Wax Purification - This Year’s Plans
We have our sights set on concluding the work we began in 2012. Last year we came up with good sources of wax to test, built a solar wax melter, generated samples, ran some sample preparations, and found an analytical laboratory anxious to help. However, we were held up at the analysis stage, mostly by the cost. Our samples will take over $200.00 each to analyze. The tests cover a number of common contaminants and are precise to the parts-per-billion. This is the type of data we’d like to see, but we can not get around the cost.
Microryza to the rescue! This season’s round of crowd-funding will focus on getting the money to have our analyses done. We will also need to purchase some more hive parts, frames & foundation, more bees, and some pest management supplies, all routine beekeeping expenses. We have a detailed budget for anyone to examine.
Plans. We will generate a new series of samples from treatments similar to those used in 2012, being ultra-cautious not to cross-contaminate, and select 8 of them for analysis. Processing will be similar, running each sample through a carbon filtration system. However, we will probably not use the solar wax melter, as our solar days are so limited (it takes all day full sun to operate and that’s just not dependable in Seattle, even in summer.) This year, pending success with Microryza, we should have funds to proceed with analysis by the time we have the samples ready. Results should be available in the Fall.
The big IF. Success of this method (significantly reduced contamination of wax) is not guaranteed. However, if it works we will proceed to send our results to one of the major beekeeping journals for fast publication. Depending on tidiness our procedures and the quality of the results, we may even send to one of the peer-reviewed beekeeping science journals. What happens next is hard to guess. Beekeepers are a practical lot. If they can find a way to incorporate the procedure into their operations economically, we could see this become an important contribution to the new era of beekeeping. Many people and organizations would be to thank!
Stay tuned for updates! Contribute to our effort! Here’s our donor link:
https://www.microryza.com/projects/training-students-to-be-next-generation-beekeepers
Monday, March 18, 2013
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Microryza Rides Again for Bee Science!
We have a new, improved, updated, Microryza crowd-funding donations page! Here is the link:
https://www.microryza.com/projects/training-students-to-be-next-generation-beekeepers
Last year, Microryza helped us earn enough to support continuation of the bee program, the bee course, and its associated research. By summer, this money will be gone, so now we are starting a new funding cycle.
If you are a potential contributor, go to the site and read more about our cool work. If you are a current UW Farm Bee Group participant, forward this link to all you know! We have super goals, so don't be shy to ask for donations to our cause. Microryza is the way to donate.
Thanks to the funding wizards, our friends at Microryza! You will be sweetly rewarded!
https://www.microryza.com/projects/training-students-to-be-next-generation-beekeepers
Last year, Microryza helped us earn enough to support continuation of the bee program, the bee course, and its associated research. By summer, this money will be gone, so now we are starting a new funding cycle.
If you are a potential contributor, go to the site and read more about our cool work. If you are a current UW Farm Bee Group participant, forward this link to all you know! We have super goals, so don't be shy to ask for donations to our cause. Microryza is the way to donate.
Thanks to the funding wizards, our friends at Microryza! You will be sweetly rewarded!
Friday, February 15, 2013
Springy Day!
Most Spring-like day of the year so far, with temperatures above 55 deg. F, the bees were flying in clouds in front of the hives. They looked healthy, with no signs of the dreaded Nosema disease. It was a perfect time to put on syrup feed and even to take a quick look inside and to put on some protein supplement. Activity at this time of year can be influenced by various things, including whether or not the queen is laying or the basic temperament of the bees. Hive No. 2 contains Italian bees. From the outside, they were quiet, with no noticeable flight. Yet on inspection, their box was full of healthy workers! Maybe it was just not warm enough for their “Italian” dispositions. This was an unusual day, a good test of the air, but there will be cold, gloomy times ahead before the smell of the nectar flow arrives. Supplementary food will be welcome, should help fortify the glands of workers so they can rear more brood, keeping the queen busy.
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| Testing the air. |
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| Hive 5, ready to roll. |
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| Extra protein, more eggs. |
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| Syrup gone, hungry bees, good sign! |
Saturday, November 24, 2012
24 November 2012
We are entering the time when the queen normally tapers down her egg laying to zero as the colony digs in for the long winter. By January she will start laying again. The success of the colony during the entire ensuing year depends on whether they get a good start. We will be experimenting with protein supplement this season, feeding it dry outside of the hive. The bees forage almost anytime when it is 1) light, 2) above 55 degrees F, 3) not raining. So we will see if they will be attracted to the artificial pollen (newest formulation available) as if it were from flowers. If so, this should help the queens build up their egg-laying ability and help nurse bees adequately feed the new larvae. If bad weather is prolonged, we'll feed it internally.
In the 1st attached photo, taken October 28th, you can see that they are still bringing in natural pollen! This scene could repeat itself any month of the year in our location, although the time between such opportunities for the bees gets longer and longer and the flowers become harder to find until Spring finally arrives. You can also see a drone at the far end of the landing platform. This is a bit odd because drones are supposed to be absent after the end of summer. They don't live very long, so the queen in this colony was apparently still laying drone eggs up to October. This is not a good thing. Drones take valuable energy to produce and maintain. They are also the preferred breeding choice for Varroa mites. Drones in the fall may prolong the Varroa infestation, which might otherwise naturally taper off as the queen stops laying drones and then stops laying any eggs.
