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MINUTES
Tampa Bay Beekeepers Association
May 10, 2007
www.tampabaybeekeepers.com
The Tampa Bay Beekeepers Association monthly meeting came to order on Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 7:35 pm at the Hillsborough County Extension Office meeting hall. President Jim Alderman presided. Guests included Rene Hartman. Approximate number of attendees: 46. Dwight Aman provided the refreshments. Door prizes provided by Bert Kelly.
Treasurer’s report: balance is $4,419.65 in the checking account. Treasurer’s report and April minutes were accepted with some corrections.
David Westervelt – Apiary Research- discussed CCD. Research meeting two weeks prior determined 5 “problems” associated with the CCD: chemicals, stress, Nosema apis (reclassified to a fungus from a protozoa), viruses (6 new ones identified), 2 additional new fungus. Other possible causes: cell phones (microwaves affect bee’s ability to navigate) ???, airline jet trails ????
Another species of Africanized bee – described as a small patch of brood in supers. Capensis bees parasitize the hive and attract the attendant bees and the parasite bee attempts to make a hive. Can lay viable eggs and can make a queen from the eggs. They have not been found in FL yet. Equipment shipped from S. Africa are suspected vectors of this parasitic bee. These bees travel as far as seven miles from the parasitized hive. Laying workers look like a young virgin queen.
New chemical for mite control – released 4 months ago. Hivastan. Controls the larvae from the time from egg-laying, but takes longer. It is classified as a growth regulator and comes in a gel form. Large amt of beetles coincide with the CCD which makes sense. Also could be due the lack of rainfall (same as 1997).
American Foulbrood is getting resistant to current treatment. Research is attempting to find out if European is also gaining resistance to current treatment too. It is difficult to grow European foulbrood for research. American Foulbrood was almost wiped out, but seems to be making a comeback due to stresses. Beekeepers with healthy hives showed no foulbrood. Theses healthy hives can rob weak hives and get contaminated. Also there are many more new beekeepers. Foulbrood spores live for decades in the hive and old wood. It is difficult to kill and can withstand high temps.
Queen longevity research is ongoing. In the research study, the queens will be banked at different ages separately so that the worker bees won’t neglect the ones with the weaker pheromones. Races of bees can have a different audible sound from each other. For example, Russian bees sound different from European bees.
Many ornamental plants and trees supply a lot of pollen and nectar for bees. Crepe myrtle is a favorite (prefer white flowers), also boxwoods, vitex, bougainvillea. They do not like elderberry or lantana. Wild flowers, such as mangrove, saw palmetto, persely, mex clover, true clover, gallberry, privits St. John’s and spider warts, wisteria are also used by bees. Palm trees are starting to bloom, but are high in water content.
Old Business:
Club Bees and trailers are in new location on right hand side of the road. Nice location.
Robert Misseneo may bring a guest speaker, Doctor of Apitherapy, to speak at the August meeting.
Master Beekeeping course is being put together by Dr. Jaime Ellis. Requires volunteer teaching and takes about 4 years to complete. Will invite Dr. Ellis to present at a future TBBA meeting.
Annemarie Hammond gave an update on the bee seminar and who is doing the demos.
New Business:
Bert Kelly announced the State Association meeting and workshop June 9th at the Clay County Extension Office. $20/person. Speakers, beekeepers yard sale, lunch, gizmos and gadgets table, vendors. Program aimed at beginners. Alternative tract for more experienced – Clay County Ag Extension Office
Bee museum at the park – tabled to later.
Jim Alderman will need to have neck surgery. He needs an experienced beekeeper to take over work parties while he recuperates.
Meeting adjourned at 9:30.
The Beekeeping Seminar was held Saturday, May 19th. We had over 55 participants and some came as far as Titusville, FL. The seminar was held at a new location this year – the Upper Tampa Bay Park -- and it was a beautiful day. People really enjoyed all the presentations. Volunteer coordinators were Charlie and Annemarie Hammond and Marie Blanchet. Guest speakers included Jerry Hayes and Dave Westervelt, also Todd Jameson. Seminar included lunch and donuts. The Hammonds would like to thank the following people for their help at the seminar:
Marie Blanchet – Seminar Coordination
Jane and Al Hall – Seminar Coordination and registration desk
Sandy Kitts – Seminar Coordination and refreshments
Package bees – Noel Blanchet
Dave Miksa – Queen bees
Mike Godwin – Hive/frame assembly
Dave Westervelt – Bee pests and diseases and CCD presentation
Cliff Bibbs – Wax Rendering
Dwight Aman – Honey Extraction
Bill Roberts – Moving bees by hand
Todd Jameson – Inside the hive
Jerry Hayes – Advanced Beekeeping and Africanized Bees presentation
We would also like to thank those club members who helped at the work party, Saturday, May 12th.
NEXT MEETING:
Thursday, June 14th, 2007, 7:30 p.m. at Hillsborough Extension office.
Bill and Mary Faye Roberts will bring the refreshments.
- Submitted by A. Hammond
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