the generalized the pollen “fl ow” is just as critical trees, and (2) basswood pollination. search for food starts the instant as the nectar “fl ow.” Between the And honestly, there is very little the wintering colony can break its two, the big difference is that we interest, between these two people, cluster. Those of us who actually are getting honey from the nectar about seed set in basswood trees. have a restrictive Winter know those fl ow and that delectable acquisition In this conversation, the big picture special days – those rare, nice, seems to sate our primal need for of seasonal nectar fl ow is crushed warm, Winter days. The ground is sweet food. Ahhh, the joy of the down to a manageable, bite size issue, still frozen. Dirty snow is here and successful nectar fl ow. But from the “When do you get basswood honey?” there. The wind is still, and the sun bees’ standpoint, acquiring pollen is bright, and the bees are stirring. is absolutely as critical as acquiring A beekeeper started this . . . One by one, groggy bees take tenuous nectar. Either, without the other, is Sometime last year, on my web flight – and then they defecate. a profoundly unbalanced bee diet1. page, a beginning beekeeper asked Effectively, they are grooming and Then it really gets complicated – me how he could tell when the nectar pollination happens. fl ow began, and how he could tell As the bees go about their quiet when it ended. It was a legitimate James E. Tew lives of desperate food-gathering, and question with a clear purpose. as the plants go about their quiet lives offering food bribes to pollinators, An aside… pollination occurs. When pollination At this point, I recalled occurs and pollinators are effective, the comments of good Friend, all is well with the world. Things are Lonnie F., when he told me that good. We, as interlopers, are not experienced beekeepers do not truly part of this grand design. So, is always make the best instructors it okay if I suggest that humans are for brand new beekeepers. opportunists in this plant/pollinator He elaborated saying that experienced beekeepers too often assumed that the beginner understood more than they 1Feeding Protein to Bees. https://www.blog-veto- pharma.com/gb/feeding-bees-what-role-does- actually did and that advanced protein-play/ beekeepers would start too far 88 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 88 5/18/2021 8:49:56 AM preparing themselves to search for A typical pollinator on food sources. That same warm day is a typical blossom. also awakening the fl owering plants that have been evolutionarily chosen to bloom early. Interestingly, those pleasant, late winter days mean a lot to bees, plants and beekeepers. At this point, I should acknowledge beekeepers who live in perpetually warm weather areas. While the bees may not go in distinct periods of forced inactivity, they must prepare for periods when food foraging is scanty. At times, not much is out there. During those times, they need food reserves. In this warm climate, the food fl ow starts when various plant species begin to offer their pollination rewards. nest – crying to be fed, the drive for quickly change to robber bees. And food acquisition will be omnipresent then, they can just as quickly change The very fi rst food source of the within the colony. Therefore, foragers back – all depending on incoming season will leave on food-gathering sorties. information from the fi eld. At this early time of the new These forgers and scouts (specialized season, there is bee biology overlap. foragers) are really good at what they The robbing indicator The annual season is in transition do. Yet, talented though they may The beekeeper, standing in their and is shifting from Winter to Spring. be, if they are unable to fi nd any apiary on a spring day, and watching Increasingly, the bees are active and meaningful productive nectar and robbing behavior around dead-out are searching for food, but precious pollen, foragers become robbers. The equipment, can surmise that, at that little is out there. During those demand is there, but the products moment, very little is coming in from transitional times, eager foragers, are not. the fi eld. Though Spring seasons are with little else to do, will seemingly mercurial and change quickly, at that nose around neighboring colonies The overlap very moment, it may not be the best that are either already dead or My monthly disclaimer – what time to open colonies for managerial are near death. It has been my follows is opinion and not science. checks. Most likely, the bees will be observation that one of the fi rst food There has to have been bees that were testy and defensive. The “robbing sources bees explore is abandoned checking out neighboring colonies all indicator” tells the beekeeper when resources of other colonies. the while – even during productive the nectar fl ow is waxing or waning. food fl ows – peeping in neighboring But since this is the Spring season Robbing behavior is intermeshed hive windows, as it were. I suggest and more incoming food is expected, with nectar and pollen foraging that notion because I have personally full-blown robbing most likely will behavior seen foraging shift to robbing behavior not develop during this time. Robbing If the weather is warm but in just hours. Did that shift occur activity marks the interstices between food sources are not abundant, because the robbers