May, 1999

Bee Tidings is a cooperative publication of the University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension and the Nebraska Honey Producer's Association. The newsletter announces events of interest to beekeepers, provides timely advice, and summarizes current research that beekeepers can use. A newsletter subscription includes membership in the Nebraska Honey Producer's Association (NHPA).

In this Issue:

• Beginning Beekeepers Share in Hands-On Training and Education
• Small Hive Beetles in Package Bees
• Bees in the Mail Through Time
• 1998 Honey Production and Marketing in the New Millennium
• Bayer Bee Strips® Get Section 18 Registration
• National Honey Board News
• Honey Bee Trading Cards
• Midwest Master Beekeeping and Queen Rearing Workshops July 22-24
• Subscription Information

After a beginning beekeepers class in March, participants assembled their new hives and learned how to handle honey bees with guidance and encouragement from members of the Nebraska Beekeeper's Association.

Beginning beekeepers learned the basics and made some valuable contacts with established beekeepers during this year's Beginning Beekeeping Workshops. The workshops were held at the Cooperative Extension offices in both Lancaster and Douglas counties.

In April workshop participants were joined by members of the Nebraska Beekeeper's Association at the University of Nebraska's Apiculture Lab for a pot-luck lunch and field day. New beekeepers assembled their new hives and gained experience handling honey bees with guidance and encouragement from the members of the Nebraska Beekeeper's Association. The weather cooperated, the bees were nice, and the food was outstanding! Participants especially enjoyed walking around on the two loads of gravel that the Nebraska Beekeeper's Association recently donated to cover the Apiculture Lab's parking lot.

Two beginning beekeeping workshops are offered each year in March. If you would like to have one conducted in your area, contact your local cooperative extension office. The workshops are offered in different areas each year and are conducted in county offices that receive the most request for the program.

Small hive beetles can be transported in colonies and package bees originating from infested states (Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina). Recently, Bob Cox, Iowa State Apiarist, found live beetles in package bees shipped from Georgia and South Carolina to Iowa. All beekeepers should be concerned about importing these beetles since we do not know if they will survive and damage colonies in the Midwest.

The small hive beetle is native to tropical and sub-tropical Africa. It was first identified in the United States in the spring of 1998 in Florida. Since then it has severely damaged colonies and stored equipment in the costal areas of the Southeast. We still do not know how the beetles will affect colonies in the temperate climatic zones, and beekeepers should exercise caution until more is known.

The adult beetle is small (about one-third the size of a bee), reddish brown or black and covered with fine hair. The larvae are similar in size and appearance to wax moth larvae. You can differentiate the two by examining their legs. Beetle larvae have three pair of legs just behind the head. Wax moth larvae also have three pair of legs behind the head, but in addition, they have a series of paired prolegs which run the length of the body. Small hive beetles also have a row of paired spines on their back and two distinct spines at the posterior end of their body.

Adult female beetles lay their eggs on or near beeswax combs. The eggs hatch in a few days, and the larvae eat pollen, wax, honey, bee eggs, and young bee larvae. The larval stage lasts for 10 to 16 days. They then drop to the ground to pupate in the soil. Adults emerge from the soil in three to four weeks. Females are capable of laying eggs approximately one week after emerging from the soil. The Florida Department of Agriculture estimates that 30,000 colonies have been destroyed by the small hive beetles where tropical climate and sandy soils provide beetles with an ideal habitat.

Adult beetles and larvae can be detected by a visual inspection as they run across the combs. Another good way to detect them is to remove the corrugations from one side of a 4x4 inch piece of cardboard and place the cardboard, corrugations down, on the bottom board. The beetles appear to seek shelter in the corrugations. If beetles are detected, notify your area bee inspector (in Nebraska call Charles Simonds, Nebraska Department of Agriculture, 402-471-2394) for confirmation and advise on controlling the beetles. You also can send a sample of adults or larvae in rubbing alcohol to the Cooperative Extension Service (in Nebraska send to: Department of Entomology, 202 PI Bldg., University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583-0816).

Further information and pictures can be found on the World Wide Web at:
http://maarec.cas.psu.edu/BeetlePestSheet.html
http://www.ifas.ufl.edu/~mts/apishtm/apis98/aethina/aethina1.htm
http://extlab1.entnem.ufl.edu/PestAlert/mct-0612.htm
http://www.ifas.ufl.edu/~insect/main/fc_srch4.htm

The first bee stamp.
The National Temperance Union used the beehive as a symbol of the ideal home.
The Seabees Naval Construction Battalion logo.
Queen Bee Flour logo.	The J.H. Winder Company Extractor woodcut.	Stamp of an early cave painting showing a man harvesting honey from bees.
G.M. Dolittle, who developed many of the queen rearing techniques used today, used this wood-cut engraving on his correspondence.

