tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42576198634579934532024-02-06T19:48:40.437-08:00Methow Valley BeekeepersDave Saboldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09037672645082006950noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257619863457993453.post-23187186730354592412018-02-10T14:22:00.001-08:002018-02-10T14:24:26.593-08:00<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.gradschool.umd.edu/newsroom/3835">Wrong for 50 years</a></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Varroa mites do NOT suck hemolymph! </span></span>Dave Saboldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09037672645082006950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257619863457993453.post-71471653575408911262015-08-08T06:55:00.000-07:002015-08-08T06:55:59.854-07:00Yellowjackets<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Craig Lints sent me this method. It works! I too have killed thousands using his technique. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
Dave,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
Heard
you were having problems with yellowjackets. I have lost two hives so
far. Once,they discover a weakness, they are like a shark feeding frenzy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
In
the last couple days I have worked out something that seems to help.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
What
I've found is that removing the dead hive doesn't help. They just move
down the line and start on the next hive. They have a homing instinct to
the food source and even when it is removed they keep searching for a weakness
in an adjacent hive.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
So
I got the idea of leaving the dead hive as a bait hive. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
What
I do is take an empty super and staple screen over the top. Then remove
the lid on the bait hive and put a pan of soapy water on top of the frames.
Cover this with the screened super. Wasps come in the bottom entrance and
feed. When they leave, they sense the light above and try to leave via the
top. They mob the screen trying to get out. Bouncing around in the
top box, they eventually splash into the soapy water and die.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
Two
things are important. First not any way out of the top box. I tape it to
the box below. And be sure the screen is very tight. The smallest
gap and they will find it. Second, put blocks under the tray of soapy
water so it is close to the screen, maybe an inch or so. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
So
far I have killed thousands.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
craig</div>
Dave Saboldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09037672645082006950noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257619863457993453.post-53878054565734253972015-02-08T11:03:00.001-08:002015-02-08T11:03:22.789-08:00Bees coming in AprilGib Earl will bring five frame nucs to the valley in April as he has done in previous years. You can visit the Methow Beekeepers site on Facebook or contact Paul Jennings or Dave Sabold for more information. Dave Saboldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09037672645082006950noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257619863457993453.post-77329594485902189542014-09-29T07:52:00.004-07:002014-09-29T07:52:59.244-07:00Bee WearI had a long phone conversation with Bill Allen in Seattle. He produces clothing with bee images, which you can see at www.beewear.us. He will do custom design and production too. I'll attempt to post an image of his images so you can see them right here. Meanwhile you can click on his website.Dave Saboldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09037672645082006950noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257619863457993453.post-11289692436706790172014-04-25T10:37:00.002-07:002014-04-25T10:37:48.794-07:00<div class="MsoNormal">
FYI Methow Valley Beekeepers: I received an email request this morning asking me to post the website of these northwest queen breeders : <a href="http://www.wildernessbees.com/" title="http://www.wildernessbees.com/">http://www.wildernessbees.com.</a><span style="color: #393536;"></span></div>
Dave Saboldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09037672645082006950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257619863457993453.post-81470486602485759722014-02-07T10:30:00.003-08:002014-02-07T10:30:50.810-08:00<div class="yiv9072922342MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #e46c0a; font-family: BankGothic Md BT; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #e46c0a; font-family: 'BankGothic Md BT'; font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></b></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #e46c0a; font-family: BankGothic Md BT; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #e46c0a; font-family: 'BankGothic Md BT'; font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold;">MV
Beekeepers Community</span></span></b></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Opportunity to order Nucs for the 2014 season.
