Vol. 14, No. 4 October, 2009

ANNUAL DINNER October 17th

“Buzzer” Table of Contents

Page 2 What’s Up & Who’s Helping

Page 3 More Help and Tough Bees

Page 4 Kids and Schools

Page 5 Nasty Nosema

Page 6 Zinging Varroa Mites

Page 7 Lots of Larnin Goin On out there!

Page 8 Mel’s Secrets & Fair Winners

Page 9 Membership Form & Lists of Officers

COME TO OUR ANNUAL DINNER

2009 SCHEDULE March 28th, Sat. at 1:00 pm

Field Day at Ely’s ApiaryRt. 29, DimockEarly spring managementApril 3rd, Fri. at 7:00 pm (first Friday this month)Claverack Building, Rt. 706

MontroseEarl Villecco on:

New 24 hour Formic Acid TreatmentMay 8th, Fri. at 7:00 pm

Claverack Building, Rt. 706Montrose

Spring Management RoundtableJune 12th, Fri. at 7:00 pm

Claverack Building, Rt. 706Montrose

Jerry, Jim & Dick on: Entering our Honey Show & Presenting a Quality ProductAugust 1st, Sat. at 10:00 am

Harford Fair Work Dayand Cookout

Aug. 5-7 Eastern Apicultural Soc. Conference, Ellicotville, NYAug. 17 - 22 Harford Agricultural Fair

Sept. 11th, Fri. at 6 pm Planning MeetingHome of James & Ginny WoodAll members welcome

Annual Dinner & Speaker Saturday, October 17th,

6:00 PM $12. each So. Montrose Community Church

Surprise Program Call Junie at 278-2170 for reservations

Nov. 13th - 14th Fri. & Sat.PA State Beekeepers Conference Country Cupboard, Lewisburg, PA

Thanks to Harford Fair “Worker Bees”Melissa AppelJim Barber

John BrunnerDick Chapin

Aubrey ElbrechtJerry & Junie Ely

John, Bonnie & John, Jr. FisherArt & Fran GableMelissa Haertsch

Bob & Colleen HelmacyCatherine Hynes

Jim MislevyKerry Swain

Kathy SwepstonJoe & Arlene TaiariolDave & Kandy TaylorGus & Karin WellingsJames & Ginny Wood

And, also thanks to:Melissa Haertsch, Fair ThemeDave Taylor for Scheduling

Jim Barber, Nuc Colony for GazeboDick Chapin & James Wood for Observation Hives

Joe Taiariol for Speaker SystemJim & Dick for Judging Honey Show

If we have forgotten anyone, we’re sorry and thank you as well!

PLEASE CALL JUNIE NOW for reservations: 278-2170

$12. ea. can be sent to Ginny Wood or paid at the door

SBA September Board MeetingSeptember 11, 2009

 Reports:Financial Sec.:    Fair moneys account. $6,189.50... Expenses were $1,240.52..  Vendor expenses  were $2,618.86 ..however all Vendors slips are not in yet. Discussion on vendor slips tabled.OLD BUSINESS:   School Program Mileage ..Richard Chapin logged 704 miles and will be reimbursed for fuel. Harford Fair Princess expenses check to Fair Princess.Insurance for the fair was purchased. One million and two million aggregate respectively. NEW BUSINESS: School program resolution stating that school programs are authorized for educational purposes and are an official function of the association.

Discussion about increasing the amount fair vendors receive on their honey sales. Tabled until February 11th meeting.

Annual Fall Buffet Dinner:  Saturday  October 10th.....17th or 24th.  Ginny will purchase bee related item for door prize/raffle $40.00 +tax was agreed by all.Discussion on reducing the price of the dinner as funds allow it this year..no final word.

Tuesday evening Adult school in  Montrose has 12 students. Instructors are Jerry Ely, Jim Barber & Dick Chapin, with Matt Purdy assisting.   

