"Meet Bri Price, Honey Bee Coordinator, WSU"

SnoKing Beekeepers Nov. 15, 2023 monthly meeting

Time: Nov 15, 2023 06:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81625079691?pwd=UyttdDBlbHgyS0tIVnltS0V1MENydz09

Meeting ID: 816 2507 9691

Passcode: 242922

Meeting Topic: Meet Bri Price, Honey Bee Coordinator, WSU

Bri Price will be joining us Wednesday evening to share with us her background, her current role, and an update on progress of the WASBA/WSU Master Beekeeper course.

BRI PRICE

HONEY BEE PROGRAM EXTENSION COORDINATOR

Department of Entomology

WSU Puyallup Research and Extension Center

Email: briana.price@wsu.edu

WSU Honey Bee + Pollinators Program

  We will also draw the winning names for the Fair Volunteer/Membership Drawing during the meeting and then be open for general discussion of our honey bees. If you have pictures or information to share, have them ready to put on "Share Screen."

Photo above: Quilt crafted and donated by Anna Filson for the drawing

CONTENTS:

Future SnoKing meeting topics (Nov. & Dec.)

State of the Hive

Feature Article: "Propolis: Honey 'Bee  Glue'”, Heidi Goodgion

Fall/Winter Monitoring at Maltby

FLIR & Broodminder

Fair Committee

Journeyman Opportunities

Discussion groups

   The Hive Mind 2nd Thursdays

   Facebook closed discussion group

   Trophallaxis 1st Wednesdays, started Nov. 1st

Membership/Fair Volunteers Drawing

Classes

"Auditing" classes - free for members

Beginner starts Jan. 11, 2024

Journeyman starts Jan. 14, 2024

   Apprentice started Oct. 17

Club Apiaries - closed for the season until further notice

FUTURE SNOKING MEETING TOPICS:

The December 13th meeting presentation will be the detailed summary and analysis of the WASBA October 7 & 8 Conference talks, if the conference recordings have been released by then to attendees.

Note: the December meeting has been moved to the 2nd Wednesday for December only. The 13th is not so close to the holiday weekends which so many beekeepers use for a much needed break.

STATE OF THE HIVE

Hi, beekeepers! We need to have done our best and relax. Remember beekeeping is supposed to be simple: Keep the bees dry, fed, and treated for mites and “do no harm. Here’s hoping for a warmer drier 2024 spring than 2022 and 2023!

  Clearing entrances may show how many summer bees gave up and expired. Although it would have seemed normal for the drop to the 20s F about a month ago to have resulted in an increased number of dead bees, at the Maltby apiary the first noticeable drop happened this second week of November, almost enough to block entrances. If you can't check and clear entrances frequently, consider that a colony may need that small upper entrance for cleansing flights.

At this time, colonies may also implement winter dearth strategies. Jen Murray caught one of her hives in the act of ejecting drones and drone pupae with these early morning pictures. An early riser such as Jen on cool mornings may see the cadavers on the landing board before their final removal by the mortician bees to a hygienic distance from the hive. Congratulations, Jen, on being an observant early riser and thanks for sharing the photos below with us, some not-so-early risers.

Yellowjackets: Only the largest yellowjackets are still showing up at the Maltby Apiary hives. We strengthened hives by reducing entrances and/or using robbing screens, merging nucs to help them defend against robbing.

      Yellowjackets are still taking advantage of the honey bee guards not being able to do their jobs at lower clustering temperatures, temperatures at which wasps can still fly. With the workers and the general population of the hive dying back for winter in the temperate zone, the remaining YJs preying on our hives are probably the overwintering mated queens, or possibly drones. They are definitely larger than the average workers showing up earlier in the fall.

Hives are succumbing to yellow jacket predation. Here's slideout board evidence:

Remember dim, diffused red light attracts less attention if you must disturb or move bees at night. However, you are still warmer than ambient temperature, so wear veil & PPE to avoid "incoming heat-seeking fuzzy little missiles," aka defensive honey bees.

Here's hoping for early spring in 2024. May your mite counts be low!

FEATURE ARTICLE:

The following is one of a series of articles being written by the author to describe honey bee products and their importance to the bees and to us.These articles will also appear on the author's Honey Goods, LLC website with the appendix and detailed bibliography not included here.

Propolis: Honey “Bee  Glue”

by Heidi Goodgion, Honey Goods, LLC

Propolis:  Bee Glue

Propolis is another product produced by our humble Honey Bee that is beneficial for human use.  The word “Propolis” is Greek derived as:  Pro-“for,” “in front of,” “at the entrance to,”  Polis- “community” or “city.”   Essentially, meaning to “protect the hive.”

