MEASURING THE IMPACT OF THE QUEEN Catch The Buzz™ ® APR 2021 BeeBeeThe Magazine OfCultureCulture American Beekeeping www.BeeCulture.com Herding Genes With Epigenetics Bees Need Meat? PollinationPollination InIn ChinaChina

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April2021.indd 4 3/12/2021 8:59:54 AM Bee Culture April Features . . .

THE A.I. ROOT POLLINATOR TWO UPCOMING NEW GARDEN 15 BEEKEEPERS 68 Planning and plan ng your pollinator garden. Meet Emily and Emily. Alyssum Flowers Dewey Caron

BEES NEED MEAT? 36 THE MYSTERY OF THE Not that kind of meat. HASKINVILLE BEE FACTORY 70 Kirk Anderson Here and then gone. Peter Sieling HONEY BEES DON’T GET TO PICK THEIR POISON 43 MEASURING THE IMPACT OF What are the eff ects really on our honey bees? THE QUEEN 74 Christopher Mayack To most of us the queen is the most important bee in the hive. Brandley Metz & David Tarpy HORIZONTAL TWO QUEEN SYSTEM 44 Learn about this alterna ve system. BEEKEEPING LAWS 79 Dan Wyns If you’re keeping bees you need to know this. Ettamarie Peterson TRANSITIONS CONTINUED 47 Commercial beekeeping to . . . ? ART SANTORE 85 John Miller Cage fi ghter to beekeeper. Shelise Atkinson MINDING YOUR BEES AND CUES 48 Queen fandom. MONITOR GUT PATHOGENS

Becky Masterman and Bridget Mendel OF HONEY BEES 87 A simple and non-destruc ve method. POLLINATION IN CHINA 54 Hossam Abou-Shaara and It’s not the bees. Mahmoud El-Kelany Mariann Fercsik

A HONEY BEE DRIVEN MID-LIFE CRISIS, PART 2 58 What’s in a queen? James Masucci

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), April 2021, Volume 149, Issue 4, 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] Watercolor by Susan Holiday, Tuebingen, Germany Published by The A.I. Root Co. Copyright© 2021. All rights reserved.

April 2021 BEE CULTURE 5

April2021.indd 5 3/12/2021 8:59:55 AM 6 BEE CULTURE April 2021

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NEW FOR YOU 11 NOSEMA APIS AND CERANAE 64 Square Queen Marking Tube; Swarm Catcher. Difficult or easy to diagnosis – depending on the type. Ross Conrad FOUND IN TRANSLATION 24 Herding genes with epigenetics. BIGGER PICTURE 83 Jay Evans Winter food. Jessica Louque

BEE KIDS’ CORNER 30 All the buzz . . . for the kids? RECIPES 89 Kim Lehman Sriracha Noodle time. Shana Archibald A CLOSER LOOK – QUEEN POST-MATING CHANGES 32 PERPETUAL QUEEN MANAGEMENT 90 Mating is a lengthy and complex process. The things we do to our queens. Clarence Collison James E. Tew

I-CORP FOR BEEKEEPERS, BOTTOM BOARD 96 REPORT #2 40 Hitch in my get-along. Ed Colby Na onal Science Founda on (NSF). Jerry Hayes

BEE VET 50 If we only followed the directions! Tracy Farone

THE BUCKFAST BEE 60 In Every Month – Then and now. Tina Sebestyen Honeycomb Hannah 9 What’s going on in the hive. Mailbox 10 From The Editor 14 Next Month 16 What should you be doing? Honey Market Report 17 Comparing regional prices. It’s Summers Time! 19 Spring, poultry and random thoughts. Study Hall 20 Q&A. Page 15 Calendar 94

April 2021 BEE CULTURE 9

April2021.indd 9 3/12/2021 9:00:07 AM are losing a lot of hives and money. Last year the situation got so bad Bee Culture in our are near Toulouse, France 623 West Liberty St. that some beekeepers had beeyards Medina, OH 44256 completely wiped out or had to [email protected] move them. If I was a member of the California Almond Board I would be really worried about the future spread and impact on the hives brought in for almond pollination.” Joe Traynor Bakersfi eld, CA

Recycling Old Equipment Thank you so much for your Asian Giant Hornet work on Bee Culture Magazine. I (aka Murder Hornet) have read this magazine all the We have all heard of or read years I have kept bees since 1999. about the Asian murder hornet In reference to Jim Tew’s article (Vespa mandarinia) in recent in the June 2020 issue I especially While I enjoy reading all of the months. It was fi rst found in want to thank him for giving me Bee Culture articles to keep myself the U.S. in Washington state in ideas for reclaiming my old bee current with beekeeping, I am really December 2019. Hornet colonies equipment. I was particularly able glad you include the really simple are eliminated as soon as they are to use the idea of cutting down old ideas so people like me who are low found and WSU scientists and hive bodies into supers and have budget beekeepers can get ideas others are keeping close watch done so very well as you can see that we might not have thought to make sure any other colonies in the photo (a total of 10, not all of without a little help from other don’t expand their range. With only in picture). But I didn’t stop there! beekeepers like us. one confi rmed hornet fi nd in WA I was able to reclaim an old lid, I want you to know that I and with lots of competent people and several hive bodies by gluing was also excited to see that you monitoring the situation I wasn’t tiny pieces of wood on the worn accepted one of my pictures in your too concerned about the hornet. places as well as saving a couple 2021 calendar for the month of French beekeeper John Kefuss’s of hive bottoms. Somehow in our May. I am grateful that you sent me letter in the March ABJ gives a disposable society, it never dawned extra calendars to share, so thank sobering look that this pest should on me that these simple fi xes you. be taken very seriously. John writes could make something old new To all of the Bee Culture staff about a related Asian hornet (Vespa again. To some who are clever with who work so hard on every issue, velutina) that was introduced woodworking these fi xes might have every month. Thank you! in France in 2003: “Today, as it seemed obvious, but until I read the Sandra Center spreads over Europe beekeepers article it never dawned on me that I Omaha, AR actually could do this myself!

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April2021.indd 10 3/12/2021 9:00:11 AM New For The Beekeeper –

SQUARE QUEEN MARKING TUBE NEW SWARM CATCHER The round queen marking tubes Millerbees Mfg. has developed a are ok but I usually have to pick the new Honey Bee Swarm Catcher or queen up and drop her in the tube. Bait hive. Notice we do not claim it I don’t like having to grab queens is a swarm “trap”. The bees are free –I’m afraid I will harm them. Want- to come and go as they please, which ed something better. Push in queen is necessary as scout bees check out markers don’t seem to be much bet- the potential new home to insure it ter and they may damage the queen is a good size, location, etc. This if not careful and will damage the catcher has been designed with fea- cells you have to push it into. This tures that beekeepers and bees are new square tube works so much looking for. It is made from UV resis- better as you can lay a fl at side of tant 4mm gray coroplast, with ABS the tube on the fl at comb in front of plastic frame rests and vent disc. the queen and push her in with the UV resistant Polypropylene straps square foam pusher. If she is run- hold the top down. Box and all com- ning along the frame edge the square ponents good for years of service. tube will fi t nicely along the wood The best feature is it only weighs frame side, unlike a round tube that three pounds. Yes ONLY three leaves a space she can crawl under. POUNDS. The new catcher holds six Square is just better because comb Langstroth frames. Adapter pieces is fl at and frames aren’t round. The are available to hold top bar hive, square printed plastic grid is much bars or Warre hive bars. The inter- more durable that the typical fabric nal volume is 40 liters, and close- netting glued on many round tube able entrance is two square inches, versions. which has been shown to be exactly Available at www.beetlejail. what swarms are looking for. Feed- Patent Pending. Ask your local bee com er hole is ready to be punched out, supply for SWARM TROOPER® and to accept a feeder jar to feed your available at www.beetlejail.com swarm, if a permanent home is not questions [email protected] or immediately available. Made in USA, 731.695.2952 or 731.695.6960.

April 2021 BEE CULTURE 11

April2021.indd 11 3/12/2021 9:00:13 AM 12 BEE CULTURE April 2021

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April2021.indd 13 3/12/2021 9:00:19 AM Forage, Nutrition And Bee Integrated Demonstration Project

In this fourth and fi nal part of combined in agricultural landscapes with the Keystone Monarch Butterfl y my series on the Honey Bee Health to improve the health of honey Collaborative, the Coalition has Coalition, I’d like to walk through the bees and other pollinators. In our developed recommendations to the work that the Coalition has developed North Dakota pilot demonstration, U.S. Department of Agriculture to improve forage and nutrition. the Coalition worked with farmers (USDA) on its private lands This includes work done on the Bee to plant BBHF honey bee and conservation programs like the Integrated Demonstration Project. monarch butterfl y seed mixes while Environmental Quality Incentives As previously mentioned, the following the Coalition’s Tools for Program (EQIP) and the conservation Honey Bee Health Coalition’s work Varroa Management Guide, https:// Reserve Program (CRP) and has met is focused around the 4 Ps – pests honeybeehealthcoalition.org/ multiple times over the years with and pathogens, pesticides, and poor varroa/ in demonstration hives and USDA leadership and staff to promote forage and nutrition. The Coalition following the North Dakota Pollinator these concepts. Coalition members now involves about 50 organizations, Plan and other best practice guides have also participated in sign-on companies and agencies including to enhance communications and letters to support CRP in the Farm beekeepers, farmers, researchers, stewardship on crop pesticide Bill and to advocate for multi-use, federal government, agribusinesses, applications. science and risk-based approaches to conservation groups, and consumer Through site visits and pollen support honey bee access and native brands. One of collection in our bees on public lands, including USDA the founding ideas Bee Integrated Forest Service Lands. behind the Coalition pilot, research Beekeepers know that habitat was to bring together partners have alone is not always sufficient for all these disparate observed higher meeting the nutritional needs of honey voices that all have numbers of bees over the course of a year. The a role to play in native and Coalition has supported engagement improving bee health managed bees at and research on honey bee nutrition and start working demonstration and nutrition supplements through together instead of sites and greater its Nutrition Prize Challenge and separately or even diversity of pollen through interviews with commercial in opposition. Since collected by beekeepers to understand nutrition the Coalition’s staff demonstration supplement practices and needs. don’t have boots hives. This effort Together, the collective efforts of on the ground, we has helped Coalition members to plant habitat, need to develop good to inform U.S. demonstrate best practices, advocate information and rely Geological for policies to benefi t honey bees and on these 50 entities Survey research native pollinators, and innovate on to connect the resources to those on pollinator habitat and plant bee nutrition – combined with its farmers and beekeepers who can preferences. Importantly, work to develop tools and resources make changes to improve bee health. participating beekeepers and for farmers and beekeepers on hive Since the beginning, Coalition farmers also report the benefi ts of pests and disease and crop pesticides members have been active in collaborating and providing enhanced -- have helped place the Coalition at advocating for and demonstrating the habitat and nutrition for bees. In the forefront of collective action to benefi ts of pollinator habitat. Many 2021, the Bee Integrated effort is now advance bee habitat and bee health. members -like Project Apis m, Bee expanding to create demonstration As always, the tools and resources and Butterfl y Habitat Fund (BBHF), sites and case studies in other states. are all free and can be found on the https://www.beeandbutterfl yfund. In addition to on-the-ground Coalition website. org/, Pheasants Forever, Bayer, work, Coalition members have Jerry Hayes Syngenta and Corteva, to name a few advocated for policies to increase – are working with landowners and/ habitat quality and acreage on private Learn more at honeybeehealthcoalition. or on their own properties to provide and public lands. In partnership org seed and technical expertise in establishing pollinator habitat. Many of our members also partner together in the delivery of these programs. Through the Bee Integrated Demonstration Project https:// honeybeehealthcoalition.org/ From The Editor – bee-integrated-demonstration- project/, the Coalition is bringing together beekeepers and landowners to show how an array of best management practices (BMPs) can be

14 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 14 3/12/2021 9:00:21 AM Drumstick Allium The A.I. Root Pollinator Garden Alyssum Flowers

The A.I. Root Co., and Bee Culture, The ‘Magazine of Ameri- can Beekeeping’ will always be connected to the amazing history of Honey Bees and their Keepers. At our company headquarters we recently updated our pollinator friendly garden area in front of the offi ces along the main thoroughfare into our hometown of Medina, Ohio. Over the next several months we will share with you how it is coming along and to highlight individual plants in the garden.

NO Garden is complete without one or several species soils, it does best in sandy or course textured soil. Plant of Allium, with its vivid balls of color standing out in the bulbs in the spring and split as necessary in early the garden. Allium spp. grows from a bulb as do other Spring or Fall when the soil is moist. The fl ower heads plants in the Amaryllidaceae Family such as Surprise will drop viable seeds if allowed, but most people remove lilies (Belladona lily), Clivia, amaryllis, daffodil and garlic. the spent seed heads to keep the bulbs strong. Alliums can be used for culinary purposes, cut fl owers Alliums have very few problems however they can and for striking contrast in the garden. Its nectar is loved suffer root rot if planted in wet soil. Leaves can be affected by pollinators and is a good source of pollen for honey by thrips and powdery mildew but it is rarely a serious bees. problem. This cheerful fl owering bulb will return every Allium spp. contains over 700 species of bulb forming year in Growing Zones Zone 4-8 attracting butterfl ies, or rhizomatous plants of varying shades of purple-blue- bees and other pollinators. BC rose. Alliums may fl ower from Spring through Summer and vary in size and shape but all produce “balls” of fl orets https://www.brecks.com/product/Drumstick_Allium?p=0 on tall spikes. Some cultivars tower over other perennials 729246&gclid=Cj0KCQiA962BBhCzARIsAIpWEL0dH9VE and produce giant blue balls 4-5” in diameter, while YaDIYY3Lt8HwaJeJ81-Dup5NUGnWJQktFzR__0RxBptR others are shorter, like the “Drumsticks” and mix with Ke4aAgtpEALw_wcB other Spring bulbs boasting more oblong fl ower spikes. https://www.gardeners.com/how-to/growing-alliums/7371. All have an “oniony” scent which tends to repel rabbits html and deer from eating them. https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/ Allium ‘Millenium” is a clump-forming cultivar PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=263431 developed by Mark McDonough as a smaller, mid- https://www.bluestoneperennials.com/ALMI.html Summer bloomer. In early Spring, dark green leaves https://www.chicagobotanic.org/plantinfo/alliums arise from the soil then a burst of straight 18-20” tall spikes producing 2” round umbels (balls) of fragrant rosey- purple fl orets arise in July and August. This garden favorite was awarded the 2018 Plant of the Year® by the Perennial Plant Association. Plant Allium “Millenium” in well-drained soil with full to part sun. Although it can tolerate a wide range of

Allium “Millenium” at A.I. Root.

Varieties of allium spp.

April 2021 BEE CULTURE 15

April2021.indd 15 3/12/2021 9:00:22 AM NEXT MONTH Region 1 Region 4 Region 7 • Check Brood Box for Adequate • Splits • Monitor Mite load/Alcohol Wash Space • Sample, Sample, Sample for • Add Honey Supers • Sample for Varroa to Establish Mites • Treat for Mites if needed after baseline • Kill, Kill, Kill Mites Alcohol Wash • Mite Check Alcohol Wash/Treat if • Super Colonies • Is Queen laying Well? Needed • Check for Swarm Cells • Feed if needed • Put Swarm Traps Out • Check for Overcrowding • Reverse Hive Bodies/Check for • Are Hives Ready to Split? • Equalize Colonies Swarm Cells • Is Queen laying well? • Unwrap colonies • Feed if needed • Cull Out old frames/foundation • Add Supers • Reverse boxes if crowded • Requeen if needed • Early Mite control • Swarm Control Region 5 Region 2 • Control Swarming • Is Queen Laying well? • Set out Swarm Bait Hives Honey Reporters • Try to reduce swarming • Feed • Super • Check for Swarm Cells Wanted • Make Splits • Alcohol Wash Varroa check • Alcohol Wash for Varroa check • Check for crowding/Reverse box- We are expanding our Honey • Set up Swarm Bait Hives es Reporter popula on and need new • Treat for mites if needed after • Add Supers Alcohol Wash • Have clean water supply available reporters in EVERY region. We ask • Check for enough Brood Space that you fi ll in most of the whole- Region 6 sale or retail or both sec ons, most Region 3 • Alcohol Wash for mites months, and our short survey on • Alcohol Wash and Treat for Mites • Treat for Varroa if needed the back. We give you a FREE sub- if Needed • Buy Bees • Add Supers • Check for Laying Queen scrip on for your service. So if you • Hive Strength/ Requeen if needed • Feed if needed before bloom are interested send an email to • Check for Swarm Cells • Check for Colony Crowding [email protected] and put • Feed Splits and Nucs • Check for Queen Cells REPORTER in the subject line. In- • Spring Splits clude name, email, phone number • Super and mailing address and we’ll get you the next Honey Report form. Sign up today and be a part of the BEST Monthly Honey Price and Bee- keeping Management Report in the industry.

16 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 16 3/12/2021 9:00:23 AM APRIL – 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 2.19 2.19 2.35 1.95 1.91 2.00 2.50 1.55-3.00 2.10 2.10 1.98 2.17 55 Gal. Drum, Ambr 2.20 2.20 2.55 1.85 2.20 1.89 2.43 1.55-3.00 2.12 2.12 1.77 2.02 60# Light (retail) 208.00 199.00 185.00 192.19 170.00 165.00 232.47 120.00-300.00 206.01 3.43 182.22 204.23 60# Amber (retail) 200.21 198.00 200.21 160.58 200.21 168.33 212.47 120.00-285.00 197.92 3.30 190.55 203.69

WHOLESALE PRICES SOLD TO STORES OR DISTRIBUTORS IN CASE LOTS 1/2# 24/case 110.65 110.65 105.60 82.00 61.20 110.65 110.65 61.20-194.40 93.49 7.79 106.15 91.93 1# 24/case 163.03 168.00 141.95 106.97 152.50 120.00 144.00 63.00-300.00 144.57 6.02 117.68 131.62 2# 12/case 141.54 141.54 124.77 103.78 111.84 102.00 132.00 66.90-246.00 126.64 5.28 110.14 124.58 12.oz. Plas. 24/cs 130.26 120.00 120.00 90.32 89.88 96.00 108.00 66.00-244.00 105.52 5.86 83.66 99.09 5# 6/case 149.64 149.64 190.50 115.49 113.16 107.00 149.64 71.50-240.00 143.54 4.78 105.45 133.14 Quarts 12/case 187.63 144.00 148.20 145.78 171.36 192.00 183.00 109.20-300.00 170.66 4.74 153.01 143.36 Pints 12/case 98.07 84.00 96.00 88.57 109.50 109.00 96.00 60.00-139.00 96.63 5.37 87.55 90.17

RETAIL SHELF PRICES 1/2# 6.05 5.50 5.06 4.85 3.87 5.50 6.05 3.25-9.95 5.49 10.98 5.44 5.08 12 oz. Plastic 7.19 6.86 6.33 5.65 5.66 9.49 5.40 3.79-12.00 6.48 8.64 6.29 6.19 1# Glass/Plastic 9.37 9.64 9.06 7.44 7.65 9.43 7.00 3.00-17.00 8.74 8.74 8.39 8.20 2# Glass/Plastic 15.49 17.50 15.40 12.60 12.80 21.99 13.00 7.34-25.00 14.82 7.41 14.53 14.21 Pint 10.94 11.72 12.67 9.77 10.92 10.50 9.60 4.00-18.00 10.88 7.26 10.34 11.05 Quart 21.55 19.67 17.46 19.34 19.32 15.66 17.10 8.00-40.00 19.09 6.36 17.88 18.28 5# Glass/Plastic 54.78 30.00 44.00 50.97 20.44 33.00 54.78 12.80-139.08 33.62 6.72 29.99 28.94 1# Cream 10.26 11.66 10.26 9.70 7.75 13.99 16.00 5.54-16.00 9.75 9.75 10.46 9.99 1# Cut Comb 14.03 14.99 11.50 11.43 13.50 15.55 14.03 6.00-25.00 12.55 12.55 13.49 12.85 Ross Round 12.71 7.00 12.71 13.17 12.00 12.71 13.75 7.00-20.00 11.91 15.89 11.50 11.11 Wholesale Wax (Lt) 7.94 11.00 4.50 4.97 6.00 4.00 5.00 2.20-16.00 6.79 - 6.65 6.70 Wholesale Wax (Dk) 5.76 5.50 2.55 5.66 6.00 2.00 5.76 2.00-10.00 5.52 - 6.43 5.54 Pollination Fee/Col. 109.21 42.50 47.50 163.50 145.00 109.21 110.00 30.00-210.00 98.42 - 69.09 88.97

Over the last many months we delivery of information from Honey We can always use Reporters so have suffered many outcomes of the Reporting Regions has also been de- please volunteer a few minutes of COVID Pandemic just like you. And layed. As a result this month’s Hon- your time to share information with hopefully Bee Culture’s challenges ey Report is not 100% accurate. We Bee Culture readers. Go to Aman- have been much less than yours. do not want to pretend and give you [email protected], put REPORTER Because the Postal Service has been ‘bogus’ information but rather ad- in subject line, your name, address, negatively impacted, mail delivery mit that information is lacking from phone number and email and we of your magazine has been delayed some regions which impacts the fi - will get you the next Honey Report multiple times. And unfortunately nal numbers. form. Thank you for your help.

April 2021 BEE CULTURE 17

April2021.indd 17 3/12/2021 9:00:23 AM 18 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 18 3/12/2021 9:00:24 AM I think it’s been the strangest and maybe in a lot of ways the hardest year most of us have had to deal It’s Summers Time – with. We all have experienced hard times and diffi cult situations we’ve had to deal with. But never before have Spring, Poultry and Random Thoughts – most of us experienced this kind of a trial and shared it It’s approaching mid-March as I write this and it’s with the entire world. Every single person has been in the time, at least here in Northeast Ohio, that we all get some way impacted by COVID. My hope is that life has very anxious for Spring. It’s 60 degrees today and will be calmed down for all of you. It’s not perfect, but then it close to that all week with some rain. But there is snow really never was. Our family has been mostly safe during in the forecast for the weekend. That’s March – probably this time, but it’s been hard being apart from each other. the cruelest month. In the 40+ years I’ve lived in Ohio We’ve had a few members who have had the virus, but our biggest blizzards have come in mid-March. thankfully recovered quickly. But the bulbs are peeking through and the sun is As for the staying home part Kim and I have been shining and if you’re lucky enough to have bees alive fortunate in that area. For the last 35 years we’ve spent they might be fl ying today. So we take a deep breath, go 24/7 together anyway, so that wasn’t new for us. And for a walk and just know that there will be more snow with me working from home and being right here in the before Spring really gets here. house I like to think it made things easier for Kim during We are having some poultry issues just in the last this time. week. Even as I sit here fi nishing up the April issue I I have missed going out to dinner and to the movies. heard a commotion outside. (Yes, still working mostly I haven’t been to Target – my favorite store – in a year from home.) I went to check on things and all of the now. On the other hand I’ve become quite the online chickens and the ducks were cowering in the coop. It’s shopper and Kim is very familair with the Amazon guy. a bright sunny day and they had been enjoying their But what I’ve missed most is those casual gather- time outside. When the chickens saw me they cautious- ings. We really enjoy having all of our kids – biological ly came back out. The ducks wouldn’t move for awhile. and others – over, especially for the holidays. And we They just sat inside chattering. So something got them usually have a gathering of friends on New Year’s Day. scared and running. And of course the hugs. We’re big huggers in my circle – We always see hawks and buzzards and if you’re friends and family. lucky an occasional eagle fl ying over. But usually not And of course bee meetings. The last meeting the this early and usually not up close and personal. Last Bee Culture team was at was the big Tri-County meeting week we had an up close ad personal with a hawk. I fi rst in Wooster, Ohio almost exactly a year ago. The talk of noticed it sitting in one of our trees fairly close to the ‘the virus’ had just started and so we went armed with house, just sitting there for a long time facing away from hand sanitizer and wipes and didn’t do nearly as much the house and the chicken pen. Hadn’t seen that before. hugging and hand shaking as we normally would have. The next day I saw movement out the front window and COVID has changed that part of our world drastical- that hawk – I’m kind of assuming it was the same one – ly. And not all in a bad way. Kim, Jerry, Jim Tew and a was on the front porch railing staring down at our bird host of other speakers have mastered the ZOOM meet- feeders. ings. And although it’s not up close and personal like A day later we went out after supper to close up we’d like it to be, it has one big advantage. Some folks the coop. It had been another nice day and the birds that just can’t get to a meeting physically are able to see were outside. I went inside to see who was in and Kim the speakers right there at home. went outside to herd anyone that was lagging behind. I hope that you are hopeful about the coming Sum- The birds that were outside were gathered in a corner mer. Things seem to be looking up and maybe we’ll see of the pen, clearly agitated by something. Inside I saw you soon. I miss you guys! what I thought was a chicken banging at the window Now for some full disclosure. None of us are even like it was trying to get out. and on the fl oor of the coop close to perfect, whether we want to admit it or not. We a dead duck. It turns out it was the hawk trying to get all make mistakes and this past year has presented out of the coop. many opportunities for things not to run smoothly. We It looks like what happened is the hawk chased the know that lots of you have had problems getting your duck into the coop, killed it and then couldn’t fi gure out Bee Culture and we have done our very best to get those how to get back out. So Kim got in there and took care to you and appreciate your frustration as much as we of getting the hawk out of the coop. That’s all I’m going hope you appreciate ours. to say about that. When we received the February issue in the offi ce So we’re down to four ducks and 14 chickens. We and I opened the box there it was staring me right in the lost a couple of the older hens over this long, cold Win- face – a typo, right on the cover. You can look at some- ter. We’ll keep it at that number for now. Maybe next thing a dozen times and not see it and then once it’s Spring it will be time to get some young ones again. printed – well too late. I decided not to say anything and The Bee Culture team is hopefully optimistic about see who would mention it fi rst. No one has. So hopefully this year and we’re making a tentative plan for our an- not many of you noticed it. And those who did are just nual event. We had a great title planned for last year so too polite to say anything. Thanks for that. we’re going with that. Please take a look at page 29 for Well I’m out of room, so I’ll save the rest of my some initial information. We plan to start taking regis- thoughts for next time. trations on June 1, so mark your calendar and we hope I wish you all a wonderful, bright, sunny Spring the world allows us to go forward with our plan. 2021.

April 2021 BEE CULTURE 19

April2021.indd 19 3/12/2021 9:00:26 AM STUDY HALL

know all about honey bees is a liar. I me in on Dr. Seeley’s ideas. They all don’t know all about honey bees. make sense but one . . . 10-20% drone Jerry Hayes cells. The biggest production colonies are always the fi rst to collapse, but my A – Hi Jerry, I suspect that there are theory was that they start drone cells two things causing these bees to be early in the season and are fi lled with dying in the snow. them till Fall. Mites produce like three 1. Some probably are sick and times as many mites in drone cells as are removing themselves for the good worker. If you remove drone comb, of the colony. bees will fill between supers with 2. Some are accidentally drone cells and try to compensate, but crashing onto the snow, getting less drone cells as a percentage of the Q – I have a northern beekeeping/ chilled, and becoming unable to fl y population should limit mite success honey bee question if you have time. home. I think this is a good example and population. I know it is April but this is a of how the housing arrangements What am I missing? Dale Lesser question I have been thinking about that we beekeepers provide for the for months. bees can make life harder for them. A – Dale, Good to hear from you. Back in February the sun was Where I live in New York State, the 17% is the average number of drone strangely out, and my wife Barb wild colonies almost always have cells. Colonies only produce drones and I put on our boots and other their nest entrances several (15+ feet) when the colony is healthy. When the paraphernalia to take a loop around above ground level, so when they nectar fl ow ends, often the number our property in the snow. As we looked come out of their nests on sunny days of drones produced are reduced. We at the entrances of the few beehives, in Winter (to make cleansing fl ights) have found that drones do not impact we have there is the typical bunch of they are not apt to crash into the honey production to any appreciable dead bees at the entrances and some snow. I have done an experiment in extent. a few feet out on front of the colony. which I put two hives on the roof of Yes, I have also found the biggest But, because of the sunshine and a shed and two hives on ground-level production colonies are the fi rst to white background of the snow as we hive stands nearby. On sunny days in collapse. That is why when I produce walked around, we saw dead bees Winter, when there was snow on the honey I pull my honey and treat 3/4 many yards away from some colonies. ground, I saw dozens of worker bees to 7/8 of the way into the nectar We even found a worker probably 40 from the low hives come out, take fl ow, i.e. about a 1/4 to 1/8 of the yards away from the nearest colony fl ight, but then fail to gain altitude fl ow is left. that was alive standing on the snow. quickly and get stuck in the snow, If you do not add supers for Barb picked her up and warmed where they soon died. But I saw little honey and the colony is space bound, her up in her hands blowing warm or none of this for the bees in the high the colony will usually swarm, i.e. the breath on her and took her over to hives. They too came out on these reduced hive size that Dr. Seeley talks the entrance of the colony and let her sunny days to make cleansing fl ights, about. Dr. Ralph Buchler over in walk in. but for them the snow was far enough Germany found that after swarming Question(s); Why are these bees below them that they did crash onto when there is no brood, Varroa mites leaving when it is in the teens or 20s it and get stuck there. are reduced 1-2% per day. This is outside? Are they ‘sick’ and sacrifi cing For northern beekeepers, I significant. If it takes four to six themselves for the potential welfare of recommend putting hives in the weeks for new brood, that means the colony/cluster? Are they stupid Fall on hive stands that will get the Varroa is reduced 40%-60% at least. and it is warm enough in the hive that entrances of their at least a few feet The brood break and swarming are they are fooled that it is nice outside above ground/snow level. the key. See Dr. Buchler’s lecture at and going out to investigate for the Hope this is helpful. – Tom the BBA National Honey Show. benefi t of the colony? Can I assume Does that answer your question? that these long-distance flights in Thomas D. Seeley – Horace White Best Regards, Dave M. poor temperatures are standard but Professor in Biology Emeritus Department in warmer climates the beekeeper of Neurobiology and Behavior Cornell Q – Greetings Jerry, Time does is not being able to see the contrast University Ithaca, New York 14853, USA fl y,,,,Wow!! My hives were neglected that we saw between the white snow by me for the most part. I had pinched background and the dark bee? Q – Mr. MacFawn, I loved your nerves in my neck, surgery, and was There it is. As I have said for article in the November Bee Culture, also removing bees from houses all decades anybody who says they ‘Dr. Tom Seeley’s Findings’. It fi lled Summer.

