Saturday, 13 February 2010

Central Beekeepers Alliance : Automatic Beekeeping?

Central Beekeepers Alliance : Automatic Beekeeping?


Automatic Beekeeping?

Posted: 12 Feb 2010 08:18 AM PST

“Automatic hive – no beekeeper needed!” That’s what the man says, and offers an online manual with “detailed instructions for constructing and operating fully automatic hives, for which no bee knowledge is required of any kind, since only open to harvest.”

I’m not sure if this method of beekeeping is (a) legal or (b) wise, in this part of the world — but the theory is certainly sure to get beekeepers thinking and talking!

The website that explains this system is Apicultura Extensiva Natural by Oscar Perone, a professional beekeeper since 2002 and teacher of beekeeping at a college in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The photographs and diagrams are interesting in themselves, and Google will give you an English translation to read to get the details.

Automatic Beekeeping? was written and published by the Central Beekeepers Alliance - Honey Bees & Beekeeping in New Brunswick, Canada. For more information, please visit http://cba.stonehavenlife.com.

Thursday, 11 February 2010

CATCH THE BUZZ - Really, Bees on Nicotine & Caffeine?

CATCH THE BUZZ

Are bees also addicted to caffeine and nicotine?

A study carried out at the University of Haifa has found that bees prefer nectar with a small concentration of caffeine and nicotine over nectar that does not comprise these substances at all

From EurekAlert


Protein feeding pays off with better bee health, better survival, better production, and better wintering.  Learn More.

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Bees prefer nectar with small amounts of nicotine and caffeine over nectar that does not comprise these substances at all, a study from the University of Haifa reveals. "This could be an evolutionary development intended, as in humans, to make the bee addicted," states Prof. Ido Izhaki, one of the researchers who conducted the study.

Flower nectar is primarily comprised of sugars, which provide energy for the potential pollinators. But the floral nectar of some plant species also includes small quantities of substances known to be toxic, such as caffeine and nicotine. The present study, carried out by researchers at the Department of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology and the Department of Science Education at the University of Haifa-Oranim, headed by Prof. Ido Izhaki along with Prof. Gidi Ne'eman, Prof. Moshe Inbar and Dr. Natarajan Singaravelan, examined whether these substances are intended to "entice" the bees or whether they are byproducts that are not necessarily linked to any such objective.

Nicotine is found naturally in floral nectar at a concentration of up to 2.5 milligrams per liter, primarily in various types of tobacco tree (Nicotiana glauca). Caffeine is found at concentration levels of 11-17.5 milligrams per liter, mostly in citrus flowers. In the nectar of grapefruit flowers, however, caffeine is present in much higher concentrations, reaching 94.2 milligrams per liter. In order to examine whether bees prefer the nectar containing caffeine and nicotine, the researchers offered artificial nectar that comprised various natural sugar levels and various levels of caffeine and nicotine, alongside "clean" nectar that comprised sugar alone. The caffeine and nicotine concentrations ranged from the natural levels in floral nectar up to much higher concentrations than found in nature.

The results showed that bees clearly prefer nectar containing nicotine and caffeine over the "clean" nectar. The preferred nicotine concentration was 1 milligram per liter, similar to that found in nature. Given a choice of higher levels of nicotine versus "clean" nectar, the bees preferred the latter.

According to the researchers, it is difficult to determine for sure whether the addictive substances in the nectar became present in an evolutionary process in order to make pollination more efficient. It can be assumed, however, based on the results of the study, that the plants that survived natural selection are those that developed "correct" levels of these addictive substances, enabling them to attract and not repel bees, thereby giving them a significant advantage over other plants. The researchers emphasized that this study has proved a preference, not addiction, and they are currently examining whether the bees do indeed become addicted to nicotine and caffeine.


Subscribe to Malcolm Sanford’s Apis Newsletter right here For a comprehensive listing of beekeeping events around the country and around the globe, check out Bee Culture’s Global Beekeeping Calendar

 This message brought to you by Bee Culture, The Magazine Of American Beekeeping, published by the A.I. Root Company.

 

 

Wednesday, 10 February 2010

Central Beekeepers Alliance : Central Beekeepers Meet 9 March 2010

Central Beekeepers Alliance : Central Beekeepers Meet 9 March 2010


Central Beekeepers Meet 9 March 2010

Posted: 09 Feb 2010 03:10 PM PST

Central Beekeepers will hold our regular monthly meeting on 9 March 2010 at the Agricultural Research Centre, Fredericton, New Brunswick (see the map on the ‘Meet Us’ page).