Beekeepers refer to this product as bee glue.  If you ever witness a Beekeeper struggling to remove the top lid off of a Honey Bee hive or detach boxes for hive inspections, they will be muttering in their struggle “bee glue.”  From a beekeeper’s perspective propolis is a blessing that comes with its challenges. 

Propolis is the final product produced by Honey Bees.  Honey Bees purposefully collect resin from plants and trees (see appendix), bring it back to the hive and seal drafty air holes in the hive.  Sealing the hive also protects from intrusive pests such as ants, slugs, flies, beetles, snakes & lizards that benefit from a warm home with plenty of food stores (honey & pollen).  This method of sealing the hive protects from predatory creatures like wasps & mice and creates a barrier from the cold winter elements, wind and moisture.  Cementing the hive with propolis doesn’t deter a bear or racoon from breaking in, but it sure makes them work hard for the grand prize of protein packed larvae and honey.

When we consider the initial purpose of resin, it makes sense the Honey Bee has chosen resin, working within nature’s harmony to bring this resource in and protect the Honey Bee Colony in its Hive.  Resin collected from plants and trees is a defense mechanism.  Resin appears when a plant or tree has sustained damage and attempts to repair and heal the damaged area.  The sticky substance protects from insect intrusion, moisture loss, damaging fungus.  Resin is naturally water proof, sticky, and hardens when temperatures drop.  These characteristics of resin simulate what the Honey Bee colony requires to sustain a hive body.  Through manipulating the resin into propolis the Honey Bee has achieved a level of protection from outside temperatures, unwanted pests and disease.  

How Honey Bees collect resin

Collecting resin is another job assigned to field worker bees in addition to collecting pollen, water and nectar.  Here in the PNW there are plentiful plants and trees producing resin to choose from and the Honey Bees are not selective.  The resin is collected in the Honey Bees’ pollen baskets, brought back to the hive.  Working collectively with older hive bees they begin the process of creating Propolis.

How Honey Bees create Propolis from Resin

When the Honey Bees bring in the resin collection, they begin working with older hive workers.  The sticky resin substance is chewed off of the field bee’s pollen basket.  By chewing the resin, the hive worker bee is also mixing its salivatory enzymes in with the resin, making the resin pliable.  The substance is mixed with beeswax from the older honey bees’ slightly atrophied wax glands.  Finally, propolis emerges and distributed throughout internal areas of the hive sealing, waterproofing, strengthening and smoothing out all surfaces, frames and entrances.  

How Honey Bees benefit from Propolis

Resin is produced from a plant’s resin cell. The sticky substance is excreted from the plant/conifer as a response mechanism when a plant or conifer has sustained damage.  When mixed with the honey bee special salivatory enzymes and beeswax the final product, Propolis, is a powerful concoction that helps control pathogen diseases by sealing the hive from wind transport.  Propolis acts as an antiseptic to protect larvae & honey bee foundation from microbial infection thus contributing to overall Honey Bee health.  Propolis’ final compounds are 50% resin, 30% wax and oils, 10% salivary secretions, 5% pollen, and 5% amino acids, vitamins, and minerals.

Resin/ Propolis history, benefits and uses

The use of resins has been part of human history as a component for building material, adhesive, preservation, healing wounds, & perfumes.  Consider biblical references to frankincense & myrrh as valuable trading commodities.  The first gum was resin dating back to 5500 BC treating tooth and gum disease.  Resin’s naturally sweet aroma was used in religious ceremonies, burials, and incense for scenting rooms. 

Through the process of creating a propolis substance, the Honey Bees have enhanced the benefits of resin’s qualities.  Propolis’ final composition is 50% resin, 30% wax and oils, 10% salivary secretions, 5% pollen, and 5% amino acids, vitamins, and minerals.  Egyptians recognized the healing attributes of the compound and used it heavily. Indigenous peoples also prized Propolis for healing by sealing wounds as a bandage and aiding with its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory properties.   

Fast forward, Propolis is used in commercial products such as cosmetics & serums, over the counter remedies, tinctures, powdered supplements.  Of course, propolis is available in raw form from your local Beekeeper.  To ensure the quality of raw, locally sourced propolis, consider contacting your local Beekeeper.  

Heidi Goodgion, Journeyman candidate.

WINTER MONITORING at Maltby Apiary

It was necessary to unwrap hives to take FLIR pictures. A collage of Hives A, B, C and D is shown above. We are hoping to monthly capture colony position within hives without opening them and see how many of the colonies actually move gradually upward through the hive as reported in beekeeping publications. Some colonies in these pictures taken a week ago are still in the bottom box(es) as they were when these hives were readied for Fall & Winter. "Brood to the bottom; stores to the top!" is the ideal start to Fall/Winter 2022-2023.

