Mission Statement:

To promote interest in, and

awareness of, the vital im-

portance of the honeybee and

beekeeping to agriculture, com-

merce, and the public at large.

2 0 1 4

A S SO C I A T I ON O F F I C E R S

President: Nathan Amboy

sabapresident@gmail.com

Vice President: Robert Sugar sabavp01@gmail.com

Secretary: Kate Morton

Treasurer: Kate Morton

sabatreasurer@gmail.com

C OMMI TTEE C ONTACTS

Class Coordinator: Ron Nies

Inventory: Paul Newman

Library: Doug & Gail Houck

Membership: Howard Mann

Honey Bee Ordinance Committee

Chairperson: Mojgan Fischer

Mentor: George Bleekman

Webmaster: Martha Maldonado

Newsletter: Richard Begley

sabaeditor@gmail.com

President’s Corner 2

Business Meeting Minutes 2

January 21st Agenda 3

New Members 3

A Good Bee Book 4

January in the Apiaries 4-6

Membership Renewal Form 6

Links of the Month 7

Bee-Friendly Plants 7

Calendar of Events 8

2014—Issue 1

IIII N S I D EN S I D EN S I D EN S I D E T H I ST H I ST H I ST H I S I S S U EI S S U EI S S U EI S S U E ::::

January 2014

www.sacbeekeepers.org

Sacramento Area Beekeepers Association

________ The Bee Line ________________ The Bee Line ________________ The Bee Line ________________ The Bee Line ________

The Different Types of Honey Bees

Honey bees, like all other living things, vary among themselves in traits such as temperament, disease resistance, and productivity. Beekeepers have long known that different genetic stocks have distinctive characteristics, so they have utilized different strains to suit their particular purpose, whether it be pollination, a honey crop, or bee production.

What is a bee stock?

The term “stock” is defined as a loose combination of traits that characterize a par-ticular group of bees. Such groups can be divided by species, race, region, popula-tion, or breeding line in a commercial operation. The following is a brief overview of some of the more common commercially available honey bee stocks in the U.S.

The Italian bee

Italian honey bees, of the subspecies Apis mellifera ligustica, were brought to the U.S. in 1859. They quickly became the favored bee stock in this country and remain so to this day. Known for their extended periods of brood rearing, Italian bees can build colony populations in the spring and maintain them for the entire summer. They are less defensive and less prone to disease than their German counterparts, and they are excellent honey producers. They also are very lightly colored, ranging from a light leather hue to an almost lemon yellow, a trait that is highly coveted by many beekeepers for its aesthetic appeal.

Despite their popularity, Italian bees have some drawbacks. First, because of their prolonged brood rearing, they may consume surplus honey in the hive if supers (removable upper sections where honey is stored) are not removed immediately after the honey flow stops. Second, they are notorious kleptoparasites and frequent-ly rob the honey stores of weaker or dead neighboring colonies. This behavior may pose problems for Italian beekeepers who work their colonies during times of nectar dearth, and it may cause the rapid spread of transmittable diseases among hives.

The German bee

Honey bees are not native to the New World. Honey bees were brought to America in the 17th century by the early European settlers. These bees were most likely of the subspecies A. m. mellifera, otherwise known as the German or “black” bee. This stock is very dark in color and tends to be very defensive, making bee management more difficult. One of the German bees’ more favorable characteristics is that they are a hardy strain, able to survive long, cold winters in northern climates. However, because of their defensive nature and their susceptibility to many brood diseases (such as American and European foulbrood), this stock lost favor with beekeepers well over a century ago. Although the feral bee population in the U.S. was once dominated by this strain, newly introduced diseases have nearly wiped out most wild honey bee colonies, making the German bee a rare stock at this time.

The Carniolan bee

The subspecies A. m. carnica, from middle Europe, also has been a favored bee stock in the U.S. for several reasons. First, their explosive spring buildup enables this race to grow rapidly in population and take advantage of blooms that occur much earlier in the spring, compared to other stocks. Second, they are extremely docile and can be worked with little smoke and protective clothing. Third, they are much less prone to robbing other colonies of honey, lowering disease transmission among colonies. Finally, they are very good builders of wax combs, which can be used for products ranging from candles, to soaps, to cosmetics.

