buzzwords http://www.barnstablebeekeepers.org August 2017
UpcomingMeetings
Summervacation!ThereisnomeetinginAugust,butdon’tforgettheincrediblespeakerwe’rehavingforSeptember.
Dr.ThomasD.SeeleyistheHoraceWhiteProfessorinBiologyatCornellUniversity.HeisbasedintheDepartmentofNeurobiologyandBehavior,whereheteachescoursesonanimalbehavioranddoesresearchonthebehaviorandsociallifeofhoneybees.Hisworkissummarizedinthreebooks:HoneybeeEcology(1985),TheWisdomoftheHive(1995),andHoneybeeDemocracy(2010).
Moredetailsfollowbelowincludinghowtosignuptoreserveyourspot.ItwillbeatDYHighSchoolinSouthYarmouth.Whileitisfree,youmustreserveyourseatifyouwanttobeguaranteedtheopportunitytoseeoneofourmostinterestingpresentationsoftheyear.
HIVEOPENINGFORAUGUST
NOHIVEOPENINGSINAUGUST
BUTDONOTFORGETTOTESTYOURHIVESFORVARROA,AUGUSTISTHECRITICALMONTH!!
STAY TUNEDFOR
Checkoutourclub’sFacebookpage
https://www.facebook.com/groups/BarnstableCountyBeeA/
SEPTEMBER
FromtheBoard
First,Iwanttothankeveryoneforcomingforthtovolunteertoworkashift(ortwo)inourbuildingandforfillinginthelastfewslots.Everythingseemtohaveworkedoutsmoothly.Everyonefiguresoutthepadlock.The"newbees"didwonderfullyandIhopetheyenjoytheirtime.Iknowafewthatstayedaftertheirshifttoseethefair.
Thesaleswererobustandwesoldoutofhoneyandhoneycandyonthelastday.Prettygoodestimations!!!!ThankyoutothosewhobroughtinmorehoneywhentheSOSwentout.Theglasscaselookedtobehalfemptyofitsoriginalsuppliessohopefullyeveryoneishappywiththeirsales.
Peopleweredefinitelyreadingtheliteraturedisplayedaroundtheinsideofthebuildingandthequeenseemstohavemadeherselfvisiblealotofthetime.Notonlythekidsbutalsotheadultswanteda"foundthequeen"sticker!!!!!!Weareallkids
atheart.
SpeakingofKidsatHeart,eventhoughthiswasmyfirst-timemeetingHenry;hecomesineveryyeartopurchasehis"year'ssupply"ofhoneysticks.Helaiddown$55.00thisyear.Whatahappyfellow.
Thankyoueveryoneforhelpingtomakethisyear'sfairasuccess.
MarteAyers
RSVPforSeptemberDr.SeeleyTalk!WehaveanexcitingspeakeratourSeptembermeeting!Dr.TomSeeley,honeybeebiologist
Photo1:Henrywithhisannualfixof$55worthofhoneysticks.
fromCornellUniversity,willbejoiningusfortheevening.Hispresentationsdrawabigcrowdandweareopeninghistalkuptothegeneralpublic,sowewillhavealargervenuefortheeveningandyouwillneedtoRSVP(it'sfree).ClickheretosignupfortheSeeleytalkHerearethedetails,notethechangeinlocationfromusualmeetings:Tue,September12,20177:30PM–9:00PMEDTDennis-YarmouthRegionalHighSchoolAuditorium210StationAvenue,SouthYarmouth,MA02664JoinustohearCornellhoneybeebiologistDr.ThomasDSeeleytalkaboutwhathisteamislearningaboutthehoneybeeliving(andthriving)wildintheArnotForest.Itisafascinatingstorywithfoursortsofactors:humans,bees,mites,andviruses!AndwhattheyarelearningabouttheArnotForestbeesisprobablytypicalforhoneybeeslivinginwildplacesintheeasternU.S….theyaredoingfinewithoutmitetreatments.Prettycool!Andveryinformativeforthefutureofbeekeeping.Wecouldstilluseafewmorevolunteerstohelpwithcheck-inanddirectingthehundredsofexpectedattendees.Contactmelissa.a.sanderson@gmail.comtovolunteer.
