B notes, 1974-1982

COLO. EXPER. STATION FT. COLLinS ENT. SECTION.

B NOTES 1974-82

-ENTOMOLOGY SECTION DEVOTED TO EDUCATION AND RESEARCH FOR THE COLORADO BEE INDUSTRY

February 1 9 7 4 WINTER MEETING OF THE COLORADO BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION

The winter meeting of the Colorado Beekeepers Association was held at the Holland House, Golden, Colorado, on December 10 and 11, 1973.

The Advisory Board met at 8:30 A.M. with Wayland Lilly explaining the final form of the rules and regulations that will be connected with the new Bee Law.

The regular meeting was called to order by President Joaquin Watkins at 10:00 A.M. The invocation was given by Harold Rice.

Mr. Watkins remarked about the conversation between the beekeepers and the Department of Agriculture, and introduced Mr. Clinton Jeffers, Commissioner of Agriculture, who introduced Mr. Jim Jenkins as a new member of the department.

Mr. Jeffers' remarks ·included the following points:

1. D/A is there to help but at times it must be a regulatory agency. 2. There are between 30 and 35 different areas that are regulated by the

· department.

3. The Joint Budget Committee is to meet this week and it is hoped that funds will be made available to upgrade the state testing lab and insectary at Palisade.

4. The marketing divisions in the state are for wheat, apples, milk, meat and potatoes.

5. From the household questionnaire sent out, the housewife regards the farmer as a hardworking person and 6% regard high prices as due to the farmer. The public overestimates the costs and underestimates the labor of the farmer.

6. Wages have gone up 64% while food has risen 37% and .housing is up 49%.

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-Mr. Bill Hantsbarger of C.S.U. spoke to the meeting telling us that C.S.U. is offering a new course in Social Behavior of Insects to be taught by Mr. Howard Evans. Dr. Evans is from Harvard and has written over twenty articles and books with 130 articles on wasps. The college has a new slide series from McGraw-Hill on bees (same slides are available from Dadants). Dr. Wayne Brewer is doing experiments on mistletoe honey trying to find out how the mistletoe is pollinated and the sugars found in mistletoe honey and the odors that are attractive to insects. There is more than one type of mistletoe and it has from 52 to 98 percent sugar.

Mr. Hantsbarger gave the following information on sprays and dusts: l. Crops should be sprayed before blooming and before corn tassels. 2. Sprays are less injurious than dusts.

3. Use all insecticides with care- drift can· be very injurious to bees. 4. Use recommended amounts only - this is a big problem.

5. Need to educate everyone regarding use and abuse of insecticides.

6. Need to train applicator and farmer alike -everyone who uses sprays needs to be licensed. Farmers need license to spray own crops.

Mr. Sam Tutt of the Laramie Station spoke on·the cleaning of AFB combs with the use of Pennicillum Wakamani Zaleski and made the following remarks:

l. Had 80-90% removal.

2. Little mold left after five days. 3. After 23 day period, AFB 80% removed. 4. The mold decomposes the AFB scale.

5. Mold is white and velvety -attacks scale cocoons and wax of combs. Need high moisture to survive and thrive.

6. Tests so far have been made on nucs only. ( 40 day test period) 7. Mold will not grow on honey or pollen.

8. At present time, the mold is not ·readily available and cost is high. With more use cost probably will come down.

· 9. It takes eight times as much sulfa for testing the resistant strains of AFB.

3

-Recessed for luncheon which was served courtesy of Sioux Honey Association. Resumed meeting with Buzz Barrett giving some interesting facts about

honey production: it is up to 55¢ per pound in some places, highest price in history. There were 235 million pounds produced with over 16 million pounds being exported and 8 million pounds imported. Argentina produced

between 8 and 10 million pounds at 45-47¢; Canada up to 51~ million pounds, up over a million from 1972; Mexico 4.1 million; China .5 million; and Brazil 13 million.

The luncheon had been served using artificial honey which has a different taste. Buzz said people would have to be educated to tell the difference. Some companies are taking this product off the market beGause of mislabeling. Some blends are 30% honey, 70% syrup. Imitation honey tends to raise the

~ercentage of profit for shopkeepers. Corn syrup has jumped from $3.40 to $7.00 cwt. in one year. California and Arkansas have outlawed artificial honey for mislabeling. Sioux Bee is using 1 million pounds per week, pushing for more prospects with good advertising, trying to get more people to eat more honey. Gerald Rose moved that the Advisory Board look into legislation on the labeling of the imitation honey. Seconded, carried. ·

Mr. Lilly reported that out of 205 names on the mailing list, 119 had been licensed in 1973 with 1445 yards and 34,600 colonies reported. There were 6550 colonies inspected in 1973, mostly commercial migratory ·for moving

permits. They found 82 colonies of AFB, 46 of which were burned, 26 treated to be reinspected and 5 nucs burned. Rules and regulations had been gone

over with the advisory board at 8:30 A.M. There were 29 honey house inspec~ions in 1973. Department had 2 people from Uraguay seeing how bees worked here. Their production is 40-60 pounds per colony. He also thought insect controls could be made more useful with less loss to beekeepers. They are going to the Joint Budget Committee to see if something can be done about funding.

Gerald Rose gave a demonstration of his towel method of feeding drugs and told why to try to lengthen drug stay in hive. He said he had changeq from TM 10 to TM 25 then TM 50. Never has used the Crisco patty but using the

amounts of 10# p. sugar, 3# of TM 10 and·l# sulfa. He uses 1 rounded tablespoon per two towels rolled and stapled. The towel is put on top of the colony in September and dusted at the same time with AFB colony . . Put pads on before 1ast cycle board is out in the fall and after first broad cycle in the spring.

President Watkins reported that prices of queens and packages would be high next year and we may have to raise our own queens.

Wayland Lilly introduced new members of D/A: Gordon Center, Rich Wells, Jerry McDonald, and Jim Pensfield.

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-There were 35 at the banquet held Monday evening. Door prizes were won by Genevieve Watkins and the Winnie the Pooh cockbook donated by Buzz Barret was won by. Virginia Rose. Mr. Charles Miller of Riverton, Wyoming, showed slides and told of his and Mrs. Miller•s trip to Australia.

The business meeting was called to order at 9:00 A.M. by President Joaquin Watkins. Minutes of the winter 1972 and summer 1973 meetings were read and approved. Treasurer•s report was given and approved.

Leroy Mills gave a report of the resolutions committee. Moved this be accepted by Bill Baublits, seconded by Bert Warne, carried. Audit report was given, Ed Limbach moved it be accepted, seconded by Ernie Harer, carried.

Mr. Lilly received a call while in session that the exemption of sales tax on sugar used for bee feed would be reinstated.

Mr. Watkins moved that the secretary or president contact Bi 11 Hantsbarger about publishing Bee Notes, Lee Howell seconded, carried.

Mr. Lilly suggested move to stagger terms of advisory board so that the whole slate is not changed at each election.

