A New Book Donation...

The library recently received a new book donation entitled “A Sting in the Tale: My Adventures with Bumblebees” by Dave Goulson, one of the UK's most respected conservationists and the founder of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. The following newspaper article entitled “Bumblebee Friends” clipped from the Peninsula Daily News, Peninsula Voices, was discovered inside the front cover of the book:

I am a citizen scientist volunteer for the Bumble Bee Atlas in Clallam County. Bumble Bee Watch appreciates incidental sightings o our native bumble bees from everyone, even if not an official citizen scientist. Please take a cellphone or digital camera photo of the bumble bee on the flower and upload to www.bumblebeewatch.org. Observations by hikers in Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park are especially valuable. Please make a note of the date, time, type of flower and exact location (latitude and longitude) if possible. Garden photos of a bumble bee on a flower are also useful. This is a study of bumble bees only. Honey bees and other species of bees are not included. Bumblebees can be identified by their fat, furry bodies and by comparing them to pictures on the Bumble Bee Watch website. Thank you for contributing to the knowledge and preservation of our native bumble bee pollinators. — Wendy Goldberg, Sequim

It appears to be an interesting read and the donation to NOPBA is much appreciated.

Upcoming Presentation: Learn more about queens, requeening, and winter bees.

Who: Dave Noble, Apiarist – Stratford Ecological Center, Delaware, Ohio

Date: Saturday, September 7, 2019

Time: 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Where: Carver Room, Sequim Library
630 N Sequim Ave, Sequim, WA 98382

Presentation outline:

  • Open/Introductions

  • Queen Rearing Fundamentals
    This is for those who may not want to raise their own queens but want and need to understand the process a bit better.

  • Queen Quality
    What makes a good queen. The value and importance of a good queen.

  • Break

  • Re-Queening
    When and why to re-queen. How honey bee colonies re-queen themselves and what we can learn from that. Autumn re-queening.

  • Local Bees/Queens.
    Even small-scale beekeepers can produce and sell nucs. Working with queen producers to develop a more sustainable beekeeping community. 

  • Break

  • Winter Prep/Healthy Winter Bees
    Mite monitoring and feeding before winter. 

  • Questions & Answers

Annual NOPBA Family Potluck BBQ & Swapmeet

Sunday, September 8, 2019 from Noon to 3:00 PM

Meats and drinks furnished. Please bring a salad, dessert, or a side dish. Bring your chair (we need a few tables, too!) A Swap-and-Shop Table will be set up for new and used beekeeping equipment for sale, trade, or giveaway.

Hosted at the residence of Marshall and BJ Rambeau, 361 Lisel Lane, Port Angeles.

When heading south on Deer Park Road, look for Lisel Lane to the left (East) after approximately 2.3 miles from Highway 101.

NWDBA Honey Bee Conference

NWDBA Honey Bee Conference at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4248173

The Lineup:

Saturday Sept. 21st
9:00 AM - 10:15 AM Andony Melathopoulos
Doing the Multiplication: expanding your apiary the old school and "the Next Generation" way
(covers installing packages, splitting and making nucs)

10:15 AM-11:30 PM Randy Oliver
Reading The Combs: Understanding Bee Biology Over the Course of a Season
By acquiring a better understanding of the biology of bees, nutrition, parasites, and pathogens over the course of the season, and by learning to "read the combs," the beekeeper can then make better informed management decisions adapted to his/her particular situation.

11:30am-1:00pm Lunch Break

1:00 PM-2:15 PM Andony Melathopoulos
Unsung Bee Diseases and How to Manage Them
(European foulbrood, chalkbrood, viruses, nosema)

(2:15 PM -3:30 PM Kevin Oldenburg CANCELLED - looking for new speaker)

3:30 PM - 3:45 PM Break

3:45 PM - 5:00 PM Randy Oliver
Oxalic Acid Tips
As varroa develops resistance to the synthetic miticides, beekeepers must learn to use alternative treatments. Oxalic acid has a long history of successful use, and can be applied by different methods (dribble, sublimation, extended-release). Tips from someone who has used oxalic acid for nearly two decades.