It is fascinating to look back at how honey bees have been used symbolically on stamps and envelopes. Ken Pruess, Emeritus Professor of Entomology at the University of Nebraska, has made a life-long avocation of collecting stamps and other postal memorabilia that depict the history of beekeeping and the use of bee-related symbolism. Dr. Pruess will display his collection at the 1999 Master Beekeeping Workshop described later in this newsletter. I have selected a few of my favorite items to give you a taste of his collection.

The First Bee Stamp. Issued in 1848 on gray paper by the U.S. Post Office, Bridgeport, Connecticut. Even at this early date, the straw skep was symbolic of a postal box, and the bee symbolized the carrier. Although the movable frame hive had not yet been invented, box hives were in wide use. The Penny Post rate has seen a little inflation since that time.

The National Temperance Relief Union Engraving. Many older correspondences included beautiful wood-cut engravings that used honey bees symbolically. The National Temperance Union used the beehive as a symbol of the ideal home where protection, indemnity, and temperance are a way of life. Honey bees were frequently used as a symbol of a happy home.

The Seabees Naval Construction Battalion Logo. This construction battalion operated during World War II. They were noted for their ability to operate with few resources and under adverse conditions, traits characteristic of the bees. The seabees used the logo shown on this postal cover on their correspondence.

Queen Bee Flour Logo. This Minneapolis based milling company used the queen bee as a symbol of quality on their flour packages. This logo appeared on a 1913 envelope that was used for company correspondence.

The J.H. Winder Company Extractor. Many inventors promoted their discoveries on their correspondence. This wood-cut engraving from a 1878 envelope shows the Winder Company's patented improved honey extractor for "extracting pure honey from old or new combs without breaking or injuring them, which are afterwards returned to the hive, to be again refilled by the bees."

Painting from Cueva de la Araña Stamp. Many postal stamps have told the story of man's association with bees. This postage stamp issued in Spain shows the earliest record of humans harvesting honey from bees. The painting is from a cave in Spain and is dated ca. 6000 B.C.

Doolittle's Return Address. G.M. Doolittle, who developed many of the queen rearing techniques still practiced today, used this wood-cut engraving on his correspondence and queen bee shipments. It has been replaced by the less colorful "call on arrival" and "do not deliver" statements used by modern shippers.

Nebraska honey production in 1998 from producers with five or more colonies totaled 4.48 million pounds, up 10% from 1997. There were 64 thousand colonies producing honey in 1998, up 5% from a year ago. Yield per colony averaged 70 pounds, an increase of 3% from the previous year. Prices for the 1998 crop averaged 86 cents per pound, up nine cents from the 1997 price.

U.S. honey production in 1998 from producers with five or more colonies totaled 220 million pounds, up 12% from 1997. There were 2.63 million colonies producing honey in 1998, up slightly from 1997. Yield per colony averaged 83.7 pounds, up 9 pounds from the 74.7 pound average for 1997. Prices for the 1998 crop averaged 65.5 cents per pound, down 13% from 75.2 cents in 1997.

Historically, beekeepers have produced honey that was graded and priced at the market. Producers knew the attributes that the grading system used, and provided samples to potential buyers. Basically, producers always had to take the price offered, and most marketing decisions centered on when in a crop production cycle to sell. Supply and demand were seen as driving the prices, and producers recognized that periods of high supply would likely lower prices and low supply would likely raise prices. Moreover, it was assumed that some relationship existed between the price of the commodity and the price the consumer paid at the retail level.

Over the past two decades honey has become a global commodity, and regional or even national supply fluctuations no longer drive the market. In addition, the relationship between the commodity price of honey and the retail price of honey has become very small. In early 1999, the spread between the retail price of honey and the commodity price of honey became historically large. At the same time, the demand for honey in the U.S. market increased. This same paradox has affected many other farm commodities. Some producers have tried to adjust to the market by cutting costs and increasing volume. Another approach to marketing is to seek niche markets. The theory is that one can find attributes for the commodity that will make it specific, and that consumers will pay more for those attributes. For honey these can include creamed honey products, comb honey, marketing honey from specific floral sources, value-added products, and packaging that identifies the product with a specific region.

As honey packers become fewer and larger and honey trade on a global scale increases, regional and national supply and demand may become even less useful in predicting market prices. Producing bulk honey, offering it for sale and accepting the price offered is currently not providing an adequate return to producers. Most beekeepers enjoy working with their bees but do not enjoy marketing. Unfortunately for those beekeepers, all indicators point to creative marketing as the best opportunity to enhance profitability in the new millennium.

