CATCH THE BUZZ - More cerana found in OZ

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AUSTRALIA Finds 50^th cerana nest

by Alan Harman

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Australian biosecurity workers have found the 50^th Asian honey bee (Apis cerana) nest in far north Queensland as the more than two-year fight to eliminate the invaders moves to a new area.

 

   Queensland state Primary Industries Minister Tim Mulherin says the latest nests were discovered by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service and a local council.

   “One infestation was found on a business premises in the Cairns industrial suburb of Portsmith,” he says. “It was the 50th Asian honey bee infestation found since the pest was first detected in Cairns more than two years ago.”

   The nest was destroyed along with another infestation at Greenhill.

   Earlier, the Yarrabah Aboriginal Council's head ranger reported a swarm of foraging Asian Honey bees in the Yarrabah area, about 10 miles southeast of Cairns.

   Mulherin says the nest, the first detection in the Yarrabah area, was found among mangroves and was destroyed.

   “We have now destroyed 52 Asian honey bee nests and Biosecurity Queensland is determined to seek and destroy every infestation,” he says.

   The state Department of Primary Industries found the bees on a yacht in Cairns harbor in May, 2007. It is believed the species reached Australia on a freight ship and then colonized the yacht.

   Biosecurity Queensland surveillance manager Wim De Jong says it is important to track Asian Honey bee nests before the wet season set in.

  “The swarm found at Yarrabah was relatively small,” De Jong says. “The Yarrabah council's swift response has helped Biosecurity Queensland get close to finding the possible source nest.”

   The Asian honey bees have the potential to carry the Varroa mite, but thus far no mites have been found among the swarms destroyed by Biosecurity Queensland.

   “We still don't want these bees in Australia because they can compete with native bees and European honey bees for food sources,” De Jong says. “We want to completely eradicate the pest bee from the Cairns environment.”

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CATCH THE BUZZ - NEW ANT THREATENS HONEY BEES

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NEW ANT FOUND IN TEXAS THREAT TO HONEY BEES

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By Alan Harman

A new threat to honey bees in the form of an invasive ant species is spreading out from Houston, Texas.

    Sam Houston State University entomologist Jerry Cook says scientists are at a loss to explain the fast and furious spread of the rapacious Rasberry ants, named after exterminator Tom Rasberry, who discovered them in 2002.

   The ants were discovered in Houston in 2002 and have quickly spread as far north as Louisiana and Mississippi within the last year.

   “This is a species that we do not know much about. Presumably the ant came from the Caribbean through the Port of Houston,” Cook says. “We know the ant is in the Paratrechina genus and is capable of growing a population of billions and they need to eat. They especially like other bugs, like fire ants and honey bees.”

   Cook says the population is growing so fast, and so large, that it is potentially an ecosystem disaster.

   “If the Rasberry ant can virtually eliminate a pain like the fire ant, what else is it capable of doing?” he asks. “If bees are eliminated, plants will not be pollinated which could result to the lack of crops producing fruits and vegetables. That in turn becomes a major problem for the agriculture community. They could become more than a nuisance, they could become a danger.”

   The Rasberry ant does not have a stinger and cannot inject venom into a person's body; however, it does have formic acid, which creates an irritant reaction rather than a painful poison reaction.

   “The bite of the Rasberry ant is far less painful than a fire ant's,” Cook says. “Essentially you can get covered with them, and it might freak you out.”

   The population of the Rasberry ant is constantly growing and scientists have not yet discovered a way to eliminate them.

   "Without research, we won't discover a solution, and without proper funding we're not likely to get much research,” Cook says.

   With a research grant, government or otherwise, scientists could reach out to the community to include industries, such as pest control, to develop products and strategies that could control or even eliminate them.

   Insecticides will reduce the population and remove them for about a week, but there is no known treatment that will eliminate them for good.

   “If we would have had those grants a year ago, we may have been able to start a program that would have eliminated them but now it is probably beyond that point," Cook says.

   “Until then, we need to learn how to live with them because the Rasberry, like the fire ant, is here to stay.”