(Continued on page 3)

President’s Corner

The cold nights are upon us and our bees. 2013 was not a great honey year for many of us, so please make sure your hives have plenty of food to survive the cold. We may need to feed sugar water and pollen supplement right now. Give your boxes a heft to see if they are light.

SABA saw an increase in volunteerism in 2013, but we need to work on increasing the depth of our volunteer corps for 2014. Many hands make light work. The 2014 board would like to invite SABA members to sub-mit suggestions for the monthly meeting presentations. Bob Sugar will pass a clipboard around at the January

meeting; please give it some thought. SABA has several projects to finish: the Honey Bee Ordinance, pollinator plant database, and filling our class instructor vacancies. The new 2014 Board looks forward to seeing everyone at the January 21st meeting.

Nathan Amboy

Page 2 ———- THE BEE LINE ——— January 2014

Minutes of November19, 2013 Business Meeting

I. Meeting called to Order at 8:25 p.m. -

II. Quorum Confirmation with 24 members present / Approval of October 2013 Minutes with a motion by Ernie Buda and seconded by Nathan Amboy; motion was passed by vote of the membership

III. Treasurer Report by Kate Morton: $6,772.33 in Checking and $6,592.69 in Savings.

IV. Committee Reports

A. Classes - Nathan Amboy reported that we have dates for the 2014 classes and will be filling in with instructors. Ron Nies and Ron Ring will be assisting with classes this year. Ernie noted that a former member, Sean Krelitch, may be able to teach a beginning class.

B. Events – Larry Hutteball reported that the CSBA convention in Tahoe is ongoing, 19th-21st of No-vember. The annual holiday potluck on December 10th will be organized by volunteers Debbi Gable, Celine Livengood, and Marti Ikehara.

C. Honeybee Ordinance – Committee met and continues to work on issues. Mojgan Fischer asked members for feedback on issues they want addressed to the County; contact Mojgan with your input.

V. Unfinished Business

Larry Hutteball updated information on the abandoned hives at Camp Pollack; there are still hives that may be picked up. He asked that you contact him for the phone number at Camp Pollack.

VI. New Business – Ernie Buda made a motion for Nathan Amboy to head a committee to examine/explore a work-

ing relationship with UC Davis Entomology Dept. for researching development of a searchable database on plants for pollinators with up to $1,000 authorized to facilitate appropriate SABA input and advantage. After a second by Mojgan, discussion ensued regarding amount to be contributed and the need for a business plan prior to as-signing dollar amount. Members voted 6 yes, 7 no; motion did not pass.

VII. Meeting Adjournment at 9:02 p.m. with a motion by Richard Begley and a second by Marti Ikehara; passed by a vote of the membership.

Page 3 ———- THE BEE LINE ——— January 2014

The Different Types of Honey Bees (from p. 1)

Because of their rapid buildup, however, carniolan bees tend to have a high propensity to swarm (their effort to re-lieve overcrowding) and, therefore, may leave the beekeeper with a very poor honey crop. This stock requires contin-ued vigilance to prevent the loss of swarms.

The Caucasian bee

A. m. caucasica is a race of honey bees native to the foothills of the Ural mountains near the Caspian Sea in eastern Europe. This stock was once popular in the U.S., but it has declined in regard over the last few decades. Its most notable characteristic is its very long tongue, which enables the bees to forage for nectar from flowers that other bee stocks may not have access to. They tend to be a moderately colored bee and, like the Carniolans, are extremely docile. However, their slow spring buildup keeps them from generating very large honey crops, and they tend to use an excessive amount of propolis-the sticky resin substance sometimes called “bee glue” that is used to seal cracks and joints of bee structures-making their hives difficult to manipulate.

