June 2020 Monthly News Letter

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Meetings have been caceled until further notice due to COVID 19

Next meeting:

Where: Sons of Norway

224 Catlin Street

West Kelso, WA
When: 7:00 PM

If you live in Longview or the surrounding area and already keep bees, intend to do so or are simply interested in this fascinating hobby, Cowlitz Beekeepers Association is the association for you. Even if you don’t keep bees, joining us will help support our cause, our community action and awareness and education programs.

Covid 19 Update

We are exploring the possibility of having meetings using the zoom application. It works well for presentations, but discussion is generally quite chaotic when there is more than 10 people. You do not need to download the free app to participate. You would need a device connected to the internet though. I will email each of you the link at least a week before a zoom meeting is planned.

Our gathered together meetings are on hold until Cowlitz county moves to phase 3.

Handmade Proud:

Looking to buy new woodenware at reasonable prices?

• Bottom Boards

• Top Covers

• Inner Covers

• Hive Boxes and more…

Contact Jerry Herren

Ph. (360) 355-0051 Swarmchaser40@gmail.com

Asian Giant Hornet Sightings

A resident stepped on a hornet in Langley, British Columbia on May 15 and reported it to the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture. Officials collected the hornet and confirmed it was an AGH the next day.

On May 27 in Custer, Washington a walker spotted a dead hornet on the road. Entomologists have confirmed that it is an AGH.

Both specimens were confirmed queens but further testing is required to determine if either were mated. AGH queens have a low successful mating rate. But this most likely means that a nest was established in Washington last fall and successfully produced queens. I have heard a nest could produce 100 to 200 queens. There are likely mated queens establishing colonies in Whatcom county now. Trapping for workers will begin in July when they start foraging. Locating workers will hopefully allow teams to find and destroy any nests before fall queens are produced.

Keep up to date by joining the Asian Giant Hornet Watch group on facebook.

The Buzz on Blackberries

by John Holmes

Since becoming a beekeeper my attitude towards our local blackberries has drastically changed. As a gardener they were once a constant thorny foe that relentlessly tried to take over our property. Now they have gained some respect since they provide the main nectar flow which allows our bees to produce delicious surplus honey.

Blackberries are proficient at reproducing. The tasty berries are eaten by birds and animals who in turn spread the seeds. Sprouting from a root crown the canes grow rapidly. When a cane contacts the ground, nodes generates roots and new root crowns are created. The canes are biennial so in the first year the cane produces only leaves. In the cane’s second year buds form lateral branches that produce both flowers and leaves. After fruit production, the canes will then die in the winter and new canes issue from the root crown in the spring. These dead canes, being woody in nature, provide support for future canes which over time create large mounding thickets.

The most noticeable species is the Himalayan blackberry, Rubus armeniacus, native to the Armenia region of Europe. Thickets can exceed 10 feet in height. Canes can grow 20 feet in a single season. I have known them to conceal abandon farm equipment and buildings. As a non-native and listed as a noxious weed, it has naturalized west of the Cascades. The history of this blackberry is linked to Luther Burbank of Santa Rosa California, a renowned plant breeder. Working on a project to produce a thornless blackberry Burbank obtained seeds from around the world. From seeds that he believed came from India, was a prolific blackberry that produced huge flavorful berries. He named it ‘Himalaya Giant’ and finding it grew best in temperate climates began marketing it in 1894. The plants thrived in the Western Washington and Oregon climate and spread from cultivation to the naturalization that we see today.

The Evergreen blackberry, Rubus laciniatus, is the second most noticeable local species and is also another naturalized Eurasia introduction. Also called the Cutleaf blackberry, the leaves are deeply incised. As a plant it shares many of the same characteristics as the Himalayan blackberry. It has a slower seasonal growth, canes only growing up to 10 feet in a season. Unlike the Himalayan, it also produces numerous root suckers. It shares the title of being a large aggressive spreading shrub that is listed as a noxious weed.

Our native Blackberry, Rubus ursinus, has many common names: Dewberry or Trailing, Pacific, Western, and California blackberry. Different from the non-native blackberries it does not form massive thickets. The canes are slender, usually less than a ¼ inch, trailing low to the ground and relying on other structures to gain vertical height. It is very adaptable and can be found in a variety of habitats: moist shaded, streamside, shrub dominated, and disturbed areas like forest clearcuts. A striking difference from the non-natives is it is mostly dioecious, separate male and female plants. The petals of male flowers are about 10 mm long, those of female flowers 6-8 mm long.

June is here and the blackberries are blooming, may the weather stay dry enough for nectar harvest and wet enough to keep the nectar flowing. Be sure to keep an eye on your hives and ensure they have the space to store the coming honey crop.

