An Empty Hive

What state are you from?

Alabama

How long have you been a beekeeper?

I've kept honeybees for about 5 years. I also keep and propagate mason bees.

How did you become interested in being a beekeeper?

I am a fruit and berry grower and I got bees initially in order to pollinate my crops. Feral bees are no longer plentiful in many areas.

What kind (breed) of bee do you have in your hives?

I keep mostly Italian bees. I also have a few colonies of Russian bees.

Are your hives organic or non-organic? Why?

While all beekeepers are interested in keeping their colonies as "clean" as possible, using the minimum chemical treatments, at some point it is usually necessary to treat for varroa, tracheal mites or small hive beetles. We use only products that are approved for use in bee colonies. I also use Fumagilin for prevention and control of Nosema. These treatments are never used when honey storage supers are on the hive, ensuring that any honey collected is not contaminated.

If you have worked with more than one kind of bee, do you have a preference or a favorite breed?

I am beginning to favor the Russian breed. They are more tolerant of Varroa mites and do not rob neighboring colonies as much as the Italians do.

Have your colonies experienced any types of problems such as varroa mites, disease, or disappearances?

All beekeepers are faced with pests which attract the bee colonies. These include Varroa mites, Tracheal mites, Small Hive Beetles in many areas, particularly the southern states. I treat my colonies for these pests and for Nosema. I have not been affected with CCD. Of course, I have lost some bees to swarming. Bees use reproduction swarming in order to ensure the continuation of the colonies.

If so, when did you start to notice the disturbances? Did you find the solution?

Pest problems usually are present from the beginning of one's beekeeping experience. Mites are usually present in small populations in new packages of bees or in captured swarms. The goal is to keep the pest populations below the economic threshold.

Has Colony Collapse Disorder or Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus affected your bees?

I know of no beekeepers in my own area who have had problems with CCD or IAPV. Of course, there has been more than two dozen states in the US that have reported such problems.

If so what steps have you taken to minimize the damage to your bee colony?

I just monitor my hives and try to reduce any stress factors that can contribute to disease.

Do you know of any other beekeepers nationally or internationally that have been affected by CCD or IAPV?

Not on a personal level. Many cases reported in media.

How often do you re-queen and why?

I re-queen once a year on a routine basis. Sometimes a new queen will be superceded by the colony and re-placement occurs naturally. A young queen is generally more prolific and less prone to leading a swarm.

We have read bees hibernate in the hive in winter, throwing out the drones, surviving on honey, is this true even in Northern Climates?

Bees do not hibernate like bears do. They cluster in the center of the brood nest, near the frames containing the stored honey. The bees keep warm in this cluster by using the food they consume to generate heat. The cluster is rotated, allowing bees on the outside of the cluster to move inward and the inward bees to move outward. This way they can maintain their body heat. They generally do remove the drones from the colony as winter approaches. This is done to save food stores for the worker bees. Drones are not necessary to the functioning of the colony except in reproduction. New drones are produced in the spring when they will be needed for mating with the queens. In colder northern climates it is essential that a colony of bees have up to a 100 pounds of honey left in the hive for the bees to use during winter. In my climate about 50 pounds is adequate. All beekeeping is local and must be practiced according to local conditions.

What state are you from?

California

How long have you been a beekeeper?

I have been keeping bees off and on since 1999.

How did you become interested in being a beekeeper?

I worked in a small store that sold bee keeping supplies and byproducts. They had a one frame observation hive in the store and I began to appreciate their work ethic and medicinal properties.

What kind (breed) of bee do you have in your hives?

Europeans.

Are your hives organic or non-organic? Why?

My hives are Organic, but I have kept inorganic hives in the past. The reason why I personally choose to keep organic hives because it is overall better for my health, my neighbors health and the environment. The benefits of keeping organic hives and more importantly organic gardens is the overall effect that pesticides and chemicals have on the honeybees. Honeybees travel and touch every flower, clover, blade of grass and tree for miles, if need be, around its hive to gather pollen and nectar. The bee brings this back to the hive and if there
are chemicals in those pollens it gets brought back into the hive. These chemicals cause issues and massive bee lose. The more successful of the two practices depends of what you feel is success. Bees treated with chemicals are stronger in the short run but still have issues that only proper maintenance can fix. I feel that a good analogy is the growth hormone used with milk cows debate.

If you have worked with more than one kind of bee, do you have a preference or a favorite breed?

I have worked with Italian bees before, but no preference. They are very similar.

Which bees sting is the worst?

I don't believe that as far as honeybee stings go that one is worst then the other, but the intensity and manner in which they do might.

Have your colonies experienced any types of problems such as varroa mites, disease, or disappearances?

I have had varroa mites and foulbrood in the past. The treatment of honeybees is very complicated. In the past we used Apistan strips to treat for mites in the spring and fall before the honey flow. When I started to realize that we were still losing bees and that there are alternatives I began to explore screened bottom boards. I now use
screens in the bottom of my hives. These screens allow the bee to walk across them but the mites to fall through. The bottom of the board is sticky and the mites stick to it and cant get back up to the bees. As
with foulbrood you should burn the hives and start over. The key to not getting either of these diseases is to keep healthy strong hives that can combat these issues. I have never had any disappearances.

If so, when did you start to notice the disturbances? Did you find the solution?

I have not had any experience with this but I am learning as much as I can as well.

Has Colony Collapse Disorder or Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus affected your bees?

No.

Do you know of any other beekeepers nationally or internationally that have been affected by CCD or IAPV?

No.

How often do you re-queen and why?

I re-queen every 3 years to keep the queen young and healthy.

We have read bees hibernate in the hive in winter, throwing out the drones, surviving on honey, is this true even in Northern Climates?

Yes, We get a lot of rain where the hives are and a little snow. The bees remain dormant until we have periods of nice days and then spring. The drones are replaced or eliminated when the hive stores need to be preserved.

What color are bees when they are born?

They look almost like a regular bee except a little paler and unsteady but that doesn't last long.

If this is your profession and not a hobby is it profitable?

My profession is Honeybee byproducts. I am inspired by the honeybee hive and the medicinal effects it has to offer. I make lotions and other products based on the hive and our gardens. I am happy to work
with my bees and garden. I enjoy creating things that help people heal and be happy naturally. That is profit to me, but if you are asking if I'm rolling in it yet, nope.

Is there anything you would like us to know about bee colonies that we have not asked?

Their importance is not only in their
pollination and honey. They are a crucial link to our environment and
world.

What state are you from?

Colorado

How long have you been a beekeeper?

My sons and I have been beekeepers for only 5 years. My daughter joined us 3 years ago.

How did you become interested in being a beekeeper?

My youngest son dated a beekeepers daughter when he was a teen. He helped her father with the beekeeping.

What kind (breed) of bee do you have in your hives?

We have mostly Italian bees. They are a special breed called Minnesota Hygienic. Dr. Marla Spivic bred these bees to help the bees be more disease and mite resistant.

Are your hives organic or non-organic? Why?

It is difficult to classify hives as organic because the bees can fly up to 1-1/2 miles from the hive to collect pollen and nectar. I would have to have all organic farms in that area to classify the hive as producing organic honey.

If you have worked with more than one kind of bee, do you have a preference or a favorite breed?

We have pretty much settled on Minnesota Hygienic bees. We do have some hives that were swarms we collected, but don't keep track of which is which.

Which bees sting is the worst?

I would say all are the same. I especially don't like yellow jackets, wasps, and hornets, although they are not bees.

Have your colonies experienced any types of problems such as varroa mites, disease, or disappearances?

We always have varroa mites and treat for them in the fall. We use an ant venom complex called Oxalic acid. It breaks down into Formic acid which is ant venom.

If so, when did you start to notice the disturbances? Did you find the solution?

Most problems occur in the fall when the population of bees in the hives goes down as they prepare for winter. The population of pests does not go down and the problem is more obvious then.

Has Colony Collapse Disorder or Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus affected your bees?

It is very difficult to tell. The biggest indicator is an excessive die-off of hives. And we have experienced that.

If so what steps have you taken to minimize the damage to your bee colony?

We now treat for more pests and diseases like tracheal mites and nosema. We hope by keeping the bees less stressed they can survive the other things we cannot treat for.

Do you know of any other beekeepers nationally or internationally that have been affected by CCD or IAPV?

I don't personally know any, but there are lots of stories.

How often do you re-queen and why?

We don't re-queen on a regular basis. We always like to have a few extra queens on hand incase we come across a hive that doesn't have one. My daughter is raising our own queens so we can always have a ready supply.

We have read bees hibernate in the hive in winter, throwing out the drones, surviving on honey, is this true even in Northern Climates?

Hibernate is the wrong word. In any cold climate they regulate the temperature of the middle of the hive. The bees on the outside of the tight ball of bees shiver and when they get cold they burrow into the middle to get warm. The ball of bees gets tighter as the temperature goes down. They move up in the hive as they consume honey to keep warm. If they get to the top of the hive before spring, they can starve even if there is honey on either side. The can't move sideways in the hive when it is very cold. Some hobby beekeepers make what is called a candy board to help the bees so they don't run out of food. They make an unflavored sugar candy just like a lollipop and pour it in a sheet about 1-3/4 of an inch thick with wood edges then turn it upside down on the top of the hive. When the bees perspire the candy softens and they lick it up.

What color are bees when they are born?

Bees hatch from eggs. They are white larvae. They are fed by young bees. They eat royal jelly for the first three days then are fed bee bread which is a mixture of pollen and honey.If they are to become a queen they are fed royal jelly all their lives. When bees emerge from the pupa they have their adult colors--usually orange and brown although some bees (german and russian) are much darker.

If this is your profession and not a hobby is it profitable?

It's very difficult to make money as a beekeeper. It takes about a thousand hives to support one person and thenit's a full time job. We have only 200 hives right now and haven't been profitable yet. It also takes a large investment of money to get to 1000 hives. The cost from $150 to $250 per hive depending on the time of year. They are more expensive just before almond pollination in California.

Is there anything you would like us to know about bee colonies that we have not asked?

Usually there is a local beekeepers organization that will come and talk to you about bees. Here is a list for your state. See www.beeculture.comfor other states.

What state are you from?

Florida

How long have you been a beekeeper?

since 1989.

How did you become interested in being a beekeeper?

I became interested in honey bees while talking to a friend. He was a part-time beekeeper and wanted to know if i new anyone that might have some bees for sale. I started asking him question about the business and that's how my interest beekeeping began.

What kind (breed) of bee do you have in your hives?

Italian (Apis Mellifera).

Are your hives organic or non-organic? Why?

My hive are not certified organic. It is very hard to have organic hives in the united states simply because of all the pesticides used in and on just about everything. When bees are out foraging they come in contact with many pesticides. Some of these end up back inside the hive. When our bees are placed on farm crops for pollination they come in contact with pesticides sprayed on these crops. However in early spring when we are producing our honey crops from the wild. There are no pesticides used. These honey crops come from native naturally growing plants there is no need for pesticides.

Which bees sting is the worst?

Bee stings still hurt me every time. My body has built up an immunity to the venom in the sting so I don't swell. The worst sting I have ever had was from a bumble bee.

Have your colonies experienced any types of problems such as varroa mites, disease, or disappearances?

Yes every beekeeper in the USA has problems with the varroa mite. I have not suffered loses to the CCD disease everyone has been hearing about on the news. However I know plenty of Beekeepers that have. It seems the beekeepers that use there bees for pollination service have suffered enormous losses. There are many factors involved for these losses to occur.
Stress brought on by the varroa mite, viruses spread by the mites, stress from being moved over long distances, malnutrition for lack of an abundant source of pollen, and some other things we don't know about yet.

Has Colony Collapse Disorder or Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus affected your bees?

No.

Do you know of any other beekeepers nationally or internationally that have been affected by CCD or IAPV?

Yes.

How often do you re-queen and why?

We requeen every year. Requeening is important. Young healthy queens are less likely to swarm as older queens, they can keep brood production at its peek level this is important for honey production. Older queens tend to slow down egg laying and tend to swarm more often. And with the African Bee gaining ground in Florida it is even more important to keep a pure blood line in the colony.

We have read bees hibernate in the hive in winter, throwing out the drones, surviving on honey, is this true even in Northern Climates?

Bees will stop brood production in the winter months. More so in the colder climates. The drone are put out of the hive in the fall they are not needed any more. In cold weather the bees will form into what we call a cluster. this is a tight ball the bees will vibrate there bodies to generate heat keeping the cluster warm the bees on the outside of the cluster will rotate with the bees on the inside so they can keep warm. This goes on as long as the weather is cold. The bees must have honey and pollen store to survive and stay warm.

What color are bees when they are born?

New born bees are white. They look like they are covered in soft white fur.

If this is your profession and not a hobby is it profitable?

This is my full-time profession since 1996. It has been profitable. However it took me 8 years to make so. Beekeeping is a job you really have to love it to do it. When I discovered beekeeping I knew I had found my calling. I have no regretsI would do it all again I think I was born to do whatI am doing. But took half my life to find it.

What state are you from?

Maine

How long have you been a beekeeper?

7 years.

How did you become interested in being a beekeeper?

Since I was a child I was interested in bees even though I never was exposed to beekeeping. Like most kids I was stung a few times by wasps and yellow jackets, never by bees. Later I was involved in a school project to propose the monarch butterfly to be the State insect. My mom said bees would be a better choice and explained to me how hard bees work so I read up on them. It was there I learned how intelligent and industrious they are. When I finally bought my own farm I decided to give it a try.

