December 2005-January 2006 Next Membership Meeting is Tuesday, January 24, 2006 6:00 p.m.

NOTE: Early Time for Pot Luck

President Pat Haskell Vice President Tom Merz Secretary Kathy Heslep Treasurer Bennie Liles http://www.beekeepersnova.org Website In This Issue Next Meeting program Election Report of last meeting Minutes of last meeting Presidents Corner Announcements Prelim announcement next state meet Beginning classes in beekeeping Online discussion group 4H Notes Membership form Future Meetings of BANV January 24, 2006 Pot Luck Dinner, Election March 28, 2006 Lisa Burley, VA Tech May 22, 2006 Honey Show Prep July 15, 2006 (tentative) Picnic Other Meetings of Interest February 18,2006 Maryland State Beekeepers Meeting Howard County Fairgrounds March 25, 2006 Delaware State Beekeepers Meeting Dover, DE featuring Jerry Hayes June 9-10, 2006 VSBA, Smith Mt. Lake (Roanoke) 1 1 2 3 3 3-4 4 4 4 4 back page Cafeteria, Falls Church High School 7521 Jaguar Trail Falls Church, VA 22042

Winter Pot-Luck Dinner The next membership meeting is Tuesday, January 24, in the cafeteria at Falls Church High School. Setup begins at 6:00, dinner at 6:30. There is no formal program planned, but there will be election of officers. If you want to coordinate your contribution, suggest a game activity, or get further information, call Pat Haskell at 703560-3484. The BANV will provide utensils and soft drinks. There is no snow date reservation at this writing. Election To refresh your memory, here is the election procedure in the bylaws adopted in May 2004: Section 2. Election and voting. The election shall be held at the regular membership meeting in January of even-numbered years. Only members in good standing as defined in Article I of these Bylaws may vote. Written proxy votes may be submitted with permission signed by the absent member, but shall not count in determining a quorum. Nominations may be taken from the floor, and the nominee must state willingness to serve if elected. The election shall be by secret written ballot, and a majority of those present and voting shall determine election to each office. If there is but one candidate for each position, the written ballot may be dispensed with and a voice vote taken. The term for each office begins at the conclusion of the meeting. The nominees are: President: Tom Merz Denise Taylor 1st VP: TBA 2nd VP: Secretary: Chris Reed Treasurer: Bennie Liles
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BANV Newsletter January 2006

Africanized Honey Bees are coming! Van Englesdorp presents grim picture at November meeting of BANV Notes taken by Alan Fiala Dennis van Englesdorp, who is at Penn State and also the acting state apiarist of Pennsylvania, spoke on African honey bees characteristics, behavior, spread, and the threat that they will move into the midAtlantic and northeastern U.S. in the very near future. Then he discussed what beekeepers response must be: training, education, outreach PR! The so-called Africanized honey bee, (AHB) apis mellifera scutellata, is one of 10 races of honey bees in Africa, and their home climate is hot and dry. Their behavior is an adaptation to that environment. You cant tell them from European honey bees (EHB) by physical appearance, and there has been a lot of work to develop tests to do so. The behavior difference of AHB from EHB includes absconding during dearth (a good way to leave varroa behind), swarming readily in small swarms, and being more defensive. Whereas EHB nests in a cavity above ground of 10 gallons volume, AHB nests in a small cavity, open but sheltered location, close to the ground. This can be a sprinkler head, barbecue, cake pan, tire, etc. They sting 6-10 times more than EHB, pursue a person up to a quarter mile, sense a threat at 50 feet, sense power equipment at 100 feet, and the whole colony defends the nest. They usurp hives of EHB by moving in with a small swarm, killing the EHB, and taking over. The behavior is runny its hard to find the queen and hard to replace her. They mature faster than EHB and have a shorter life span. They are active more of the day but produce less surplus honey. As we know, they were introduced into Brazil and released into the wild by accident. Attempts were made to stop them in Panama by flooding the area with EHB colonies, but it didnt work. In the 1980s it was predicted that they would be in North Carolina by 1997, but they werent. They came up from Mexico and didnt go east and we dont know why. There are many speculations about the possible controlling effects of temperature, rainfall, timing of nectar sources, but no proof.
BANV Newsletter January 2006