MelissaSanderson
WHY?WHY?WHY?
Allthreeofmyhiveshavenotgainedanyweightsincelatespring-thisdespiteanice,wet,spring,andabalancedsummer(nottoohot,nottoodry)andbigbloomsofblacklocustandmorerecently,athree-weekrollingbloomoflinden.Allofthehivesseembusyandhealthywithlotsofpollencomingin.TwoofthehivesarethehalvesofanoverwinterednucthatIsplitinJune,andwhiledoingwellseemtobebuildingslowly(onegotthequeen,theotherraisedtheirownqueen).
ThethirdisastrongoverwinteredhivethatsupersededitsqueeninMay.ThishiveIwouldhaveexpectedtoputonsomehoneysincetheyhadthelullinbroodrearingandsonomouthstofeedallthattime.UsuallyatthistimeofyearIwouldhavetwosupersonthebighive,whichwouldbemostlyfullandreadytoextract.Anyoneelsehavingsimilarordifferentexperiencethisyear?
ThiscomesfromamemberinPlymouthareabutitseemstobethenormhereontheupperCapealso.Thehivesbuiltnicelyontheautumnoliveandtheearlyspringblooms.Wewaited
DIDYOUKNOW?
Honey storage, including its container and temperature, can also affect the pace. Honey resists crystallization the best at warmer temperatures around 77 degrees F, and in glass or a container that won’t let moisture in. If stored properly, it can last an eternity.
patientlywithhoneyshallowsonfortheblacklocusttobloomaftertheyhadleafedoutafewweeksearlier.Thebloomwassporadicwithsometreesbareofbloom.Andsomethatweredrippingwithlongwhiteblossoms,hadnoodorandnoactivity.Onetreerightovertheendofmydrivewayhadhugeblossomsbuttherewasnotafloralscenttobehadeverymorningwhilewalkingtogetthepaper.Arethetreescyclicoraretheystillsufferingfromthedroughtafewyearsback?OrperhapsthosenicewarmdaysinFebruaryfollowedbythereallycoldweatherdamagedsomeoftheblooms-to-be?NotsurebutwhatIdoknowisthatmystrongestoverwinteredhiveshadonlypartialframesofhoneyintheshallows.ItappearstobeaverypoorharvestwhichwasquiteobviousfromwhatwasavailableatthefairinJuly.Somedidhavesmallamounts,butnotlargeharvestsasinpastyears.ItwaslearnedthattherehasbeenaharvestintheBrewster/Harwicharea.ThinkingwehavesomanymicroclimatesacrosstheCape,thismightmakesomesense.
Andanotherproblemtoponderisthedisappearanceofqueens.Orafterswarmingorremovingthequeenwithasplit,newcellswerenotcreated.Howdoesoneexplainthis?FromwhatIhear,varroacountsareverylowandfewtonovarroahavebeenseenwhenremovingdronebroodespeciallyattheclub’sfarmapiary.Thisisagoodsignbutarethevirusesstilllurking.Dowetreatwithlowcounts?Youwillhavetomakethatdecisiononyourownbutwehopeyouallhavedoneamonthlyvarroacheckbecauseitiscriticalforthesurvivalofyourhives.Ifstillnotclearastojusthowtodoit,checkout:www.honeybeehealthcoalition.org/varroa.Thisisagreatwebsitewithinformationbeingupdatequitefrequently.
BCBASwarmClub
IhavehadsomeinterestingconversationswiththoseinterestedinbeepropagationwithinourAssociation.JohnPortnoyoutinWellfleethastoldmethatPackageshavebeendoingverypoorly,comparedtonorthernnucsandCape-propagatedcolonies.