The Buckfast bee

In the 1920s, honey bee colonies in the British Isles were devastated by acarine disease, which now is suspected to have been the endoparasitic tracheal mite Acarapis woodi. Brother Adams, a monk at Buckfast Abby in Devon, Eng-land, was charged with creating a bee stock that could withstand this deadly disease. He traveled the world interview-ing beekeepers and learning about different bee strains, and he created a stock of bees, largely from the Italian race, that could thrive in the cold wet conditions of the British Isles, yet produce good honey crops and exhibit good house-cleaning and grooming behavior to reduce the prevalence of disease. Bees of this stock are moderately defensive. However, if left unmanaged for one or two generations, they can be among the most fiercely defensive bees of any stock. They also are moderate in spring population buildup, preventing them from taking full advantage of early nec-tar flows.

Published by North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service - Distributed in furtherance of the acts of Con-gress of May 8 and June 30, 1914.

Monthly Business Meeting Agenda January 21, 2014

I. Meeting called to Order

II Quorum confirmation / Approval of November 2013 Minutes

III. Treasurer Report

IV. Committee Reports

a. Classes - Ron Nies

b. Events - Bob Sugar

c. Honey Bee Ordinance

V. Unfinished Business

VI. New Business

VII. Meeting Adjournment

Welcome, New Members!

Tony Banchieri, Rocklin Farah Robbins-Hess, Sacramento

Seth Brunner, Davis Bill Rohele, Colusa

Janet Dick, Sacramento Blair Summey, Lincoln

David & Terri Doherty, Folsom Janie & Rob Sutton, Herald

Nancy Gannon, Carmichael Lori & Tim Thorson, Sacramento

Joe Koonse, Sacramento Merry Watson, Grizzly Flats

Rob Meneley, Rancho Cordova Coleen Welch, Vacaville

Jim Murray, Lodi Jack & Lisa Williams, Elk Grove

Alan Newton, Loomis

Page 4 ———- THE BEE LINE ——— January 2014

The Marin beekeepers invited John Kefuss to speak at their November meeting. Although I consider the commerce of bees as he and too many others practice it to be detrimental to the bees, I had to hear his presentation on his no-treatment approach to varroa control. During the question-and-answer period, a man placed a book on my lap. I heard him say that he had previously emailed me about it, that I should read it and then pass it on to the club’s li-brary. Then I lost track of him. Back at home, I put the book on my nightstand and searched for his message, but to no avail. Maybe I was not the intended recipient of that book, Keeping Bees With a Smile, by Fedor Lazutin.

Ever since I started keeping bees, I have been an avid reader of anything on bees and beekeeping. But frankly, now-adays I find most of the beekeeping literature profoundly depressing. This is because of its pervasive glorification of conventional beekeeping, commercial or not, in which I do not partake. However, the subtitle of the book that had been brought to me (A vision and practice of natural apiculture) was enticing enough and I started reading it, albeit with some reticence. “Yeah, right,” I could not avoid thinking, “another one of those so-called natural beekeeping books!” I’d been burned before. This time, I was about to be pleasantly surprised.

The author of the book gleaned his beekeeping experience in cold, rural Russia. For this reason, many of the hive management procedures that he describes and their timing are not applicable in the Mediterranean climate we enjoy in this area. At least, not without making substantial adjustments. But I applaud the principles that Mr. Lazutin has adopted in his practice of the craft: He advocates trusting the bees, no interference with the process of natural selec-tion, no treatments for pests or diseases, no feeding of bee colonies, the importance of providing bees with well-designed hives, and reliance on local bees. I could not agree more with these principles, since I have strived to heed the very same ones for many years. The body of the text, however, is unfortunately studded with contradictions, es-pecially when it comes to feeding and helping swarms and inherently weak colonies. So, there are differences be-tween Mr. Lazutin’s method and the way I practice beekeeping. To a large extent, they result from the drastically dis-similar environmental conditions we experience in our respective apiaries. The most noteworthy points of contention I’d have are his use of foundation, his frequently mentioned use of feeding, and his method of propagating colonies and renewing queens by inducing his colonies to swarm.

All in all, it was thrilling to read that someone else halfway around the world has adopted the same beekeeping guide-lines I respect. This copy of Keeping Bees with a Smile will be part of the SCBA library inventory. I recommend it.

I am thankful to the generous man who brought this book to me and looking forward to meeting him at the January Marin beekeepers’ meeting.

January in the Apiaries

January is typically wet and cold in our area. Hopefully, this will hold true this year, as everything is in dire need of water.