Mrs. Cleo Bowman moved that the president appoint board to bring CBA constitution up to date, seconded by Warren Wulf, carried.

Gerald Rose moved that the summer meeting be held Saturday, June 29 at Salida Park Pavilion, seconded by Mrs. Bowman, carried. Roy Mills moved that the winter meeting be held December 9 and 10, 1974, at the Holland House, seconded by Bill Baublits, carried.

Ge ra 1 d Rose moved that the advisory boa r.d and board of di rectors of CBA be combined in constitutional change, carried by floor vote.

Delegates to ABF in Hot Springs were selected with John Haefeli as first delegate, John Haefeli, Jr., as second delegate, Paul Limbach as first alter-nate and Bill Baublits as second alteralter-nate .. Gerald Rose moved slate be accepted, seconded by Cleo Bowman, carried.

Gerald Rose moved that the advisory board and board of directors of CBA be empowered to serve one more year and the advisory board to draw straws to stagger one to four year terms, seconded by Warren Wulf, carried. This was

done with the following results: Paul Rickey, 4 years; Harlen Johnston, 3 years; Bill Baublits, 2 years; and Ed Limbach, · 1 year.

Gerald Rose suggested that we get more visual aids to help present beekeeping story to other people and to help hobbyists. Mrs. Cleo Bowman was appointed to catalog honey advertising~ cooking recipes and visual aids

to be used or sent out.

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-Gerald Rose gave a report of the nominating committee as follows:

President - Joaquin Watkins, John Haefeli moved for unanimous vote, seconded by Bill Baublits, carried.

Vice-President - Ernie Harer, Gerald Rose moved for unanimous vote, seconded by John Haefeli, carried.

Secretary-Treasurer - Roger Wadleigh, Gerald Rose moved for unanimous vote, seconded by Cleo Bowman, carried.

Door prize was won by Roy Mills.

Wayland Lilly asked that the advisory board meet at 8:00 A.M. before the summer meeting.

The board of directors are to write control measures for EFB which are to be put in the rules and regulations.

The president instructed the secretary to write a resolution regarding the insectary and send it to Representative Sandy Arnold.

Changes accepted by the board for honey house inspection sanitation are: concrete and linoleum floors would be acceptable, wood flooring must be covered;

unsealed celotex is Dnacceptable, unp~inted walls unacceptable, wall board

must be painted. ·

Meeting adjourned.

Res pe ctfu lly submit ted~ ·

Roger Wadleigh, Secretary DUES TO THE ASSOCIATION ARE NOW DUE

1974 dues for membership in the Colorado Beekeepers Association are now

due and payable~ These should be sent to Mr. Roger Wadleigh,

Secretary-Treasurer, Route 2, LaJunta, Colorado 81050. There is a minimum dues of $2.50 for a person with up to 70 colonies of bees. For those persons having more than 70 colonies the dues are 4¢ per colony.

Many people get this newsletter who are not members of the·Colorado

Beekeepers Association. It should be noted that this newsletter would not be possible if it were not funded by the Association. The Association has many activities and projects to help promote and also serve the beekeeping industry.

All beekeepers in Colorado, whether commercial or just a hobbyist,· should be

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-TREATMENT OF INJURED WORKER BEES IN A COLONY OF APIS MELLIFERA

A study of this was reported in the American Bee Journal. H. H. D.

Attfield of California State College, Hayward, California conducted the tests.

Foraging bees were captured, one or more of the legs, wings, or anntennae

were removed, then the bees were marked with paint and returned to their own

colony. Controls were marked but not mutilated. In tests with over 11,000

bees, the 11

average death rate per 2 week trial11

was 2.2 for control bees.

Removal of all wings caused-no mortality, neither did removal of one or both

antennae, or one leg. Removal of more than 1 leg increased the mortality rate

over that of controls. Similarly mutilated bees kept in cages in the laboratory

survived as long as their similarly treated sisters in the hive.

It is concluded that workers from which certain appendages had been removed

were not mistreated by their sisters, unless they were unable to make movements

when in an upright position. A bee with 4 legs removed might be dragged from

the hive alive and then die from exposure or injury.

COLORADO BEE NOTES

DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY AND ENTOMOLOGY COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY

FORT COLLINS, COLORADO 80521

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)----William M. Hantsbarger

Extension Associate Professor (Entomology) Department of Zoology and Entomology

EXPERIMENT STATION

ENTOMOLOGY SECTION

DEVOTED TO EDUCATION AND RESEARCH FOR THE COLORADO BEE INDUSTRY

June - 1974

Dear Fellow Colorado Beekeeper:

Since the price of honey has gone up, there has developed a very serious threat to the beekeeping industry, that of imitation, artificial, synthetic and admixtures or adulterated honey. Because of these, the industry is fast losing its commercial markets for honey.

The American Beekeeping Federation, Inc. made plans at its January meeting to take vigorous action against this devastating threat. They started a

"Honey Defense Fund."

The object of the American Federation action is, first of all, to get a honey research program established with the U.S.D.A., so that they can develop a testing method to detect this new type of honey adulteration which defies the existing method of analysis. We once had such a program, but it was dropped in 1965. Secondly, they want to get the word honey defined as the

"food product produced by the insect honey bee11 _{and then get a federal regulation} or law into effect that would forbid the use of the word honey to describe,

define or advertise any other food product, whatsoever, except the pure food product honey produced by the honey bee.

Recent world-wide recognition of the desirable values of honey, its status as a world commodity combined with crop shortages in various countries have raised honey prices so that for the first time in at least thirty years a fair rate of return is being experienced in relation to other farm and

commercial enterprises. This has provided incentive for wide spread introduction of substitute materials, promoted as replacements for honey in bulk markets

(baking, confectionery, pharmaceutical, food). This appearance of replacements and extender when labelled and promoted legally, is generally recognized by the honey industry as fa1r compet1t1on, to be met 1n the market place by

appropriate promotional and marketing efforts.

Unfortunately, illegal sale of such materials labelled as honey is taking place and constitutes a fraud upon the consumer. Existing laws and tests tri discover and prove adulteration have, until recently, been adequate to meet this threat to the integrity of the honey industry. Until very recently, sugar products used to adulterate honey have been easily detected by established methods developed earlier by the U. S. Department of Agriculture Research.

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-Tested and accepted by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists, these methods of detection are by federal and state food and drug officials and are accepted for use in legal prosecution where necessary. Within the past year or so a new kind of syrup derived from corn starch has been developed and is available in large quantities. This syrup consists largely of dextrose and levulose, the principal sugars found in honey. It is called an isomerized syrup, since the levulose present has been changed from dextrose by enzyme action.

Since this low priced syrup is highly refined, it can be added to honey in considerable proportion without being detectable by the tests presently known and used for this purpose. Inquiry directed to the two manufacturers of these syrups has not yielded any information on compositional characteris-tics which might be used to demonstrate their presence when mixed with honey.