DanSmithtabulatedtheresultsofthe2013-14winterlosssurvey:
83memberssubmittedresultsfortheHoneybeeWinterSurvivalSurvey(2013-2014).Datawasobtainedfor230hivesonCapeCod.Ofthe230hives,108or47%werereportedasaliveand122or53%werereportedasdead.Ofthe230hives---102or44%werefromPackages,103or45%werefromNucsand25or11%werefromlocalswarms.ThebeesofCapeCodhadaveryhardwinterwithanoverallsurvivalrateof47%.ThesurvivalrateforPackagesofbeeswas27%.(myemphasis)Nucsandswarmsfairedfarbetterwithsurvivalratesof63%and60%respectively.
CONSIDERJOININGTHEMASSACHUSETTSBEEKEEPINGASSOCIATION
Formoreinformationontheeventandotherstatewidehappenings,youcandownloadtheMassachusettsBeekeepersAssociationbrochurehere.
Todate,I’vehadonlyfourpeoplerespondwithinterestinpropagatinghiveswithintheBCBA.OurexcellentqueenrearingprojectisagreathelptothebeekeepersonCapeCod.Ifwehavetoreplacethreequartersofourhivesatanever-increasingexpense,we’regoingtopriceourselvesoutofbeekeepingwherewecancreateasustainableprogram.Talktoyourfellowbeekeepersandhelpgenerateinterestoverthewinter!I’mhopingthatwecankeeptrackofhowmanyover-winteringhiveswehaveasresources.Iespeciallywanttohearfrombeekeeperswhowenttothehiveopeningswherewediscussedmakingsplits.Didyoumakeasplit?Howisitdoing?Whatmethoddidyouuse?Didyouhavethemraisetheirownqueen,ordidyougetonefromoutside?Ifitwasapurchasedqueen,wasitfromourCapeBeeprogram?JoeMcClure
The“beesknees”
ThankstoClaireandheroutreachtolocaleducationalprogramswithherwonderfultravellingobservationhive,wewereinvitedtobepartoftheWaquoitBayEstuarineResearchReserve’sJuniorRangerProgram.Kidsandtheirparentsfoundthequeen,triedonbeekeeperjackets(whichcamealmosttotheirfeet!),builtaLangstrothhiveandsawclose-upsofthe“beesknees”andpollenbasketsunderthemicroscope.MaryKayFoxprovidedbackgroundandansweredquestionsgleanedfrom15yearsinbeekeepingand
establishingapollinatorgardenatthereserve.DanielleBelletete,programco-ordinator,ledkidsintotheyardtofind“pollenballs”andsilently“waggle”theirlocationtotheothers.FamiliesleftwithsmilesandapacketofMaryKay’sbutterflyweedseeds,eagertohelptheirlocalbees.
MaryAnnMann
BlesstheBeesandtheChildren
MyhusbandToddandIhadthechancetoworkattheHoneyHutattheBarnstableCountyFairagainthisyear..Webothagreethatitisoneofthehighlightsofoursummers.Myfavoritepartistalkingtothekidsandhearingtheirgreatquestions.Oneofmyfavoritesthisyearwas,"Ifthatisthequeen,whereistheking?"OneofthethingsInoticedthisyearisthatthechildrenwereeagertosharefactstheyknewaboutbees.Itwasevidentthatmanyofthemhadlearnedquiteabitaboutbeessomewherearoundtheway.Theyknewthatbeesareimportant.Theyknewthattheyareindangerofdisappearing.Theyknewthatpeopleneedtodowhatwecantohelpthem.
Forage
Bee Hunting
Breakingapromise:revisitingthesugarsyruprecipe.
Thiscommonherbwillkeepbeepollinatorsbuzzinginyourgarden
Lawmakertakesaimatpesticidesharmingbeecolonies
IfthekidsthatcamethroughtheHoneyHutareanyindicationofthewisdomofthisgeneration,theremaybehopeforthebeesafterall!