From left to right: Himalayan Evergreen and Trailing blackberries

We will hold a honey bee hive inspection field day, weather permitting, on Saturday June 6th . As usual, we divide into smaller groups and check out Dave Scott’s bees. It’s interesting, fun, and educational. If you would like to be on the notification list for further details, call or email Bill. Those that have notified me have received further details.

Out in the Beeyard

by Bill Holmes

Beekeeping is the application of empirical evidence, study, intuition, hope, and a generous supply of brilliant ideas. Many times, the bees have other ideas, or the application was poorly implemented, or amazingly it works – this time. Last newsletter I mentioned that I had inadvertently moved the queen from my awesome hive into a queenless hive. The newly queenless hive went to work producing queen cells. I moved most of them into my queen castle and all of them failed. The one cell I left them also failed and they were now hopelessly queenless, depending on me to set them right. During this time, I also made 2 nucs from another hive that had swarm cells. Both nucs hatched queens who successfully mated and returned. When they started laying I would take a queen and move her into the former awesome hive. I wanted this to be a successful queen introduction so I built a special frame to house the queen while the bees got used to her. You can buy these but I made this one. The queen is first placed or purchased in a California queen cage. Then, with one end opened and covered by a finger it is layed into the open area on the left side of the frame pictured. It is secured with a long allen wrench from the tool box. The queen is then free to roam into the larger screened area. This system gives plenty of opportunity for the bees to get used to her over a broader area then the small queen cage. They can also feed her through the screen. After a couple of days a hole at the top of the frame is exposed allowing her to escape. Only issue was that during my 8 years of beekeeping I have never grabbed a queen. I checked Youtube and found it to be quite easy. So, I opened one of the nucs, found the queen and set to grab her. She moves a lot, and there tends to be bees right up next to her. She is not easy to grab and she doesn’t sit still while trying to grip her, she actually moves faster and disappears onto the other side of the frame. At last I did get her but not well, and as I was pointing her head at the queen cage she came loose, ran around my hand and flew away. I thought that since she’s been out before that she would return so I closed up the nuc and hoped. I looked at the other nuc and thought, what the heck lets do it again. Much the same, except I was able to get her into the mini cage, and then she went into the large area. I took 2 frames of eggs from the nuc and put those in the center of the deep and then put the queen introduction cage between them. She is now out and laying and this saga is over. Oh, and that flying queen did come back and seems none the worse for wear.

I also last month talked about swarm traps. I have 2, one that faces south and is in the sun until late afternoon, the other faces north and is in the shade most of the day. So far, the shady site has caught 3 swarms and the sunny box has 0. They both get lots of visits, but the preference has been convincing. Last night I gave away one of the swarms that had moved in a week ago. The whole box goes to the new home, which I get back when the bees are transferred, and it is convenient. I put up a different box around noon today and at 4 o’clock I walked out to see if any scouts had found it. They had and brought a swarm with it. Scouts are out at the sunny site now which is the best available option and now that the sun is behind the tree maybe somebody will bite. If you catch a swarm either in a bait hive or gathered them while the rested, you should treat them with oxalic acid vapor, assuming you have the tool. Since they are frequently an unknown, the potentially are a mite bomb that you don’t want next to all your other hives. This is the perfect time with OA since it does not kill mites on capped brood. Start them fresh, clean, and ready to go.

Bill

Cowlitz Co Beekeeper Losses 2019-20

by Dewey Caron

Overwintering losses of small scale Washington beekeepers was determined from information provided by 133 Washington backyard beekeepers with an electronic honey bee survey instrument www.pnwhoneybeesurvey.com. Statewide losses were 10 percentage points less than last winter but Cowlitz losses were elevated from the previous year. Eighteen Cowlitz beekeepers returned surveys reporting on 113 fall colonies. Figure 1 shows total WA & OR response. Oregon losses (38%) statewide were once again 12 percentage points lower than those of Washington beekeepers, same as last year.

Loss History Losses this past overwinter for Cowlitz survey respondents unfortunately returned to greater than 50%. Response number was same as last year. NOTE: 2019 losses were lowest among tallied Washington clubs. Figure shows Cowlitz loss history.

The 18 Cowlitz Co respondents to the electronic survey had 1 to 36 fall colonies. Eleven (61%) had 1, 2 or 3 colonies, four had 4-6 and 3 had 7-9 colonies. Two had 10+ (highest number 36). Nine individuals (50%) had 1, 2, or 3 years’ experience. Five had 4-6 and 3 had 7-9 years’ experience. Three had 10+ with 45 the highest.

Colony Losses. Individuals with 1-3 colonies lost 74% of their colonies, those with 4-6 fall colonies lost 68% and the 2 individuals with 10+ lost 63%. Individuals with 1-3 years experience lost 80% of their colonies, those with 4-6 years’ experience lost 65% and the 3 individuals with 10+ years experience lost 59%. For the 18 respondent Cowlitz beekeepers, 2 individuals (11%) had no loss but 8 individuals (=44%) lost all their colonies. Seven individuals lost 1 colony, 6 individuals lost 2 colonies, 2 lost 3 and 1 each lost 4, 5 and 9 colonies. Heaviest loss was 20 colonies.