It is urgently necessary that a concentrated research effort be mounted to find ways to detect this type of adulteration and to carry out the

inter-laboratory testing required to permit acceptance of such new methods by regulatory authorities as suitable for official use. Such a program normally requires two years of testing after a suitable method is developed.

Because research directed to finding and perfecting these tests requires access to highly sophisticated and expensive instruments and to scientific expertise in several disciplines, it is beyond the capability of the honey industry to meet and overcome this threat without assistance from the federal research establishment.

Should adulteration of honey by unscrupulous individuals go undetected over a period of time in the absence of efforts to defend against it, consumer confidence in the purity and integrity of natural honey will be lost with -disastrous consequences to the current market position. Loss of bulk markets could erode retail prices; should returns to the beekeeper fall greatly as a result, the continuing slow decline in numbers of honey bee colonies would sharply accelerate, with grave consequences to production of the six billion dollars of agricultural crops requiring honey bee pollination.

Please give the honey defense fund ALL YOU CAN!!! This is the greatest crisis the honey industry has ever faced. It is practically a matter of life or death for our industry. It has been suggested that 1% of gross honey sales be designated to the honey defense fund.

A pledge form is to be found at the end of this issue of B-Notes. You may make your payment in two installments if you wish. Thank you for your

prompt and generous participation. If you are a beekeeper, mail to the American Beekeeping Federation, Route 1, Box 68, Cannon Falls, Minnesota 55009. If you are a honey packer or dealer, mail to Ralph Gamber, President, National

Honey Packers

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-If you desire information or samples of imitation honey, contact Haefeli Honey Farms, Monte· Vista, Colorado 81144

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Sincerely yours,

COLORADO HONEY DEFENSE FUND COMMITTEE Bill Baublits, Chairman

John Haefeli, Jr., Vice-Chairman Roger Wadleigh

Mary Baker

The following poem was submitted by Charlie Miller from literature he brought back from Australia.

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At 20, Jim was full of vim,

He knew full-depths were the size for him. At 40, with hundreds of hives of bees, He thought they•d do better in W.S.P. At 60, with old age hard on his heels,

His slipped disc and strained muscles called out for ideals. 11

Bee-wise11

at 80, and still quite spry, He thought he•d give half-depths a try. Now Junior Jim has ordered supplies To re-box the lot in full depth size.

On March 4, Bill Baublits and Roger Wadleigh met in the Commissioners Chambers in Pueblo, with thirty hobby beekeepers in attendance. This was a question and answer meeting as a follow-up of the meeting the previous week when Mr. Hantsbarger and Mr. Forbish met with the hobby beekeepers. There was good interest on the towel and patty method of treating colonies for AFB. There also was a great deal of discussion on license fees and questions as to how hobby beekeepers could set up extracting equipment in compliance with the state rules and regulations.

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The following is a summary of the activities of the American Beekeeping Federation, Inc.

The American Beekeeping Federation is the oldest and largest national organization of beekeepers with members in virtually all of the 48 continental states and some foreign countries. Its purpose is 11

to promote the general welfare of the beekeeping industry11

• Its activities are many and varied.

Membership is open to anyone interested in any phase of beekeeping with payment of the dues applicable to the size and class of operation. A dues schedule and application blank is attached at the end of B-Notes.

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-The Federation represents the industry in Washington on all national legislation and regulation matters, makes recommendations and helps obtain appropriations for research and acts in many other ways to further and assist with any industry problems or interests as well.

We hold an annual convention with members only holding voting privileges and rights to office.

We publish a bi-monthly 11

Federation News Letter .. which is mailed regularly to all members. If important or urgent information becomes available between issues of the 11_{News Letters .. , a special release is mailed.}

We select an American Honey Queen annually and sponsor a Honey Queen Program to help promote honey and other industry interests.

We have available an excellent group liability insurance program at substantial savings to members.

We now sponsor a youth award program in beekeeping annually at the National 4-H level to encourage and increase youth participation in the industry.

A section of the program or a workshop for the benefit of the hobbyist or beginner is an important part of the convention.

We will be happy to welcome you as a member and have your participation in all Federation activities.

Sincerely yours, B i 11 Ba ub 1 its Doo 1 ey Toyne

Membership Co-Chairmen for Colorado

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-PLEDGE FORM - HONEY DEFENSE FUND

Recognizing the dire need for urgent work to be started to confront the possible undetectab 1 e adulteration and/or admixtures of honey 11

prob lem11

now facing the indus try.

!/we hereby pledge the sum of dollars, with check enclosed

for dollars. The other one-half, or

dollars will be paid by December 1, 1974.

-Name Address

City, State, Zipe Code

********************************************************************************** MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION BLANK

The American Beekeeping Federation, Inc. Route 1, Box 68

Cannon Falls, Minnesota 55009 1974

200 or more colonies - 5¢ per colony Handlers, dealers, manufacturers

- $100.00

Commercial beekeeper - $50.00 Sustainers - $75.00

Century club - $100.00 or more Two-fifty club - $250.00 or more Federation dues in the amount of $ for 1974 enclosed. American Honey Queen Funds $

_---

---Name Address

---

---City

_---

_---

-If your dues are $25.00 or more, please check the listing below if you wish to be included in the classified directory for the current year.

Honey Producer

Extracted Honey

- -

-Queens and Package

Comb Honey

--.Po 11 ina ti on Service

Italian Hybrids Caucasian

-Honey Packer and/or dealer

-COLORADO BEE NOTES

DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY AND ENTOMOLOGY COLORADO STATE UNIVERISTY

EXPERIMENT STATION ENTOMOL.OGY SECTION DEVOTED TO EDUCATION AND RESEARCH FOR THE COLORADO BEE INDUSTRY

October 7, 1974

MINUTES OF SUMMER MEETING, COLORADO BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION

The summer meeting of the Colorado Beekeepers Association was called to

order at 11:00 A.M. with Vice-President Ernest Harar presiding in the absence

of President Joaquin Watkins.

Minutes of the winter meeting were read and approved and the treasurer's

report was given.

Buzz Barrett spoke on the honey market stating that honey sales were

about one million pounds ahead of last year. Sio.ux Bee has a carry-over

of 6~-7 million pounds with about 5 million in packed supplies. He reported

that Florida is having a short orange crop; Texas, a fair crop; California,

sage crop jus~ fair, alfalfa could be close to normal; in the Midwest they

are optimistic; Canada is expecting a large yield. Japan is not buying

at this time and the European market is not active. There is quite a large

supply of honey in Montana and there is probably more honey in producers•

hands than we know. Sioux Bee is holding honey price at the same level and

they are increasing their TV coverage in their advertising.

Wayland Lilly of the State Department of Agriculture stated that new

inspections were beginning and that small beekeepers were keeping the

depart-ment busy. He asked that the Association make changes in their requests for

mislabeling of adulterations of honey in Colorado. He also asked for a

change in the law covering sale of diseased equipment knowingly to someone

who is ignorant of the condition.