Tuesday, 9 March 2010
Central Beekeepers Alliance Meeting
Agricultural Research Centre, Fredericton, NB
7:30 p.m.

Visitors and new beekeepers are welcome.

Central Beekeepers Meet 9 March 2010 comes from the Central Beekeepers Alliance of New Brunswick, Canada. For more information on Honey Bees and Beekeeping, please: * Visit http://cba.stonehavenlife.com * Subscribe to our RSS feed * Get free updates by e-mail

Tuesday, 9 February 2010

CATCH THE BUZZ - Clorox Company Does Good

CATCH THE BUZZ

The Clorox Company – It Pays To Do Good

 


Protein feeding pays off with better bee health, better survival, better production, and better wintering.  Learn More.

 Find out What’s New At Mann Lake right Here


The Clorox Company is a leading manufacturer and marketer of consumer products with fiscal year 2009 revenues of $5.5 billion. Clorox markets some of consumers' most trusted and recognized brand names, including its namesake bleach and cleaning products; Green Works® natural cleaners; Armor All® and STP® auto-care products; Fresh Step® and Scoop Away® cat litter; Kingsford® charcoal; Hidden Valley® and K C Masterpiece® dressings and sauces; Brita® water-filtration systems; Glad® bags, wraps and containers; and Burt's Bees® natural personal care products. With approximately 8,300 employees worldwide, the company manufactures products in more than two dozen countries and markets them in more than 100 countries. Clorox is committed to making a positive difference in the communities where its employees work and live. Founded in 1980, The Clorox Company Foundation has aw arded cash grants totaling more than $77 million to nonprofit organizations, schools and colleges. In fiscal 2009 alone, the foundation awarded $3.6 million in cash grants, and Clorox made product donations valued at $7.8 million. For more information about Clorox, visit www.TheCloroxCompany.com.


Subscribe to Malcolm Sanford’s Apis Newsletter right here For a comprehensive listing of beekeeping events around the country and around the globe, check out Bee Culture’s Global Beekeeping Calendar

 This message brought to you by Bee Culture, The Magazine Of American Beekeeping, published by the A.I. Root Company.

 

Monday, 8 February 2010

CATCH THE BUZZ - GLOBAL HONEY MARKET TO EXPAND, BIG TIME

CATCH THE BUZZ

Global Honey Market to Expand, BIG TIME

By Alan Harman


Protein feeding pays off with better bee health, better survival, better production, and better wintering.  Learn More.

 Find out What’s New At Mann Lake right Here


The global honey market is forecast to exceed 1.9 million tons by 2015.

   A new report by California-based Global Industry Analyst Inc. (GIA) says the market is being primarily driven by increasing awareness levels and health consciousness among the consumers, leading to increasing demand for healthy and natural food products.

   In line with the trend, several honey producers are launching new products and varieties at regular intervals. The increasing trend of organic and healthy spreads is expected to continue giving rise to new variants and flavors in the global honey market.

   “Increasing preference among consumers for honey-based products, is leading to a boost in the variety and assortment of honey based food products, baby products, yogurts and drinks,” the report, which GIA is selling for $3,950, says. “Moreover, honey contains antioxidants, minerals, vitamins and proteins, making itself an appealing ingredient as compared to artificial sweeteners.”

   Europe and the Asia Pacific, including Japan, dominates the global honey market, the report says but warns the global honey sector is not devoid of any challenges.

   Honeybee losses represent one of the major challenges encountered by honey sector worldwide. Honeybees are also susceptible to threats such as environmental stress, pests and diseases, among others. Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) leading to death and disappearance of honeybees, is another key challenge faced by the global honey sector.

   Lately, the U.S. honey sector is facing a steep decline in production volumes triggered by declining number of bee colonies, and increased costs, leading to rising honey prices.

  Apart from disease and pests, including colony collapse disorder, the report says calamities such as drought and wildfire also affected the bee production and costs in the recent past. Various macroeconomic factors such as U.S. dollar depreciation and weak economic conditions also led to the price rise in the honey market.

   The report says key players dominating the Global Honey Market include Bee Maid, Billy Bee Honey, Capilano Honey, Comvita Ltd., Dabur India Ltd,, Dutch Gold Honey Inc., Golden Acres Honey, Hebei Wuqiao Mtl. Co. Ltd., Odem International Inc., Rowse Honey Ltd, Shriro Pvt. Ltd., Sioux Honey Association and Yanbian Baolixiang Beekeeping Co. Ltd.

   The report titled Honey: A Global Strategic Business Report, provides a comprehensive review of industry overview, product overview, product introductions/innovations, profiles of major players, and recent industry activity.