What kind (breed) of bee do you have in your hives?

I have a variety of mongrels (cross breeds) that come from a mix of New
World Carniolan, Buckfast, SMR Hygienic and feral bee stock I got from local swarms I collected. Last year I got some bees from the new Australian bees that come over from California.

Are your hives organic or non-organic? Why?

My hives are mostly organic in that I don't use any chemicals anymore.

I stopped using them 4 years ago because I realized they did more harm than good. We know Nature will always ensure the strong survive. Chemicals harm the natural process that is essential to sustainable beekeeping.

The benefits are:

1) more self sustaining bee populations

2) no chemicals that could harm the bees, honey or wax

3) lower costs

4) higher customer satisfaction because of the higher quality local honey.

While this approach has been successful the last few years, I lost a lot of
bees for a few years when I first stopped using chemicals. I used the few
hives that did survive each year and raised queens from these survivors and built my colonies back up again. I still loose 30% of my hives each year but this is close to the losses I experienced when I used chemicals so I believe this proves chemicals don't help. However, bees travel 3-8 miles for nectar and pollen so I cant guarantee they don't find other chemicals used by farmers and home gardeners. One year I lost a whole colony that was poisoned by something they brought back to the hive. This doesn't happen often but it can happen once in a while.

If you have worked with more than one kind of bee, do you have a preference or a favorite breed?

I believe mongrel bees are best because they carry the genes of various breeds and allow the best genetic traits to be carried on through each season. We are finding that the limited genetic stock in this country is leading to a limited gene pool and susceptibility to viruses and parasites. The best bees of all are feral bees because they have survived in nature so they must be strong!

Which bees sting is the worst?

Angry bees! You have to treat all bees
gently or they will sting you. they don't like a lot of movement and hate black colors, the smell of horses and wet wool! They also are more aggressive during stressful times especially in the early spring and summer durth. That said, some bees seem to be more gentle and others more aggressive by their genetic make up. I try not to raise queens from grumpy hives.

Have your colonies experienced any types of problems such as varroa mites, disease, or disappearances?

I have varroa mites in all my hives.
Because many are from survivor stock and have the SMR gene, they seem to be able to manage the mites well enough to survive and even make surplus honey and new swarms. The only other disease I have dealt with a lot is chalkbrood which is something too that the bees can manage by cleaning the dead bees and brood from the hive until the colony gets stronger. I probably have had tracheal mites but not enough to impact the bees.

I have never had any disappearances. I believe this is because I don't expose my bees to the stresses of migratory beekeeping. they stay in one place all year long. I believe this stress along with existing viruses is the main cause of CCD.

If so, when did you start to notice the disturbances? Did you find the solution?

Nature and I solve all the problems with pests and diseases through good beekeeping practices, screened bottom boards, a clean apiary, rotating out old comb, and most of all natural selection.

Has Colony Collapse Disorder or Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus affected your bees?

Not yet, and I don't think that it will.

If so what steps have you taken to minimize the damage to your bee colony?

Natural selection and raising my own queens.

Do you know of any other beekeepers nationally or internationally that have been affected by CCD or IAPV?

No

How often do you re-queen and why?

I re-queen as needed, which usually is every 2-3 years. Because I split a lot of my hives and raise queens from my own stock, few hives stay intact for long and I don't spend a lot of time keeping track of them once the spring season is over. I evaluate each hive in the summer for the best queen stock and make more queens, which I place in Nucleus boxes for the coming year. Any full size hive that makes it through the winter and builds up well in the spring is likely to be a good hive for that year.

We have read bees hibernate in the hive in winter, throwing out the drones, surviving on honey, is this true even in Northern Climates?

They don't hibernate, but they do throw out most of the drones in the fall. They stay alive by forming a cluster in the hive to keep each other warm. They eat honey for energy and vibrate, which creates heat for the whole cluster. So inside the cluster it remains 90 degrees all winter long. The bees, except the queen, rotate inside the cluster through the winder so all the bees share in keeping each other warm. On warm days in the winter the cluster breaks and they scramble to fill up on more honey before the next cold spell. they do this all winter until spring when they can forage again.

What color are bees when they are born?

They actually are not born, but hatch from eggs laid by the queen. When they hatch, they are pupae which grow inside a sealed comb. the young bees comes out of the sealed comb and they can be any color from black to yellow depending on the genes of their farther(drone) and mother (the queen) because the queen mates with many drones, she has babies of many colors.

If this is your profession and not a hobby is it profitable?

Its a hobby. Its profitable because I don't factor in my labor as a cost. If I did I would not be profitable. But I get some much pleasure from it I would still do it.

Is there anything you would like us to know about bee colonies that we have not asked?

They are amazing and humbling creatures that teach me something new every time I visit them or work the hives. I encourage you to read and study them any chance you get. I would be glad to show you my hives if you are interested in seeing them.

What state are you from?

Missouri

How long have you been a beekeeper?

11 years.

How did you become interested in being a beekeeper?

My father kept bees as a hobby when I was growing up, as did his father before him.

What kind (breed) of bee do you have in your hives?

Three Italian colonies, three Russian.

Are your hives organic or non-organic? Why?

Non-organic, for two reasons:
a) It would be impossible to call them “organic” as they can range 2-3 miles from home to forage and I can’t control whether any of the lawns and gardens in the area are maintained organically.
b) I do treat them occasionally for parasitic mites.

If you have both types of hives, which type has been more successful?

I use only Langstroth-type, 10-frames hives.

If you have worked with more than one kind of bee, do you have a preference or a favorite breed?

I’ve worked with several. The Italians seem to be the gentlest for the most part, Carniolans tend to swarm more, but I’m trying Russians because they are supposed to be more mite-resistant. So I guess I haven’t really decided yet.

Which bees sting is the worst?

By breed, I don’t think it makes any difference.

How often do you re-queen and why?

I’ve recently decided to try and re-queen every two years, as I’ve found that after that the queen becomes less productive (egg-laying) and they tend to replace her on their own, which takes awhile and can further slow the hive’s productivity.

Are there crops specific to your region/state that your honeybees pollinate?

Nothing I’m aware of that’s specific to this area.

Have your colonies experienced any types of problems such as varroa mites, disease, or disappearances?

Varroa mites have been ever-present since I began. Hive beetles appeared about four years ago, and are now a constant presence, but I’ve yet to really see any damage from them.

If so, when did you start to notice the disturbances? Did you find the solution?

I’ve lost a few colonies over the years to Varroa, as they became resistant to chemical treatments. Now the bees seem to be handling them better, and the menthol-based treatment I used last fall seemed to work pretty well.

Has Colony Collapse Disorder or Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus affected your bees?

No.

Do you know of any other beekeepers in your country or that have been affected by CCD or IAPV?

I do not know anyone personally who has.

Have you noticed if the climate or weather pattern changes, over time, have affected the bees in your colony?

When Spring comes earlier, so do pollen and nectar, and bee populations build up faster in the Spring, but it doesn't’t really seem to help or hurt overall honey production or winter survival. But I’ve had a couple of bad years in a row – in 2006 it was drought and in 2007 it was a cold spell in March-April that wiped out a lot of the fruit and other blossoms that the bees build up on in the Spring.

Have you noticed an increased use of pesticides in your area that might have affected the bee colony?

No, but I’m in the suburbs of St. Louis.

Do you have an arrangement with the local farmers to help pollinate their crops?

No. I have placed bees in people’s yards some years for garden pollination, but that was at no charge, and now I have all my bees together because it’s easier to take care of them.

What crops in your country do the bees pollinate?

Apples, blackberries, pumpkins, squash, clover, alfalfa

Is the quality of honey produced affected by outside influences or the type of bee hive or both?

Mostly by the weather and by my management (whether I keep enough storage space on them, control swarming tendencies, keep them healthy, etc.)

What state are you from?

Montana, USA

How long have you been a beekeeper?

Approx. 9 yrs.

How did you become interested in being a beekeeper?

Read about bee gums in the second volume of the Foxfire Series of books, and then read a book about beekeeping I found in a college bookstore.

What kind (breed) of bee do you have in your hives?

I try to maintain the subspecies Carniolan (apis mephetis Carniolan).

Are your hives organic or non-organic? Why?

non-organic, I cannot control where the bees fly, and I know my valley is not 100% organic farmers.

If you have worked with more than one kind of bee, do you have a preference or a favorite breed?

I prefer the Carnies because they fly in colder weather, they are gentle, the overwinter in smaller clusters, plus, they are nearly black, and I just like the way they look!

Which bees sting is the worst?

Yellow jackets and hornets are the worst as their venom is compositionally different than european honey bees, and causes entirely different reactions.

How often do you re-queen and why?

It varies greatly. If a queen is recognized by myself or the colony to be defective, she can be replaced in just a few days. I evaluate each queen; (every queen has a different numbered disk glued to her back for identification) and a queen exhibiting traits I desire will not be replaced for 3 yrs. possibly. I like to use "good" queens to produce daughter queens, which I then will install in other hives, with the intention that they will also acquire favorable traits as well.

Are there crops specific to your region/state that your honeybees pollinate?

The honey producing "crops" here are alfalfa and sweet clover. The alfalfa is grown for feed, and it is cut just as the blooms appear, so unless it rains here about that time, which will delay mowing, most honey comes from sweet clover. There are also a few fruit trees here and there as well as berry bushes, but not in a commercial volume.

Have your colonies experienced any types of problems such as varroa mites, disease, or disappearances?

Varroa mites are very prevalent. I have had some Nosema apis, and Chalkbrood. The former is the most consistent and problematic parasite.

If so, when did you start to notice the disturbances? Did you find the solution?

The varroa have been present from day one. I have never used the EPA approved miticides, as after reading about their side effects, I did not want that in my hives. I discovered on the internet, a paper written about some research performed in Germany using Oxalic Acid to combat the mites. As it was in German, I respectfully wrote the author and asked if he might have a copy of his paper in English. I received the paper the next day in an e-mail! What they found was that when oxalic acid is vaporized via heating in a hive, it is 98% as effective as the EPA toxins, but unlike them, OA left no residue in the honey, wax, or on the woodenware! I use it exclusively to combat Varroa now and it works very very well.

Has Colony Collapse Disorder or Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus affected your bees?

CCD has not, and I have no way of testing for IAPV, so I do not know if it is even in my colonies.

If so what steps have you taken to minimize the damage to your bee colony?

I am a retired Chiropractor, and just as I advised my patients, proper nutrition, reduction of stressors, and isolation from environmental toxins, is the best way to stay healthy. Of course with people, there are more things like exercise, and rest they require, but the bees just won't listen to me when I tell them to take a nap!!

Do you know of any other beekeepers in your country or that have been affected by CCD or IAPV?

I do not know of anyone personally, but there are some here in Montana that have.

Have you noticed if the climate or weather pattern changes, over time, have affected the bees in your colony?

I have not seen any changes.

Have you noticed an increased use of pesticides in your area that might have affected the bee colony?

No, the big change occurring where I live is the explosion of housing developments that are consuming valuable agricultural land, and eliminating habitat for many many plants and animals.

Do you have an arrangement with the local farmers to help pollinate their crops?

Only the one that owns the property. They had lived there for 8 yrs. and although they had fruit trees and berry plants they never had any crops production due to lack of pollination. After the first summer of having my bees there, they had fruit and the berry bushes sagged to the ground with berries! Needless to say, they were elated in their decision to permit my bees on their land!

What crops in your country do the bees pollinate?

Oh boy! Most all!

Is the quality of honey produced affected by outside influences or the type of bee hive or both?

The relative humidity where I live is typically in the single digits, so my honey rarely has over 15% moisture content, which makes it very thick (the number one complaint is that it takes too long to come out of the bottle!) As far as differences based on types of bees, I have not seen any.

What state are you from?

New Hampshire

How long have you been a beekeeper?

I started in 6th grade, almost 40 years ago.

How did you become interested in being a beekeeper?

That is difficult to remember, but my Dad claims it is from the influence of a janitor in my elementary school who kept bees and talked about them.

What kind (breed) of bee do you have in your hives?

Mostly Carniolan. I like the New World Carniolan breed. I think I have figured out how to work with the Russian bees so I will try some of those this year.

Are your hives organic or non-organic? Why?

I keep my bees in Amherst, Hollis, Milford, Merrimack, Wilton and Mount Vernon. My apiaries are too close to neighbors who spray chemicals on their lawns and gardens. The apiaries are also within flight range of landfills/transfer stations. For these reasons, I do not believe it is possible for me to meet organic standards. I use only human food-grade materials for mite control.

If you have worked with more than one kind of bee, do you have a preference or a favorite breed?

I believe Carniolan and Russian breeds are better suited to cold winters than are Italian bees.

Which bees sting is the worst?

Yellow jackets have the worst stings, but they are not bees. They are in the wasp family.

How often do you re-queen and why?

I re-queen when the behavior of the colony suggests that the queen is getting tired.

Are there crops specific to your region/state that your honeybees pollinate?

Apples, squash, and pumpkins are the most significant.

Have your colonies experienced any types of problems such as varroa mites, disease, or disappearances?

Varroa mites are my most serious problem. Chalkbrood has also been giving me trouble.

If so, when did you start to notice the disturbances? Did you find the solution?

