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Greetings Hello,
The February BeeGroup meeting will take place this Tuesday, February 18, at the Olive Free Library at 6:00 PM. This meeting is an opportunity to discuss our spring plans, review our winter results so far, and address any questions from those planning to start beekeeping this season. So come with your questions! :-) I'll also share my recent visit to Beez Needz beekeeping supplies in Sophia, NC and the tour of their warehouse and woodenware manufacturing shop.
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Winter isn't over yet, and now is a critical time to ensure your bees have enough food. As they raise brood for spring, bees increase the hive temperature and consume winter stores at a higher rate. Even if you had ample stores at the end of last year, it's important to verify that your bees remain well-fed.
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My preferred method for winter feeding is using sugar blocks. I prepare them in large batches using a turkey fryer; you can find my recipe [HERE]. For those needing a smaller quantity, I've also included Mel Disselkoen's recipe below (note: I omit the essential oils). In a real emergency, pouring granulated sugar onto a sheet of newspaper placed on the top bars will also work.
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Remember to send samples from any dead outs to Beltsville for testing. It's free and can give you good insight for the future. Submission details in the Resource Section at the bottom of the newsletter.
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Homemade Sugar Brick Recipe
From OTS Queen Rearing: A Survival Guide For Beekeepers Worldwide by Mel Disselkoen
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- ~1/2 cup water
- dash of vinegar
- 10lbs cane sugar
- 6 drops spearmint essential oil
- 6 drops lemongrass essential oil
Boil water and vinegar in a large pot made with non-toxic materials (i.e. stainless). Stirring continuously (scorched sugar kills bees), slowly add 5 lbs of sugar and boil to around 242F (wear gloves and keep away from children as mixture is very hot). Gradually stir in the other 5 lbs of sugar, still stirring continuously. After it is really hoy and thin , turn down heat to avoid scorching. When it starts to thicken but is still thin enough to pour, remove from heat, stir in essential oils, and pour into molds. Let cool and harden and then pop out of molds and store.
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Large batches can be made outdoors with a turkey fryer.
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Queen 16 Days, Worker 21 Days, Drone 24 Days...Capped at 9th Day...
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Please check the Resources section below...
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If you have any topics, ideas, selling bee equipment, or questions, feel free to contact us at BeeGroup@HVHiives.com.
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Bees In the News...
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Severe and Sudden Losses of Managed Honey Bees Across the Nation
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As commercial beekeepers in the USA inspect their bees after winter, to transport over 90% of the nation’s managed honey bees to pollinate California almonds, they are discovering alarming colony losses. These losses are severe, broad, and may impact food security through inadequate pollination services. Survey results are still accumulating, but information gathered from 234 beekeepers found average recent losses well over 50%, with a combined financial loss of over $139M. Combined with losses during other times of year, this additional loss puts many beekeepers at a loss rate of 70%-100% over the past 12 months.
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The symptoms of loss are reminiscent of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) conditions which occurred in 2007 -2008 when bees suddenly disappeared from their colonies. During recent inspections by field scientists, deceased colonies often died with ample honey stores, leaving small patches of brood, with most or all the adult bees missing. Another symptom has been the rapid dwindling of surviving colonies, often within ten days of passing health inspections.
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Similar severe losses were seen two years ago, when beekeepers in Florida lost up to 90% of their colonies, incurring $4.28 million in lost revenue. At that time, these beekeepers worked alongside the USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory in Beltsville, MD to sample and identify parasites, pathogens and pesticides involved in the crashes. Chemical exposures were also analyzed, recently presented and are awaiting publication. The eTort to sample, analyze pathogens, and calculate economic impacts are well documented here: https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13020117.
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In January 2025, beekeepers again discovered sudden losses. In response, surveys were shared to determine the extent of the problem and samples were collected. This effort garnered the participation of many beekeepers, and mobilized a multi-organization working group.
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A collaborative effort between Project Apis m., American Beekeeping Federation, American Honey Producers Association, apiculture extension programs and beekeepers such as Bret Adee allowed for the rapid collection of real time information to determine if these losses were regional or widespread. Surveys and interviews quickly determined these losses are nationwide and severe. The cause has not yet been identified, however the usual causes of loss, including winter management and high levels of parasitic mites, are not currently indicated causes of these losses.