</span></span></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="color: #e46c0a; font-family: BankGothic Md BT; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #e46c0a; font-family: 'BankGothic Md BT'; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></span></span></u></b></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="color: #e46c0a; font-family: BankGothic Md BT; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #e46c0a; font-family: 'BankGothic Md BT'; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold;">5
Frame Nucs</span></span></u></b></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">With the popularity of
Gib’s nucs on the rise, he has given the Methow Valley the priority in receiving
Nucs – last year he sold out and this year he is already getting lots of
positive attention. If we get to 100, Nucs Gib will deliver to the MV in
mid-April – included in the cost below! (The Sabold’s is his <u>only
</u>delivery spot)</span></span></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Here is the
scoop:</span></span></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342msolistparagraph">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;"><span>1.<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">5
frame Deep Nucs with Cross Queen in Cage…………… $116.60</span></span></b></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342msolistparagraph">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;"><span>2.<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span></span></span></span></b><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Cross
Queen in Cage………………………………………….$27</span></span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> (Carniolian or
Carniolian cross with Italian… there will be mixed color worker bees)<b><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></b></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="yiv9072922342MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" />
</span></span></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="color: #e46c0a; font-family: BankGothic Md BT; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #e46c0a; font-family: 'BankGothic Md BT'; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold;">Wooden
Ware and Frames!</span></span></u></b></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">New opportunity to
load-up on Hive Bodies, Westerns and Supers. We have all spent too much on
shipping and labor assembling – now there is an option you might be interested
in. Place your order with the Nucs and Hive Kit will be delivered here the same
day as your Nucs. Pretty cool. Below is a list of essentials. Treated wooden
wear is what Gib does for his 2500 hives – he hot dips in a blend of Linseed oil
and Beeswax. Is a natural and long lasting treatment. You cannot paint the box
after this treatment – it will weather like natural wood and look more natural
in our valley. </span></span></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Item
List:</span></span></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342msolistparagraph">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><span>1.<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Deep Box with 10
frames, Treated & Assembled………….$55.00 ea</span></span></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342msolistparagraph">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><span>2.<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Deep Frames by
themselves…………………………………$ 3.65 ea. (All frames are Mann Lakes assembled and wax
coated ritecell foundation)</span></span></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342msolistparagraph">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><span>3.<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Deep box, Treated &
Assembled…………………………....$23.35 ea</span></span></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342msolistparagraph">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><span>4.<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Western boxes with 10
frames assembled and treated…. $50.10 ea</span></span></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342msolistparagraph">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><span>5.<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Western Frames by
themselves………………………….…..$ 3.35 ea</span></span></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342msolistparagraph">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><span>6.<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Western Box assembled
and treated………………………..$21.15 ea</span></span></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342msolistparagraph">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><span>7.<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Cedar Hive
Lid…………………………………………………$23.00 ea</span></span></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">
</span></span></b></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">What
to do – </span></span></b></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342msolistparagraph">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><span>1.<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Email your list of
items in the next couple weeks, </span></span></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342msolistparagraph">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><span>2.<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">In late February I will
send out another email confirming the quantities – you can amend your order at
that time. </span></span></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342msolistparagraph">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><span>3.<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Payment at the time of
the order. March First – Mail a check to me, made out to: Gib Earl
</span></span></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">I will hold these
checks for Gib until he delivers. </span></span></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342msolistparagraph">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><span>4.<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">With receipt of your
check your order will be confirmed. </span></span></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #f79646; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></b></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="color: #e46c0a; font-family: BankGothic Md BT; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #e46c0a; font-family: 'BankGothic Md BT'; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold;">Pick-up</span></span></u></b><b><span style="color: #e46c0a; font-family: BankGothic Md BT; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #e46c0a; font-family: 'BankGothic Md BT'; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold;">
</span></span></b></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Marilyn & Dave
Sabold have generously offered to host the NUC Pick-up. Thank you Sabolds’! In
order to not be to be a burden - this year all items must be picked up by 11am.
If you cannot make it by noon you can ask a friend to pick-up on your
behalf. </span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: BankGothic Md BT; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'BankGothic Md BT'; font-size: 14pt;"></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="yiv9072922342MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" />
</span></span></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="color: #e46c0a; font-family: BankGothic Md BT; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #e46c0a; font-family: 'BankGothic Md BT'; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold;">Queen
Bees</span></span></u></b></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">If you need to re-queen
or want to make splits – Gib is offering Queens . </span></span></div>
<div class="yiv9072922342MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">A Queen is $27 (each)
and will be delivered at the same time as the Nucs (delivered here to the Methow
in Mid-April). </span></span></div>
