BEELINES Regularly scheduled meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at:

Transcription

1 NORTHWEST DISTRICT BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION APRIL 2017 BEELINES Regularly scheduled meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at: Christ the King Lutheran Church 1305 Pine Avenue Snohomish, WA 6:00 Bee Talk A Buzz Session for NewBees and Experienced Beekeepers to interact and share questions and experiences. 7:00 Meeting Business meeting and guest speaker. Our mission: to promote interest in honey bees and beekeeping through the Northwest District of Western Washington, and, in particular, Snohomish County. April 11 Meeting A Mushroom Battle for the Bees Does that sound like a new video game? Or the latest science fiction movie? Well, it is science...but not fiction, and not a game. It fact it is very real and serious for our guest speakers, and their message to us as passionate beekeepers. We are proud to present two PHD speakers from WSU in Pullman. They are both doing post doctoral research, Dr. Jennifer Han in the Department of Plant Pathology, and Dr. Nicholas Naeger in the Entomology Department. Through years of study and research there is evidence that fungi and fungal products may be able to help the honey bee combat many pests and parasites. While many of us are beekeepers out of love for the bee, it is always a good goal to listen and learn about new ideas that may benefit the life cycle of our bee-loved bees. It is with this mind set that we encourage you to join us as we learn from, Dr. Jennifer Han - Can Metarhizium save the honey bee? Dr. Nicholas Naeger - Using mushroom extracts to combat honey bee viruses. Bee Smart: What is a mushroom? (Taken from the Encyclopedia of Life) All mushrooms are fungi, but not all fungi are mushrooms. For those fungi that produce them, the mushroom plays a similar role to a flower or a fruit in plants. Some part of each mature mushroom produces microscopic spores that are similar to pollen or seeds, sometimes numbering in the trillions. Many mushroom-producing species are important decomposers, particularly of wood. These species are often relatively easy to cultivate. However, many species have a special, symbiotic, mycorrhizal relationship with particular species of plants. Often, neither the mushroom nor the plant will grow without a mycorrhizal partner.

2 PAGE 2 BEELINES NORTHWEST DISTRICT BEEKEEPERS President s Buzz Mark Salser, NWDBA President Hello fellow beekeepers! It sure has been a long and wet winter, but we are finally at that point where we have either already received new packages and nucs or we are about to. Hopefully, we can reflect constructively on the losses of hives that we had during the winter, and we can use that information to manage our hives better going forward. I know that I experienced horrendous losses this winter that I attribute to ridiculously high mite loads. Due to travel plans, I was very late pulling my honey supers off and so I only started treating my hives for mites after the problem had gotten out of control last Fall. I did get my mites under control based on counts, but the damage was already done. My belief is that the mites caused virus levels in my hives to skyrocket, and probably the queens in my failed hives had gotten infected as well. Keep in mind that once the queen gets infected with viruses she passes them on each time she lays an egg. From what I have been reading online and in American Bee Journal, there is good evidence that bee viruses are becoming more nasty as they coevolve with varroa mites. The ability of varroa to spread viruses so easily within and between hives allows really nasty strains of the viruses to survive and thrive where in the past they would have killed their hosts too quickly to spread well to other hives. There is also evidence that strains of deformed wing virus are now widely present that don t cause the usual diagnostic symptoms of shriveled up wings and small adult body size. We need to all stay informed about these changes and we really need to try our best to keep varroa under control in our hives. With that in mind, we are honored to be having two PhD speakers this month coming all the way from WSU! Dr. Jennifer Han, a post-doctoral researcher in the Department of Plant Pathology, will be presenting her talk titled Can Metarhizium save the honey bee? in which she will be presenting her current research on developing hyper-virulent strains of the entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium brunneum for use against the honey bee ectoparasite Varroa destructor. Also, Dr. Nicholas Naeger, a post-doctoral researcher in the Entomology Department, will present his talk titled Using mushroom extracts to combat honey bee viruses. This is the work that Paul Stamets mentioned during his talk at the Moore Theater a week ago. In Nick s talk we should hear more exciting details about the progress they are making to develop this idea into something that can help all of us keep our honeybee hives from failing. I have posted more information about the speakers on our website (NWDBA.org) and on our Facebook page ( so please take a look! Other important club news we are having Randy Oliver of ScientificBeekeeping.com fame come to speak on September 9 th at the Everett PUD Auditorium. If you don t know who Randy Oliver is you need to stop living under that rock and join the ranks of informed beekeepers! You can find out more details on our website and Facebook page. Tickets are currently only available to 2017 club members but they will go on sale to the general public on April 15 th, so buy your tickets NOW to be sure that you don t miss out. Club members can buy two tickets for $20 each, while tickets sold to non-members will cost $25. In order to purchase tickets as a club member you need the secret code that was ed out to all current club members. Talk to our treasurer at the meeting if you need the code and are a current member. Finally, I want to give a shout out to The Snohomish Bee Company They have agreed to offer a 5% discount to current NWDBA members! Our Board is currently working on the details of this, and we will likely be issuing club ID cards that can be used to show that you are a current NWDBA member and that will also serve as name badges at our meetings. The Snohomish Bee Company has also stepped up and purchased a compound microscope for use at our club meetings in order to aid club members with monitoring their Nosema infection levels. People will be able to use the microscope at Snohomish Bee Company when it is not being used at our monthly club meetings. We will have the microscope at each monthly club meeting so that people can bring in bee samples to analyze. This is a huge win for our club and for all beekeepers in the area, and it is a great partnership between our club and Snohomish Bee Company!