About Our Speakers:

Randy Oliver is a commercial beekeeper in California and runs the scientificbeekeeping.com website. He is a careful researcher, and the author of a monthly column in American Bee Journal.

Andony Melathopoulos is an Assistant Professor in Pollinator Health Extension in the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University, which was the first such position in the United States. He also sits on the Steering Committee of the Oregon Bee Project, which coordinates pollinator health work across state agencies and hosts a weekly podcast called PolliNation. In 2018, Andony was recognized with the National Pollinator Advocate Award by the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign.

Kevin Oldenburg is the current President of Washington State Beekeepers Association. Dr. Oldenburg received his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from UCLA. He founded 2nd Sight Bioscience in 2014 with a focus on using automation, robotics, and new technologies in the field of agriculture. He currently serves as the CEO and President of 2nd Sight BioScience. Kevin is an 8-year journeyman beekeeper who doesn’t like honey but loves watching his bees.

THE EXCHANGE

Buy - Sell - Trade - Want - Need - Giveaway

Dear fellow beekeepers/guardians,

I would very much like to buy some honey from a member. If anyone has some available and wants to part with a few quarts, please contact George Will at georgeandjolie@yahoo.com.

Thank you.

For Sale: I have several hives I’d like to sell. Each hive consists of 2 deeps and 1 medium, with bottom board, inner cover and lid. This is virtually new equipment with “newish” frames and some drawn comb. Prefer to sell as assembled units.

!!! Make an offer !!!
Call Steve Reinhart 360-457-6599

Reminder: NOPBA Coffee Group Meets Every Saturday

WHERE: Common Grounds Cafe, 525 E. 8th St., Port Angeles

WHEN: WHO: WHAT:

Saturday mornings, 8:30 AM, Everyone invited to:

  • Discuss Bees & Beekeeping Topics

We’re all learning and the whole idea of a bee club is to have some fun. Please join us every Saturday (until further notice), for informal discussions of bee related interest.

As the season progresses, we will be following coffee with apiary visits.

2019 NWDBA Beekeepers Conference Announcement on 9/21/2019

The Northwest District Beekeepers Association is offering Western Washington beekeepers an educational and exciting conference on Saturday, September 21, 2019.

Tickets for NWDBA members are $20.00 and $30.00 for non-members. The conference will take place at the Snohomish PUD Auditorium, located at: 2320 California St, Everett, WA 9820 . There is limited seating at the venue ( about 300) and it is expected to sell out well before the event so sign up early. 

https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4248173

9:00 am to 10:15 am            Speaker: Andony Melathopoulos  

Doing the Multiplication: expanding your apiary the old school and “the Next Generation” way. (covers installing packages, splitting and making nucs) 

10:15 am to 11:30 am          Speaker: Randy Oliver 

Reading The Combs: Understanding Bee Biology Over the Course of a Season
By acquiring a better understanding of the biology of bees, nutrition, parasites, and pathogens over the course of the season, and by learning to “read the combs,” the beekeeper can then make better-informed management decisions adapted to his/her particular situation.   

11:30 am to 1:00 pm            Lunch Break

1:00 pm to 2:15 pm       Speaker:  Andony Melathopoulos 

Unsung Bee Diseases and How to Manage Them
(European foulbrood, chalkbrood, viruses, nosema) 

2:15 pm to 3:00 pm Speaker: Kevin Oldenburg  

Bees, Science and How the Media Gets it Wrong   

3:30 pm to 3:45 pm. Break

3:45 pm to 5:00 pm       Speaker: Randy Oliver  

Oxalic Acid Tips  
As varroa develops resistance to the synthetic miticides, beekeepers must learn to use alternative treatments. Tips from someone who has used oxalic acid for nearly two decades. 