Dave Saboldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09037672645082006950noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257619863457993453.post-27218715992766937612013-11-17T11:07:00.000-08:002013-11-17T11:07:13.841-08:00November NewsletterThe November 2013 issue of the Washington State Beekeepers Association
newsletter has now been posted. Pick up your copy from the main page at <a href="http://www.wasba.org/" title="http://www.wasba.org/">www.wasba.org</a> by
clicking on "Newsletters & Info" on the home page. Then click "Current
issue: November 2013" on the page that opens.Dave Saboldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09037672645082006950noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257619863457993453.post-3673172107853077792013-11-17T07:26:00.000-08:002013-11-17T07:29:02.375-08:00Offer to sharecrop beeswaxI need more wax than my bees produce in order to make our beeswax skincream www.gardnergardens.com<www .gardnergardens.com="">. I will buy your refined or raw cappings wax. OR we could sharecrop at 50% if I refine your cappings. I'd return a block of your purified yellow wax in exchange.</www>Dave Saboldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09037672645082006950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257619863457993453.post-65544257784112561762012-04-13T19:43:00.001-07:002012-04-13T19:43:46.541-07:00second brood boxes added todayI looked at all my recently hived nucs and found all the new queens and saw some eggs she had laid. Quite a color contrast between the black queens and the lighter workers! I saw wall to wall bees and added second brood boxes today. Dave Blum caught a swarm from one of his (overwintered?) hives today. I'm pretty sure our nucs will want to swarm, especially if they feel crowded. One of my newly hived nucs had hundreds spilling out the front of the hive - that was my clue to add boxes.Dave Saboldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09037672645082006950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257619863457993453.post-70651608351191550352012-04-12T09:19:00.000-07:002012-04-12T09:19:29.688-07:00queens free now!This morning (Thursday April 12) I checked all five of my new nucs to see if the worker bees had released their queen. They had. I didn't want to disturb the colony to look for eggs. I'll wait until next week to check to make sure she's laying.Dave Saboldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09037672645082006950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257619863457993453.post-25566861555224886022011-11-06T14:46:00.000-08:002011-11-06T14:46:50.523-08:00Beekeeper Convention Report by Craig Lints<br />
<div class="Section1" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Recap of the 2011 </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Washington State Beekeepers Convention</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
For Methow Valley Beekeepers</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
By Craig Lints</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;">
There
were dozens of presentations and an enormous amount of material that was
presented at the convention. Many
of the talks were by scientists and were way over my head. What follows is not a complete recap by
any stretch. But rather, an effort
by me to make sense of what was presented as it applies to a practical,
small-time beekeeper.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Background:
The state of Beekeeping in the USA</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;">
The
Apiary Inspectors of America (AIA) and the USDA conduct an online survey to
estimate honeybee colony losses annually. <i>Local beekeepers are encouraged to
participate. </i> Go to <a href="http://beinformed.org/">http://beinformed.org</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;">
Historically,
losses of 10% to 15% were considered normal. In the 1990s, the tracheal mite pushed these numbers to over
20%. Since the varroa mite has
been a problem, these losses have pushed 30%. For small beekeepers (< 50 hives) in the Pacific
Northwest, WSU and OSU estimate that over 40% of colonies were lost last
winter.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;">
These
numbers are just for winter losses, based on reporting in the first two weeks
of April. There are summer
problems such as Colony Collapse.
So the full extent of the losses is probably well in excess of a third
of all colonies in the USA each year. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;">
Everyone
in the industry is concerned. The
situation is becoming increasingly fragile. At some point, the capacity of the queen and package
industry to keep up with demand could be overwhelmed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;">
This
increased demand is reflected in pricing for packages. In the 1980s, a package equated to
about 20lbs of honey at wholesale pricing. Even with the very high prices of honey today, a package now
costs over 50 lbs of honey.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;">
Scientists
and beekeepers all over the country are trying to figure out what is going on
and how to restore hive health. In
particular, new genetic and molecular tools are being applied to the problem.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;">
There
is mounting suspicion that the problems the industry face are an accumulation
of a lot of issues:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
1.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Varroa is certainly the most serious problem. There is a new product available that
shows a great deal of promise called Hop Guard. I will discuss this more below.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
2.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Tracheal mites and Nosema</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
3.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Poor queens.
Many of the presentations addressed this.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
4.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Nutritional problems brought about by monoculture agribusiness</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
5.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Sub-lethal effects of pesticides and fungicides
that accumulate in pollen and wax.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
6.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Although there was very little presented at the
convention on Colony Collapse, it was clear that there is no “smoking
gun.” It is worth noting that CCD
is a “symptom” not a disease.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;">
WSU
has a diagnostics lab that is available to all Washington beekeepers. <i>This
lab is there to help you!</i> Go to <a href="http://apis.wsu.edu/">http://apis.wsu.edu</a> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;">
Data
presented at the convention, based on last year’s samples from Washington and
Oregon, showed that 85% of samples had varroa mites, 50% had nosema and 40% had
tracheal mites. These are
astonishing levels of disease.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .25in;">
Organic, Natural, or Sustainable Beekeeping</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">There have been
efforts going back to 2002 to establish a standard for “organic” honey. The problem of course is that bees work
a huge area. Last year, the National Organic Standards Board finally came up
with a formal recommendation. Go
to: <a href="http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5087792">http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5087792</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> The standard has <u>not</u> been adopted
and it is my understanding that <i>no honey can be labeled as organic at this
time.</i></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The proposal will be
very difficult to comply with. For
example, the beekeeper must identify all possible sources of contamination
within a “forage zone” extending 1.8 miles from the apiary and a “surveillance
zone” that extends 2.2 miles beyond that.
