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Mid-Atlantic Apiculture
Research and Extension Consortium
No. 79, November 1998
WHAT'S INSIDE:
* Apiculture for the 21st Century
* Delaware Honey Market Survey II
* The Small Hive Beetle
* Penn State Essential Oil Update
* Fall Meeting and Honey Show of the Maryland State Beekeepers Association
* Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Annual Winter Meeting
* Candle Making Workshop
* Upcoming Events
Contribution deadline for February issue January 15, 1999
Bee Aware Newsletter - June '98
Bee Aware Newsletter - February '98
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APICULTURE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
Summary of talk given at the Symposium Michigan State University, East Lansing, June 1997
Feasibility of Apicultural Tools for a Non-chemical Varroa Control
Summary: The integration of biological Varroa control by drone brood trapping combs (DTC) into a swarm prevention
method was tested in fifteen Apis mellifera colonies between May and August 1996 in Germany (J.W. Goethe Universitaet
Frankfurt - Insitut für Bienenkunde - Polytechnische Gesellschaft, Oberursel). The fifteen colonies were divided
into ten experimental colonies and five control colonies. All colonies became temporarily broodless during the
swarm prevention by colony-splitting. During this broodless time drone brood combs (produced within the colonies)
were inserted into the ten experimental colonies and became therefore the only remaining brood for Varroa mites
to invade. Each colony had to produce three drone brood combs for the use of trapping combs. All trapping combs
were removed immediately after being sealed and stored in a freezer. Later all cells were uncapped and the numbers
of invaded mites were counted. The remaining mites in the experimental colonies and the mites in the control colonies
were killed with Bayvarol®. All split colonies were reunited at the end of the experiment.
Results: The number of mites in the trapping combs (sum of all three trapping combs) was 963 ± 362. The
number of the remaining mites in the experimental colonies was 49 ± 22. The efficiency of the control method
(sum of all three trapping combs) was 94.9 ± 2%. The number of mites in the control colonies was 1393 ±
304.
For a copy of the complete paper please contact: Joerg Schmidt-Bailey Rutgers University Department of Entomology
New Brunswick, NJ 08903 (joerg@aesop.rutgers.edu)
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DELAWARE HONEY MARKET SURVEY II
Dewey M. Caron & Maryann Li, University of Delaware
The last BEE AWARE reported the results of the Roadside Market portion of a Delaware honey marketing survey spanning
60 years. Our survey surprisingly found an 18% decrease in roadside markets (surveyed in October) offering honey
for sale in Delaware. This is due in part to the changing roadside market. They are larger and open longer so local
beekeepers may not be able to market their honey crops at such sites.
During our surveys, information about honey sale markets in competition with roadside stands was also collected
and is included here in summary form. The price of a one pound jar of extracted honey at 3 markets - supermarkets,
neighbor-hood markets and roadside markets - is compared over the 4 survey years 1982-1997 in the graph at left
below. The average price for a 1 pound jar of honey has increased nearly 2 fold at roadside markets (median price
increased from $1.61 in 1982 to $3.00 in 1997 - a 98% increase); price increases over the same 15 year interval
were smaller at super-markets (57% increase of medium price from $1.43 in 1982 to $2.24 in 1997) and at neighborhood
outlets (58%).
Comparison of honey prices at 5 competing markets at a 10-year interval (1987 and 1997) is shown in the graph at
the right below. One pound jars of extracted honey sold in Delaware cost less at supermarkets; roadside markets
and temporary outlets exhibited the highest median price in our survey in October 1997. All price comparisons here
were of the same size (1 pound) container; a similar relationship held for honey in 8 oz, 12 oz or 2 pound containers.
Of the various markets included in our survey, supermarkets carried the greatest diversity of containers and had
the largest price range followed by roadside outlets. Convenience stores usually had a smaller number of offerings
and only in a single size package. Over the 10 year survey period, convenience store and neighborhood outlets increasingly
offered honey only in an 8 or 12 oz. container.
The price range of honey offered for sale within individual market types was extensive when same size containers
were compared. In supermarkets, for example, honey bear price ranged from a low of $1.19 to as much as $2.89 during
the October 1997 survey. Dutch Gold brand honey bear prices in supermarkets ranged from $2.69 to $2.99. In neighbor-hood
stores, 8 oz jars of extracted honey ranged from $1.59 to $1.85. Three of the surveyed neighborhood stores carried
the exact same Dutch Gold brand at three different prices ($1.65, $1.79, or $1.85). Convenience store variation
in 8 oz jar prices ranged from $1.79 to $1.99. Delaware labeled honey always sold at a higher price than store
or regional brand honey at supermarkets and neighborhood roadside outlets.