This message brought to you by Bee Culture, The Magazine Of American Beekeeping,   Subscribe to Malcolm Sanford’s Apis Newsletter right here For a comprehensive listing of beekeeping events around the country and around the globe, check o ut Bee Culture’s Global Beekeeping Calendar

 

 

 

CATCH THE BUZZ - EAP PROPOSES SPRAY DRIFT CHANGES

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EPA Proposes New Pesticide Labeling to Control Spray Drift and Protect Human Health

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WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has rolled out proposed guidance for new pesticide labeling to reduce off-target spray and dust drift. The new instructions, when implemented, will improve the clarity and consistency of pesticide labels and help prevent harm from spray drift. The agency is also requesting comment on a petition to evaluate children’s exposure to pesticide drift.

“The new label statements will help reduce problems from pesticide drift,” said Steve Owens, the assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. “The new labels will carry more uniform and specific directions on restricting spray drift while giving pesticide applicators clear and workable instructions.”

The new instructions will prohibit drift that could cause adverse health or environmental effects. Also, on a pesticide-by-pesticide basis, EPA will evaluate scientific information on risk and exposure based on individual product use patterns. These assessments will help the agency determine whether no-spray buffer zones or other measures – such as restrictions on droplet or particle size, nozzle height, or weather conditions – are needed to protect people, wildlife, water resources, schools and other sensitive sites from potential harm.

In addition to the draft notice on pesticide-drift labeling, EPA is also seeking comment on a draft pesticide drift labeling interpretation document that provides guidance to state and tribal enforcement officials. A second document provides background information on pesticide drift, a description of current and planned EPA actions, a reader’s guide explaining key terms and concepts, and specific questions on which EPA is seeking input. These documents and further information are available in docket EPA–HQ–OPP–2009–0628 at http://www.regulations.gov .

In a second Federal Register notice, EPA is also requesting comment on a petition filed recently by environmental and farm worker organizations. The petitioners ask EPA to evaluate children’s exposure to pesticide drift and to adopt, on an interim basis, requirements for “no-spray” buffer zones near homes, schools, day-care centers, and parks. EPA will evaluate this new petition and take whatever action may be appropriate after the evaluation is complete. For further information and to submit comments, please see docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0825 at http://www.regulations.gov .

More information:
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/spraydrift.htm

 

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Central Beekeepers Alliance : Bee Talk: New Forum Coming Soon

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Bee Talk: New Forum Coming Soon Posted: 30 Oct 2009 06:51 AM PDT Do you want to: ask a question about bees or beekeeping? make a comment? share something you’ve read, heard about, or seen on the Web? float an idea? get a second opinion? or, just chat about strange doings in your beeyard? For the time being, you can leave a comment below, as usual — but we’re working on installing a new forum (a.k.a. message board) on this website. About the (upcoming) CBA Bee Talk Forum Some of you may remember, years ago, when we had a forum? If so, you may recall that it was quite a job to keep the inappropriate spam ads from getting posted faster than we could take them down! That’s why the old forum was discontinued in the first place — it was hard to keep it “family friendly” for beekeepers because of ads for websites you really wouldn’t want to see! Technology has come a long way in the last few years, however, and we thought we’d give it another try! In order to post a message on the new forum, you’ll first have to register (free) and set up a password. You’ll be able to read the messages there without signing in, but whenever you want to leave a message or reply to someone else’s message on the forum, you’ll be asked to login there. Hopefully that will help to keep the bad guys away! Having our own CBA Bee Talk message board again should make it just a bit easier for you to talk about bees and beekeeping together, and to exchange advice, share our news, problems/solutions, and other beekeeping ideas. Stay tuned — it’s coming soon! Bee Talk: New Forum Coming Soon 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