Charlie Miller suggested that beekeepers write their legislators to

inform them of beekeeping problems. Buzz Barrett suggested that perhaps a

brochure could be prepared showing the positive things bees do to help

agriculture and discussing the problems affecting the industry.

Bill Baublits spoke on the need for money for the honey defense fund.

The need is for a good simple test for adulteration of honey. Corn.syrup

that brings 18¢ per pound sells for 31¢ when changed to isomerized syrup.

There are three companies now producing this syrup in the United States.

Forty-five percent of honey produced is used in baking and now one-half of

this market is lost to syrup. Pat Haefeli brought some samples of isomerized

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-has hired a lab in New York to work on a test for the detection of

adulter-ated honey. It has been recommended that one percent of gross sales be

donated based on the 1973 crop. Send donations to the address in the last Bee Notes.

The Federation dues have been raised and are as shown in newsletters. Recessed for lunch which was again in charge of Mrs. Rose Crouse. Check was presented to her in appreciation of her hard work in getting the lunch organized.

After lunch, Dooley Toyne brought up discussion of branding equipment.

It is optional at this time but the Department· of Agriculture would like

your brand to be listed with them along with your license number.

-There being no further business, the meeting adjourned. Buzz Barrett asked that Sioux Bee members hold a meeting and asked anyone interested to at tend.

COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS

Respectfully submitted, Roger Wadleigh

Secretary

President Joaquin Watkins has appointed the following committees to function for the next year:

Resolutions: Leroy Mills, Paul Limbach, Dooley Toyne Nominations: Gerald Rose, Ernie Harer, Harold Ault

Legislations: Bill Baublits, Roger Wadleigh, Paul Rickey, John Haefeli, Jr. Budget, Audit: Don Baker, Ed Limbach, Harlan Johnston

Membership: John Haefeli, Jr., Joe Meyer, Warren Blackburn

Program: Will be taken care of by Joaquin Watkins DID YOU KNOW

World population is expanding by large numbers each year, especially

in the poor countries that are most susceptible of famine. Last year, the

population increased by 76 million, the largest increase ever. The,number

of mouths to feed throughout the world has doubled since the end of World War

I I .

Some 3,000 to 10,000 of the 700,000 known species of insects are

recognized as pests, so we will have to continue to exert a tremendous

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-against inevitable strains of ants, bots, bugs, fleas, flies, gnats, grubs, keds, lice, mites, moths, scales, slugs, snails, tiers, thrips, ticks, wasps, worms, and hundreds of other pests.

The grim inadequacy of present world food supplies also is aggravated by the increasing number of resistant strains of common pests, an inevitable consequence of repeated exposures to the same pest on the same crop in the same area. Hundreds of millions of years in evolutionary development have provided insects with resistance potentials that emerge selectively through fringe exposures from annually repeated applications of pesticides. There-fore the development of new pesticides is.a continuing necessity.

Five years ago British author C. P. Snow warned, "Perhaps in ten years, millions of people in the poor countries are going to starve to death before our very eyes ... We shall see them doing so upon our television sets. How soon? How many deaths? Can they be prevented? Can they be minimized? Those are the most important questions in our world today.11

Recent news articles and T.V~ films now reconfirm these predictions.

USDA REPORT OF ETHYLENE OXIDE (Taken from September U.C. Apiaries Newsletter by Ward Stanger)

Mr. H. Shimanuki replied (August 16, 1974) as follows to a letter from me requesting information on the USDA work on ethylene oxide for AFB control.

"Our work with ethylene oxide is progressing at a slow rate. What we are trying to achieve is precision and predictability. We would like to establish guidelines so that we can tell beekeepers what results to expect if they use a set of conditions with regard to temperature, chamber, conce

n-tration of gas, combs of honey, etc. We also hope to recycle bees as well as equipment and evaluate ethylene oxide as a preventative treatment.

· 11

A number of eastem states are testing ethylene oxide treatment as an experimental procedure in nonfood use. These states are quite pleased with the results. Our laboratory has not been able to examine the combs

for honey, scales, or ropy material treated in the eastern states, but in our tests, we hope to be able to determine the efficacy of ethylene oxide to decontaminate all stages of American foulbrood and honey.

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The ethylene oxide project is being conducted by Mr. David Knox who is using the data for his Master of Science degree at the University of

Maryland under the direction of H. Shimanuki of the bioenvironmental laboratory,

Be 1 ts vi 11 e , Ma ry 1 an d . 11

We hope that he will be finished with the research by the fall of 1974 and at that time, we are planning to submit an application for use of ethylene oxide on nonfood situations.11

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-WANTED

Small Extractor preferably 3 or 4 frame motorized. Contact Donald G. Davis, Route 1, Box 93-A, Grand Valley, Colorado 81635

COLORADO BEE NOTES

DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY AND ENTOMOLOGY COLORADO STATE UNIVERSlTY

ENTOMOLOGY SECTION

DEVOTED TO EDUCATION AND RESEARCH FOR THE COLORADO BEE INDUSTRY

November 1974 WINTER MEETING OF THE COLORADO BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION

The winter meeting of the CBA is scheduled to commence Monday, December 9th at the Holland House in Golden, Colorado, according to word received from

the Association President, S. Joaquin Watkins. Mark the date on your calendar and plan on attending.

NEW PUBLICATION ON HONEY BEE POLLINATION AVAILABLE

C.S.u~· Experiment Station Bulletin entitled 11

Watennelon Pollination by Honey Bees .. is available from the Bulletin Room at Colorado State CJrjversity. This bulletin reports on the studies made by Dr. Wayne Brewer of the Department of Zoology and Entomology at C.S.U.

UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS TO STUDY AFRICANIZED HONEY BEE

The USDA recently announced that the University of Kansas at Lawrence was granted $125,000 by the Agricultural Research Service to make a four year study of the Africanized honey bee in Brazil.

This bee, spreading throughout Brazil, is unpopular for its stinging behavior and its swarming habits. It has interbred with local strains and has

been a severe nuisance to beekeepers, livestock, and humans.

During the four year study, Kansas scientists will study population habits and spread of the bee. They will investigate the bee•s foraging behavior and its adaptabi·l ity to different climates.

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A)~~

.

William M. antsbarger

Extension Associate Professor (Entomology) Department of Zoology and Entomology

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-IDENTIFICATION OF BROOD DISEASES

The following chart was taken from Pacific North-West Regional Publication, Beekeeping, revised in June 1974.