Roadside markets offer local honey retailers the greatest opportunity for a decent retail return on honey but it
is not a market being fully utilized. Our survey found fewer roadside markets selling honey in 1997 compared to
other survey years despite the fact that price increases for honey the past 15 years have been larger at the roadside
stand compared to other outlets and the opportunities are good for sales in various size containers. The entire
survey is being prepared and will be published later this year.
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THE SMALL HIVE BEETLE (Athina
tumida)
The small hive beetle, our newest beekeeping pest, was first found in Florida in the spring of 1998. This pest
originated in Africa and how it found its way to North America is unknown. The adult beetle is small (about 1/3
the size of a bee), black and covered with fine hair.
It lays its eggs on or near beeswax combs. The eggs hatch, producing small larvae, similar in appearance to wax
moth larvae. You can differentiate the beetle larvae from wax moth larvae by examining their legs. The beetle larvae
have three sets of legs just behind the head. Wax moth larvae, like all moth and butterfly larvae, have three sets
of legs behind the head but in addition have a series of paired prolegs which run the length of the body. Prolegs
are absent in beetle larvae.
Small hive beetle larvae consume pollen and comb but also will eat larval honey bees. After completing the larval
stage, they crawl out of the hive and pupate in the soil. Adult beetles will feed on honey bee eggs.
This beetle is not considered a serious pest in South Africa, however, some Florida beekeepers experiencing heavy
infestations, have blamed it for the quick collapse of strong colonies. According to a study by Dr. A. E. Lundie
(Union of South Africa, Science Bulletin 220, 1940, 30 pp.) the beetle also defecates in the honey and in some
way alters the honey causing it to ferment and run out of the combs. Full honey supers stored in the honey house
or above bees escapes and weak hives with honey are most vulnerable to attack.
As of the fall of 1998, the beetle appears to be restricted to colonies in areas along the east coast of the US.
This is probably due to the sandy soil condi-tions in these areas which allow the beetle to pupate successful.
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PENN STATE ESSENTIAL OIL STUDY UPDATE
Earlier this fall, Penn State led an extensive field test of essential oils for Varroa mite control. One of the
limiting factors of any bee research is the practicality of closely observing large numbers of colonies. However,
for this project, we were fortunate to obtain the help of 17 cooperators from 10 different states. This allowed
us to gather data from 355 colonies located in the MAAREC states of PA, NJ, MD, and DE, as well as colonies in
MA, ME, MN, NY, VA, and OH.
We conducted tests of 6 compounds which showed promise from previous laboratory trials. The field study portion
of the test was completed early in the fall 1998. Each participant tested colonies for approximately three and
a half weeks during August and September. They placed oil-soaked cardboard strips in colonies and collected Varroa
mites on sticky boards.
We are now in the process of counting Varroa mites on the sticky boards. We expect to have results early next year.
Fall Meeting and Honey Show of the Maryland State Beekeepers Assoc. November 7,
1998
The PA State Beekeepers Announce Their Annual Winter Meeting, November 13 &
14, 1998
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CANDLE MAKING WORKSHOP
On Saturday, December 12, 1998 a candle making workshop will be presented at Delaware Valley College. Dr. Berthold
and the College’s Apiary Society will be presenting the workshop in the Mandell Hall Auditorium starting at 7:00
p.m. Directions to the building can be obtained by stopping at the Security Office when entering the campus. The
college is located on Route 202 and about one mile south of Doylestown. For further information, please call Dr.
Berthold at 215- 489-2285.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Fall Meeting & Honey Show of Maryland State Beekeepers Association November 7, 1998. 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Maryland Department of Ag Headquarters, 50 Harry S. Truman Dr., Annapolis, MD. Call 301-414-2317 for more information.
Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Annual Winter Meeting November 13 & 14, 1998. The Country Cupboard Inn &
Restaurant, Rt. 15, Lewisburg, PA. Contact Jennifer Finley for more information at 814-865- 1731.
Candle Making Workshop December 12, 1998. 7:00 p.m. Delaware Valley College, Mandell Hall Auditorium, Doylestown,
PA. Call 215-489-2285 for more information.
Western Pennsylvania Beekeeping Seminar March 12 - 13, 1999 Penn State University, Beaver Campus Monaca, PA. For
more information contact Lee Miller, Beaver County Extension Office. 724-774- 3003. beaverext@psu.edu
Delaware Beekeepers Association State Meeting March 27, 1999. For information contact Warren Seaver at 302-674-8969l
Eastern Apiculture Society Conference & Short Course. July 26 - 30, 1999. Knoxville, TN. For information contact
John Skinner at 423-974-7138 jskinner@utk.edu or Marlene Thomas at 423-376-1838 gleuman@mindspring.com
Prepared by:
Maryann Frazier
Sr. Extension Associate
Department of Entomology
501 Ag Sciences & Industries Bldg.
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-4621
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