August 2015

8/24/15 – WVBA Meeting Minutes

  1. General Minutes
    1. Chemeketa Form –
      1. Everyone has to fill one out – that is how we get our meeting room free!
      2. All you have to fill out, though, is your name, address, birthday and signature. Social Security numbers are not needed.
      3. If you have a college K number, you only need to fill in the K-number, name, and signature.
    2. Article: Bees found in New York that are varroa resistant.  They are a native bee that is a genetic improvement to our current strains.
    3. New Vet Oversight –
      1. Tylosin, Teramyacin, and Lincomycin are going to be under vet supervision. You must have a veterinary prescription to get these drugs for your bees.
      2. Tylosin is already under supervision and Lincomycin will be under supervision by the end of 2016. It is unknown when Teramyacin will begin to be regulated.
      3. This will make it more difficult to get these three drugs.
      4. It will be a good idea to stock up on these medicines now. You can vacuum pack and freeze.
      5. In original containers, medicines will last 3-4 years. Vacuum packing and freezing will extend that.  A pharmacist told a member that they will last 10 years, but over time will lose some strength.
      6. The status of Fumagilin-B is unknown at this time.
    4. A new Cash and Carry is moving into South Salem. Good place to buy bulk sugar.  Prices are about the same as Costco.
    5. Aaron LaFond is building 8 frame and 10 frame boxes.
      1. $10 for unassembled
      2. $12 for assembled
      3. He is trying to get a booth at the Conference.
      4. Phone: (541) 401-1463
    6. Ruhl (now Brushy Mountain) is moving to Wilsonville. No address yet.
    7. Other suppliers:
      1. Shonnard’s in Philomath
      2. Glory Bee in Eugene
    8. Mary Ann has bee plants for sale:
      1. Clerodendron: umbrella shape, 10-12’, hardy
      2. Cashmere Bouquet: shrub
  2.  Extractor
    1. There was a huge waiting list this year. The extracting equipment would come in during the evening and be gone within the next day.
    2. Please make sure to clean the equipment after you use it. That way, it can go our faster to the next member.  Good job so far.
    3. There is a contract you must sign and a deposit before you can use the extracting equipment. You must also be a member.
  3. Storing Supers
    1. Put away wet: This is alright.  The frames will not mold or rot.
    2. Put back on hive: If you do this, you must take them off within a day or two, otherwise the bees will start to fill them again!  You can then store them dry.
    3. Do not leave supers next to hives, or even far away from hives. This will lead to robbing which can spread diseases.  Very bad.
    4. Freeze: You can freeze the boxes and put them back on in the spring. You would need a lot of freezer space though.
    5. How do you avoid wax moths when storing dry?
      1. Para-Moth by Mann Lake (and other suppliers) – crystals, put in boxes to get rid of wax moths. The active ingredient is paradichlorodenzine.
      2. Normal moth balls are not usually strong enough and can contain naphthalene which will ruin your hives. Be very careful!
      3. Frame Rack – 8 rows for frames, made out of 2x4s. This exposes frames to sun and air movement, both of which, the moths do not like.
        1. Can lead to dust, but the bees will clean the frames up quickly.
      4. Freeze: You can either freeze your frames for 48 hours (this will kill all current wax moths, but frames can still be re-infested) or until winter (wax moths are mostly inactive during winter).
  4. Retiring Frames
    1. You can keep super frames for many years (10-20 years) as long as both the wood and wax is okay.
    2. Brood frames need to be changed out more regularly due to propolis build-up and pesticide residue.
    3. Q: Will the bees draw out frames again or further draw out partially or poorly drawn out frames?
      1. A:  Once they have messed up a frame, it will remain messed up.
    4. Q:  Can you scrape out a bad section and let them redraw it?
      1. A:   No, it will all be re-drawn as drone brood.  If you scrape the entire frame down to the foundation, the bees will then redraw the comb.
  5. Varroa Mites
    1. Reddish-brown, size of pinhead, but you can still see them.
    2. When varroa gets into cells, the bees emerge small, with deformed wings (due to deformed wing virus), malnourished, etc.
    3. #1 Goal: Create healthy bees, treat for mites, feed and have strong bees for winter!
    4. Testing for varroa:
      1. Alcohol wash: ½ cup of bees (about 300 bees).
        1. If you have 6 or fewer mites, it’s okay.
        2. If you have more than 8 mites, treat.
      2. Can use sticky board.
      3. Powdered sugar shake
    5. Treating for varroa:
      1. Apivar or Amatraz
      2. Oxalic acid or formic acid – be careful, can kill queens at this time of year. A reduced treatment is a good idea.  To avoid dead bees, put formic acid on bottom board (not a screened bottom board), but it may not kill varroa in cells.  Make sure to check for laying queen after treatment.
        1. Also, if the temperature is above 80˚, then the fumes are released too quickly and can harm bees and brood. 70˚ is perfect for releasing the fumes.
      3. Mite Away Quickstrips – Okay with honey.
      4. Apiguard (thymol) – do not use with honey!
  6. Tracheal Mites
    1. Internet blogs say to ignore tracheal mites. This is NOT TRUE!  Bees will not take care of tracheal mites.
    2. Treating for tracheal mites:
      1. Menthol
      2. Thymol
      3. Formic acid
      4. Any vapor that the bees can breathe in will work.
  7.  Feeding
    1. 1:1 sugar syrup (not 2:1,no matter what the book says)
    2. Protein patties – eating 1 patty per 3 days now.
      1. You can make your own pollen patties using Ultra Bee. Todd was selling 3lb bags of Ultra Bee powder for $5 (a very good deal).
    3. Better to feed old honey/left over honey in spring. Pollen and 1:1 sugar syrup will stimulate queen during the fall, which is good.
    4. Q: When do you start feeding?
      1. A:  Late July, early August.  Stop feeding syrup around Columbus Day in October.  Make sure to keep filling feeders all of the fall.
    5. Q:  What if we have a honey flow?
      1. A:  If there is a honey flow then supplementing with syrup and pollen is still a good idea, just in case.
    6. Q:  Cane or beet sugar?
      1. A:  Bees do not care.  Also do not care about GMO sugars.
    7. Q:  Do you pull the feeders out in October?
      1. A:  Either remove or make sure there is no syrup left.  Can feed fondant or sugar candy during winter.
    8. Q:  Where do you put the pollen patties?
      1. A:  It does not matter.  Some people put them in the top (in a spacer or Vivaldi board) or between the brood boxes.
  8. State Fair
    1. Opens Friday, August 28th.
    2. Trevor still needs 30 shifts! Please SIGN UP either online or with Trevor.
    3. If you have a significant other, Trevor is willing to give them a ticket too.
    4. The booth will be in COLUMBIA HALL this year, not Jackson Long.
  9.  HIVIDEO
    1. Amazing! Nice job Trevor and Co.
    2. This will be playing at the State Fair booth.
  10.  Conference
    1. November 6th, 7th, and 8th (Saturday and Sunday are the conference, Friday is the social)
    2. Theme: ‘Products of the Hive’
    3. At Oregon Gardens Resort in Silverton