CHANGE IN THINKING

The conventional wisdom about the interaction between the honey bees, varroa and viruses is slowly changing.  It appears to be swinging back to the idea that the varroa mite is the worse actor than the viruses the mite helps transmit.  The following article helps explains the change in thinking.  At any rate either the bee or the beekeeper needs to control the mites.

https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2019/01/30/Mites-not-a-virus-are-the-main-threat-to-bees-study-finds/3441548856788/

JANUARY 30TH APIARY REPORT by beekeeper Fred

Curiosity got the better of me and I went out at noon to check on the easily accessible hives.  My truck thermometer showed it was now a balmy -13F after reaching a low of -26F this frigid Wednesday morning.  All 14 hives were buzzing.  The lower hive entrances were all covered with recent snow.  The upper hive entrances, which I put in the upper brood chamber, were partially blocked with frost.  I will provide another update this Saturday after more seasonal temperatures return.

HIVE TEMPERATURE-Rev. 1

Follow this link to see internal hive temperatures in a Minnesota hive.   I don't know if this hive was wrapped or not.  Also carefully read the comments.  The thermocouple measuring the hive temperature was initially above the cluster and internal hive temperatures were close to the outside air temperature.  For the last few temperature readings the cluster has moved up and is now surrounding the thermocouple and it appears the hive temperature has increased.  But in reality it is now measuring the cluster internal temperature not the hive temperature.

naturesnectar.blogspot.com/

PACKAGE PRICE UPDATE

Here is a short list of companies supplying bee packages in 2019 in ECWBA area.  This list is in no way a complete listing and some suppliers have not yet published their 2019 prices.  The ECWBA does not endorse any product or supplier.   The suppliers are listed in alphabetical order. 

After this week's polar express it would be a good idea to assess the situation with your hives.   

BADGER STATE BEES-Green Bay

                3 lb. package-$130

                Phone: 920-328-4456

                Email:hoganea@gamil.com

BRAD’S BEES-Delavan

                Nucs @$150

CAPITAL BEE SUPPLY-Columbus

               3 lb. package-$120 plus tax, Italian  queen only

DADANT’S-Watertown

                2019 prices not yet posted

                Phone: 877-232-3268

FLEET FARM-Appleton

                2019 prices not posted yet.

FOX HONEY FARM-Freedom, Wi.

                Nucs@$155

                Order@foxhoneyfarm.com

HANSEN’S HONEY FARM-Rhinelander

                2019 prices not yet posted

                Phone: 715-369-0383

HENRY’S HONEY FARM-Redgranite

                Phone: 920-566-2855

HERITAGE HONEY BEES-Sullivan

                3 lb. packages-$132 plus tax

                Phone: 319-321-2494

                Email: timwilbanksbees@gamil.com

HONEYBEEWARE-Greenville

                Nucs-$170; Packages $150 per ad on Craig’s list

                Order via their website

ABRAHAM RENNE-Amish Farmer by Black River Falls

                5 frame nucs only@ $125 each

NO PHONE OR EMAIL; MAIL ORDER ONLY

                W12704 East Pine Creek Rd

                Black River Falls, Wi.  54615

TRACTOR SUPPLY

             3 lb. package delivered to your house-$198

WHO SAYS THE BEES DON'T WORK IN THE WINTER submitted by beekeeper Gerard

Notice the number of dead bees outside of hive 2 (top photo) which was taken yesterday afternoon, and outside of the same hive (bottom photo) this afternoon.  It's zero degrees on my thermometer.  While standing there, three bees brought out dead bees, flying, but fell to the snow and couldn't get back up.  I put one back in the entrance, but it's probably a goner.  Wondering if they're healthy bees cleaning out the dead and dying in the process, or if they knew they were about to expire and helped with mortician duty on the way out?

 YESTERDAY'S DEAD BEES

TODAY'S DEAD BEES

A LITTLE HISTORICAL INFORMATION

Follow the link to historical info about bee survival.

naturesnectar.blogspot.com/

BACK TO OUR NEMISIS--VARROA

At the December ECWBA club meeting we discussed use of Randy Oliver's varroa model to help you determine if your mite control strategy would yield acceptable results.  For those who are not computer savvy (ie know how to run Excel) here is another approach.  The Honey Bee Health Coalition has developed a decision tree with which by answering a few questions you can develop a mite control plan.  Here is the link to the tool.  I hope a few ECWBA members will give this tool a try so we can discuss it at the next meeting.

