Coming Events September 17: Better beekeeping management

September, 2015
Coming Events
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September 12- 13 Fall Apitherapy Course
http://www.beehealing.buzz/Portals/0/DOCUME
NTS/Fall_2015flyer3.pdf
September 17 - Monthly meeting at Muzon
UMC. George McAllister (see below)
October 3, 10, 17, 24 Testing for Journeyman
and Master Beekeeper certifications
October 12-14 Protecting Pollinators in
Ornamental Landscaping Conference
http://ecoipm.org/protecting-pollinatorsconference/
October 15, 2015 – Monthly Meeting at Muzon
UMC
November 19, 2015—Monthly Meeting at
Muzon UMC
December 17, 2015 – Potluck Dinner
February 25, 26, 27 2016 – NC State Spring
Conference in New Bern, NC.
July 7, 8, 9 2016 – NC State Summer
Conference in Hickory, NC
The queen castle is the Swiss army knife of
beekeeping equipment. The queen castle is used
for swarm control, raising new queens, housing
older queens, rotating comb, supplying weak
hives with bees and brood and much more.
George will discuss how the queen castle can
help you maintain strong productive bee hives
with little additional work.
The Big Bee Truck
Patrick Ferrer, Sales Manager of Dadant & Sons
will attend our MeckBee meeting on September
17, 2015.
Patrick will be driving his BIG TRUCK and will
bring your beekeeping equipment and supply
orders right to the meeting. Dadant will not
charge shipping or tax on orders delivered to the
September meeting.
To place your order, contact Patrick at (434)
432-8451 or (800) 220-8325.
Check out the Dadant beekeeping supplies at
www.dadant.com\catalog
President’s Buzz by Gerry Mack
George McAllister
September 17: Better beekeeping
management using Queen Castles –
presented by George McAllister
HoneyComb Page 1
Save the Dates for Intermediate Beekeeping
School
MeckBee will host an intermediate beekeeping
school in November. Classes will be held each
Tuesday night in November (3, 10, 17 and 24)
from 7pm to 9pm at the Providence Baptist
Church at 4921 Randolph Road.
September 2015
Greg Fariss, our NCDA&CS Apiary Inspector,
will be our instructor. Class subjects are being
finalized and will include topics of importance
to intermediate-level beekeepers.
A class syllabus, cost and registration
information will be provided soon so watch your
emails and come to the September MeckBee
meeting.
Your 2015 Honey Crop
I hope that your 2015 honey crop is now headed
for customer’s kitchens. First-crop beekeepers
have asked about filling and labeling jars and
selling honey – here’s what I think:
Quantity Honey jars are sized to contain a
nominal weight at a typical honey density.
Customers however, look at volume to see if
they are getting a good deal. Jars should be
filled at least to the full line – resist the
temptation to weigh out exactly 16 ounces if it
leaves the pound jar looking not quite full. A
full jar reinforces that customers are getting a
good deal when buying a quality product.
Labels Honey labels must at least include net
weight, type of product and seller’s contact
information.
(http://www.ncbeekeepers.org/Honey%20Stand
ard.pdf). Designs can be simple or store bought
and will establish your message to customers –
are you a mom & pop apiary or do you aspire to
a regional brand? A crooked, smudged or torn
label sends the same uncaring message as a
sticky jar. Make sure the label clearly lets
customers know how to reach you when the jar
is empty.
Price Pure honey bought directly from a local
beekeeper should fetch a higher price than
generic grocery store honey. Consider jar and
label costs in setting prices for different sized
jars. It makes customer sense to have larger jars
priced less per weight than smaller jars - for
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example, a 2-lb. jar should be priced a bit less
than two 1-lb. jars. If you are selling wholesale
cases to a retailer or buckets to a honey
packager then expect them to receive a
wholesale discount from your single jar retail
price.