Harford Fair Misc.: We plan to purchase several items to make the work easier and more efficient, like a better money box, calculator, etc. We also agreed to purchase two industrial floor mats for the doors in the Honey Hut. Catherine will check into Sam's Club or Office Supply store. James Wood will supply a foot ladder for the removal of canvas on the gazebo, and also a fan.  Dave Taylor will handle fair schedule again next year. Purchasing  Educational material for the use of the beekeepers  who do programs at schools, camps and other venues was approved in the amount of $200. Catherine will undertake that.  Catherine will send sample of Biorama of bees  from Carolina scientific to Richard Chapin for perusal cost $88.00 + shipping.  -Respectfully submitted by Catherine Hynes, Secretary

Another List of “Worker Bees”For Work Day on August 1st(A few of us were really drones,

not to mention any names!)Melissa AppelJim Barber

John BrunnerDick Chapin

Jerry & Junie ElyCatherine Hynes and Guest

John & Bonnie FisherMelissa Haertsch

Bob HelmacyDave & Kandy Taylor

Gus WellingsDonnie Wilson

James & Ginny WoodAgain, if we have forgotten anyone, either you didn’t sign in or your handwriting is as bad as mine :) If so, we’re sorry, and appreciate your help!

Jerry Hayesin his column “The Classroom”

answers a new beekeeper’s questions with the following initial comment:“Karl, welcome to beekeeping. The first year is always the easiest.... Beekeeping books, literature and your beekeeping buddy down the road are only 50% correct 50% of the time. Remember this. There is tremendous genetic diversity in the general honey bee population. That is why they may be around long after we have blown ourselves up.” American Bee Journal, March 2007

Keeney & Ziegler ApiariesESTABLISHED 1903

Ziegler's Honey

Wholesale and RetailHONEY PRODUCER/PACKER

HONEY JARS & CAPS.BEE SUPPLIES / MITE-AWAY IItm

BREEDER OF NORTHERN QUEENS Available: May 15 to Sept. 1

Phone: (717) 933-8565 or: (717) 432-5088

DENNIS C. KEENEY P.O. Box 68

9351 Old 22 . Bethel, PA 19507-0068

'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,' Nikka - age 6 (we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)

School Program 2008 - 2009

Blue Ridge 2nd grade Sept.26Elk Lake 5th grade Nov.14

Mt. View 5th grade Nov.21Lakeland 3rd grade Nov.26Lathrop St. 4th grade Dec.5

Susquehanna 3rd & 4th grade Jan.20Lackawanna Trail 5th grade Jan.23

Laceyville 3rd, 4th & 5th grades Feb.6Tunkhannock 5th grades March 27Forest City 6th grades March 31

Gardner School, Scranton April 4thTurnpike/LaPorte Schools April 21St. Michael’s School, Tunk. May 1

Jim Rice Mem. Wyoming ConservationField Day May 20

Arrowhead Christian Camp July 22This year’s tour of schools begins Oct. 14th

at Blue Ridge Elementary School.

Also: Rich Johnson conducted honey bee presentations in June at his grandchildren's’ schools on Long Island.

Catherine Hynes made presentations- in July at the Bee Aware Program for the Endless Mountains/Lackawanna Camp /Nature Reserve, in September, at Arlo’s Country Store, and also at Lackawanna College.

Note: See http://www.beeculture.com/ regarding the NEW Digital Bee Culture. Lots of advantages, plus lower subscription rate.

A REMINDER OF THE OBVIOUS. THIS IS YOUR NEWSLETTER. IF YOU WANT CERTAIN BEEKEEPING TOPICS COVERED, JUST LET US KNOW: oldbeekeeper@epix.net

HEY, LOOK HERE.................Have you checked out our website recently? In addition to our newsletters, etc., Jamie has added a section on our own library, including descriptions of the books, periodicals & video tapes by our librarian, Kandy Taylor. To borrow, call her at 378-3728.

RANDY OLIVER - - - - - - points out in “The Nosema Twins -- Part IV Treatment” a study by Higes & Meana indicating that Nosema Ceranae “infection in a colony progresses through four stages:

1/ Asymptomatic - the infection builds slowly the first year, goes unnoticed, but can be detected microscopically in foragers.

2/ Replacement - the bees rally by rearing more brood, even through winter.

3/ False Recovery - this may occur the second summer, during which the colony rebounds somewhat. However, in this phase the infection starts to move into the house bees.