IDENTIFICATION OF BROOD DISEASES

American Foulbraad European Foulbraad Causative organism Bacillus larvae Steptococcus pluton Odor Usually strong Slightly

acid-and foul sour

Amount of brood Usually much Usually much affected

Cappings Often sunken and Affected brood perforated mostly unsealed

Age of larvae Usually die after Usually die before capping capping

Color of larvae Become dark brown Yellow, gray, brown

Consistency of Sticky, "roping" Soft, breakable, the larvae out %" or more sometimes slimy Position of dead Usually lengthwise. Usually curled larvae in cells Soon become shape- at bottom or

less on side-walls Pupae Sometimes affected. Not affected

Tongue usually sticks up

Scales Dark brown, stuck Yellow to brown. to floor of cell, Usually small, brittle; fluoresce free, and at bottom.

in ultraviolet of cell, tough and light rubbery

COLORADO BEE NOTES

DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY AND ENTOMOLOGY COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY

FORT COLLINS, COLORADO 80523

Atypical

Sacbraod European Foul brood Filterable virus Bacillus alvei None to slightly Slightly acid-sour sour

Usually little Usually much Sunken cops Jess After sunken '

prominent than and perforated AFB, some with

two holes

Usually die after Many die capping after capping Become dark brown, Become dark head end darker brown Watery, granular, 51 ightly sticky tough skin forms rope. If any, a sac less than 1f2"

Lengthwise, become Usually -lengthwise mummified soon become

shapeless Rarely affected Sometimes

affected

Blackish, free, Sometimes found lengthwis' along but not stuck to floor, brittle floor of cell.

Very hard. Can generally be removed

COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY EXPERIMENT STATION ENTOMOLOGY SECTION

DEVOTED TO EDUCATION AND RESEARCH FOR THE COLORADO BEE INDUSTRY

February - 1975

MINUTES OF WINTER MEETING

The regular meeting of the Colorado Beekeepers Association was called to order by the president Joaquin Watkins at 10:00 A.M. on December 9, 1974, at the Holland House Motor Hotel in Golden. Invocation was given by Ernest Harer.

The president gave his report indicating that he felt artificial honey was here to stay and that false labeling and advertising is hurting the sales and images of honey. He announced committees as follows:

Resolutions: Leroy Mills, Dooley Toyne, Paul Rickey Budget and Audit: Ed Limbach, Ernest Harer

Membership: John Haefeli, Jr., Warren E. Blackburn

Legislature: Bill Baublits, Paul Rickey, John Haefeli, Jr., Roger Wadleigh Mr. Clinton Jeffers, Commissioner of Agriculture, spoke to the group and said that the population has grown to 3.5 billion and will double in thirty years. The United States gives one-third of the food given away in the world. The new E.P.A. ruling stating that anyone who wants to use restricted pesticides must be licensed. Fines can be levied to $25,000 for commercial applicators and $5,000 for private use. It will cost the state $300,000 to enforce this law. A new weights and measures and metric lab is being finished on Zuni street and a new insectary is to be built in Palisade to handle thirteen regions.

Mr. William Hantsbarger of CSU addressed the group stating that there are about 50 4-H beekeeping projects but no showing at fairs. He feels we need more interest. Dr. Wayne Brewer is to offer a beekeeping course in the spring quarter. There is a free publication No. 12, Pollination of Watermelons by Bees and one entitled Beekeeping in the Rocky Mountain Region, price 85¢. There was an item in the Wall Street Journal stating a concern over the decline in beekeepers who had 5 million colonies five years ago, down to 4 million now with 3,000 full time beekeepers and 150,000 part time of hobbyist beekeepers. There are problems in the certification of pesticide applicators in relationship to beekeepers. Appli-cators licenses cost $5.00 for five years. We have problems introducing young people to beekeeping industry. Need to advise farmers to spray crops before pollen and nectar secretions begin. Three methods of better control are spray before blossoms appear, use correct chemicals, use proper applications and amounts.

2

-President Joaquin Watkins read notice of the death of Mr. Pauli, beekeeper in Pueblo, on November 19, 1974.

Mr. David Miller of Salt Lake City spoke to the group stressing the following points: The honeybee is a distinguished insect, young beekeepers need to read all they can before starting in business, isomerized syrup is a sincere form of flattering of honey, we need to participate in the honey defense fund individually, there has been 6 million pounds of adultrated honey sold in United States, one plant can produce as much isomerized syrup as honey production in the U.S., we need to keep quality control in packing and as required by law to be labeled properly, keep honey clean at all times. He also stated that quality control needs to be kept up from time combs go on. Production costs are 38¢ before any packing, there is no world market as such today, there is a need for advertising and with showing at fairs, sell honey with flowers, not bees or stings.

We adjourned for luncheon served courtesy of Sioux Honey Association. In the absence of Mr. Buzz Barrett, Mr. Charlie Miller was M.C. with 75 in attendance.

The meeting reconvened at 1:30 P.M. with Mr. Peter Larson, botany and biology instructor of Grand Junction High School addressing the meeting. He stated that bees have biological clock as to time flowers bloom and not all bloom at the

same time. Bees cannot see the color red, the UV range is what they see. The guides to nectar are visual and yellow volatile oils. Variables in nectar secretion

are: l. Temperature threshhold of nectar secretion- have higher concentration in alfalfa. 2. Humidity - need good humidity for secretion, dew. 3. Climate -need warm days and cool nights. 4. Irrigation -winter irrigation can affect moisture secretion. 5. Latitude - the higher the elevation or farther north you go, the more nectar secretion ... trying in Canada to see if a hormone affects nectar secretion. 6. Fertilizer - a good balance between potassium and phosphate favors nectar secretion. Need to know more of temperature threshhold of blooms and opening and closing times of blossoms.

Mr. Charlie Miller spoke for Mr. Barrett who was unable to be at the meeting. He states that Sioux honey sales are good in all five plants. Sioux Honey plans more TV coverage. They accepted 54 new members in September and 52 in November. There has been 21 million pounds imported against 4 million ex~orted. Sioux Honey has dropped retains from 6% to 3% - 1~% in each of two programs. Sioux Honey now has cargo equipment insurance program.

Mr. Darrel Meyer spoke briefly on bee sting allergy stating that wives develop allergy from handling husband's beekeeping clothes. He had sent his son to Dr. Swan in Great Falls, Montana, for a series of bee venom shots. Gave

twelve the first two days and then in three weeks for more shots. Have developed a blood test to check allergies. Instant adrenalin kits help as do some anti-histamines.

Mr. Richard Sackett of the Laramie Station, Ag. Research Service, USDA, has spent three years at lucson station. He stated that antibiotics are still the best treatment for disease in bees. Chalk brood is spreading rapidly, has been found in Canada with losses to 10%. In queen rearing at Tucson, they have gone to doweled frames instead of foundation - l/811

dowels spaced 1~11

apart vertically in center of frame. Frames interspaced between drawn combs. There

3

were several questions asked including spring dwindling problems, chalk brood two cases known instate, how many using extender patties: Formula TM 10 -18 tablespoons, Crisco - one 3# can, granulated sugar - 6#.