20 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 20 3/12/2021 9:00:27 AM I lost several hives, but two others stored in the spermatheca. The A – Hello Richard, Thank you so are very judicial about treatments and Drones themselves can still fl y to the much for your email and question. one of them had over 500 hives and Drone Congregation Area (DCA) and It is a good one! lost over 200. This beek is the most they can still mount and mate with a While we have not had the go-by-the-book one that I know. Does virgin queen accessing the DCA but opportunity to study the specific all treatments religiously. they are ‘shooting blanks’ so to speak. question that you ask, we certainly I started in 1972 and I am at a The sperm is dead or at least cannot wonder about it ourselves. We loss as what is the main cause for all move. So, the queen mates and goes understand that the viruses may of this mess. back to the colony and none of the well persist in frames (they are I am wondering if drones are sperm can fertilize her eggs. Poof, everywhere!) but we do not know if the problem?? Not fertile?? I talked Dry Drones. they are able to infect new colonies. with some breeders that breed I will share our protocols with you artifi cially said that about fi ve out of Q – To, Becky Masterman, Last though. 10 were dry of semen. year, I got one OHB Saskatraz queen 1. If a colony likely died from Have you spoken to others about and a package of Saskatraz’s and viruses/mites, we would reuse the dry drones?? queen to place in my backyard. frames that do not have brood on What do you think? Lionel Both hives were looking strong them. If they have sealed brood, the before I left for 10 days in August. I bees will need to clean out the cells A – Good morning Lionel, In left the bees with pollen, feeders with and have a higher risk of coming into everyone’s mind it is Varroa, Varroa, sugar water inside both hives, and contact with the infected pupae. Varroa. And just treating at X time frames of honey. When I returned, 2. We manage mites aggressively might not be the best method. BOTH hives were without bees, still if we know that they are a problem in Sample using alcohol method, treat had sugar water, and honey. There a geographic location (having colonies if there are more than three mites were no piles of dead bees inside nor die from mites/viruses is a good clue). per 100 bees and then sample large number of dead bees in front of We strongly suggest monitoring and again to see if it actually worked the hive. managing for the pesky varroa mites. is the best method. Know that When I read your “Minding Your Best resource for mites: https:// treating when there is brood with X Bees and Cues, Part 3” in Bee Culture honeybeehealthcoalition.org/ chemical that 2/3rds of mites are it gave me a possible answer to what 3. We actively rotate out frames behind capped cells reproducing happened to my bees in my backyard. based on age (usually three years, but and generally can’t be impacted. The and now my question. some people can go fi ve years). HBHC (Honey Bee Health Coalition) If it was viruses that caused the 4. Find other beekeepers in your has some great resources at https:// death of two hives, are viruses still area who can help you fi ght your mite honeybeehealthcoalition.org/ present in the hive? I am looking at problem. Also, please report your varroa/. getting two nucs and placing them mite counts to www.mitecheck.com Varroa treatments are necessary back in the boxes containing wax, I hope that this information but can have collateral damage. pollen, and honey. Will that result in helps you decide to continue your Trying to kill a Little Bug ‘Varroa’ the bees dying out several months beekeeping efforts! on a Big Bug, ‘honey bee’ always later? Best, Becky has chronic health implications I am retired and money is limited. for the whole colony. Some Varroa I am trying to decide if I will get new Becky Masterman, University of Minnesota treatments being applied during bees for both hives or give up on my Bee Squad, Department of Entomology drone production many times can bees. Email [email protected] damage sperm production and sperm Thank you, Richard

April 2021 BEE CULTURE 21

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April2021.indd 23 3/12/2021 9:00:34 AM found in translation

Herding Genes With . . . Epigenetics

Jay Evans, USDA Beltsville Bee Lab

Knowing the complete genome even the simplest organisms. factors are now well studied, howev- of an animal, whether human, bee, Humans have about 21,000 er, and are validated as good predic- or worm, can go a long way toward protein-coding genes and bees have tors of which proteins need to work predicting how that animal looks, maybe 16,000. These are depress- together during particular events in grows, and behaves. But to really ingly average counts for mammals the lives of cells. know the source of interesting traits, and insects, respectively, and far Many decades ago, discussion one must study which parts of that less than, say, earthworms and po- began on still more mysterious epi- genome are active at key times. tatoes. Our exceptionalism, then, genetic (‘above the genome’) factors Genes that provide the blueprints must refl ect how well we use the that regulated the activity of larger for individual proteins (a big part of genes we have. This relates direct- chromosome regions. Generally, epi- the ‘active’ genome) are silent much ly to how well our cells turn partic- genetic controls squash gene activi- of the time. When triggered, they ular genes on and off. When I fi rst ty. One prime example for organisms spin off messenger RNAs, whose studied genetics, we were not given with sex chromosomes (humans, message is then translated into the whole story. Genes were turned yes, bees, no) involves the regula- strings of amino acids that make up on by promoters that hit a cartoon- tion of genes found on the chromo- unique proteins. This triggering, or ish landing pad on the chromosome some shared by both sexes (the ‘X’ ‘transcription’, into messenger RNAs just in front of the gene – and pro- chromosome in our case). For many can be precise to individual genes or tein-building ensued. This view genes, it is healthier if their protein can link tens or hundreds of genes was nuanced a bit by the study of levels are roughly equal in males that turn on and off in a coordinat- transcription factors that matched and females. Since females have two ed way. Coordinating the arrival of to varying degrees sites ‘near’ key X chromosomes in their cells, there many proteins at once is essential genes, turning them all on at once. has to be some sort of dosage com- for complex events such as build- Science fans will know that anything pensation for the proteins not relat- ing a limb, enacting an immune re- with ‘factor’ in its name still has a bit ed to sex differences, so they play sponse, building a bank for memo- of mystique (e.g., ‘virulence’, ‘queen’, well with proteins from the rest of ries, and numerous other needs of and ‘fudge’ factors). Transcription the genome. To do this, genes en- coding proteins on the X chromo- some in males might be hyperactive to mimic those from XX females – but in reality, it is mostly the female X-encoded genes that slow down to match the boys. In fact, a good fraction of X chromosomes in female mammals is silenced by a process called methylation, an enzyme-driv- en swap of DNA components that makes these components less like- ly to be turned on. For you science buffs who remember the four bases of DNA, it is generally the cytosines that get dinged up in this way, neat by itself but also a perfect landmark for scientists to predict which parts of the genome are silenced. Other than hearing these stories of dosage compensation by a some- what sloppy brush, I admit to not really thinking much about meth- ylation – UNTIL some fascinating 24 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 24 3/12/2021 9:00:43 AM work by my friend and hero, Pro- fessor Ryszard Maleszka from the Australian National University. Prof. Maleszka toiled for years as a leader in the sequencing of the honey bee genome. When it all came together, he was almost giddy to fi nd that the bee genome had a full set of enzymes needed to tag specifi c chromosome segments with methylation and, im- portantly, maintain the faithfulness of that methylation tag over time. Soon, he and his team showed that these epigenetic forces were import- ant in one of the most beautiful pro- cesses in bee biology, the generation of queen bees. Queens and workers are indis- tinguishable at the gene level, a fact known by queen breeders who can graft without discrimination from female larvae to get their future queens. What sets them apart is the coordinated production of caste-bi- ased proteins that, in the case of queen-destined larvae, speed metab- olism and development and set the seeds for prodigious ovaries. Work- er-destined larvae grow more slowly, and have different brain structures and barbed stingers, among many other differences. While the environ- mental causes of this split involve discovered since this work, but (https://genome.cshlp.org/con- larval diet (royal jelly and its queen the message that whole cohorts of tent/28/10/1532). These epigen- ‘factors’), inside each bee the queen caste-biased genes can be tagged etic changes are undeniable and path is set by the epic and apparent- in a lasting way to impact their ac- the signals they leave behind have ly epigenetic regulation of hundreds tivity has held up beautifully. For a helped to identify numerous genes of genes tuned to either a queen or really recent take on it all, Professor products tied to key traits like queen worker fate. In a highly cited paper Maleszka’s group recently teamed production, disease responses and from 2008, Dr. Maleszka, his scien- up with Marek Wojciechowski, Paul even stinging tendencies. I will fol- tist wife Joanna, and their team pro- Hurd, and colleagues from England low up with reviews of those traits in duced clear evidence that silencing in a fascinating and freely available the future, and show how this dis- by methylation was key for this pro- paper titled covery has been franchised over the cess. The paper, “Nutritional control “Phenotypically distinct fe- past decade to help explain traits of reproductive status in honey- male castes in honey bees are de- like queen production, or perhaps bees via DNA methylation” is freely fi ned by alternative chromatin reproduction generally, in species available from the journal Science states during larval development” far beyond honey bees. As a teas- (https://science.sciencemag.org/ er, I mentioned that these methyl- content/319/5871/1827). Meth- ation-related enzymes can repaint ylation is an imprecise paintbrush, the same site even after cells divide. more Monet than Michelangelo, It turns out they ensure that some but a critical gene showed shifts in Since methylation patterns are faithful methylation that refl ected the queen 1997 from drones or queens to their off- or worker pathway. Interestingly, spring, presenting great possibilities worker-destined larvae apparently for a parent’s environment to shape had a higher rate of methylation for the ways their offspring preps for caste-related genes and the proof for life. Think ‘you are what your par- the whole story came when the ANU ents ate’, or suffered through, etc. team silenced a key enzyme that Your source for double vetted Pacifi c There are also indications that some drives methylation and successfully Northwest bred queens and nucs. Selecting for offspring traits more strongly refl ect pushed more larvae down the queen vigor, disease tolerance, and productivity. their dad’s versus mom’s contribu- road, irrespective of diet! Caucasian and Survivor Stock tion, a tendency that might either Science moves on and addition- www.oldsolbees.com strengthen or challenge colony life. al epigenetic processes have been 541.582.2337 Stay tuned, it will be epigenetic. BC

April 2021 BEE CULTURE 25

April2021.indd 25 3/12/2021 9:00:44 AM drawings, notes or charts to help ex- plain the contents of the anthology, New Reading For Beekeepers – and that’s exactly what this book is. The author explores just over Build Beekeeping Equipment – Build made from materials easy to obtain 100 subjects all surrounding the your own beekeeping equipment. Ed and assemble. honey bee. There are some ma- Simon. Self published. Purchase at Queens get some attention, too, jor headings, like Bits and Pieces, www.lulu.com/shop, bookstore op- with swarm boxes, mating nucs and honey, insect classifi cation, seeing tion. 8.5” x 11”, spiral bound, soft even queen cages. And sales, that with ultraviolet light, a lot about cover, color throughout, 207 pages. is selling what your bees make get bee plants, pollen ID and pollen co- $24.95. appropriate attention, with displays, effi cients, all about lots of kinds of traveling observation hives, skeps (British) wasps, viruses and hon- This is Ed’s second book on and a whirligig. ey bees, morphology, and lots, lots building beekeeping equipment, But by far the most useful chap- more. tools, devices, things you never ter is at the back of the book, called Each of these is short, some less thought you would need but do, and What Your Mentors Forgot To Tell than a page, the longest three or so some you’ll be glad you learned how You. A few examples – attaching wild pages, but there aren’t many that to build, use and share. I don’t think comb to a frame, going from two to long. Some subjects are incredibly there is anything Ed can’t build, one hive combination, dealing with detailed, honey for instance has 14 make, fi x or fi gure out. And this crystallized honey, cleaning equip- different questions answered, while book is a compilation of his articles ment, placing hives in a beeyard, others are single, or maybe double from several sources. Some of these hive stand common sense, mark- only questions regarding the topic are from his fi rst book, Bee Equip- ing queens, making mini-nucs, free at hand. Wax moth, a single page. ment Essentials, published, and still paint, dealing with pasture gates, Well, you can see, over 100 topics available from Wicwas press, some hive cover rocks, lighting smokers squeezed onto 143 pages. Each is from his many contributions to Bee and on and on – there’s over 100 short, succinct and explained well. Culture magazine, and many are tips, tricks, techniques and solid in- It’s not a dictionary, nor is it an en- new. All told, Ed makes 10 pieces formation every beekeeper can use. cyclopedia. It is, as the title says, A of hive equipment ranging from A Priceless. – Kim Flottum Hive of Information, well annotated. bottom board to a Migratory top, in- It’s one of those books that’s good cluding feeders, pallets, syrup mix- An Annotated Anthology. Graham to have close at hand when you fi nd ers and dispensers. Most every wid- Kingham. Published by Northern something in a much denser book get has both diagrams and photos, Bee Books. ISBN 9781912271764. that you don’t quite understand. It’ll but some don’t need diagrams and 6.5” x 9.5”, 143 pgs, color through- probably be explained here, short, the photos are excellent. out, soft cover, $22.99. sweet (sorry) and to the point. When it comes to honey, he pro- It does have a British fl avor, but duces eight different tools, includ- An anthology is a collection of science being science it isn’t too in- ing an escape board, a drum dolly, articles, poems, stories and the like fl uenced by the author’s location. a warming box and drip trays. The made by the author of the book, But it is just enough to be fun to drum heating pod and the warming which is now an anthology. Annota- read, along with explaining over 100 box are especially clever, and useful. tion is when the author supplements things bees. Kim Flottum For wax, there’s a small-scale the content with photos, diagrams, processor, screener and strainer. All It’s a good month for pollination anda pollinator studies. Two books, bothb released early this year, study nearlyn every aspect of the science, thet social and the environmental as- pectsp of this most signifi cant, and vi- tallyt important event. That we have becomeb aware of what we are doing tot the habitats and nutritional needs ofo all pollinators – insects, birds, bats anda more – is satisfying. However, whatw we are doing to repair the dam- agea we have already done is only nown beginning to heal the wounds wew have caused. This is especially importanti now because US farmers willw be planting 182 million acres of cornc and soybeans this spring. The mostm ever, and up just over eight mil- lionl acres from last year. Those eight millionm acres will not be feeding pol- linators.l For comparison, the entire

26 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 26 3/12/2021 9:00:45 AM states of California and New Mexi- nizations can study, and support, plores the many different tactics of co combined total 178 million acres. pollinators. And he looks at habitat plant reproduction. He shows how Throw in Connecticut and you’re destruction, and then rebuilding it. wind and water can be an effective about even. The importance of urban gardens is yet wildly unpredictable means of especially interesting and useful. pollination, and describes the in- Pollinators & Pollination. Nature As well as covering the natural timate interactions of pollinating and Society. Jeff Ollerton. Pub- history of pollinators and fl owers, plants with bees and butterfl ies, bee- lished by Pelagic Publishing. ISBN the author discusses their cultural tles and birds, and lizards and bats. 978178272289. 6” x 9”, Paper back importance, and the ways in which He even explores the world of man- cover, 289 pgs, color throughout. pollinator conservation has been aged bees a bit. Walker explores how $31.00. portrayed from a political perspec- plants bribe pollinators using odor, tive. The book draws on fi eld work colors, and shapes, and how plants A unique and personal insight experiences in South America, Af- rely on rewards as well as trickery to into the ecology and evolution of rica, Australia, the Canary Islands attract animals. He touches on the pollinators, their relationships with and the UK. Many excellent photos, important role of pollination in ecol- fl owers, and their conservation in a charts and graphs go far in helping ogy, evolution, and agriculture, and rapidly changing world. defi ne the issues discussed. discusses why habitat management, The pollination of fl owers by For over 30 years the author species recovery programs, and oth- insects, birds and other animals is has spent his career researching er conservation efforts are more crit- a fundamentally important ecologi- how plants and pollinators evolve ical now than ever. cal function that supports both the relationships, how these interac- These two books are somewhat natural world and human society. tions function ecologically, their similar, but having both on your Without pollinators the world would importance for society, and how we nightstand would be a wonderful be a biologically poorer place with can conserve, and repair them in a treat. Kim Flottum an incredible impact on food secu- rapidly changing world. This book is rity, and, obviously, human health aimed at anyone who is interested would suffer. Absolutely. in understanding these fascinating Ollerton is an eminent pollina- and crucial ecological interactions. tion ecologist from the UK and his Kim Flottum book provides an introduction to what pollinators are, how their in- Pollination. The Enduring Relation- teractions with fl owers have evolved, ship between Plant and Pollina- and the fundamental ecology of tor. Timothy Walker. Published by these relationships. It explores the Princeton University Press. ISBN pollination of wild and agricultural 9780691203751. 8” x 10”, 224 pgs, plants in a variety of habitats and hundreds of stunningly beautiful contexts, including urban, rural photos of insects, birds, animals and and agricultural environments. The the fl owers they pollinate. $29.95. author also provides practical ad- vice on how individuals and orga- Pollination is essential to the survival of most plants on Earth. Some plants rely on the wind to transport pollen from one fl ower to another. Others employ an array of ingenious strategies to attract and exploit pollinators, whether they be insects, birds, or mammals. This beautifully illustrated book provides and excellent look at the wonders of pollination biology, drawing on the latest science to explain the ex- traordinarily complex relationship between plant and pollinator, and revealing why pollination is vital for healthy ecosystems and a healthy planet. I thoroughly enjoyed the format of this book. Nearly every page pos- es a question in big, bold type, and then answers that question, usually on that page, but sometimes on two or three. The author begins his story wwith a basic, but detailed introduc- tion to pollination biology and ex-

April 2021 BEE CULTURE 27

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We supply 3lb packages with queens in April & May. We supply 5-frame nucs in May. Queens are available April -September. All items must be picked up at our store in Tyngsboro, MA. 2020 PACKAGES AND NUCS ARE NOW AVAILABLE TO ORDER! Please visit nebees.com or call our store for more informaon, 978-957-2233.

28 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 28 3/12/2021 9:00:47 AM TheBee Magazine OfCulture American 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 is an acknowledged interna onal authority in the fi eld of instrumental insemina on and honey bee breeding. Jackie Park Burris was born into the Park Beekeeping Family of Northern California and is owner of Jackie Park Burris Queens Tammy Horn Po er balances her career as an English professor and hobbyist. She wrote Bees in America: How the Honey Bee Shaped a Na on, followed by Bees in America and Beeconomy: What Women and Bees teach us about Local Trade and Global Markets. In 2014, Po er became the KY State Apiarist. Anne e Meredith, Execu ve Director of BIP (Bee Informed Partnership) Julianne Grose, Brigham Young University. Associate Professor. Microbiology and Molecular Biology Maggie Lamothe Boudreau, Fédéra on des apiculteurs du Québec, Canadian Honey Council 3rd Vice Chairperson Kathy Summers, Assistant Editor of Bee Culture Magazine, involved in the leadership of various local, state and regional beekeeping associa ons over the years Kim Skyrm, State Apiarist, Massachuse s Joan Gunter, one of the co-owners of Gunter Honey Inc. is also President of the American Bee Federa on Barb Bloetscher, State Entomologist at The Ohio Department of Agriculture. 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. Tracy Farone, Professor of Biology at Grove City College, D.V.M, monthly columnist in Bee Culture ‘Bee Vet’ Judy Bodenhamer, President of Revenue Resources LLC, Judy is an entrepreneur, business execu ve, coach, mentor, innova- tor and community volunteer

We are optimistically going forard with our planning of this event, due in par, to the apparent rapid advances in the public health sitation. We will continue to monitor the sitation and make rational/safe decisions going forard. The way it stands at this time, we will most likely limit a endance based on recommendations as we go forard. We hope to see you in October! Be sure and visit www.BeeCulture.com April 2021 BEE CULTURE 29

April2021.indd 29 3/12/2021 9:00:48 AM Bee B. Queen Do you know what a Hello Friends,, Challenge bee likess to be?be? April is national poetryy A busy bee month.ToT celebrate , Create your own &ƌŽŵ:ŽŚŶ^ĐŚǁĂƌƚnj send us your bee poempoems!s recipe using fruit.

Bee B.Queen Fabulous Pear Blossoms Fruit Trees dŚĞƌĞŝƐĂůŵŽƐƚŶŽƚŚŝŶŐĂƐĚĞůŝĐŝŽƵƐĂƐďŝƟŶŐŝŶƚŽĂƌŝƉĞ͕ũƵŝĐLJƟŝƚŝ ũŝ ƉĞĂĐŚ͘dŚĞŇĂǀŽƌĞdžƉůŽĚĞƐŝŶLJŽƵƌŵŽƵƚŚ͘:ƵŝĐĞƌƵŶƐĚŽǁŶLJŽƵƌ chin. Thanks to our pollinators, we have nature’s sweet treats growing on trees in orchards and if we are lucky, in our own backyards.

dŚĞďůŽƐƐŽŵƐŽŶĨƌƵŝƚƚƌĞĞƐĚĞǀĞůŽƉŝŶƚŽƚĂƐƚLJƟĚďŝƚƐƚŚĂŶŬƐƚŽ ƉŽůůŝŶĂƟŽŶ͘WŽůůŝŶĂƟŽŶŽĐĐƵƌƐǁŚĞŶďĞĞƐ͕ŝŶƐĞĐƚƐ͕ŽƌďŝƌĚƐĐĂƌƌLJ pollen from the male part of a blossom (anther) to the female part ŽĨĂŶŽƚŚĞƌďůŽƐƐŽŵ;ƐƟŐŵĂͿ͘^ŽŵĞĨƌƵŝƚƚƌĞĞƐŶĞĞĚƉŽůůĞŶƚŚĂƚŝƐ carried from other trees and some do not.

ƌŽƐƐWŽůůŝŶĂƟŶŐ Most fruit trees must be cross-pollinated. They need pollen carried to them from other trees. Pollinators, like honey bees, carry pollen ĨƌŽŵƚŚĞŇŽǁĞƌƐŽĨŽŶĞǀĂƌŝĞƚLJƚŽƚŚĞŇŽǁĞƌƐŽĨĂĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚǀĂƌŝĞƚLJ ŽĨƚŚĞƐĂŵĞƚLJƉĞŽĨƚƌĞĞ͘dŚĞƚƌĞĞƐƚŚĂƚŶĞĞĚĐƌŽƐƐͲƉŽůůŝŶĂƟŽŶĂƌĞ ĂƉƉůĞƐ͕ƉĞĂƌƐ͕ŵŽƐƚƐǁĞĞƚĐŚĞƌƌŝĞƐ͕ĂŶĚŵŽƐƚ:ĂƉĂŶĞƐĞƉůƵŵƐ͘

^ĞůĨͲWŽůůŝŶĂƟŶŐ ^ŽŵĞƚLJƉĞƐŽĨĨƌƵŝƚƚƌĞĞƐĚŽŶŽƚŶĞĞĚĂŶŽƚŚĞƌƚƌĞĞƚŽĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞ ƉŽůůŝŶĂƟŽŶ͘dŚĞƐĞƐĞůĨͲƉŽůůŝŶĂƟŶŐŽƌƐĞůĨͲĨƌƵŝƞƵůƚƌĞĞƐĂƌĞ ƉŽůůŝŶĂƚĞĚďLJƉŽůůĞŶĨƌŽŵĂŶŽƚŚĞƌŇŽǁĞƌŽŶƚŚĞƐĂŵĞĨƌƵŝƚƚƌĞĞŽƌ͕ ŝŶƐŽŵĞĐĂƐĞƐ͕ďLJƉŽůůĞŶĨƌŽŵƚŚĞƐĂŵĞŇŽǁĞƌ͘ǀĞŶƚŚŽƵŐŚƚŚĞƐĞ fruit trees do not need pollen carried to them from another tree, ĐƌŽƐƐͲƉŽůůŝŶĂƟŽŶŚĞůƉƐƚŚĞŵƉƌŽĚƵĐĞŵŽƌĞĨƌƵŝƚ͘ƉƌŝĐŽƚƐ͕ ŶĞĐƚĂƌŝŶĞƐ͕ƉĞĂĐŚĞƐ͕ƐŽƵƌĐŚĞƌƌŝĞƐĂŶĚƵƌŽƉĞĂŶƉůƵŵƐĂƌĞĂƌ ĞdžĂŵƉůĞƐŽĨƐĞůĨͲƉŽůůŝŶĂƟŶŐƚƌĞĞƐ͘

Who Carries the Pollen? Fruit trees have a number of pollinators that do the work off ĐĂƌƌLJŝŶŐƉŽůůĞŶĨƌŽŵŽŶĞŇŽǁĞƌƚŽĂŶŽƚŚĞƌ͘KĨĐŽƵƌƐĞŚŽŶĞLJďĞĞƐ Peach are great pollinators but they are not the only ones. Bumblebees, Blossoms ƐŽůŝƚĂƌLJďĞĞƐ͕ĂŶĚŇŝĞƐĐĂŶĂůƐŽŚĞůƉƚŚĞƐĞƚƌĞĞƐƉƌŽĚƵĐĞĨƌƵŝƚ

ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚƉŽůůŝŶĂƟŽŶ͘

y. 30cherr Sour cherry, Sweet Kiwifruit, Pear, Peach, Plum, Apricot, BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 30 3/12/2021 9:00:49 AM Thank a Bee ProducedProduced byy Kim Lehman -www.kim.lehman.com What is a bee’s A mmanan wwwwww.beeculture.com.beeculture.com Smoothie worst enemy? 2 cups pears, &ƌŽŵDŽƐĞ^ĐŚǁĂƌƚnjŽƐĞ^ĐŚǁĂƌƚnj Celebrate AprilApril 2021 cored and chopped Pollinators! ϭĐƵƉĐŚĞƌƌŝĞƐ͕ƉŝƩĞĚ How are you going to celebrate 1 cup apple juice EĂƟŽŶĂůWŽůůŝŶĂƚŽƌtĞĞŬ:ƵŶĞϮϭͲϮϳ͍ 1/2 cup plain yogurt 1 1/2 cups crushed icee Maybe you could… 1/2 tsp vanilla extractt ͻ,ŽƐƚĂƉŽůůŝŶĂƚŽƌͲƚŚĞŵĞĚƐŶĂĐŬ ͻ/ŶǀŝƚĞLJŽƵƌĨƌŝĞŶĚƐŽǀĞƌ Combine all ingredients in the blenderder anda ĨŽƌĂŚŽŶĞLJƚĂƐƟŶŐ ďůĞŶĚƵŶƟůƐŵŽŽƚŚ͘ĚĚĂůŝƩůĞĐŝŶŶĂŵŽŶ ͻƵŝůĚŶĂƟǀĞďĞĞŚŽƵƐĞƐ or ginger to spice it up. ͻDĂŬĞƐĞĞĚďĂůůƐƵƐŝŶŐƐĞĞĚƐĨŽƌ pollinator plants Great Fruit Tree Sort ͻ:ŽŝŶƚŚĞDŝůůŝŽŶWŽůůŝŶĂƚŽƌ'ĂƌĚĞŶ Challenge hŶƐĐƌĂŵďůĞƚŚĞůĞƩĞƌƐŝŶĞĂĐŚǁŽƌĚƚŽĚŝƐĐŽǀĞƌĨƌƵŝƚƚƌĞĞƐƚŚĂƚďĞŶĞĮƚ from having honey bees, bumblebees, and solitary bees pollinate their Register your event at ďůŽƐƐŽŵƐ͘&ŝůůŝŶƚŚĞŶƵŵďĞƌĞĚďŽdžĞƐĂƚƚŚĞďŽƩŽŵǁŝƚŚƚŚĞĐŽƌƌĞƐƉŽŶĚŝŶŐ ŚƩƉ͗ͬͬƉŽůůŝŶĂƚŽƌ͘ŽƌŐͬƉŽůůŝŶĂƚŽƌͲǁĞĞŬ ůĞƩĞƌƐƚŽĚŝƐĐŽǀĞƌĂŵĞƐƐĂŐĞ͘tŚĂƚĚŽLJŽƵƚŚŝŶŬƚŚĞƋƵŽƚĞŵĞĂŶƐ͍ and inspire other to join in!