   The study analyzes market data and analytics in terms of volume sales for regions including the U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Latin America.

   For more details about this comprehensive market research report, visit -

http://www.strategyr.com/Honey_Market_Report.asp


 

 Subscribe to Malcolm Sanford’s Apis Newsletter right here For a comprehensive listing of beekeeping events around the country and around the globe, check out Bee Culture’s Global Beekeeping Calendar

 

This message brought to you by Bee Culture, The Magazine Of American Beekeeping, published by the A.I. Root Company.

Sunday, 7 February 2010

CATCH THE BUZZ - Baltimore and Bees

CATCH THE BUZZ

Baltimore and Bees don’t mix, it seems

From The Baltimore Sun


Protein feeding pays off with better bee health, better survival, better production, and better wintering.  Learn More.

 Find out What’s New At Mann Lake right Here


Howard County beekeepers are looking to the County Council for zoning relief after the planning board unanimously recommended denial of a proposal that would allow hives within 25 feet of an adjoining property.

Bees are now in the same zoning category as farm animals in Howard, which means the hives must be at least 200 feet from an adjoining property, a rule so restrictive it prompted an outpouring of support in November from beekeepers across the Baltimore area advocating for a change. They insist that honeybees are harmless and haven't caused any problem if not disturbed, even in urban neighborhoods in Baltimore.

But board members were leery of having bees close to other homes, especially in heavily populated areas such as Columbia.

"It's best to leave it out of New Town," board chairwoman Linda Dombrowski said during a discussion before the 4-0 vote.

"The idea of having beehives in the back of town houses just doesn't make sense," agreed Tammy Citaramanis.

The board felt the county should study the issue and devise a detailed zoning policy for beehives instead of simply changing the setback requirements.

The bee issue arose almost two years ago when west Columbia resident Sam Peperone noticed a swarm of bees from his neighbor's hives hovering around the water from his air conditioner. He and others complained, worrying the insects would sting people who might be allergic and would threaten their home values. But the complaint produced a big reaction.

Dan and Jerri Hemerlein are Peparone's bee-loving neighbors, living on a 3.5-acre remnant of an old farm in Clary's Forest. Their row of hives is placed near their rear fence for maximum sunlight and benefit to the bees, the Hemerleins said. Having to move them would damage the fragile bee ecology.

"I think they're going in the wrong direction," Dan Hemerlein said about the board members. "It's still fear-based decision-making. It's sad." The County Council gets final say on the issue, however.


This message brought to you by Bee Culture, The Magazine Of American Beekeeping, published by the A.I. Root Company.

 Subscribe to Malcolm Sanford’s Apis Newsletter right here For a comprehensive listing of beekeeping events around the country and around the globe, check out Bee Culture’s Global Beekeeping Calendar

 

 

Saturday, 6 February 2010

Central Beekeepers Alliance : Bees Can Learn to Recognize Faces

Central Beekeepers Alliance : Bees Can Learn to Recognize Faces


Bees Can Learn to Recognize Faces

Posted: 06 Feb 2010 05:00 AM PST

Bees can be trained to recognize human faces, so long as the insects are tricked into thinking that the faces are oddly shaped flowers, new research shows. The insects use the arrangement of facial features to recognize and distinguish one face from another.

Bees recognize human faces using feature configuration. ScienceDaily.

First, the researchers used an arrangement of dots and dashes to represent the eyes, nose and mouth of the human face, and demonstrated that bees could learn to tell the difference between a face-like arrangement and a non-face-like arrangement. The bees learned to recognize the arrangement of features that makes up a face, and to associate a visit to that arrangement with a sugar reward, while non-face arrangements gave no reward.

But how robust was the bees’ ability to process the 'face’s' visual information? How would the bees cope with more complex faces? This time the team embedded the stick and dot faces in face-shaped photographs. Would the bees be able to learn the arrangements of the features against the backgrounds yet recognise the same stick and dot face when the face photo was removed? Amazingly the insects did, and when the team tried scrambling real faces by moving the relative positions of the eyes, nose and mouth, the bees no longer recognised the images as faces and treated them like unknown patterns.

Bees Recognise Faces Using Feature Configuration by Kathryn Knight
Journal of Experimental Biology 213, i (2010)

Bees Can Learn to Recognize Faces comes from the Central Beekeepers Alliance of New Brunswick, Canada. For more information on Honey Bees and Beekeeping, please: * Visit http://cba.stonehavenlife.com * Subscribe to our RSS feed * Get free updates by e-mail

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