This is an area of 10 square miles and 46 square miles
respectively. Imagine a beekeeper
with several yards of hives miles apart.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Another term that is
used by hobby beekeepers is “natural” beekeeping. The implication is that, if left alone, bees will do
just fine. This is naïve at
best. Most hives that are left
alone will die the first winter from varroa and almost all will die by the end
of the second summer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">A similar argument is
that feral hives represent the solution.
There is a great deal of interest in the genetics of surviving feral
hives. However, these colonies do
not necessarily represent a complete solution. As an example, one presenter pointed to feral colonies in
the southern states, where the Africanized bee is making inroads
genetically. These traits survive
because the African bee swarms and absconds often, which is a cleansing
mechanism, the queens hatch earlier, and the bees are very mean.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">So that leaves us
with “sustainable” beekeeping.
Beekeeping is moving to an IPM (Integrated Pest Management) system that
will involve more labor; labor to
monitor hive health and labor to deploy a range of treatments. Practically, this means that, except in
winter, the beekeeper will need to inspect hives every 10 –14 days.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 31.5pt; text-indent: -13.5pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Taking varroa as an example, an IPM system would:</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo7; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">a)<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Monitor mite levels by
one or more method:</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo7; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">i)<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Screened bottom / sticky
board</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo7; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">ii)<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sugar shake, ether shake
or alcohol shake</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo7; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">iii)<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lab tests (See WSU site above)</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo7; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">b)<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Mechanical controls</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo7; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">i)<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sugar dusting with
screened bottom board</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo7; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">c)<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Biological Controls</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo7; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">i)<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Drone brood removal</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo7; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">ii)<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Small cell brood
foundation</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo7; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">iii)<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Interrupting brood cycle</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo7; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">iv)<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Annual re-queening</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo7; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">d)<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Chemical controls</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo7; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">i)<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Formic Acid</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level3 lfo7; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">ii)<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hop Guard</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Ideally, an IPM
system would use two different types of control that work by different methods.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Varroa Control</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Because the varroa
mite is such a critical problem today, I will summarize what I learned from
several presenters.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">It is important to
understand the life cycle of the mite.
During brood rearing, half of the mites present are on the brood and
half attached to adult bees (phenetic).
However, over winter all the mites are phenetic because there is no
brood. Mites increase
exponentially in the spring along with the expanding brood nest. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">This presents an
opportunity for control. If mites
are suppressed to very low levels coming out of winter, the hive will
thrive. So a low initial level of
10 mites, becomes 20, becomes 40, becomes 80. Contrast that with a high initial level of 500, becomes
1000, becomes 2000, etc. (My numbers are just examples, not based on real
data.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">If a hive starts the
year with high mite loads, you will be fighting a losing battle all
summer. A low level in the spring
will keep the mite under control until fall. Then a single treatment in the
fall could be enough. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">There was a great
deal of buzz about Hop Guard at the convention. Hop Guard is available through Mann Lake Ltd. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Go to: <a href="http://www.mannlakeltd.com/">http://www.mannlakeltd.com/</a> </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hop Guard is approved
in Washington State. It is a
natural byproduct of beer making.
It is food grade. Tests
show no residue in honey. It only
affects the phenetic mites. As a
reslult, several treatments are required over a complete brood cycle of 21
days.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Since Hop Guard only
affects the phenetic bees, drone brood removal would be an example of a second
IPM method that complements it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Other Issues affecting Honey Bee Health</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">There were a variety
of presentations related to honey bee nutrition. For example, just like the human gut, scientists know that
the bee gut is a thriving environment for bacteria and viruses. Using modern genetic tools, scientist
are trying to determine which of these are normal and which are detrimental.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Another concern is
the loss of natural habitat. With
monoculture, bees increasingly eat a sequential mono-diet. (As a human, imagine eating nothing but
almonds for a month, then apples for the next month, etc). One scientist presented data showing
that a bees fed exclusively almond pollen had lower brood viability than bees
fed multiple pollens.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Many of the presenters
commented that “good nutrition is the foundation of hive health.” The importance of nutrition can’t be
overemphasized. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">There is also concern
that many pesticides, although tested for lethal effects to honey bees, may
have sub-lethal effects. One presentation
showed that a fungicide used extensively in the almonds dramatically affected
the viability of queen cells.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">In that presentation,
it was notable that the scientist took almond pollen from an “organic” orchard
and added the fungicide for the experiment. However, later, when the lab tests came back, there was a
completely different pesticide in both the “treated” and the “untreated”
pollen. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">They could not
explain where the pesticide came from.