Beecome a Bee Buddy Send two self-addressed stamped envelopes and the following information to: Bee Buddies, PO Box 117, Smithville, TX 78957. Name Address Age Birthday Month E-mail (optional)

We will send you a membership card, a prize, and a birthday surprise!

Send all questions, photos, and artwork to: Quote by Tertullian, a philosopher [email protected] born in 155 AD. or mail to the above address. April 2021 BEE CULTURE 31

April2021.indd 31 3/12/2021 9:00:53 AM increase in size and the eggs become vitellogenic and reach maturity (Tanaka and Hartfelder 2004). The queen’s pheromone profi le also changes dramatically (Plettner et al. 1997; Keeling et al. 2003; Richard et al. 2007), causing workers to surround the queen in a retinue response, antennating and licking her. Major changes occur in the brain as well. Fahrbach et al. (1995) found that following mating, the Kenyon cells of the mushroom bodies of the brain decrease by 30% while the neuropil of the mushroom bodies increases by 25-50%. Levels of dopamine and N-acetyldopamine also decrease following mating (Harano et al. 2005). Mating also causes profound behavioral changes. Virgins are phototactic and take mating fl ights, while mature, mated queens remain in their colonies and lay eggs (Winston 1987). “In order to disentangle the molecular pathways regulating these various components of the post-mating response, Kocher et al. (2008) correlated changes in gene-expression patterns in the brains and ovaries to behavioral and physiological changes in three distinct types of queens: virgins (n = 6), mated queens that have not yet initiated egg-laying (subsequently denoted as “mated queens”, n = 5), and mated queens that have begun laying eggs (subsequently denoted as “laying queens”, n = 4). Virgin queens and laying queens are A Closer the two extreme cases encompassing the complete post- mating response, while the second group (mated queens) represents an intermediate phenotype. These queens are considered to be “incompletely-mated”, because they have not yet completed the full suite of behavioral LOO k and physiological transitions associated with mating in honey bees. It is also important to note that queens in this group were heterogeneous in terms of fl ight behavior; some attempted to take additional mating fl ights, while others were not observed to do so. Four queens from each group were used for the microarray study. Their results QUEEN POST-MATING demonstrate that behavioral and physiological post- mating changes can be uncoupled in the mated group, CHANGES and that these changes can be associated with specifi c gene expression patterns.” Clarence Collison “Research has demonstrated that there are large- scale transcriptional changes in the brain and ovaries that are associated with the mating process in honey bee Mating Is A Lenghy And Complex queens (Kocher et al. 2008). It appears that physiological changes in the ovaries and pheromone production in the Process mandibular glands may be initiated immediately as the mating process is initiated, but that changes in fl ight Mating in honey bee queens is a lengthy and complex and egg-laying behavior seem to require the completion process. A queen bee reaches sexual maturity when of the entire mating process or operates on a slower she is fi ve to 10 days old, at which point she initiates timescale. Consistent with these physiological and mating fl ights. She will take one to three mating fl ights behavioral changes, transcriptional changes in the brains on subsequent days, and mate with numerous drones and the ovaries appear to be uncoupled as well. There throughout the course of these fl ights. The majority of the are still several important questions related to honey bee semen collected by the queen is excreted within 24 hours reproductive biology that remain to be elucidated. First, after insemination, and a proportion of each male’s sperm queens mate with several males before they stop taking is stored in her spermatheca. A fully inseminated queen mating fl ights and initiate egg laying (Roberts, 1944; retains approximately fi ve to seven million sperm. Once Tarpy and Page, 2001; Schluns et al., 2005). However, the queen completes the mating process, she will initiate they still do not fully understand what cues a queen egg-laying behavior within a few days, and then will never uses to determine that she has successfully completed mate again during her lifespan (Kocher et al. 2008). the mating process.” After mating, a queen undergoes massive and “To elucidate how queen-post mating changes are permanent physiological and behavioral changes. Her influenced by seminal fluid, the non-spermatozoa- ovaries (previously in a state of arrested development) containing component of semen, Jasper et al. (2020) complete the fi nal stages of maturation as her ovarioles injected queens with semen or seminal fluid alone.

32 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 32 3/12/2021 9:00:56 AM They assessed queen sexual receptivity (as measured to attempt to take mating fl ights, although the naturally by likelihood to take mating fl ights), ovary activation, mated queens attempted less frequently. None of worker retinue response (which is infl uenced by queen the inseminated queens attempted to fl y following pheromone production), and transcriptional changes in instrumental insemination.” queen abdominal fat body and brain tissues. Injection “Vitellogenin (Vg) is a protein that is produced in the with either seminal fl uid or semen resulted in decreased fat bodies and sequestered in developing oocytes, and it sexual receptivity, increased attractiveness of queens to plays a humoral role in ovary development. The specifi c workers and altered expression of several genes that are role of Vg in the honey bee mating process still remains also regulated by natural mating in queens. The post- to be elucidated. Kocher et al. (2010) found that mated mating and transcriptional changes of queens receiving queens had the highest levels of vitellogenin transcript, seminal fl uid were not signifi cantly different from queens virgin and saline-inseminated queens were intermediate injected with semen, suggesting that components in and semen-inseminated queens had the least amount of seminal fl uid, such as seminal fl uid proteins, are largely Vg expressed in the fat bodies.” responsible for injected stimulating post-mating changes “To explore neuro-endocrinal changes in the in queens.” brain of queens before and after mating, Harano et “The receipt of drone semen can modulate queen al. (2005) measured the amount of several biogenic ovary activation, pheromone production, and subsequent amines, including dopamine and its metabolite in the worker retinue behavior. In addition, seminal fl uid is brain of six- and 12-day-old virgins and 12-day-old a major component of semen that is primarily derived mated queens. Twelve-day-old mated queens showed from drone accessory glands. It also contains a complex significantly lower amounts of dopamine and its mixture of proteins such as proteases, antioxidants and metabolite (N-acetyldopamine) than both six- and 12-day antimicrobial proteins. However, the specifi c molecules in old virgin queens, whereas signifi cant differences in the semen and seminal fl uid that initiate post-mating changes amounts of these amines were not detected between six- in queens are still unidentifi ed and 12-day-old virgin queens. (Brutscher et al. 2019).” These results are explained “Niño et al. (2013) used by down-regulation of both instrumental insemination of synthesis and secretion of queens to examine the role of brain dopamine after mating. the insemination substance It is speculated that higher and volume in triggering post- amounts of brain dopamine in mating changes. They also virgin queens might be involved examined differences in gene in activation of ovarian follicles expression patterns in the fat arrested in previtellogenic bodies of queens with highly stages, as well as regulation of activated ovaries to determine their characteristic behaviors.” if events during copulation can “One of the major post- cause long-term changes in gene expression. They found mating changes in queens is the activation of the ovaries that the instrumental insemination procedure alone and ovulation. The ovarioles of a newly emerged (0 day) caused cessation of mating fl ights and triggered ovary queen have only two regions that may be distinguished: activation, with high-volume inseminated queens having a proximal, short germarium and a very long distal, the greatest ovary activation. Hierarchical clustering terminal filament. As the queen matures and gets grouped queens primarily by insemination substance ready for the nuptial fl ight, the germarium increases in and then insemination volume, suggested that while length, advancing toward the distal end as the terminal volume may trigger short-term physiological changes fi lament shortens. The ovarioles of queens ready to mate (i.e. ovary activation), substance plays a greater role in (six to eight days old) have, already one or two ovarian regulating long-term transcriptional changes. The results follicles, i.e. a very short proximal vitellarium, but a real of gene ontology analysis and comparison with previous viellogenesis only starts after the fecundation. If the queen studies suggest that both insemination substance does not mate, the ovariole structure is disrupted (12- and volume trigger molecular post-mating changes by 16 days old). In mated queens laying eggs, the ovarioles altering overlapping gene pathways involved in honey present three differentiated regions, from the apical bee reproduction.” to the basal: a short terminal fi lament, a medium size “Kocher et al. (2010) further uncoupled the changes germarium, and a very long basal vitellarium. As the that occur with the mating process by examining eggs are laid, the empty follicle collapses and degenerates the effects of natural mating versus instrumental (Patricio and Cruz-Landim 2002). Ovaries of laying insemination and saline versus semen insemination. queens were about eight times as large as those of virgins They observed effects on fl ight behavior, and vitellogenin (Shehata et al. 1981).” expression. “The number of days from emergence to the onset The cues a queen uses to determine when she has of oviposition in seven groups of queens was as follows: completed mating are not well characterized. naturally mated queens, 10·33 ± 0·68; free-fl ying queens

They monitored the fl ight attempts for all queens in treated with CO2, 11·00 ± 0·36; queens instrumentally each of their treatment groups before and after mating inseminated by the Mackensen technique, 13·8 ± 1·94;

or instrumental insemination. Reproductive status had virgin queens treated with CO2, 14·00 ± 0·77; queens a signifi cant effect on fl ight attempts. Virgin queens and instrumentally inseminated, using the washing technique, queens limited to a single mating fl ight both continued 14·58 ± 0·53; queens injected with washing fl uid, 15·82 ±

April 2021 BEE CULTURE 33 

April2021.indd 33 3/12/2021 9:00:56 AM 1·42; queens injected with Kiev solution, 17·77 ± 1·24. The Harano, K., K. Sasaki and T. Nagao 2005. Depression of number of spermatozoa in the spermatheca of naturally brain dopamine and its metabolite after mating in European mated queens, of queens inseminated by the Mackensen honeybee (Apis mellifera) queens. Naturwissenschaften 92: technique, and of queens inseminated by the washing 310-313. technique, was 4·54 ± 0·7, 3·83 ± 0·47, and 3·02 ± 0·52 Jasper, W.C., L.M. Brutscher, C.M. Grozinger and E. L. Niño million, respectively. Naturally mated queens started 2020. Injection of seminal fl uid into the hemocoel of honey bee laying eggs earlier than the instrumentally inseminated queens (Apis mellifera) can stimulate post-mating changes. queens (Kaftanoglu and Peng 1982).” Sci. Rep. 10: 11990. “Manfredini et al. (2015) used next-generation Kaftanoglu, O. and Y.-S. Peng 1982. Effects of insemination on transcriptomics to probe changes in gene expression in the the initiation of oviposition in the queen honeybee. J. Apic. brains of honey bee queens, as they transition from virgin Res. 21: 3-6. Keeling, C.I., K.N. Slessor, H.A. Higo and M.L.Winston 2003. New to mated reproductive status. In addition, they used CO2- narcosis, which induces oviposition without mating, to components of the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) queen retinue isolate the process of reproductive maturation. The mating pheromone. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 100 (8): 4486-4491. process produced signifi cant changes in the expression of Kocher, S.D., F.-J. Richard, D.R. Tarpy and C.M. Grozinger vision, chemo-reception, metabolic and immune-related 2008. Genomic analysis of post-mating changes in the genes. Differential expression of these genes map clearly honey bee queen (Apis mellifera). BMC Genomics 9: 232. onto known behavioral and physiological changes that doi:10.1186/1471-2164-9-232 . occur during the transition from being a virgin queen Kocher, S.D., D.R. Tarpy, and C.M. Grozinger 2010. The effects to a newly-mated queen. A subset of these changes of mating and instrumental insemination on queen honey bee fl ight behaviour and gene expression. Insect Mol. Biol. 19: in gene expression were also detected in CO2-treated queens, as predicted from previous physiological studies. 153-162. In addition, they compared their results to previous Manfredini, F., M.J.F. Brown, V. Vergoz and B.P. Oldroyd 2015. studies that used microarray techniques across a range RNA-sequencing elucidates the regulation of behavioural of experimental time-points. Changes in expression of transitions associated with the mating process in honey bee immune- and vision-related genes were common to all queens. BMC Genomics 16: 563. studies, supporting an involvement of these groups of Niño, E.L., D.R. Tarpy and C.M. Grozinger 2013. Differential genes in the mating process.” effects of insemination volume and substance on reproductive Virgin queens are highly phototatic (attracted to changes in honey bee queens (Apis mellifera L.). Insect Mol. light) and undertake one or more nuptial fl ights before Biol. 22: 233-244. they cease performing mating fl ights. Once the queen has Patrício, K. and C. Cruz-Landim 2002. Mating infl uence in taken her fi nal mating fl ight and has stored spermatozoa the ovary differentiation in adult queens of Apis mellifera L. in her spermatheca, she permanently exhibits reduced (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Braz. J. Biol. 62: 641-649. phototaxis and sexual receptivity. The queen remains in Plettner, E., G.W. Otis, P.D.C. Wimalaratne, M.L. Winston, K.N. the hive to lay eggs, unless she participates in a swarming Slessor, T. Pankiw and P.W.K. Punchihewa 1997. Species- and event (Winston 1987). BC caste-determined mandibular gland signals in honeybees (Apis). J. Chem. Ecol. 23: 363-377. References Richard, F-J., D. R. Tarpy and C.M. Grozinger 2007. Effects of Brutscher, L.M., B. Baer and E.L. Niño 2019. Putative drone insemination quantity on honey bee queen physiology. PloS copulation factors regulating honey bee (Apis mellifera) queen ONE 2(10): e980. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0000980 reproduction and health: a review. Insects 10: 8. Roberts, W.C. 1944. Multiple mating of queen bees proved by Fahrbach, S.E., T. Giray and G.E. Robinson 1995. Volume progeny and fl ight tests. Glean. Bee Cult. 72: 255-260. changes in the mushroom bodies of adult honey bee queens. Schluns, H., R.F.A. Moritz, P. Neumann, P. Kryger and G. Neur. Learn Mem. 63: 181-191. Koeniger 2005. Multiple nuptial fl ights, sperm transfer and the evolution of extreme polyandry in honeybee queens. Anim. Behav. 70: 125-131. Shehata, S.M., G.F. Townsend and R.W. Shuel 1981. Seasonal physiological changes in queen and worker honeybees. J. Apic. Res. 20: 69-78. Tanaka, E.D. and K. Hartfelder 2004. The initial stages of Made in MAINE Quantity Pricing Available! oogenesis and their relation to differential fertility in the honey bee (Apis mellifera) castes. Arth. Struct. Dev. 33: 431-442. Tarpy, D.R. and R.E. Page Jr. 2001. The curious promiscuity • Frames of queen honey bees (Apis mellifera): evolutionary and • Boxes behavioral mechanisms. Ann. Zool. Fenn. 38: 255-265. • Outer Covers Manufacturers of Quality Winston, M.L. 1987. The Biology Of The Honey Bee. Harvard • Bottom Boards University Press, Cambridge, MA, 281 pp. Apiary Woodenware • Nuc Boxes Try our budget frames & boxes today! 1-877-4-BEE-BOX Clarence Collison is an Emeritus Professor of Entomology We think you’ll be pleased. (1-877-423-3269) and Department Head Emeritus of Entomology and Plant Pathology at Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS. 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34 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 34 3/12/2021 9:00:57 AM April 2021 BEE CULTURE 35

April2021.indd 35 3/12/2021 9:00:57 AM Bees Eat Meat? Kirk Anderson

The process of science involves agricultural factors could be starving a forager, nest builder and queen. new discoveries and continuous the insects. While it seems bizarre They mate, then forage for their own revision. The culture of science has to consider bees eating meat, this pollen and nectar, and lay individual placed a premium on novelty, but news release aspired to awaken eggs on nectar-laden pollen balls the revision process is often slow, the world to the vital connection containing some microbes from and hampered by context that is between ALL pollinators, agriculture fl owers. As the larvae develop, it is diffi cult to interpret. Stack this atop and microbes. As a devout microbial sometimes a race between microbe the highfalutin’ superorganism (AKA: ecologist, I wholeheartedly embrace a and larvae to consume the pollen honey bees) and yep, information future wherein agriculture accounts and nectar provisions. As a result, can become a sticky swarming for microbial factors across the many native bees end up eating mess. Reasonable context in science landscape including fl owers, water a big load of microbes along with comes from experimental design, sources, soil, natural systems, and their pollen. These microbes were statistical application, and the ability all pollinators, including honey bees. called “meat” because the measured of the scientist/author to construct After all, there are thousands of nutritional value was more similar a reality sandwich from the meat of pollinating bee species, and microbes to a meat eater than a cow grazing new results and the bread of present are essential to nearly every life grass. Earlier research on native knowledge. Scientists learn how to process. However, I recommend bees detailed how mold growth present their fi ndings clearly, and that you stop short of replacing could devour a large proportion of must eventually sell their ideas your pollen substitute with probiotic solitary larvae along with its pollen forward to maintain future funding. hamburger. Although a novel and ball. In response, some bee species When a scientifi c manuscript is sent highly relevant discovery, “Bees Need return to the nest site to police for peer-review, the author must Meat” was NOT about honey bees. In fungal growth, walling off infected target a general science audience fact, honey bees were conspicuously from non-infected larvae. Other by placing the work in context. absent from these studies, and for solitary bee species developed ways However, when that same piece of good reason. The fact is, honey bees to combat fungal growth, including work becomes a news release or store and process their collected the application of plant materials popular article, it is typically painted pollen very differently from the bees and salivary secretions that protect with a more colorful brush. Like an that eat microbial meat. Moreover, developing larvae. As happens in invasion of “Murder Hornets”, it must the way in which honey bees control every microbial ecosystem, various buzz the public ear. microbial growth and exposure is a microbes compete for access to My personal favorite: “Bees Need hallmark of advanced social life and the sugary pollen ball including Meat”, explains that microbes in honey bee success. opportunistic pathogens (mostly flowers are a crucial part of the First, let’s examine the bees that molds) and potentially beneficial bee diet. It goes on to say that eat microbial meat. These bees are microbes that suppress mold growth microbes are basically “meat”, native to the Americas, and mostly (Lactobacillus, Acetobacteraceae and and microbiome changes caused solitary or socially primitive. Every sugar tolerant yeasts). Generally, the by various environmental and female solitary bee must function as microbial function of these sticky Scanning electron micro- pollen balls resembles that of silage graph of beebread (yellow) production, wherein acid produced being devoured by an un- by fermentative microbes inhibits known mold (purple). As mold growth, preserving, and in some part of an overwintering ex- cases, altering the nutritional quality. periment, we removed bee- bread from its location on As a pinnacle of bee evolution, the frame and placed it at honey bees possess more and better the top of the hive. Disturb- strategies to combat unwanted ing the natural structure of microbial growth, and advanced bee-bread on the frames and exposure to moisture at social organization has provided the top of the hive resulted some unique modifi cations. First off, in extensive mold growth honey bee larvae consume very little overwinter. Mold did not if any pollen, so by defi nition, cannot grow on the undisturbed eat the microbial meat growing beebread. The small purple spheres are mold spores, on pollen. Honey bees possess a and the purple tubes are functional subgroup called nurse fungal hyphae, the major bees that control multiple aspects of mode of fungal growth. colony nutrition. This group of adult 36 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 36 3/12/2021 9:00:58 AM bees eat and digest the pollen, bulk Kirk Anderson up their fat bodies, then feed larvae with highly nutritious jelly using special head glands. Secondly, honey bee stored pollen (or beebread) has virtually no microbial meat. Stored pollen is 50% honey by weight and a highly preservative environment that suppresses microbial growth. In fact, both honey and jelly are notorious microbe assassins each containing a devastating variety of antimicrobials. Together, these two substances buffer the effects of environmental change and allow the honey bee to survive extended times with no forage. The perennial honey bee lifestyle would be impossible without honey and jelly. Not only do these substances or be largely ignored. Unfortunately, colony on a landscape, an integrated buffer nutritional dearth but have context is complicated, longwinded system, a factory in a fortress. I think also evolved to confront the microbial and often boring. To drive my point of beekeeping, honey bee research, challenges associated with periods home, context is defined as: “the whether it happened in a cup, a cage, of limited nutrition. One might even circumstances that form the setting a nuc, a super, what bees did you hypothesize that the evolution of for an experiment, statement, or sample and why, what time of year, honey bee sociality was continually discussion, and in terms of which, treated for mites, antibiotics, viral refined by relentless microbial it can be fully understood and load, landscape history…All these challenge during the nutritional shift assessed”. The devil is in the details. factors add variation to the results, to a perennial lifestyle. But I digress… Only the science-minded could love some predictable, some stochastic. Honey bees do not eat microbial context. How do these parts contribute to the meat. The scientifi c process relies In contrast, novelty is fast and collective whole? For the majority on thoughtful revision, and revision fun, and like a new puppy… has of bee publications, much of this relies on context. As a social sharp little teeth. Context and novelty variation is either unknown, ignored insect ecologist who peer reviews always compete for space, especially completely, difficult to attach to 75-100 scientific papers yearly, when reducing a scientifi c article to the experimental design, or poorly I’m constantly asking myself three a twitter blurb, or when sampling accounted for in the article. Even context reliant questions; 1) Am I select bits of science to support a new when you’ve done your due diligence capable of reviewing this material? product on the market. Presentation accounting for these factors, honey Many manuscripts about bees I of a novel fi nding requires a dramatic bee colonies are famous for behaving cannot agree to review because I lack distillation of context, typically in ways you’ve never seen before. the context (education or experience) producing a short catch phrase that While I’m sure you’ve experienced this to judge them. 2) Are the methods rings the brain bell “wait, what?”… as a seasoned beekeeper, I relearn it and results valid?, This is diffi cult microbial meat? murder hornets? repeatedly trying to get bee hives to to judge and requires an expert In this age of fast information, “beehave” for bee research. Reducing versed in the methods and statistics novelty is linked inexorably with colonies to cages or nukes can yield used by the authors. 3) How were sensationalism. It’s the silver bullet statistically relevant results, but often the results placed in context? In of science. The breakthrough of does not predict what will happen to other words, does the author’s tasty the century. It’s the brush used to full size hive A or B, on landscape A sandwich square with hypothesized paint all advertisement, snake oils, or B, in season A or B, and so on. To reality, and if not, do their evidence and conspiracy theories. Almost by understand any complex system, you and arguments convincingly address default, novelty is misinterpreted due must approximate many things. Data the inconsistencies? This judgement to limited or missing context. “Based is piecemeal, and must be stitched typically requires a deep knowledge on science” only works if the context together to assemble a gestalt, a of present and past literature is correct and complete. Returning to platform from which to build novel surrounding the subject matter. In our example, “bees need meat”, the understanding. short, context is everywhere, it is both press release was crafted to highlight It is in this context that we theory and hypothesis, hardware the importance of landscape; the interpret the biological and and software, tool box and blueprint. flowers and associated microbes statistical reality associated with Automatically created but rarely sustained by the landscape. The honey bee microbial ecology. Not considered, the mind quickly imposes reader was fi rst “hooked” by the scent easily reduced to individual terms, a context on every situation. At the of sensationalism, satiated by meaty colony is composed of physiologically most fundamental level, it is how you novelty, then for dessert, served a interrelated groups of activities. distinguish important things from small scoop of context. Colonies can stay in place or move the background. The space devoted But like you, when someone says quickly across a highly variable to context can dominate an article, bees, I see a box with honey supers, a landscape. The colony is a robust and

April 2021 BEE CULTURE 37

April2021.indd 37 3/12/2021 9:00:59 AM dynamic social entity, both nurturing and deadly. Colony function relies on the interdependence between groups of individuals performing a variety of different processes in parallel. At the active fringes of the factory, the hive itself is an antibiotic, a prebiotic and a probiotic, populated by a special set of microbes evolved to endure the FOR ALL YOUR PROCESSING NEEDS hive environment. The lion’s share of these microbes are not recently transmitted from flowers, but are present throughout the year, and may be considered “native” to the hive environment. Although not convincingly demonstrated in its entirety, this statement about native AMERICAN MADE IN OUR NEW FACTORY hive microbiota refl ects an educated 3100 EXTRACTOR opinion based on one scientist’s 978-772-BEES microbial understanding of honey www.MaxantIndustries.com bees, native bees, and the pollination environment. More context available on request. BC

Dr. Kirk E. Anderson has conducted re- search in the ecology and evolution of social insects for 25 years and is rec- ognized nationally and internationally as an authority on honey bee microbial ecology, host-microbe interactions, social insect molecular ecology, trophic and sys- tems ecology. Dr. Anderson designed and built modern molecular and microbiology labs at the Carl Hayden Bee Research Center in Tucson AZ, and attracted and trained a competent research team com- posed of highly-motivated personnel in- cluding graduate and undergraduate students from the University of Arizona. His research achievements are celebrat- ed by industry in the scientifi c focused ABJ, high-tier scientifi c journals, top-tier research universities, and various me- dia sources. His work on honey bee mi- crobial ecology has led to invitations to international meetings, inclusion in the world-wide bee microbiome consortium, and consultations with state and national beekeeping organizations. Dr. Anderson has been awarded over $1,300,000.00 in outside funding, including multiple in- dustry grants, an AFRI-NIFA grant, and multiple post-doc grants. In 2015, He was awarded the PWA “Early Career Scientist of the Year” to recognize his ARS microbi- ome research.