https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org/varroatool/

LATE JANUARY OR ARE YOU HANDY WITH TOOLS? by beekeeper Fred

It looks like we will be going into a deep freeze later this week with temperatures running 10 to 15 degrees F below zero for several days.  This will be the first real test of our bees this winter.  I followed Gerard’s lead and went out today and made sure all my hives had sufficient emergency feed to carry them through the next two weeks.  Bees eat one to two pounds of honey or sugar per week in the winter.  So I made sure each hive had roughly 4 pounds of emergency feed if needed to carry them over this cold snap.  I also took data on hive status at the same time.  Hive survival is still at 97% and winter nucs at 100%. I am still unsure if the high survival rate is do to the mite treatments done last summer and fall or the warm winter temperatures we had been blessed with until now.  I hope the survival rate is still this high when the cold snap is over.  Meanwhile I will be hunkering down in my warm workshop.  

For the beekeeper who is handy with tools, winter is a good time to assemble and/or build beekeeping equipment.  If your capabilities are limited to nailing and painting, you can cut beekeeping costs by assembling and painting super boxes and frames.  You can use the money saved to buy an extra package of bees to expand your apiary or just lower the total expense of the hobby.  

Wooden frame with wax foundation.  

For those who have access to a table saw the potential for savings are much greater.  Shown below are a few items that I enjoyed making; nucs, inner and outer telescoping covers (for nucs or full size hives), swarm catching boxes.   Since my labor is free the only cost is for materials.  For example, a nuc sells for $30-45, but my cost is roughly $15 plus my time.  Building your own equipment is another dimension to the hobby and you get more satisfaction knowing you made it yourself.  

 Five frame nuc box.  

Inner cover for a five frame nuc box.  Full size inner cover is just 6 inches or so wider. 

 Swarm trapping box.  The top portion is a five frame nuc with a 4 inch extension added below.  Four eyebolts are present to aid holding the swarm trap in a tree with ropes or bungee cords.  

 Rear of swarm box has a screened hole to allow air circulation.  The screen is hard to seen in this photo.  The fine screen blocks out entrance of bees, mice and birds.  This screens was salvaged from a disassembled 3 pound bee package box. 

The front entrance is also screened with 1/4 inch hardware cloth.  The larger size screen lets in bees, but not mice or birds.  

Marathon County Beekeepers Spring Conference

Again this year the Marathon County Beekeepers Association is hosting a seminar/conference on March 16th.  There will be about 10 different topics being covered.  For more information please use the link below.

www.ntc.edu/calendar/2019/03/16/beekeeping-conference-2019

JANAUARY ECWBA CLUB MEETING

This Saturday, January 19th, will be the monthly club meeting.  The guest speaker will be Tim Wilbanks of Heritage Honey.  His talk will be about the package bee industry.  As usual the meeting will be at the Caestecker Public Library in Green Lake, Wi.  See you there.

The long range forecast for last week of January is predicting some zero or below temperatures.  Please make sure your bees are well fed prior to then.  This will be the first real test for the bees this winter.  Only two months to spring!!!   The amount of daylight is already visibly increasing.

VARROA AGAIN!

Well you heard us preaching bout how the varroa attached to the bottom of the bee and fed on the fat bodies of the bee.  By following this link you can now see it.

https://phys.org/news/2019-01-honey-bee-parasites-fatty-blood.html

ONLY $950 PER HIVE

Only $950 per hive.  Let's for my apiary that would be $950 times XXX= WOW!!!

Here is a special hive the can regulate the hive temperature at 108F, which will kill off the mites.  Follow the link for details.

https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/cocoon-bee-hive-ces-2019/

WINTER BEEKEEPING TASK-WASH YOUR JACKET

Here is an article about washing your beekeeping jacket.  It will look and smell better plus washing eliminates the accumulation of bee alarm pheromones.

https://www.betterbee.com/instructions-and-resources/how-to-wash-beekeeping-clothing.asp

ECWBA BEGINNERS BEEKEEPING CLASSES

WELL FED WORKERS NEEDED FOR A PRODUCTIVE QUEEN submitted by beekeeper Gerard

Reading about bees is a good January beekeeping activity.  Here is an article from Bee Culture about how well fed workers feed the queen and induce her to lay eggs for the hive.

https://www.beeculture.com/catch-the-buzz-make-sure-the-workers-are-fed-and-theyll-take-care-of-the-queen/

JANUARY THAW

Its a little early but we are having a January thaw.  The bees are making the most of it and taking voiding flights (remember those little gold spots in the snow!)

 Bees are encouraged by the bright sunshine to get a little fresh air outside the hive.  The warm temperature, 34F when picture was taken, creates a warm microclimate on the face of the hive.  Based on the thermometer on the side of my house the face of the hive is probably about 60F!