A Beekeeper’s Dozen We only sell honey
made from our hives which means our annual
quantity is what it is. We can’t just “make
more” as if we were baking cookies so I feel no
need for retail discounts on this limited
commodity. We find it best to add a small jar of
liquid or creamed honey to a large retail
purchase to show our appreciation. It’s a good
way to let the customer try a different product or
for them to re-gift the jar to someone who will
then become a future customer. A honey bear
for the kids is a good way to thank regular
customers.
Marketing A day at a farmers market puts you
in touch with potential repeat customers.
Presentations to schools, garden clubs,
neighborhood groups, churches and other
community organizations is a good way to find
customers. A “Local Honey For Sale” sign will
attract walkers, runners, and cyclists in your
neighborhood. Have business cards out so they
know how to contact you when they are ready to
buy. Make sure that customers understand why
your fresh local honey is special and unique.
MeckBees now has a logo and E-store where
you can purchase your very own hats and
shirts with our MeckBees.org logo
September 2015
embroidered or printed! Check it out today
by following the link below.
All items at cost. What a deal!
http://www.promoplace.com/ws/ws.dll/Pre
s?AC=804224&DistID=20554#1152372
Libby Mack Receives State
Recognition at Summer
Conference
One day the Little Red Beekeeper was rambling
thru the countryside and came upon a bee
swarm. “This swarm needs a home,” said the
Little Red Beekeeper.
“Who will help me take this swarm to the farm
to its new home?" said the Little Red Beekeeper.
“Not I,” said the Wannabee.
“I will,” said the Newbee.
And so the Little Red Beekeeper and the
Newbee carried the swarm home.
“Who will help me build a hive for these bees?"
asked the Little Red Beekeeper.
“Not I,” said the Wannabee.
“I will,” said the Newbee.
And so the Little Red Beekeeper and the
Newbee built a beautiful beehive. Complete
with screened bottom board, fancy new wax
foundation, inner cover to let fresh air thru and a
nice roof to protect the bees from the weather.
And a pretty entrance reducer to keep out robber
bees and mice.
The Little Red Beekeeper and the Newbee
watched the hive grow and grow.
Libby Mack
“Who will help me harvest all of this honey?”
asked the Little Red Beekeeper.
“Not I,” said the Wannabee.
“I will,” said the Newbee.
And so the Little Red Beekeeper and the
Newbee harvested pounds and pounds of honey.
The Little Red Beekeeper and the Newbee
wondered what to do with all of the honey.
Johnny Preston
The Little Red Beekeeper
The winner of our 2015 fable competition is our own
Johnny Preston. For his winning entry, Johnny was
awarded a stainless steel honey bottling valve
contributed by an anonymous patron of the literary arts.
HoneyComb Page 3
And the Wannabee said “I can bottle it all up
and save it.”
And the Little Red Beekeeper and the Newbee
said “Oh No, No. We will do that.” And so they
did.
September 2015
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Mites can be seen with the naked eye.
Mites were originally found in Asia.
Mites can only reproduce on honey bees.
Mites transmit viruses to bees (not to
humans).
 Every colony has mites.
Beekeepers spread mites by:
 Exchanging brood.
 Transporting colonies.
 High density.
Hampton Mabe is the youngest Bee School
student to pass both the written and practical test
and is now a Certified Beekeeper. He was the
recipient of the scholarship money given by an
anonymous donor. Hampton attends Shamrock
Gardens Elementary School and shared his
plans with us to put a bee hive in the school’s
vegetable garden that is maintained by students.
Congratulations Hampton.
Program Notes
Greg Farriss Apiary Inspector NCDA & CS
Speaker Notes from July 16th Monthly
meeting
Varroa Destructor
Some background information:
 Varroa mites feed on bee blood
(hemolymph).
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Bees spread mites also:
 Swarms.
 Colony robbing.
Varroa mites spread at least 24 different types of
viruses including acute bee paralysis virus,
sacbrood virus, deformed wing virus, chronic
bee paralysis virus, resulting in bee parasitic
mite syndrome.