Central Beekeepers’ Potluck Supper: November 10, 2009 Posted: 28 Oct 2009 06:28 AM PDT Central Beekeepers will hold our regular winter potluck supper at the Maugerville Community Center. As always, visitors and new beekeepers are welcome. Bring your favourite potluck supper dish — and a good appetite! Tuesday, 10 November 2009 Central Beekeepers Alliance Potluck Supper Maugerville Community Center, 439 Route 105, Maugerville, NB 6:30 p.m. View Larger Map Central Beekeepers’ Potluck Supper: November 10, 2009 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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CATCH THE BUZZ - USDA Begins Fruit Chemical Use Survey

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EZezine

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USDA conducting fruit chemical use survey

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Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is conducting the USDA Fruit Chemical Use Survey. This survey, last conducted in 2005, provides data about agricultural chemical use on fruit crops in the United States.

“The Fruit Chemical Use Survey gives producers the opportunity to explain how they use agricultural chemicals responsibly to produce a safe, healthy, and high-quality food supply,” said Vilsack. “The resulting data will help support the regulatory programs that protect the health and safety of agriculture producers and consumers alike.”

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will include information on the chemical and fertilizer use and pest management practices for more than 20 selected fruit crops. NASS will collect survey responses through December and publish the results in the Fruit Chemical Usage report in July 2010.

This report is an influential decision-making tool for everyone who serves the agriculture industry, including policymakers, agribusiness, trade associations and producers. Data from the Fruit Chemical Use Survey are a vital resource used to evaluate the Food Quality Protection Act, which has an impact on pesticide registrations, re-registrations and product alternatives.

Growers are strongly encouraged to participate and are guaranteed by law (Title 7, U.S. Code) that their individual information will be kept confidential.

This message brought to you by Bee Culture, The Magazine Of American Beekeeping, 

 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

 

 

Apis Newsletter October 22, 2009

Dear Subscribers,

The Apis newsletter is delayed this month.  With October, comes the first few fall days of the year, to turn quickly back to summer conditions, causing authors like me to fall into a funk.  The flowering the golden raintree is a welcome sign.  And we are extremely encouraged by the lack of hurricanes this year.  Perhaps the biggest sigh of relief comes out the state capital, Tallahassee, where  the legislature in its wisdom has decided to self insure the state against potential storm damage.  The 89th edition of the Florida State Beekeepers Association convention will be held in the historic town of Monticello near Tallahassee.  For details see: http://floridabeekeepers.org.  For other events bee sure to check out the Global Beekeeping Calendar sponsored  by Bee Culture magazine.

Pollination Resource online:  "Folks- for those of you who don’t have access to John Free’s exhaustive review of research into insect pollination of crops (and I mean ALL crops!), you can now read it on-line thanks to the persistent efforts of Barbara Herren at the UN FAO in Rome.  You will be amazed by the wealth of detail, scope of literature and geographic coverage, and depth of chronological detail, all organized by the family, genus and species of crop plant (so for instance, Rosaceae: Prunus)."  Quote from Bee-L.  To view it, go to:
http://www.internationalpollinatorsinitiative.org/  then click on:
“ Pollination Information Management System (PIMS)” ( bar in upper right region of your screen)
then What is the current understanding of managing the pollination of a particular crop?
With this resource in hand, you can build on the studies that precede you and see where new research is needed.  It is a pity that John Free himself is no longer alive to see his book made available electronically for free to the world.

Internation Bee Research Association Appeals for Support: "I have just come back from an extremely busy Apimondia. Our main purpose there was to promote our new journal Journal of ApiProduct and ApiMedical Science (JAAS) and to encourage  subscriptions.  If you are interested in knowing more then all the information you require can be found on our web site.

JAAS has its own web site  http://www.jaas.org.uk  Our main web site is http://www.ibra.org.uk (If you go to either of these you may like to look at our Apimondia slide show - it is fun).