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The Bee Research Laboratory, USDA-ARS Beltsville, MD, collected samples from commercial operations’ surviving colonies and from remnants of dead colonies. Priority was placed on collection of material that could identify the causes of such severe losses. A wide screening for pathogens and pesticides was conducted in California. Beekeepers provided access to colonies and providing detailed management history of their operations. Field scientists at the USDA-ARS collected dying bees, sampled dwindled colonies, wax and stored pollen from surviving and dead colonies. Thanks to this swift collaborative effort, a comprehensive analysis of pathogen, parasite and chemical residues will be performed. In addition to the disease and pesticide analyses from Beltsville, USDA-ARS, laboratories in Tucson, Baton Rouge, Davis, Stoneville, and Logan will apply their expertise analyzing field data, weather patterns, and chemical risks as factors in these sever losses. Samples will be analyzed for:
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- Known Virus levels in dying and surviving bees
- Parasitic Varroa mite genes of resistance to Amitraz treatment (with assistance from the USDA ARS Baton Rouge Bee Lab)
- Pesticide residues in adult bees, wax and pollen
- Genetic screening for novel viruses and metagenomic analyses of composition of microbial communities
Samples are being analyzed, and additional information will be shared as it becomes available through social media and updates from the organizations listed below, including:
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- A free public webinar will be offered by scientists who collected and analyzed samples in early March through Project Apis m. www.ProjectApism.org.
- Beekeepers involved will receive updates directly.
- Findings that will directly impact beekeeper management, such as amitraz resistance in Varroa samples and clear pathogen signals, will be shared broadly and promptly through public announcements and beekeeping organizations.
- Pesticide residue analysis and RNAseq will be shared through peer review publications.
For more information, contact: Dr. Zac Lamas (ORISE Fellow- Beltsville and Field Sampling Coordinator) Zaclamascontact@gmail.com (603) 748-5334
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American Beekeeping Federation
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American Honey Producers Association
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Native bee populations can bounce back after honey bees move out
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Managed honey bees have the potential to affect native bee populations when they are introduced to a new area, but a study led by researchers at Penn State suggests that, under certain conditions, the native bees can bounce back if the apiaries are moved away.
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The research, published in the Journal of Insect Science, examined the effects of migratory beekeeping — the practice of moving honey bee colonies to a different location for part of the year — on native bee populations.
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Bee Humor...
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Photos of the Month...
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We are always looking for photos to share in the newsletter. Please email your photos to beegroup@hvhives.com.
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Resources:
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Critical Thinking Beekeeping
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Rob Overton presentation to Wake County Beekeepers
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Commercial Queens-Nosema and Low Sperm Count
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Constructive Beekeeping - Ed Clark, 1918
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SABA (Southern Adirondack Beekeepers)
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Lots of great information from this Club's website, many articles, and many lectures and seminars by various people in the worlds of beekeeping. Lot's of knowledge to be had here and worth your while.
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A SAD DAY IN THE BEE YARD...
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Beltsville Lab: If your bees die, God Forbid!, please send a sample to the Beltsville Lab in Maryland. The analysis is free and they will email you the results. They check for Nosema and Mites. Please share results with Rob, Tom and the BeeGroup so we can help keep tabs on what is happening in the 'hood. Thanks! CLICK HERE for details on how to submit a sample.
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Talks about nutrition for your bees. This will impact how your bees can fight off disease and ultimately survive.
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For Honeybee information, videos, podcasts and workshops please visit the links below. Workshops are being updated as we speak!
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Dave Cushman Beekeeping Website maintained by Roger Patterson.
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NOSEMA: Treatment Procedure. Don't forget to treat for Nosema! Click Here for procedure.
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HONEYBEE LIFE CYCLE - Very Important to know. This is the building block of understanding your hives.
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Queen 16 Days, Worker 21 Days, Drone 24 Days...
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These are a Few Videos that You May Find of Interest (I particularly like the Skep video!
NY Bee Wellness - Diagnostics
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