This illustrates the saying that bees are “flying dust mops” and will
pick up contaminants that the beekeeper is completely unaware of.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Queens and Queen Breeding</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">There is anecdotal
evidence that commercially raised queens are declining in quality. Queen failure and supersedure seems to
be increasing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">However, one
presenter tested 144 queens from 12 different producers and compared the
results to data going back 40 years and concluded the queens of today are just
as good as they have ever been.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">There is some concern
that the problem may be the result of in-breeding. There are 28 sub-species of honey bees in the world. Although eight of these were imported
in the 1800s, only two remain (Italian and Carniolan) with some scattered
genetic evidence of a third (Caucasian). </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Washington has a
major queen researcher in Susan Colbey, who is splitting her time between WSU
and UC Davis. She and several graduate students went to Slovakia, Italy and
Georgia last year to import sperm from old world sources. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I especially remember
one of her photos in Slovakia. It
showed the “smoker” they used. It
was essentially a large cigarette with a wiff of smoke coming off it. Apparently the bees are very, very
gentle.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">She noted that one
should not conclude that “genetic diversity” means raising a mutt cross bee
(Italian/Carniolan/Feral). Instead she is looking for genetic diversity within
a single line of bees.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">She is a strong
advocate of locally produced queens.
However, because of the complications involved, she feels this is best
left in the hands of local breeders. She noted that any breeding program is a
long term commitment. It needs
simple and practical methods of evaluating the queens such as queen size, brood
viability, temperament, over-wintering survival, disease/pest resistance and hygienic behavior.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Good News</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I don’t want to leave
the impression that the sky is falling.
For example, the Methow is largely insulated from problems that affect
beekeepers in other parts of the country such as pesticides and monoculture.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">And some beekeepers
are having success. I particularly
remember Paul Hosika, who keeps about 75 hives in southeast Washington, with
weather very similar to ours. He
raises his own queens and consistently produces over 100 lbs of honey per hive
each year. This year he produced
10,000 lbs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<br /></div>
</div>Dave Saboldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09037672645082006950noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257619863457993453.post-52328828256070143472011-06-16T08:27:00.000-07:002011-06-16T17:18:54.727-07:00photos of catching a swarm, by Laurelle Walsh<a href="http://networkedblogs.com/j8kj5">http://networkedblogs.com/j8kj5</a>Dave Saboldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09037672645082006950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257619863457993453.post-3859698930977712392011-04-30T14:41:00.000-07:002011-04-30T14:43:59.466-07:00nuc day hits the world wide webYou can see Sheela McLean's story and photos of the pickup day for the bee nucs at http://www.methowvalley.com/beeready.htmlDave Saboldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09037672645082006950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257619863457993453.post-72235114403070753792010-03-25T07:10:00.000-07:002010-03-25T07:34:15.053-07:00wood duck swarmHello fellow beekeepers, On Friday, March 19th I was fortunate to go with a friend to the Okanogan river shoreline to get a swarm from a wood duck box. We went before the sun came over the hill and while the temp was still quite cool. My friend had a cover all ready for the hole, which he screwed into the wood around the entrance. We duct taped any other holes and gaps and then unscrewed the wood duck box from the tree, wrapped it in a blanket and put it in my truck. My friend had a new wood duck box with him so he put sawdust in it and hung it on the tree where we had removed the old one.<div> I drove back to the Twisp Carlton road and set the wood duck box upright on a makeshift stand and unscrewed the opening so the girls could check out their new environment.They were very docile. I checked them later that same day and they were flying all over the place getting used to their surroundings. </div><div> The next day I went to check up on them. I took a piece of their comb and set it aside. Then unscrewed the side of the wood duck box and set a hive body on top. We put wood pieces and tape to cover the openings around the wood duck box. Then we placed the piece of comb on the top of the frames in the hive box and put the lid on it. We left them and entrance into the wood duck box and one at the hive box ( a hole in the front). I am planning to go back this weekend to check on them. </div><div> If any of you have any ideas as to what else I should do to encourage