"I hope we can get your support.  We are trying to give the very special science related to bee products a serious platform. Nobody else does that in one journal. To succeed we need the help of all those involved with bee products.  At the moment we are supporting the whole cost of the journal. In two years it must be self-sufficient we cannot go any longer so please help now and spread the word. We need subscriptions and we need them now."  Richard Jones, Director

Pesticides and Colony Collapse Disorder:  The volume is  ratcheting up in terms of pesticides and CCD.  A new film makes the connection.  Vanishing of the Bees, which will be released in Britain next month, claims the cause is the use of a new generation of pesticides that weakens the bees and makes them more susceptible to other diseases. Narrated by the British actress Emilia Fox, the 90-minute film tells the story of what has become known as colony collapse disorder.  see:  http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/new-film-blames-drug-firm-for-plight-of-honey-bees-1795148.html.  See more on the subject at Editor Flottum's Catch the Buzz http://home.ezezine.com/1636/1636-2009.09.30.08.38.archive.html.

This month's links saved on the publish2.com website include information about radiation and honey bees and toxicity of HMF to bees,  a still controversial topic it seems. 

UNIVERSITY PARK - Penn State research on honeybee health and Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) will receive a boost as a result of a $100,000 gift from the E.B. O'Keeffe Foundation. The award will fund a competitive graduate fellowship that will pair a student's area of study with a leading researcher already working on that problem. The search for candidates will be conducted nationally beginning this fall.

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Gleanings  from the  October, 2009  Bee Culture Magazine

Michael Monroe, Newark, DE writes that he's disturbed by Clarence Collison's article on the impact of coumaphos on queen and sperm vitality.  Read more as editor Flottum replies with a discussion about the 500 pound gorilla in the room.  Roland Autran, Fort Lett, NJ discusses a local colony alive for 3 years without "medications."  Maria Glasser loves Jim Tew it seems.  She's particularly enamored by his article on lawns.  The sentiment is echoed by Joe Shultz, Elizabethton, TN whose whole attitude about weeds has changed and now advocates "keep on not mowing."
Charles  McCarthy, Highland, NY urges readers to take Lyme Disease seriously in spite of recent articles (Newsweek) that the disease is overhyped.  Buzz  Riopelle, Valley City, OH says he had big problems  with  commercially available sugar dusters.  He urges manufacturers to make a  better device.

Editor Flottum is looking for "six word stories" from beekeepers--one example, "smoker went out, really bad day."  If you have others, send them via e-mail: kim@beeculture.com. Recent census data indicates the baby boomers  are  upon us, over 50 years old, many retired and looking for something to do.  Guess what he suggests?  Beekeeping suppliers are already in the grips of this; at least one is adding space and buying automatic nailers to put supers together the older crowd want.  Read his analysis of the potential for more  beekeepers in the  "geezer" community.

Look What's New includes Laurence Cutts disposable beetleblaster.  Several othertraps are in the making as well. Read Jennifer Berry's  comprehensive article on trapping beetles in Georgia during October.  A new children's book series is out: Day 1 and Day 2 in the life of a baby bee by Terry Jones Ellis.  There's also a moisture elimination device from Smarter Bee and a new line of digial refractometers from Misco.  Read the review here.

Clarence Collison takes  a closer look at Genetic Diversity. This is required reading for all beekeepers in these trying times because genetic diversity provides the resliency for honey bee colony survival appropriate to a dynamic environment.  You can expect to see this topic come up again;  are your queens genetically diverse enough?  http://gbba.vze.com

Larry Connor provides a new twist to going  to San Francisco. Read his discussion of beekeeping in this unique habitat. Read why the city might do with its own queen type and what traits might be most important.  Finally, learn what he thinks might be a good Varroa control strategy in the City by the Bay.

Editor Flottum visited CC Pollen, committed to producing high quality honey bee products.  Read about the genesis of this unique business and how its branching out in tune with the natural food movement.

Joe Traynor provides an analysis of the balancing act that is required to get honey bee colonies  to California and keep them alive.  It ain't easy.  Read how to avoid the "October surprise."

Jim Tew again writes about management in his trilogy on getting bees through winter. Read several beekeeper assessments of how to wrap (or not wrap) colonies and why it might be imporant (or not).  Good guessing seems to play a huge role in getting colonies through the cruel months  of winter.

Jennifer Berry provides readers with a good perspective on small hive beetle control.  Read why location is important and the variety of traps available for this elusive critter.