MariaCashdollar
Feeding
Whileweawaitthebloomingofcletherafollowedbygoldenrodandaster,hereareafewcommentsonfeeding.Toavoidrobbing,itisbesttouseadryfeedaswhitegranulatedsugarifyouhivesappearlightwhenheftedfromthebottomboardintheback.Thesimplestmethodistopurchaseacheapwhitepaperplateatthelocalmarketanddumponthesugar.Mistwithabitofwatertoclumpsothebeesdonotcarryitoutofthehiveastheyclean.Thisplateorplatescanbeplacedrightontopoftheframesinthetopdeep.Honeyshallowsshouldberemovedofcourse.Thismoundofsugarcanbeprotectedbya1or2”shimandthentheinnercoverisreplaced.Youwillbeamazedathowquicklythesugarwillbeconsumedifthebeesareinneedofstores.Andtheywillchewrightthroughthepaperplatetogetatthesugar.
Ifyoufindyourqueenhasstoppedlaying,thislackofincomingfoodcanbethereason.RussianbeesandCarniolanswillstoplayingwhenthelevelofstoresdrops.Thequeenrealizesshehastoomanymouthstofeedandwilltakeashortvacation.Andyoumightfindsomedeaddronepupaonthefrontstoopifstoresdrop.Theyarethefirstbroodtobesacrificedwhenthehiveisheadingtowardsstarvation.
ClaireDesilets
LOOKINGFORHONEY
Wehadapersonstopbythefairbuildingwhoislookingtopurchaselocalhoneytouseinhisrestaurantonaregularbasis.Aboutonequartpermonth.Contacthimdirectly.
Mark@themillsrestaurant.com149Rte149MarstonsMills508-428-9814www.themillsrestaurant.com
MarteAyers
PlantingforBees/TruroAgFair
MygoodfriendRandBurkertandIhavebeenworkingonaprojecttocreateaninformalCapeCodconsortiumregardingbees.We'dliketogetsomemembersofBCBAinvolved.
Thiswillbeacollaborativeefforttodevelopanevolvinglistofplantsthatsupportbeeshereon
theCape–bothhoneybeesandnative,wildbees.Ourgoalistobringtogether“endusers"(beekeepers,homeowners,farmers,etc.),suppliers(gardencenters,farms,gardenclubs,etc.),andotherstakeholders(educators,residents,etc.).
Honeybeesandhivelosshavecreatedacommongroundofconcern.We'dliketoleveragethisconcerntobringmembersofourcommunitytogethertofindsharedsolutionsviagardening.Mysenseisthatmanyfolksfeelhelplessinthefaceofsomanyenvironmentalcrises.Thisisaplatformforfindingwaystoactuallyhelpwithaproblem,recognizingthatahealthyhabitatforbeesstartswithbiodiverseplantings,andinvolvingfolkswithdirectworkontheland.Whatcouldbemoreuplifting?
WeareplanningafirstTruromeeting(hopefully)onSundayofLaborDayweekend,butwecanhaveanadditionalkickoffmeetingifTruroisnotareasonableoption.We’dliketohavearoundtablemeeting,bringingtogethersomeexpertswithboththeBeekeepersGroupandFoodForestInitiative(alocalgroupseekingwaystoreplanttheCapewithfood-producingtrees).Ourfirstgoalwouldbetodraftaplantoinvolvethecommunityinanempiricalstudy:observingbee(andwildbee)behaviorandcomingupwithamorecomprehensivelistofbeeshrubs,trees,andherbaceousperennials.
RandhasalreadyspokenwithFrancieRandolphofSustainableCapeaboutthis,andsheisveryamenabletohavingusetheTruroAgriculturalFairforthefirstworkshop/discussion.Whenwefixadate,wewillseektoinviteotherstakeholdersandexpertstoattend.Also,itseemslikeitwouldbeagoodideaforBCBAtohaveapresenceattheAgriculturalFairinTruroonthatsameday,soamhopingthatmightcometogetheraswell.