I have had trouble with varroa mites for 15 years here. I believe I have an effective control method for varroa mites presently. Chalkbrood has only been a problem within the past few years and I am still working on a solution.

Has Colony Collapse Disorder or Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus affected your bees?

No.

If so what steps have you taken to minimize the damage to your bee colony?

Prevention: nutrition, keep varroa mite populations low.

Do you know of any other beekeepers in your country or that have been affected by CCD or IAPV?

There are some who claim to have been affected, but I am skeptical that they really have experienced those problems. Maybe they have, but I have not seen nor heard convincing evidence to support those claims. Disappearances in the winter are common occurrences if varroa mite populations were too high in September. That has been the case for 15 years and I do not see why we should suddenly say that the same old symptoms are now caused by something new. If they get disappearances between April and September, that would be noteworthy and might be CCD, IAPV or
Nosema Ceranae.

Have you noticed if the climate or weather pattern changes, over time, have affected the bees in your colony?

Bees are very tuned into the weather and adapt well to climate. New England weather has been famous for hundreds of years for its unpredictability and variability. Some years are hot, some are cold, some are wet, some are dry. For the past 15 years, I have kept track of the first day in March that bees bring in natural pollen (from maples). That date has been surprisingly consistent over that time.

Have you noticed an increased use of pesticides in your area that might have affected the bee colony?

I have never experienced a pesticide kill. The farmers I know do their best to avoid harming bees. They know the bees increase the value of their crops. I am more worried about suburban homeowners who use some chemical from the local hardware store without understanding the consequences. I had heard that corn genetically engineered to contain the Bt toxin could harm bees. I had bees near such a field in 2007 and the bees collected corn pollen. Those bee colonies remained healthy through November. I have not checked them yet this spring.

Do you have an arrangement with the local farmers to help pollinate their crops?

I get paid for apple pollination at 6 different orchards. I got paid last year to pollinate organic squash and cucumbers in a screened hoop house. I did other squash and pumpkin pollination
at no charge when it was otherwise convenient for me.

What crops in your country do the bees pollinate?

Any crop that is not a grass and does not have red flowers. (Corn is a grass.)

Is the quality of honey produced affected by outside influences or the type of bee hive or both?

Many things affect honey quality, color and flavor: type of flowers in bloom fertility and mineral content of soils that grow the plants weather and soil moisture levels at bloom time health of bees sun exposure, color and insulation value of hive and probably other factors I have not seen any evidence that breed of bee affects honey quality, but it is theoretically possible.

What state are you from?

New Mexico

How long have you been a beekeeper?

I have been beekeeping for over 11 years professionally. My partner Mark Spitzig has been a beekeeper for 9 years.

How did you become interested in being a beekeeper?

I served my country as a technical and cultural ambassador by joining the United State Peace Corps. I was stationed in Paraguay, South America for over two years. My assigned title was Agriculture Sector Beekeeping Extensionist Volunteer. I knew nothing before hand about bees and remember giggling to myself when I received my project assignment thinking I must have been one of the only fools to say that I wasn't afraid to work with stinging insects (of course thinking that that would never happen). Am I sure glad it did though- I am very glad that the bees found me and recruited me- I really love my chosen profession.

Most honeybees in Paraguay are Africanized- meaning they have some genetic traits from bees brought to South America from South Africa back in the 1950's "who escaped", so I learned with some really tough and aggressive bees. While I prefer non-Africanized honeybees, I have a huge respect for them. They are of "heightened sensitivity and awareness" and communicate efficiently and diligently. They are not as ludicrous as Hollywood makes them out to be but can still pose a danger if not managed nor monitored regularly. They are hybridizing with European stock. Having more skilled beekeepers in our communities keeps unwanted situations in check.

My partner Mark started with a group of friends in Michigan. He learned first from books then decided to go work for a professional beekeeper for a couple of years before making beekeeping his chosen profession. He is from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where the warm season is short and the winters long. We have very different beginning experiences. We learn from each other as well as from other beekeepers, Mother Nature and of course the best teachers are the honeybees!

What kind (breed) of bee do you have in your hives?

Our story is a little unique. After I finished my Peace Corps service, I went and worked on the Big Island of Hawaii for 4 years at two different queen bee rearing operations. This is where I learned "commercial" beekeeping and queen rearing (making queen bees to be new mothers for hives). In Paraguay, I worked with rural farmers who were "small-scale" beekeepers. Mark and I met in Florida working for a gentleman who migrates his honeybees from Wisconsin to Florida and back- every year.

Once Mark and I teamed up, we used Italian and New World Carniolan stock. Over time, we began to cross-stock them; meaning we allowed them to mate naturally and surround their mating apiaries with diverse drone (male) support colonies. Drones exist in all hives at certain times of the year- they do get kicked out before winter usually. They do not make honey, wax nor do they collect pollen or nectar or water or propolis. Apart from mating, they do tell good jokes!

We also are migratory beekeepers in that we travel with our honeybees- or herd them like a flock of livestock- between New Mexico and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We began raising our own queen bees and have come to prefer crosses or mixed races of honeybees for multiple reasons. Believe it or not, the mountains of New Mexico are just as cold as northern Michigan in the winter. The summers are quite hot though. We needed strong honeybees who can handle the diverse microclimates of the southern Rockys and also the cold, long winter of northern Michigan.

There is much scientific and natural evidence that demonstrates that honeybee colonies with diverse genetics are much healthier and more productive than single race hives. An example is as such- all the worker bees in a particular hive are sisters and half-sisters (they have the same mother but different fathers). A queen bee only mates during one period in her early life. When she mates, she can mate with multiple drones (males) and store the semen for her entire life to lay all the eggs in a colony. Now, one drone has enough for the queen, but for whatever reason, she decides to mate multiple times. Why is this? They say it is because instinctually- "they know" that it is better for their whole colony to have diverse genetics in one home.

Why? For instance, if all the workers in a colony had the same mother and the same father, and say the father had heart problems in his family history, then all the workers would be prone to this condition. Whereas, if there are sister and sub-sister families all in one hive, then those that are prone to a certain ailment may be afflicted, and the others from different fathers wouldn't and could overcome the ailment; thus keeping the whole of the colony intact and alive.

Interestingly, we currently have a Farmer-Producer Grant from Western SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) for our Southwest Survivor Queen bee Project. It is a project that brings regional beekeepers together to share their best colonies' "bloodlines". Just like cowboys have different kinds of cows, beekeepers in different parts of the world and the nation use different races of honeybees.

Because we have found through published research (Tarpy,Grozinger 2007- Public Library of Science) that having honeybees with mixed genetics actually makes them more productive, healthy and prevents inbreeding, we invite beekeepers to share their best colonies and we share with them as well. We share by nominating our favorite colonies and we make daughter queens from them and allow those queens to mate with drones from the nominated colonies.

So to re-answer your question as to what kind or race we use, we use various kinds including, New World Carniolan, VSH (Varroa Sensitive Hygiene), Italian, Cordovan, Russian, Caucasian, and more. We breed honeybees for longevity, production, pest/disease resistance and gentleness. Many folks think that NM is only desert. NM does have a lot of high-altitude desert as well as riparian ecosystems (river) which means that we have high elevation above sea level, forests, snow and also valleys, mesas and plains. You need strong bees that are able to survive and also be productive in a variety of climates.

Are your hives organic or non-organic? Why?

We do not use any commercial chemical pharmaceuticals on our hives. We do use homeopathic or "natural" recipes and some mechanical control to assist our honeybees immune systems when needed. We use the Dowda method (powdered sugar with garlic) for varroa mite control and for intestinal health (Nosema) as well as screened bottom boards; coconut grease (anti fungal) patties with essential oils: lemon grass, spearmint, wintergreen; and also real cane sugar syrup (no high fructose corn syrup) made with chamomile and various herbal teas (mainly in spring and fall for smaller colonies) and also a pollen substitute made with real pollen and honey. We only feed the bees what we would feel comfortable eating ourselves. We do not claim to be organic- but we do prefer natural methods- mainly planting medicinal herbs and finding diversely cultivated forage areas for our bees instead of mono culture crops. Bees need different pollens and nectar to get all the essential nutrients their working bodies need. "Man cannot live on bread alone" and honeybees cannot live on one type of flower either.

We talk with our area farmers and ask them to keep in communication with us about if they have to spray pesticides and herbicides and when. There is the wind of course which mixes much of the air around and all of us breathe it- from cars, machines and factories. We must work harder as land stewards to respect and protect our natural resources and our farm lands- No farms, No food.

If you have worked with more than one kind of bee, do you have a preference or a favorite breed?

My favorite so far has to be the ones we are producing now that are a mix from participating beekeepers. It is beneficial to have honeybees that are chosen by beekeepers for beekeepers: ones that are naturally hearty and healthy and that survive without chemicals.

Which bees sting is the worst?

Well, each sting hurts no matter how many times you have been stung in the past. However, with better technique, a good beekeeper doesn't get stung often (unless their honeybees are aggressive because of Africanization or due to environmental situations like the rain washing all their nectar and pollen away or a bear or skunk that's been bothering them- or kids throwing rocks- DON'T THROW ROCKS OR MENACE FLYING INSECTS!). I am sure that as older kids- almost teenagers, you all are smart enough to respect your neighbor creatures.

I would have to say that getting stung right under your fingernail is quite painful. Also on the tip of the nose or on the lip and the worst place is......drumroll......in the armpit-OUCH!!!

In case you haven't heard, you should immediately scrape, let me repeat- scrape- off the stinger once you feel you have been stung. Do not squeeze it or pinch it off- this will only pump more venom into the spot. Also- most times, honeybees are blamed for stinging when it is actually a hornet or a yellow jacket. They are marauders and also do not leave a stinger- they can sting more than once whereas a honeybee can only sting a mammal once- there is a barb on the end that gets stuck and so it rips off their tail- in which case, they die shortly after stinging. Also- the drones or males do not have a stinger. The queen bee can sting- but she rarely does unless mishandled or if she encounters another queen in her home.

Have your colonies experienced any types of problems such as varroa mites, disease, or disappearances?

Not all areas of the U.S. have to contend with the same pests and diseases. For instance, NM and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan do not have small hive beetle; in NM, the soil is too alkaline for them to pupate in and in the U.P., the ground is too cold. This pest though is a nuisance in southern states.

We occasionally see varroa mitesin our colonies. We do mite drop counts regularly using a screened bottom board and the Dowda method. Since we use honeybee stock that has proven itself to be resistant to mites, we do not notice a severe problem with them.

New Mexico also currently has not experienced CCD- although we are on high alert. We have not experienced any "disappearances" of our honeybees apart from normal loss (like after overwintering- some may have not survived). We are careful of where we put our honeybees and we move them to suitable forage if there is not enough for them in a certain area. For instance, last summer, our home valley in NM was hit with three intense hail storms in June. The third hail storm rattled off most of the new early summer blossoms by the Rio Grande in northern NM.

We had to decide to either feed them through the summer until after the Mexican monsoon rains (which come in late summer) bring the fall nectar flow from chamisa and sunflowers or to move them immediately to the mountains for clover. We chose to move them to the mountains for the wildflowers and clover because it is natural feed for them vs. us having to make them sugar syrup with flower tea and also because, natural growing food is free whereas buying sugar is not.

If so, when did you start to notice the disturbances? Did you find the solution?

We have had beekeeper friends share with us their stories of loss and bewilderment. Many think that GMO (Genetically Modified Crops) are to blame. Others think that it might be a mysterious virus. We feel that it is a multitude of stresses that makes the bees collapse. If they do not have good, diverse nutrition and are constantly being pumped chemicals- then something isn't working. I think many beekeepers, experienced and novice are looking for "alternative" or more natural ways to keep their bees and to educate people about how their sprays and exhaust and lack of plants and water also will keep many beneficial pollinators from being able to survive.

We read a lot of information about honeybees; we keep in contact with our State Bee Inspector and we talk with our beekeeping associates to hear how they are doing and what works. We go to regular club meetings and we look to our national bee laboratories for their research information as well.

Has Colony Collapse Disorder or Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus affected your bees?

No and Yes. No, we haven't experienced "CCD" but we are nervous and want to turn our fear into pro-action vs. reaction. We let our bees keep as much honey as they need to overwinter "fat" and we also choose not to use harsh chemicals on them. We do move them between different states and try as much as possible to minimize their stress.

If so what steps have you taken to minimize the damage to your bee colony?

We are queen bee breeders so we look to discover and make more naturally hearty honeybees which are pest and disease resistant.

Do you know of any other beekeepers in your country or that have been affected by CCD or IAPV?

We have heard stories through the grapevine and firsthand from a few who do not understand how they have major losses and why. It is a mystery but most seem to think that genetically modified seeds and food produced are not good for the insects, animals nor us humans. Many beekeepers feel that chemical pesticides and herbicides and environmental contamination are to blame.

How often do you re-queen and why?

We are queenbreeders and so we routinely make queens. However, we do not requeen every year. We only requeen those colonies which exhibit low performance. Since we breed for longevity, we like to let queens last as long as nature allows them. Queens that can last longer, remain healthy and produce well should be bred.

We have read bees hibernate in the hive in winter, throwing out the drones, surviving on honey, is this true even in Northern Climates?