Abbas Eben looks at natural remedies in some detail.  Read how Acacia species, allspice, blue mink and blue mink might contribute to  human and bee health.

Ann Harman urges beekeepers to get ready for next season, Now!  Read her check list so you won't become a member of the Procrastinator's Society.

Ross Conrad provides tips on storing equipment in the off-season.  It turns out that many beekeepers run into  trouble with wax moths, small hive beetle, and mice if they don't manage this aspect of their operation properly.

Michael Brown describes the Tel Rehov dig in Isreal.  Is this one of the world's first commercial apiaries?  If so, it's  pretty old, having been around during Biblical times.

Leonard Riepenhoff sends notes from his California beekeeping operation.  Read what he recommends in terms of getting started  in the craft.  Learn  to make the EZ Feeder, described by Jill and  Bill Stackpole.  Finally, take a  look at Dave Hemendinger's ingenious modified inner cover. 

In All the News That Fits read the analysis of scientists on correlating RNA activity with  CCD.  Also take  a look at the new Bee Health web site http://www.extension.org. Focus on honey bee health is one of several communities of practice the national extension service is focussing on.  Finally, read the obituary of the bee king of North Carolina, Braddy Mullinax.

Ed Colby relates a few Colorado bee stories in the Bottom Board.  Read about his experiences with electric fences and wildlife officers.

Sincerely,


Malcolm T. Sanford
beeactor@apisenterprises.com
http://apis.shorturl.com

Bee sure to subscribe to Catch the Buzz, Bee Culture's latest releases of importance to beekeepers.  Also access the Apis Information Resource Center , which contains archived articles, listing of  posts on blogs, web sites, and links to related materials.  .

CATCH THE BUZZ - Penn State Gets O'Keeffe Grant

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CATCH THE BUZZ

Penn State Gets $100,000

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UNIVERSITY PARK - Penn State research on honeybee health and Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) will receive a boost as a result of a $100,000 gift from the E.B. O'Keeffe Foundation. The award will fund a competitive graduate fellowship that will pair a student's area of study with a leading researcher already working on that problem. The search for candidates will be conducted nationally beginning this fall.

The foundation specifically targeted goal-oriented research in honeybee decline, stipulating that studies supported by the gift should focus on pesticide exposure, parasites and viruses affecting honeybee populations. The foundation identified Penn State as a recipient based on its reputation as a leader in this field.

The gift, according to Gary Felton, professor and head of entomology in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, is large enough to extend beyond tuition costs to fund the actual research and enable the student to attend meetings, purchase equipment and fund presentation of research results.

"We're attracting excellent students," Felton said. "The incidence of CCD and the prominence of Penn State in this field have generated more momentum for funding. CCD is a real problem. It has worldwide impact and people can relate to finding a solution -- students are attracted to that."

Candidates for the fellowship will be evaluated on the basis of grades, Graduate Record Exam scores, letters of reference, the quality of any published research articles to date and a statement of why they are interested in this field and the research associated with it, Felton said.

Felton noted that his department "had really good success" selecting two graduate students for pollinator health fellowships sponsored by ice cream maker Haagen-Dazs. Those students were also paired with senior researchers working on specific CCD questions.

"These gifts allow us the flexibility that will really contribute toward the health and welfare of our pollinators," Felton said. "They enable us to do things we couldn't otherwise afford, such as purchase specialized equipment."

Felton said that government grants sometimes don't fund major equipment purchases or maintenance costs. However, private gifts have been used to purchase equipment that has helped make his department a national leader in CCD research. That leadership, he said, has enabled Penn State to resubmit some grant proposals and qualify for flagship, multistate research programs.

"One of the goals of our department is to recruit the best possible students," Felton said. "This type of gift will attract the very best students to us, will help us do the research in the short term and will help us continue our leadership role in the future."

The E.B. O'Keeffe Charitable Foundation, located in Palm Beach, Fla., was created primarily to support the arts, medical arts, education and science research.

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 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