had just found segments of the annual flowering then, “Bees will just rob amongst the neighbor colony’s source or was season. themselves.” Yep, it’s true. The the potential location known all Robbing may – or may not – natural honey bee neighborhood is a along, when better yields were being always be lucrative for the bees. In high crime neighborhood. Colonies offered by flowering plants? One thinly bee populated areas, robbing robbing each other appears to be way or the other, foraging bees can the neighbors may not be particularly a completely legitimate avenue for acquiring surplus food reserves. Yes, yes, I remember, I had a robbing rant in the April issue of Bee Culture. So, there’s more? Yes, but this time, my comments relate to the relationship that robbers have with food foragers within the colony. Actually, robbers and foragers are the same bees. Different day – different An example of desperation job. foraging. Dumpster diving Effectively, robbing behavior is bees. a status indicator of the intensity of the food fl ow in the environment. So, if the weather is warm and dry and baby bees are in the brood
June 2021 BEE CULTURE 89
June2021.indd 89 5/18/2021 8:49:57 AM Olivarez Honey Bees/Big Island Queens is seeking motivated beekeepers to join our Hawaii team! Ex- perience preferred. Self-mo- tivator and ability to work in a team environment a plus. Positions are full time, salary based on experience. Great Bene- fi ts Package. Prior work history and references required. Advancement opportunities avail- able. Submit resume to [email protected] or Olivarez Honey Bees Inc/Big Island Queens, P O Box 847 Orland Ca 95963, Fax: 530- 865-5570, Phone 530-865-0298
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90 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 90 5/18/2021 8:49:57 AM productive. At times, essentially There may be brief periods during minimalists. These two activities are nothing is out there. There’s no swarming activities when bees are little more than distractions while the food to be gathered and no food to on the move to a new home site; but bees bide time awaiting meaningful be robbed. If this is the case, things even then, whenever possible, bees fl owering periods to start back up. better change and change quickly for will take a foraging trip. Also, during the upcoming winter is on the way. the season, there will be good times If you have made it this far In the best of times, bees looting their and bad times, but even in bad times Jeff, Kim, and I have produced neighbors is a desperate way to go. there are some sources out there. a short nectar fl ow podcast and I I mean I have a few dandelions in produced a brief video on the nectar “Desperation Foraging” bloom during hard Winter. They are fl ow subject that I have posted at: I don’t have a term or a word scroungy, pathetic blossoms, but https://youtu.be/DhcHROgHkN4 that routinely describes what I there they are – peeping through the The podcast home page is at: https:// have called desperation foraging. I snow. Not much of a nectar fl ow at www.honeybeeobscura.com should probably have labeled the that point, but they’re trying. procedure desperation scrounging. Thank you There is nothing in bloom and So, I ask you #2… As always, I thank you for there are no neighbors to rob. So, Do all bee foraging activities reading. the underemployed bee seemingly result is pollinated plant blossoms2? just goes cruising. Got nothing else No. Bees robbing each other and Dr. James E. Tew, Emeritus Faculty, to do. During these diffi cult times, rummaging around a garbage bin Entomology, The Ohio State University garbage bins are common attractions. does not result in more apples or and One Tew Bee, LLC; tewbee2@gmail. Normally, the bees (and flies and vegetables. Not directly anyway. com; http://www.onetew.com yellowjackets) are just nuisances, Robbing behavior and desperate but I can give specific examples foraging obviously does not involve of chewing gum factories, jelly any aspect of pollination. But I feel Honey Bee production companies, and powdered that it is clear that plant pollination Obscura Podcasts sugared drink mix companies that is where the real nectar and pollen had waste sugar sources that were so action is. Robbing fundamentally signifi cant, that bees could actually depends on pollination rewards and store some very strange food reserves bees that dumpster dive are normally from these sources. The populations of bees at those waste areas were signifi cant and disruptive. 2Extrafl oral nectaries are a special category in Desperate foraging also includes which bee foragers visit plants but not the fruiting structures. Plants structures are visited, but bees visiting such places as bird https://youtu.be/8ltb0sjOT0I successful blossom pollination is not aff ected. feeders for corn dust protein or visiting my sweet corn ears that were awaiting going on the grill. I mean come on!! Times are so bad out there that licking an ear of sweet corn is the best that can be done.
So, I ask you… So, I ask you the question that I was asked, “How can I tell when the nectar fl ow starts and ends?” It would appear that food garnering by a honey bee colony – so long as the weather is warm and agreeable – does not end.
A clue that not much is happening with the nectar fl ow. June 2021 BEE CULTURE 91
June2021.indd 91 5/18/2021 8:49:59 AM WE’RE BUYING HONEY ACROSS THE U.S.A.
