Keeping Our Bees Alive Grant F. C. Gillard

gillard5 @ charter.netwww . grantgillard . weebly . com

Slideshare.net

Decline in bee colonies

More recent trends

Annual Losses

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 20150

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Annual Losses in percentage 2007 - 2015

Series1

What are the problems?

• Bees live shorter lives, queen longevity is compromised.

• Nutrition is compromised - monoculture• Climate change reducing protein in the

pollen.• Pollution in our environment increasing• Pesticide applications increasing

Good Human Health

1. Plenty of rest2. Sensible diet3. Moderate exercise4. Reduce stress and drama

Good Colony Health

1. Young, prolific queen2. Floral diversity3. Control pests and parasites4. Pesticide-free environment,

inside and out

Winter Health - what now?

1. Ample food, preferably honeyCandy boards, sugar cakes, newspaper

2. Ventilation, upper entrance3. Insulation? Wrap?

Warm bees eat more stores

4. Varroa controlOxalic acid dribble

Candy Boards - cooked

• 2 cups water, over medium heat• 5 lbs. white granulated sugar• ¼ cup lemon juice• Mix well, increase heat, continuing stirring• Cook to 248 degrees, “soft ball” stage• Remove from heat and cool to around 230• Optional ½ cup pollen sub / protein• Optional essential oils 1 table spoon• Pour into rim – ¾” rim holds 10 lbs

Line with wax paper, place on top bars

Replaces inner cover

Sugar Cakes / Blocks• 25# white granulated sugar• 1 quart apple cider vinegar• 2 tablespoons citric acid (canning dept)• 2 cups pollen/protein supplement*• ¼ cup Honey-B-Healthy or essential oil*• Mix thoroughly, very thoroughly, damp

but not wet or sticky• Pack into wax paper lined pan

Ventilation

• Upper entrances allows warm air to escape, reduces humidity

• Screen Bottom Boards (SBB) keep hive drier

Insulation? Wrap?

• Bees heat the cluster, not the space• Some heat escapes into the space and

condenses on the inner cover • 1” foam extruded polystyrene (Styrofoam) on

the top of the inner cover reduces condensation

• Wind breaks help keep the wind off• Close off screen bottom?

http://honeybeenet.gsfc.nasa.gov/Honeybees/Forage.htm

☻ ☻

Winter Varroa Control

• Oxalic Acid dribble / drench• Dribble ¼ cup (50 ml) of liquid per colony

divided by the “seams” between the frames

• Measure 2-1/2 cups hot water (600 ml)• Dissolve 1/3 cup Oxalic Acid (35 grams)• Add 2-1/2 cups sugar (600 ml)

Ace Hardware $8.99

50 ml per hive

Winter Health - what now?

1. Ample food, preferably honeyCandy boards, sugar cakes, newspaper

2. Ventilation, upper entrance3. Insulation? Wrap?

Warm bees eat more stores

4. Varroa controlOxalic acid dribble

Good Colony Health

1. Young, prolific queen2. Floral diversity3. Control pests and parasites4. Pesticide-free environment,

inside and out

Young, Prolific Queens

• Requeen every year with OTS• Make a reverse split with a nuc box

• Creates a brood break to reduce varroa mites• Guaranteed swarm prevention

• Allow colony to requeen itself• Expand nuc into single

• Brother Adam* this is her best time• Super both to make honey

The Five-Minute Queen Rearing Method

Floral Diversity

• Pastures, hay fields, fence rows• Neglected waste lands• Free-way medians (MODOT)• CRP Conservation Reserve Program• NOT monoculture

Control Pests and Parasites

• Synthetic chemicals miticides• Resistance and residues, rotate

• Organic acids • Formic acid – fumigant• Oxalic acid – drench or vaporized

• Natural treatments• Any thymol product• Essential oil products

Control Pests and Parasites• IPM or Integrated Pest Management–Screen bottom boards–Drone removal

• Genetics – “hygienic behavior”• Genetic resistance (?) feral swarms• Brood breaks, removing queen

Innovative Beekeeping

Drone Removal

Control Pests and Parasites

Set hive in full sun-Screen Bottom Board

-Fewer small hive beetles-Reduced Varroa populations

Biggest Threat

Visible to Young Eyes

Small Hive Beetle

Wax Moths

Pesticide Free Environment

• Pesticides vary in toxicity, exposure• But they weaken the colony’s immune system• Colony is vulnerable to varroa and viruses

Or…• Varroa mite and viruses weaken the colony• Normally “safe” pesticides now harmful

Pesticide-free Environment

• The use of synthetic miticides and residues in the wax comb (?)• Rotate out frames and replace

foundation• Foundationless frames as opposed to

purchased wired wax foundation

Pesticide-free Environment

• GMO crops?• Round-Up? Neonics?• Inconclusive and conflicting• Suburban lawn care• 2 mile radius foraging flights

Good Colony Health

1. Young, prolific queen2. Floral diversity3. Control pests and parasites4. Pesticide-free environment,

inside and out