the girls to move up into the hive box, I welcome your suggestions. I certainly don't claim to have much of a clue about all of this!!! Susie</div>susie khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05500252106870887048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257619863457993453.post-72726215181516193352010-02-18T08:55:00.000-08:002010-02-18T08:56:54.158-08:00slow motion bumblebee wingbeatshttp://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2010/02/super_slowmo_photography.html?ps=rsDave Saboldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09037672645082006950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257619863457993453.post-14442777356032193762009-11-30T17:32:00.000-08:002009-11-30T17:55:36.579-08:00Bees of the MethowHi Methow Valley Beekeepers<br /> I am new to the valley but have been beekeeping enthusiast for about 35 years. My family and I have decided to give the Methow a serious try and my intent is to eventually fulfill a childhood dream making my living as a full time beekeeper. <br /> I have been talking with Dave about my thought of nurturing a strain of bees in the Methow that would ween us off of the need to bring in commercial genetics and all the weaknesses that entails. We have a unique environment here where, if we chose, to we could control diseases and pest of honeybees. <br />Honeybees do not easily deal with the Alpine conditions that surround the valley, meaning the only ways they can get here is if we bring them in or if they swarm up through the lower reaches of the valley. I have looked at the end of the valley and my conclusion is it is probably so lacking in suitable cavities that very few if any swarms could make it here on their own.<br /> My goal in producing a Methow Bee is that we would be able to fall back to what beekeeping was like 100 years ago. Basic management without chemicals of any kind. I know the survivor genes are already present in the local population of bees. Dave has at least one candidate hive that has survived at least three winters without treatments. While I expect there are very few feral hives in the valley, there are bound to be a few. All we need to do if find them and collect genetic samples to add to our collection. <br /> Anyone else interested in participating? I will be looking for other survivor stock. The criteria is as follows. They need to have survived at least three years without any chemical treatment(hard or soft) of any kind. If they have requeened, it has to have been of their own accord, not because a commercial queen was added during that time period. I would also be most interested those that has minimal feeding done. <br /> Once we start, it will be our job to bring the rest of the beekeepers in the valley along so that we can rid ourselves of unadapted genetics from the outside unless we are expressly and consciously deciding to add to the gene pool from an outside source.<br /><br />Let me know if you are interested. My email address is <bicyclerev@aol.com><br /><br />cheers<br /><br />Hanz ScholzHanzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00459822185527818772noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257619863457993453.post-11769851120494916112009-07-02T08:27:00.001-07:002009-07-02T08:29:03.829-07:00check out this bee guy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91U6mAsbr1ukmH5bENg6jW_YhDYrjfeK2OmEkIfWRYFS7de-OszsZoOwvjCaJHcwiTXAZ2T-LDqYl1Vm4C13FWd8YkI_II8ljb6dag-w6jtCcNjBrX6lImVLWKmEB06ufdn3gpskYbAHR/s1600-h/bee+guy.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91U6mAsbr1ukmH5bENg6jW_YhDYrjfeK2OmEkIfWRYFS7de-OszsZoOwvjCaJHcwiTXAZ2T-LDqYl1Vm4C13FWd8YkI_II8ljb6dag-w6jtCcNjBrX6lImVLWKmEB06ufdn3gpskYbAHR/s400/bee+guy.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353885075935676994" /></a><br />STYLE | June 23, 2009 <br />Dining & Wine: The Beekeepers Ball <br />Benjamin Norman for The New York Times <br />Beekeepers, friends of beekeepers, people who like to dress as bees, bee-dressed children, and fans of local food were in attendance at a fund-raiser at Water Taxi Beach at South Street Seaport.Dave Saboldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09037672645082006950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257619863457993453.post-73085925826771085172009-05-04T07:25:00.000-07:002009-05-04T07:36:52.865-07:00Obama's beehive<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpRwYCAL2zH26esAzSo6eFTx24VpuHSP7U9SgkYrRyrRTLusxQ654M1f3U7A4ISwiNkne82Xc2hE_lPJzAAlyUj6ylDGBWxZNAZCH_WWzUhluUs25AGaXJKJwcVKdkiP7k3IYMG8tW6GN3/s1600-h/3440818648_e47b543bf9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpRwYCAL2zH26esAzSo6eFTx24VpuHSP7U9SgkYrRyrRTLusxQ654M1f3U7A4ISwiNkne82Xc2hE_lPJzAAlyUj6ylDGBWxZNAZCH_WWzUhluUs25AGaXJKJwcVKdkiP7k3IYMG8tW6GN3/s400/3440818648_e47b543bf9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331977296107744114" border="0" /></a>Dave Saboldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09037672645082006950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257619863457993453.post-13660433118669912402009-02-07T16:31:00.000-08:002009-02-07T16:53:00.852-08:00The bees are buzzing!Today was a gorgeous day and when it's this nice my thoughts always turn to the bees. We've been checking them out weekly or so to keep the top entrances open and to check for numbers of dead bees. One hive seems to have a lot more dead than the other, but it made us wonder if that hive was still alive. Maybe there weren't any bees left alive to remove the dead ones.