The hives may seem inactive in periods of wintery weather. Yet, nothing could be farther from the truth: The queens have begun to lay eggs again, if they ever stopped at all in the fall. Tiny at first, the brood nests are growing and demand more and more food and heat from the shrinking populations of adult winter bees. Regardless of the ambi-ent temperature, the brood must be kept at approximately 94°F. To do this, some of the bees ingest honey and pro-duce heat by shivering. It is of vital importance that these bees have direct access to honey. The queens stay inside the brood nests while the rest of the bees form protective and nurturing clusters around the brood. The clusters are actually rather loose masses, as the bees maintain open channels to allow the penetration of air to their centers and to permit the evacuation of the by-products of the bees’ metabolism, carbon dioxide and water vapor. The colder the ambient temperature becomes the tighter the clusters contract to reduce heat losses. The temperature is highest at the center of the clusters, where the bees produce heat. Outside the clusters, the nest cavities remain unheated. The outer bees of the clusters are almost at the same temperature as the surrounding air. Being cold-blooded ani-mals, these bees become lethargic and cannot leave the clusters when it’s cold. Unable to move, they would die of exposure, were it not for the bees below them. They pull the cold bees into the clusters, where they can warm up. Then they take their place. This beautiful mechanism protects the colonies, allowing them to survive quite well during periods of cold weather as long as the bees remain dry and remain right next to their honey.

After slowly moving up on the combs during the past several weeks while consuming honey, the clusters are now reaching areas of bee bread that were stored during the summer. This ensures that the nurse bees have access to nutritious food, even in the middle of a severe winter.

Thank You for a Good Bee Book by Serge Labesque

Page 5 ———- THE BEE LINE ——— January 2014

January in the Apiaries (continued)

Yet, day length is increasing, and there are also occasional periods of mild weather during which pollen and nectar are available to the bees. This may be from calendulas, eucalyptus trees, mustard, manzanitas, and bay trees to name some of the most obvious plants that bloom in this season.

Nonetheless, we are entering the period of the year when the colonies are the most fragile. In most cases the hive populations will not begin to rebound before early February, when the emergence of young bees will compensate for the loss of their older sisters. This burgeoning activity augments the rate of store consumption, and consequently the production of metabolic water inside the hives.

The colonies that were able to eliminate or at least substantially reduce their populations of varroa mites during the winter period of broodlessness can now give a good start in life to their young. On the other hand, the brood of those that were unable to do this may be heavily infested. The most frequent signs of this problem are the elimina-tion of pupae, the presence of bees with deformed wings and bodies at the entrance of the hives, and mites on the monitoring trays. Other health problems that are relatively frequent at this time of year are dysentery and Nosema. In these cases, sunny apiary locations, well-designed beekeeping equipment and good nutrition can make a positive difference for the colonies.

Although it may be tempting to open and inspect hives on a nice sunny day, I avoid doing this. Indeed, they are best left undisturbed. Moreover, this is definitely not the time of year to break clusters. The heat losses that accom-pany open-hive inspections may be such that the small populations have a hard time recovering from them. Worse, developing brood or queens may be chilled.

But it’s good to keep an eye on the colonies. Walks through the apiaries to check on the condition of the equipment and to verify that the bees are all right are part of my routine. Indications about what is going on inside our hives abound: The fronts of the hives, their entrances and the flight paths on nice days provide clues about the strength of the colonies.

Now more than ever, the monitoring trays are tremendously valuable tools, as they may be accessed at any time without disturbing the bees. Amidst the debris that accumulates on them, we can read the development of the brood nests. By the end of the month, the debris cast out of the nests should cover oblong areas that are centered on the trays and that extend from three to five frames in width. Condensed metabolic water in rows of fine droplets that are aligned with the combs also indicates the strength of the colonies, whereas standing water from rain hints at possible flaws in our equipment. An-other interesting sign to watch for at this time of year is the widespread appearance of drone brood cappings. These dome-shaped cappings are unmistakable, as they fall almost intact onto the trays. Their presence on the monitoring trays of many healthy queenright colonies announces the upcoming season of colony reproduction. I use this clue to set the earli-est date to rear queens or divide colonies, at six weeks later. Earlier than this, there might not be enough mature drones to mate with the young queens. A few pellets of fresh pollen on the trays after any period of weather that is favorable to foraging are a welcome sight. This, combined with the finely chewed worker brood cappings indicates that brood is being reared and is emerging in the hives.

