We are swamped with spam, so I am turning off comments until I can get a way of controlling it.
- Dan
007.14.10 Comments suspended
007.13.10 Small Hive Beetle
Small hive beetle is one of the key concerns for those arguing against wide open bee imports to Vancouver Island.
The University of Florida has a good overview of this distasteful little pest.
A larger concern is the demonstrated ability for the small hive beetle to attack bumblebee nests, at least in laboratory situations. Bumble bees are important pollinators, especially of native species, and are in decline in North America. According to the University of Ohio, there are unconfirmed reports of SHB infesting hives in the field.
More information on the bumble bee decline can be found at Sheila Colla’s website. She also has a list of news articles on the decline of bumblebees linked from her About Me page.
Sheila was also kind enough to send me a link on scientific studies related to bee conservation.
For 20 years, bees on the Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island were protected by a quarantine. On May 1, the Ministry of Agriculture dropped the strict import restrictions.
Not to worry though, because they announced that “rigorous” inspection procedures would protect bee health.
Go to this link and you can read the procedures yourself. They do sound “rigorous”, don’t they?
a skill-testing question!
A thousand honey bee hives have been shipped to Vancouver Island under the relaxed import conditions. The Ministry has applied its “rigorous” inspections (and promised to do extra inspections, too). How many hives out of the 1000 were inspected?
- 50
- zero
Reading the inspection protocols, you would think the answer was 50. But the correct answer is actually zero.
The Ministry of Agriculture, it turns out, only inspects the seller’s operation. They don’t inspect the actual hives being shipped, except incidentally. The fact is, the Ministry doesn’t know whether even one of the imported hives was inspected.
Seriously. One thousand hives have been shipped to Babe’s Honey since June and probably not one of them was inspected.
“Dear Minister Thomson, can you assure me that even one of the imported hives was inspected?”
If you think this is unbelievable, write to Minister Thomson and ask him.
- Dan
Here’s an argument in favour of urban beekeeping in that most urban of places, New York City:
The arguments are good ones and it is nice to hear some good news on the beekeeping front.
If you are looking at putting bees on a roof, Kim Flottum has some advice.
A wonderful outdoor summer festival that celebrates environmental sustainability is seeking volunteers.
The sixth annual Organic Islands Festival and Sustainability Expo, winner of this year’s CRD EcoStar Community Leadership Award, will take place on the weekend of July 10&11 (set-up on July 9) at the beautiful Glendale Gardens in West Saanich.
To join the volunteer team and support this great event, complete a volunteer application on the website at www.organicislands.ca or contact volunteering@organicislands.ca
This is also a great venue to tell people about the quarantine issue!
006.29.10 Pest Control companies and swarms
It’s music to my ears when I get a call from a pest control guy, looking for a beekeeper to remove a swarm of honey bees.
And that’s what happened yesterday — Chris from Pest Detective called. He’d gone to a home about a wasp nest and discovered they were honey bees. So he called looking for a beekeeper instead of exterminating them!
That is GREAT! He could just have charged them and moved on. Instead, he tries to do the right thing even though it costs him some time and effort.
We can almost always find someone to pick up a swarm if you’ve got one. And often, they reward people with honey!
NOTE: I’ve never used Pest Detective so can’t vouch for them. But I will be calling next time I need pest control.
- Dan
006.14.10 Anyone with bees for sale?
Nancy is looking for five colonies. If you have any for sale, contact me at Dan.delVillano@gmail.com or 250-598-2259 and I’ll put you in touch with her. She is on Saltspring, so looking for a seller there or on the southern Island.
Update: she has now found a seller.
- Dan
006.12.10 Quarantine Committee
At our Thursday meeting, we struck a committee to research the issues around the Policy on Movement of Bees (that is, the quarantine and the May 1 cancellation of it). One of our key aims is to get information into the hands of CRBA members faster.
There is a coalition of reps from the five Island beekeeping associations that has been working on the issue. We are separate from them, but will provide whatever help and support we can. The quarantine committee will be separate from the CRBA executive as well; they already have their hands full.
If you want to help or have ideas, let me know at Dan.delVillano@gmail.com or at 250-598-2259.
As well, many of you feel that you are out of the loop. That is completely understandable. The changes to the policy on movement of bees were dropped on us with no notice, the issues are complex, and the stakes are very high. The Coalition has been trying to move quickly, but they are also moving carefully and cooperatively. The new committee, on the other hand, can focus on sending out information to interested members.
If you want to be on the mailing list, please send me your e-mail address. Again, I am at Dan.delVillano@gmail.com. We will send you info as we get it, so you don’t need to wait a month between Beelines or meetings.
Thanks,
Dan
I’m torn… see Mark Winston or go to Tugwell Creek Meadery in Sooke. Can I manage both?
Yes Tugwell Creek Meadery, owned and operated by CRBA member Bob Liptrot, will host it’s own Day of the Honey Bee event. The lineup looks great, so go here for details!
005.27.10 Day of the Honey Bee at U Vic
National Beekeeping Day is Saturday May 29th and we have a public event at U-Vic.
Dr. Mark Winston, internationally known bee expert will be giving a presentation which promises to be a lively event. Dr. Winston is a fascinating fellow and applies bee society cooperation to principals of human cooperation. He doesn’t anthropomorphise bees but he does draw some surprising parallels in communications. He’s currently the Academic Director, Wosk Centre for Dialogue Simon Fraser University.
Dr. Winston is also known for collaborating with artists such as Agnetha Dyck and more recently with a Vancouver dance group. The Nature Of Things did an entire episode on Dr. Winston called Beetalker: The Secret World of Bees. Broadcast again last Thursday on CBC Television.
Admission is by donation, with proceeds supporting the therapeutic beekeeping program at Woodwynn Farm.
Date: May 29
Time: 3-5 pm
Venue: University of Victoria, Room A240 Human and Social Development (HSD) building
Hope to see you there!