Mr. Lilly, Chief of the Apiary Section of the Department of Agriculture for the State of Colorado stated that there were two known cases of chalk brood in the state, considerable nosema found with up to 40% on the Western Slope, none on the eastern section, there has been some inquiries as to specific yard location registrations to know where bees are, has been some rustling (if you brand

equipment and then send state a copy or record, it helps). He presented the proposed bee law amendments and stated there is need for correct labeling -you may blend honey with other substances but it must be properly labeled, need to define adultrated bee products. (The group does not feel that definition of honey is proper and that the proposed amendments are too restrictive with no allowance for cinnamon honey.)

A panel discussion was held on wintering problems and spring management

with Gerald Rose acting as moderator. Points brought out were that high entrances are not needed in this area; some winter 2~ stories high putting l/2 depth in bottom; need air and water drainage as two points to remember in yard locations; need spring pollen for buildup.

The meeting adjourned until banquet held at 6:30 P.M. with 42 attending. Mr. Si Marks of Lakewood gave an interesting travelog on Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Door prize won by Mrs. Warren Wulf.

Business meeting was called to order at 9:30 A.M. on December 10 with 37 attending. Minutes of winter 1973 and summer 1974 meetings were read and approved. Mr. Roy Mills, resolutions chairperson, gave his report and moved that it be adopted. Seconded, carried.

Bill Baublits gave report on proposed change in the bee law stating that the best parts of all state laws were included in our proposals. If referred to committee, hearings will have to be held.

Roy Mills made motion to take percentage of ingredients out of 7-7-9 (2) and (3) seconded by John Haefeli, carried.

Gerald Rose moved 7-7-2, definition 18 (honey) be amended and offered 11_A

sweet viscid fluid produced by honey bees from natural sources.11

, seconded by

Dooley Toyne, carried.

Gerald Rose made motion 7-7-9 (4) should be dropped, seconded by Ed Limbach, carried.

4

-Paul Rickey moved that Wayland Lilly pull this bill from Department of Agriculture action, seconded by Cleo Bowman, carried.

Dooley Toyne moved that 7-7-10 be deleted from proposed amendment, Warren Wulf seconded, carried.

Audit committee chairperson Ed Limbach moved that audit report be accepted, seconded by Ethridge Belt, carried.

Honey defense fund was reported on - $46,000 taken in and a lab in New York hired and one in a college to work on test of isomerized syrup. Dr. White to head program. Will need at least $100,000 so everyone needs to send in whatever

they can.

Bee Notes - everything to go through college extension program. Gerald Rose moved that CBA send Mr. Hantsbarger $100 for postage, seconded by Ed Limbach, carried.

Paul Limbach moved that incoming president appoint committee to revise constitution, seconded by Bill Baublits, carried.

Discussion was had on ethelene oxide chamber. No action taken.

Paul Rickey moved that summer meeting be held last Saturday in June in Salida. Seconded by Bill Baublits, carried. (June 28)

Dooley Toyne moved that winter meeting be held the second Monday and Tuesday in December at the Holland House in 1975. Seconded by Bill Baublits, carried ( 8 and 9) .

Gerald Rose moved that dues be raised to $5.00 minimum or 4¢ per colony whichever is higher. Seconded by Mr. Rahish, carried.

Gerald Rose gave report of nominating committee and moved for a unanimous ballot, seconded by Roy Mills, carried. Elected were: Ernest Harer, President, Paul Rickey, Vice-President, and Roger Wadleigh~ Secretary-Treasurer.

Members of the Advisory Board were elected by caucus as follows: Colorado River Basin: Ed Limbach and Warren Wulf.

Platte River Basin: Gerald Rose moved seat be declared vacant, seconded by Dooley Toyne, carried. Roy Mills moved that Cleo Bowman be named delegate and Rose alternate, seconded by Dooley Toyne, carried.

Dooley Toyne moved we adjourn. Door prize was won by Bill Baublits. Respectfully submitted,

s/ Roger Wadleigh

5

-SPECIAL MEETING

The special meeting of the Colorado Beekeepers Association was called to order at 10:00 A.M. at the Holland House Motor Hotel in Golden, Colorado, on January 9, 1975, by Emest Harer, president, with 13 members and a guest from Canada in attendance. The secretary read the minutes of the winter business meeting, approved.

The first order of business was the new proposed changes in the bee law. Each item was considered as follows: (copy of proposals attached hereto) Paragraph 7-7-2 (18) Honey- John Haefeli, Jr. moved this item be accepted, seconded by Cleo Bowman, carried.

Paragraph 7-7-2 (21) Adultrated Bee Products (adultrated honey) Paul Rickey moved for acceptance, seconded by Bill Baublits, carried.

Paragraph 7-7-2 (22) Artificial Bee Product (artificial honey) Dooley Toyne moved for acceptance, seconded by John Haefeli, Jr., carried.

Paragraph 7-7-9 (2) Bill Baublits moved for acceptance, seconded by Paul Rickey, carried.

Paragraph 7-7-9 (3) Warren Wulf moved for acceptance, seconded by Herman Wheling, carried.

Cleo Bowman moved amended proposals be accepted, seconded by Charles Smith, carried.

Dooley Toyne moved that CBA accept Federation delegrates, carried by floor vote. Discussion was held on an ethylene oxide chamber. Members would like to know about several things concerning this such as size needed, amount of equipment needed per charge, cost. No decision was made and Mr. Lilly will see what might be available and what help Mr. Powers might be able to give in this matter.

Meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted, s/ Roger Wadleigh

Roger Wadleigh, Secretary

Section 7-7-2 is hereby amended by the changing of Subsection (18) and the addition of Subsections (21) and 22) which shall read:

7-7-2 (18) 11

HONEY11

-A SWEET VISCID MATERIAL ELABORATED OUT OF THE NECTAR OF FLORAL SOURCES, HONEYDEW AND/OR FROM EXTRA FLORAL NECTERIES IN THE HONEY SAC OF APHIS MELLIFERA (HONEYBEE).

6

-7-7-2 (21) 11

ADULTRATED BEE PRODUCTS11

- (ADULTRATED HONEY) HONEY WHICH HAS BEEN

MADE IMPURE BY THE ADDITION OF FOREIGN SUBSTANCES OR ARTIFICIAL BEE PRODUCTS. 7-7-2 (22) 11

ARTIFICIAL BEE PRODUCT11

- (ARTIFICAL HONEY) ANY SUBSTANCE MADE OR

PRODUCED TO RESEMBLE HONEY IN ANY FORM, BUT NOT PRODUCED FROM THE NECTAR OF A FLORAL SOURCE, HONEYDEW OR EXTRA FLORAL NECTERIES GATHERED AND STORED BY

HONEYBEES.