When there is no visible activity outside the hives, we can also place an ear or a stethoscope against the sides of the hives and listen for that very soft, sometimes very faint, and oh-so comforting hum. If no hive noise is heard, a gentle tap on the wood should prompt the bees to produce a sound that should subside quickly. I perform this test only when there is great concern about a colony, as it is preferable not to get the bees unnecessarily agitated. If no noise is heard, the colony is probably dead. This needs to be verified and, should it be the case, the hive must be immediately closed or removed from the apiary to prevent robber bees from entering. The contents of the hive should be inspected at the first opportunity in order to determine the cause of the demise of the colony and to decide how to proceed with the equipment for its safe fu-ture use or disposal.

Toward the end of the month, on a nice sunny and windless day, I lift the hive tops and lids to expose the hive top feeders of my hives, and I peek through their center slots. Without going further, it is possible to determine whether the clusters have moved up to the top of the hives or not. If a cluster has reached the top of its hive, which is evidenced by the dense mass of bees that can be seen directly against the slot of the feeder, I swiftly insert under the feeder a super that has been set in the sun to warm up. The super contains only a few frames of empty drawn comb and a couple of follower boards. As quickly as possible and without penetrating any deeper into the hive, I replace the hive top feeder and lid, and I secure the hive top. These additional combs provide the bees with nectar storage space directly above the brood nest. Not doing this would force the bees to deposit the nectar that is collected on favorable days within the developing brood nest, which would impair the development of the colony. From this moment on, my goal as beekeeper is to make sure that nothing prevents my colonies from developing freely and fully.

Page 6 ———- THE BEE LINE ——— January 2014

In Summary, This Month: • Inspect the exterior condition of the hives:

Hive tops should remain properly set and secured; Observe the entrances and the ground in front of the hives; Verify that the hive entrances are unobstructed; Maintain adequate and safe ventilation through the hives.

• Examine the monitoring trays. The debris should indicate that the clusters are reasonably well centered in the hives in order to maintain their

access to the stores.

• Verify that mice have not entered hives. Telltale clues of their presence, coarse pieces of comb and mouse feces, etc. are also visible on the mon-

itoring trays.

• Lift the back of the hives to feel if they may be at risk of running out of stores.

• When no activity is observed, place your ear against the side of the hive, and listen for bee noises.

• In the latter part of the month and weather permitting, quickly peek into the top of the hives to assess the location of the clusters.

• Place supers where and when warranted.

• Watch for the appearance of drone brood cappings, and make a note of the date.

• Clean and scorch tools and equipment.

• Plan next season. Evaluate the need for equipment and bees.

• Procure, build and repair beekeeping equipment.

• Plant bee forage!

• Read and learn more about bees and beekeeping.

May your bee colonies bring you good health and intense joy in 2014!

Serge Labesque, © 2013

SABA 2014 Membership Application

Renewing Memberships are due by January 3, 2014

(Sign up sheets for 2014 Beekeeping classes will be distributed and posted on our website at a later date.)

Name (s):________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mailing Address: __________________________________________________________________________________________

City, State Zip: ______________________________ E-mail Address:* ____________________________________________

Home Phone: ( ) _____________________________ Other Phone ( ) ______________________________________

New � or Renewing � member ��Check here if the above information is unchanged from 2013.

��Check this box if you do NOT wish to receive a name badge.

♦ Memberships are $20 per member. Family memberships are $20, but only one member is entitled to vote in SABA elections.

TOTAL AMOUNT DUE FOR MEMBERSHIP(S): $ ___________________

* E-mail address required for delivery of monthly newsletter (new members).