3 PAGE 3 BEELINES NORTHWEST DISTRICT BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION Hello Beekeepers! The Sustainability in Prisons Project is seeking passionate beekeepers to assists in a beekeeping program that will be educating and certifying inmates of the Monroe Correctional Complex. Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP) began informally in Individuals from The Evergreen State College and Washington State Department of Corrections wanted to bring science, education, and nature into prison, and their overlapping interest became SPP. Today, the SPP is a statewide effort with programs in all 12 prisons in Washington State. Sustainable operations and a more productive and positive prison culture have allowed cost avoidance estimate at $4.3 million annually. We offer programming in five areas: ecological conservation, environmental education, sustainable operations, community contributions, and restorative nature. Currently we are looking to expand our beekeeping certification program to the Monroe Correctional Complex (MCC). This has been one of the most popular programs at other Washington prisons. To do so we ll need beekeepers who are willing to volunteer some time to share their expertise. We are flexible with our scheduling and are looking for passionate knowledgeable beekeepers, whether certified or not. If you find this program interesting and would like to hear a little more, please feel free to contact either Joslyn Trivett or Emily Passerelli via the contact info below. If you d like to read more about the SPP, visit our website at Emily Passarelli Joslyn Rose Trivett Graduate Research Assistant SPP Education & Outreach Manager SPP Green Track Program Coordinator Sustainability in Prisons Project Cell: (217) Office: (360) Office: (360) Cell: (360) passaree@evergreen.edu trivettj@evergreen.edu

4 PAGE 4 BEELINES NORTHWEST DISTRICT BEEKEEPERS Northwest District Beekeepers Association April-May To-Do List for the Puget Sound Calendar vs Weather: It is important to keep in mind that decisions are more dependent on prevailing weather conditions than on specific calendar dates! 1. Over-Wintered Colonies a. Check Stores: Feed if needed. Until Dandelions are present & weather temperature is more consistently in the high 50 s, feed with dry sugar, sugar blocks, etc. Once we reach fair weather & dandelions, its ok to feed with Sugar Syrup (1:1). Many colonies require supplemental feeding until blackberries begin to bloom. IMPORTANT: Over feeding into Blackberry Bloom can over heat the colony & promote swarm pressure! Decide whether to add pollen substitute to encourage Brood production. b. Remove Mouse Guards: Consider reduction of hive entrance. c. Treatment: 1. Nosema: Decide whether you will treat with Fumagilan. 2. Mites: If symptoms are present, check for mite-overload. If mites are present treat with a method appropriate for the temperatures this time of year. d. Only after temperature is in the high s - do first Comprehensive Hive Inspection of the season: 1. Check for Eggs, Larvae, Capped Brood & Queen. 2. Remove excess wax & propolis from frames. 3. Reverse Brood Chambers if Cluster is located entirely in upper Box. 4. Add a Second Deep Box if Colony over-wintered in a Single Deep. 5. Clean the Bottom Board. e. Subsequent Inspections: 1. Monitor Colony population vs. Hive Space: Add a Western BEFORE the Colony is out of space!! 2. Assess Queen Health: Continued healthy Brood production. 3. Assess presence of Drone Brood: Queen Cell production and the Swarming instinct typically do not begin before the production of Drone Brood. 4. Marking Queens: If you wish to Mark Queens, remember that it is easier to locate. Mark Queens while the Colony population is relatively small!! 5. Assess Nectar & Pollen buildup. 6. Queen Cell Presence: What type of Queen Cells are present (Supersedure, Emergency, Swarm). f. Consider Swarm Management Techniques: Have extra Hive Equipment available for Splits, or arrange to have another beekeeper take the frames of Bees & Brood that might need to bee removed from your hive to reduce the pressure of the colony to swarm. If you anticipate creating splits for your use, build your new hive stands ahead of time. Consider placing Bait Hives. g. Nectar Flows: Keep a watchful eye & open ear to what is beginning to bloom in your area. Bee ready to add more supers as a serious nectar flow begins!! h. Monitor activity at the Hive Entrance: In good weather, is there good activity? Are the Workers bringing Nectar & Pollen home? Is the Hive bearding outside the Hive?