Honeybees do not "hibernate" like bears and other mammals do. They do go into "cluster mode" and actually huddle together slowly eating honey, not expending much energy and maintaining their cluster at a 73 degree F temperature. When it warms- even on a chilly spring day, they will break cluster and perform "cleansing flights" where they leave the colony to relieve their bowels. When they are in cluster, they rotate slowly throughout the hive- mainly in the middle up and down eating their honey stores in order to maintain the warmth.

What color are bee's when they are born?

Honeybees come in a variety of colors- not only yellow and black. Actually, yellow and black are actually colors more associated with hornets and wasps. Their coloring more depends on their race like- kind of like people. There are honeybees that are called Italian or Carniolan or Caucasian. There are hybrids- or mixed breeds as well. Italians are a more warm weather bee and appear orange and black. Carniolans are from Eastern European descent and are very dark- purplish black and brown. When honeybees interbreed, their colors vary and a single colony can produce bees that look very different from each other.

If this is your profession and not a hobby is it profitable?

I hope it to be. This is our third commercial year. We are learning new techniques and methods each season. Wish us luck! What many people do not realize is that beekeeping is a type of animal husbandry- meaning you learn how to care and reproduce new livestock each season. It is a very physically demanding job (the boxes are heavy when full) and dirty- you sweat, you touch dirt, you get sticky and then of course, sometimes there is pain.

Is there anything you would like us to know about bee colonies that we have not asked?

Honeybees are quite polite creatures. They do not look to disturb anyone. They will protect their nest if they are threatened. They also are mainly all girls- all sisters. The sister workers are the only ones in the hive that know how to clean, feed, collect food and protect their family. The drones however- tell good jokes. Please plant more flowers for the bees and the birds and the butterflies and the bats and all the beneficial pollinators. It would be a sad day to not have real food anymore- can anyone say goodbye to Pizza? Not me!

What state are you from?

North Carolina

How long have you been a beekeeper?

I have been a beekeeper since 2004, four years.

How did you become interested in being a beekeeper?

I have always thought beekeeping was a noble endeavor. When I read the Hobbit, especially the chapter where Bilbo and the dwarves visit Beorn, I fell in love with the idea of golden candles, baked bread with butter and honey and bees buzzing in the flowers.

What kind (breed) of bee do you have in your hives?

I have Italian bees, gentle, golden bees that work hard and make a lot
of honey.

Are your hives organic or non-organic? Why?

My colonies are 'organic', in that I use no pesticides, miticides, etc. I believe those chemicals are harmful and you cannot treat with them when you have honey supers on the colony. That tells me they are poisonous and I won't use them.

If you have worked with more than one kind of bee, do you have a preference or a favorite breed?

I have only kept Italian honeybees.

Which bees sting is the worst?

In four years I have only been stung eight times. The sting on the tip of the finger is a bit rough because swelling in a confined area makes it uncomfortable. The stings I have received always hurt more the next day.

How often do you re-queen and why?

I have never 're-queened, because my bees have swarmed so often they re-queen themselves. Swarming is the honeybees way of making new colonies in the wild.

Are there crops specific to your region/state that your honeybees pollinate?

My honeybees work my garden, but not large scale agricultural crops. The primary sources of nectar in this coastal area would be flowering trees and shrubs, such as Red Maple, Tulip Poplar, Sourwood, Gall berry, willow and some clover.

Have your colonies experienced any types of problems such as varroa mites, disease, or disappearances?

My bees have some varroa mites, all honeybee colonies do.

If so, when did you start to notice the disturbances? Did you find the solution?

The goal with varroa mite is to control the mite, not irradicate it. Many miticides are ineffective because the mites build up a tolerance to the chemical. I use what is called an Integrated Pest Management approach. My weapons in the fight against mites are:

1) screened bottom boards: mite fall thru to the ground.

2) Fogging my bees with a food grade mineral oil: to encourage grooming and removal of mite.

3) Using 'small cell foundation' a foundation that closely resembles the size of cell the honeybees make naturally 4.9mm rather than the standard 5.6mm foundation that has been sold for many years. The theory behind the small cell is that the reproductive cycle of the honey bee is sped up by a day, which interferes with the success of the mite reproduction. Also there is less room in the cell for the mites, who prefer roomy cells, such as drone cells, which are larger than worker cells.

Has Colony Collapse Disorder or Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus affected your bees?

Not to my knowledge.

If so what steps have you taken to minimize the damage to your bee colony?

If so what steps have you taken to minimize the damage to your bee
colony?

Do you know of any other beekeepers in your country or that have been affected by CCD or IAPV?

No.

Have you noticed if the climate or weather pattern changes, over time, have affected the bees in your colony?

I have noticed plants blossoming and fruiting earlier than usual. Last spring one of my colonies produced a very early, extremely light colored honey that was very good tasting. It won a prize at the NC State Fair 2007.

Have you noticed an increased use of pesticides in your area that might have affected the bee colony?

We live in the coastal area of NC where there are many wetlands, swamps and marshes. The county sprays for mosquitoes, but all beekeepers register for 'no spray' within a large area around their property. Only one person I know of has had bees killed by mosquito spraying.

Do you have an arrangement with the local farmers to help pollinate their crops?

I do not. I prefer to have my honeybees close to me. Also farmers are more concerned with their crops and use so many chemicals that would be harmful to honeybees, I would not agree to have my bees on their farm.

Is the quality of honey produced affected by outside influences or the type of bee hive or both?

I have been fortunate to have excellent honey that does not granulate even after a full year. The color of my honey and its' flavor depend on the nectar source, which varies throughout the season. My experience has been the honey produced is darker in late summer or fall than early spring.

Is there anything you would like us to know about bee colonies that we have not asked?

Honey bees are quite gentle in the field. They will generally sting only
when they feel threatened or stepped upon or pinched accidentally. Honey bee survival is of the utmost importance.

What state are you from?

Ohio

How long have you been a beekeeper?

6 years.

How did you become interested in being a beekeeper?

Had a neighbor that was a keeper.

What kind (breed) of bee do you have in your hives?

Italian, New World Carniolan and Minnesota Hygenic.

Are your hives organic or non-organic? Why?

Organic. We come to understand the importance of organic agriculture and organic bee keeping...

If you have worked with more than one kind of bee, do you have a preference or a favorite breed?

New World and Minnesota Hygenic.

Which bees sting is the worst?

All about the same...a honeybee sting can actually boost the immune system.

How often do you re-queen and why?

We re-queen when we loose a queen or every two years.

Are there crops specific to your region/state that your honeybees pollinate?

We do not keep our bees for the purpose of pollination so I do not know.

Have your colonies experienced any types of problems such as varroa mites, disease, or disappearances?

All honey bees since the 1970's have varroa. The strength of the hive, virility of the queen and management practices determine their ability to survive them. We have never had any disease issue.

Has Colony Collapse Disorder or Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus affected your bees?

No. There are no organic keepers that have been effected...that in itself should tell us all we really need to know about the issue.

Do you know of any other beekeepers in your country or that have been affected by CCD or IAPV?

Yes, most have experienced CCD. All of them rent bees to other farms and none are organic.

Have you noticed if the climate or weather pattern changes, over time, have affected the bees in your colony?

No.

Have you noticed an increased use of pesticides in your area that might have affected the bee colony?

No. Our bees are not exposed, but we strongly feel Imidacloprid, banned in France due to CCD, produced by Bayer, was the last straw in a long line of insults we've inflicted. Varroa, has weakened them...management practices have weakened them...monoagriculture has weakened them.

Do you have an arrangement with the local farmers to help pollinate their crops?

No. We do not believe in transporting bees, or keeping a large number of colonies....more than would be natural to an ecosystem.

What crops in your country do the bees pollinate?

Our bees pollinate all the native plants.

Is the quality of honey produced affected by outside influences or the type of bee hive or both?

Absolutely. Plant diversity/local sources effect it...monoagriculture has a negative impact, as well as the use of antibiotics and pesticides, used by most conventional beekeepers.

Is there anything you would like us to know about bee colonies that we have not asked?

Bees are some of the most beautiful animals God created. They are the only animal that takes nothing, harms, nothing to survive...they only help; Please take any information you'd like from our website regarding CCD. We have some interesting things to be found there! It is wonderful that you are focusing on this....perhaps it will take young minds like yours to change the way old ones think...before it's too late.

What state are you from?

Ohio

How long have you been a beekeeper?

8 Years.

How did you become interested in being a beekeeper?

I really just started on a whim when I saw an auction in the newspaper for bees.

What kind (breed) of bee do you have in your hives?

New World Carniolan.

Are your hives organic or non-organic? Why?

No. Because the organic requirements make it impossible to have certified organic hives in Ohio. One of the requirements is that the area the bees are in is organic (for a 2 mile radius), which means there would need to be virtually no house, road, county ditch or farm filed for the 80,000 acres surrounding my hives.

If you have worked with more than one kind of bee, do you have a preference or a favorite breed?

I've worked Italian and NWC. I much prefer the NWC for gentleness and overwintering success.

Which bees sting is the worst?

The stings are all the same. The bees do vary by how defensive they are.

How often do you re-queen and why?

Every year. Studies show that in our area queens are productive for 18 months on average. This means unless you requeen yearly, half your hives are likely to flop or requeen themselves the 2nd year. It also reduces swarming and the young queens are more productive. Also, since I'm running a breeding program I select the best and raise a new batch each year to improve the breed.

Are there crops specific to your region/state that your honeybees pollinate?

No.

Have your colonies experienced any types of problems such as varroa mites, disease, or disappearances?

Yes.

If so, when did you start to notice the disturbances? Did you find the solution?

Mites are present from almost day 1 and need to be monitored and treated when necessary.

Has Colony Collapse Disorder or Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus affected your bees?

I have only had 1 hive that really fits the description of CCD. IAPv has been found to exist in the US since at least 2002, well before CCD became a problem.

If so what steps have you taken to minimize the damage to your bee colony?

None.

Do you know of any other beekeepers in your country or that have been affected by CCD or IAPV?

Personally, no. We did have a huge loss (greater than 55%) in the winter of 06/07 in Ohio, but it really was due to weather and lack of nutrition.

Have you noticed if the climate or weather pattern changes, over time, have affected the bees in your colony?

No.

Have you noticed an increased use of pesticides in your area that might have affected the bee colony?

No.

Do you have an arrangement with the local farmers to help pollinate their crops?

Yes.

What crops in your country do the bees pollinate?

Apples, pears, plumbs, peaches.

Is the quality of honey produced affected by outside influences or the type of bee hive or both?

Outside influences. Primarily the flowers that produce well on a particular year.

What state are you from?

Pennslyvania

How long have you been a beekeeper?

I've been keeping bees since 1980, 28 years.

How did you become interested in being a beekeeper?

I became interested because I've always like raising animals like chickens and rabbits & always wondered what it would be like to keep bees.

What kind (breed) of bee do you have in your hives?

I keep mostly Carniolan bees but also have some Italians.

Are your hives organic or inorganic? Why? What are the benefits for your type of hive? Which has been more successful?

As far as the hive being "Organic" we aren't "Certified" organic but I only use natural methods to control the parasitic mites. I dust the bees with confectioners sugar periodically and use a screened bottom board. When dusted the bees will groom themselves and consequently remove some of the Varroa mites. When the mites fall to the bottom board, they fall through the screen and cannot attach themselves to another bee. If mite level should reach a high level I apply a "Thymol" gel which the bees track around, this helps rid them of the Varroa mites. Thymol is considered a natural treatment since the main ingredient is derived from the Thyme plant. This has had pretty good results.

If you have worked with more than one kind of bee, do you have a preference or a favorite breed?

I've had Italian and Carniolan bees, as you will see in my photo galleries I've also worked the Africanized bees in Panama. The Africanized bees definitely harder to work since they are more easily disturbed and get very angry and tend to sting more. I find in this area, eastern Pennsylvania, with our winters I like the Carniolan bees a little better. The reason being is the Carniolan bee, in my opinion, are more in tune with the environment. What I mean by this is if there is a temporary dearth of nectar or "dry spell" the queen will slow down or "shut down" brood rearing (egg laying). This makes a lot of sense to me, if the food supply is not their, don't reproduce. Whereas the Italians will continue to raise a lot of brood (young) all throughout the warm months whether there is a nectar flow or not. I find the Carniolan race to be more frugal that way. I also think they "winter over" (survive the winter) with small clusters of bees, eating less honey to stay alive than the Italians do.

Which bees sting is the worst?

The actual "sting" feels and is basically chemically the same for all of the honey bees, even the African bees. The African bees just attack in greater numbers and you receive more stings. Personally I think the stings from Yellow Jackets feel like they kinda burn me and the stings from White Face Hornets really hurt me, much more than the sting from a Honey Bee.

Have your colonies experienced any types of problems such as varroa mites, disease, or disappearances?