The survey asked for beekeeper estimate of loss reason, what were managements for feeding, winterizing, monitoring, Screen Bottom Board (SBB) use and non-chemical and chemical mite treatments.

The full report will be posted to the pwhoneybeesurvey.com – both Washington and Oregon state reports will be included as well as the individual club reports in which at least 17 respondents returned surveys.

There is no simple answer to explain the levels of current losses nor is it possible to explain why the losses were elevated again this past winter. Losses are not necessarily excessive for all the issues facing honey bees in the current environment. Varroa mites and the viruses they transmit are considered the major factor colonies are not as healthy as they should be but nutrition and our failure to provide timely feeding, winter protections and to assess mite numbers to key mite controls are all factors as the annual PNW survey demonstrates. Thanks to all Cowlitz respondents for providing information to help all of us improve survival success.

BEEKEEPERS CALENDAR OF SEASONAL ACTIVITIES

Suggested Activities for Beekeepers in the Coastal range from Washington, Oregon and Northern California...
Prepare Hives for June

Make sure your bees have a good supply of clean water. Use small pans or if you have many hives, use a child’s swimming pool and float wood or pieces of carpet on the water for the bees to stand on when hydrating…VERY IMPORANT …
Check for capped brood and good brood patterns. Spotty brood pattern may mean a weak or old queen…
Check your supers often. Add supers if needed
Monitor mite levels and be prepared to treat if thresholds are exceeded.
Check for Swarm cells it is still swarm season. Be ready for Swarms: have a spare Nuc or hive body with drawn comb, ready to go at a moment’s notice. Also, an 8’x10’ lightweight tarp, branch clippers, 8”x10” piece of cardboard (can be used as a bee ramp or scoop), smoker (with fuel and a lighter), bee suit, spray bottle of sugar water, bee brush, a roll of duct tape…

Swarm List:

I do get some calls for a resting swarm and then send out a text message to those on the list. Currently there are 12 members signed up to get a text message for a swarm collection. Contact Bill if you want to be added.

Microalgae food for honey bees:

Poor nutrition in honey bees is often an underlying factor in colony losses because malnutrition amplifies the detrimental effects of parasites, pathogens, and pesticides. Habitat loss, decreases in flowering plant diversity and large tracts of crop monoculture all can potentially contribute to lessening natural pollen sources, which provide bees essential nutrition.

Now, research by ARS entomologists Vincent Ricigliano and Michael Simone-Finstrom has shown that the microalgae Arthrospira platensis (commonly called spirulina) has a nutritional profile that closely resembles pollen. Spirulina is a part of family of blue-green algae, which are single-celled organisms that exist individually or in chains or groups.

Ricigliano and Simone-Finstrom found that spirulina is rich in essential amino acids and lipids required by bees, with levels matching those found in tested pollen samples.

"Our work is a pioneering first look into the nutritional and functional properties of a single microalga and how well it corresponds to what is needed in a complete pollen substitute for the honey bee," explained Ricigliano.

In addition to being rich in essential amino acids necessary for protein synthesis, immune function and colony growth in honey bees, spirulina also contains prebiotics that support the growth of healthy gut bacteria.

Commercial beekeepers have become increasingly reliant on artificial pollen substitute diets to nourish colonies during periods of pollen scarcity as well as to bolster colony size before they fulfill pollination service contracts.

Currently available commercial diets for bees usually incorporate a variety of ingredients such as soy, yeast, wheat, lentils and milk proteins in an effort to supply balanced nutrition. These artificial diets are sometimes deficient in essential macronutrients (proteins, lipids, prebiotic fibers), micronutrients (vitamins, minerals), or antioxidants.

"So the need to scientifically improve the efficacy of pollen substitutes can be considered vital to modern beekeeping and we need to think about how we can do it in a sustainable way," Ricigliano said.

Microalgae can be sustainably grown on a large scale with a minimal amount of water and few chemical inputs. It can even be grown in places where soybeans and other crops cannot be grown.

"All it takes are shallow ponds, nutrient salts and sunlight to produce highly nutritious microalgae," said Ricigliano.

Now, the researchers are testing the microalgae diet in a field setting to make sure the diet is attractive to bees and supports colony growth. The excellent nutrition profile of spirulina suggests that there are likely other microalgae that could serve honey bees well, Simone-Finstrom pointed out.

"We have also begun development of new microalgae strains to address other aspects of bee health, including targeted nutrition strategies," Ricigliano added

Vincent A. Ricigliano, Michael Simone-Finstrom. Nutritional and prebiotic efficacy of the microalga Arthrospira platensis (spirulina) in honey bees. Apidologie, 2020; DOI: 10.1007/s13592-020-00770-5