The threat to the mid-Atlantic and northeast areas is through imported queens and packages, and also the increased traffic in pollinators being created by the demands of the almond industry. The economic value of pollination over honey production is billions of dollars vs. a few millions of dollars. Pollinators dont want AHB because of their propensity to abscond and issues of insurance and liability. What is needed? First of all, there will be an enormous public relations problem. There has to be a response plan for first incidents. The people to have first interactions will be those who are outdoors a lot and the military. There have been only 14 deaths in the US attributed to AHB, and those have been people who couldnt run fast enough to get away because of age or physical handicap. If beekeeping is banned, which is the usual first reaction, it will create a vacuum for AHB. The public has to be convinced that only good beekeeping will protect them. Should beekeepers do swarm removal and pest control? First responders must be trained on what to do to get people out of an attack, how to treat victims, and to use the foam that is used to fight fires, which is already on fire trucks. Finally, back yard or urban beekeeping may have to go away. Certainly management practices will have to be more intense. For examples: The beekeeper must learn the signs of AHB activity and usurpation. It will be necessary to requeen every year or more often with a certified EHB stock, all queens marked. If there are more than 10 hives, there must be a drone source colony. Hives will have to be more than 25 feet from a property line and 50 feet from tethered animals. Hives cannot be worked when neighbors are mowing, and flight paths cannot be over a property line. Questioned about how EHB lines can be certified, Dennis said the mother line can be certified and the area flooded with EHB drones. States to the north of Virginia are developing an action plan. For comments on planning in Virginia, see the Presidents column elsewhere in this newsletter.
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Minutes of the November 15, 2005 meeting of BANV. Our business meeting was held after the presentation by Dennis van Engelsdorp on Africanized Honey Bees. It was in the auditorium of the Falls Church High School. Members of several other bee clubs attended our program. There were people from Spotsylvania, Northern Piedmont, and Loudoun clubs, as well as our own members. Pat Haskell called the meeting to order at 9:05 p.m. after some refreshments and conversation with our fellow beekeepers. The meeting was short. The minutes and treasurers report were waived. Brenda Kiessling, chair of the Nominating Committee, presented the slate of officers proposed for the 2006-2008 term of office: PresidentTom Merz Vice PresidentDenise Taylor SecretaryChris Reed TreasurerBennie Liles [No mention was made of a first vice president and second vice president, as the current bylaws require] Dane Hannum made two announcements: 1. He has found that paper composite egg cartons make wonderful smoker starters. He brought in a large sack of the egg cartons for beekeepers to try. 2. There will be 2 shipments of package bees in the spring: the first on March 29 and the second on April 8, 2006. Each shipment will have 450 packages on it. He will start taking orders on Dec. 1, after he returns from hunting. Cost will be $51.00 for a 3-lb. pkg. with a possible $1.00 increase if gas goes up more in cost. Queens may be ordered for $11.25 each with an additional @1.25 for marking. Pat reminded members that the next meeting would be our potluck and election of officers. The date is January 24, 2006 in the school cafeteria. Eating will begin at 6:30 p.m. Plan to bring your dish by 6 p.m. so we can set up. Respectfully submitted, Katherine Heslep, Secretary
BANV Newsletter January 2006