38 BEE CULTURE April 2021

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April2021.indd 39 3/12/2021 9:01:00 AM Back a few years ago when I was young and good looking (well maybe more than a few), I discovered honey bees and beekeeping. Back in the I-CORP FOR BEEKEEPERS, ‘good ole days’ about the only thing that was of any acute and/or chronic honey bee health signifi cance was REPORT #2 the bacterial spore forming disease American Foulbrood (AFB). There was European Foulbrood, Chalkbrood and Nosema (apis) but back then these were early season spring issues that National Science Foundation (NSF) popped up and then 90% of the time disappeared as the weather stabilized Jerry Hayes and fl ower pollen and nectar came in. These were over relatively quickly. We had wax moths as we do now containers, special containers for bees in existence, was fi rst identifi ed but wax moths are just opportunists. air cargo and people traveling the in 1987 in the U.S. As a result of They are looking for a colony of world with a variety of things in their global trade in honey bees in and which the population is dropping luggage. Things move around the out of Asia, the home of Varroa, the for some reason like swarming or world. COVID is the latest example. mite became established in Africa Winter death or queenlessness, and Back in the day, managed and and Europe before hitchhiking into they move in because they want to feral honey bee colonies in the the U.S. Immediately Canada and reproduce in the colony as the old U.S. whether they were living in a Mexico closed their borders to the comb holds the nutrition that their manmade beehive or a hollow tree, important lucrative movement of larvae need to grow to adulthood. had it pretty easy. Life was good. managed honey bees for pollination, As a new beekeeper in the learning Plenty to eat and not many pests, queens and packages. stage, I remember going to my fi rst parasites or diseases. They had been With Varroa came a whole suite local Beekeeper Assoc. meeting in effect, quarantined from the rest of new viruses that were vectored/ and overhearing the local sideline of the world for hundreds of years. transmitted by Varroa. Varroa in beekeeper that everybody listened Their survival genetics had not been the process of feeding, chews a hole to say, “you set up your colonies challenged very much. They were in the outer membrane of a honey and you can go hunting or fi shing genetically and biologically naïve. bee abdomen in order to reach the rest of the year”. Honey bee July 3rd 1984 things began to the nutrient rich fat bodies of the management was as much as you change when the first significant honey bee. In this interaction and wanted it to be or as little as you honey bee parasite to come to resulting damage done, viruses in wanted it to be. Other than AFB, North America was identifi ed, the Varroa are transferred to the honey pesticide exposure, queenlessness Tracheal mite, Acarapis woodi. For bee. Immunosuppression occurs or unexpected starvation, beekeeping honey bees in the U.S. and Canada which allow these and other viruses was a pretty easy ride in the early that had never met the parasitic to more easily reproduce and even 1980s in comparison to 2021. Tracheal mite they took an initial more quickly negatively impact honey That is how I started beekeeping. devastating hit. Because of the mostly bee health and the well-being of the It wasn’t particularly stressful or unrestricted movement of honey bee colony. worrying. I became the consummate colonies, nucs, packages and queens As the Varroa and the Varroa/ backyard beekeeper and did all the tracheal mites spread quickly. Tens Virus legacy grew and spread, this crazy, yet fun things backyard hobby of thousands of colonies died and became the new norm and the saga beekeepers do. I made different many commercial beekeepers went continued. kinds of hive equipment, Kenya Top out of business. The presence of a secondary Bar hives, special bottom boards, Varroa destructor (and now many predator of honey bees was confi rmed top feeders and lots more. It was a other Varroa sub-species) the Varroa in the U.S. in 1996, the Small great learning time because the only mite which is considered to be the Hive Beetle (SHB), Aethina tumida, pressures on honey bee health were most devastating parasite of honey previously found primarily in Africa. mostly the ones I imposed on these As colonies weakened from Varroa/ forgiving, patient honey bee colonies Varroa Virus Legacy, the SHB would as I opened them every day. move into the colony that did not We have a Global economy that have the population to defend itself depends on shipping ‘products’ or those stored resources in the hive. including meat, vegetable, fruit with The SHB would lay eggs that would their bacterial, viral, and insect hatch into voracious larvae that stowaways coming from many want nutritional protein from honey countries and going to many other bee larvae and pupae and beebread countries. This industrial scale stored in the comb. The SHB also transportation is done by the use brings along its own introduced of millions of sea-going shipping specie of yeast, Kodamaema ohmeri,

40 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 40 3/12/2021 9:01:06 AM My guess is that you reading this right now has a Smart Phone, Computer at home and/or work, internet access, home remote protection with cameras and updates, you can start your car remotely and lock it remotely, Siri or Alexa is listening to your every word and responding, maybe even an Apple Watch and ALL THE INTERNET OF THINGS at your disposal. We are all connected. And this digital expansion which produces a heavy slime that has taken production agriculture makes it more diffi cult for honey bee approved for all of these were such by storm as row crop growers and colony hive access and movement that they killed, hurt or damaged livestock growers have immediate in addition to causing stored honey Varroa with no apparent immediate access to crop and livestock health. to ferment. At this point as the acute damage seen in the colony Books have been written on diet and colony population collapses, this communally or individually. But the nutrition of every livestock animal SHB infestation forces many honey chronic long term exposure of these yet we beekeepers still do not know bee colonies to abscond as they are pesticides negatively impact larvae, for sure what nutrients they need at replaced by SHB larvae and slime and pupae, workers, drones and the different times of the year, and regions driven out. Queen who gets hit every, every time. of the world. Why is Beekeeping still As a result of all of the above, Ever wonder why Queens don’t last a Visual Sport for us when we have honey bee health is precarious due as long as in year’s past? so many honey bee management to the direct effect of AFB, EFB, Beekeeping traditionally has challenges? And honey bees are things that look like AFB/EFB but been a visual sport. The beekeeper to directly so important to approx. 1/3 are not, Tracheal mites, Varroa, SHB, be a successful manager of the honey of the food we eat plus the gazillions Wax moths, and many times all of colony, has to open the hive, take it of dollar value honey bees provide to these intersecting and appearing apart and visually scan the comb and the environment by pollination which simultaneously leading to internal bees, look for eggs, and open brood helps plants reproduce and birds and external immune systems greatly and capped brood and over time be and animals eat the seeds and grow challenged and failing. able to compare and contrast what themselves because of the nutrition Add to all of these introduced is seen. Is the Queen there? Is she provided. Why are we beekeepers pests, parasites and diseases, one of laying? What is she laying, workers so far behind the technology curve the largest impacts to a colony’s health or drones or are Queen cells present? to a greater degree than the rest of are the products and techniques that Does the brood look OK or not? If not the world? We could be connected we beekeepers subject to the bees to then what are the issues? How do you better to honey bee health issues control these problems. Beekeepers know? What is the problem? Can it be to help honey bees be stronger and like to point their fi ngers at the use ID’d ? How do I address, treat, resolve healthier as we become better honey of pesticides by lawn maintenance the problem? Then what? bee managers. What is the answer? companies, home insect control Tune into Part III next month. BC monthly sprays, backyard vegetable gardeners, production agriculture, and many others. We beekeepers have to control Varroa or the colony would be totally dead in 18 months. When organophosphates, synthetic “We love your uncapper! pyrethroids, amitraz, caustic acids It’s the best!” dribbled or vaporized were approved Steve Hiatt Bowman, ND for use, we all jumped in the circle. We ourselves put pesticides in a beehive to kill a little bug (Varroa) on a Big Bug (Honey Bee). The dosages We sell liquid sucrose and 55% High Fructose Corn Syrup as feed for your bees.

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July2018.indd 65 7/5/2018 10:20:24 AM April2021.indd 43 3/12/2021 9:01:09 AM Horizontal Two Queen System

Dan Wyns

Whether this horizontal two-queen confi guration is viewed as two colonies with shared supers or a single colony with two broodnests is debatable, but its capacity to yield large amounts of honey is not in question. Photo Dan Wyns

One of the fi rst things beekeepers living in a hive of its own, discrete that result in the toleration of two learn, often even before getting bees, from the other colonies in the apiary, queens. Beekeepers know if they is that a colony has many bees but aside from drifting foragers or robbing tried to force a scenario of two just a single queen. While this is bees. Somewhere along the way, queens simultaneously roaming the surely true in the vast majority of inventive beekeepers started straying same brood frames by introducing colonies, I have seen two queens from the conventional wisdom of an additional queen to a queenright coexisting enough times – and even “one queen per hive” and exploring colony, the new queen would almost once found three in a single brood two-queen hives with a variety of certainly be balled and dispatched by box – to know that the things we methods. the resident bees. Instead, methods beekeepers know as rules may only In hives where two queens are have been developed that allow two be viewed as guidelines by the bees found occupying the same space, it queens to coexist in a single hive, as themselves. Another thing you learn is not possible to easily determine if long as they occupy separate spaces very early in beekeeping is that a one is dominant, laying the majority and remain separated by employing single stack of boxes represents a of eggs. Neither is it possible to know a queen excluder. single colony. The colony is the unit, the exact pheromone conditions From a beekeeper’s perspective, the primary benefit to two-queen colonies is increased honey production. By having two prolifi c queens laying simultaneously, the A pair of nuc lids total colony population can reach over cover the outer 100,000 bees, while the population of portion of each a single-queen colony generally tops broodnest while a out around 60,000 bees. This can single queen excluder allows lead to enormous forces of foragers bees from both capable of producing large honey broodnests to crops when nectar is available. access the supers. I have most commonly come Photo Dan Wyns across two-queen hives in a vertical confi guration. While it seems that the bees fare well in this arrangement, it can quickly become unwieldy for the beekeeper as the height of the colony increases. Productive vertical 44 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 44 3/12/2021 9:01:13 AM two-queen colonies can reach heights that lead to instability and awkward lifts. The abundance of supers on top Project Apis m. make even a cursory brood inspection an exercise in heavy lifting. Your “go-to” non- An alternative to the vertical two- profit honey bee queen system is to arrange two brood nests side by side with supers in the research middle. This is generally referred to as a horizontal two-queen system. organization, with Looking at the colony, it appears as two separate but adjacent brood programs in the nests, just as two regular colonies would. However, there is a stack USA & Canada of shared supers in the middle,  instead of each brood nest having PAm is dedicated to enhancing its own stack. This configuration the health of honey bees while intuitively feels like two hives from improving crop and honey a management and record keeping perspective, but a single unit from a production.  production and harvest standpoint. The horizontal two-queen colony is easy to set up, provided you have Either broodnest can be accessed for a adjacent hives with brood nests quick queen check without removing the of equal height. Each brood nest supers. Photo Dan Wyns will need its own base. It is worth spending a minute to level the bases queen system has shown enough and ensure the single-queen excluder promise to encourage me to keep at fi ts across the top of the interior side it and learn some of the fi ner points of both brood nests. A pair of half- in managing colonies this way. width lids cover the exterior side Gaining a better understanding of the of each brood nest. The supers are nuances of how to manage colonies stacked on top of the queen excluder in this confi guration and how they  and covered with a single lid. respond to stimuli from both me as There are several benefits to a beekeeper and the environment will the horizontal two-queen colony. broaden my understanding of overall Foremost is that the overall stack bee behavior. BC of woodenware will be twice as wide at its base and not as high, leading to increased stability and decreased lift height. Another advantage is that the brood nest can be accessed without removing all of the supers. By removing the half cover from each side, the beekeeper has easy access to 5 frames from the brood nest, which should provide a quick confi rmation of queen status and colony health. Placing the drone frame at the top and towards the outside of the brood chamber allows it to be removed and replaced on schedule without breaking down the entire colony, making it much easier to practice drone brood removal. Although drone ͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲ brood removal alone is unlikely to provide sufficient Varroa control, when practiced correctly, it can help lower the mite pressure on a colony. Like most things with beekeeping, there isn’t one right or best way to do something, thanks to the malleability of a colony of bees. My early experiences with this two-

April 2021 BEE CULTURE 45

April2021.indd 45 3/12/2021 9:01:14 AM 46 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 46 3/12/2021 9:01:15 AM Last month I addressed transitions my fellow beekeepers face. In my case, I join a number of other commercial beekeepers who Transitions Continued now transition from outfi t owners, John Miller to – different. Some make a clean sale to non- fl yovers? If, at 4:00 p.m. a beekeeper hygiene? Are the tools bursting on family members. Some of us sell removes 1,000 covers from 50 drops the scene pointing to expiration dates to our families – capable sons and of 20 hives per drop in a mile long for frames? In many outfits, new daughters. This is a mix of relief, best and mile wide orchard – if upon frames bear a stenciled year. We’ve wishes, burden lifted; a transition opening those hives, can a drone, long known new frames accumulate to life’s next phase. Some of us are with a pre-set pin drop location log – fewer pathogens and residue. Frames relieved. A few of us are going to be fl y above the tops of the 1,000 hives certainly expire – and not from a hive lost for a bit, trying to fi gure out what – scanning the thermal image? Can tool ripping off the top bar. next occupies our time, our talents – the inspection be done in a fraction of All this new voodoo tech prompts our energy. the time, with a fraction of the bent- beekeepers to take preventative Most of us realize things are over tipped hive looksee labor cost? actions [far more productive than changing in beekeeping. I observe Will it be accurate? Drone operators redemptive actions]. It’s a phrase that a lot of what is needed to have a rule: Drones shall not fly you’ll hear Bill Gates repeat: successfully run bee outfi ts fi ve years among trees, similar to the U.S. Navy. Optimization. from now has not been invented. Is a new era of optimal orchard hive It’s all part of a big transition. What is all this techy voodoo showing placements about to disrupt hive Fossils like me use a phrase up in bee outfi ts? I see popularized by Malcom tags in beehives I don’t Gladwell: Thin-Slicing Data. understand. I see data Upon opening a hive, I thin showing up on wrist- slice as much information as watches – reporting in-hive the hive makes available. It’s conditions. I see hobbyists a lot. How do the bees react with the wherewithal to to this sudden roof-ripping hire hive consultants [a event? How do they react new phrase to me] who will to the fi rst puffs of smoke? visit a hobbyist to assess What am I smelling? What hive conditions and make am I seeing beneath the top hive recommendations. bars – before the digging Who knew hobbyists would disruption commences? embrace the available For me, it’s an intuitive changes to enhance the assessment – and it takes health and well-being less than fi ve seconds. I’m of their hives. It’s a big often perplexed, but often admission/transition enlightened by a tic – a sound for anyone keeping – a smell – code released by livestock to seek help . the insects I husband. Bees . . or is it? Farmers and don’t talk Human; I don’t Ranchers have for decades speak Bee. But every opened [centuries?] sought hive reveals, with patience – veterinarian services for her wellness or otherwise. troubled livestock. If you’re like me – this Last month, hundreds of drops located within orchards? transition from artisanal/industrial thousands of hives were strength- Are expiration dates about beekeeping is liberating. Those inspected by county Department to invade everything we do with following me employ different devices of Agriculture representatives for beehives? Will queens come with to improve beekeeping. Change almond growers. A growing number expiration dates? We have expiration can be jarring. It’s part of Letting of private hive inspectors perform dates for jars of honey. Drop the idea Go. Commercial beekeepers in strength inspections for growers of warming honey on the back of transition have decades of bent- trusting, yes – but verifying the hives the stove. When honey granulates: back experience. Years ago, a great rented to pollinate almond blossoms, Discard. Go buy a new jar. We don’t mentor, Binford Weaver caught me do in fact have the strength to do the question the milk jug. Should we in a hallway. “You’re starting to walk job. I wonder if the Apiary Inspectors question the half-full feeder contents like a beekeeper, John. Straighten of America, almost exclusively State as a source of ill-health for the bee? I’m up.” I’m letting go. The voodoo techy Bee Inspectors – make memberships really keen on clean feeders. Imagine stuff will improve Miller Honey available to trained private party you’re a bee. You clean everything operations. I’ll probably soldier on inspectors? I wonder if the future with your tongue. Everything. We fret like Steve Godlin of Visalia, CA. I’ve includes thermal-camera equipped over hives practicing good hygiene. noticed he reminds me of me. BC drones to make hive strength Should we also practice vigilant hive

April 2021 BEE CULTURE 47

April2021.indd 47 3/12/2021 9:01:15 AM Minding Your Bees And Cues Queen Fandom Becky Masterman & Bridget Mendel

Maybe it is her fat, elongated A perfect inspection is efficient on the bottom board and move one egg-fi lled abdomen? Or the fact that and limits disruption to colony to sit on the edges of the telescoping she survived one or more early-life organization. Finding the queen cover (see photo). If you separate mating fl ights to mysterious drone should rarely be your goal. While the boxes fi rst, you do not have to congregation areas and has stored you’ll encounter endless resources worry about your smoker pushing enough sperm to fertilize over a 1000 geared at helping beekeepers learn the bees to the bottom box, crowding eggs a day for multiple seasons? Or techniques for spotting queens, the frames with workers and making is it the ‘won the lottery’ feeling you protecting her is more important. your search more diffi cult. get finding her among thousands Starting with the end frame, of workers on a frame? Regardless Find Your Queen? remove each frame carefully and of why, most beekeepers are queen First of all, ask yourself why you look at both sides. To make it even superfans who are thrilled by a queen are looking. Searching for a candid easier to fi nd her, move each frame sighting. queen Instagram photo opportunity into an empty box so that the queen While it’s essential to have a like a member of the paparazzi might doesn’t circle back to frames you’ve young, prolifi c queen present in your not be a good reason to disrupt your already inspected. Often, you will fi nd colony at all times, is it essential colony. Finding a queen in order to the queen on the brood frames with to fi nd the queen at all times? It is split your colony or to replace her eggs or in close proximity to recently- not. In the season-long quest to fi nd are both legitimate reasons to locate cleaned brood nest cells. their elusive queens, many queen your queen. If you are making splits and just fans are actually disrupting their It is easiest if you separate your need to know which box holds the bees more than necessary, and likely hive boxes before you search frame by queen, you can use the technique endangering her royal highness. frame for your queen. Leave one box taught by the University of Minnesota Bee Lab in their Beekeeping in Northern Climates class (beelab.umn. edu). Place a queen excluder between your brood boxes. Return in 4 days and separate the boxes. In one box you will fi nd eggs (and therefore, the queen is in that one); the other will have neither.

Checking Your Queen Status At each colony inspection, ensure your colony is headed by a healthy queen using clues in lieu of the gal herself. The easiest way to ensure that Carefully inspect your colony has a functioning queen hive components is to fi nd a solid pattern of eggs in the when inspecting your colonies. This cells. Once you see a good egg pattern queen was found on (specifi cally a single, well placed egg the inner cover. in each of multiple, adjacent cells on Masterman photo. a frame), you can be confi dent that a queen laid those eggs and that she was there in the last 3 days. If you also see larvae of all ages and sealed worker brood, you can be confi dent that your colony is queenright and your queen is functioning. In addition to making sure that your colonies are queenright, here are some tips that will help protect your queen:

48 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 48 3/12/2021 9:01:15 AM  During inspections, always check your inner cover when removing it from your hive.  Move your hive boxes carefully and never place them directly on the ground.  Move your frames slowly and be careful not to roll the bees on the frames when removing them  Double check to make sure that the queen is not on a frame used in a sample for varroa.  Keep your frames above your open hive. If you move around your apiary or yard with frames, you are more likely to lose a queen off a frame. An egg-heavy queen dropped into your colony will be fi ne. One dropped into the grass will not.  Remember that a colony will not easily accept a new queen without a proper introduction. The colony must be queenless fi rst (or they will try to sting the new queen to Searching for the queen in your hive will be easier if you separate the brood boxes. Note death). A new queen needs to be how the top box is placed on the telescoping cover as to not crush any bees. never place your bee boxes directly on the ground. Masterman photo. introduced in a cage for a few days before being released in the colony.  As a rule, never add adult bees Acknowledgement to your colony without a slow The authors would like to thank introduction (such as a box of bees Dr. Marla Spivak for helpful edits and added above newspaper). You want suggestions. your queen surrounded by loyal daughters... Authors Becky Masterman led the UMN Bee While most of us are guilty Squad from 2013-2019 and currently of gratuitous queen hunting, it is alternates between acting as an advisor better for the bees if queen status and worker bee for the program. Bridget is assessed through egg-presence Mendel joined the Bee Squad in 2013 and whenever possible. For the thrill of has led the program since 2020. (Photo the hunt, we recommend keeping of Becky and Bridget from 2014, before a stack of “Where’s Waldo” classics social distancing). on hand. BC

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April 2021 BEE CULTURE 49

April2021.indd 49 3/12/2021 9:01:16 AM labeled (“hard”, “soft”), they are all are the single, biggest health threat chemicals. Antibiotics are chemicals. to our bees, I will often use Varroa BEE “Natural” products are still chemicals. treatments as examples throughout Even “soft, natural” products come this article, but the principles outlined VET with a lengthy package insert of their here can be applied to any medical chemical hazards, can kill bees/ treatment for any pathologies. The queens, and harm us, especially if following are important, practical If We Only Followed they are not used properly. I do not considerations for beekeepers to care to take sides or discriminate master in determining dosage: The Directions! based on common treatment categories. IPM is always part of the Timing: Most honey bee treatments Dr. Tracy Farone treatment plan considerations. My are designed to be given during goal is to use whatever works with certain seasons and certain weather the least number of side-effects based conditions. Understanding the on clinical evidence observed and biological rationale for when and documented in the bee yard. But if I why we use a treatment is critical could encourage beekeepers to follow for success. For example, oxalic acid one direction when administering treatments for Varroa mites do not treatment/s to your honey bees it penetrate wax cappings (where most would be, “Please, use the correct mites reside), can kill open brood, dosage.” and are thus intended to be used in broodless times. I am a big fan of It is All about Balance: oxalic when it is used properly. But Considerations with Dosage if a beekeeper is employing oxalic “All things in good measure” acid multiple times during brood or “moderation” is good advice. In rearing times, (which is most of the medicine, dosage is defi ned as the main beekeeping season from about amount of a substance given to a February through October in my PA certain patient over a period of time. neck of the woods), this treatment is The Difference Between a Poison The purpose of utilizing the correct unnecessarily exposing your colony and a Remedy dosage of a drug/chemical is to and queen to a chemical that can Most people hate reading “the maximize treatment effi ciency while acutely or subacutely effect bees and directions”. Who wants to waste all minimizing possible side effects. brood, and has low effectiveness on that time when we can jump in and Dosage can be further tailored the mites at the time (see Box). Please just fi gure it out, right? Following according to the needs of a specifi c be sure you have a plan as when and the directions can be even worse. patient in a specifi c circumstance. why you may use certain treatments Just today, I was fl oating through Realize no two hives or bee yards are during the beekeeping season. my lab checking on students who the same and may require different were working on an assignment. interventions. Since Varroa mites When I asked one group how they were doing, they said “Fine, but we started on Exercise 1 and then As of February 23rd, the EPA has changed the rules per Honey Residue and realized the handout said to start Oxalic Acid; on Exercise 3. So, we’ve wasted 20 minutes – if we only followed the https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/02/23/2021-03256/ directions!” Like teaching, medical oxalic-acid-exemption-from-the-requirement-of-a-tolerance directions are no exception to poor compliance. Most people do not Oxalic Acid; Exemption From the Requirement of a Tolerance like taking medications or giving A Rule by the Environmental Protection Agency on 02/23/2021 medications to their animals. In fact, studies have shown that medical SUMMARY: This regulation establishes an exemption from the compliance with doctor’s orders is requirement of a tolerance for residues of oxalic acid in honey and systemically low with up to 75% non- honeycomb. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum compliance (1). This trend is mirrored permissible level on these commodities for residues of oxalic acid. in veterinary medicine as well (2). I get it. I would prefer not to prescribe A full discussion of the literature and background on the toxicological chemicals for my patients if I could profi le of oxalic acid can be found in docket number EPA-HQ-OPP-2020-0176 avoid it. Unfortunately, many of the in the documents titled “Oxalic Acid. Label Amendment Regarding Use in disease challenges our bees face do Beehives with Honey Supers to Control Varroa Mites” and “Oxalic Acid. New not allow us that utopian luxury. Use in Beehives to control Varroa mites.” Let me be clear about the Do not assume that this means that improper exposure to oxalic acid decision of administering any drug, for Varroa mites will not harm your colony or leave oxalic acid residues. medication, or natural remedy Beekeepers still need to adhere to label directions. treatments. No matter how they are

50 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 50 3/12/2021 9:01:18 AM Amount/volume/formulation: I must admit I am a “to taste” cook. I sort of follow recipes, but I like to add in my own amount of spice or variations. Does this sauce need more wine? Of course, it does!… at least two more “pours”…fun stuff. But in medicine, measuring the actual amount is critical to treatment success. This is the dose of medication. It is also critical to understand the concentration of the medication of different formulations of the same chemical may have different compositions and therefore amounts given. More is not better, of a medication to our bees: patties, Combinations of meds: If you that approach may be toxic. Less is dribble, vapor, strips, in sugar syrup, are a horse person or manage any not better, that approach may cause sugar dusting, etc. With application kind of herd animal, you are likely the medication to be less effective four things should be considered: 1. familiar with “strategic deworming”. and promote drug resistance. In Is this the best treatment delivery This means we know our pasture some cases, after careful evaluation to get adequate distribution of the animals are exposed to parasites and especially in weaker patients medication to the bees? 2. Is this in the environment, so therefore we (colonies), veterinarians may adjust distribution method the safest/least employ multiple drugs in “rotations” doses to the specifi c need of the hive. toxic to the bees? 3. Am I comfortable over the season to keep the parasites using this application method, at a manageable level and avoid drug Number of Doses/Frequency: I properly? 4. Is this method the most resistance development. We can can remember when I used to make cost effective for my operation? Do monitor the effectiveness of our drug fun of those “old people” pill boxes some research here to be sure you rotations utilizing periodic fecal egg with M-F designations. Now I have are on the right track. counts. This is becoming our pattern them in my house. Missing doses with Varroa management. Please do is a common reason for treatment Expiration: Using medications not think that simply treating once failure. Remember a treatment is not that are expired may accomplish for mites with formic acid or amitraz complete until all the directed doses three things. Expired drugs are less or thymol or whatever, and then you are given with the correct amount effective in treatment, may contribute can check the box for varroa for the of time inbetween. There are good to resistance, and/or they break season. Most beekeepers are now reasons for this. The number of down and their metabolites can employing multiple treatments over doses and frequency of medication become toxic. Interestingly, many the beekeeping season at appropriate administration is often based on drugs after expiring usually just times to keep Varroa in check. the lifecycle of the pathogen and/ become less effective and not toxic. For example, amitraz in the early or the half -life of the chemical However, tetracyclines is one category Spring or Summer dearth, formic (essentially how long its effect lasts) of antibiotics that are known to in the Spring/Summer (if it is not in the patient. Be sure you mark the increase in toxicity after expiration. too hot), oxalic in the late Fall/early calendar for your bees’ meds, too. Coming from a farm mentality, I get Winter. The only way to determine frugality. But believing that using if your treatment plan is working is Duration: The duration is how long a expired drugs is working to treat or to do regular mite counts or other treatment plan lasts. Some regiments prevent disease and/or is economical monitoring diagnostic for whatever for bee treatments can be long and is a dangerous fantasy. disease or pest you are managing admittedly annoying – seven days, 21 for. Our goal is still to use the least days , 42 days – but like the number Withdrawal times: Most drugs amount of chemicals for the highest and frequency of doses, the duration we use in animals have a time effect. However, that formula may be is often based on the lifecycle of when food products cannot be used a treatment plan involving several the pathogen and/or the half-life from that animal after a medical drugs. Using “more” effective drugs of the chemical in the patient. The treatment. In honey bees, many appropriately could mean using less important thing is to be aware of the medical treatments we use can have overall. necessary duration and do the “math” post-treatment time and some even a before you apply the treatment to pre-supering timeframe, in which we Evidence of treatment success: your hives. What your plans are for cannot have honey or supers on our Doing regular quantitative mite your hives in a week, a month, two hives for honey intended for human counts are the best thing you can months in the future may determine consumption. Some of these times do for the health of your hive. Learn the best treatment choice. can be up to 6 weeks. Again, this how to do an alcohol wash correctly. takes careful pre-planning of your I know, I do not like killing bees Application method and beekeeping season to be sure you are either, but 300 bees is a diagnostic distribution: In apiculture, there not contaminating your bee’s honey. sample that could save the life of a may be different choices for delivery hive and tens of thousands of bees.

April 2021 BEE CULTURE 51 

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52 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 52 3/12/2021 9:01:19 AM Many experts recommend doing money, and chemical exposure for counts monthly during the active nothing. JZ’s BZ’s beekeeping season. Personally, I 2. Queen effects. Death of the queen think three counts a year is the or sublethal effects that reduces 866-559-0525 minimum (Spring/Summer/Fall). her performance. Remember the If you have not done mite counts queen lives longer that all other to order before, start with three and work casts, so she must endure more your way up to what is manageable treatment exposures. for your operation. Pre-treatment and 3. Drug resistance development. Cups, Cages post-treatment counts are best for Unfortunately, these poor choices evaluating treatment effectiveness. end up affecting us all. & Cell Bars 4. Death of the hive due to Records: All medications with all the succumbing to the disease (with above considerations used in your underdosing) or treatment toxicity bee yard must be recorded. This is (with overdosing). the biggest favor you can do for your Keep in mind that all these bees, yourself, and any other mentor treatment failures can have signifi cant BEES beekeepers or veterinarian coming economic impact on the beekeeper. & BEEKEEPING into your yard to assist you. Develop One last point I will leave you SUPPLIES a system you can understand a year with to ponder, pesticides. While I from now. am not about to jump into the ring of • Queen Bees (Pick-Up or Shipped) discussion about how much impact • Summer Nucs (Pick-Up Only) Purpose: In all these things, pesticides have on our bees, I will • Equipment (Pick-Up or Shipped) beekeepers must consider ultimately point out that the highest potential what they want to achieve with their concentrations of pesticides and bees. Depending on if you are a other chemicals in our hives are often SHOP RWEAVER.COM OR backyard beekeeper, a commercial the ones we use. Equip yourself with CALL (936) 825-2333 beekeeper, a honey maker or knowledge, pre-plan, and choose migratory beekeeper, your goals, wisely. The season is starting. BC timeline, and environment will all differ and will impact the most References: effective treatment regimen for your 1. Panesar, Kim. “Patient Compliance bees. and Health Behavior Models”, U.S. Pharxmacist. April 23, 2012. Consequences of incorrect dosage https://www.uspharmacist.com/ Ok, so that is a lot to consider for article/patient-compliance-and- following “just” the one direction of health-behavior-models accessed correct dosage. However, avoiding 02/01/2021. serious consequences can be 2. Little, Geoff. “Concordance and reduced or avoided by keeping the Compliance.” Veterinary Practice. Feb. above in mind. In summary, these 2013. https://veterinary-practice. consequences could include: com/article/concordance-and- 1. Treatment failure. All that time, compliance accessed 2/01/2021. Seeds for honeybee habitat

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April 2021 BEE CULTURE 53

April2021.indd 53 3/12/2021 9:01:21 AM Pollination In China Mariann Fercsik It’s Not The Bees

“With the introduction of China’s Home Responsibility System in the 1980s, the farmers of Hanyuan County in Sichuan Province found it economically benefi cial to replace their rice paddies with fruit orchards. An aged farmer works on his orchard. In Juixiang even the old- The mountainous slopes of the region lent themselves est are capable to complete physically challenging tasks such as well to fruit production, particularly pears, for which pollinating each blossom one by one, even in the most diffi cult Hanyuan County is now renowned. and dangerous environment. Any crops grown beyond the quotas of China’s collectivized farming program could now be sold on the open market and, in order to maximize their yield, the farmers began to increase their use of pesticides. This, in turn, had a negative effect on the population of the natural pollinators, and the local beekeepers were driven to relocate their colonies out of the cultivation areas. With the disappearance of the bees, along with the desire to control the quality and purity of the pear varieties, the farmers began the labor-intensive task of pollinating their crops by hand.