Section 7-7-9 is hereby amended by the additions of Subsections 2 and 3 which shall read:

7-7-9 (2) NO PERSON SHALL ADULTRATE OR CAUSE OR SOLICIT ANY PERSON TO ADULTRATE ANY BEE PRODUCTS, OR TO MIX OR COMPOUND ANY SUBSTANCES SO AS TO RESEMBLE BEE PRODUCTS: OR SELL OR OFFER FOR SALE OR SOLICIT OTHERS TO SELL OR OFFER FOR SALE, OR EXCHANGE OR GIVE AWAY ANY ADULTRATED OR ARTIFICIAL BEE PRODUCTS OR ANY COMPOUNDS PURPORTING TO BE OR TO IMITATE BEE PRODUCTS, OR SUBSTANCES DESIGNED TO BE USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR BEE PRODUCTS, UNLESS EACH AND EVERY PACKAGE OF SUCH ADULTRATED OR ARTIFICIAL ·BEE PRODUCTS OR COMPOUNDED ARTICLES IS CLEARLY, DURABLY AND PROMINENTLY LABELED OR MARKED SO AS TO INFORM THE PURCHASER OF THE EXACT INGREDIENTS USED

IN THE ORDER OF THEIR PREDOMINANCE AND IN THE SAME SIZE AND COLOR OF TYPE; NOR SHALL THE NAME OF ANY INGREDIENT BE DISPLAYED SO AS TO MISLEAD IN ANY MANNER.

IN NO CASE SHALL THE WORDS HONEY, HONEYBEES, BEE, BEES OR ANY SIMILAR WORDS,

TERMS OR GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS OF SAID WORDS OR TERMS BE USED IN LABELING ADULTRATED OR ARTIFICAL BEE PRODUCTS. ARTIFICIAL BEE PRODUCTS SHALL INCLUDE BEE PRODUCTS

OR SUBSTANCES WHICH HAVE BEEN STORED OR MADE BY HONEYBEES FROM SUGAR, SYRUP OR ANY OTHER MATERIAL OR SUBSTANCES FED TO THEM. .

THE FEEDING OF BEES IN WINTER AND SPRING FOR SURVIVAL AND BUILD-UP PURPOSES SHALL BE ALLOWED: HOWEVER, IN NO CASE SHALL THE FEEDING OF BEES FOR EXTRACTION AND/OR SELLING PURPOSES BE PERMITTED.

7-7-9 (3) NO PERSON SHALL SELL OR SERVE TO CONSUMERS ADULTRATED OR ARTIFICIAL BEE PRODUCTS NOR PRODUCTS CONTAINING ADULTRATED OR ARTIFICIAL BEE PRODUCTS AS AN

INGREDIENT UNLESS HE ADEQUATELY INFORMS THE PURCHASER, HIS REPRESENTATIVE OR

THE CONSUMER OF SUCH GOODS OF THE EXACT INGREDIENTS IN THE ORDER OF THEIR PREDOMINANCE IN THE SAME SIZE AND COLOR OF TYPE, NOR SHALL THE NAME OF ANY INGREDIENT BE

DIS-PLAYED SO AS TO MISLEAD IN ANY MANNER AND IN NO CASE SHALL SUCH ADULTRATED OR ARTIFICIAL BEE PRODUCTS BE REFERRED TO OR REPRESENTED TO BE LABELED AS HONEY. MYSTERY MALADY HITS ALFALFA LEAFCUTTER BEES

A disease resembling chalk brood of honey bees has been found among leaf-cutter bees in Lovelock Valley area of Nevada. In some colonies, almost 50% of the populations have been killed by the disease. Although this disease resembles chalk brood, it does not appear to affect honey bees.

Scientists are advising care in moving materials in and out of the Lovelock Valley area of Nevada so as to avoid spread of the disease.

7 -4-H MEMBER NEEDS SOME HELP

Debbie Vesely of Rist Canyon Route, Bellvue, Colorado 80512 is wanting to take the 4-H beekeeping project and would like to obtain some used hive equip-ment so that she might start a colony this spring. If you have some used and inexpensive hive equipment, please contact her by writing to the above address or call (303) 493-2555.

DUES ARE PAYABLE

Dues to the Colorado Beekeepers Association should be paid to Mr. Roger Wadleigh, Route 2, La Junta, Colorado 81050.

Dues are $5.00 minimum or 4¢ per colony, whichever is higher. IN MEMORIAM

Gustav Adolph Pauli of 901 West 11th, Pueblo, passed away at St. Mary-Corwin Hospital, Tuesday, November 19, 1974. He was the husband of Mrs. Hazel D. Pauli of the family home, father of Mrs. Mary Ebert, Miss Sheila Kay Pauli and Giles Pauli, Pueblo; Mrs. Jacquelyn Brown, Hollywood, California, and Denzil Pauli, Silver Springs, Missouri, and brother of Mrs. Albertina Pauli Karlstad, Sweden. Born in Arvika, Varmland, Sweden, April 22, 1884, and came to the United States, September 4, 1904. Married to Hazel Dorothy Osborn, in February 1916. A beekeeper for 54 years in the Arkansas Valley and San Luis Valley. He was a Pueblo County apiary inspector and was a writer and photographer for apiary publications. Member of the Pueblo Camera Club and a former committeeman of a Boy Scout troop. Services were held in Rouch Chapel at 2 P.M. Friday, November 22, 1974, with the Rev. William L. Woelfle officiating. Interment, Roselawn Cemetery.

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Extension Associate Professor (Entomology) Department of Zoology and Entomology

COLORADO BEE NOTES

DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY AND ENTOMOLOGY COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY

EXPERIMENT STATION ENTOMOLOGY SECTION DEVOTED TO EDUCATION AND RESEARCH FOR THE COLORADO BEE INDUSTRY

June 183 1975

SUMMER MEETING OF THE COLORADO BEEKEEPERS "ASSOCIATION

Just a reminder that the summer meeting of the CBA will be held Saturday, June 28, at the park adjacent to the Municipal swimming pool in Salida. There will be a meeting of the Advisory Committee at 9:15 to discuss the State Bee Law and the reg-ular session will commence at 10:00 a.m. Please mark this date on your calendar and plan on attending.

IMPORTANCE OF HONEYBEES . AS STRAWBERRY ·poLLINATORS

Honeybees upheld their reputation as prodigious pollinators in a recent straw-berry study. Open strawstraw-berry plots or strawstraw-berry plots caged with honeybee colonies produced larger and better quality fruit than plots screened to exclude bees.

Little attention has been given to the role of insects in pollinating strawber-ries. Self-fertile cultivars apparently set fruit well without insects. Recent studies, however, indicate that insect visits are essential for complete pollination of some cultivars.

ARS entomologist William P. Nye and pomologist J. LaMar Anderson, Utah State University, Logan, explored the effects of pollination by honeybees on the yield of three strawberry cultivars in Utah.

The researchers planted double row beds of 11_Fresno,11 11_Shasta,11 _and 11_Tioga11

strawberries. At the onset of flowering they set up the following conditions · in replicas of four: open plots available to all insects; plots screened to prevent access by any large pollinating insect; and plots in cages containing a four-frame honeybee colony. When all tertiary bloom was complete, the men rem.oved the cages.