Randy Oliver is a commercial beekeeper in California, runs the scientificbeekeeping.com website, a careful researcher, and the author of a monthly column in American Bee Journal.

Andony Melathopoulos is an Assistant Professor in Pollinator Health Extension in the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University, which was the first such position in the US. He also sits on the steering committee of the Oregon Bee Project, which coordinates pollinator health work across state agencies and hosts a weekly podcast called PolliNation. In 2018 Andony was recognized with the National Pollinator Advocate award by the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign.

Kevin Oldenburg is the current President of the Washington State Beekeepers Association. Dr. Oldenburg received his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry from the U. of Wisconsin, Madison, and his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from UCLA. He founded 2nd Sight Bioscience in 2014 with a focus on using automation, robotics, and new technologies in the field of agriculture. He currently serves as the CEO and President of 2nd Sight BioScience.  Kevin is an 8-year Journeyman beekeeper who doesn’t like honey but loves watching his bees.

Don't forget . . .

NOPBA COFFEE GROUP

WHERE:

Common Grounds Cafe, 525 E. 8th St., Port Angeles

WHEN: WHO: WHAT:

Saturday mornings, 8:30 am Everyone

Discuss Bees & Beekeeping Topics

We’re all learning and the whole idea of a bee club is to have some fun. Please join us every Saturday (until further notice), for informal discussions of bee related interest.

As the season progresses, we will be following coffee with apiary visits.

Field Trip - Apiary Visit

Our club member Marshall Rambeau will be hosting an apiary visit at his residence SATURDAY JUNE 15th beginning around 10 AM. He and his his wife, BJ, are inviting us to come see his bees along with her magnificent garden. Marshall hand-crafts his hives with a very high degree of skill and this season several of them have been fitted with instrumentation to measure and track internal temperature, relative humidity, and weight.

WHERE:

Rambeau residence,
361 Lisel Lane (off Deer Park Road), Port Angeles

WHEN: WHO: WHAT:

Saturday morning, 10:00 AM - Everyone

When heading south on Deer Park Road, look for Lisel Lane to the left (East) after approximately 2.3 miles from Hwy. 101. Bring whatever protective clothing you are comfortable with.

Meeting - Sunday, June 9, 1019

12 noon: Beginning Beekeeping Class
1:00 pm: Business Meeting
1:15 pm: The Ancient Craft of Bee- Lining.

Blending art with science, the ancient craft of Bee-Lining will be presented by Rex at the June meeting. Rex has become a premier bee hunter having studied and practiced with pretty much everything ever written on this subject clear back to ancient Rome. However, unlike the old-timers, the bee hunting Rex practices today is intended exclusively for recreational purposes. Rex does not capture wild bees or their honey, or harm their homes. You won’t want to miss this incredibly interesting talk all about hunting and locating wild honey bee colonies. And be sure to check out his You-Tube Channel. >> https://www.youtube.com/ channel/UCghDTRDHxHG_NBRbrkUC6Lg

Recent Research on Varroa Destructor

Greg Butler did an awesome job sharing the latest research on Varroa mites. It was once thought that the greatest damage to the honey bee was within the cell during the larval stage of the developing bee, particularly in drone cells. It is now known that the greatest damage is done to the adult bee as findings strongly suggest that Varroa are exploiting the fat body as their primary source of sustenance: a tissue integral to proper immune function, pesticide detoxification, overwinter survival, and several other essential processes in healthy bees. These findings underscore a need to revisit our understanding of this parasite and its impacts, both direct and indirect, on honey bee health. Learn more from the article, “Varroa destructor feeds primarily on honey bee fat body tissue and not hemolymph”, Ramsey, et. al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences | January 29, 2019 | vol. 116 | no. 5 | 1801

Queen Rearing and Bee Breeding Workshop

June 14 & 15, 2019

Ready to take beekeeping to the next level? For those who already have a working foundation in beekeeping, the WSU bee team is offering an event to introduce you to fundamental tools for stock improvement. This two day workshop is designed to improve your understanding of queen rearing, bee breeding systems, and selection methods though a combination of presentations and hands-on demonstrations. We will also introduce you to the more advanced techniques of instrumental insemination and cryopreservation.