The FLIR camera can not focus well through the thick-walled long hives such as above, except by opening the observation window as in the photo.

Fall/Winter 2022-2023 Monitoring includes placing temperature sensors in the Maltby apiary hives, most of them placed above the cluster, some as high as a super above the cluster. The couple of sensors showing large daily swings in temperature may be improperly placed. Adding top insulating absorbent material looks as if it reduced the temperature swings. Hive H continues to show those daily swings but they evened out after the moisture shim was added, so the sensor may be right next to the opening in the inner cover, which can give readings close to ambient day/night temperatures.

Once a beekeeper has such data, the interpretation starts. For example, the 2 hives with weight scales under them show a downward trend in weight which is to be expected. However, it doesn't tell us directly how much decrease is in bee population and how much in stores used to support the bees. Clearing dead bees from behind hive entrances shows part of the drop in bee population but not all, just the ones that the undertaker bees can't keep up with their removal in inclement weather. The hive with the most dead bees removed from behind the robbing screen had about 750, as measured by volume, using the measuring cup pictured. 1 1/4 cup bees ~ 750.

FAIR COMMITTEE met 6:30PM Thursday Nov. 9.

Notes from the September 13 meeting covered almost all the suggestions of attendees. We decided to put meetings on hold until after Easter and then have a check-in meeting to see what we really want to undertake in 2024. Ideas discussed at the meeting included changing to an open, walk-through booth and opening up all 4 sides and creating a How to Start Beekeeping brochure with emphasis on a timeline to follow for success. If we missed you, email eliochel@snokingbka.org for the notes, or if you wish to join that committee. If you can not attend, but have comments or suggestions for the committee, please email them to

Fair chair: Walt Filson waltfilson@gmail.com

Honey Bee Trophallaxis Photo Credit: Michael Hill

TROPHALLAXIS

Masters, Journeymen and Journeyman candidates:

     Trophallaxis, a Journeyman and Beyond online networking and sharing group for all who have taken or are taking the academic portion of the WASBA Journeyman, is meeting by zoom on first Wednesdays. Although hosted by SnoKing Beekeepers, this discussion group is open to all Washington State Beekeepers who are Journeyman or Masters, and those who are taking or have taken the academic course of WASBA Journeyman certification.

We used the first meeting Nov. 1st to introduce ourselves and talk about what we would like to do as an intermediate to advanced beekeeping group.

     We can choose the format(s) we want to try. For right now, the group decided to meet monthly on zoom. We can expand to a social media or online forum later if desired. We can share our beekeeping journey, encourage and support each other, let each other know about business/service opportunities, give or practice giving presentations, explore research topics, etc.

     For the zoom link or for more information, call or text Eli Ocheltree 206-859-7392 or email eliochel@snokingbka.org because we do need to limit this group to beekeepers in Washington State with Journeyman or Master Beekeeper certification or working on Journeyman certification. This group can concentrate on meeting the networking and information sharing needs of the intermediate to advanced beekeeper, because other groups such as The Hive Mind can meet the needs of beginners.

If this is not the group for you, please remember we do support beekeepers at all levels. So, for a beginning to intermediate beekeeping discussion group, see the information below in this newsletter for The Hive Mind (2nd Thursdays) and the SnoKing Beekeepers Facebook Discussion Group. 

Notice: There will be one essential rule at Trophallaxis and at any meeting or activity hosted by SnoKing Beekeepers. Ron Robinson stated it best for our Facebook discussion group, when he said:

"SKBA prides itself on the fact we are not like other groups on Facebook. We have become known as a safe group for keepers of all levels to comfortably ask questions and opinions without being blasted or publicly humiliated for asking what may seem like a very basic question to others. Any harassing, bullying, demeaning behavior, or such will not be tolerated. We have a zero tolerance policy and such behavior will result in immediate removal from club and all club activities."

DISCUSSION GROUPS:

ASK A BEEKEEPER sessions will pick up again in spring; dates and times TBA. Also, THE HIVE MIND networking group for beginning (and advanced!) beekeepers continues on 2nd Thursdays. Contact Gina Cuff ginacuff@gmail.com for information and zoom link.

SNOKING BEEKEEPERS Facebook discussion group is open to all Western Washington Beekeepers and continues throughout the year. Ask to join on Facebook or by emailing beebuddy.skba@gmail.com Ron Robinson with the email that you use on Facebook and he can invite you to join.

AUDITING CLASSES: For those who need certification, there is still room in the apprentice class started Tuesday Oct. 17 and meeting through Nov. In addition, SnoKing offers an unusual member benefit: a member can audit a class for free for any level already achieved. Email eliochel@snokingbkar.org to be placed on the weekly class email list at no cost for current members. This is of particular benefit to those who took classes pre-2019, before the major rewrite of the manuals. Any member who previously earned a certificate is welcome to join a current class and see that current level information presented.