4/ Depopulation and Collapse - Finally, the bees ‘lose ventricular function’ (they can no longer digest food), stop eating (and stop taking medicated syrup, or pollen supplement), and simply starve to death in the midst of plenty. Most adults die far from the hive, leaving only a handful of young bees and the queen.”

“Colonies can collapse either during summer or winter, but the character of the infection differs. During cold season collapse, most bees are infected, and spore counts exceed 10 million spores per bee. Contrarily, under warm season breakdown, less than half the bees are infected, and spore counts are generally much lower. Forager bees just die in the field, and the colony shows no symptoms other than dwindling away.”

American Bee Journal March 2008

New Formic Treatment Released

At Apimondia 2009, NOD Apiary Products – Canada, announced today the development of the next generation of treatment for the control of the Varroa mite.

The “Mite Away™ Quick Strip”/MAQS™ This new generation of Varroa control works by not only killing Varroa on the bees, MAQS™ targets the next generation of mites before they even emerge, killing them directly were they live and breed. It is effective, killing over 95% of Varroa under the cap. Using a patent pending strip formulation of formic acid (naturally occurring in honey) MAQS. not only controls the Varroa it does this without creating any contamination

within the hive. Beekeepers have never had a tool like this before.

According to Steven Haylestrom, of NOD Apiary Products, MAQS™ answers Martial Saddier’s call for help. A French Congressman from Isère, Mr Saddier was appointed by Prime Minister François Fillon to evaluate the French beekeeping industry in 2008. Hawaiian authorities have requested NOD make an immediate application for a section 24C SLN (Special Local Needs) Registration to ensure beekeepers have MAQS™ available for treating hives by October 2009.

Following successful trials conducted in Hawaii and in Canada, NOD Apiary Products is proceeding with new MAQS. trials in Europe. Trials are now under way in Angers, Lyon and Eastern France. The French trials include testing of Varroa efficacy as well as the effect on brood, bees and residue in honey. In addition the effect of this new formulation on Nosema spores is also being observed. The first results are expected within weeks with final results in early 2010. MAQS™ – Mite Away Quick Strip • Targets the Varroa where it is reproducing – killing the next generation without harming the developing bee.

• Easy to use – This is the only formic acid Varroacide in a Strip Formulation. NO ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT IS REQUIRED. The beekeeper simply cracks open the brood area of the hive and lays the strips across the frames. Done.

• Treatment is just seven days TOTAL.

• No residues - Can be applied DURING a honey flow – with no withdrawal period.

• Has been tested successfully in temperatures up to 33°C/92°F

• 100% Fully compostable. – After application is completed MAQS can be left in the hive for the bees to dispose of or can be removed and composted.

• Co-developed with the assistance of a European Partner, this partner will be announced within the next weeks.

 Product will be available for beekeepers in Hawaii as soon as SLN Registration is received, this has been requested to be completed for October 2009.

General distribution is being targeted for January 2009 for North America.

For more information, contact NOD Apiary Products, 2325 Frankford Rd., Frankford, Ontario, K0K 2C0, Canada   Steven Haylestrom, 613-398-8422 or check www.MiteAway.com in the near future for additional information.

-From CATCH THE BUZZ, Bee Culture Sept. 16, 2009

Keeney & Ziegler Apiaries

ESTABLISHED 1903Ziegler's Honey

Wholesale and RetailHONEY PRODUCER/PACKER

HONEY JARS & CAPS.BEE SUPPLIES / MITE-AWAY IItm

BREEDER OF NORTHERN QUEENS Available: May 15 to Sept. 1

Phone: (717) 933-8565 or: (717) 432-5088

DENNIS C. KEENEY P.O. Box 68

9351 Old 22 . Bethel, PA 19507-0068

Need Help? Any of our more experienced beekeepers will help if you ask. Also, we have a good library collection. Call Kandy Taylor (see page 9)

Eastern Apicultural SocietyAugust 2009

Melissa Appel & Kathy Swepston attended the EAS Short Course, in Ellicottville, NY, which is taught at a college level, and Jim Barber, Dick Chapin & James Wood attended the EAS Conference. EAS next summer will be held in North Carolina.