<br /><br />Craig always said to look, smell, and listen. We can't look at them yet and can't smell anything, so today we got Don's stethoscope out and took it over to the hives. We placed the scope over the top entrance hole and heard a lovely humming coming through loud and clear from both hives! <br /><br />I guess I am a worry-wart beekeeper, but I was so happy to know that both hives were alive. I know we aren't out of danger yet; I worry about whether our bees had enough stores to make it all winter. It's very hard to have to wait to open the hives.<br /><br />We've ordered two more bee packages for April delivery. If both our hives survive the spring we'll be able to build our apiary to four hives. I think that's about all we'll be able to handle as hobbyists. I'm looking forward to comparing how the bees do who don't have to spend all their energy building comb like the package bees will have to do.<br /><br />Wishing that all of your bees make it through and that you can continue to enjoy the bees again this year!<br /><br />Bee MaryMaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05620014039620328203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257619863457993453.post-67260815412797270592008-10-17T07:38:00.000-07:002008-10-17T07:58:57.825-07:00Beekeeping calendarAt the potluck, Craig talked about the calendar developed at the Cornell University Master Beekeeping Program. Cornell has led the world in showing the best practical beekeeping techniques for many decades. Here's the link:<br />http://www.masterbeekeeper.org/calendar/calendar_home.htm<br /> - you may want to copy and paste onto a place on your computer, as in a bookmark, where you can refer to it now and then.Dave Saboldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09037672645082006950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257619863457993453.post-53935769500791791462008-07-19T16:56:00.000-07:002008-07-19T16:59:25.041-07:00great photo, Jen!I now use it for a desktop screen image, says Dave.Dave Saboldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09037672645082006950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257619863457993453.post-38965870172426992062008-07-12T08:39:00.000-07:002008-07-12T09:05:48.596-07:00Foulbrood DiseaseBEWARE OF FOULBROOD<div><br /></div><div>F/B is extremely contagious. There is no cure. The first warning sign is SMELL. (Remember, Look, Listen and Smell). Whenever you get into the brood chamber, inspect the sealed brood. If the brood caps are broken and the larvae is rotting in the cell, it is probably F/B. </div><div><br /></div><div>THE FINAL TEST IS TO TAKE A TWIG, PUT INTO THE DECAYING LARVAE AND PULL OUT. IF IT PULLS OUT LIKE A STRING, YOU HAVE AMERICAN FOULBROOD.</div><div><br /></div><div>I repeat, THERE IS NO CURE! If you discover an infected hive, be aware that everything you have used is now contaminated. Especially your hive tool, hands, etc. I keep alcohol with me for such an occasion.</div><div><br /></div><div>You must destroy the hive. Do this in the evening, after flight has stopped. Use a pump up type sprayer filled with soapy water and pull every frame and spray the flightless bees. They will quickly drown. Put everything into double, heavy duty garbage bags. In the fall you will burn everything in a BIG bonfire. Textbooks will say you can salvage the boxes (only) by scorching the inside with a plumber's torch, but I would not trust it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Foulbrood is spread by robbing. As the hive weakens (because there is no brood hatching), it will be robbed out by other hives, infecting them. This is why it is SO CRITICAL TO CATCH A DISEASED HIVE EARLY. </div><div><br /></div><div>ALSO BE AWARE THAT IT IS THE STRONGEST HIVES THAT OFTEN CATCH FOULBROOD. This is because they are strong enough to overwhelm a weakened (diseased) hive.</div><div> </div><div>There is a medication, terrimyicin (sp?), that PREVENTS F/B. Many beekeepers use it in the spring and fall, in the form of patties. I do not. However, if I discover F/B, I do treat all my hives in the yard, since I am convinced there is a feral hive in the area that may infect the rest of my yard. I will post the recipe for patties in a comment below.</div><div><br /></div><div>One other thing. So now you have these bags of rotting hives sitting in your garage waiting for the burn ban to be over. In September, you have forgotten all about it and left your garage door open, only to discover hundreds of bees flying into the garage and lapping up the honey that is seeping out of the garbage bags. NOT GOOD! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257619863457993453.post-50357002791062525682008-07-11T00:36:00.000-07:002008-07-11T00:44:06.019-07:00Combining Weak HivesIf you have a couple weak hives, or perhaps a swarm and a weak hive, you can combine them and create a productive hive as follows:<div><br /></div><div>Remove the bottom board from one hive place it on top of the other hive with a piece of newspaper between. Cut slits in the newspaper with your hive tool. </div><div><br /></div><div>The bees co-mingle slowly and probably will not kill the queen that is strange to them. The combined hives will often run for a time with 2 queens resulting in dramatic improvement in numbers of bees. Eventually the queens will battle it out and the stronger will survive.