In particular, some of you Journeymen might wish a review of academic material before applying for the new Master Beekeeper program expected to begin in June 2024.

Journeyman is the most completely rewritten and improved of the course levels and of particular interest to experienced beekeepers. The newer print manuals can be purchased even if you have already earned Journeyman. The easiest way to join as an “alumnus” is to email eliochel@snokingbka.org and ask to receive the weekly class emails with link, handouts and other information.

The current Journeyman class sessions just finished Monday 11/13, but the next Journeyman 10-session course starts January 14, 2024. If you are a member and already have your Journeyman certificate, email us if you wish to "audit" for review.

MEMBERSHIP DRAWING: Those of you who volunteered at our fair booth earned a chance per shift. Those of you who paid dues for 2023-2024 by Nov. 10 also earned a chance. We will be again doing the actual drawing live at the Nov. 15 monthly meeting. Two of the largest prizes – handcrafted quilt by Anna Filson and a deep single box hive set donated by Mann Lake – were displayed at the fair. Picture below is of the hive setup; it served as our 'Parts of a Hive' demo at the Evergreen State Fair.

First name drawn at the Nov. 15 meeting chooses the prize desired, second name gets second choice, and so forth until 11 names are drawn for the 11 prizes. Other prizes include a bee-themed birdhouse handcrafted by Walt Filson; two awesome 2023 Fair t-shirts in size XL by Becky Glaze; two Guardian Bee logo t-shirts (one in M and one in L) and a J-hook hive tool donated by Guardian Bee; and books donated by Dadant Bee Supply:

Langstroth’s Hive and the Honey-Bee, The Classic Beekeeper‘s Manual, 2004 reprint of 4th ed. 1878 work

The new “Starting Right with Bees,”  beginner’s handbook on beekeeping, 1997, 21st ed.

A Closer Look; Basic Honey Bee Biology, Clarence Collison 2017

JOURNEYMAN OPPORTUNITIES to earn service credit point during the winter can include writing articles of interest to beekeepers (2 service credits per article). For an example, see above the article by Heidi Goodgion, Journeyman candidate.

Other suggested article topics:

-- personal evolution as a beekeeper

-- scaling up your beekeeping operation, or down, or both

-- review of a favorite speaker or research source/topic you have researched

-- summary of the beekeeping season just ending (your experience or a general perspective of 2023)

More journeyman service possibilities:

-- Teaching WASBA Beginner*

-- Moderating or presenting at discussion groups or meetings.

     *We are aware that WASBA allows anyone who has completed Apprentice with one year beekeeping experience to teach Beginner, as long as they are under the supervision of a Journeyman or Master, but SnoKing limits teaching to beekeepers that have completed at least the academic portion of WASBA Journeyman.

CLASSES Online with SnoKing Beekeepers Assn.

All classes include manual, online testing, and WASBA certificate plus WASBA 2024 membership upon course completion.

APPRENTICE current session is meeting 6:30PM on Tuesdays starting October 17. Registration and more information at www.snokingbka.org/apprenticeapplication

Questions? Call or text 206-859-7392 or email eliochel@snokingbka.org.

Next BEGINNER starts Thursday, January 11. Registration and more information at www.snokingbka.org/beginnerapplication

The first 2024 Apprentice will start late January or February 2024.

Questions? Call or text 206-859-7392 or email eliochel@snokingbka.org.

Next JOURNEYMAN starts January 14, 2024. Registration and more information can be found at www.snokingbka.org/journeymanapplication

     Although the academic course is only part of Journeyman certification, many Journeyman candidates find that it gives them knowledge and confidence to complete the other requirements, particularly the service hours requirement which may include mentoring, presentations, and other club & community service hours.

CLUB APIARIES:

Closed except by appointment

Maltby - Eli - eliochel@snokingbka.org  206-859-7392

Granite Falls - Ron - beebuddy.skba@gmail.com 206-719-3604

Meet Bri Price, Honey Bee Coordinator, WSU Extension

SnoKing Beekeepers Nov. 15, 2023 monthly meeting

Time: Nov 15, 2023 06:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81625079691?pwd=UyttdDBlbHgyS0tIVnltS0V1MENydz09

Meeting ID: 816 2507 9691

Passcode: 242922

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We look forward to talking bees with you at these 3rd Wednesday monthly meetings.

The mission of the SKBA, a 501c3 member club of WASBA, is to provide educational opportunities, networking and support to beekeepers and people interested in honey bees, particularly those involved in small-scale beekeeping in Washington State west of the Cascades.

"We talk bees!" at SnoKing Beekeepers Association.