Identifying varroa mites in your hive:
1. sticky board – only shows mites are
present, not how bad the infestation.
2. Sampling method:
a. Ether roll – kills sample.
b. Alcohol wash – kills sample
c. Sugar shake. (See
http://beelab.umn.edu/sites/beelab.
umn.edu/files/cfans_asset_381124.
pdf
d. for chart entitled Sampling
Colonies for Varroa destructor.
Gives accurate measure of mite
infestation so beekeepers can
decide when to treat for mites
(Integrated Pest Management
approach)
Methods of control:
No chemicals – (methods below must be used in
combination – no single method offers adequate
control).
September 2015
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Genetics – mite tolerant bees
Drone trapping
Break the brood cycle
Hives in full sun
Screen bottom board
Powered sugar – research shows very
little mite control
Hard chemicals (follow directions exactly) –
 Apistan http://www.draperbee.com/beesupplies/ap
istan_label.pdf
 Check Mite http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles/insect
-mite/cadusafoscyromazine/coumaphos/coumaphosappor
oval.html
 Apivar - http://www.dadant.com/wpcontent/uploads/2012/04/2011/09/ApivarBrochure-USA.pdf
Soft (fumigates) (Note: must use in temperature
range.)
 Formic Acid – (MiteAway Quick Strips)
http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/chem_sear
ch/reg_actions/registration/fs_PC214900_01-Apr-05.pdf
 Thymol - Api Life VAR, and Apiguard
http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/chem_sear
ch/reg_actions/registration/decision_PC080402_23-Mar-06.pdf
 Oxalic Acid – This is the new kid on the
block. It can be applied as either vapor or
liquid. Currently approved by the EPA
and the state of North Carolina. Product is
sold through Bushy Mountain.
http://nybeewellness.org/wpcontent/uploads/2015/03/oxalic-labelfinal.pdf
Greg can be reached at:
(336) 671-2883
gregory.farris@ncagr.gov
HoneyComb Page 5
Bonus Varroa Mite Guide
Honey Bee Health Colation Releases Guide to
Help Beekeepers Detect, Control Varroa
Mite Infestations. Download it HERE:
http://honeybeehealthcoalition.org/Varroa/
Getting Ready for Winter (Panel
Discussion) August 20
[Editor: Taking notes on a panel discussion is
hard and very disconnected. Instead of arranging
the comments by speaker, at some points I
simply lumped them together. Some of the
topics were rearranged and some were not
included in these notes.]
L 2 R – Jeannie Frye, Jodie Rierson, George
McAllister, Tom Davidson, Jimmy Odom, Johnny
Preston and Libby Mack
What should be happening in the hive now?
 By November, top box filled with honey.
Brood bottom box with 2-3 pollen frames
in bottom box. And lots of bees.
 Remove the queen excluder. The queen
excluder can be cleaned either by
scraping, freezing and breaking of
propolis or heating.
 Mites are the biggest problem, and
pesticide residue in brood frames. These
must be dealt with by September at the
latest.
September 2015
 Entrance reducer on smallest opening by
October.
 Some combining of weak hives should be
done in September.
 Top feeders can be left all winter, solid
inner covers can be used if not top
feeders. Bottom boards can be solid or
screened. Screened bottom boards can
have the corex sheet put in to reduce cold
drafts.
 You may need to move the frames with
brood and the queen to the bottom box in
September / October.
Insulation
 Windbreaks are essential.
 Cedar shavings in top box over inner
cover provide some insulation and absorb
excess moisture.
 Some ventilation is necessary – don’t
completely seal the hive at the top, let the
warm moist air out.
 Insulating the boxes is generally not
required in NC.
Drone Frames
 Some didn’t believe that they’re effective
except during March /April.
 There are other kinds beside plastic.
 A medium or shallow frame in a deep box
will encourage the production of drone
cells.