Yes my colonies and everyone else's have mites. The Tracheal mite entered the U.S. in 1984 and the Varroa mite entered in 1987. Our bees are surviving but we much be attentive to the population of mites in relation to the amount of bees. Sometimes through the year the mites reproduce at a faster rate than the bees and must be controlled. These mites weren't a natural parasite for Apis Mellifera and since they've entered the U.S. they don't live in a natural host/parasite way. Our bees and these mites haven't evolved enough to live together as most hosts and parasites do in nature. Until they do, if we don't control the mite levels our colonies will collapse and die. I haven't experienced any "disappearances" or symptoms of CCD as of this time but I haven't done a spring check of my colonies yet this year. As far as diseases go, all of the bee good beekeepers I know are always checking out colonies for diseases. Once in awhile we come across a disease, some can be eliminated from the colony simply by re-queening the hive. By re-queening (removing the old and replacing with a new queen) we are actually changing the genetics of the entire hive. The queen is the mother of ALL the bees in the hive and if the bees come down with a disease that means they are susceptible to that disease just as some humans will get some diseases and some don't. So if we replace the queen, in a matter of 6 weeks the entire populations of the hive is changed over (since the bees only live 4-6 weeks in the summer) with the prodigy of the new queen and hopefully they are immune to that specific disease.

If so, when did you start to notice the disturbances? Did you find the solution?

I've experienced the invasion of mites in the 90's and had some colonies collapse (die) and since have learned to manage them better by constantly going to seminars, taking courses and learning.

Has Colony Collapse Disorder affected your bees?

At this point I haven't experienced colony collapse disorder.

If so what steps have you taken to continue to work with bees?

If I do experience colony collapse disorder in the future I will try to cover my losses by dividing/splitting the colonies that are alive and filling my deadouts.

Do you know of any other beekeepers nationally or internationally that have been affected by CCD or IAPV?

Yes, I know and have spoken to quite a few who have experienced CCD, Dave Hackenberg being one, along with others.

How often do you re-queen and why?

I re-queen about every 2 years. When I notice a queen not laying at a good rate or as I've mentioned earlier if they have come down with symptoms of a disease I'll replace her with a new queen. Many times the bees know what to do without us interfering and when they suspect the queen is running out of sperm and laying many unfertilized eggs they will supersede her and rear a new queen.

We have read bees hibernate in the hive in winter, throwing out the drones, surviving on honey, is this true even in Northern Climates?

Honey bees do not hibernate in the hive in winter. I'm not sure where you've acquired that information. They cluster to keep warm. Yes, they throw out the drowns because the only purpose the drown has is to fertilize a virgin queen they don't do any work in the hive so during winter they don't need the drones and they would be just consuming more of their honey. Of course this is true in the northern climates. In the warmer climates they will keep drones in the hive all year long in case they have to rear a new queen and she would have to be fertilized, they would have a need for drones. In warmer climates there is no need to cluster to conserve their body heat. When they cluster in the winter they consume their winter stores, honey. This is their energy food. They eat honey, vibrate their wing muscles to generate heat. The cluster sort of rotates in a way. The bees in the middle of the cluster once filled with honey will slowly move outward and the bees on the outside of the cluster move inward so they can get to eat. As the weather warms the cluster loosens and as it gets colder the cluster tightens.

What color are bees when they are born?

The bees are the same color when they chew their way out of the beeswax cell, they may look a bit lighter in color till the hairs on their body dry off and they groom themselves.

If this is your profession and not a hobby?

If so, is it profitable? I am retired at this time of my life and do beekeeping as a sideline, supplementing my income. It is profitable but as most things in agriculture there are many hours of labor involved for the amount of profit seen in the end.

Is there anything you would like us to know about bee colonies that we have not asked?

I'm sure you already know this as it seems you've already done quite a bit of research...The queen (during warm weather) lays about 2-3,000 eggs a day, everyday. Most of them she will fertilize, they will develop into female worker bees with underdeveloped ovaries so they are unable to get fertilized and unable to lay eggs as long as there is a laying queen in the hive. The queen emits pheromones that prevent the underdeveloped workers from developing their ovaries. The queen will also choose to lay some (a few hundred) unfertilized eggs which will develop into drone or male bees. The male bees' only purpose in life is to fertilize a virgin queen. The females do all of the work in the hive as they are the only bees in the hive to have wax glands, to build comb, the main structure of the hive, they have long tongues to draw nectar from flowers, they have pollen baskets on their hind legs so they can gather pollen from flowers. Pollen is their protein source to feed their brood. They have the sting gland in their hind end so they can defend their colony. Drones cannot sting or do any of the above.

What state are you from?

Pennsylvania

How long have you been a beekeeper?

8 years over the span of 32 years. I started at age 14 and came back to it at 40.

How did you become interested in being a beekeeper?

I started when I was 14 in 4-H.

What kind (breed) of bee do you have in your hives?

Italian.

Are your hives organic or non-organic?

They are organic for the most part. It is impossible to know where they go for nectar and pollen and if someone is spraying. I am using a non-chemical approach to treating for mites and diseases. Why? chemical use is costly and may be detrimental to the colony.

Which bees sting is the worst?

The ones that get inside your pant legs (ha ha ha).

How often do you re-queen and why?

Every three years.

Are there crops specific to your region/state that your honeybees pollinate?

Mostly a variety of trees and wildflowers. They also have been able to make wild peppermint honey from an abandoned wet pasture area.

Have your colonies experienced any types of problems such as varroa mites, disease, or disappearances?

I had my bees tested by the bee inspector last year and they were clear of mites. I haven't noticed any signed of disease.

Has Colony Collapse Disorder or Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus affected your bees?

No.

Do you know of any other beekeepers in your country or that have been affected by CCD or IAPV?

Not personally.

Have you noticed if the climate or weather pattern changes, over time, have affected the bees in your colony?

Last year, winter 2007, we had a very warm January and then a very cold February. I lost a colony because the queen started laying eggs and the cluster stayed near the eggs when it got cold. The workers starved.

Have you noticed an increased use of pesticides in your area that might have affected the bee colony?

No.

Do you have an arrangement with the local farmers to help pollinate their crops?

No.

What crops in your country do the bees pollinate?

In the USA, just about anything with pollen is done so by bees.

Is the quality of honey produced affected by outside influences or the type of bee hive or both?

It is a host of factors that affect the quality of honey. Some of these factors include: weather patterns, beekeeper's treatment or lack of treatment, use or over use of chemicals, the quality and maintenance of the hive structure, productivity of the worker bees themselves, the quality of brood produced by the queen, and many more.

Is there anything you would like us to know about bee colonies that we have not asked?

I would be considered a hobbyist beekeeper. You might find different answers for those that are commercial beekeepers.

What state are you from?

New York

How long have you been a beekeeper?

10 years.

How did you become interested in being a beekeeper?

It's been in my family for [at least] 3 generations.

What kind (breed) of bee do you have in your hives?

I collect local feral/wild colonies and breed from them.

Are your hives organic or non-organic? Why?

I keep my bees in suburbia. By definition, suburbia is not organic.

If you have worked with more than one kind of bee, do you have a preference or a favorite breed?

I've tried Italian and New World Carniolan strains. The feral bees I use now outperform these two in disease/parasite resistance and honey production in my experience.

Which bees sting is the worst?

All bee stings contain about the same amount of venom. Bee disposition towards stinging is dependent on many factors like the beekeeper manner, field conditions, chemical contamination etc. They do claim the African bees are the most defensive (easiest to provoke into stinging).

How often do you re-queen and why?

I re-queen when the current queen is failing. Typically, every other year.

Are there crops specific to your region/state that your honeybees pollinate?

I get good flows here in suburbia from May through July from autumn olive, black locust, linden blossoms. And in August/September/October from goldenrod and fall asters. I don't do farm pollinations. Those that do complain of weakened hives presumably do to the chemicals used on the crops.

Have your colonies experienced any types of problems such as varroa mites, disease, or disappearances?

I have varroa mites and treat with oxalic acid in December. Oxalic acid is a component of honey and does not result in contamination. No other problems.

If so, when did you start to notice the disturbances? Did you find the solution?

I have not heard of disappearances in suburbia.

Has Colony Collapse Disorder or Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus affected your bees?

Not at all. I don't use harsh chemicals in my hives and I am not close to farms that use harsh insecticides/herbicides or grow genetically modified organisms (GMOs). As a result, my bees have more robust immune systems.

If so what steps have you taken to minimize the damage to your bee colony?

None. I just stay away from farms.

Do you know of any other beekeepers in your country or that have been affected by CCD or IAPV?

The ones I know of are mostly in the farming midwestern states. No CCD reports in southern NY state that I know of.

Have you noticed if the climate or weather pattern changes, over time, have affected the bees in your colony?

No. Global warming will cause plant species to migrate northward over time. This will not affect honey bees much in eastern US.

Have you noticed an increased use of pesticides in your area that might have affected the bee colony?

No. I am not close to farms. Pesticide use in suburbia is more sporadic.

Do you have an arrangement with the local farmers to help pollinate their crops?

No. Others have and report weakened hives.

What crops in your country do the bees pollinate?

In the US, honey bees pollinate almonds, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, cucumbers, melons, sunflowers, canola/rape, cotton, fruit trees etc.

Is the quality of honey produced affected by outside influences or the type of bee hive or both?

Both. Beekeeper practices with chemicals/pesticides and pasterizaution are a factor - raw honey is the highest quality! - as are the chemicals and GMOs in the environment.

Is there anything you would like us to know about bee colonies that we have not asked?

As will all living creatures, stress (chemical and behavioral) weakens and kills honey bees. Remove the stress and bees thrive. I see it in my hives from year to year.

What state are you from?

I’m located in the state of Tennesse, North Eastern corner in the mountain region.

How long have you been a beekeeper?

Been keeping bees since the early 1970's.

How did you become interested in being a beekeeper?

A friend had a few hives and was looking to sell them so I bought them and have been hooked since.

What kind (breed) of bee do you have in your hives?

Started with Italians, got a hive of Russians later and now have Italians again.

Are your hives organic or non-organic? Why?

Trying to get them organic now, received the hives I have now from a woman that got them from a co-op here in TN. but wasn't really interested in keeping them. So they sat on property for 4 years with no care at all to them. The beekeeper that set them up for her is into all the commercial meds that he can get his hands on so he put in apistan strips and they stayed in the hives the entire time she owned them. When I received them took the strips out. Since an inspector can't inspect their own hives had another inspector come and look at them and the first thing he wanted to do was put in more apistan strips for mite control. Since I am trying to go organic took them out as soon as he left, and told them at our next meeting of our association that is what happened. Nobody agreed with my decision to pull all meds from the hives but I haven't lost any hives since then but the inspector that did mine lost all of his hives last winter.

If you have both types of hives, which type has been more successful?

Doing a more natural course of action seems to me to do better than a lot of meds being dumped in the hives.

If you have worked with more than one kind of bee, do you have apreference or a favorite breed?

Having worked with all different breeds I
personally like the Italians, much calmer and less likely to attack unprovoked.

Which bee sting is the worst?

The Africanized bee has the worst sting as they are always ready to attack unprovoked.

How often do you re-queen and why?

I requeen every two years, since most queens get superseded about that time anyway why not introduce a new queen then.

Are there crops specific to your region/state that your honeybees
pollinate?

Mostly the fruit trees and gardens around here. Corn really gets them working when it comes in.

Have your colonies experienced any types of problems such as varroa
mites, disease, or disappearances?

Just about all colonies around here have "varroa mite and tracheal mites."

If so, when did you start to notice the disturbances? Did you find the solution?

Been around since the 90's with the mites. Solution to varroa mites is getting the bees to do a better job of grooming themselves by doing sugar shakes a few times a year.

Has Colony Collapse Disorder or Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus effected your bees?

None around here yet.

Do you know of any other beekeepers in your country or that have been affected by CCD or IAPV?

Know of one commercial beekeeeper that has had CCD but the colonies affected are in Northern Fla and Southern Ga, he hasn't had any problems with the hives he keeps in TN.

Have you noticed if the climate or weather pattern changes, over time, have affected the bees in your colony?

Nothing to report on this.

Have you noticed an increased use of pesticides in your area that might have affected the bee colony?

Not really that much pesticide use in my region except for home use in the gardens. So no change in its use around here.

Do you have an arrangement with the local farmers to help pollinate their crops?

Have been on pollination list for the last couple of years but haven't been called to do any.

What crops in your country do the bees pollinate?

Mostly fruit tree and home gardens around here.

Is the quality of honey produced affected by outside influences or the type of bee hive or both?

That depends on the season, the last few years were really rough on the bees because of the drought but last year we all thought the bees wouldn't have any reserves for the beekeeper but at extracting time there was an abundance of honey and nobody knows why. Different breeds of bees bring in different amounts of reserves, that is what they are bred for. Some are more prone to raising more brood and others more honey.

Is there anything you would like us to know about bee colonies that we have not asked?

You didn't ask about TBH's ( top bar hives), they are different then most beekeepers are using. Check into them while doing this web site.

What state are you from?

Texas

How long have you been a beekeeper?

I started helping my dad in Michigan orchard when I was four years old. I am now 59. I got beehives in Texas in 1982. I am a third generation beekeeper.

How did you become interested in being a beekeeper?

I have always loved bees. They are the invisible link to our food supply.

What kind (breed) of bee do you have in your hives?

I have had a little of everything, Russian (they were lazy), Buckfast (they were very gentle, but not good producers), Allstars, All American, Italian, three banded Italian, Caucasian, and Carniolan. Probably even a few Africanized.

Are your hives organic or inorganic? Why? What are the benefits for your type of hive? Which has been more successful?

Three years ago I stopped using chemicals. I wanted to use an IPM system. So far it has worked.

If you have worked with more than one kind of bee, do you have a preference or a favorite breed?

The unknown mutts that I pick up in someone’s yard as a swarm usually turns out to be the best. They are like immigrants to this country. They try harder.