ERIC WENGER CANDACE MOSS [email protected] [email protected] 620-877-0035 620-877-0161 barkmanhoney.com Don’t Forget To Check Your Address Label – It Will Tell You Exactly How Many Issues Of Bee Cult re You Have Leſt – You Don’t Want To Miss A Single One!
92 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 92 5/18/2021 8:50:00 AM Pan Fried Bananas –
Shana Archibald
Pan Fried Honey Bananas 1 tablespoon honey 1 tablespoon water 1 teaspoon brown sugar 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 tablespoon unsalted butter 1 large banana, slightly under-ripened, peeled, cut into 3/4-inch slices
In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, water, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Set aside. Melt butter in a small pan over medium-high heat. Place banana slices in the pan in a single layer; cook for one to two minutes per side, until a golden crust forms (keep an eye on them and adjust the heat if they brown too quickly.) Remove pan from heat and pour honey mixture over the banana slices. Allow to cool slightly. Eat on its own or serve over yogurt, cottage cheese, ice cream, waffl es, pancakes etc! *note* you can also try this with apples. Just cook the apple slices four to fi ve minutes on each side. BC
June 2021 BEE CULTURE 93
June2021.indd 93 5/18/2021 8:50:01 AM MINNESOTA MN Honey Producers Summer Meeting will be held calendar July 8-9 in Mankato. Jim Gawenis, Sweetwater Science Labs, is the keynote Stuttering speaker. For information contact [email protected]. INTERNATIONAL Gets the Royal 2021 Beekeeping Tour To Slovenia September 9-24. PENNSYLVANIA Prices are based on a minimum of 10 people. $3600, Delaware Valley University, Doylestown will hold its Treatment $200 deposit due by August 1. Remainder due August 15. Introduction to Beekeeping, July 17, 18, 31 and August 1. Price includes everything with a few exceptions. The course will cover honey bee biology and behavior; For information contact Suzanne Brouillette at beeslo- building an apiary and harvesting honey; apiary equipment [email protected]. and supplies; management practices for each season. The course is taught by Vince Aloyo. COLORADO For information or to register visit http://vincemas- Spring Bee Camps – will be held by Tina Sebestyen terbeekeeper.com/courses/. near Durango. The beginner’s camp will be held June 11-16, geared towards beekeepers with at least one year SOUTH CAROLINA experience. 2021 SC Beekeepers Summer Convention - in person The cost is $500 ($100 deposit). Camping and out- will be held July 22-24 at Triden Technical College, 7000 door facilities available at the site and hotels available in Ribers Ave., North Charleston. nearby Durango. Speakers include Lori Bataller, Jamie Ellis, Ashley For information please visit https://beequest.buzz or Burns, Ben Powell, Bill Kern, Mark Sweatman. contact Tina at [email protected]. For information see ttps://scstatebeekeepers.com.
INDIANA WISCONSIN King George VI, whose live broadcasts of The Beekeepers of Indiana partnering with Purdue will WI Honey Producers Fall Convention will be held hope and inspiration kept the spirits of the hold its annual Purdue Field Day June 26. Hands on November 4-6. at Hotel Mead Wisconsin Rapids. British people alive during the dark days of sessions for beginners and advanced. Sue Cobey is the keynote speaker. World War II, met the challenge of stutter- The cost is $30/member and $35/non-member and $20/ For information contact [email protected]. ing with courage. under 16. Price includes a box lunch, and refreshments. If you stutter, you should know about this For information and to pre-register visit https://india- gentle and courageous man, dramatized in nabeekeeper.com/events/purdue_fi eld_day. The King’s Speech. For more information on how you can meet your challenge, contact us. Michiana Beekeepers Association Summer Meetings will be held June 12 - Jeff Pettis; July 18 - Sam Comfort; THE August 21 - James Tew. STUTTERING www.StutteringHelp.org FOUNDATION® For information visit Michianabees.org. www.tartamudez.org A Nonprofit Organization Since 1947—Helping Those Who Stutter
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94 BEE CULTURE June 2021
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If you are having an annual meeting or teaching a Check Us Out At beginning beekeeping class, we • www.BeeCulture.com are happy to send you • www.Facebook.com/Bee magazines to give to your Culture Magazine attendees and students. BUT – we need to receive your • Twi er.com/beeculture request four weeks before your event so that we have time to Sign up for the FREE News process your request. Service – CATCH THE BUZZ – Please email Amanda at at BeeCulture.com, and read [email protected] with the number of magazines hundreds of recent BUZZ posts needed, a complete mailing at BeeCulture.com/category/ address and a contact person. catch-the-buzz
June 2021 BEE CULTURE 95
