Newsletter of the Beekeepers
Association of the ACT Incorporated
Newsletter Web address:
www.bindaree.com.au/newsletter.htm
Meetings of the Beekeepers Association of the ACT Inc are held on the
second
Wednesday of the month at 7.30 pm at the CIT,
Heysen Street, Weston in Building A.
Contact No: Association President - David
Lillis Ph: 62975202 (AH)
October 2001
Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday 10th October at 7.30pm, at CIT Weston. We expect to have someone to speak to us about snakes and some discussion time about aspects of beekeeping. Due to CIT being on holidays we can’t use our usual room but instead will meet in E Block which is past the main building where we usually meet to the north-west, through the wire gates.
The
weather is bringing out a few swarms so keep up the Spring Management. Speaking
of such things the Association in November is hosting a hive management
and Diseases Field Day at Weston. The planning is coming along well and
we are hoping for a good attendance from both members and non-members. Speakers
include Doug Somerville and Neil Gow to name a couple. Full details later
in the newsletter.
Even though the weather is warming up the evenings are sometimes still very chilly so be aware that your bees may use up extra stores during cold nights just keeping the nest warm. Make sure that you leave a little extra if you to take off honey in early Spring just in case we have a return to colder conditions. After all, the old gardeners always say not to plant tomatoes until after Melbourne Cup Day.
David Lillis
Has anyone tried screen bases on their hives? I’m thinking of giving it a try and would be interested to hear of other people’s experiences with them in Summer and Winter. Lyn Shiels Ph. 6286 2421
Worth a Try? 
When
grafting into queen starting cells, do you have trouble lifting the larvae
out of the worker cells? Does the
grafting tool tongue too often cut into the soft wax of the cell wall or
floor? Is the grafting operation so slow that larvae
start drying out before the bar of cells is fully loaded?
The
grafting operation can be made easier and, importantly, faster by using
frames of larvae on plastic foundation.
Access to, and illumination of, the larvae can be greatly improved
by removing the wax walls of the selected larvae cells with a hive tool,
leaving the larvae floating in the plastic base of the cells.
This is possible because of the depth of cell impressions in plastic
foundation.
The result - a bar of cells can be loaded in half the time and returned to the starter colony before dehydration of the larvae becomes a problem.
Steritech have sent a pamphlet detailing their services and the benefits to be obtained from using gamma radiation to sterilise a range of items. They are an Australian owned company and the only commercial irradiation facility in Australia.
As
well as beehives they are able to sterilise wine corks and soils, and process
topaz gemstones to enhance the colour. They also treat items brought to
Australia to ensure their freedom from disease and pests, sterilise cosmetics
and medical items, and foods. All common bacteria have a low tolerance to
radiation.
Constant monitoring processes are in place to ensure the safety and efficiency of the process. The Therapeutic Goods Act covers the processes undertaken by Steritech.
Gamma radiation is a physical means of sterilisation by exposing substances to gamma rays. The most common source of gamma rays is cobalt 60. The gamma rays totally penetrate any product including packaging layers. They cause small molecular changes but do not have sufficient energy to penetrate the core of an atom and therefore cannot impart radioactivity to any material. The energy passes through the product and breaks down the DNA strands so bacterial division cannot take place. Pests and disease organisms are either killed or made sterile.
Irradiation is called a ‘cold process’ because the temperature of the product does not significantly increase. No residue is left and products may be used immediately.
Our Association offers a service whereby members can have their hives sent to Steritech for irradiation at a cost of $22 for the treatment plus transport costs. For further information contact David Lillis on 6297 5202.
Plans
are advancing for the Bee Disease Field Day in November. The Steering Committee
have worked hard to line up some excellent speakers and leaders. There will
be opportunities to learn some skills that will help to maintain healthy
hives and gain some practical experience as well. Please photocopy the accompanying
flyer and post it up at your local shops, work, or anywhere that might help
us reach members of the public who keep bees or are thinking of keeping
bees.
Both
these books are in the Association Library and may be borrowed from Bindaree
during normal opening hours.
Honey
Bee Brood Diseases by Henrik Hansen.
This
small book offers clear coloured photographs of common brood diseases which
could be helpful in identifying disease in your hives. The centre pages
contain a summary of disease symptoms in comparison to a healthy hive. The
book does not concern itself with treatment at all; it is purely for identifying
which disease is present. A very handy reference for beekeepers.
A discussion of the month by month tasks and problems for beekeepers. Published in North America where the month of April is roughly equivalent to September in our seasons it contains many useful ideas and hints for beginners or experienced beekeepers. It has a comprehensive coverage of all aspects of beekeeping and associated topics including comb and cut-comb production, renting bees for pollination, requeening, honey packing and preparation and rendering wax.
A
good index allows one to look up a topic quickly and a selected bibliography
may lead to further reading.
Lyn Shiels
Roy
Bray has had an annoying and worrying experience this week after he was
asked to collect a swarm from a tree outside a local church. The bees were
collected into a box and left to settle until dusk. The minister was absent
for about an hour in the late afternoon and when he and Roy returned the
hive had been upset, emlock undone and unwound, frames scattered, and of
course bees all over the place. We can only hope that the bees managed to
do some damage to the fools who were responsible. It is a worry though that
any passer-by could have been stung by the distressed bees. Collecting swarms
in public places produces additional problems because of the behaviour of
a mindless minority.
Beekeeping
Equipment and Boxes. Phone Hans Schmidt on 62512092.
The Beekeepers Association of the ACT presents:
 |
BEEKEEPING FIELD DAY For everyone interested in beekeeping |
 |
Canberra
Saturday 10th November 2001
10 am Start
Subjects Include:
Hive Inspection technique (bring your veil)
Seasonal Management
Beekeeper’s responsibility to inspect and clean up diseases
Signs and symptoms of AFB & EFB
Regulations for AFB
Sampling honey - process and understanding the results
Treatment for EFB
Chalkbrood – Viruses – Nosema
Beekeeping information and support resources
There will be opportuity for out-of-session general beekeeping discussions.
Speakers Include:
From NSW Agriculture:
- Doug Somerville – Beekeeping Adviser, Goulburn
- Dr Michael Hornitzky – Senior Research Scientist, Camden
- Mick Rankmore – Regulatory Specialist (Apiaries)
Also
- Greg Roberts – State President NSW Apiarists' Association Inc.
- Neil Gow – ACT Beekeeper
The day may extend until 2.30 pm.
|
The
venue is the School of Horticulture, CIT, Heysen Street, Weston, ACT
2605
|
|
BBQ
foods and drinks will be on sale
|
| Contacts: | David Lillis, President, 0413 426 290 or 02 6297 5202 (AH) |
| Dick Johnston, Bindaree Bee Supplies, 02 6281 2111 |
|
Richard Johnston Phone: 02 6281 2111 Email: bindaree.bee@bigpond.com Website: www.bindaree.com.au Shop open: Wed, Thur, Fri 4 pm to 6 pm, Sat 9.30 am to 4pm Closed: Sun, Mon, Tue. |
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