Which bees sting is the worst?

The last one that stung me. Different parts of your body hurt worst. The end of your nose or your lip is much worst than your arm.

Have your colonies experienced any types of problems such as varroa mites, disease, or disappearances?

I have experienced all of these problems.

If so, when did you start to notice the disturbances? Did you find the solution?

Until we stop importing diseases from China etc. and stop the wide spread use of herbicides and pesticides there is no real solution.

Has Colony Collapse Disorder affected your bees?

I lost one hive to CCD last year.

If so what steps have you taken to continue to work with bees?

I have tried feeding my bees differently to help boost their overall health.

Do you know of any other beekeepers nationally or internationally that have been affected by CCD or IAPV?

Almost everyone I know has had some problems the last few years.

How often do you re-queen and why?

I re-queen every 1 to 2 years. Even though a queen can live five to seven years, her egg production drops off sharply after the first or second year. Beekeepers need prolific egg layers.

We have read bees hibernate in the hive in winter, throwing out the drones, surviving on honey, is this true even in Northern Climates?

Bees do not hibernate. The bees that live through the winter are there to keep the queen warm and to feed her. They actually unhook their wings so that they can vibrate to create warmth for the queen and any brood that might be in the hive during the winter. Any sunny day that goes above about 37 degrees will have the worker bees out flying to relieve themselves. They do not like to dirty their hive. This happens in all climates. It doesn’t get above 37 very often the farther north you go, so they would need more honey to eat inside the hive. Drones are thrown out to starve in the fall. The only purpose for a drone is to mate with a virgin queen. There are no virgin queens in the winter so no need for drones. New drones are created from unfertilized eggs in the spring.

What color are bees when they are born?

When a bee emerges from the cell it looks just like the other bees. During it’s larval and pupa stage it is a creamy white.

If this is your profession and not a hobby is it profitable?

Beekeepers like to say that they know there is money in the honey business, because they keep putting it there.

What state are you from?

West Virginia

How long have you been a beekeeper?

20 years.

How did you become interested in being a beekeeper?

A friend who was a beekeeper.

What kind (breed) of bee do you have in your hives?

New World Carniolan and Buckfast.

Are your hives organic or non-organic? Why?

They have no chemical treatments of any kind. Honey is a natural product and I don’t want to risk contaminating it with any chemicals.

If you have both types of hives, which type has been more successful?

Both kinds of hives have difficulties because bees are now exposed to pests and diseases from all over the world, including those they have never been exposed to before.

If you have worked with more than one kind of bee, do you have a preference or a favorite breed?

New World Carniolans are my favorite, but I am trying Buckfast for the first time this year.

Which bees sting is the worst?

African bees are the most defensive because they live in the open; other races of bees live in openings in trees and can defend their honey with less stinging.

How often do you re-queen and why?

Every other year because the queen starts to lay fewer eggs and the bees will soon replace her if I don’t.

Are there crops specific to your region/state that your honeybees pollinate?

Garden plants and various trees like black locust, maple and linden.

Have your colonies experienced any types of problems such as varroa mites, disease, or disappearances?

Varroa mites for the last 15 years, tracheal mites for the last 19 years, sacbrood and chalkbrood.

If so, when did you start to notice the disturbances? Did you find the solution?

See above for the years; the search for the solution to varroa mites is still continuing. Sacbrood and chalkbrood by requeening; tracheal mites with mite resistant queen varieties [New World Carniolan and Buckfast].

Has Colony Collapse Disorder or Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus affected your bees?

Not that we know of.

If so what steps have you taken to minimize the damage to your bee colony?

Powdered sugar dusting of the bees to prevent the varroa mites for keeping their feet stuck to the bees by suction.

Do you know of any other beekeepers in your country or that have been affected by CCD or IAPV?

Yes, a beekeeping friend in Pennsylvania has lost many bee colonies to CCD.

Have you noticed if the climate or weather pattern changes, over time, have affected the bees in your colony?

Yes, the bees have been affected by the fact that plants and trees are blooming several weeks earlier than normal.

Have you noticed an increased use of pesticides in your area that might have affected the bee colony?

I haven’t, but I have a close friend in West Virginia who lost a hive to pesticide poisoning last summer Imicloroprid is the worst currently.

Do you have an arrangement with the local farmers to help pollinate their crops?

Yes, I have bees in 6 locations besides my own farm. 5 of these sites are specifically for pollination.

What crops in your country do the bees pollinate?

Fruit trees and garden vegetables and flowers.

Is the quality of honey produced affected by outside influences or the type of bee hive or both?

The quality of the honey is completely influenced by the nectar source, not anything else [race of bee, type of hive, etc.].

Is there anything you would like us to know about bee colonies that we have not asked?

One out of every three bites of food we eat is caused by pollination from a honeybee. Over half the hives in the US died last year. This is an ongoing trend that is very dangerous for the future.

What state are you from?

Wisconsin

How long have you been a beekeeper?

Since I was a young boy, but commercially since 1977.

How did you become interested in being a beekeeper?

My Grandfather and Father were beekeepers.

What kind (breed) of bee do you have in your hives?

Italian.

Are your hives organic or non-organic? Why?

No, organic certification requires a two mile "free zone" surrounding the apiary. This is difficult to achieve in the U.S.

If you have worked with more than one kind of bee, do you have a preference or a favorite breed?

A Carniolan-Italian hybrid.

Which bees sting is the worst?

African.

How often do you re-queen and why?

Every year. Queens in a commercial operation become less viable as they are in maximum egg laying production all year.

Are there crops specific to your region/state that your honeybees pollinate?

White clover, alfalfa, basswood, wildflowers, apples, cherries, and cranberries.

Have your colonies experienced any types of problems such as varroa mites, disease, or disappearances?

Yes, we have mites and various diseases. I have not experienced disappearances.

If so, when did you start to notice the disturbances? Did you find the
solution?

Mites have been on ongoing problem for years but more of a problem now. No.

Has Colony Collapse Disorder or Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus effected your bees?

We have noticed more colony collapse in the past few years while the bees are in California to pollinate the almond groves. Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus does effect our bees.

If so what steps have you taken to minimize the damage to your bee colony?

Nutrition.

Do you know of any other beekeepers in your country or that have been affected by CCD or IAPV?

Yes.

Have you noticed if the climate or weather pattern changes, over time, have affected the bees in your colony?

Yes, our springs are shorter in Wisconsin and for the past few years, California has been wet and cool.

Have you noticed an increased use of pesticides in your area that might have affected the bee colony?

Yes, in corn.

Do you have an arrangement with the local farmers to help pollinate their crops?

No.

Is the quality of honey produced affected by outside influences or the type of bee hive or both?

Some bees are more productive than others. Outside influences are difficult to isolate.

Is there anything you would like us to know about bee colonies that we have not asked?

It is becoming more difficult to find apiary sites (bee yards) due to urban sprawl and increasing population.

What country are you from?

Dorset, England (south coast).

How long have you been a beekeeper?

30 years.

How did you become interested in being a beekeeper?

Self sufficiency became fashionable and, having only a small amount of land, a few fowls and bees were the only feasible livestock

What kind (breed) of bee do you have in your hives?

Local mongrels, largely bases on Apis mellifera mellifera.

Are your hives organic or non-organic? Why?

Non organic because organic standards are impossible to meet and the Soil Association charge for organic certification is about half my entire income (not profit!) from beekeeping. However, I do try to run as nearly as practicable on organic lines.

If you have worked with more than one kind of bee, do you have a preference or a favourite breed?

Once used Italians which set by breeding back by about 5 years as they produced bad tempered hybrids

Which bees sting is the worse?

Workers'. It is difficult to induce a queen to sting, but if she does the poison is less as she doesn't leave her sting behind as it isn't barbed.

How often do you re-queen and why?

I aim for 2-3 years although last year a queen passed her 4th birthday in one of my hives.

Are there crops specific to your region/state that your honeybees pollinate?

I try to keep my hives in static locations with a wide variety of wild and agricultural flowers most of the year round. I have a couple of hives in a community cider orchard and 4 more in a large organic orchard. One is on a perma-cultural holding where I am teaching the owner to keep her own bees. The rest are in small groups elsewhere in a 14 mile radius from home.

Have your colonies experienced any types of problems such as varroa mites, disease, or disappearances?

Yes.

If so, when did you start to notice the disturbances? Did you find the solution?

Varroa since 1992. Disappearances on odd occasions when I haven't kept on top of the varroa. EFB on one occasion in one mating nucleus in 2000. Don't know what is meant by 'disturbances'. Principal cause of colony loss this winter has been isolation starvation.

Has Colony Collapse Disorder or Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus affected your bees?

No.

Do you know of any other beekeepers in your country or that have been affected by CCD or IAPV?

No.

Have you noticed if the climate or weather pattern changes, over time, have affected the bees in your colonies?

Yes. The last 2 years have been my worst ever as 1 was too dry and the next too wet. The long autumns mean that there is no break in brood rearing in winter and so they are more susceptible to isolation starvation.

Have you noticed an increased use of pesticides in your area that might have affected the bee colony?

No.

Do you have an arrangement with the local farmers to help pollinate their crops?

Only the apple orchards mentioned above.

What crops in your country do the bees pollinate?

All sorts of fruit, oilseed rape, and borage.

Is the quality of honey produced affected by outside influences or the type of bee hive or both?

All to do with the season and the crop, not the type of hive.

Is there anything you would like us to know about bee colonies that we have not asked?

If you are looking at CCD you should have asked about beekeeping practices such as the number of bees kept in a location; frequency of brood comb renewal, migration for pollination, availability and use of propolis, siting hives in monocultural areas, methods and frequency of varroa control.

What country are you from?

New Zealand.

How long have you been a beekeeper?

The Mossop family have been beekeeping for 60 years.

How did you become interested in being a beekeeper?

Family business. Our father was experiencing rheumatoid arthritis and heard bee stings were good for it, so he bought 2 beehives. He fell in love with the bees and a couple years later purchased 600 beehives hence becoming a full time, commercial beekeeper.

What kind (breed) of bee do you have in your hives?

Apis mellifera.

Are your hives organic or inorganic? Why?

Non-organic, we have considered this several times and may eventually be able to change to organics for part of our hives in the future I will be registering to pack organic honeys this year though as I get a number of inquiries for this type of product if this increases we will have to seriously consider registering as organic beekeepers. I have not been compelled to go down this track until now though as we live in a very clean environment. We do not have many bee diseases or bee pests (yet) and do not need to feed the bees with unnatural treatments (antibiotics) except for varroa (miticide treatment). Our honey is produced from national forests and we have no pollution
our honey is as close to being organic as one can get but without the certificate and it is a totally natural product it is quite a process to become certified and as migratory beekeepers we are not in a position to separate out a section of our hives to make them organic or to change the internal parts to suit the organic certification requirements
we are heavily involved in pollination of kiwifruit and this requires most of the hives to be moved into orchards which may jeopardise their organic status the organic honey prices are not that great to justify the huge amount of work involved with organic certification.

If you have worked with more than one kind of bee, do you have a preference or a favorite breed?

We have tried a carniolan cross breed, but do not like these. Some beekeepers have converted to carniolan and some find these quite good.

Which bees sting is the worse?

Carniolan crossbreeds are quite aggressive.
dark italian bees can be quite aggressive also Orchardists do not like aggressive bees.

How often do you re-queen and why?

Annually to maintain hive health & maximize performance for honey production. It is a requirement for kiwifruit pollination to maximize a hives pollinating performance.

Have your colonies experienced any types of problems such as varroa mites, disease, or disappearances?

Varroa mites, american foul brood and nosema in the past.

If so, when did you start to notice the disturbances? Did you find the solution?

American foul brood - this has been in NZ for as long as I can remember. Varroa mite - April 2000 controlled using originally Apistan. Now we use Bayvarol and are experimenting with other products in the process of finding an alternative to avoid resistance.

Has Colony Collapse Disorder or Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus effected your bees?(IAPV not applicable to Israel).

No.

Do you know of any other beekeepers in your country or that have been effected by CCD or IAPV?

Not in NZ.

Have you noticed if the climate or weather pattern changes, over time, have effected the bees in your colony?

not specifically

Have you noticed an increased use of pesticides in your area that might have effected the bee colony?

During kiwifruit pollination, there is a wide usage of sprays which cause bee poisoning and bee deaths. We lost about 30 hives this year due to this. We also have noticed bee deaths near maize paddocks at certain times of the year.

Do you have an arrangement with the local farmers to help pollinate their crops?

Our hives are kept on farms all year round
we pay a for this by giving honey to the farmer.

What crops in your country do the bees pollinate?

Kiwifruit, avocados, apples, pasture esp. clover and most fruit trees.

Is the quality of honey produced effected by outside influences or the type of bee hive or both?

Both.

What state are you from?

Alabama

How long have you been a beekeeper?

5 years.

What kind (breed) of bee do you have in your hives?

Italians.

Are your hives organic or non-organic? Why?

Organic in the sense that I don't use chemicals, but not organic in the sense that I have no control over where my bees collect pollen and nectar. If they collect from a roses that wesre treated with a fungicide or a garden treated with Roundup for weed control that would not be considered organic. The only truly "organic" honey would have to come from an area where you have ten or more square miles of known and preferably certified non chemically treated forage area for the bees.

If you have worked with more than one kind of bee, do you have a preference or a favorite breed?