Chen Tao pollinating the family orchard in Dalian. He uses a duster made out of chicken feathers. The duster touches pollen mixture, and then shaken over the target pear trees for one to three times a day in order to ensure adequate pollination of the pears."

Every member of the family is involved in the hand-pollination process in some way. Old woman selecting the stamens from the Yali (main pollinizer) fl owers. This is a preparation process before the farmers go to hand pollinate. Farmers need to dry the stamens on 20-23°C temperature.

54 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 54 3/12/2021 9:01:23 AM A farmer prepares a small pollination stick. The feathers are degreased in alcohol before tying on the bamboo stick. Shiqin Tan stands amongst his pear orchard. He planted the trees 20 years ago. His orchard consists of 45 trees. A person can pollinate 30-40 trees a day.

Flowering pear trees in Hangduan mountains. The average num- ber of pear trees owned by each household is around 80-110. To pollinate these trees three to six polliniser trees are suffi cient. A 10 year old polliniser tree can produce fl owers enough to polli- nate approximately 50 trees. The transport of masses: motorcycles are the most common form of transport in the mountainous area of Jiuxiang.Young couple on its way to start pollinating their pear trees.

April 2021 BEE CULTURE 55

April2021.indd 55 3/12/2021 9:01:24 AM 56 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 56 3/12/2021 9:01:26 AM With simple tools such as a bamboo stick and chicken feathers they embarked on a journey of learning, not just how and when to pollinate, but when to collect the stamens, how to dry them, and which varieties respond to which pollinizer. Additionally, not all the pear varieties are self- compatible, so cross-pollination is needed in order to achieve a desirable crop. With skill and patience, the farmers can produce high quality, high yield product, albeit with increased labor costs than if they relied on nature alone. As industrialization continues to push up the cost of hiring a workforce, the farmers must fi nd an alternative way of cultivating their crops in order for them to remain viable. With pear production accounting for 40 to 50 percent of the household income, the stakes are high and adaptability will be key to their success. The return of the natural pollinators is possible, but this is unlikely without a coordinated approach to limiting the use of agrochemicals. What the future holds is uncertain and further work In preparation for hand pollinating. Woman brushing off the sta- is needed to fi nd a successful solution that balances the mens from the Yali variety. She collects them into a pot before economy with ecology.” BC they start the drying process.

April 2021 BEE CULTURE 57

April2021.indd 57 3/12/2021 9:01:28 AM AA HH BB DD M-LM-L C,C, PP 22 James Masucci

“Men are from Venus, women are from Mars.” Or is better, in the long run, than a highly selected bee stock. it the other way around? No matter. The point is, people In January this year I got the following text from communicate, and therefore think, differently. I often John Miller of Miller Honey Farms. “I read your piece think differently than others, probably because I’m a in BC. It’s time to experience almond bloom. I’d love science geek. I also appreciate, and take advantage of, the to host you in the Modesto area in late February. Do a different thoughts of others. If you read my article “A bee- day or two there. Then head north to look at a couple driven mid-life crisis” in the January issue of Bee Culture, of queen operations.” Perfect. What better way to fi gure you know I’m struggling with a lot of questions. I’m newly out my future and address my questions than to spend retired and transitioning into a full-time beekeeper. a week hob-knobbing with the experts. For my genetic Questions like, how big do I want to be? Where am I going diversity question, I go back to the “Then head north to to put all my stuff? What stuff do I really need? What’s my look at a couple of queen operations.” This is my chance business model? And the list goes on. But the backbone to get opinions from a couple of the top queen producers of a bee business is, the bees. The backbone of the bees in the country. Here’s what I wanted to know. First, are is their genetics. I’ve been thinking a lot about that lately. today’s queens better than the queens from 40 years ago? How do I want to handle bee genetics? The premise of this question is simple, are current bee Every queen rearing class I’ve taken, every book I’ve breeding practices making better bees? As an example, read and every YouTube video I’ve watched always talks look at corn. Yields are higher and pest resistance is about selecting the best hive for the queen mother. To better so one could argue that corn breeding programs me, that sounds like a great strategy for creating genetic are successful. Not so obvious with bees and I wanted bottle necks. Think inbreeding, not good. No one ever to hear what the experts had to say. Next, I wanted to talks about what it takes to maintain genetic diversity. know how they selected for traits and how did they insure Last year, I requeened my 150 colonies with queen cells genetic diversity. My hope was to get into some geeky from two queen mothers. Having the source of my entire conversations regarding drone:queen mother ratios and apiary traced back to two queens could be a genetic population genetic models. Here’s what I learned. nightmare. What saves me is the queens were mated over First off, these operations are phenomenal. If you are two counties. The diversity comes in from the drones. But putting out hundreds of thousands of queens per year, here’s the catch, if you are selecting for traits, the males you need a system and you need to know what you are need to be selected too. By putting the same selection doing. It really put me in my place. I was happy with my pressure on the drones as you do the queen, you are 150 queen cells last year. Hah! They are doing a thousand minimizing diversity. a day and running tens of thousands of mating nucs. This Why do I care? First, a genetically diverse population is in the heart of queen production in CA, the so-called is better prepared to handle stressors. As an example, golden triangle. Bees are everywhere. look at Covid. Some people died while others were I was a little nervous about asking my fi rst question asymptomatic. A very complex situation, but genetics as it could be construed as an “attack” on their livelihood. plays a part. So, my mantra is that genetic diversity is But the conversation that ensued was fabulous. “Are good. I have been contemplating applying to the HILO queens better now than when you fi rst started or, are we queen project (www.HiloBees.com) to help them develop just maintaining quality?” First, it’s a diffi cult question their mite tolerant trait. But here’s the thing. It’s a because environmental stressors have changed over multigenic, recessive trait. In order to be effective, 50% time. So, the question resembles the “apples to oranges” of the drones need to have the traits. If I want to get to a comparison. In general, they have been maintaining point where I can propagate these queens (getting HILO queen quality. There aren’t huge differences. However, project permission fi rst, of course), then I must be in an improvements have been made. Chalkbrood and isolated area where the only drones available for mating foulbrood are much rarer than they used to be. That must be heavily selected for the trait. This situation is a is likely due to the continued selection for disease-free step away from incest. This same argument holds true if I lines to use as queen mothers. In addition, they’ve also want my bees to be true Caucasians, or true Carniolans. Is been selecting for hygienic behavior. Hygienic behavior this a good thing? In my way of thinking, my mutt bees are is a recessive trait, requiring it to come in from both the drones and the queen. So, how do they select for hygienic behavior yet maintain genetic diversity? The key is that there was a “group” decision decades ago to select for hygienic behavior among many, if not most of the queen What’s In A Queen? producers in the region. The result of that decision is that 58 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 58 3/12/2021 9:01:30 AM Open mating with multiple drones complicates the propagation of a trait as simple as body color. It makes breeding for complex traits nearly impossible. Instrumental insemination can make breeding doable in small scale. But traits are soon lost with uncontrolled open mating. How often do you see different colored bees in your hives?

drones from many different genetic sources were selected it also means that the likelihood that your queen mated for the trait. Over time, a large number of genetically with the appropriate drones is tiny. The inability to diverse drones containing the hygienic traits became control mating in large scale makes true queen breeding available for mating. With mating nucs set up throughout extremely diffi cult. Now, think of the “golden triangle” the county, genetic diversity was “maintained” by the which is full of queen breeders. Think how diffi cult it is drones. So, like my situation where the diversity came for them to maintain even the simplest traits because of in from the drones in different areas, so too in Northern the diversity of drone population. CA, just times a million. For the small-time beekeeper like me, unless truly I have not spoken with the breeders of the HILO isolated, breeding for improvement is probably a waste project, so I don’t know their breeding strategy or their of time. You can, however, maintain good, healthy queen plans for genetic diversity. The one thing I do know is that stock. Selecting your best colonies for queen mothers will the tools to properly bring this recessive trait quickly and work because all the queen producers are using similar effi ciently into the hands of beekeepers are not available. selection criteria. If you are selecting for chalkbrood-free What’s needed is a good genetic map of the honey bee colonies and those virgin queens go out to mate, it’s likely and marker assisted breeding. We need to get to a point the drones came from colonies where the queens were where the trait no longer defi nes the line. Instead, the trait also selected from chalkbrood-free colonies. However, if is introduced into several lines to increase the quality of you are trying to select for a complex trait like hygienic those lines. These are the tools used in almost every other behavior, you could have the best queen in the world agricultural industry, including both plants and animals. and you won’t be able to propagate it. The moment In my opinion, the lag in honey bee breeding has those daughter queens reach the DCA, packed with two causes. First, bee genetics are hard. Why? The non-hygienic drones, the trait is lost. This is why it was promiscuous mating behavior of the queen makes it so important for the queen producers to work together impossible to control which drones mate with her. The to select for hygienic behavior. Having everyone in the drones from a region gather in drone congregation areas region doing the same selection meant that, over time, the (DCAs). This is where the queen goes to mate with 10-20 complex hygienic trait was carried by a good proportion drones. It has been reported that drones can travel seven of drones. Therefore, the odds of a queen mating with at km (over four miles) to reach a congregation area. Now, least a few drones carrying the trait are good. take a map and draw a circle with a four mile radius I believe the second reason why honey bee breeding around your apiary. That’s a large area, over 12 square lags behind the rest of agriculture is because the bee miles. How many colonies other than your own are in industry is relatively small. There is neither the money that area? Any queen you produce, whether by grafting, nor the people-power to develop the tools. There are supercedure, or on the spot queen rearing will have access groups working on it but developing the appropriate to drones from that entire area. Plus, she is mating with lines to evaluate will take a large, concerted effort. I multiple drones, each carrying different genetics. This is hope the beekeeping community, its benefactors, and great for genetic diversity, because it results in several its researchers can come together to develop a large, different genetic populations of bees in the colony (have collaborative effort to reach this long-term goal in as short you ever seen different colored bees in a colony?). But, a time as possible. BC

April 2021 BEE CULTURE 59

April2021.indd 59 3/12/2021 9:01:30 AM T B B – T A N Tina Sebestyen

was by all accounts quite aggressive, old acquaintances in the beekeeping proved also to be susceptible to mites world. To his credit, Br. Adam was and diseases. They mostly died out one of the first who understood when Isle of Wight Disease swept exactly how important the drones across the continent around 1919, were, and this was the basis of and the Black Bees that had been his breeding program. Even today, crossed with Northern Italian bees Buckfast breeding associations follow survived. He subsequently learned Br. Adam’s method of limiting traits about different strains of bees all from drones while still providing over the world that had diverse and multiple drones for the chosen queen potentially desirable traits, and the line by using sister queens to head idea of improving bee stock with these drone production colonies in isolated Once his bee breeding program calmed the different characteristics intrigued mating yards. Br. Adam even learned bees, Brother Adam seldom wore a veil, but the original British Black Bee was so him. One thing he learned was that a instrumental insemination, a skill aggressive that he had to kneel beside the characteristic not previously noted in just being discovered at that time. hives and spread his skirts around him a race of bees might become apparent Since he started his career in to keep the bees from walking up his legs when crossed with his line of bees, beekeeping with the British Black and stinging him. Imagine keeping bees while always wearing black! Photo credit so careful observation over time was Bee, which is so unproductive that buckfast.org.uk imperative. it needs to be kept in a single small Knowledge of bee mating was in hive body, is susceptible to not only its infancy. Not much was known tracheal mites but also to most other Last month we learned about a about how many drones normally bee diseases, and by all accounts is giant in beekeeping history, Brother mated with each queen, nor about pretty aggressive, it isn’t too hard to Adam, who “created” the Buckfast which traits came from the drone as fi gure out why he wanted an improved Bee at his monastery in England opposed to those which descended bee stock. As he sought to produce over a lifetime of searching for new from the queen. Some of these things a bee that could survive the mite stocks of bees throughout the world, he learned the hard way, through and the diseases that were ravaging hybridizing these into his line, and trial and error. Some were discovered England, he also bred in traits that carefully observing the resultant by others during those years, and he wanted.1 By the end of his life, the queens with their colonies of bees. beekeepers shared their hard-earned bee named after his home at Buckfast It is easy to understand why he was knowledge with one another. This was Abbey was known to be very prolifi c, enthralled with other races of bees facilitated, of course, by Br. Adam’s building up great populations early after the British Black Bee, which long Summers of travel, and new and to produce lots of honey even under harsh conditions, and needing to be kept in the much larger modifi ed Dadant hive. The bees had a very low swarming instinct, which also helps with better honey production, since for most of us, just when the fl ow is really on, our bees take off for the trees. The bees were very gentle and were extremely resistant to tracheal mites, an important trait that helped many a beekeeper recover colony numbers and made Buckfast queens a good money-maker for the Abbey. The Buckfast Bee over-wintered well, and was frugal with honey stores. Br. Adam didn’t like propolis, so he selected for colonies that didn’t produce much. Best of all, Br. Adam proved that he could hybridize bees, and the traits he was selecting for Tracheal mites aren't a problem today, but they decimated bee populations in the UK in 1919. It was fi rst reported in Texas in 1984. Credit – commons. would breed true over time with his wikimedia.org and USDA breeding methods. He claimed that 60 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 60 3/12/2021 9:01:31 AM his bees were disease resistant, but Varroa destructor one person I corresponded with said is currently a big this about him, “he never admitted problem for honey bees. Breeding the trouble he had with American for resistance is Foulbrood.” underway, but is Times change, and the conditions about as diffi cult bees live under change, as well. The as breeeding sheep for resistance to Buckfast bee has undergone further coyotes. breeding, to help them keep up with the demands of the environment and the needs of beekeepers. There is an amazing amount of scientifi c testing done in recent years using Buckfast bees as one of the races tested. In the 1990s when tracheal mites were decimating our bees here in the U.S., Buckfasts were compared to other races, and Br. Adam’s claim of their resistance was proven.2 In 1999, an Israeli study compared Buckfast bees to Amitraz treated Italian bees and untreated bees. The Buckfast and Amitraz treated bees both produced good amounts of honey, and the Buckfast bees showed declining numbers of tracheal mites with 100% queen survival. The Amitraz-treated bees lost 75% of their queens, while the untreated Italian colonies needed re-queening, and produced almost no honey. In a study comparing the economic traits of Buckfast bees bees consume honey, they produce synchronized with neighboring with hybrid European Black Bees x liquid waste, which they retain in beekeepers, and being surrounded Caucasians, the Buckfast bee built their intestines until they can get by farmland decreased colony up faster and had lower swarming out for cleansing fl ights. If the bees infestation.5 A Norwegian study in tendency, with higher honey are less water-proof, some of the 2010 concluded that the race of the production. They were similarly fl uid inside them can be dehydrated bee did not affect Varroa resistance6, frugal with honey stores.3 The out. If bees can’t get rid of the liquid, agreeing with the Estonian study’s Buckfast bee is considered very they just hold it, and eventually get fi nding that bees from any race that adaptable to various conditions, so full of fl uid that they are forced undergo selection for resistance do which shouldn’t be surprising, since to stop eating honey, and then they better against Varroa, including their ancestors came from so many don’t have the energy to keep the Buckfast bees. diverse areas. super-organism that is a Winter A study conducted in 2017 Buckfast bees are so different cluster warm, and they die. Being investigating Varroa Sensitive from other races of bees, that they a little less water-proof means that Hygiene that involved moving brood even have different compounds on Buckfast bees can survive Winters from VSH colonies to separate them the surfaces of their exoskeletons. A better. Unfortunately, Buckfast from their own nurse bees used study in Poland compared Buckfast bees also have fewer compounds on Buckfast bees to raise the brood bees’ surface compounds to those their outsides that help keep viruses for the experiment, since they were of Caucasions4. Buckfast bees had and fungi from infecting them. “apparently free of resistant traits”.7 fewer lipids on their exoskeletons, Buckfast bees also have fewer alarm Another study found that Buckfast which helps explain why they over- pheromones than Caucasians, brood was more attractive to mites winter so well. The role of lipids helping prove their gentler natures. than brood from other races. The on the outside of honey bees is to Of course, the burning question take-home from all of these studies is water-proof the bees. That is a good for us today is whether Buckfast bees that the Buckfast bee needs further thing in a moist environment, and is are resistant to Varroa destructor. selection and refi nement in order to why you can pick bees out of your An Estonian study in 2016 noted be resistant to Varroa destructor, just bird bath after a good length of time, that hybrid bees don’t fare as well like every other race of bees. And that and they haven’t drowned. However, against Varroa, but Buckfast is is being done by many groups, some in the Winter, lipids on the surface not considered a hybrid. The study of which still call their bee Buckfast of bees also water-proofs them from concluded that management by a bees, and who adhere to Br. Adam’s their insides, too, not a good thing. As professional beekeeper, treatments breeding protocol. Others start with

April 2021 BEE CULTURE 61

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62 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 62 3/12/2021 9:01:33 AM beekeeper named Sam from Sweden 3https://www.researchgate.net/ asked Br. Adam what he should do profile/Aneta_Strachecka/ to improve his bees. Br. Adam did not publication/262158387_ suggest buying Buckfast bees, nor Evaluation_of_economic_traits_ even bringing his virgin queens to a in_Buckfast_bees_in_comparison_ Buckfast mating station. Rather, he with_the_hybrids_of_European_ told Sam to choose the best half of Black_bees_and_Caucasian_bees/ his colonies and raise queens from links/00463536ca798e77fa000000/ those, and replace the queens in the Evaluation-of-economic-traits-in- other half of the colonies. And to do Buckfast-bees-in-comparison-with- that every year. Br. Adam says in his the-hybrids-of-European-Black-bees- breeding book that once one has the and-Caucasian-bees.pdf characteristics one wants in their 4Strachecka, A., Borsuk, G., Paleolog, J., line of bees, to go back to natural Olszewski, K., Bajda, M., & Chobotow, free-mating to maintain genetic J. (2014). Body-Surface Compounds in Roy Weaver, Jr. with Brother Adam in diversity. In doing so, we dominate Buckfast and Caucasian Honey Bee Texas. Photo credit R. Weaver Apiaries. the area with good quality colonies, Workers (Apis Mellifera), Journal of and good quality drones for your Apicultural Science, 58(1), 5-15. doi: the Buckfast, and call their resultant queens. He knew from experience https://doi.org/10.2478/jas-2014- hybrid by another name, like the how devastating inbreeding could be 0001 Elgon bee.8 This bee is a follow-up over time. The heritage from Brother 5Kerli Mõtus, Arvi Raie, Toomas Orro, to Br. Adam’s last queen-gathering Adam is not the bee, but the way of Marie-Pierre Chauzat & Arvo Viltrop trip to Kenya, in which he fi nally got breeding bees. (2016) Epidemiology, risk factors and to see Apis m. monticola, a gentle The bottom line is this . . . varroa mite control in the Estonian honey and resistant bee from the higher Buckfast bees are fi ne. There is no bee population, Journal of Apicultural altitudes there. perfect type or race of bee. We need to Research, 55:5, 396-412, DOI: What about the Buckfast bee start with something good, and raise 10.1080/00218839.2016.1251081 of today? Are you asking yourself if new queens and drones from the best 6Bjørn Dahle (2010) The role of Varroa you want this race of bee? Buckfasts colonies we have. BC destructor for honey bee colony losses are no longer kept pure at Buckfast in Norway, Journal of Apicultural Abbey, partly because they only Tina would like to thank Erik Research, 49:1, 124-125, DOI: keep 30 colonies now, for teaching Osterlund of Elgon bees in Sweden for his 10.3896/IBRA.1.49.1.26 and demonstration, and so could help with this article. 7Delphine Panziera, Frank van Langevelde not fly enough drones anyway, & Tjeerd Blacquière (2017) Varroa and partly because they feel that 1https://apiexpert.eu/buckfast-honey- sensitive hygiene contributes to allowing the bees to free-mate with bee/ naturally selected varroa resistance the local survivors gives them a 2The effect of Honey bee tracheal mite in honey bees, Journal of Apicultural robust, well-balanced bee. And, infestation on colony development and Research, 56:5, 635-642, DOI: here’s an anecdotal story about how honey yield of Buckfast and Italian 10.1080/00218839.2017.1351860 Brother Adam might have answered honey bee strains in Israel. Y Slabezki, 8 https://www.elgon.es/ this question – in 1981, a small-scale H Efrat, A Dag, Y Kamer June 10, 1999 resistancebreeding.html

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April 2021 BEE CULTURE 63

April2021.indd 63 3/12/2021 9:01:34 AM Nosema Apis And Ceranae Can Be Diffi cult To Diagose

The majority of adult bee diseases have disconnected their two pairs Colony impacts are diffi cult to diagnose in the beeyard of wings (K-wing), disoriented bees Historically, Nosema apis was (think viruses) as their symptoms can crawling around the hive entrance the primary organism of concern resemble each other, or can mimic or on the ground in front of the hive, primarily during the Winter months, non-disease issues like old age and colonies not consuming supplemental when the bees are confi ned for long pesticide poisoning. Nosema is a feed, bees abandoning brood and periods without the opportunity to disease that can be both diffi cult to clustering elsewhere in the hive relieve themselves of the indigestible diagnose, or relatively easy depending while overwintering, and brown fecal matter that builds up in their on the type. streaking within or outside the hive. digestive systems. More recently Nosema is an ubiquitous disease However, dysentery caused by poor investigations have revealed that N. caused by microscopic organisms quality food or prolonged confi nement apis has been largely if not totally classifi ed as microsporidia and exists may also cause excessive droppings displaced by Nosema ceranae. With in at least two strains (Nosema apis and be confused with nosema. This Nosema ceranae, colonies may be and Nosema ceranae) that destroy the occurred in my area of Addison weak and slow to build up due to lining of the honey bee’s gut, affecting County, Vermont, one year during shorter honey bee life spans and less the bee’s nutrition, shortening its an abnormally dry Summer when brood production, and high queen life span and when effecting queens the bees collected a lot of honeydew supercedure rates. Honey bees also leads to supercedure. Honey, from aphids that produced a dark have reduced Winter survival rates, Royal Jelly and bee pollen can honey with a taste that resembled and less honey production when N. all be sources of nosema spores. brown sugar. Although not a problem ceranae is present. Nosema infections Nosemosis is caused when the in itself, the indigestible matter in the of both species negatively impact the spores are ingested while consuming richly colored honey that accounted immune response at both the bee and infected food or water, sharing for its dark hue caused severe cases colony level making colonies more food with other bees (trophallaxis) of dysentery within the hives that vulnerable to other pathogens and or through the cleaning of comb particular Winter, which was a hard the effects of pesticides. (Szumoski and/or grooming and hive cleaning one for the bees, with long cold and Troemel 2015) And to make activities. Studies also suggest that periods that kept them cooped up with matters even more complicated, it has nosema can also be transmitted few opportunities to go on cleansing been observed that colonies exposed during the process of mating or fl ights. to neonicotinoid pesticides are also through artificial insemination. more likely to become infected with (Peng et al., 2015; Roberts et al., Infection confi rmation Nosema and a synergistic relationship 2015) While not a method that everyone exists between N. ceranae and many will want to take advantage of, it is pesticides including neonics that Symptoms said that removing the bee’s head and results in higher bee mortality. Signs of Nosema apis infection pulling out its guts for inspection can (Alaux et. al. 2010; Vidau et. al. 2011; can be subtle, but may be observed provide a fairly accurate diagnosis of Aufauvre et. al. 2012; Petis et. al. in the beeyard. They include bees that a honey bee suspected of suffering 2012 & 2013; Doublet et. al. 2014) from nosema. The color of a healthy Since N. ceranae has been found Ross Conrad bee’s gut will be a translucent pinkish to infect certain species of bumble or brownish red, whereas a diseased bee and some solitary bee species, gut will tend to appear swollen and the disease has the potential to have a dull gray or whitish color. A be spread to managed hives by more accurate way to identify nosema their native cousins, or be spread infection however is to examine the by commercial outfits which can bee’s gut under a microscope at 400X intensify the infection rate in native magnifi cation and count the number pollinators through the movement of of nosema spores. Nosema spores hives, queens and hive products. (Li are oval in shape although the size et al., 2012; Graystock et al., 2014) N. difference between the two strains is ceranae appears to be a more virulent extremely minor making it diffi cult to form of nosemosis than N. apis since differentiate between them through it can weaken and kill hives even microscopy analysis. The only sure during the warm Summer season way to diagnose the specifi c strain and the most obvious symptom of nosema infection is through gene (heavy concentrations of bee feces) coding of molecular essays. is not present in either Summer or

64 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 64 3/12/2021 9:01:34 AM Winter. Unfortunately this absence The old sign of of clear clinical symptoms can allow Nosema apis infections to go unnoticed by the infection, large patch- es of honey bee fecal beekeeper for long periods of time. It matter in or on hives, may well be that this lack of attention can no longer be by the beekeeper is what results in N. relied upon to identify ceranea ending up being more deadly nosema infection in honey bee colonies to hives than N. apis since lab tests due to the world- have suggested that N. apis is just as wide prevelence of N. virulent as N. ceranea and in some ceranae over Nosema cases more so. (Aronstein et. al. 2011) apis.