Montrose Area Adult Education

Our annual beekeeping course was conducted in September at the High School, with Jim Barber, Dick Chapin & Jerald Ely teaching, with help from Matt Purdy. We had 12 students.

See LOGO on page 10 “Mel Disselkoen was born on a farm in a Dutch settlement in southeast South Dakota and he grew up with an independent farming mentality of hard work and creative problem solving. He has kept bees for 35 years and is familiar with all phases of beekeeping including maintaining 450 colonies with a commercial migratory operation. In 2000, he sold his bees to that operation so that they could meet their pollination contracts. They are still in business today but Mel decided to leave the operation in order to focus more on his research into bee behavior in the tradition of Rev. L.L. Langstroth, G.M. Doolittle and Dr. C.C. Miller. In 1988, he authored a booklet entitled “I.M.N. System of Queen Rearing” and today is incorporating that work with making splits and overwintering nucs to out breed varroa mites while simultaneously avoiding expensive and harmful chemicals. He has kept chemical-free bees for over 20 years and is dedicated to sharing his findings in order to help novice beekeepers become successful and self-sufficient.” -From Mel’s website

http://www.mdasplitter.com

NOTE:

We heard Mel lecture at the 2008 PA State meeting in Lewisburg last November. Some of us are experimenting with his recommendations.We have information available on request.

Honey Show WinnersLight Amber Honey

First and Best of Show -- Bob HelmacyAmber Honey

First -- Bob HelmacySecond -- Dave Taylor

Dark HoneySecond -- Bob HelmacyRound Comb HoneyFirst -- John BrunnerCut Comb Honey

First -- John BrunnerBeeswax Candles, Molded

First -- Dave TaylorCongratulations to the winners! Next year we hope to have

more entrants. You can do it!!!

From the Schools“Thank you for coming to our school. I was so glad I learned about the Queen Bee while being it. I never knew she was the only one to lay fertilized eggs. I loved learning about the other bees too. I think it’s cool how only girl bees work, especially as guards!” Alexis, age 10

Picture by Kassidy:

Officers & DirectorsPres. Richard Chapin

(570) 278-1094 oldbeekeeper@epix.net Vice Pres. James Wood

(570) 934-1166 jimnginw@epix.netSec: Catherine Hynes

(570) 942-0341 zbeekeeper@epix.netTreas: Jane Robinson

(570) 746-3235 Directors:

James Barber (570) 553-2209 jbeekeeper@hotmail.com

John Brunner (570) 278-1774 johnelsemolly@gmail.com

Jerald & Lejune Ely (570) 278-2170 jlely@frontiernet.net

Dave Taylor570-378-3728 drt105@aol.com

COMMITTEESPrograms & Speakers- Jerry Ely & Jim BarberMentor Program& Hospitality- John BrunnerLibrarian- Kandy TaylorPublicity- Ginny WoodScholarship Fund - Jim Barber, Dick Chapin & James WoodHistorian- Jim BarberHarford Fair Program- Melissa Haertsch

Scheduling- Dave TaylorPA System- Joe Taiariol

Annual Dinner Coordinator - Lejune Ely

NEW MEMBERSHIP FORM(If you are already a member, you will receive your renewal notice by mail when due)

+Required:Local dues- $10.00(includes newsletter)

+Required if you have bees:PA State Registration $10.00 / 2 yrs.

( forms available at meetings)

+Optional:PA State Assn. - $20:00

Family membership - $25.00(includes state newsletter)

Name:

Address and Zip: Tel. # E-mail:

Payment Method: ( ) check ( ) money order

Check payable to Susquehanna Beekeepers AssociationSend to Ginny Wood

RR4, Box 123DMontrose, PA 18801

The Buzzer Staff:Editor: Richard Chapin (570) 278-1094 oldbeekeeper@epix.net

Production Manager: Valerie Hotchkiss (570) 553-2086 valeriehotchkiss@yahoo.comWebmaster: James Jumper flyer@echoes.net

Website:

http://susqbkeepers.g2gm.com/

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands,

one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Melvin Disselkoen Apiaries, Wyoming