The next EDBA meeting information is now available here: https://edmontonbeekeepers.ca/event/february-meeting-2-2-2/
There are some additional events available as well. Go check it out. Lots to learn!
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Author: Troy Donovan
JA special field trip with Rassol Bahreini , an Apiculture Research Scientist from the Crop Diversification Centre North! He will be testing some hives for mites and demonstrating the recommended ways to treat for mites eg. apivar strips, formic acid and oxalic acid vaporization.
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Netflix – Rotten – Not Honey
People are eating product that is “Not honey”.
Its more of a “who done it?” real life crime documentary mixed with food sources but the first episode focuses on Honey so you might find it interesting. I like how it gives some insight into the bigger world of honey production and the import/export world.
https://www.netflix.com/ca/title/80146284
At least check out the first episode:
With demand for honey soaring just as bees are dying off in record numbers, hidden additives, hive thefts and other shady tactics are on the rise. (55minutes)
This docuseries travels deep into the heart of the food supply chain to reveal unsavory truths and expose hidden forces that shape what we eat.
Its very interesting to see how they test for the sources of honey to make sure its not fake! Looking for pollen is old school! Imagine testing and sampling thousand of varieties:
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Stories about Bees and Bats
Doing bee research can lead to some interesting stories. Two stories about the challenges of studying winged wildlife, from bats to honey bees.
Part 1: Cylita Guy finds unexpected adventure when she studies bats in the field.
Part 2: Rachael Bonoan discovers she may be dangerously allergic to the honey bees she studies.
Did you want to know a bit more about bees, hornets and wasps from around the world? It might help answer those questions all your friends and family ask about.
Follow the link to an amazing info-graphic with great pictures in an easy to read format. Most people think they are just jerks but did you know the difference between a hornet and a wasp?
A big thanks to a little junior beekeeper to be who passed along the information. Great find Garrett!
Full graphic and the source found here.
You might already know that there are different types of bees out there, but which ones are important to our ecosystems, which ones are endangered, which ones make honey?
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Beekeeping, is it for you?
The Camrose Wildlife Stewardship Society is having our president, Craig Toth, present on the basics of beekeeping and showing off the materials needed to take a peek into a hive.
Thursday, June 22nd 7pm at the Stoney Creek Centre in Camrose
Click here to look at the Brochure PDF for more information.
Its great to see bees being promoted so well! Good job Craig.
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CBC Radioactive Interview
Craig Toth (our President) has been doing a lot of media coverage lately and working on bee awareness projects.
Click here to take a listen of Craig talking with Portia Clark on the CBC radio show called Radio Active.
Prof. Norberto García from Argentina gave an informative presentation at the 80th Annual Alberta Beekeepers Commission AGM & Convention, regarding the fall of honey prices and adulteration of honey.
Prof. Garcia teaches Apiculture at the UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DEL SUR in Bahía Blanca, Argentina. He is also Senior Consultant of NEXCO S.A., the main Argentine honey exporter.
He is the current president of the International Honey Exporters Organization (IHEO) and Member of the Board of Directors of TRUE SOURCE HONEY (U.S.A), representing NEXCO S.A. He also chairs the Working Group on Adulteration of Bee Products of APIMONDIA.
Prof. García has worked intensely during recent years to create awareness on the problems of honey adulteration in different national and international meetings.
Please find below a link to this presentation
Figure 4 is said to be the most telling. How do you increase colony numbers by 13% but increase honey exports by 196%?
The research concludes “…that fraud mechanisms are responsible for the injection of a very important volume of cheap “manufactured” and diluted honeys to the market. The use of adulteration by various means becomes the method by which circumvention can be disguised and market share is increased.”
Our very own President, Craig Toth got some media attention with his work helping northern Alberta scientists.
Why are the bees dying? Northern Alberta scientists are helping find the answer
The experiment in progress:
If anyone has been to Craig’s beeyard, this should bring back memories:
Bee Nosema
Nosema Apis
- a serious disease in northern temperate climates that is caused by a fungal microsporidia
- Its one of the top 4 reasons for hive death
- wikipedia can be inaccurate
- it affects the bees in the Fecal-Oral route
- Its stronger in the spring/fall
- It affects the bee’s salivary glands so they have a hard time dissolving crystallized honey (especially during winter)
- high prevalence of Nosema in Alberta
- Nosema Serana is another version but it can move through cell walls so it can affect royal jelly production and can reduce honey production
Treat with Fumagilin
- to help with reduced spring build up
- A spot treatment can help it turn around in a week
- No fumigilan is used in Australia, New Zealand and Europe but it works well in Alberta and is necessary
- Antibiotic resistance concerns if used inappropriately
- Be careful with it – it contains a known mutagen that causes tumors in humans, the chemical in it called DCH is the worst part, the DCH is a salt used to percipitate fumigilan into a powder form
- Location is a big factor, air movement and sunny place can make a big difference in the infection rates
Fumagilin Dosage
– the Drench method is reported to be more effective for heavy infections but adding it to the feed is also know to work
Check the labelling but it commonly used as:
1 tsp fumigilan per litre
– 250 ml for each hive
– 4 treatments, one week apart
First pail in the spring is treated with fumagilin
Other Questions/Answers/Topics:
How much sugar water to feed the bees?
70/30 honey/sugar of the 120lb hive going into winter…means 40 lbs of sugar water
When to start feeding?
Sept 10 or 12 for fall feeding – right after first hard frost
– don’t feed too late to avoid moisture issues in the hive going into winter
First pail in the spring is treated with fumagilin
– when using a shaker to test for mites, 300 bees = an inch of bees in the shaker
– anything over 3 mites and it is time to treat!
Suggested process for Apivar strips?
Apivar – 2 strips on center frame (top box)
3-4 days of treatment with sticky board
– count 15 black dots?
Another 4 days with sticky board
– count 7 dots?
Another 4 days
– count 2 dots
If the count is zero after three weeks then stop treating, wrap and freeze the strips and use them for 3 weeks in spring.
Wrap after testing for varroa – late Sept (Before first snow)
How to help prevent mold in the hive?
Extra strip of space for air to be moved for winter to prevent mold. 1/4 inch of space
Cor’s spring unwrap suggested method:
Unwrap, put top box on the bottom, check size of brood, one fist size = replace queen, two fists of brood = good queen!