Nosema control options While the conventional approach and only federally approved control is the antibiotic treatment bicyclohexylammonium known as Fumagillin-B (Fumidil B), which is an organically acceptable treatments enough to kill N. Apis within 15 extract from the fungus Aspergillus available. First of all, even though minutes. (Webster 2012) Researchers fumigatus, beekeepers would do nosema spores have been known to have observed that nosema appears well to start with resistant stock live for six to 12 months in infected more deadly in warm areas compared when possible. Additionally the equipment, both species of nosema to colder northern regions and immunity level of the hives can have proven to be susceptible to cold, theorize this is due to the pathogen’s be kept strong by ensuring proper with temperatures of 39°F (4°C) for ability to reproduce faster in warmer nutrition. Some studies have found six months reducing the viability temperatures. As a result, frames that colonies that feed on pollen are of both species by over 60 percent. of comb containing nosema spores able to resist nosema infection better (Fenoy et. al. 2009; Sánchez Collado can be cleaned up and the frames than those fed pollen substitutes. et al., 2014) Therefore, beekeepers reused by placing the combs in Other methods that beekeepers in northern climates who store their a solar wax melter. Research has can use to help keep colonies free unused combs in an unheated space also shown that nosema spores of nosema include frequent comb during Winter may enjoy the benefi t exposed to a minimum of two hours replacement and ensuring adequate of reduced nosema spore survival on of direct sunlight will break the cell ventilation. Another way to help their combs. It is also possible that membranes of the spores effectively reduce infection rates of nosema is combs located on the outer edges of killing them. (Eischen et. al. 2011) to leave enough honey on hives to overwintering clusters may get cold Organic acids have also been provide for Winter and avoid heavy enough to decrease the pathogen’s shown to have a detrimental effect on fall feeding of syrup as this has been virulence. Despite all this, in cold nosema within a colony. Both formic correlated with a higher incidence of climates it is suggested that hives and oxalic acid can kill off nosema the disease. Although this is likely the be exposed to full sunlight and spores in the hive providing an added result of nosema spores being passed entrances should face south or benefi t to the beekeeper who uses acid around the hive during the processing southeast to encourage bee cleansing treatments to control I. (Underwood of sugar syrup for storage rather than fl ights. and Currie, 2009; Eischen et. al. as consequence of sugar syrup itself At the other end of the scale 2011; Nanetti et al., 2015) The same being fed to the hive. N. ceranae has proven tolerant of may be said for beekeepers who use Since I began keeping bees in relatively high temperatures, while thymol products for mite control. 1992, I have never used Fumagil-B temperatures of 140°F (60°C) is (Lodesani et. al. 2006; Costa et al., (Fumagillin-B) or anything else to specifi cally treat nosema, and neither do most of the beekeepers I know. Trials have indicated that Not only is it an extra expense (and emulsifi ed essential extra labor to provide treatments) but oils such as those Fumagil-B has been shown to have found in toxic properties to humans and does Honey-B-Healthy not break down readily in honey. For increase the survival rate of these reasons, the antibiotic is not nosema infected licensed for use in most European bees better than the countries and its use is prohibited in approved treatment the U.S. during the foraging season. Fumagil-B. Should the selection of resistant stock, a favorable apiary site, and good management practices fail to keep nosema at bay, there are a number of approaches that can be used to reduce the threat of infection and even some

April 2021 BEE CULTURE 65

April2021.indd 65 3/12/2021 9:01:35 AM 66 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 66 3/12/2021 9:01:36 AM 2010) Certain essential oils (like Researchers have thymol or emulsified lemongrass found that colonies and spearmint oils such as found in that consume natural bee pollen are the commercial products Pro Health less likely to suffer and Honey-B-Healthy) have the from nosema than ability to increase the survivability of those fed protein hives infected with nosema although supplements instead. (DeGrandi-Hoffman researchers do not understand how et al., 2015) However these essential oils increase the when pollen, or combs, lifespan of infected bees, and the are contaminated with essential oils are not registered for the pesticide residues this treatment of nosema. (Rhoades and increases the colony's susceptibility to nose-

Skinner 2011) Meanwhile, Nozevit, a ma infection. (Pettis et nontoxic treatment made from oak al., 2013)" bark has shown limited success in reducing nosema. (Gajger 2011) For some reason, nosema disease, which apparently can be a serious DeGrandi-Hoffman, G., Chen, Y., Rivera, Nosema apis infection for male honey R., Carroll, M., Chambers, M., Hidalgo, bees and their fertility. Sci Rep 5: 10565. problem in some areas of the United G., and de Jong, E.W. (2015) Honey Pettis, J.S., Vanengelsdorp, D., Johnson, States, has not been a major issue in bee colonies provided with natural J., and Dively, G. (2012) Pesticide my neck of the woods. Whether most of forage have lower pathogen loads and exposure in honey bees results in the susceptible hives around me have higher overwinter survival than those increased levels of the gut pathogen fed protein supplements. Apidologie 47: Nosema. Naturwissenschaften 99: died off, leaving only nosema-resistant 186–196. 153– 158. colonies remaining, the reduced Doublet, V., Natsopoulou, M.E., Pettis, J.S., Lichtenberg, E.M., viability of the nosema pathogen when Zschiesche, L., and Paxton, R.J. (2014) Andree, M., Stitzinger, J., Rose, exposed to the long cold Vermont Within-host competition among the R., and vanEngelsdorp, D. (2013) Winter is enough to make a difference, honey bees pathogens Nosema ceranae Crop pollination exposes honey and deformed wing virus is asymmetric bees to pesticides which alters their or I have just been lucky I cannot say. and to the disadvantage of the virus. J susceptibility to the gut pathogen Whatever the reason, my experience Invertebr Pathol 124C: 31– 34. Nosema ceranae. PLoS One 8: e70182. certainly indicates that, even without Eischen, F.A., R.H. Graham, R. Rivera & https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. using approved medications to R. James, (2011) Controlling Nosema pone.0070182 Spores On Stored Honeycomb, American Rhoades, P.R., & J.A. Skinner, (2011) control nosema, the naturally inclined Bee Research Conference, Amercian Bee Effects Of Treatment With Thymol, beekeeper in the North Country can Journal, Vol. 141:5, pg 508-509 Fumagillin, Honey-B-Healthy, and certainly raise strong, healthy colonies Fenoy, S./Rueda, C.,/Higes, M./ Martin- Nozevit On Caged Honey Bees Infected of bees most of the time. BC Hernandez, R./del Aguila, C. (2009): With Nosema Apis and N. Ceranae, High-level Resistance of Nosema American Bee Research Conference, ceranae, a Parasite of the Honeybee, to January 2011, Amercian Bee Journal, Ross Conrad lives in Middlebury, VT Temperature and Desiccation. Applied Vol. 141:5, pg 514 and is the author of Natural Beekeeping and and Environmental Microbiology, vol. Roberts, K.E., Evison, S.E.F., Baer, B., co-author of The Land of Milk and Honey: 75, No. 21, p. 6886-6889 = doi:10.1128/ and Hughes, W.O.H. (2015) The cost A history of beekeeping in VT. AEM.01025 09 of promiscuity: sexual transmission of Gajger, Ivana Tlak, (2011) Nozevit Aerosol Nosema microsporidian parasites in Application For Nosema Ceranae Disease polyandrous honey bees. Sci Rep 5: References: Treatment, American Bee Journal, Vol. 10982. Alaux, C., Brunet, J.-L., Dussaubat, 151:11 1087-1089 Sánchez Collado, J.G., Higes, M., Barrio, C., Mondet, F., Tchamitchan, S., and Graystock, P., Goulson, D., and Hughes, L., and Martín Hernández, R. (2014) Cousin, M. (2010) Interactions between W.O.H. (2014) The relationship between Flow cytometry analysis of Nosema Nosema microspores and a neonicotinoid managed bees and the prevalence of species to assess spore viability and weaken honeybees (Apis mellifera). parasites in bumblebees. Peer J 2: longevity. Parasitol Res 113: 1695– Environ Microbiol 12: 774– 782. e522– e524. http://doi.org/10.7717/ 1701. Aronstein, K., R. Cox, E. Saldivar & peerj.522. Szumowski, S.C., and Troemel, E.R. T.C. Webster (2011) Comparative Lodesani, M, L Maistrello, C Costa, F (2015) Microsporidia–host interactions. studies of two Nosema species in honey Leonardi, G Marani (2006) Effects of Curr Opin Microbiol 26: 10– 16. bees, Proceedings of the American Bee natural compounds on Nosema diseased Thomas C. Webster, (2012) Sunlight, Water Research Conference, accessed Februry honeybees in laboratory conditions. and Nosema Spores, Managed Pollinator 2021- https://bee-health.extension. Proceedings of the Second European Coordinated Agricultural Project (CAP), org/proceedings-of-the-american- Conference of Apidology EurBee Prague American Bee Journal, 152(5), pp 501- bee-research-conference-2011/ (Czech Republic) 10-16 502 Aufauvre, J., Biron, D.G., Vidau, C., Li, J., Chen, W., Wu, J., Peng, W., An, Underwood, R.M., and Currie, R.W. (2009) Fontbonne, R., Roudel, M., Diogon, J., Schmid Hempel, P., and Schmid Indoor winter fumigation with formic M., et al. (2012) Parasite insecticide Hempel, R. (2012) Diversity of Nosema acid for control of Acarapis woodi (Acari: interactions: a case study of Nosema associated with bumblebees (Bombus Tarsonemidae) and Nosema disease, ceranae and fipronil synergy on spp.) from China. Int J Parasitol 42: Nosema sp. J Econ Entomol 102: honeybee. Sci Rep 2: 326. 49– 61 1729– 1736. Costa, C., Lodesani, M., and Maistrello, L. Nanetti, A., Rodriguez García, C., Meana, Vidau, C., Diogon, M., Aufauvre, J., (2010) Effect of thymol and resveratrol A., Martín-Hernández, R., and Higes, M. Fontbonne, R., Viguès, B., Brunet, administered with candy or syrup on (2015) Effect of oxalic acid on Nosema J.L., et al. (2011) Exposure to sublethal the development of Nosema ceranae ceranae infection. Res Vet Sci 102: doses of fi pronil and thiacloprid highly and on the longevity of honeybees (Apis 167– 172. increases mortality of honeybees mellifera L.) in laboratory conditions. Peng, Y., Baer Imhoof, B., Millar, A.H., previously infected by Nosema ceranae. Apidologie 41: 141– 150 and Baer, B. (2015) Consequences of PLoS One 6: e21550. April 2021 BEE CULTURE 67

April2021.indd 67 3/12/2021 9:01:37 AM Emily Wine Emily Painter Two Upcoming New Beekeepers Dewey Caron A common lament expressed by beekeeping clubs stranger to University beekeeping club founding, having is where are the youth? Although clubs may have established one in Wales at the United World College of student membership rates, youth scholarships, or other the Atlantic and another at Princeton where he studied incentives to attract youth, they are not plentiful at most molecular biology before moving to Cornell for his PhD bee meetings. studies. Emily enthusiastically endorsed the idea and One recruiting ground to bring in more youth into volunteered to assist in a cutout to populate bee boxes beekeeping are efforts to support younger beekeepers via stored at the farm from an earlier effort. She quickly a 4-H project or to forge relationships with high school picked up the basics of colony care. or University bee clubs. Here is a story of two Emilys. The Beekeeping Club at Cornell, like the Dilmun Both have been active in founding/serving as offi cers farm, is and remains entirely student run. The club, with student and local bee clubs. They are representative using equipment from an earlier beekeeping adventure of our youth already passing on their enthusiasm and eventually grew to four hives. Club members gather for interest in bees. hive inspections every two weeks and organize activities such as candle making and speakers on bee topics. Field Emily Wine trips to local beekeepers for honey processing and candle Emily Wine began as Apiary Inspector in Delaware making were arranged. They continue to sell honey on during this covid-19 virus year. This Winter she is campus. The club maintains both Facebook https://www. teaching in the Delaware Beekeepers virtual beekeeping facebook.com/CornellUniversityBeekeepingClub/ and course and talking to beekeepers at their monthly an informative website. meetings. Emily, following graduation served as an Apiary Emily’s interest in bees began as a college sophomore Inspector for the State of PA for one season. She inspected environmental sciences major at Cornell University. At both smaller scale and commercial beekeeper bees in the that time, she was active in the Dilmun Hill Student Farm. northern tier of PA. She left to pursue a Master of Science The farm, located in a former orchard close to campus, in Entomology in Dr. Doug Walsh’s lab at WA State grows a diversity of crops organically. Emily was on the University. Her master’s research focused on enhancing farm steering committee. habitat for the solitary alfalfa leafcutter (Megachile Michael Smith, a PhD student of Tom Seeley, rotundata) and Alkali Bee (Nomia melanderi) in the Walla was interested in locating bee colonies on the farm Walla Valley. https://www.klcc.org/post/native-bees- and establishing a Beekeeping Club. Michael was no and-alfalfa-seed-farmers-nw-love-story And history repeated. Emily, during her graduate studies, assisted in starting a student beekeeping club at WSU. Club bees were established on the 30-acre Eggert Family Organic Farm. This farm, like the Dilmun Cornell Emily Wine farm of her earlier association, is a hands-on experience doing a for students, mostly in organic vegetable production. The mite check. Farm was located adjacent to the WSU honey bee program diagnostic lab facility. Students managed club bees, sold the honey and ran bee related programs on campus. After graduating with her master’s in 2018, Emily worked for commercial beekeepers in the Sacramento 68 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 68 3/12/2021 9:01:38 AM valley area east of San Francisco. She initially had an not wane as she had opportunities to visit a relative and internship and conducted research on in-hive sensors view backyard bees and talk about the English annual and pollinator habitat for a medium-sized (4,000-hive) bee cycle with a cousin. bee operation, Ubees https://www.ubees.com/. She The experience spurred her interest in returning to moved to Honey Bee Genetics in Vacaville which was school to study Civil Engineering to gain background in subsequently purchased by the large scale (30,000- building structure. She was accepted at the University hive) Tauzer apiaries. Emily participated in their queen- of VT (UVM). During her undergraduate years she breeding and pollination operations for a little under a would return as an intern to England (she is dual US year before moving back east as DE Apiary Inspector. and UK citizen, as is her mom) to work for Whitby Wood, an engineering firm in London working on Emily Painter new constructions and to Ireland to work for Carrig Emily Painter began with bees on the family farm Conservation International, a Dublin-fi rm specializing in outside of Dallas, OR in 2009 at age 11. Actually, the bees preservation of historic buildings. found her. One day the water meter reader said he could During her orientation to the University, Emily not read their meter because there were bees in the meter found the interest desk for the UVM Beekeeping Club. compartment. Emily, who discovered bee equipment in She would serve as Beekeeping Club President the next one of the family farms, learned that her grandfather two years. During this time, the University added a had once kept bees. With his guidance, Emily rescued beekeeping course to the curriculum with Dr. Samantha one of the boxes and set it on the water meter. The bees Alger as instructor. The club grew in membership and however had a different idea and did not move into the proactive in educational and outreach efforts. The club old bee box – they simply took off. apiary was moved from the Hort farm to an on-campus The next year Emily heard that bees had moved into location. The club offered weekly tours for students and some discarded equipment of a commercial beekeeper sponsored several on-campus speakers. Club honey is who had kept bees at one time on a neighboring farm. sold in the Student Union. https://www.uvm.edu/cals/ The boxes were old but three had bees. Again, with pss/student-organizations grandfather’s help the bees were moved to the family farm. Club members would often carpool to Addison Unfortunately, none survived the winter. But Emily was Co Beekeeper events in Middlebury (Addison County hooked and was not about to give up. slogan is ‘Land of Milk and Honey’). Middlebury is home Her 3rd year was a charm. Driving home from a piano of the Mraz family, including the celebrated evangelist recital, the family noticed bees hitting the windshield just for the therapeutic use of bee stings Charley Mraz (now as they were nearing the family farm. Investigating they deceased); another county beekeeper is Kurt Webster, found a big swarm in a tree alongside the road. Emily well known northern survivor stock queen breeder and raced home, got the box of the Winter dead out and placed a third is Ross Conrad, regular columnist of Bee Culture. it on the side of the road. The swarm marched right in. In addition to the education, Emily helped make club This colony would survive many years. Emily would events fun. Emily would also join the Student Chapter eventually manage fi ve hives. of American Society of Civil Engineers and serve as their Emily joined the local bee club Willamette Valley Secretary and social media chair. Bee Association (WVBA) that second season and took Now fi nishing her senior year, she will be graduating the club short course. At a monthly meeting she was spring 2021 Emily is headed back to England to begin winner of the raffl e price of a three-lb package of bees Graduate studies at the University of Leeds. She will study from Glory Bee in Eugene. Emily served as Secretary of structural engineering with an emphasis on restoration WVBA for two years during her Junior and Senior High of historic buildings. And if they encounter a bee colony School years. Following high school graduation, she took living in the walls, Emily will be sure to join in their a Gap year to live and work at Scotney Castle in Kent, removal and hiving. England. The Castle was under renovation and she had a University bee clubs, like colony and regional chance to explore the preservation efforts re-sparking an beekeeping groups, seek to educate the basics of earlier interest in Anthropology. Her interest in bees did beekeeping. On campus colonies and programs help make the learning fun and relevant for younger individuals. Both Emilys profi led here have been active in training beekeepers and working with new and established beekeepers. It speaks well of our industry to have such youth so active and helping educate others as part of our noble obsession. Full Disclosure: I was an undergraduate at UVM 2000-2004; our Grange advisor (I was UVM student Emily Painter Grange Master) Enoch Thompkins, was author of a installing a popular New England Beekeeping book. As faculty at package. University of Delaware 1981-2009 I interacted with the DDA Apiary inspector on a regular basis. Mark Starrett, founder of UVM Beekeeping Club in 2016, was student in my Beekeeping Class at UD. Finally, I was one of the guest speakers of the UVM Beekeeping Club when Emily was President and at WVBA when Emily was secretary. It is truly a small world. BC

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April2021.indd 69 3/12/2021 9:01:39 AM and her readers abreast of his activities. In June Myron catches 10 The Mystery Of swarms in one day. In December, Myron buys out another local beekeeper. In May of 1913, at age 20, Myron diversifi ed. He built a garage and The Haskinville became an agent for the K-R-I-T motor car company. In 1913, He published a photo and description of his honey operation in Gleanings in Bee Culture. Bee Factory In July, Myron hired a man to manage his bees, and in August he harvested 1800 lbs of honey that was Peter Sieling put up by his bees in only six days. In 1914, aged 21, Myron hired a In 1917, an ad appeared in beekeeping in Steuben County. The second bee man. His ambition grew Gleanings in Bee Culture for the M.C. Rambler stayed for several days, with every achievement. He displayed Silsbee Company of Haskinville, NY, talked with several local beekeepers, his auto cars at county and state a fi rm that manufactured bee hives, visited a wild bee hunting camp, fairs. The papers report – Myron goes rendered beeswax, and bought and and tarried at the general store, run to Corning on Business. Myron goes sold honey. Within a year the ad by postmaster and notary public, to Hornell on Business. Myron goes disappeared. Haskinville is a ten George Silsbee. George’s brother and to Big Creek, Elmira, and Buffalo. minute drive, so I decided to solve the business partner was William. Myron’s plans continued to Mystery of the Disappearing Bee Hive William was a beekeeper. He expand as success followed success. Factory. The story that unfolded must had two sons and a daughter. He advertised in the Gleanings in have been the scandal of the century. Both sons became beekeepers, but Bee Culture classified section for We fi rst met the Silsbee’s in 1890 Myron dreamed of building a hive investors interested in his new when Bee Culture’s roving reporter, manufacturing plant to compete with beehive manufacturing plant. In 1915 John Martin, AKA the Rambler, national companies like the A.I. Root, Myron, aged twenty-two, started rambled through Steuben County, W.T. Falconer, A.G. Woodman Co., building a larger addition to his bee New York. He described it as “a and Leahy Manufacturing. In 1911, house for manufacturing beehives. land of forests and glens, perfect by age eighteen, he was managing More Silsbee news from the for bands of brigands”. To reach 160 colonies. In January of that Haskinville reporter: In January, Haskinville, the Rambler traveled up year he laid the foundation of his 1916 he attended the Canandaigua Neil’s Creek Rd. which winds through bee house, a 24x40 foot building Beekeeper’s Convention, drove to a gorge. Residents live in perpetual which included a bee cellar (for Pennsylvania to buy more bees, and twilight, the sun only showing itself wintering colonies indoors) and a installed a new engine to run his for a few hours a day. Traveling honey processing room. His two machinery. the road today by automobile, the storage tanks could hold 9000 lbs. Myron’s success came too easily. natives watch you suspiciously from of honey. He soon added a woodshop His fi rst setback came on May 3rd of their porches. It feels like entering containing a gasoline engine, saws, that year. “Myron Silsbee came near the movie Deliverance. Haskinville and a dovetail cutting machine for having a bad fi re in his bee house is a cluster of a dozen houses, a hive making. Friday. He was melting some wax, church, and a store where Neil’s Tall, good-looking, and a which took fire and but from the Creek crosses Route 21. But in the persuasive talker, Myron kept the timely use of a hand fi re extinguisher late 1800s it was the epicenter of Haskinville newspaper correspondent the whole building would have very likely been destroyed” – Cohocton Valley Times. In February, 1917 Myron Silsbee bought a display ad in Gleanings for the M.C. Silsbee Company. “Give us a chance to bid on your supplies. We can save you money.” He was only 24 years old. In April, 1917, the United States declared war. Myron registered for the draft but did not become a soldier. Haskinville Store The K-R-I-T motor car company fi led for bankruptcy and Myron lost his auto business. By the Autumn of 1917, the

70 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 70 3/12/2021 9:01:39 AM Myron and Louise Silsbee.

United States began sending troops Myron’s fl edgling company was Company, bought Silsbee’s remaining to the Great War to end all wars in long on ambition and short on funds. stock of woodenware and offered it to Europe. The infl uenza epidemic that Any setback could be catastrophic. Gleaning’s readers at a 60% discount. killed an estimated 5% of the world’s Less than a year later the Gleanings Just before the bankruptcy, population was just beginning. editor notifi ed his readers: “A letter Myron proposed to Miss Mildred Experts were predicting the worst from M.C. Silsbee says that their bee Potter. They were married a year famine in the history of mankind. house, mill, and total contents, were later. Europe was already starving. The destroyed by fi re the previous night After such a large business U.S. government was rationing with a loss of $5000, partly insured, failure, Myron couldn’t settle down. wheat (1½ lbs. per week per person) and that all orders were burned, In 1920, at age 27, he moved to and sugar. Because of the sugar and they were left with no records of Chicago. A year or two later he shortage, the price of honey was at parties who had ordered supplies.” returned to his home territory and an all time high. The U.S. government Five thousand dollars in 1918 would beekeeping. His display ad states, “… encouraged beekeepers to produce be equivalent to about $90,000 today. if you want the BEST ask for Silsbee’s more honey, exempting beekeepers The Silsbee Company announced and accept no substitutes. He also from the sugar rationing, but only a month later that they would be wrote and sold a booklet – Honey as for feeding bees. rebuilding in nearby Avoca, NY. a Health Food. Ironically, the Winter of 1917- Local history records the existence He moved to Dansville, NY, 20 1918 was the worst ever for colony of a bee hive factory in Avoca, but miles north of Haskinville and opened losses. Beekeepers, most likely the plant apparently never opened. an insurance agency. A year later he including Myron, lost 80-90% of Six months later, in June 1918, moved twenty miles farther north to their colonies. More people than ever the M.C. Silsbee Company fi led for Geneseo, NY. were producing honey, buying bees bankruptcy. The newspaper reports In 1927 at age 34, he returned, shipped from the south, and buying that “while temporarily idle, the plant settling near Bath, NY, just a few bee equipment. Beehive factories would soon be in operation, putting a miles southeast of Haskinville. The were springing up like mushrooms large force of men at work.” Two years newspaper reports that he, his wife, after a rain. later, a competitor, the Deroy Taylor and son James Clair spent a few

April 2021 BEE CULTURE 71

April2021.indd 71 3/12/2021 9:01:40 AM Lack Of Communication Ruins Everhing Because Instead Of Knowing How the Other Person is Feeling, We Just Assume!

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

72 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 72 3/12/2021 9:01:41 AM days in Binghamton, on business. Silsbee Honey The newspaper doesn’t mention the House. name of Myron’s wife by name, but seven months later, Mildred had resumed her maiden name and was living with her parents, working as a stenographer at a local business. Mildred made news on July 9th. On her lunch break, she walked to the Avoca Cemetery and swallowed a draught of poison. She was 29. Shortly after Mildred’s suicide, the papers reported that Myron was arrested in Macon, Georgia. He had disappeared with a stolen car. Perhaps Myron “borrowed” her from there to Florida where she turned into an epic tale of success it, assuming the owner, who was moved into her uncle’s hotel. She and failure, scandal, tragedy, and spending the winter in Florida would refused Myron’s entreaties to return murder set against the backdrop of a never miss it. Someone reported the to Bath. Myron followed her to Florida World War and the Great Depression. theft, and the sheriff brought him and confronted her. When she again It’s easy to look back at an era back. refused to return with him, he shot with no mite bombs, hive beetles, The papers do not report any and killed her, and then shot himself. CCD, or neonicotinoids and call it fi nes or jail time, but on this trip or Wayland Register, March 6, 1930 the golden era of beekeeping. But one of his earlier business trips to – Friends from this place attended the they had black and pickled brood, the south he met and married a girl funeral of Myron Silsbee near Bath bee paralysis, Paris green, and lead from Georgia. Louise McLaughlin was last Saturday afternoon. arsenate. While science and culture eleven years younger than him. I thought the M.C. Silsbee story progress, human nature remains Myron and Louise moved to would be an interesting 20 minute unchanged. Those halcyon days Babcock Hollow near Bath, NY. Myron talk for the local bee club. Instead it weren’t so halcyon after all. BC worked bees in partnership with his younger brother Lynn. Louise worked at a combination service station and tea room. Autumn of 1928 brought another tragedy. Myron’s three year old son choked on a peanut. Efforts to dislodge it failed and James Clair died. The following Spring, Myron’s father died. Myron’s second marriage was in trouble. In September 1929, at the start of the Great Depression, Louise accompanied her employer’s wife to Pennsylvania. Her brother, without Myron’s knowledge, escorted

April 2021 BEE CULTURE 73

April2021.indd 73 3/12/2021 9:01:42 AM suggests that queen size has marked effects on colony growth parameters and honey productivity4–6, queens M T that have mated with more partners are more likely to survive a year7, and that queens with less viable sperm are more likely to be found in colonies that are observing I O T symptoms of collapse8. However, it is clear that not all colony problems may be laid at the “feet” of the queen. Brood pattern is a colony trait classically ascribed to the queen, but it has been shown to instead be an emergent Q property of the workers 9 rather than the queen per se. This points to a clear need to separate the perception of queen problems from the reality, so that management Bradley Metz & David Tarpy may be directed in the most productive manner. Our clinic operates with a tripartite mission geared For philosophers and poets, the public and pundits, towards helping beekeepers, breeders, and researchers and beekeepers and breeders, the queen of a honey bee to better understand queen problems, their causes, and hive remains the most visible – and perceived to be the the avoidance thereof. All of the Queen Clinic activities most important – member. Described in royal terms, she utilize similar methods, and all are consolidated into a was originally mistaken to be male by the (extremely) late deliverable report (Figure 1). The most straightforward Aristotle1. But the notion of rulership has persisted from of these is fertility, mating, and morphological diagnoses its archaic roots to modern beekeeping and industry. of queens themselves. These are the true and obvious Perhaps this notion is increasingly a nominal one, “queen problems”: drone-laying, poor development and however, as we learn that while she may be (mostly) the infertility, insuffi cient mating, and death of spermatozoa. sole reproductive, the queen is rarely the one in charge. The fl ip side of this is to provide quality assurance to both Throughout my time in the NC State Apiculture bee breeders and their customers, providing evidence Program, I’ve worked with the Honey Bee Queen & Disease of when the queen is not to blame for poor performance Clinic – an extension effort housed within the program of a colony. The majority of our clientele use the clinic designed fi rst and foremost to allow beekeepers and for these purposes, at least in part because most queen breeders to obtain detailed information about their queens problems are identifi ed after the fact (once she has been and colonies that is diffi cult or impossible to measure replaced, or the colony has itself collapsed). outside of a research laboratory. This clinic spun out of The fi nal arm of our mission is one of collaborative early efforts to quantify causes of colony failure in the research. In this, we utilize our laboratory expertise and wake of the 2008 “Colony Collapse Disorder” crisis and equipment to assist our clients in designing, conducting, was founded from a history of work by David Tarpy and and analyzing experiments intended to affect (or, often, to colleagues into causes and mechanisms of queen failure avoid affecting) the reproductive or morphological quality and replacement through supersedure. When surveying of the queen. This can be a helpful fi rst step in evaluating beekeepers, one of the major self-identifi ed causes of novel treatments, novel management practices, incidental colony failure is a “poor queen,” “queen failure,” or “loss exposures, or – key to our wider research program – of queen.”2,3 This places the responsibility on the most mechanisms of queen loss. visible member of the colony, but not necessarily fairly. Surely, the queen has a massive impact on the growth and Theory of Queen Assessment health of the colony. Her presence dictates the ability for We know that all queens are not equal. As one new female workers to be produced. Beyond that, research beekeeper colloquially put it, “My job is to get the bees to

An anesthetized queen placed on the microscope ready to be Graduated master’s student, Lauren Russert prepares a set of measured and dissected. Typically this process takes about fi ve dissected queens for subsequent molecular analyses. Bench- minutes from start to fi nish, after which the clinic will have the work is rarely glamorous and often time consuming, but critical photos necessary to compare her body and reproductive mea- to gaining detailed insights into honey bee traits, genetics, and sures to the global dataset. stressors. 74 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 74 3/12/2021 9:01:43 AM Figure 1 – Sample queen clinic report. This random sample of 25 queens illustrates the information pro- vided and the variation within the population. The sample aver- age for each measure is provid- ed along with a percentile com- parison to the global (national) database. Each portion, body measures and sperm measures, is also associated with a grade. These each represent a combina- tion of the individual measures in relation to the original calibration set as published by Tarpy et al., 2011. Queens in this database are graded on a curve, owing pri- marily to the fact that many com- mercially produced queens are better than the best we can pro- duce empirically, illustrating the value of experience. The overall grade is a weighted combination of the two and again simplifi es an underlying numerical aggrega- tion. The actual numbers are pre- sented graphically at the bottom of the report, where the grey fi eld represents all the queens in the database—notice that the bulk of the queens are distributed toward the head of the pack with a small number of trailing queens, the true “duds”—and the focal queens rep- resented in red.

raise them fat girls and then get them good dates.” The and also a measure of “queenliness,” discussed below. task of queen rearing involves manipulating colony state These morphological measurements are representative and selecting (or allowing colonies to select) appropriate of selection and rearing quality, with higher weights and eggs or larvae for queen rearing. Once the queens are larger measurements being generally considered higher reared, it is up to the beekeeper to manage their apiaries quality. to generate a high-quality mating environment, which Larval selection techniques and basic nutritional involves rearing a large number of high-quality drones management is one of the more heavily taught as with desirable traits, and relatively free from disease. beekeepers look to begin rearing queens for their own Our analyses combine a number of precise operations or for sale. Though the industry has not morphological measurements, fi rst of the outside of the entirely reached consensus as to the optimal methods of body. We measure the mass of the queen, her head width, larval selection, we know the basic parameters for success: and her thorax (Figure 2). Mass is largely a function of young larvae without a history of nutritional deprivation ovary development and activation, given that much of make the best queens10,11. The other aspect – and one her body is fi lled with her reproductive tract. Thorax that is frequently under less control by the beekeeper and head width are functions of development for fl ight – is mating quality. It has repeatedly been shown that

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April2021.indd 75 3/12/2021 9:01:44 AM higher quality queens, defi ned morphologically as above, are more likely to be better mated; that is, return from mating fl ights with more sperm, more viable sperm, and more mating partners10,12,13. However, these correlations are not perfect, leaving a lot of variation that beekeepers cannot control by controlling queen selection and rearing conditions alone. We therefore use fl uorescent microscopy to directly evaluate the sperm for both the number of spermatozoa and the proportion of live and dead spermatozoa found in the queen spermatheca (Figure 3). Since only live spermatozoa are able to make it into the spermatheca14, any spermatozoa found dead within it have died since mating, either because of an inherent lack of vigor, or because of some environmental stressor. Thus, the sperm count is an effective measure of the queen’s success at mating and the viability is a measure of her exposure to stressors since she was mated. Both can be critical to the health of the colony and the life of the queen. In order for beekeepers to control the mating quality, they have to populate their mating environment with a large number of drones, themselves with desirable qualities, relatively disease-free, and (critically) not exposed to any number of chemical agents, a number of which can kill or lead to fragile sperm15–17. This is an unfortunate example of yesterday’s cures becoming today’s problems, as many of the treatments beekeepers rely on for the control of the Varroa mite are themselves responsible for Figure 2 – Measurements of the queen head, thorax, and partial drone infertility18–20. Avoiding non-lethal, but still spermatheca devastating collateral damage is a major element in the Illustrative of our dissection and measurement process, the head development and evaluation of modern treatment options. (H) measurements are taken over the face of the queen, mea- sured from eye to eye. The thorax (T) is measured between the Independent testing of novel treatments for effects on fore and middle legs and is taken perpendicular to the body axis. reproductive quality is something that both producers, Finally, the spermatheca (Sp), shown here removed from the ab- growers, and beekeepers should be ensuring at every domen, is measured as the diameter of the spherical organ. opportunity. Certainly, by repeatedly measuring both the body and mating quality of the population of queens over time, we are able to observe when things go wrong, when the correlations between the two breakdown, and when to intervene.