Pleasebeintouchwithmeifyou’dliketobeinvolved…andthanks!
2ndAnnualBEEBALL:9/30/17
WANTED:PleaseconsiderdonatinghoneytobeusedbytheBeeBallfoodvendors!Weneedtogetthemouttheresoon!Wewillfeatureyourname/honeycompanynamewiththevendornameattheBall.8ounce,1poundand2poundjarsgratefullyaccepted.Wewilldropthehoneyofftothevendorsforuseintheirrecipes.
Bee-Love-ED:TheBeeBallexistsfortheloveofbeesandtheeducationaboutthem.
Pleaseconsiderdonating:time,money,honeytomakethiseventasuccess.
KimConcra
TakeTimetoSmelltheHoney...andtoStopandThink!
(alternatetitle...WhatNotToDo)
Everysooften,mybeesforcemetoslowdown.IwasremindedofthatagaininlateJuly.ItwasSunday,Iwasinarushtogetthroughmytodolist.Andcheckingonmyhiveshadbeenonthelistforthelasttwoweekends,bumpedbykids,chores,gardening,summerboatridesandwork.Ihadnoticedacoupleweeksearlierthatmyoverwinteredhive,completewithhoneysuper,suddenlyseemedalittleshortonbees.Thenewhivehadabiggerbeardofbeesonhothumidevenings,andtheentrancewasn'tasbusyduringtheday.Butcheckingitkeptfallingtothebottomofmytodolist.IfinallygotintothehivesonthatSunday,intentonjustacursorychecktoseewhatwasgoingon.Istartedwiththenewhive,removingthenowunnecessaryfeederpailandnoting2fulldeeps,withfresheggsandcappedbrood.Happyhive.
Movingontotheoverwinteredhive,aproblemwasimmediatelyapparentuponopening.Ihadabout5fullframesinthehoneysuper,likelyfromJune'sflow....butveryfewbees.Iremovedthehoneysuperwithlittleeffort.Oddlydocilebees.Queencellseverywhere.Okay,theyswarmed,perhapsmultipletimes.Nottheendoftheworld.Veryspottybrood...ohwait,allthebroodisdronebrood.Alayingworker.Mytodolistsuddenlygotalotlonger.AsIwentthrougheveryframetomakesure,inmyheadIwasfranticallygoingthroughmyoptions.Whomighthaveaqueen?DoIhavetimetogopickitupandinstallit?ThenIrememberedthatIfinallyhadasecondhiveandthatIcouldmoveoveraframeofeggstomakeanewqueen!Ididn'tstoptodothemathanddetermineiftherewouldstillbeworkersavailabletoraisethequeenandgetthehivethroughtothenewbatchofworkers.
Ididmakeamentalnotetomyself,"remembertobrushthatframebeforemovingit,soyoudon'tmovethequeen."Isetmybeebrushnexttothehive,soIwouldn'tforget.Istartedpullingframesoutofthenewhive.Wherewerethosedarneggs??IknewIhadseenthem15minutesago.IhadalreadyspenttwicetheamountoftimeinthehivesthenIhadintended,andIstartedtomovetoofast.Withmyafternooncommitmentsrushingmealong,Ifinallyfoundtheeggs.Triumphant,Iturnedaroundandplunkedthatframeofeggsintotheoldhive.Asmyhandsletgooftheframe,mybrainsuddenlycaughtuptomyactions.TheQueen!Iforgottobrushtheframe.Blastit!Ifigureitisalreadytoolateandthatifshewasonthatframe,shehaslikelymoveddeeperintothehivealready,awayfromthelight.HopefullytheyhavebeenqueenlesslongenoughthattheyacceptherifIdidaccidentallymoveher.Icrossmyfingers,promisemyselfthatIwillslowdownnexttimeandcloseupthehives.