Here is one of those little golden spots where a bee voided.  Unfortunately, many of the bees do not make it back to the hive entrance.  Are these chilled bees or old bees self-sacrificing themselves? Sometimes the bees also land directly in the snow to sip a little water.  

BEEKEEPING TOOLS AND OTHER HINTS submitted by beekeeper Grandpa Jack

One of our most common tools among beekeepers is the hive tool.  This little pry bar, wedge, hammer, nail puller,  is probably one of the most important tools in the wonderful world of beekeeping.  American Bee Journal, January 2019 issue did an article on the hive tool and the many different types there are.

The most common type is the one that is about 9 inches long and has a ninety degree angle on one end.  Both ends are sharpened.  Much sharper when first purchased.  The other hive tool that I find very useful is the one with a J hook on one end and is sharpened on the other end. This tool can be used to pry out frames that are propolised .  Not every beekeeper is a fan of this model of tool,  if your frames are not put together correctly you will pull the top bar of the frame leaving the bottom and comb and a number of very unhappy bees left behind. I will go into more detail later on the construction that I use.

One of YouTubes more recognized individuals, aka;  Fat Bee Man say's that if a bee inspector comes onto his property with a J hook he immediately corrects his terrible mistake or asks him to leave.  There's a reason for that and I have described it previously.  I have followed the previous YouTube celebrity and agree most of the time with his comments.  Old beekeepers have a great deal of knowledge and you always want to stop and listen when they talk.  Kind of like when  E F  Hutten talks

.

But I must admit that I have fallen into the J hook hive tool trap when I am removing frames.   Although I also use the standard for splitting supers and removing covers etc.  Its always nice to have two hive tools around, so that one of them will always be available while your looking for the other one.

Luckily for me, I have never pulled a frame apart while prying it out of the hive.  I have often wondered how much pull a frame can take before you pull it apart.  

Years ago, before we had pneumatic nail guns, every frame was hammered together using a small brad hammer and small nails.  An old beekeeper in our neighborhood would fill his mouth with small nails and load his hammer from his mouth.  I also knew a fellow that did upholstery  that used this same method. He always said that you should always make sure what your swallowing.  Sounded like a good rule to me.  Probably the reason I got a pneumatic nail gun.

The way I'm going to describe, is the way I do it.  I use the D style (wedge top bar with divided bottom)

bar).  I use a 1/4 x 1 1/4 staple.  A word of warning is in line.  Watch where you put your hand and fingers.  A pneumatic nailer has a tremendous amount of power and human flesh  or bone is no match for this equipment.

My assembly procedure is to dry fit the frame first.  Then I will nail the split bottom to the end bar first, using 1 inch brads and hand nailing.  I have found that using a gun on this will tend to split the end bar. The other reason I do the bottom of the frame first is to seat the end bar into the top more firmly.  Then I will flip the frame over and using the gun, put two staples through the top on each end into the end board. I also put one staple from the side of the end board into the top of the frame.  This locks the frame together and will prevent the frame from separating in the hive when your trying to pry it out. 

Find the way that works for you and have fun.

MORE PROPOLIS EQUALS HEALTHIER BEES? submitted by beekeeper Gerard

Follow the link to an article about increasing propolis production in your hives.  More propolis has been tentatively linked to healthier bees.

https://www.beeculture.com/catch-the-buzz-georgia-scientists-show-that-more-propolis-means-healthier-bees-and-heres-how-to-make-that-happen/

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

New Year’s day marks the half way point in the bee’s winter (October thru March).  Only 3 months to go before a few nectar sources begin occurring.  Something to look forward to.  On warm days in late February the bees may be out and about looking for early season pollen from maple trees.   

The lowest temperature in the ECWBA area so far this winter will occur tomorrow morning when the low is expected to be 7﮿F.  Based on my bee log this winter has been warmer than last year.  By this time last winter several -10﮿F days and one -14﮿F day had already occurred.   These warmer conditions should help with the overall winter survival. 

More trivia.  My records show that eight below 0﮿F nights occurred in January and February last year.  Most hives succumb during late January and early February.  Well fed and mite free hives, however, won’t have any problem with below zero temperatures.  Pre -varroa University of Wisconsin data shows bees can withstand several -40F nights if well fed.  

With today’s bright sunshine a few bees ventured forth.  Apparently, the combination of direct sun and reflected sunshine off the snow warm the hive entrance.  Unfortunately, the ambient air temperature is still too cold.  Most bees venturing out soon chill and are seen lying in the snow.  

Last night's snow has blocked the lower entrance to the hive.  NO PROBLEM, the bees in my hives have an upper entrance.   The silver gap you see is the mouse guard, not a wide open entrance.