 In the fall no drone brood will be
produced.
HoneyComb Page 6
Beetle traps
 No reason to remove them for winter.
 Beetles may be lessened by having hives
above ground (like on a deck).
 Some use shingles under hives.
Need fat bees – Feeding
[Editors note: Fat bees: in fall, the emerging
workers tank up on pollen, they store all that
good food in their bodies, thus preparing
themselves for a long life through the winter.
These well-nourished, long-lived bees have
been called “fat” bees – Sommerville 2005]
 Fat bees need a good source of pollen in
September. May need pollen patties for
build-up. Some people apply in
November, some in September.
 No liquid feeding in winter – it’s too cold
for the bees to process it.
 Fondant (bee candy) laid on frames is
insurance feeding or emergency feeding.
 Need between 60 lbs to 75 lbs honey in
full size hive going into winter (end of
October – November). Nucs can be
overwintered in smaller boxes with less
honey. Should be capped honey.
 One-to-one (light syrup) Feeding now
(August/September) for drawing new
foundation and stimulating brood rearing.
 Use heavy syrup (two parts sugar : one
part water) to fill existing drawn comb for
winter stores.
Bee Health
 Bee health is hard to measure in winter.
September 2015
 Fight varroa mites –chemical or non
chemical. Bees infested with varroa will
not live long enough to build up in spring.
 Newly approved varroa treatment oxalic
acid can be applied in winter when brood
is at a minimum.
 Fumidil-B can be used in fall to help
prevent Nosema infections.
 Most everyone said to requeen in the fall
(August/September).
Pollen Frames
 Must be frozen in order to save for use
later. Pollen degrades quickly at room
temperature.
 Can be used in whatever hive needs a
pollen boost.
Contest!!! Fill out the crossword. Send the answers back to glwilson_us@yahoo.com. Mark subject –
Crossword. Names of all those who correctly complete puzzle will be entered in a drawing at the
meeting for a prize. Yes! You must be present to win.
HoneyComb Page 7
September 2015
Late Breaking
NCSU Webinar
Just a reminder that our next beekeeping webinar is Monday, September 14th starting at 7:00 pm EST (logon details
below). Please disseminate and share this invitation to everyone and anyone who might be interested!
The fall webinar has traditionally focused on some of the research projects that the NC State Apiculture Program has been
involved in over the last year. This year, rather than giving a brief overview of all of our ongoing research, I thought we might
pick just one and go into a bit more depth. As such, the topic for the session is Feral and managed bees in rural and urban
habitats. This will cover some of the research that some grad students, postdocs, and undergrads in the lab have been
conducting for a number of years, and it addresses some insights about bee biology and backyard beekeeping.
Many thanks to the Surry County Beekeepers for hosting. A full list of our beekeeping webinars can be found on our website
at:
http://entomology.ces.ncsu.edu/apiculture/beekeeping-webinars/
Many of you have already expressed your interest in attending the webinar, so please use this information from the
Collaborate system to log on and join. So far, several clubs will be joining, but let me know if you or your chapter would like to
take part!
I look forward to this next webinar, but in the meantime let me know if you have any questions and happy new year!
Sincerely, David
You are invited to join the Collaborate session "Surry County Beekeepers 09-14-15" bydrtarpy@ncsu.edu.
The session starts Monday, September 14, 2015, 7:00pm and ends 9:00pm.
You may join the session up to 30 minutes early.
Click here to join the session:
https://collaborate.wolfware.ncsu.edu/join/?join_session_id=lGnvJj8Dm3U
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September 2015
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September 2015
A Note from the Editor
Please email us with questions, pictures, article
submissions and anything else you’d like to
share with the club in the monthly newsletter.
Email your submissions to:
glwilson@yahoo.com
Subject: HoneyComb
MCBA Newsletter
121 Hermitage Road
Charlotte NC 28207
HoneyComb Page 10
September 2015