Inhindsight,IrealizethatImayhavebeenbetteroffcombiningthehives,astheoldhivemaynothaveenoughtimetogettoalayingqueenandthenwaitforheroffspringtohatch.Butnow
wewaitandsee.ButmaybeIshouldmoveoversomecappedworkerbroodtohelpthemalong?MaybeI'lljustgoreadmybeebooksandseewhatthe"experts"recommend?
Beekeeping.It'salwaysanadventureandanexperiment.
…And,agoodremindertoslowdownandthinkbeforeyouact!
MelissaSanderson
2018BarnstableCountyBeekeepersCalendar
Wegotacouplelateadditionsthatwe’readdinginbecauseofspecificsubjectmatter,butwe’vegotenoughphotos.Wewillreviewthephotosandstarttheboringworkofcreatingthenutsandboltsofthecalendar.Remember,thecalendarwillbeunveiledattheBeekeepers’BallonSeptember30th.
JoeMcClure
BarnstableCountyBeekeeper’sAssociationSwarmClub
Overthepastseveralmonths,afewpeoplehaveaskedmeabouttheappropriatenessoforderingGeorgiabeesandquestioningthesurvivalrate.Whatisbetterthanorderingbeesfromdownsouthiscreatinganetworkofbeekeepersinterestedinpropagatinglocalcoloniesfromourover-winteredqueens.
WhileIdidn’thavethesurvivalrateI’dhopedforthiswinter,Iwasabletocreateonesplit.Istucktwoframesofbroodwitheggs,shookinextrabeesforgoodmeasure,addedsomebeebreadframesandalittlehoneyintoadeepandwalkedaway.Theymadetwoqueencellswithinthefirstweek,andIfoundthreemoresincethen.Alas,they’reallonthesameframe,so
I’mnotsureIcansafelycutthemouttomakeanother.Whentheweathergetsbetter,IwillseewhatIcando.
Makingasplitisthateasy,andthesequeenswillbefromoverwinteredstock.It’snotaguaranteethatthehivewilloverwinter,butitwillincreasetheprobability.Italsomeansthatthedecreaseinpopulationofyourhivecanhelppreventswarmingasyou’redoingacontrolledsimulationofaswarm!
I’veonlyhadonepersoncontactmesofar,andweneedmorethanthattogetstarted.Pleaseseethelastnewsletterfordetails.Ifyou’reinterestedinbeinginvolved,pleaseletmeknow.
JoeMcClure
Goatcheeseandhoneydipwithveggies14ouncepackageofgoatcheese,1/2cupGreekorplainyogurt,11/2tablespoonshoney,Halfcupbeingsprouts,mix3/4ofsproutsinandgarnishwiththeremainderEnsuredairy-baseddipsstaychilledbyfillingabowlwithiceandsprinklingwithkoshersalt.Placethebowlontoiceanditwillstaycoolandfresh.Sprucesupanysaladorsandwichasadressing.
MartheAyers
RESOURCES(accurateasof1/17)
Thefollowingofficersanddirectorsareagreatresourcetoanswerquestionsandrequestsforassistance.
Officers
President MichaelD.Smith [email protected]
VicePresident KayleighCronin [email protected]
CorrespondingSecretary ClaireDesilets [email protected]
RecordingSecretary DeborahCarmel [email protected]
Treasurer LynnHeslinga [email protected]
DirectorsMarthe Ayers [email protected] Paul Lefebvre [email protected]
John Beach [email protected] MaryAnne Mann [email protected]
Maria Cashdollar [email protected] Joe McClure [email protected]
Todd Cashdollar [email protected] Andy Morris [email protected]
Melissa Caughey [email protected] Brian O'Donnell [email protected]
Kathy Clobridge [email protected] Steven Pelletier [email protected]
Kimberly Concra [email protected] Melissa Sanderson [email protected]
PeterB Cooper [email protected] Lisa Sheehy [email protected]
Claire Desilets [email protected] Mark Simonitsch [email protected]
Lynn Heslinga [email protected] Michael Smith [email protected]
Mary Johnson [email protected] Miguel Zamora [email protected]
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