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257619863457993453.post-74256163571685578522008-07-11T00:09:00.000-07:002008-07-11T00:36:15.504-07:00Swarm SeasonThis has been quite a season for swarms. There are good things and bad things about swarming. The bad thing is that both the original hive and the swarm will probably not make an excess of honey. The good thing is that both develop new queens. From what I have read, the old queen leaves with the swarm but is usually superceeded within a few weeks. If you catch a swarm, the worker bees are very young and vigorous. They will draw comb very fast. Put them on foundation if possible.<div><br /></div><div>Hives produce queen cells in two locations and each means something different: </div><div><br /></div><div>A hive that senses a failing queen, or a hive that is suddenly queenless (killed by careless beekeer ? ) will sense an emergency and will have to produce a queen from a normal egg. In other words, they did not plan for this situation. These queen cells are on the side of the frames. Usually, 2 to 6 cells are produced.</div><div><br /></div><div>On the bottom of frames in the upper brood box, you will see "queen cups." Check them if you suspect the hive is preparing to swarm. (Signs of swarming are: many bees clustered in front of the entrances, a general listlessness in flights, and of course, most importantly a hive that has the brood area "plugged out" with honey.) When a hive prepares to swarm, they will raise queen cells in these cups. Are the cups "wet" or "dry?" Once wet, they are raising queens in order to swarm. They usually raise a dozen or so.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you catch them early, provide plenty of room for the brood cluster: spread the brood cluster out over 3 boxes or so and fill in with frames of foundation. </div><div><br /></div><div>If the cells are sealed with many "finger cells" hanging from the bottom of the frames, there is probably nothing you can do to prevent swarming.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you open a hive and notice a dramatic weakening in the number of bees, suspect swarming. Look for the hatched queen cells on the bottom of the frame.</div><div><br /></div><div>Swarm season is just about over. Probably 2-3 weeks to go.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4257619863457993453.post-5653531714073685112008-07-10T23:39:00.000-07:002008-07-11T00:06:28.190-07:00Mary's RequeeningI doubt if there was anything wrong with the original queen. I also think the chances of acceptance of the new queen after such a disruption are poor.<div><br /></div><div>So, let me suggest some things:</div><div><br /></div><div>1. The ONLY possible reason for the "strange" comb is improper spacing of the frames. When using foundation, you should run 10 frames. Only in the 2nd year should you reduce to 9 frames. When running 10, the frames are pretty much self spacing. With 9 frames, you must be VERY VERY diligent about spacing. Some beekeepers always run 10. The problem is that by the 2nd year, it becomes very difficult to remove the frames. Burr comb on top of the frames is also caused by improper spacing but is almost impossible to control. A box that is 1/16 to tall and a frame that sits 1/16 too high will result in burr comb.</div><div><br /></div><div>2. A failing queen is characterized by an inconsistent brood pattern OR an excess of drone brood. In other words, a healthy queen will fill the frame with few open cells. A failing queen will have many open cells in a checkerboard pattern. An excess of drone brood means she is running out of semen. (However, in the midst of a honey flow, a healthy queen may lay a spotty pattern because she has a hard time finding open cells with all the nectar coming in.)</div><div><br /></div><div>3. The most likely cause of the difference between your hives is "drift" in the original installation. Because the number of bees grows in an exponential increase, a small difference in the number of bees will make a huge difference later. If 10% of the bees drifted from the weak hive to the stronger in the first few days after installation, the starting point would be 90% and 110%. Do the math and within 8 weeks or so, the stronger hive will have twice the bees. In the first few days after installation, the bees are confused about where their home is. Wind and other factors can cause drift.</div><div><br /></div><div>4. To boost the strength of a hive, pull a frame of sealed brood from a strong hive, bang it on its end in front of the entrance in order to knock off the bees, and place the frame of brood in the middle of the brood cluster of the weak hive. With packages, you should wait until you are sure the queen is released and accepted before doing this. If you have existing hives (from last year) pull from them to boost the packages as soon as possible. If you only have packages, wait until there is sealed brood. (You don't have to use sealed brood but it is better because the bees hatch sooner.) You may want to pull more than one frame and may have to do this several weeks in a row. In any case, in early spring, try to "equalize" your hives. This overcomes the problem of drift. </div><div><br /></div><div>5. As for killing a queen, every beekeeper does it once. I will never do it again. If necessary, I let the bees do it. They know best.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4