You can see winterized hives in the second photo. So far, we've only had a couple of cold days, but the bees benefit from insulative retention of heat, their main product of the winter. Two of the "hives" (the tallest ones) are actually double-hives. We're trying this as an efficiency measure - reduces equipment in the field and the colonies can share heat. They are stacked two-high with a double screen separator between them and separate entrances. The 1st photo shows bees from the top hive of one double stack entering their hive from the top of the separator screen (white). They can also exit through the top inner cover entrance.
Next Bee Group meeting: Tuesday, December 4th, 4:00 p.m., Biology Greenhouse
If you would like to be part of the Bee Group, come to the meeting and you can be put on the list serve.
We are entering the time when the queen normally tapers down her egg laying to zero as the colony digs in for the long winter. By January she will start laying again. The success of the colony during the entire ensuing year depends on whether they get a good start. We will be experimenting with protein supplement this season, feeding it dry outside of the hive. The bees forage almost anytime when it is 1) light, 2) above 55 degrees F, 3) not raining. So we will see if they will be attracted to the artificial pollen (newest formulation available) as if it were from flowers. If so, this should help the queens build up their egg-laying ability and help nurse bees adequately feed the new larvae. If bad weather is prolonged, we'll feed it internally.
In the 1st attached photo, taken October 28th, you can see that they are still bringing in natural pollen! This scene could repeat itself any month of the year in our location, although the time between such opportunities for the bees gets longer and longer and the flowers become harder to find until Spring finally arrives. You can also see a drone at the far end of the landing platform. This is a bit odd because drones are supposed to be absent after the end of summer. They don't live very long, so the queen in this colony was apparently still laying drone eggs up to October. This is not a good thing. Drones take valuable energy to produce and maintain. They are also the preferred breeding choice for Varroa mites. Drones in the fall may prolong the Varroa infestation, which might otherwise naturally taper off as the queen stops laying drones and then stops laying any eggs.
You can see winterized hives in the second photo. So far, we've only had a couple of cold days, but the bees benefit from insulative retention of heat, their main product of the winter. Two of the "hives" (the tallest ones) are actually double-hives. We're trying this as an efficiency measure - reduces equipment in the field and the colonies can share heat. They are stacked two-high with a double screen separator between them and separate entrances. The 1st photo shows bees from the top hive of one double stack entering their hive from the top of the separator screen (white). They can also exit through the top inner cover entrance.
Next Bee Group meeting: Tuesday, December 4th, 4:00 p.m., Biology Greenhouse
If you would like to be part of the Bee Group, come to the meeting and you can be put on the list serve.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
October 31, 2012
BRIEF REPORT: Fall has settled in the the bees are settled in with it. We ended summer with a flourish of preparations, including Varroa mite and Nosema treatments. The results of the summer’s testing of the Fumadil-drench technique were interesting. Apparently it works if the spore count is not too high. Some of the Farm hives had pretty high infestation rates in Spring and into Summer, however, so they are currently still on a treatment regime to try to keep the disease at bay at least until the queens start laying strongly again. See graphs below for results.
The hives are insulated and look a little awkward but the bees will save energy. On Sunday, October 28th, the bees were bringing in a significant amount of pollen, probably from exotic &/or ornamental flowers. They were taking advantage of a relatively warm and dry day after a week of cold and rain. This is a good sign as to the health of the bees and heartwarming to watch. Amazingly, there were also a few drones flying! Normally they are all banished from the hive by the end of summer.
BEE GROUP MEETING: Tuesday, Nov. 6th, 16:00, Biology Greenhouse.
Anyone interested in the bees and especially in volunteering &/or taking the summer course should attend. We’ll recap the year and talk about plans for next.
Items needed: 1-1/2 qt plastic peanut/mixed nut jars (Costco type), for feeders
Rigid insulation 1, 1-1/2, or 2 inch, for hive winterizing
Burlap coffee bags, for smokers
Laundry lint, for smoker tinder
Newspaper, for combining, smoker lighting Leftover paint (exterior latex), for hives
OUR BLOG:
http://beeinterns.blogspot.com/
BRIEF REPORT: Fall has settled in the the bees are settled in with it. We ended summer with a flourish of preparations, including Varroa mite and Nosema treatments. The results of the summer’s testing of the Fumadil-drench technique were interesting. Apparently it works if the spore count is not too high. Some of the Farm hives had pretty high infestation rates in Spring and into Summer, however, so they are currently still on a treatment regime to try to keep the disease at bay at least until the queens start laying strongly again. See graphs below for results.
The hives are insulated and look a little awkward but the bees will save energy. On Sunday, October 28th, the bees were bringing in a significant amount of pollen, probably from exotic &/or ornamental flowers. They were taking advantage of a relatively warm and dry day after a week of cold and rain. This is a good sign as to the health of the bees and heartwarming to watch. Amazingly, there were also a few drones flying! Normally they are all banished from the hive by the end of summer.
BEE GROUP MEETING: Tuesday, Nov. 6th, 16:00, Biology Greenhouse.
Anyone interested in the bees and especially in volunteering &/or taking the summer course should attend. We’ll recap the year and talk about plans for next.
Items needed: 1-1/2 qt plastic peanut/mixed nut jars (Costco type), for feeders
Rigid insulation 1, 1-1/2, or 2 inch, for hive winterizing
Burlap coffee bags, for smokers
Laundry lint, for smoker tinder
Newspaper, for combining, smoker lighting Leftover paint (exterior latex), for hives
OUR BLOG:
http://beeinterns.blogspot.com/
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| Results of test of Fumadil (anti-Nosema) drench |
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