June2021.indd 95 5/18/2021 8:50:05 AM ou look down from the bridge and see monster trout a longstanding relationship with my stacked up on their spawning beds. The biggest chase queen producer, and I don’t want to Y off their smaller cousins. When Paul and I arrived, wreck it by acting fl akey. there were six or eight fi shermen already on the hot spot, and they I called the gal Marilyn from Wyoming were catching. Not wanting to butt in, we moved on. But when we and had her set up an emergency dental returned that evening, the other anglers had retired for supper, visit for me. A toothache just plain takes or the bar. As darkness descended, we got into some very large the fun out of life. I’ll be in the chair at rainbows. Holy cow! Was I in Heaven? 7:30 a.m. tomorrow, after which Marilyn Paul’s relentless, so we rattled around in his camper at fi rst and I plan to ski. I can drop off honey light. We didn’t bother with breakfast or coffee or a toothbrush. in Aspen. The Aspen Skiing Company When we got to the river, ours was the only vehicle, and our rainbow awarded us both lifetime ski passes, in hotspot was deserted. But with nearly 150 years of life experience recognition of my 40-plus years on the between us, Paul and I no longer sprint to the river. We shuffl e. patrol. We hardly ever go, but I owe her The mother lode is the 50 yards or so just downstream from this one. It can be a date. the bridge, and by the time Paul climbed down off a steep bank, I was offered a couple of bee four young men were already fl exing their fl y rods – two on each locations on Pitkin County open space side of the river. There was still plenty of room, but as Paul stepped property. They’re 40 miles from home, into the water, the angler closest to him said, “We don’t fi sh this but I get up that way anyway, to visit close in Wyoming. Don’t you have rivers you can fi sh in Colorado?” my billionaire’s bees, so maybe this These locals had spotted our camper and hustled down to will work out. I like to do business on the water to stake it out for themselves. “Well howdy, Stranger! a handshake, but now I have to go Welcome to Wyoming!” over the legal paperwork required by Fishing has this in common with beekeeping: It teaches you a the county. I warned that if it gets too thousand lessons, so pay attention! You look back on an incident complicated, I’m backing out. But Pitkin like ours and muse that you could have done this or said that, but County (think Aspen) is very green, and you didn’t. The best you can take from it now is a little wisdom. they want my bees. That’s not all bad. One of these locations already has Covid? What Covid? They don’t wear masks in rural Wyoming, a bear fence. I’ll still need a solar panel, or rural Colorado, for that matter. Paul and I are both all vaccinated battery and charger from Colorado up, but we wore our masks indoors at retail establishments. I can’t Parks and Wildlife. Our Colorado bears speak for Paul, but I meant this as a gesture of responsibility and like honey, but they love bee brood. courtesy. At the same time, I try to be respectful of those who don’t You don’t want to let them develop a wear a mask, because I refuse to get sucked in to the culture wars. craving for it. Back home in the beeyard, Paul’s making colony divisions So I have plenty to keep boredom today. I would so love to help out, not for altruism, but to learn. from setting in. But my priority list Years ago when I worked for him I took notes, but he does things is pretty simple: First the bees. Then a little differently now. Wizened second-generation beekeeper that fi shing. Then all the rest of it. he is, he’s still learning, too. But my plate’s pretty full at the moment. I did get a few things accomplished. Paul and I got in that three-day fi shing trip. I just Ed Colby knocked out my book: A Beekeeper’s Life – Tales from the Bottom Board. It’s a collection of mostly older Bee Culture columns, dating back to 2002. Putting it together and working with a publisher in First England and a layout-and-design editor in Italy presented some time-zone challenges. The Bees Friend and commercial photographer John Kelly provided just the right front cover shot for A Beekeeper’s Life – a golden leaf-littered lane leading through a sunlit cottonwood glade, into the unknown. My apricot-and-plum grower e-mailed from Palisade, informing me that I can now (It’s early April, as I write) move my bees back home. The blossoms are pollinated. Surely I can get this done before some neighboring orchardist starts spraying over blooming dandelions. I’ve got pollination contracts at four locations around Palisade, and with our recent warm days these colonies could be boiling over and crying to be split. I’ll go down later today to check. Strong colonies would be good news indeed, because I have Carniolan queens arriving from California on Tuesday. I’d prefer that they arrive a week later, but I already changed my order twice. I have BOTTOM BOARD 96 BEE CULTURE June 2021
June2021.indd 96 5/18/2021 8:50:05 AM