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Complete this form and mail it with your check made payable to SABA for the full amount due to:

Sacramento Area Beekeepers Association, 2110 X Street, Sacramento, CA 95818

PRIVACY NOTICE: SABA maintains a CONFIDENTIAL list of member names, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail ad-dresses solely for administrative and mailing purposes. The full list is not disseminated to current SABA members, nor to

other persons or organizations, and it is not posted on the SABA website. A partial list (name, phone number, city/zip & e-mail address) is distributed annually to members only. Members who wish to opt out of phone and/or e-mail disclosure will receive a list with those fields deleted.

Links of the Month Copy and Paste in Your Browser

1) Video on Almond Harvesting; 2) U.N. to Assess Pollination & Land Degradation; 3) World Loves California Almonds; 4) Bee Efficiency Studies; 5) Midwinter Beekeepers Feast; 6) The Sex Switch in Bees

1. http://plantingseedsblog.cdfa.ca.gov/wordpress/?p=5498

2. http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=5fd2b1aa990e63193af2a573d&id=f3daf1b2e2&e=52a8d1e6c5

3. http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=5fd2b1aa990e63193af2a573d&id=33a72fc299&e=52a8d1e6c5

4. http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=5fd2b1aa990e63193af2a573d&id=90f534301f&e=52a8d1e6c5

5. http://honey.ucdavis.edu/events/2013/mid-winter-beekeepers-feast-a-taste-of-mead-and-honey

6. http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=5fd2b1aa990e63193af2a573d&id=76c13cbb8b&e=52a8d1e6c5

Page 7 ———- THE BEE LINE ——— January 2014

January 2014: Bee Plants of the Month

Native Plant of the Month: Creek Dogwood, Pacific Dogwood Cornus sericea, Cornus nuttallii, Family Cornaceae

Creek Dogwood –also called red-twig dogwood- has smaller but more numer-ous flowers than the larger and showier white or pink on more common Eastern U.S. or Asian varieties. She is nonetheless an interesting plant year-round. In winter, the stems are bright red, in spring, clusters of white flowers appear and attract bees as well as other pollinators. Summer brings green or in some vari-eties, variegated yellow and green leaves, along with berries that are enjoyed by birds. In fall, the leaves glow red, yellow or orange. As you might guess, Dogwood does well alongside creeks or streams, making a valuable plant for stabilizing banks or cliffs. They can also be planted alongside a lawn as they tolerate water year around. Sun to shade is accepted, but some protection from the hot western sun is appreciated.

Pacific Dogwood is more spectacular, with the large white flowers (actually the “petals” are bracts that surround the true flower). You may have seen these lovely trees while out hiking. They are notably hard to grow in cultivation, though if you give them excellent drainage, don’t fertilize and don’t prune them, you may be rewarded with a beauti-ful native tree.

Beneficial Plant of the Month: Poppy, Papaver, Family Papaveraceae

These are not our native California poppies- (Eschscholzia californica)- but Oriental Poppies, P. orientale, that you may see in bloom right now, or Breadseed Poppies, P.somniferum that bloom later in spring or summer.

Oriental poppies are perennial, though I haven’t had luck with them coming back for more than one year in a row. They need winter chill to bloom best, and good, well-drained soil. There are many varieties available in warm col-ors from red to orange to yellow. Some have black pollen that is very at-tractive to bees.

Breadseed poppies are annuals, though they will re-seed abundantly from fallen pods. You can also harvest the seeds to plant next year- and sprinkle on your bread! They also do well with ordinary garden soil and moderate water. They are opium poppies, but only illegal if you grow them for opium, which is rather complicated and why would you want to? We have bees, which are the best “high” you can have in the garden!

Happy New Year- let’s hope 2014 brings some rain!

Alice Ford-Sala, Sonoma County Beekeepers Association

C A L E N D A R O F E V E N T S

� Tuesday, January 21st, 7:00 p.m.: SABA Monthly Meeting, Town & Country Lutheran

Church, 4049 Marconi Ave. Janet Brissom, Treasurer of the Nevada County Beekeepers Asso-ciation, will speak on general beekeeping and how she became a beekeeper.

SACRAMENTO AREA BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION 2110 X STREET SACRAMENTO, CA 95818

Website: www.sacbeekeepers.org

E-mail: info@sacbeekeepers.org

Yahoo Group: sacbeekeeper-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Newsletter Editor: sabaeditor@gmail.com

Address Correction Requested