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MINUTES
Tampa Bay Beekeepers Association
April 12, 2007
www.tampabaybeekeepers.com
The Tampa Bay Beekeepers Association monthly meeting came to order on Thursday, April 12, 2007 at 7:35 pm at the Hillsborough County Extension Office meeting hall. President Jim Alderman presided. Guests included Victor Lorand and Tom Bryon. Approximate number of attendees: 37. Noel and Marie Blanchet provided the refreshments. Door prizes provided by Bert Kelly.
Treasurer’s report: balance is $5,153.68 in the checking account. Treasurer’s report and March minutes were accepted with some corrections.
Keith Council spoke about Africanized bees in Fort Meyers (Lee County). Mr. Council is in the bee removal business. He has encountered “hot bees”. Showed pictures of a hive caught from a tree. Public perception of bees is askew. He has performed 30 bee removal jobs already this year. Said we need more hobbyists in his area so to keep the European genetics. There are no restrictions in the Ft. Meyers/Lee County area for keeping bees. If there are Africanized bees in the area, feral bees can become Africanized. Sting incidents occur when people are out in their yards and are unaware of their surroundings. Other sting incidents occur when unskilled people try to take care of the problem themselves. Some people enjoy having the hives on their properties and don’t realize that the hive can get mean after several generations. Keith collects the swarm and puts a new queen on. Keith has also lost many hives this past year. Out of original 700-800 boxes, 200 live hives are left. Keith is notified by mosquito control a day before they spray. Before the mosquito spray he will plug up his colonies on his own citrus grove. Hive beetles are a major problem in Lee County. He freezes the comb with the beetles to kill them then melts the wax. Uses nematodes to eat hive beetle larvae and considers fire ants his best friend for beetles.
David McGinnis passed away. Gifts in memorial can be sent to American Heart Association.
Mid-year meeting for the Florida State Beekeepers 6/9/07 form 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Clay County Ag Extension Center, 2463 SR 16W Green Cove Springs, FL 32043.
Marie Blanche turns 70!! Happy Birthday!!
Todd Jameson was back from school and presented on Africanized bees. He described an experience at an inspection of a hobbyist beekeeper when one hive “exploded on him” -- the bees attacked him and the beekeeper. Todd collected a sample and the result was a 99% probability of Africanized bees. Todd expects to see more of this behavior. In this case, he advised a re-queening of that hive. The beekeeper’s bees were very close to a subdivision. Cranky hives may need to be re-queened. He advises all beekeepers to get registered with the State and sign the BMPs. If there is a stinging incident and you registered, you will have the support of the State inspectors. Todd Estimated in 3-5 years the southern part of the State will be Africanized. It is important to keep a good relationship with your neighbors. Honey can be a peace offering. It “sweetens dispositions”. Peppermint spray, lemon grass oil, and halls can cover the pheromone smell from the new queen. Treat all bees with respect.
David Westervelt spoke on Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Says there are several factors that may be contributing to the CCD. Dead-outs are still happening. In a dead-out, few to no live bees are found. Eggs, larvae, capped brood and possibly a small cluster around a queen are left behind. Causes point to chemicals – neo-nicatoid – used on many types of fruits, veggies and sod. Labeled as a “beneficially safe insecticide”, nicatoids attack the brains of the insects. France had the same problem they called the “Mad Bee Disease”. Research is not 100% cedrtain that this chemical is the cause. This chemical affects three receptors in the brains of insects. It affects only older bees (older than 2-3 weeks). Nicatiods are found in many products including frontline/advantix treatment for dogs and cats. Germany, Poland, and Spain are reporting the same symptoms of CCD in their countries.
Old Business: Non profit organization papers submitted to State.
Bee work party at 9:30 a.m. April 21st at Keysville rd Club Apiary is at a new location at Upper Tampa Bay Park. Park personnel will move trailers and bee yard to new location.
Joe Pargola has been promoted to Extension Director of the Hillsborough Extension.
New Business:
Treasurer will file an expense report with the State of Florida required of all corporations and non-profits.
Beekeeping Seminar Saturday, May 19th. Jim A. confirmed the availability of a pavilion at the park and the upstairs room at the park visitor’s center. Volunteer coordinators are Charlie and Annemarie Hammond. The seminar is dvertised in state and local papers and on the internet. Guest speakers include L. Cuts, Jerry Hayes and Dave Westervelt. Fee charge is $20.00 advance or $25.00 day of seminar. Seminar includes lunch and donuts. Participants will need to sign a waiver to participate. Station demos were assigned to the following people:
Package bees – Noel Blanchet
Dave Miksa – Queen bees
John Stonehouse – Hive/frame assembly
Jim Alderman – Bee pests and diseases
Cliff Bibbs – Wax Rendering
Dwight Aman – Honey Extraction
Bill Roberts – Moving bees by hand
Todd Jameson – Inside the hive
Cutts/Hayes – Advanced Beekeeping
Meeting adjourned at 9:30.
NEXT MEETING:
Thursday, May 10th, 2007, 7:30 p.m. at Hillsborough Extension office.
Dwight & Nell Aman will bring the refreshments.
- Submitted by A. Hammond
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