Presidents Corner Pat Haskell This is my last letter as your President. I want to thank all of you who have supported my efforts over the last two years. It has, indeed, been a privilege and a pleasure to serve. As I leave office, I see we have a major problem facing us, that of the AHB (Africanized Honey Bee) and its possible impact on our beekeeping here in one of the largest urbanized areas in Virginia as well as the U.S. As members of BANV, we are going to be facing some real stiff questions and pressures from the general public and local governments. BANV has in its membership some of the smartest, most resourceful people and Im sure that well be able to cope with these problems by working together. To this end, I am urging all of you to become very familiar with the AHB and what impact it has had on other beekeepers in infested areas. I am also urging you to find out what is being done by our Virginia Department of Agriculture Services to help us meet this challenge. Other states, most notably Florida, Texas, and California, did their homework and came up with plans, guidelines, and how to educate the publiclong before the arrival of AHB. MAAREC, which Dennis Van Englsdorp represented in November, is presently finalizing guidelines for their area. At this time, I am not satisfied with some of the answers that I have received from our state leadership. Each of us should seek our own answers to our individual concerns and then work together on the most appropriate solutions. I am hoping that we come up with answers that are proactive and not reactive. Lets solve this problem together. Many hands make the work light. Announcements A printed copy of the BANV membership directory is available to members only. Ask Don MacIntyre if you need one. All the packages reserved by Larry and Dane have been spoken for. However, Bob Wellemeyer is also planning to go for several hundred packages and may have a few available.

Bob Wellemeyer, state apiary inspector, is available to help analyze dead-outs. Call him for an appointment. W: 540-347-6380, H: 540-937-2175. VSBA Summer Meeting June 9-10 Mark your calendar now to attend the next state meeting. It will be at the Smith Mountain Lake 4H conference center just outside Roanoke. Advance registration will be necessary in order to have lodging and meals on site. Walk-ins will have to make their own arrangements off site. Further details will be in the state newsletter. The general theme will be the latest on weapons to fight the most serious encroaching threats to honey bees. So far we have Zach Huang, Michigan State, on the mechanisms of division of labor among honey bees, and the disruption caused by pests; exocrine glands and pheromones, including the newly discovered one; and honey bee photography. Jamie Ellis, Georgia, will speak on biology, behavior, and control of small hive beetles. Marion Ellis, Nebraska, will discuss his research on oxalic acid. We hope to have someone speak on formic acid and Africanized honey bees. Beginning Classes for 2006 The Practical Beekeeping for Beginners classes in Northern and Northwestern Virginia will begin the second full week in February and end during the first week in April. For the BANV area, classes are on Thursdays (first class on February 16th) at Falls Church High School, 7-9 p.m. with optional one-hour discussion following. BANV members are encouraged to inform friends, neighbors, and others who are potential beekeepers or just interested in beekeeping to consider attending this years class. Participants must be at least 9 years old. The cost is $75.00 per family, which includes Beekeepers Handbook by Sammataro and Avitable, MAARECs Honey Bee Parasites, Pests and Predators, & Diseases field book, class PowerPoint handouts and one years membership in BANV or a neighboring beekeeping association. Beekeeping equipment and supplies are not included. Participants will have the option to order live bees at additional cost for delivery at the end of the class. For more information and to register contact Pat Haskell at 703-560-3484 or email jim.haskell@verizon.net
BANV Newsletter January 2006

Dues Are Due! Attached is the form for new or renewal dues and subscriptions. Please turn it in at the meeting or send it to Bennie Liles ASAP. Remember that we only send in subscriptions once a year, in March. If you belong to more than one association, pay state dues only through one. New Online Discussion Group Alan Fiala has created an online discussion group for BANV. To join, send a message to BANV-subscribe@yahoogroups.com, and give your name and club or area of residence in the message. Alan as the moderator will control membership, to avoid having unwanted spam. It is strictly for discussion of beekeeping issues and activities. Anyone posting messages on other topics is subject to removal from membership in the list. 4-H Notes from Brenda Kiessling The Club will hold an open house in February, inviting people who have indicated interest but not attended meetings. We are also still doing scrapbooking. Also in February the club will visit Claude Moore Colonial Farm to clean up the two buckets of Osmia Cornifron kept there to pollinate apples. Later in the spring we plan to visit a hawk hospital, a local raptor rehab hospital. Last year we visited the Pennsylvania Farm Show in January. Ten club members and parents attended and it was very popular, but this year scheduling conflicts make it not possible to return.