On March 15, Bayer Bee Strips®, with coumaphos as the active ingredient, received Section 18 (emergency use) registration for use in Nebraska. A listing of other states that have been granted the section 18 registration can be obtained from the distributor or by checking their web site: . The strips will control varroa mites that exhibit resistance to Apistan® and the recently introduced small hive beetle. For varroa control, strips should be suspended within the bee cluster by applying one strip for every five frames of bees and brood. The strips should be left in place for 45 days and then should be removed and discarded. The strips will also control the recently introduced small hive beetle. For small hive beetle control, prepare a piece of corrugated cardboard about 4x4 inches by removing the paper from one side. Cut the Bayer Bee Strip® in half crosswise and staple both pieces to the corrugated side of the cardboard. The cardboard should then be placed in the center of the bottom board with the strip side facing down. The treatment should remain in the colony for at least three days but no more than seven days.

While safe for bees, Bayer Bee Strips® are 20 times more toxic to mammals than Apistan® if absorbed through the skin. Wear rubber gloves when handling the strips.

The University of Nebraska Food Processing Center recently completed research into the development of two non-alcoholic nutraceutical beverages containing honey as the primary sweetener. Nutraceuticals are food products that have natural products added for their health-related properties rather than their food value. Two products were developed - a cranberry juice-based beverage and a lemon juice-based beverage. The cranberry beverage had guarana and ginseng added for their stimulating effect. The lemon juice beverage contained chamomile which has a calming effect. The Honey Board reported that alternative fruit drinks, flavored waters, and juice sparklers are all enjoying vigorous growth in the market.

The Honey Board has a new recipe brochure available. "Honey You're a Classic" features color photographs and five classic honey recipes such as Cinnamon Honey Buns and Southern Style Honey Barbecued Chicken. Beekeeping associations and assessment-paying supporters of the National Honey Board can order up to 500 recipes per year free of charge. Additional brochures are available at ten cents each. To order call: 888-421-2977. Brochures also can be downloaded from their Web site: www.honey.com

The Nebraska Beekeeper's Association will print sets of 17 honey bee trading cards that depict the biology of honey bees and their role as pollinating insects. The cards are being developed by the University of Nebraska Department of Entomology for youth education. The Nebraska Beekeeper's Association is supporting the printing costs and will make the cards available to beekeepers.

The cards are designed for beekeepers who talk to youth groups and schools classes about honey bees. The entomology department previously developed sets of insect cards for youth education that have been very popular.

The cards, which will be available by June, will extend this highly successful approach to youth education. Ordering information will be included in both Bee Tidings and the Nebraska Beekeeeper's Association newsletters.

Improve your beekeeping skills at advanced level workshops scheduled for this summer. Participants can choose between the Master Beekeeping or the Queen Rearing workshops, both to be held July 22-24.

The program includes lectures and hands-on training on all aspects of beekeeping. The workshop is designed to provide beekeepers with the knowledge they need to be successful beekeepers. In addition, participants will receive training in pollination and bee biology, Internet resources, marketing, and presenting beekeeping information to youth and public media.

Trainers will include: Drs. Marion Ellis, Ackland Jones, and David Keith, and Mr. Alfred Stark, all of the University of Nebraska; Mr. Charles Simonds, Nebraska State Apiarist; Mr. Bob Cox, Iowa State Apiarist; Mr. Bob Reiners, South Dakota State Apiarist; Mr. Cecil Sweeney and Ms. Joli Winer, MidCon Agrimarketing; and Ms. Sharon Gibbons, Beekeeper, Ballwin, Mo. The workshop is limited to 70 participants.

Dr. Marla Spivak, University of Minnesota Research and Extension Apiculturist, will conduct the Queen Rearing Workshop. She will be assisted by her research associate, Gary Reuter. The workshop is limited to 20 participants and will include extensive hands-on training in all aspects of queen rearing.

Master Beekeeper Certificates and pins will be awarded to participants who complete the training, take home exercises, and service unit requirements. Service units may be met by speaking to schools, civic groups, or bee clubs about bees, beekeeping, pollination, or hive products. Units also may be met by working at an educational exhibit, helping a young person prepare state or county fair entries, attending a state or national beekeeping meeting, or participating in a radio, newspaper, or television interview.

Registration is limited, and applications will be accepted on a first-come basis. Both workshops provide high quality training experiences with low participant-to- trainer ratios. The workshops will be concurrent, so register for only one. Some sessions will be combined, but most of the time the two groups will be separated.

For more information contact Dr. Marion Ellis at the address at the end of this newsletter.

Bee Tidings is published jointly by University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension and the Nebraska Honey Producer's Association six times a year. A subscription includes membership to the association. Subscriptions are for one year and begin with the November issue.

To subscribe to Bee Tidings, send a $10 check made out to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln along with your name, address, and phone number to:

This newsletter was respectfully written by:
	Marion D. Ellis 209 Plant Industry, Box 830816 University of Nebraska Lincoln, NE 68583-0816 Phone: 402-472-8696 Fax: 402-472-4687 Internet address: mellis3@unl.edu
Your comments and suggestions about the newsletter are always welcome!