5 PAGE 5 BEELINES NORTHWEST DISTRICT BEEKEEPERS 2. New Hives / Packages: a. New Equipment: Order new equipment in plenty of advanced time so hive components can bee assembled and painted AT LEAST two weeks BEFORE your packages are due to arrive (Paint needs time to dry and cure). b. Hive Stands: Build new hive stands BEFORE your packages arrive. Place the first Hive Body into which your package will bee placed at least a day before your packages are due to arrive. c. Ancillary Beekeeper s Equipment (i.e. Bee Suit, Gloves, hive tool, smoker & fuel, lighter, feeders, etc.): Make certain of your equipment & how to use it BEFORE the day that Packages arrive. d. Bee Buddy or Mentor: Consider connecting with an experienced Beekeeper in your area who might bee willing to bee present when introducing your first Bee Packages. This can reduce a lot of stress! It might also develop an important ongoing relationship that offers ongoing advice and support for your first season as a Beekeeper!! If this is of interest to you, please come forward at the next beekeeper s meeting! e. Feed New Packages: Your packaged Bees will probably bee housed on frames of foundation (no drawn wax). Until this new colony begins drawing comb into which the Queen can begin laying and the workers can begin storing nectar & pollen, it is important to feed the colony sugar syrup (1:1 strength). Whether your new colonies begin with drawn comb or foundation, it is important (in the Puget Sound) to feed 1:1 syrup until blackberries begin to bloom. f. Monitor Activity in the Colony: Probably the most important issue is to look for eggs, larvae and capped brood. If there is a lack of these within a short period, it may bee necessary to re-queen the colony. (Larry Brainerd, Northwest District Beekeepers Assoc. April, 2014) Friday - April 28, 2017

6 PAGE 6 BEELINES NORTHWEST DISTRICT BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION Proud sponsor of NWDBA BEE Events...mark your calendars! April 11-Monthly meeting Using fungi to control mites and viruses April 28-Arbor Day May 9th -Monthly meeting Tim Lawrence-Improving Pollination September 9-Randy Oliver Event Buy your tickets now! Club members can get 2 tickets for $20.00 Each! Feed your bees!!! Limited Quantity of Fundraiser Items Available for Purchase Bee Club Mugs -$10.00 Fill with a bag of candy and give to a co-worker or relative for a spring or easter treat! Please direct comments or additions to Debbie Ade: Beelines Editor at deblyn80ty@gmail.c Visit our nwdba.org & Like our Facebook Page 2017 NWDBA Board Members Mark Salser, President president@nwdba.org Mike Kossian, V-President vice_president@nwdba.org Lori McConnell, Secretary secretary@nwdba.org Mary Oosterhof, Treasurer treasurer@nwdba.org Tim Ade, Board Member...mbesnohomish@yahoo.com Helen Crozier, Board Member...helhil@msn.com Joe Canfield, Board Member tjnr@comcast.net