I've had German Blacks and Russians. Italians are better tempered, but I'm considering getting Gray Caucasians because they make a lot of propolis.

Which bees sting is the worst?

They're all about the same.

How often do you re-queen and why?

Every year. Swarm control, hive buildup, overall strength of the colony and now as a preventative for approaching Africanized bees.

Are there crops specific to your region/state that your honeybees pollinate?

I don't do commercial pollination but some beekeepers in AL pollinate cotton and cucumbers.

Have your colonies experienced any types of problems such as varroa mites, disease, or disappearances?

Varroa and Small Hive Beetles. Our state Dept. of Agriculture reports NO CCD IN ALABAMA.

Has Colony Collapse Disorder or Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus affected your bees?

No.

Do you know of any other beekeepers in your country or that have been affected by CCD or IAPV?

None in Alabama.

Have you noticed if the climate or weather pattern changes, over time, have affected the bees in your colony?

Approaching hurricanes or bad weather cause them to be very defensive.

Have you noticed an increased use of pesticides in your area that might have affected the bee colony?

No.

Do you have an arrangement with the local farmers to help pollinate their crops?

No.

What crops in your country do the bees pollinate?

Mostly vegetable gardens including my own.

Is the quality of honey produced affected by outside influences or the type of bee hive or both?

Rainfall. We had a drought last year and the flowers did not bloom very well so Alabama beekeepers did not make as much honey.

Is there anything you would like us to know about bee colonies that we have not asked?

You did not ask about small hive beetles, SHB. SHB has destroyed many hives in our region and continues to be a terrible problem. I would suggest researching all bee pests and pathogens. Beekeepers have more to deal with than just varroa and CCD.

What state are you from?

Arizona

How long have you been a beekeeper?

I have been a beekeeper now for 6 years, first becoming interested in beekeeping approximately 10 years ago due to my interest in nutritional healing and hearing of a substance called Propolis. Wanting to consume Propolis for my own health and well being I inquired with a beekeeper that happened to have a booth set up at the local apple orchard during harvest time. He was more than willing to answer all my questions and mentor me through raising a few honeybee colonies in order to harvest my own Propolis.

What kind (breed) of bee do you have in your hives?

I have raised more than a few strains of honeybees and prefer the Carniolan breed (Apis mellifera carnica), mainly for their gentle temperament, but also due to their tendency to produce an abundance of Propolis.

Are your hives organic or non-organic? Why?

Your fourth question is more than a little complicated to answer, but I will do my best to clarify without getting too lengthy with my explanation. I use an all natural hive management approach, I refuse to use chemicals to maintain my own health let alone my precious colonies of bees. I don't want to breed any chemical resistance into my strain of bees, and would prefer to let the strong survive, and encourage natural strength and vigor. As for success, I'm not sure that my all natural technique with only a 25% survival rate would be considered successful, but nor would I find a higher survival rate successful by merely using chemicals and breeding chemical resistance into our bees and contaminating our honey supply. As for the term organic... I consider my hive management procedures to be organic, but we can't force the bees to only forage on organic areas around us. The honeybee forages on a three mile radius surrounding their colony, which equates to approximately eight thousand acres, I wish I could say those 8,000 acres surrounding my colonies were organic, but I can't.

Which bees sting is the worst?

Amongst the many strains of honeybees, I can't say that I have noticed a difference in the venom strength from one breed to another.

How often do you re-queen and why?

I have not had enough of my colonies survive long enough for the need to re-queen, and the few colonies that have survived more than a few seasons have also swarmed taking the old queen with the swarm and leaving behind the new queen daughter.

Have your colonies experienced any types of problems such as varroa mites, disease, or disappearances?

If so, when did you start to notice the disturbances? Did you find the solution? I have experienced many problems with my hives, and would consider it a constant battle. Not so much with disease, but parasites. The most difficult battle was fought with the Small Hive Beetle (Aethina tumida) in the seasons of 2004 and 2005. Varroa Mites are a very minor parasite in my apiaries due to my technique of using foundationless frames and/or Small Cell Foundation. I have also had minor battles with Wax Moths, Earwigs, and Ants.

Has Colony Collapse Disorder or Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus affected your bees?

As for Colony Collapse Disorder, I have had only one hive "disappear" in the manner such as those experienced with CCD. This last October was the first time that I had ever seen anything like it, but only with one hive out of the 9 colonies in that particular apiary.

I have spoken with many beekeepers that have claimed to be effected by CCD, but in my opinion CCD has become the disorder to blame all your deadouts on. I personally believe that CCD is not responsible for as many deaths as claimed, but has taken the blame for all those unexplained due to the inexperience of the beekeeper.

We have read bees hibernate in the hive in winter, throwing out the drones, surviving on honey, is this true even in Northern Climates?

Hibernation is especially true to northern bees due to the fact it gets so cold up here. Honeybees can not fly when the temperature dips below 40 degrees, nor can they feed in winter when there are no trees or flowers in bloom. The colony must store a surplus of approximately 60 lbs. of honey in order for them to have enough food to make it through the winter. But most importantly during this hibernation period, to ensure the queens fertility she must be kept at a constant 93 degrees no matter what the outside temperature is. Instead of the bees being evenly dispersed and working throughout the hive as they are in summer, they form a cluster about the size of a basketball around the queen and vibrate their wings to create the warmth they need to survive.

What color are bees when they are born?

Newborn bees are slightly lighter in color and fuzzier than their adult form. Each breed of bee has distinct color markings, some of which range from black with gray stripes to brown with orange stripes, northern bees tending to be darker in color.

Is there anything you would like us to know about bee colonies that we have not asked?

The only subject that I would like to expand on a little more would be the subject of Small Cell or Natural Cell Beekeeping. There has been a recent great debate surrounding the use of Natural Cell Beekeeping, I for one have found this to be a great benefit to my practice, and encourage all other beekeepers to migrate their management practices in this direction, which has helped me and my bees manage the varroa fight without the use of chemicals. Just to give you a small taste of the debate, it seems as if the cell size impression of artificial honeybee foundation that is manufactured today may have been enlarged from the size that bees create naturally without any guide, this cell impression causes the bees to build larger cells, the larger the cell the more days it takes for the metamorphosis of the bee to emerge. The Varroa mites feed on the larva of the bee and reproduce in these cells while the bee makes it's transformation through it's egg, larva, pupa through adult bee stages within this cell, the longer the bee stays in this cell to fill the size of the cavity, the more the mites are able to reproduce and the more adult mites are able to emerge with the bee.

By my practice of giving the bees foundationless frames, meaning there are no sheets of foundation in these frames, it allows the bees to create the size cells to fill this frame that they would living in a natural cavity such as a tree. This process allows the bees to build the size cell structure they want, without any guide to influence them, and in my experience this cell size has been small enough to create a 2-3 day earlier emergence for the adult bee which in turn reduces the mite load by 50 percent. All this with no chemicals...

Thank you once again, for allowing me the pleasure of addressing your team and hopefully I have furthered your education of these wonderful pollinators. I hope this was not too advanced for your young minds, but enough to challenge your learning curve.

What state are you from?

Connecticut

How long have you been a beekeeper?

My name is Marina and I have been a beekeeper for more than 10 years.

How did you become interested in being a beekeeper?

First I was an illustrator and designer and traveled all around the world. When I was working in China I learned about all the healthy benefits of Honey when I bought some cherry cough medicine that tasted really great and I learned it was because it was made with real honey. In China they use lots of honey and bees wax and when I returned home I learned bees can be good for my garden as well. I was introduced to beekeeping by a neighbor.

What kind (breed) of bee do you have in your hives?

Good question! many people do not know there are many different types of honeybees that beekeepers can raise. I prefer Italians Apis mellifera ligustica because they are hard workers and make lots of honey also, I am Italian too!

Are your hives organic or non-organic? Why?

My honeybees are not treated with any chemicals so they are organic. We do not spray our gardens with pesticides either.

Why? What are the benefits for your type of hive? Which has been more successful?

I believe pesticides are not good for plants, humans and honeybees. I prefer my garden food and honey to be clean.

If you have worked with more than one kind of bee, do you have a preference or a favorite breed?

I have certainly visited other hives that have Carniolan, Caucasian, Russian ad many other types of bees but I am happy with my Italians.

Which bees sting is the worst?

Honeybees are very docile creatures and do not like to sting unless their hive is disrupted. It has been said that older bees store up more venom over their lifetime and their stings may be painful.

Have your colonies experienced any types of problems such as varroa mites, disease, or disappearances?

In the past, I have had mites and some colonies did not survive the winter.

If so, when did you start to notice the disturbances? Did you find the solution?

Mites are easily seen with the naked eye and at that point it may be too late to save the colony. Mites can be prevented with preventative measures like using natural essential oils like spearmint and lemon grass. Also menthol.

Has Colony Collapse Disorder or Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus affected your bees?

We have not had many incidents of CCD here in Connecticut, mostly migratory beekeepers are affected.

If so what steps have you taken to minimize the damage to your bee colony?

All beekeepers are vigilant about watching out for signs of CCD.

Do you know of any other beekeepers in your country or that have been affected by CCD or IAPV?

David Hackenberg was the first to report CCD, he is in Pennsylvania.

How often do you re-queen and why?

Most beekeepers will re-queen their hives every 2-3 years to insure a healthy and productive queen. Since the health of a bee colony depends upon the activities of their queen, it is important make sure she is productive.

We have read bees hibernate in the hive in winter, throwing out the drones, surviving on honey, is this true even in Northern Climates?

Yes, Honeybees hibernate in colder temperatures and will come out when the temperature is about 55 degrees F to make a cleansing flight.

What color are bees when they are born?

Baby bees look wet and fuzzy when emerging from their individual cells. I like to say my Italians are yellow ocher and sometimes burnt sienna which is golden yellow and red. That is my where my art training meets with science.

If this is your profession and not a hobby? If so, is it profitable?

Yes, I sell honey, handmade honey soap and bees wax balms as well as candles. Red Bee is the name of my business and it is a full time job and O do LOVE what I do. It is good for the planet and my products are good for humans.

Is there anything you would like us to know about bee colonies that we have not asked?

Honeybees are fascinating and the more you learn about them, the more there is to learn.

What state are you from?

Georgia

How long have you been a beekeeper?

I have kept honeybees for 35 years now.

How did you become interested in being a beekeeper?

I was having a breakfast conversation with a preacher friend of mine. He began telling me about keeping bees. I checked out a lot of books from the library and began to read. I was hooked from the very first book! A few weeks after that conversation another friend gave me a hive of bees, and I've been keeping them continually since then.

What kind (breed) of bee do you have in your hives?

I raise only Italian bees.

Are your hives organic or non-organic? Why?

For the most part my hives are organic. As of a few years ago I quit using medications that are chemically based and started using only organically constructed medications. I don't like using any medications, but sometimes they are necessary. The benefit to the colonies is that sometimes they are strengthened by the medications. I believe the organic method is the way to go.

If you have worked with more than one kind of bee, do you have a preference or a favorite breed?

Only the Italian.

Which bees sting is the worst?

All stings hurt, but they're not so bad. The secret is getting the stinger removed quickly. But, if you cook on the stove you might get burned. If you keep bees, you're likely to get stung. One bee cannot sting with more power than another. Sometimes not removing the stinger can cause a worse sting.

Have your colonies experienced any types of problems such as varroa mites, disease, or disappearances?

Yes, since the 1990's I have struggled with varroa mites. Once the hive is infested it's a management problem. You will not get rid of the mites. Other than Varroa, I've not had many problems with disease. The secret is a STRONG hive, a good laying queen and plenty of food stores for your bees.

If so, when did you start to notice the disturbances? Did you find the solution?

See above.

Has Colony Collapse Disorder or Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus affected your bees?

No, but I know some beekeepers who've suffered this odd disorder in their hives.

How often do you re-queen and why?

I re-queen every 2 years. I work my bees from a philosophy that says my hives need to be strong. For that to occur the hive must have a strong, young queen.

We have read bees hibernate in the hive in winter, throwing out the drones, surviving on honey, is this true even in Northern Climates?

I don't think "hibernate" is the correct terminology. I like to think the bees cluster closer in winter, but they are still functioning as a hive. They are not unconscious. Yes, drones are removed from the hive by worker bees close to or just after the first frost of the season. And, yes, they eat honey year round.

What color are bees when they are born?

A kind of tan color, not really very pretty.

If this is your profession and not a hobby? If so, is it profitable?

This is strictly a hobby for me. Though I have owned as many as 170 hives of bees, it's still just a hobby.

Is there anything you would like us to know about bee colonies that we have not asked?

I think every student ought to try his/her hand at raising honeybees. There is so much about the earth, about plants, about seasons, about yourself that you can learn from raising bees. So, have at it!!!

What state are you from?

Massachusetts

How long have you been a beekeeper?

10 years.

How did you become interested in being a beekeeper?

We needed bees for pollinating our bogs and used to lease them for each season, and then decided that we should have our own so we could have the honey and it would cost us less. Plus we got really interested in them.

What kind (breed) of bee do you have in your hives?

We have Italians and Carniolans.

Are your hives organic or non-organic? Why?

Our hives are organic, we have organic bogs. We have never used chemicals in our hives and have had as good or better survival rates then people who do use chemical pesticides. We took a course in organic bee keeping at the Pheiffer Institute in New York state.