Instructors: Susan Cobey, Brandon Hopkins, Tim Lawrence, Steve Sheppard, Nick Naeger, Jennifer Han, and Melanie Kirby, along with guest speakers.

Location: Washington State University, Pullman campus Plan on two all day meetings. The time of day and schedule of activities will be sent with your registration confirmation.

Mail in or On-Line registration form is open now.

f you have any questions or would like additional information, please email: wsu.beeprogram@wsu.edu or call the Department of Entomology at 509-335-5422.

DNR SPRAY MAPS

(We appreciate DNR sharing this information with our beekeepers and thanks again to Dan and Judy Harvey of Olympic Wilderness Apiary for passing it along to us.)

Dan and Judy are sharing another set of spray maps they have received from DNR. Two additional contracts are included (1777 & 1778).

Dan asked DNR how the spray is being applied and DNR answered that the areas will be BACKPACK APPLIED.

Contract 1777 is for May 13 to June 30. Contract 1778 is for May 20 to June 30.

The maps take a few minutes to use. In order to use the maps, first you must know your section number within the Township and Range of Clallam County. Then refer to the DNR map(s) provided in the linked folder below and find your location(s).

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Nubcp7sDK9vTSpvT7RfzEiwUvXD-c3JJ?usp=sharing

Please direct further questions to:

Matt Perry
Intensive Management Forester
Olympic Region
Washington Department of Natural Resources
360-640-5424

Celebration of Science & Technology 2019 GeekOut!

Saturday, May 11, 2019 ~ 10:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m.
Port Angeles City Pier and Feiro Marine Life Center

The Celebration of Science & Technology (a.k.a. GeekOut!) is hosted by Feiro Marine Life Center at the Port Angeles City Pier. Member organizations from across the north Olympic Peninsula volunteer their time and energy to support this annual science oriented event. NOPBA has again been invited to participate.

This is the first public event of the season for us. We will have our NOPBA booth set up on the City Pier that morning. There is always a lot of interest in honey bees and our members volunteer to help promote our public relations. Be sure and stop by to see us, or better yet, come give us a hand answering questions about bees and beekeeping. It really is a lot of fun.

This all day educational festival celebrates the role science plays in our daily lives. Its free, and features:

  • Booths providing information from Olympic Peninsula organizations and businesses.

  • Posters displaying scientific information and principles.

  • Presentations offering informative details from experts in fields of science or technology.

  • “Science on Display” honors the many real scientists who live and work on the Peninsula.

  • And more. . .

New addition to our NOPBA Library!

Storey’s Guide to Keeping Honey Bees

This trusted handbook is a must-have for novice and seasoned beekeepers alike. Now totally redesigned and featuring color photos and graphics, the second edition also includes up-to-date information on honey bee health. The go-to reference presents comprehensive yet accessible information on everything from planning hives and installing a colony to preventing disease and managing productive hives that will bear bountiful honey harvests year after year.

This book is part of the online Apprentice-Level Beekeeping Course curriculum at the the University of Montana Division of Biological Sciences as BIOB 191 Apprentice Level Beekeeping.

Dr. Malcolm T. Sanford is professor emeritus at the University of Florida. His work has appeared in numerous apicultural publications, including the journals, Bee Culture and American Bee Journal. For more than 20 years he has written an apiculture newsletter featuring beekeeping information from around the world. Sandford is also the developer of the Apis Information Resource Center: beekeep.info

The late Richard E. Bonney was a master beekeeper in Massachusetts and author of the classic books Hive Management and Beekeeping.