AUSTRALIAN BEE NEST submitted by beekeeper Gerard

Follow link to a photograph of the Australian honey bee nest.  This construction might make it a little difficult to extract honey.

https://reddit.app.link/MJWkcvcB4S

LATE DECMEBER APIARY REPORT

During the December ECWBA club meeting we reviewed the mite treatment programs of three local beekeepers using Randy Oliver’s varroa model.  Now at the end of December, here are current survival statistics for those three beekeepers.  Gerard’s and club hives: 100%; Jon’s hives: 95.5%; Fred’s hives: 97.3%.  All three beekeepers had practiced rather aggressive treatment programs following high losses in the previous winter.  Each beekeeper used different miticides; Gerard used Formic acid and Apiguard, Jon used Oxalic acid vapor only, and Fred used a mix of formic and oxalic acid.  How are your hives doing?  Of course, crunch time usually occurs in mid to late January when temperatures hit their lowest for the winter.  For now, there is nothing to do but wait for spring.  We will continue getting updates on their statistics and report them here. 

We are now over the first winter obstacle. Daylight is growing in length now that we have passed the winter equinox.  For some bee types the lengthening of the day is the que for the queen to begin laying again; albeit very slowly.   This also marks the halfway point of our six month long winter period. 

During December we experienced several days of low 40’s F.  The bees were using these warm days to take voiding flights.  They also use these warmer days to reposition the cluster closer to the remaining honey.   

During winter a hive will consume one to two pounds of honey per week.  I have provided emergency sugar to top of my hives as a matter of standard practice.   There has been great variation between hives in consumption of this emergency sugar.   Some hives haven’t touched the sugar yet, while others have consumed the entire 2 and ½ pound disc in only two weeks.  Therefore, all hives get checked every two weeks and replenished as needed.  The reason for the large variation isn’t clear to me, but there seems to be a slight correlation between cluster size and sugar consumption.   I will be using the checks as an opportunity to add pollen or pollen substitute patties next to the sugar discs.  This protein will help with feeding the new brood.   

My experiment with overwintering double deep nucs continues.  Twelve of twelve nucs still have that reassuring hum emanating from within the hives.  I sure hope this experiment is successful after seeing some of the prices being quoted for three (3) pound packages to be delivered next spring.  Prices are ranging from $130 to $180.  Yikes!  High prices like this will certainly discourage many hobbyist beekeepers.  But it might also finally convince new beekeepers that a good mite control program is in both their and the bees best interests. 

HONEY TASTING CONTEST

OPPORTUNITY AWAITS!!!!

Greetings Wisconsin Beekeepers,

I apologize about the late notice and for intruding during the

Holidays, but I’m not sure how else to get the word out…

The Center for Honeybee Research is a non-profit 501 C (3)

organization that sponsors an annual international honey-tasting

contest. Cash awards are generated by entry fees and sales of the

honey.

The purpose of the Contest is to showcase flavorful raw honeys from

every region. Scoring is based upon taste/flavor by panels of judges

who are not allowed to see or discuss the honey they are sampling.

Please view our short video at CenterforHoneybeeResearch.org to get a

feel for our event.

The reason I’m reaching out is beekeepers in Wisconsin don’t seem to

know about this and I suspect we are missing out on some pretty tasty

honey. Our deadline has been extended to Dec. 31, 2018 and although

that doesn’t give you a lot of time I’d like to point out 1) We do it

every year  2) the honey doesn’t have to be from this year  and 3) you

can enter as many as you like.

Local honey is a valuable resource which rarely finds its way beyond

regional markets and we’d like to “discover” the treasures Wisconsin’s

micro-climates and make them known on an international stage.

Thank you for your consideration and may you enjoy a Happy Holidays!

Sincerely,

Carl Chesick

Director, Center for Honeybee Research

Asheville, NC, USA

8th Annual International Black Jar Honey Contest

Grand Prize $3,000    (10) Category Winners $150 each

Rules, FAQs, Register online  CenterforHoneybeeResearch.org/honey-contest

BEE PACKAGES

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 many suppliers have not yet published their 2019 prices.   The suppliers are listed in alphabetical order.   This listing will be updated in about February when all 2019 prices should be available.  Please note the ECWBA does not endorse any product or supplier. 

BADGER STATE BEES-Green Bay

                3 lb. package-$130

                Phone: 920-328-4456

                Email:hoganea@gamil.com

DADANT’S-Watertown

                2019 prices not yet posted

                Phone: 877-232-3268

FLEET FARM-Appleton

                2019 prices not yet posted

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

                2019 prices not yet posted

                Phone: 319-321-2494

                Email: timwilbanksbees@gamil.com

HONEYBEEWARE-Greenville

                2019 prices not yet posted

                Order via their website

BEE VACCINE

One down and ten to go.  Here is an article about a new vaccine to combat American Foulbrood.

fortune.com/2018/12/06/honey-bee-vaccine/