If you have worked with more than one kind of bee, do you have a preference or a favorite breed?

We think the Carniolans are hardier and friendlier.

Which bees sting is the worst?

We think the stings are probably not that different, depends where they sting you.

Have your colonies experienced any types of problems such as varroa mites, disease, or disappearances?

We have had Varroa mites, and used herbal sprays and sieves at the bottom of the hive to catch the mites. We have had hives die and not sure why, no disease was found. Sometime the weather is hard on them, cold rain and sudden changes in temperature.
We have not had hives disappear.

If so, when did you start to notice the disturbances? Did you find the solution?

See above.

Has Colony Collapse Disorder or Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus affected your bees?

We don't think so.

Do you know of any other beekeepers nationally or internationally that have been affected by CCD or IAPV?

Read about them.

How often do you re-queen and why?

We re-queen when it looks like the queen is not laying much eggs or when she disappears. If we see that the bees are building new queen cells we let them grow their own new queen and decide when to replace her. The we watch for eggs and if it looks like the replacement did not work, (sometimes bees get killed on their mating flight), then we buy a new queen for them.

We have read bees hibernate in the hive in winter, throwing out the drones, surviving on honey, is this true even in Northern Climates?

Especially in Northern Climates, they can't move in low temperatures. In the south they do not hibernate. When bee keepers take the honey they give the bees sugar syrup to eat in the winter.

What color are bees when they are born?

The color goes with the kind of bee it is, the Carniolans are darker, they maybe a little lighter then they first emerge from the larvea.

If this is your profession and not a hobby? If so, is it profitable?

It is not our profession or our hobby , we need the bees to pollinate our bogs and we only keep a few hives for this purpose.

Is there anything you would like us to know about bee colonies that we have not asked?

There are many wonderful books about bees. Also a videal tean inside the hive and you can hear the queen trumpet when another queen is born and she is about to attack there. The most interesting thing about them is how they communicate and how the hive is organized how they decide when to replace the queen, how each bee only lives for 45 days and takes turns being first a nurse bee in the hive, then a guard bee, and only for the last ten or so days of their life going out to collect pollen.

What state are you from?

Massachusetts

How long have you been a beekeeper?

This will be my second season.

How did you become interested in being a beekeeper?

I used to help a neighbor with his bees, and I am a big-time gardener as well as being a landscape architect, so I know how important bees are to all plants.

What kind (breed) of bee do you have in your hives?

My first hive last year was Italians. I am adding another hive this year which will be Russians.

Are your hives organic or non-organic? Why?

I tried as much as possible to keep my bees organically last year. I used no medications and did some sugar dusting for mite control (which is not approved of by the most hard-core organic beekeepers). I think bees, like many other agricultural "products" (animals) have been bred into something they would not naturally be by man in order to meet our needs (not theirs). I think small-cell organic beekeeping gets bees back to where they should be, and puts them in better balance with nature. I also don't want any chemical residue in my food or honey.

If you have worked with more than one kind of bee, do you have a preference or a favorite breed?

We'll see after this year - I want to try the Russians because they are supposed to be more mite-resistant.

Which bees sting is the worst?

The stings are not bad - after a couple they don't even swell up. Many people use bee stings for therapy for things like arthritis and MS.

Have your colonies experienced any types of problems such as varroa mites, disease, or disappearances?

I wasn't on top of controlling my drones at the end of last season so I had a spike of Varroa in the fall. I lost my hive around Thanksgiving, and I believe that is the reason why.

If so, when did you start to notice the disturbances? Did you find the solution?

This season I will allow the bees an unlimited space for brood so they build up a big strong colony and I will be vigilant about culling drone brood. At least for the first season I will probably do sugar-dusting for mite control as well.

Has Colony Collapse Disorder or Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus affected your bees?

I don't know if I believe in CCD per say. I think it is the culmination of years of various things like pesticide use, overbreeding to make bees larger and too much chemical medicating of commercial hives. The "CCD" losses have been greatest in commercial beekeepers (anecdotally the percentage loss is much higher for them than for hobbyist beekeepers, which is likely due to the fact that bees that are trucked around for pollination are essentially malnourished (imagine if you only ate one thing for weeks on end) and are way overmedicated.

If so what steps have you taken to minimize the damage to your bee colony?

As I said before, I am going to try Russian bees this year, which are supposed to have good varroa resistance and will be more vigilant in my drone control (varroa breeds more in drone brood than in worker brood)

Do you know of any other beekeepers nationally or internationally that have been affected by CCD or IAPV?

No hive losses in my club have been specifically attributed to this. It's hard because this term "CCD" has been coined, but there is no hard and fast definition of it. There have been multiple instances historically in the US of fall bee die-offs and they haven't been called CCD.

How often do you re-queen and why?

I haven't had to yet, but then I am a new beekeeper. If I have a hive that is not performing well I would pinch the queen and let the bees raise another on on their own.

Have you noticed if the climate or weather pattern changes, over time, have affected the bees in your colony?

I haven't been keeping bees long enough to know, but I do know weather changes are greatly affecting plants in my area of Mass.

Have you noticed an increased use of pesticides in your area that might have affected the bee colony?

I don't know. My town sprays for mosquitoes which I wish they wouldn't.

Do you have an arrangement with the local farmers to help pollinate their crops?

No.

What crops do the bees pollinate?

I don't know - whatever's out there in suburban Boston (Norfolk County).

Is the quality of honey produced affected by outside influences or the type of bee hive or both?

All factors I would think. "Quality" is an opinion - all honey is different.

Is there anything you would like us to know about bee colonies that we have not asked?

Consider the fact that CCD is merely a result of global warming and man's intrusion into natural systems. Our government wants us to think it's one "thing" that can be "fixed" but like so much of what's happening to the world around us today, the bees may just be the metaphorical canaries in our above-ground global coal mine.

What state are you from?

Montana

How long have you been a beekeeper?

I've been beekeeping for 10 years.

How did you become interested in being a beekeeper?

My Dad got me interested. He was into eating healthy.

What kind (breed) of bee do you have in your hives?

I use Yugos and Italians.

Are your hives organic or non-organic? Why?

My hives are non organic certified, due to the cost and how hard it is to get honey production organically certified.

If you have worked with more than one kind of bee, do you have a preference or a favorite breed?

Italian.

Which bees sting is the worst?

It depends on what time of the year you get stung. It seems to depend on if one seems worst than others.

Have your colonies experienced any types of problems such as varroa mites, disease, or disappearances?

Yes.

If so, when did you start to notice the disturbances? Did you find the solution?

Last year, Spring of 2007.

Has Colony Collapse Disorder or Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus affected your bees?

I am not sure if it is CCD or IAPV.

Do you know of any other beekeepers nationally or internationally that have been affected by CCD or IAPV?

In local media last summer it seemed that pretty much every beekeeper in the state was affected. There are 200 registered beekeepers in the state of Montana.

How often do you re-queen and why?

I requeen as needed. I do this in order to keep my brood as healthy as possible.

Have you noticed if the climate or weather pattern changes, over time, have affected the bees in your colony?

No.

Have you noticed an increased use of pesticides in your area that might have affected the bee colony?

No.

Do you have an arrangement with the local farmers to help pollinate their crops?

Not for pollination.

Is the quality of honey produced affected by outside influences or the type of bee hive or both?

The quality always seems to be there but outside influences definately make a difference.

Is there anything you would like us to know about bee colonies that we have not asked?

Yes the question about organic. There are a lot of beekeepers who aren't certified organic but they do minimize or use alternative ways to medicate their bees to help ensure that their honey is as healthy as possible. Most large commercial beekeepers use chemicals and methods most small and hobby beekeepers would never practice. Commercial honey from the store has a lot of chemicals in them especially honey from outside the United States, such as China and South American honey. You should ask if the honey is raw or not. Commercial honey has been heated
and mixed with other honey and sugars and does not have the health properties that raw honey does. Also unless the label says Pure Raw Honey, there has been other things added to the honey.

What state are you from?

Nebraska

How long have you been a beekeeper?

34 years.

How did you become interested in being a beekeeper?

I read about it in a book.

What kind (breed) of bee do you have in your hives?

Feral survivors. (mutts).

Are your hives organic or non-organic? Why?

There are no chemicals put in my hives. I believe it upsets the natural ecosystem of the hive. Many things live there including bees,
mites (about 50 different kinds or so) beetles (many different kinds) bacteria, yeast, fungi, insects etc.

If you have both types of hives, which type has been more successful?

I've never really used chemicals except for three years of desperation with the Varroa mites.

If you have worked with more than one kind of bee,do you have a preference or a favorite breed?

Suvivors are nice as they are hardier. I enjoyed Buckfasts for many years as well as Italians and, more recently, Russians. I liked all of them.

Which bees sting is the worst?

Guard bees. :)

How often do you re-queen and why?

It's not a matter of how often. I requeen if I see that the queen is failing but usually by the time I see the queen is failing the bees are already taking care of it. Most of my queens are two or three years old with a few that are four or five.

Are there crops specific to your region/state that your honeybees pollinate?

I'm not sure how specific to my area anything is. I take a few hives to a local orchard to pollenate their apples.

Have your colonies experienced any types of problems such as varroa mites, disease, or disappearances?

I lost all of them in 1998, 1999, and 2001 to Varroa mites.

If so, when did you start to notice the disturbances? Did you find the solution?

1998. Yes. I went to natural sized cells.
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesnaturalcell.htm

Has Colony Collapse Disorder or Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus affected your bees?

No.

Have you noticed if the climate or weather pattern changes, over time, have affected the bees in your colony?

Yes. There has been no flow of nectar in the fall for the last two years. The bees depend on this to raise young bees to get through the
winter and to stock up enough to eat for the winter.

Have you noticed an increased use of pesticides in your area that might have affected the bee colony?

I hear that there is more use of systemic pesticides (that are in the plant itself). I don't know what effect that would have. I have not
seen more pesticide kills in recent years. Occasionally I get some where a lot of bees die all at once and it's obviously pesticides.
The mosquito eradication efforts are often the problem. Especially if they spray in the daytime (as they should not) instead of after dark (when they should).

Do you have an arrangement with the local farmers to help pollinate their crops?

One orchard, yes.

What crops in your state do the bees pollinate?

Probably nothing other than the apples that anyone cares about. They do pollinate soybeans, but the soybeans don't seem to need it. They do pollinate alfalfa, but unless the farmer is raising it for seed it probably doesn't matter.

Is the quality of honey produced affected by outside influences or the type of bee hive or both?

Mostly outside influences. Bees are very adaptable as far as where they live. Any hollow place will do for them. How you manage a hive has more to do with it than the hive itself. If you manage the hive well so that it doesn't swarm, then there are a lot more bees to gather honey. If you don't manage it well and they swarm, then half the workforce leaves with the swarm.

What state are you from?

New Hampshire

How long have you been a beekeeper?

This is my 7th year keeping bees.

How did you become interested in being a beekeeper?

Well long story short, I wanted a hive to get my own honey, took a class and have expanded every year since I enjoy it a lot.

What kind (breed) of bee do you have in your hives?

Mainly Buckfast bees, though I do have Italians and Russians for breeding.

Are your hives organic or non-organic? Why?

I do everything organic. It is better for the bees, better for nature and better for us humans.

If you have both types of hives, which type has been more successful?

Organic is the way to go. It takes a couple more minutes per hive, but is well worth
the little extra time.

If you have worked with more than one kind of bee, do you have a preference or a favorite breed?

Buckfast by far, they are healthier (better genetics/breeding), easier to work with,
and makes more honey. I averaged 225 lbs a hive last year and no chemical was needed to control mites or other diseases.

Which bees sting is the worst?

They all seem about the same, per stinger.

How often do you re-queen and why?

3-5 years and as needed. I let the hive tell me when and really don't need to know why, if they are unhappy with the queen,I either let them raise a new one, or re-queen with a raised one.

Are there crops specific to your region/state that your honeybees pollinate?

Strawberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Blueberries, Watermelons, Squash, Pumpkins, Potatoes, Apples, Pears.

Have your colonies experienced any types of problems such as varroa mites, disease, or disappearances?

None at all.

Has Colony Collapse Disorder or Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus affected your bees?

No.

If so what steps have you taken to minimize the damage to your bee colony?

I plant Mint, Thyme and lemon grass near all my hives. It seems to help with most issues. I use a screen bottom board and essential oils in a spray sugar syrup, I seldom smoke my bees.

Do you know of any other beekeepers nationally or internationally that have been affected by CCD or IAPV?

Yes, Shelburn Falls Mass, 78 of 100
hives are gone.

Have you noticed if the climate or weather pattern changes, over time, have affected the bees in your colony?

Yes, Spring seems a couple days earlier every year.

Have you noticed an increased use of pesticides in your area that might have affected the bee colony?

Yes and no, yes in that home owners use more now then ever before and the stuff they use is really bad for bees and other helpful bugs.

Do you have an arrangement with the local farmers to help pollinate their crops?

Yes, some on a cash basic, others a swap of bees for veggies :-)

Is the quality of honey produced affected by outside influences or the type of bee hive or both?

For sure, spring feeding, queen lays
more eggs sooner and builds up work force before the 1st blooms. Buckfast don't seem to like things sprayed with some chemicals and will not collect from them.


References
Mid-Atlantic Apiculture: CCD	Bee History
Honeybees


Photo Sources
All other photos are credited above.
All graphics created by team members.