Finding the right way to ask the right questions The clinic has been performing these analyses for over a decade and has amassed a nation-wide database of over 2000 queens, which provides us with a fairly thorough sense of how much commercially raised queens vary in terms of the measured parameters and Genetics technician and the circumstances under which that variance may disease clinic head, Erin increase. This enables us to provide valuable insight to McDermott happily both researchers and beekeepers about designing and ushers a boxload of samples collected over conducting experiments into factors affecting reproductive a long daytrip to an variation in queens, and with recent help from California apiary of a queen clinic State Beekeeping Association, drones as well. However, I research collaborator. am not a beekeeper, but a biologist. My entire beekeeping Normally, samples are shipped, but experience is linked with that of research. Therefore, my occasionally, observations and manipulations are often geared towards circumstances understanding fundamental questions of communication, necessitate a more behavior, and evolution. Very often my interests and rapid response. those of the beekeepers are aligned, for instance when I’m asking questions about environmental factors that impact drone fertility. However, I’m not always able to recognize a question that may be important to beekeepers, for instance the effects of long-term banking on queen reproductive health. This is where the clinic really shines, because beekeepers often know the questions they want asked, but without necessarily knowing how or having 76 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 76 3/12/2021 9:01:45 AM Figure 3 – Micrographs of live sperma- tozoa with fl uorescent dye indicating live and dead cells In the middle is the machine used for these measurements, a Cellometer (Nexcelom), which is essentially an au- tomated fl uorescent microscope. The upper panels show a normal light view of the live and dead spermatozoa re- leased from the spermatheca. Below we see a colorized photo of the live (green) and dead (red) cells, which are counted on the same image to provide a measure of sperm viability.

the ability to perform the measurements to answer their indicator of queen quality? Insects 10, in press (2019). questions. Rather than relying on a top-down imposition 10.Tarpy, D. R., Keller, J. J., Caren, J. R. & Delaney, D. A. of knowledge, the clinic is designed to put combined Experimentally induced variation in the physical reproductive decades of apidological expertise in the service of directly potential and mating success in honey bee queens. Insectes addressing questions that an operation fi nds important. Soc. 58, 569–574 (2011). The NC State Queen & Disease Clinic is intended to 11.Sagili, R. R., Metz, B. N., Lucas, H. M., Chakrabarti, P. & ultimately serve as a realization of the mission of the Breece, C. R. Honey bees consider larval nutritional status land grant and extension system and build partnerships rather than genetic relatedness when selecting larvae for between industry and academia. BC emergency queen rearing. Sci. Rep. 8, (2018). 12.Delaney, D. A., Keller, J. J., Caren, J. R. & Tarpy, D. R. The References physical, insemination, and reproductive quality of honey bee 1.Maderspacher, F. All the queen’s men. Curr. Biol. 17, 191–195 queens (Apis mellifera L.). Apidologie 42, 1–13 (2011). (2007). 13.Tarpy, D. R., Keller, J. J., Caren, J. R. & Delaney, D. A. 2.Steinhauer, N. A. et al. A national survey of managed honey Assessing the Mating ‘Health’ of Commercial Honey Bee bee 2012-2013 annual colony losses in the USA: results from Queens. J. Econ. Entomol 105, 20–25 (2012). the Bee Informed Partnership. J. Apic. Res. 53, 1–18 (2014). 14.Collins, A. M. Relationship between semen quality and 3.Kulhanek, K. et al. A national survey of managed honey bee performance of instrumentally inseminated honey bee queens. 2015–2016 annual colony losses in the USA. J. Apic. Res. 56, Apidologie 31, 421–429 (2000). 328–340 (2017). 15.Traynor, K. S. et al. In-hive Pesticide Exposome: Assessing risks 4.Nelson, D. L. & Gary, N. E. Honey Productivity of Honeybee to migratory honey bees from in-hive pesticide contamination in Colonies in Relation to Body Weight, Attractiveness and the Eastern United States. Sci. Rep. 6, 33207 (2016). Fecundity of the Queen. J. Apic. Res. 22, 209–213 (1983). 16.Chaimanee, V. et al. Sperm viability and gene expression in 5. Rangel, J., Keller, J. J. & Tarpy, D. R. The effects of honey honey bee queens (Apis mellifera) following exposure to the bee (Apis mellifera L.) queen reproductive potential on colony neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid and the organophosphate growth. Insectes Soc. 60, 65–73 (2013). acaricide coumaphos. J. Insect Physiol. 89, 1–8 (2016). 6.De Souza, D. A., Bezzera-Laure, M. A. F., Francoy, T. M. & 17.Chaimanee, V. & Pettis, J. S. Gene expression, sperm viability, Gonçalves, L. S. Experimental evaluation of the reproductive and queen (Apis mellifera) loss following pesticide exposure quality of Africanized queen bees (Apis mellifera) on the basis under laboratory and fi eld conditions. Apidologie 50, 304–316 of body weight at emergence. Genet. Mol. Res. 12, 5382–5391 (2019). (2013). 18.Collins, A. M. & Pettis, J. S. Effect of Varroa Infestation on 7.Tarpy, D. R., Vanengelsdorp, D. & Pettis, J. S. Genetic diversity Semen Quality. Am. Bee J. 141, 590–593 (2001). affects colony survivorship in commercial honey bee colonies. 19.Collins, A. M. & Pettis, J. S. Correlation of queen size and Naturwissenschaften 100, 723–728 (2013). spermathecal contents and effects of miticide exposure during 8.Pettis, J. S. et al. Colony Failure Linked to Low Sperm Viability development. Apidologie 44, 351–356 (2013). in Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Queens and an Exploration of 20.Johnson, R. M., Dahlgren, L., Siegfried, B. D. & Ellis, M. Potential Causative Factors. PLoS One 11, e0147220 (2016). D. Effect of in-hive miticides on drone honey bee survival and 9.Lee, K. V, Goblirsch, M., McDermott, E., Tarpy, D. R. & Spivak, sperm viability. J. Apic. Res. 52, 88–95 (2013). M. Is the brood pattern within a honey bee colony a reliable

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78 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 78 3/12/2021 9:01:47 AM Like it or not if you have taken up beekeeping on any scale, you are now responsible for knowing the laws that regulate you and your beekeeping beekeeping operation regardless of size. If you are keeping bees in a municipality, you need to know if it is allowed. Some cities flat out say beehives laws are not allowed in the city limits. Ettamarie Peterson Corona, California is one. This city is very near the Southern border of ordinance about keeping bees should beekeeper were found to be diffi cult California in San Diego County. That be kept very simple. It should not to solve. The ordinance now states, county has been offi cially designated go into great detail about how the “Chapter 23.45 – Residential, Multi- as a county that the Africanized bees beekeeper should keep a beehive. My Family Definition in the Seattle have colonized. That may be why only problem with what was written Municipal Code 23.45.150 – this beautiful tourist attracting city was the fi rst line of the ordinance Beekeeping. does not want bees. My own near-by states, “Beehives are Prohibited”. 1. No more than four (4) hives, city (My farm is just outside the city The reader must continue on to see each with only one (1) swarm (Swarm limits.) of Petaluma, California for that is not true. The total ordinance is an older term for colony), shall be many years had ordinances against says, kept on lots of less than ten thousand keeping bees. “The keeping of a bee colony or (10,000) square feet. B. Hives shall A few years ago, someone decided maintaining an apiary in the city is not be located within twenty-five that bees were actually benefi cial and permitted only in accordance with (25) feet of any property line except thought the ordinance should be re- the following: when located eight (8) feet or more written. My daughter was on the city A. No more than two bee colonies are above the grade immediately adjacent council and her colleagues knew I permitted per household; to the subject lot or when situated was a beekeeper, so I was asked to B. All hives must be framed and less than eight (8) feet above the help write a new ordinance. It is in moveable; adjacent existing grade and behind a the section under animal control. C. All hives must be kept a safe solid fence or hedge six (6) feet high, That caused my input to be delayed distance away from pedestrian parallel to any property line within for a couple of years because they walkways and pedestrian traffi c, twenty-fi ve (25) feet of a hive and were rewriting the whole section. and so as to not constitute a extending at least twenty-fi ve (25) feet There was a controversy about how nuisance.” beyond the hive in both directions. many pot-bellied pigs a home-owner (Ord. 110570 Section 3(part), could keep (no kidding!) and how Here is another more stringent 1982.) strict the rules for owning cats should example of a local code: be. The bird lovers were threatening In Camas, Washington, the Defi nition in the Seattle to sue the city if they did not make Preservation Beekeeping Council Municipal Code 10.36 – strict stay-in-your-yard rules for worked with local lawmakers to adopt BEEKEEPING cats. Anyway, I told them the best a progressive bee-centered municipal 10.36.010 Maintenance and code. The 2018 Beekeeping Code registration of colonies. specifi cally requires local sourcing 1. It shall be the duty of any person, of bees, provides expansive options fi rm or corporation having honey for hive bodies, and prohibits use bees, apis mellifera on its property of harmful pesticides: Hive, apiary to maintain each colony in the management requirements “1. All following condition: hives shall comply with Revised 1. Colonies shall be maintained in Code of Washington (RCW) 15.60. movable-frame hives. 2. Beekeepers shall maintain an 2. Adequate space shall be adequate supply of water on their maintained in the hive to prevent property. 3. Bees should be housed in overcrowding and swarming. an appropriate hive body that offers 3. Colonies shall be re-queened good insulation and protection from following any swarming or weather and predators. 4. Beekeepers aggressive behavior. must source their bees locally (within 2. All colonies shall be registered a one hundred mile area). Local with the Director of Agriculture bees may be transferred as nucleus pursuant to RCW 15.60.030 prior hives or from swarms. Package 149 to April 1st of each year. CAMAS, WASH. MUNICIPAL CODE, (Ord. 108150 Section 1, 1979: Ordinance 18- 013, § I (2018). 149” Ord. 101531 Section 1 (part), 1972.) The Puget Sound Beekeepers Association (PSBA) worked with This swarm was reported to me by a the City of Seattle to establish its motorist that spotted it. She had no idea there was a huge apiary very close by. ordinance after problems with one

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April2021.indd 79 3/12/2021 9:01:49 AM SMC 10.36.020 Nuisances colonies in moveable-frame hives Beewherecalifornia.com is also where designated. that are kept in sound and usable all California beekeepers register Bees living in trees, buildings, or condition; providing a constant and their hives. The fees are sent by the any other space except in movable- adequate water source; locating hives beekeeper to his/her own county frame hives; abandoned colonies; so that the movement of bees does agricultural office. This program or diseased bees shall constitute not become an animal nuisance, as is fairly new and there are some a public nuisance and subject the defi ned in § 161.02 of this Article; and problems coordinating the collection owner to the penalties imposed by shall be able to respond immediately of the fees. There is no link on the Section 1 of Ordinance 1015311.” to control bee swarms and to beewhere site to each county. Our I don’t know how the City of remediate nuisance conditions.” county agricultural department says Seattle enforces its nuisances Section 161.02 defines a they are working on that problem designation. I know of lovely old beekeeping nuisance to “mean now. This hive registration ordinance Victorian homes in Petaluma that conditions that include, but not be came about because beekeepers have had feral colonies in their walls limited to, aggressive or objectionable were having problems with their or attics and also know there are bee bee behaviors, hive placement or colonies being killed by agricultural trees in the city limits. For many years bee movement that interferes with spraying on nearby properties. The there was a feral colony in one of the pedestrian traffi c or persons residing primary goal was to make better crypts at the local cemetery! I know on or adjacent to the hive premises; communication between beekeepers about these colonies because I have and overcrowded, deceased or and commercial farming operations. been called several times to capture abandoned hives.” The State of Florida has swarms coming from them. One bee If you intend to keep bees inside beekeepers sign a compliance tree in a city park was allowed to stay city limits, go to the city’s web site agreement. The agreement spells intact after another beekeeper and I to look for ordinances. If you are out very detailed best management re-directed the bees’ fl ight path, so it not able to determine what the rules requirements for maintaining was well above people’s heads. are, call the city and ask who would European honey bee colonies on Beekeepers must notify both know. Speak to that person to get non-agricultural lands. According to New York City and New York State valid information. the document these guidelines are regarding hives kept in the five Some counties have bee recommended, but not required for boroughs. Article 161 of the New York ordinances as well. Many counties beekeepers keeping bees in areas City Health Code, section 161.01(b) have bee inspectors that enforce classifi ed as agricultural pursuant (12), requires that persons keeping them. Here in Sonoma County there to section 193.461, Florida Statutes. honey bees “fi le a notice with the is no bee inspector because it was Beekeepers must situate a colony Department, on a form provided cut out of the budget years ago. In within 15 feet of a property line and or approved by the Department, 2019 beekeepers in the county were maintain a fl yway barrier at least containing the beekeeper’s name, advised that there is an ordinance to six feet in height consisting of a address, telephone, e-mail and register all bee hives with the State solid wall, fence, dense vegetation or fax numbers, emergency contact of California. The fee was waived combination thereof that is parallel information, and location of the until January 2021. All known to the property line and extends hive, and they shall notify the beekeepers in our county were beyond the colony in each direction. Department within ten business days sent a letter from the Agricultural The property, or portions thereof, of any changes to such information.” Commissioner’s Offi ce notifying them where the honey bee colonies are Register your hives here. of the new fee. To learn what counties located must be fenced, or have Section 161.01(b)(12) also in California have ordinances and an equivalent barrier to prevent requires beekeepers in New York City what they are go to the website access, and have a gated controlled to “adhere to appropriate beekeeping https://beewherecalifornia.com/ entrance to help prevent unintended practices including maintaining bee local-ordinances-by-county/ disturbance of colonies. Colonies are not allowed on public lands without a special permit letter issued by the Director of the Division of Plant Industry and written consent of the property owner. Size of land and density of colonies is also spelled out in great detail. Beekeepers are also instructed about providing water and inspecting the colonies monthly for adequate food and colony strength. If the colony is overly aggressive the beekeeper must contact his/ her assigned apiary inspector for an assessment. They are directed to re- queen collected swarms, new colonies and maintain colonies with queens One cannot tell who owns or who is responsible for these hives unless they or queen cells from European Honey trepass into the fi eld and read the identifi cation on each hive. Bee queen producers. They are also 80 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 80 3/12/2021 9:01:49 AM told to practice reasonable swarm seizure by the commissioner.” The prevention techniques as referenced next section goes on to state what will in University of Florida’s Institute happen if an apiary is not identifi ed of Food and Agricultural Sciences and failure to identify the beekeeper extension document “Swarm Control responsible. This describes putting for Managed Beehives”, ENY 160, notices in the local paper that at a published November 2012. time certain, all of the colonies, the In Florida feral (unmanaged) hives, including their content, and bee colonies and swarms can be all beekeeping equipment present removed by registered beekeepers. at the apiary, will be seized and Rule 5E-14.151 states that the sold at auction or destroyed, unless removal or relocation of bees, such the beekeeper or other responsible as a swarm, for the production person appears to claim the property of honey and related products or and pay for any costs incurred by the pollination purposes, shall not be commissioner under this section. considered pest control. However, it is I can appreciate the need for considered pest control if the removal identifying apiaries for several is performed by someone who is not reasons. In our county we have had a registered beekeeper. beekeepers that left beehives all over Checking out Vermont’s hive the area and then seem to forget registration form I was surprised to them. The hives fall into disrepair The tree was covered with at least seven discover they not only wanted the and are a nuisance and a health swarms and there were others that landed in near-by spots! Part of the location of your apiary(ies) and the hazard, as well. Many times, I have apiary is visible just beyond the tree. usual information but you must also been called to advise the property initial a statement that says, “I hereby owner about what should be done certify that I am in good standing with these abandoned hives. The -Guidance-for-Industry--Proper- with respect to any obligations for other problem we have here in our Labeling-of-Honey-and-Honey- child support and, under the pains county are the large apiaries put all Products.pdf. Ann Harman wrote and penalties of perjury, that I am around by commercial beekeepers an excellent article covering this in good standing with respect to between pollination contracts. There area in the February 2016 Edition or in full compliance with, a plan will be 50 or more hives set out in of Bee Culture. It is available to approved by the Commissioner of fi elds with no identifi cation that can read at https://www.beeculture. Taxes to pay any and all taxes due to be seen from the road of the owners com/honey-labels/. Honey label the State of Vermont as of the date that should be notifi ed if there are requirements vary from state to state of this application.” So, if you are a problems. This last spring, I was so before designing yours check with deadbeat, don’t become a beekeeper called to get a swarm from a fence your own state. in Vermont! post near such an apiary. While I Laws come into existence when North Dakota claims to be the was waiting for the swarm to walk problems arise. Researching the highest honey producing state in the onto the comb I had propped up on various laws for this article made nation, so it is not surprising that the the post, I walked over to see the me think about why they came bee laws there are very strict with many beehives in the field. I was about. When an area is threatened harsh penalties for breaking them. amazed to see seven more swarms with Africanized bees, laws come to The section on Identifi cation of apiary in a nearby tree, another swarm be written to protect the European states, 1. “A beekeeper shall identify all over a fallen over tree and hives honey bees we can safely keep. each apiary for which the beekeeper that were just beginning to swarm! When beekeepers do not maintain is responsible by: a. Affi xing a three- I called the number on the beehives their colonies and diseases are digit identifi cation number, assigned and got an answering machine. That spread, more laws are written. Take a by the agriculture commissioner, that did not help the situation at all! I responsible attitude towards keeping is prominently displayed and visible called some other beekeepers to bees and familiarize yourself with upon approach to the apiary’s main help capture these swarms so they your state and local laws. Your entrance, provided each digit is at would not wind up all over the area neighbors and fellow beekeepers least three inches (7.62 centimeters) in who-knows what buildings! I left will have more respect for you when high, one-half inch (1.27 centimeters) the message stating what I was doing you take this seriously. If you don’t wide, and weather-resistant; and b. and why. I later contacted the owner like the way the laws are written, Displaying the beekeeper’s name and by e-mail after doing some research. work with your state and/or local phone number in a location that is I actually was trespassing to get the beekeepers’ association to be heard prominently displayed and visible information needed to contact the by the government. BC upon approach to the apiary’s main apiary owner. They did forgive me, entrance, provided the numbers and fortunately. letter used are at least one and one- Honey labels have Federal half inches (3.81 centimeters) high guidelines to follow. There is a pdf and weather-resistant. 2. Any apiary document you can download to that is not identifi ed, as required your own fi les at https://www.fda. by this section, may be subject to gov/files/food/published/PDF--

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April2021.indd 81 3/12/2021 9:01:50 AM 82 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 82 3/12/2021 9:01:50 AM BIGGER PICTURE Jessica Louque Winter Food

It might seem like Winter would praecox), Witchhazel (Hamamelis likes sun to partial shade unless you be a strange thing to think about, vernalis), and Cornelian Cherry (a live in a warmer zone and needs well now that we’re fi nally (mostly) past dogwood species, Cornus mas), I drained soil. It’s drought resistant the cold months, but the time to decided to go look around outside and after it’s established, and it makes plant and throw our overactive see if I could fi nd anything blooming. a good ground cover. Winter Heath imaginations to the outside world To my disappointment, I couldn’t is also deer resistant, can tolerate has come! You probably know by fi nd anything blooming and barely some salt in the soil if you live closer now what hives made it, and some anything green! After realizing that to the coast, and isn’t susceptible to have most likely swarmed by now if my bees really don’t have much to go most diseases and pests unless you you’re in a remotely warm place. Here for before the maples start to bloom, overwater it and it gets root rot. in NC, one of the biggest things to I went out and made a giant mess Winter Daphne likes a little make a difference in hives surviving with pollen (AP-23 from Dadant) and shade but is usually planted close the winter is providing pollen during made a bunch of patties. Once all the to a porch or deck because they are the late Winter when colonies start bees were fed, the research started on fragrant. They are not particularly producing new brood. There’s not a winter blooming plants that would drought tolerant and need a lot more lot going on outside, and they don’t survive here. water than the Winter Heath. It’s also keep stores of pollen like stores There are no nurseries or an evergreen and typically comes of honey. Pollen patties aren’t as greenhouses that are particularly variegated. After I bought these two, nutritious as natural fl ower pollen, close to where we live, so commercial bees started coming to the porch on but it can’t really be helped at that stores are about the only option sunny days to visit the blooms. time of year. In that case, what unless you drive over an hour. I went If you are close to an arboretum, can you do to try to augment their to get . . . light bulbs? A pot? Who this would be a great place for supply? Obviously, go way overboard knows . . . but I ended up with not inspiration for your area. You’ll be and plant more things outside. only some random houseplants that able to see not only what blooms, Some of it may depend on your were really sad, but some Winter but how big it gets and what you green thumb ability, because planting Heath and Daphne. I brought these can expect when it matures. If you in the Spring means you have to take home before I had looked up a lot, but have room to plant witchhazel and care of them during the Summer and they were sitting outside in the garden wintersweet, I’d defi nitely go for it. keep them watered. I prefer this to a center and blooming quite happily in If not, look for smaller shrubs and little more over planting in Autumn the cold. Winter Heath (Erica carnea) bushes, or even bulbs that can match because it gives the roots a better is in the blueberry family and you can your space. A generalized search for chance of digging in before bad tell when you look at the fl owers. It winter blooming plants and your zone weather. We are really unpredictable should give you some suggestions, here because we can have a 70 but contacting a county extension degree day turn into a 20 degree agent or your local arboretum might day and see-saw all over the place give you a better perspective on your with every weather possible all in specifi c area. 24 hours, basically from September I love bulbs and I think they through April. If I really want a plant, are overlooked a lot by outdoor I may ignore hardiness zones, but in plant enthusiasts. Not all of them general I prefer to look for something are attractive for honey bees in that can survive one zone down from particular, but they do attract bumble us because we vary so wildly here. I’ll bees, hummingbirds, moths, and have plenty of suggestions for plants some birds even. My Cana Lilies here, but you’ll need to do your own are always covered by bumble bees, research based on your zone to make and everything will go to Dahlias. sure they can survive. I’ve seen honey bees on my ginger (I I didn’t start thinking about it guess technically a tuber, but still until I saw an Instagram post by the bulb-y). For the Spring, it’s hard to NC Arboretum on their blooming beat bulb blooms if you do it right. I plants in early January. After seeing doubt most of us could ever recreate their Wintersweet (Chimonanthus the picturesque tulip farms created Winter Daphne.

April 2021 BEE CULTURE 83

April2021.indd 83 3/12/2021 9:01:52 AM Winter blooming garden with options anything to replace it with and you’re like these and see what my honey just out of luck. I have had some bulbs bees will go to. Winter Mahonia and get lost for a while and still survive, Camellias are fairly large shrubs and some that couldn’t sprout. They that have prolifi c blooms. Camellias kept a cactus long enough to kill it are a southern staple and loved by once. Just be careful. On the upside, bees around here. They come in a if you are a fan of a specifi c plant, like multitude of colors and varieties if a Caladium, for example, you can fi nd you take the time to fi nd them. an insane amount of varieties to suit To obtain your new coveted your fancy. If you want to grow some Winter garden, your best bet is to exotic gingers, well let me tell you, go to a local greenhouse or nursery you are in luck because you can fi nd and see what options they have all kinds of crazy shapes and colors! If available. A local owned business you want to grow your own Hellebore will be better because the people who from seed, your options are nearly work there will be more likely to be limitless. Etsy is one of my favorite knowledgeable about the plants and places to look for unique plants, even growth habits than people working in if sometimes it’s just to see what’s a large chain store. A smaller place the most outrageously priced plant I can fi nd. If you’re wondering, it Winter Heath. is also going to be more vested in the success of their plant and want to was a $13,500 Monstera that was by the Dutch, but you can still have help you succeed by choosing plants variegated. The sellers are almost some nice bulb spots around your that will fi t your home and abilities. always really helpful and will send house. Snowdrop (Galanthus) is aptly If you are not interested in personal growing instructions and help with named because it can be in bloom interactions yet, there’s always specifi c questions. One of my favorite while snow is still on the ground. internet ordering. bulb dealers for Caladiums and Cana Siberian Squill or Early Scilla (Scilla Plant hoarding has become a new Lilies is Blue Buddha Farm out of sp) are both early blooming fl owers popular hobby during this time of South Carolina. I know Caladiums that bees love. Some people don’t being at home for most of your time, aren’t honey bee plants, but they do like Siberian Squill because it’s which makes it easier to get plants – add a nice backdrop. If you really considered invasive but I’ve never in some ways. I am absolutely guilty connect with a grower or like their honestly been able to get it to take of ordering ridiculous plants from shipping skills (some of these people very well here. Crocus and dwarf Iris the internet just because I found it. are plant-packaging MASTERS), are both early bloomers as well. Do Since more people want plants, a then you could also ask them about some research and see what you can lot of people are attempting to grow acquiring plants that you want. Keep reasonably get to grow well for you. outdoor plants indoors, giving home an open mind, shop small, and feed For small shrubs, Winter Aconite, gardeners a larger variety of plants for those bees! BC Cyclamen, and Hellebore are good their planting pleasure. The problem examples of Winter blooming fl owers is that the common shipment comes Visit BeekeepingTodayPodcast. that are reliable. Hellebore is the by way of the postal service, which com to hear Jessica and Bobby Louque only one of the three I have tried is only slightly more reliable as a talk about what all they do with their bees, outside, and it has had bees visit mode of delivery than a dead horse. and their role in honey bee and pesticide it. My next plan is to make a whole I cannot stress enough to you how research. important it is to pay the extra for priority with insurance, even if it’s not an expensive plant or bulb. There have been numerous orders that I’ve had to get reshipped because our Greensboro Distribution Center can’t seem to get packages out. It has come to my attention (through my loud ranting about dead plants and lost packages all the way back before Christmas) that the center has Under New Ownership had a lot of problems. As with nearly FOR ALL YOUR PACKAGING all government organizations, it is CONTAINERS FOR PACKING HONEY a complete jumble of understaffed, No orders too Large or Small overworked, and responsibilities Our Business Is Built On Service, Quality & Dependability. dropped. What this means for you is 515.266.6112 • FAX 515.266.1112 that if you don’t choose to upgrade your shipping, you may very well be [email protected] the recipient of a box of dead plants. www.blplasticiowa.com Sometimes your seller will replace, 12726 Base Line Road Making a mess with pollen. and sometimes they don’t have Kingston, IL 60145 84 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 84 3/12/2021 9:01:52 AM My husband has no idea I doing good. My husband on the other contacted Bee Culture, the favorite hand had an empty heart with his magazine he reads. Let me tell you a mom now not with us on this earth. little about my husband, Art Santore. He started drowning his sorrow into He was a licensed professional cage beekeeping. It helped him still feel fi ghter for 10 years. His nickname close to her like when they worked was El Pachuco. He wore a zoot suit the bees together at his grandparents’ dancing to Big band music before he home growing up. got in the cage to fi ght. We traveled Then he started teaching my the world. He fought in Mexico City, daughter the craft of beekeeping. He Mexicali, TJ, Tokyo Japan, Quebec got her a full bee suit and she became Canada, the Hard Rock in Las Vegas, his assistant. Her and her daddy The Orleans In Las Vegas, San shared that hard work, that special Diego California, Upland California, time together. She loved it as much as Portland Oregon, and Austria to her father. We now have a real honey name a few. He is tough as nails. He extractor that saves time. He still has did it to provide more for our family some of his original boxes. It’s been and our three children we were fun to watch Queen bees be delivered raising at the time. to the house that say live bees! That Now let’s take it back a bit my was a fi rst for me. Art and I have been husband’s mother, grandmother married 25 years. I do not have all and grandfather had bees. Art used the knowledge Art has. Art reads and to help take care of the bees when watches many videos to learn more he was young. When we married each day. He shares his craft with Art and Shelise after a fi ght in Mexico. and had kids, we made it a family others. He now has two buddies that affair. The kids and I would work are beekeeping. inside extracting the honey by hand, The honey tastes better than cage squeezing the comb and making little any other honey I have ever tasted. I wax balls that would drain through a think when you put in the work you fighter to strainer. My husband and his mother appreciate a local, pure honey in a would do the outdoor work with the new way. We are able to share it with beekeeeper bees. friends and our family really loves When my husband retired from it because they know what they are Shelise Atkinson fi ghting and we moved to Bakersfi eld getting. We have videoed them many California where he became a sheriff, times during the whole process of he got five of his own hives. My harvesting honey. It is a big job but husband has been through so much the end product is the best. these last 10 years. His sister had I am so thankful Art has this breast cancer. His mother and I both hobby. He calls his honey Fuzz Buzz. got thyroid cancer at the same time. I My sister and cousin came up with had surgery a week before she died. that. Then my niece drew a honey I am now on watchful waiting and bee with a offi cer hat on. My mom printed us some stickers for our jars. It was fun to see everyone involved. My little sister sent us some honey bear containers. Then this past Christmas our family got us bee dishes, t-shirts, signs, socks, jewelry and other fun things all centered on bees. My husband calls me the Queen bee. We laugh that he is the worker bee of course and my daughter is the bee charmer. Our children are all grown now and have moved out but my husband continues the tradition of beekeeping. Art working his hives. Art’s father and half-brother also have hives. His uncle and sister on his mother’s side also. So, it’s fun for them to talk about it when we get together. What a healthy way to spend time as a family making Art after a match. memories that will last a lifetime. BC

April 2021 BEE CULTURE 85

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86 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 86 3/12/2021 9:01:54 AM M G P O H B

Hossam Abou-Shaara1 and Mahmoud El-Kelany2

Monitoring the health of honey bee, Apis mellifera Modifi ed cages: L., colonies is very important to prevent prevalence of Two cages can be used to monitor gut pathogens diseases, and to protect the colonies from sudden collapse. according to the number of bee samples. The fi rst cage External parasites of honey bees can be identifi ed simply is a normal Benton cage, but modifi ed to have two mesh without killing the bees, while the identifi cation of gut sides as shown in Fig. 1A. This cage is suitable for bee pathogens requires the dissection of the bee sample, queens either mated or virgin, and for small numbers mostly workers and drones and not queens. Most studies of workers or drones up to 5 individuals. The second avoid investigating queens, because one queen exists in a cage is a plastic petri dish with two mesh sides (Fig. 1B) normal bee colony. A simple and non-destructive method (modifi ed after Abou-Shaara & Elbanoby, 2018). This cage to monitor gut pathogens in honey bees is described type is suitable when a larger number of bees or drones using simple laboratory tools. The presented method is needed and up to 15 is used. The height of these two can be used to monitor gut pathogens of bees without cages is about 1.5cm. It is not preferable to use cages with killing them. height more than 2 cm, to prevent the caged bees from defection on the sides of the cages. There is an opening in Key words: Apis mellifera, Nosema, beekeeping, health. each cage to allow the insertion and removal of the bees.