Screening out large pollinating insects reduced yields because the berries were smaller. Also, plots without la.rge insects produced significantly more malformed fruit because of incomplete ovule fertilization and lack of tissue development around undeveloped seeds. Open plots and plots with caged bees gave superior yields. Based on the study, Mr. Nye says,11_{Because of the large investment in strawberry}

production, growers should consider providing honeybees unless there are already significant numbers of colonies located near their plantings.11

-2-DO YOU KNOW?

That a good way to give ventilation to a strong colony during hot weather is by placing blocks between the bottom brood chamber and the bottom board. One on each carne r.

That a sure way to tell when the honey flow has started is when the bees start to whiten and widen the combs of the frames.

That even if the season is a poor one bees if managed right will bring in a fair crop of honey. This means a large force of bees at the right age in the colony when the honey flow starts.

That combs of granulated honey will be utilized by the bees more readily if the frames are laid on their sides and water sprinkled in the cells. The bees will re-move it, rework it and place it in the combs.

That bees which have the swarming fever gather very little honey during that time. They are too busy building queen cells and scouting the area trying to locate a new home.

That bees bring in the honey crop from bees hatched from eggs laid a month to six weeks ahead of the harvest.

From the Minnesota Beekeeper~ June 1975

HEARING WITH EPA IN REGARDS TO SOME RESOLUTIONS PREPARED AT THE AMERICAN BEEKEEPING FEDERATION MEETING AT BOISE.

A hearing was set up with the Environmental Protection .Agency in regards to Resolution No. 8 and 17.

Resolution No. 8. Requests USDA to increase efforts to control harmful insects with-out injury to honeybees and give official recognition to the value of honeybees as

pollinators.---The EPA hopes to establish a 4th class of. pesticides that would be labeled 11_0f no harm to bees. 11

Resolution No. 17. Requesting EPA survey list of chemicals and drugs used in bee-keeping industry to determine present registration status and effect enforcement of new regulations may

have.---The use of terramyacin, sodium sulfathiazole, and fumagillin will be.permitted. Approved for use --- paradichlorobenzene, methyl bromide and benzaldehyde. Not approved for use: ethylene dibromide, propionic anhydride and butric anhydoride. From the Minnesota Beekeeper, June 1975

COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY EXPERIMENT STATION ENTOMOLOGY SECTION

DEVOTED TO EDUCATION AND RESEARCH FOR THE COLORADO BEE INDUSTRY

Septeroer 15, 1975

CHANGES IN BEEKEEPER INDEMNITY PROGRAM ANNOUNCED BY USDA

Effective July 15, the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will no longer make

Beekeeper Indemnity Program payments on queen bee nuclei losses which occur between

August 15 and December 31 each year. {Queen bee nuclei are miniature colonies used in

the production of quP.en bees for sale.) Current provisions of the program permit p

ay-ments on queen nuclei losses up to October 1.

USDA has also changed the final date for adjusting the degree of loss on bee co

l-onies from November 1 to October 1.

On April 28, USDA issued a notice of proposed rule-making regarding changes in

the program regulations, inviting interested persons to submit comments and sugges

-tions. Persons responding to the notice indicated that the main shipping season for

queen bees occurs between March and July each year, although some queen bee breeders

maintain their operations longer into the year.

The October 1 deadline date for changes in the degree of loss does not prohibit a payment on a loss of bees that occurs after that date, but only a deadline for adjus

t-ments of losses that occurred before October 1. The change will not significantly

af-fect the payments to beekeepers but will improve the administration of the program.

The honey bee is important to the U.S. economy because it is the major pollinator

of legume seeds and fruit and vegetable crops. The Beekeeper Indemnity Program

pro-vides payments to beekeepers who have suffered losses as a result of the use of inse

c-ticides which have been registered and approved for use by the federal government. PUBLICITY CONCERNING "KILLER BEES" MAY BE MISLEADING

Recent publicity concerning the African honey bee in a variety of negative impressions from many people. not as bad as some news releases make it out. Lawrence agist at Ohio State University had "dug out" some facts (South Americanized) which are worth repeating.

in South America has resulted

Fortunately, the situation is

J. Connor, Extension Entomol -concerning the African bee

-2-1. In South America, mainly Brazil, the hybrid between European and African honey bee races produced a new bee which has been a definite problem. No one argues with this. The Africanized colonies will sting in great-er numbgreat-ers than the avgreat-erage European colony, and they have a bad habit of migrating as a swarm, making them less controllable by beekeepers. However, the new strain is a better honey producer and crop pollinator than old strains --- something few news releases point out. In fact, many Brazilian beekeepers successfully manage 'killer bees' just as U.S. beekeepers manage European bees.

2. Africanized bees appear identical to North American honey bees, even to most scientists. If anything, they are slightly smaller than our honey bees, but California researchers have resorted to a computer analysis to tell the two apart, by using complicated numerical taxonomy.

3. All honey bees sting only once. The actual stinger of the honey bee is barbed, and pulls from the body of the insect (helping give a full shot of venom). Several news releases report the killer bee stinging "60 times a minute." Many of our common wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets can sting repeatedly, but probably not that often. The Africanized honey bee colony is collectively more sensitive to enemies, and more bees will sting than conventional colonies.

4. There are vast differences in the bees we already have in North America. At OSU, there are different strains of bees used in research for bee diseases which are quite different in their stinging ability. One group attempts to sting every time a beekeeper opens the hive, while another strain rarely stings. Corrmercial and hobbyist beekeepers know this, and generally select gentler colonies in their bee yards ( even beekeepers hate to be stung). ·

5. The African honey bee has been introduced into North America on earlier occasions, and their apparent viciousness has been thoroughly mixed with the European bees employed here. (All honey bees are introduced to the "New World", and were called 'the white man's fly' by the Indians). 6. Several news stories tell of the bees spreading at a rate of 200 miles

per year. There is strong evidence that they have stopped spreading this fast, and USDA is spending $200,000 to monitor the spread and to study the strain.

7. La\'/S regulating the importation of honey bee stock have been tightened to such an extent that it is virtually impossible to bring bees into the United States from a foreign country. This greatly reduces the chance of an intentional introduction.

8. All honey bee colonies will attack when molested~ and no colony should be opened by a non-beekeeper. 01 I co-author, Wi 11 i am F. Lyon, expe ri-enced the viciousness of the African honey bee while on assignment in Africa,but is careful to point out that proper precautions were not made in dealing with the bees. Furthermore, Lyon is a beekeeper and keeps bees, which many non-beekeepers might call 'killer bees' if they had first hand exposure to them!

9. The venom of the Africanized honey bee apparently is produced in the same amount and quality as in our strains. Some news stories have impli-ed that their venom is deadlier. There does not seem to be any basis to that statement, but should be researched.

10. All bee stings hurt, and cause a toxic reaction. Estimates from 500 to 2000 stings are needed to cause death in the 'average' person. Dr. Lyon, in his unfortunate incident in Africa, was stung several hundred times, and suffered swelling and pain from the toxic reaction.

Very allergic individuals (1 person in several hundred) may die from 3 single sting from any wasp or bee, and should have a sting kit