Hive Management
VSBA’S THE COMMONWEALTH BUZZ Newsletter: SHB Information
All BONS members should have received the February 2012 issue by now.
There is “a link to a new publication, Handbook of Small Hive Beetle IPM, by Dr. Mike Hood of Clemson University. The booklet is 20 pages, 8- 1/2 X 11 inches, filled with color photographs and everything you want to know about this pest. Topics include traps and chemicals: in short everything you need for control. To obtain a free copy while supplies last send name and address to:
EB 160 Handbook of Small Hive Beetle IPM
Public Service Bulletin Room 96
Poole Agricultural Center
Clemson, SC 29634-0129
Electronic copies of the handbook are also available free of charge: Google the title “EB 160 Handbook of Small Hive Beetle IPM” to find the downloadable PDF version online. ”
I recommend this article to anyone in Virginia who has honey bee colonies. A few of our standard beekeeping activities such as hive inspections can attract SHB to the hive because of the pheromones produced by the guard bees when the hive is opened. Also, hives should be placed in full sunlight where the ground is kept drier. But, do read the report for yourself. What else do you have to do in winter?
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BONS Meeting January 12, 2012: Apiary Inspector Presents “Pests and Diseases”
Wishing you and yours a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2012.
Well yes, I did sort of goof-off and take a Christmas break from posting and emailing. So you have not heard of the great fun we had at the informal December meeting with an enormous potluck and 12 jars of honey to sample. All were different but most were somewhat the same. The ringer in the group was a commercial honey that was very different. In my opinion, rather harsh in flavor missing the delicate and complex tastes of the members’ honeys. And now for 2012, I have received an interesting link on local queen rearing that I will post on our website http://valleybees.org/ that will eventually appear in your newsletter if you are registered on that website.
BONS Meeting January 12, 2012: Apiary Inspector Presents “Pests and Diseases”
Bob Wellemeyer, Agriculture Inspector from the Warrenton Office has agreed to give us a presentation on bee pests and diseases. One of Bob’s professional tasks is to inspect existing colonies for diseases before they are presented for sale, for example, in the case of a beekeeper retiring or dying and his/her apiary being sold off. Also, if a beekeeper suspects he/she has a hive with problems, then Bob can be called upon to inspect the hive and make a recommendation.
Come hear the facts from a person that actually deals with honeybee pests and diseases regularly and find out what to look for and how to react.
Incidentally, BONS buys our packages from Bob.
I copied the following paragraphs from http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/plant&pest/apiary.shtml just for your information.
Apiary Inspection
The Virginia Bee Law regulates the movement of honey bees into the state, the sale of bees, queens, used bee equipment; and provides a means for dispatching bee disease reservoirs.
Virginia utilizes a Uniform Inspection Certificate approved by the Apiary Inspectors of America for interstate movement of colonies.
Virginia also participates in the Mid-Atlantic States Agreement which specifies inspection requirements for bee diseases and pests and allows for partial (random) inspection of apiaries that meet certain disease-free criteria.
The agreement alleviates problems of reduced personnel and budgets while maintaining control over apiaries with disease histories.
Hive Inspection Opportunity with Mike Embrey
I have already posted the program for our October 13th meeting, Mike Embrey is going to give a presentation on small hive beetIes and his research on ways to control/kill them. He is an Agriculture Technician, Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, based at the Wye Institute on the Eastern Shore; performing research and outreach on apiculture. Mike is also investigating shb traps that are on the market and their performance. He is trying to develop methods that are better.
Owing to circumstances, Mike is going to be in the Winchester area early in the day on the 13th and is offering to spend time with a few beekeepers looking at how they are overwintering their bees and answering questions etc. Mike is a very entertaining person with a great deal of beekeeping experience. Having listened to his presentations, it is my opinion that he takes a fresh, unbiased look at beekeeping practices. He will be staying in the area overnight after the meeting. The club will be covering his lunch and dinner.
If you would like to take this opportunity to interact with Mike in your bee yard, please call me at 540-592-3873 so that we can set-up his appointments.
Doug Morris
Cornell University’s April General Management
Program April14th Meeting
Bill Bundy of Loudoun Beekeepers will make a presentation on “Preparing for the Winter” and be prepared to answer questions on other beekeeping topics. Bill sells honey to local stores in the general area of Leesburg. He came through this winter without any winter kill. He says he will soon start planning what he will do to prepare for winter. Since we are just now getting into Spring and realizing the extent of our winter losses, it seemed to Bill and me that this is a good time for newer beekeepers to make notes and mark our calendars so that we go into next winter with all our necessary chores completed in a timely fashion for winter survival.
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Bee food and how it effects bee performance
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