Introduction Detection of gut pathogens without killing the bees: Honey bee colonies suffer from the risk of infection with First, collect the bee sample; queens, workers or many gut pathogens, including Nosema spp., which can drones, and then place them in the modifi ed cages. cause many deleterious effects on adult bees (Fries et al. Secondly, place the cages above small plates fi lled with 2013). At the same time, a decline in honey bee colonies water (Fig. 2). Food, e.g. sugar candy, can be added in has been recorded in the last few years in combination the cages based on the study. Then, check the water with the phenomena of colony collapse disorder or CCD, plates daily to observe the accumulation of feces; mostly and Nosema besides other factors have been considered drones and queens defect within two days, diseased as potential causes (Evans et al., 2009; Paxton, 2010). workers rapidly defecate while healthy ones may take Other gut pathogens can attack the bees, including more time. It is possible to press the abdomens of some some trypanosomes (Runckel et al., 2011; Schwarz & bees above water plates to rapidly collect the feces, but it Evans, 2013). The early detection of these pathogens in is not recommended because it may destroy the abdomens bee colonies is necessary to protect the colonies from of queens and workers, and can cause death especially collapsing. to young workers and drones. Then, remove the water The common method to detect the infection of bees plates and inspect some water drops directly under the with gut pathogens depends on dissecting or mashing the bee samples, mostly workers, and then analyzing the gut content using a microscopic or genetic methods (Fries et al. 2013; Abou-Shaara, 2018). This method depends on killing the bee sample, and this is a problem in case of inspecting a large number of samples, and also no extra experiments on the same sample of diseased bees can be performed. The available alternatives to this method include detecting the infection in dead bees (Fries et al., 1984), or by expecting the infestation based on the clinical symptoms (e.g. Fries et al. 2013). But these two methods can only be effective after the prevalence of the pathogens inside the colonies, and after causing noticeable damages, and can not be used as early diagnostic methods. Here, a simple, non-costly and non-destructive method for the detection of gut pathogens of honey bees using only modifi ed cages and simple steps is described. Figure 1. Modifi ed cages with two mesh sides, and can receive different number of bee samples. A) Modifi ed Benton cages suit- able for bee queens and few numbers of workers or drones (7.5X 1Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Damanhour University, 4X 1.5cm, LXWXH), B) Modifi ed petri dish suitable for larger P.O. Box 22516, Damanhour, Egypt. email [email protected] number of drones or workers (diameter of 8.5cm, and height of 2Research. 1.5 cm).

April 2021 BEE CULTURE 87 

April2021.indd 87 3/12/2021 9:01:57 AM microscope, or alternatively use centrifuge to separate feces and then use PCR analysis to detect the pathogens. The number of times to collect feces from samples can be adjusted according to the purpose from the study, also other parameters (e.g. survival rates, body weight, food consumption rates) can be recorded for the caged bees during monitoring period of abdominal pathogens. The method presented in this article is not only simple and requires non-costly materials, but it allows performing of various experiments on diseased bees, without killing them, besides monitoring of gut pathogens. BC

References: Abou-Shaara, H.F. (2018). Calendar for the prevalence of honey bee diseases, with studying the role of some materials to control Figure 2. Modifi ed cage is placed above a small water container Nosema. Korean Journal of Applied Entomology, 57(2):87-95. (A), and the feces inside the water (B). Abou-Shaara, H. F., Elbanoby M. I. (2018). Factors impacting survival of mature honey bee drones kept in small laboratory Paxton, R. J. (2010). Does infection by Nosema ceranae cause cages. Environmental and Experimental Biology, 16(1), 39-44. “Colony Collapse Disorder” in honey bees (Apis mellifera)?. Evans, J. D., Saegerman, C., Mullin, C., Haubruge, E., Nguyen, Journal of Apicultural Research. 49(1), 80-84. B. K., Frazier, M., Frazier, J., Cox-Foster, D., Chen, Y., Runckel, C., Flenniken, M. L., Engel, J. C., Ruby, J. G., Ganem, Underwood, R., Tarpy, D. R. (2009). Colony collapse disorder: D., Andino, R., DeRisi, J. L. (2011). Temporal analysis of the a descriptive study. PloS one.4(8), e6481. honey bee microbiome reveals four novel viruses and seasonal Fries I., Ekbohm G., Villumstad, E. (1984). Nosema apis, prevalence of known viruses, Nosema, and Crithidia. PloS one. sampling techniques and honey yield. Journal of Apicultural 6(6), e20656. Research. 23(2), 102-105. Schwarz, R. S., Evans, J. D. (2013). Single and mixed-species Fries, I., Chauzat, M. P., Chen, Y. P., Doublet, V., Genersch, E., trypanosome and microsporidia infections elicit distinct, Gisder, S., Higes, M., McMahon, D. P., Martín-Hernández, R., ephemeral cellular and humoral immune responses in honey Natsopoulou, M., Paxton, R. J. (2013). Standard methods for bees. Developmental and Comparative Immunology. 40(3-4), Nosema research. Journal of Apicultural Research. 52(1),1-28. 300-310.

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April2021.indd 89 3/12/2021 9:01:59 AM Perpetual Queen Management

Seeing ourselves in our bees colony’s “Mother” – seemingly the Obtaining queens We love our queens. We kill our leader of the group. We expect great Numerous detailed books and queens. We replace our queens. things from our colony, so we demand articles have been written on the We worry about our queens. We that the queen provide the genetic subject of raising, shipping, and selectively breed our queens. We clip stock to get the job done. Relating to introducing queens into colonies. My the wings of our queens. We mark our our colonies, we tend to allocate all intent here is to discuss the reasons queens. We write books and make blame and all goodness of the colony for requeening, including some movies about our queens. We just to the queen. suggestions and recommendations can’t get enough queen talk. We have For her, it is ultimately a lost on the task. never been satisfi ed with this whole cause. Even the very best queen queen thing. in the yard will one day soon be Raising or buying? The beekeeping craft is fi lled with a bad queen. Her reign is short, Yes, you can somewhat readily numerous instances of “humanized” controversial, and violent. It follows raise your own queens if that is how bees. As humans, we just can’t help that human feelings and attributes you choose to obtain queens, but it. Though they never asked for the will play a part in our decision to most of us will simply buy them (and attribute, we try to give human values requeen and otherwise manage her then later complain about them). to our bees. Beehives are painted existence. Apparently, prices for purchased white, historically a common house queens are only going to go up. The paint color, to ostensibly refl ect heat Why requeen at all? selling price of a replacement queen – but I have never been sure that heat “Bees know what’s best for them. has reached a level where requeening needed refl ecting. That white hive I let them raise their own queen.” must be taken more seriously. The has a landing board comparable to That would be a true statement if recommendation to regularly requeen our front porch. Our bees sting us our bees were not kept in artifi cial is a common one, but that does not when they are “angry”, or they buzz white domiciles with front porches. make it an automatic process. The “happily” during a Spring nectar The beeyard is a very unnatural requeening process should be taken fl ow. Drones are the goofy boys of the environment for our bees. Our white thoughtfully and with preparation. hive, and we smirk when discussing hives, sitting in neat, straight rows, the primary function drones serves. contain combs that are too straight. From whom to buy? Worker bees are the conscientious None of this is how the bees would Sorry, but that is your call. laborers within the hive, and we have done it themselves. The beeyard, The bee journals are replete with marvel at their “intelligence” and and the frames of comb contained advertisements for queens. Queens “skills.” in the hives, are of human design. are given as door prizes at state bee But above all, the queen is the In this mostly unnatural world, it meetings. Beekeepers talk amongst most humanized – more often vilifi ed becomes somewhat unfair to expect themselves about queen sources. – member of the colony. She is our bees to continue to act naturally. Sometimes, local beekeepers grow Regular requeening helps us a few local queens and offer them continue to keep bees our way, for sale. Spring is the season when year-round. Yes, the bees can and most beekeepers want new queens will provide for their own queen, but so Spring queens are the most it is frequently not to our human difficult to get. Summer queens advantage to have them do so. The and Fall queens are more readily most suitable queen for a feral bee available, but introduction will be a colony will most likely not be the bit more diffi cult. Ultimately, you the best queen for a beekeeper-managed beekeeper, will have to fi nd a source colony. for queens that is satisfactory for you. If your goal is productive, overwinterable colonies, you should What kind to buy? requeen regularly – at least every I can’t think of a single beekeeper other year. If your goal is watch who ever set out to buy a bad queen. biology in action, as an uninvolved We all want good queens, but the bystander, you can let them raise question is – how good? Queens of James E. Tew their own. various color and behavioral strains are there for you. Queens with varying claims for resistance to mites are now commonly offered. Most 90 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 90 3/12/2021 9:02:01 AM large-scale queen producers give their The queen – adored queens unique names that actually by both bees and have little to do with the quality of beekeepers – until the queen. Some of you like yellow she is not. queens while others are supporters of the darker Carniolan queens. In years past, Caucasian queens were marketed, but that strain has fallen from grace and are not now readily available. I normally try for the standard “good” queen, but there are plenty of you out there who want the very best-bred queen available and are willing to pay for her. Certainly, no harm done there. When you make your decision on where to buy your queens, you will secondarily decide how much you are willing to pay. requeening is certainly possible you have backup queens available, and, having said that so is Summer use the slow release procedure. When to complain? requeening. Winter requeening is After the old queen is removed, Need I say that the queens must obviously not an option. New queens the caged queen is put into the arrive alive? If they come to you dead, are not available and breaking colony. The type of queen cage being contact the producer immediately. clusters to fi nd and replace queens used will dictate where the cage But what if she comes in alive, but would no doubt cause great harm to should go. In any case, the caged she dies while in the cage on your the clustered colony. queen should be near the colony’s dining room table waiting for the brood nest. Just a few years ago, I rain to stop, so you can release her? How to requeen? would have confi dently told you to There is not as clear answer to this How to requeen? Let me count expose the candy plug in order for question. Or how about you pay the ways. Techniques range from the bees to slowly eat it, and thereby $30.00 for her, and then fi nd her installing a complete nuc to simply slowly release the queen. Now, I corpse in front of the hive the day rolling the replacement queen in more cautiously recommend that the after her release? Again, no clear warm water in your hand before queen cage candy plug stay plugged, answer. What if you successfully dropping her in the colony are in the and you, the beekeeper, actually introduce the queen and she is a low bee literature. That said, the most return to the colony for a second time producer? Not a lot of recourse there – common techniques require the to evaluate how well the introduction buy from someone else the next time. colony’s reigning queen be removed process is proceeding. In all areas of queen purchasing, be and a caged queen put in the colony. Candy plug up or candy plug fair to the producer and to yourself. Everything else is details. down? I don’t care. That is a detail But before you call with a sad story, for beekeepers to argue at meetings. you should know that experienced Kill the old queen? Just be sure that the nurse bees have queen producers have heard it all It matters little if you kill the access to the caged queen in order before. reigning queen and leave her in the to feed her. For the past two to three colony (humanism again). The bees years, I have been directly releasing When to requeen? don’t pine in agony and eagerly accept the queen onto the brood comb, but You need to requeen your the new queen in awareness that the I’m not prepared to say that you colonies before they need it. In my old queen is dead. Apparently, and should do that procedure. non-existent idyllic beeyard, I order strange to us, a colony is nuts about queens based on the calendar – avoiding parasitism and will kill a What to do with the attendant without even opening the colony. In perfectly good queen – even when bees? reality, I and many of you are already no other is available. Killing (or If you can, get them out. If you are standing by the colony looking at removing) the old queen and leaving uncomfortable doing that, leave them a failing queen before we rush to the colony queenless for a day or in. Caged attendants will undergo our phone to call for a new queen. so gives the colony the pheromonal the same introduction process as the With luck, we get our new queens opportunity to “realize” that they are queen. If the caged queen is to be held two weeks later. Valuable time has without a queen. outside the colony for several days, be been lost. Alas, better this desperate prepared to replace the attendants, way of ordering queens than not to How to manage the caged queen? with young nurse bees, as the older requeen at all. Though techniques exist for attendants die. As indicated above, the spring direct introduction, those techniques season is the easiest time to requeen. were developed during beekeeping How to release the caged queen? During a good nectar fl ow, the bees times when queens were plentiful and Historically, the recommendation are more amenable to accepting a cheap. Not now. Unless you really was to allow about three days for new queen. Having said that, Autumn know what you are doing, and unless the caged queen to become familiar

April 2021 BEE CULTURE 91

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92 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 92 3/12/2021 9:02:02 AM to the colony. I don’t mind doubling Just released. Will that time now. Upon returning to the they keep her – or colony on a bright, sunny day when not? bees are readily fl ying, using minimal smoke, gently open the colony and observe the cage. No doubt it is covered in bees. Remove the cage and gently brush the bees away. In fact, did they gently brush away? If not, and if they cling to the cage while showing a sting response, do not release the queen1. The bees are treating the cage the same way they will treat the queen. If all looks well, release the queen onto a frame of open brood, if available. Use capped brood if open brood is unavailable. human thing again)? Most of the 3. Are there instances in queen If the bees readily show hostility, time – yes – but sometimes the queen management when I don’t really recage the queen, and try again a few will be superseded long after she want a turbocharged queen? days later. has established a brood nest. That 4. So, do you release her quickly or The actual releasing phase can is just one of the mysteries of the leave her in the cage for days – and be dicey. The queen has been in bees. Ultimately, they are the ones days? that cage now for weeks and will who must decide if the queen is right 5. What do the big, commercial guys frequently be reticent about leaving for them. do? it. When using wooden cages, pry 6. Do you have any recourse if you the staple from one end and pull the Requeening – a necessary but iffy pay good money for a bad queen? screen wire back. It is imperative that task. 7. What should I know about using you carefully watch the queen. She As with any other aspect of nucs for introducing queens? will occasionally abruptly fl y away. keeping bees, the beekeeper’s ability 8. So, what about using virgin queens? Gently open the cage on the comb to assist a colony in requeening itself 9. Whatever else happens to come and entice the queen out. Again, is an acquired skill. However, you to mind. watch her. Even if she doesn’t fl y should know that even experienced away, she will nearly always run beekeepers’ profit from having a Thank you. upwardly. Once you get her turned high degree of good luck when Seriously, thank you for reading. around and headed into the brood undertaking this task. So much of I am always humbled that you took nest, things should be okay. I can’t our bee management could be made time to read to this point. BC lie. This is a tense moment in the so much better if we consistently queen introduction process. requeened. For a host of good reasons, Dr. James E. Tew, Emeritus Faculty, most of us won’t. Entomology, The Ohio State University Then what? and One Tew Bee, LLC; https://www. After releasing the queen and Queen management, part 2 honeybeeobscura.com; tewbee2@gmail. deciding that she is being properly The frustration of queen com accepted, leave her alone for a week management is in the details and or so. You will want to check the front variations. Bee management things of the hive each day in case she is have always been this way. Next rejected. If nothing else in this article month, I will take the article presented stays with you, it should be this: Queen above and tear it apart – so to speak. introduction is not an exact procedure. Different colonies, different caged Some possible topics in Part 2 https://youtu.be/2Cv1dCdkDw0htt // t b /2C1dCdkD 0 queens, different seasons, edited and will be: different beekeepers will all result in 1. When is the queen truly bad different outcomes. Sometimes bad enough to replace? things happen to good queens. Does 2. Are you really going to produce this story end with the new queen queens yourself? How will you do producing a brood nest and becoming that? the reigning monarch (there’s that

1Last Spring, upon returning to a package of bees that I had installed, the bees clung to the queen cage and were clearly aggressive. I gave them two more days, but the bees were still unhappy with the caged queen. Upon colony examination, I found a free-ranging queen already in place in the brood nest. The package producer had inadvertently shaken the colony queen in with the package bees.

April 2021 BEE CULTURE 93

April2021.indd 93 3/12/2021 9:02:06 AM calendar WE’RE BUYING HONEY VIRTUAL Adaptive Bee Breeding April 3, 10:00a - 3p. (MST). Cost is $40. ACROSS THE U.S.A. Speakers include Megan Mahoney, Melanie Kirby, John Jacob, Erik McEwen and more. To register and for more information please visit http:// bit.ly/nectarnomad.

COLORADO Spring Bee Camps – will be held by Tina Sebestyen near Durango. The beginner’s camp will be held June 11-16, geared towards beekeepers with at least one year experience. May 21-16 – this camp is for beekeepers with at least three years experience. The cost is $500 ($100 deposit). Camping and out- door facilities available at the site and hotels available in nearby Durango. For information please visit https://beequest.buzz or contact Tina at [email protected].

INDIANA Michiana Beekeepers Association Annual Meeting will be held May 15 in Nappanee. . Clarence Collison will speak in the morning followed in the afternoon by a Beekeeping Equipment Auction. ERIC WENGER CANDACE MOSS Pre-registration is required [email protected] [email protected] For information visit Michianabees.org. 620-877-0035 620-877-0161 MINNESOTA MN Honey Producers Summer Meeting will be held barkmanhoney.com July 8-9 in Mankato. Jim Gawenis, Sweetwater Science Labs, is the keynote speaker. For information contact [email protected].

WISCONSIN WI Honey Producers Fall Convention will be held Do All The Good You Can And Make November 4-6. at Hotel Mead Wisconsin Rapids. Sue Cobey is the keynote speaker. For information contact [email protected]. As Li le Fuss About It As Possible. Stuttering Gets the Royal Treatment

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94 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 94 3/12/2021 9:02:07 AM Display Advertisers Bees & Queens UMT Master Beekeepers ...... 86 NOD Formic Pro and ApiQueens ...... 66 Wicwas Press ...... 10 Bee Cozy ...... 3 Bastin Honey Bee Farm ...... 63 Young Harris Institute ...... 38 OxaVap...... 78 Bosler’s ...... 66 Rayonier Land License ...... 66 BZ Bee Pollination ...... 71 Equipment Sailor Plastics ...... 53 Gardner’s Apiaries ...... 88 Bee Smart Designs...... 92 Strong Microbials ...... 43 Hardeman Apiaries ...... 89 Cowen Mfg...... 82 Koehnen, C.F. & Sons ...... 39 Dakota Gunness ...... 41 Seeds & Plants Mountain Sweet Honey Co...... Forest Hill Woodworking ...... 11 Ernst Seeds ...... 53 Rockbridge Trees ...... 95 ...... Inside Front Humble Abodes Woodenware ...34 Old Drone ...... 72 Pierco Frames ...... 8 Old Sol Apiaries ...... 25 Suppliers Olivarez Honey Bees Inc...... 1 Propolis Etc...... 23 Acorn Beekeeping Equipment ....2 Pendell’s Italian Queens ...... 73 Superior Bee ...... 45 Beeline Apiaries ...... 52 Roberts Bee Company ...... 62 Swarm Trooper ...... 86 BetterBee ...... 7 Rossman Apiaries ...... 43 Blue Sky Bee Supplies ...... Singing Cedar Apiaries ...... 78 Related Items ...... Inside Back Cover Spell Bee Company ...... 88 Angel Bottles ...... 53 Dadant ...... 6,18 Strachan Apiaries ...... 78 Barkman Honey ...... 94 JZsBZs ...... 53 VSH Queens ...... 78 B Funnel ...... 72 Mann Lake Supply .....Back Cover Weaver, R Apiaries ...... 53 Beekeeping Insurance Ser...... 2 Maxant Industries ...... 38 Wilbanks Apiaries ...... 38 Beepothecary ...... 84 Miller Bee Supply ...... 28 Winters Apiaries ...... 92 Betatec ...... 38 New England Beekeeping Wooten’s Queens ...... 72 BIP ...... 46,52 Supplies ...... 28 Z’s Bees ...... 56 BL Plastics ...... 84 Queen Right Colonies ...... 57 Bucko Gloves ...... 66 Ross Rounds...... 23 Associations/Education Complete Supplement ...... 82 Rossman Apiaries ...... 43 2 Million Blossoms ...... 21 CreamPal ...... 86 Simpson’s Bee Supply ...... 89 A Closer Look ...... 42 Draper’s Bee Pollen ...... 72 Western Bee Supplies ...... 56 ABC & XYZ ...... 22 FixIt ...... 94 American Bee Journal...... 73 Global Patties ...... 9 American Honey Help Wanted ...... 72 Producers ...... 82 HiveAlive ...... 39 Bee & Butterfl y Habitat ...... 49 Hive Tracks...... 82 Farming Magazine ...... 72 Hogg Halfcomb Cassettes ...... 92 Project Apis m...... 45 Misco Refractometers ...... 86 Root Candles ...... 13 Mother Lode Products ...... 62

Applications now open for Mann Lake Eastern Apicultural Society (EAS) Youth Scholarship

This scholarship is open to young people ages 18-25 (at time of the conference- July 26-30, 2021) Veterans ages 18-30. It pays for most of the one week EAS conference expenses. Applications are due by April 30. For info and application: Go to the Eastern Apicultural Society web page, click on "Master Bee- keepers", and click on "scholar- ship". NOTE; in the event that EAS conference 2021 is cancelled, the successful candidate in 2021 will attend EAS in 2022.

April 2021 BEE CULTURE 95

April2021.indd 95 3/12/2021 9:02:08 AM fi shed all day Sunday and then, since I was in the neighborhood, dropped off some honey in Aspen. I inadvertently left the rear Icargo door of my Subaru open while I made my delivery. On my return, I discovered a young man leaning into the car to pet my Marilyn took this opportunity to gal Marilyn’s blue heeler dog Pepper. confess that she’d been the victim of a “He’s not friendly to strangers!” I shouted, and the man quickly much larger honey disaster, one that backed away. “But he’s really cute!” he said. she’d previously never told me about. “Cute but unpredictable,” I retorted. “My bad. I never should Over at Paul’s honey house, an have left that door open.” I picked up a couple more boxes of honey employee once tried to move four for my delivery, but this time I was careful to close the door. 55-gallon drums of honey a short A short time later, when I reached for my car keys, I found distance on a fl atbed truck, but without in my left front pocket not my own Subaru keys, but somebody tying them down. He hit a bump in the else’s Subaru keys. My own keys were in my other pocket. What?! road, the barrels tipped over, fell off the I racked my brain all the way home, wondering how such a thing truck, and the lids popped off. I’m not could happen. sure how you clean up a ton of honey The next morning it hit me: Surely that young man had his oozing over a dirt road. keys in his hand when he leaned into my car, and he dropped them The dermatologist wants to cut out when I shouted at him. I must have unconsciously picked them up, a little bit of my elbow – just enough to thinking they were my own, and put them in my pocket. make me not want to lift a brood super I felt like Sherlock Holmes when I put this together, but Marilyn for awhile. I fi nd this very inconvenient! was unimpressed. She cautioned that I should be more mindful. I also have a hitch in my git-along that All-wheel-drive Subarus are very popular here in ski country, comes and goes. And a few old-man but they carry some political baggage. I have a friend who bought complaints. Otherwise I’m in perfect a secondhand Honda Civic, when he could have gotten a much health. better deal on a Subaru Forester. When asked why he opted for Maybe you’re young, and you the Honda, he said, “I don’t want anybody to think I’m a liberal.” I wonder what it’s like to get old. I’ll tell think this is just plain silly. you. It’s not necessarily that you totally I recently had a row with another dear friend and fellow fall apart, at least right away. You might beekeeper over religion and politics. Imagine that! It started feeling still feel like a million bucks – some of personal. Finally, at my insistence, we agreed to never discuss the time – except when your damned such weighty matters again, but instead to retreat to the common knee won’t work, or you can’t pee in the ground we share in our passion for our favorite insect. Cultivating middle of the night. Creaky, worn-out what we have in common with our neighbors is more fruitful than body parts are one reason we seniors arguing over our differences, don’t you think? can get so cranky. If in the time of Covid you miss those stimulating bee lectures Tomorrow’s our Valentine’s Day. at regional and national bee meetings, you might check out former Marilyn and I have reservations at the Bee Culture editor Kim Flottum’s free beekeeping podcasts at Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs. Beekeepingtodaypodcast.com. Just click on talks by honey bee Room service, please! But fi rst, a day of rock stars like Marla Spivak, Dewey Caron and Jay Evans, kick skiing in Aspen -- at Buttermilk -- where back, and learn a lot. the slopes are gentle and the grooming I believe in freedom of speech and all, but there’s no shortage of immaculate. bee BS out there, especially on the internet. That’s why it’s good for Marilyn’s the better skier. She’ll all of us – but especially for beginning beekeepers – to have a reliable surely try to coax this old ski patroller honey bee reference like Kim’s Beekeepingtodaypodcast.com. into some fresh crud, but I’m not biting. Some years ago, my dear sweet niece told me her friend was I have the perfect excuse. I’ve got a hitch writing a book about beekeeping. Could her friend ask me a few in my git-along. questions? I said of course. I did answer some questions, and then I promptly forgot all about it. One day out of the blue Kim called. A Ed Colby copy of this book came across his desk. He didn’t speak too highly of it, and he wondered if I knew that I was quoted in the book. “Did I really want to be associated with this?” was the question he posed. Hitch In My I told him accuracy’s important, but this was a favor to my one and only niece. Sometimes family has to come fi rst. Get-Along You want to be careful when you’re fi lling honey containers and not get tempted to multi-task. When the phone rang the other day, I picked it up in the kitchen. I was still talking a few minutes later, when Marilyn walked into the sunroom and screamed. Honey fl owed freely from an open valve on my 15-gallon tank. I fi gure I only lost a gallon. I spend my whole life on my knees, scraping honey off the fl oor, and mopping. BOTTOM BOARD 96 BEE CULTURE April 2021

April2021.indd 96 3/12/2021 9:02:09 AM