October 8th, 2012
The October, 2012 Northwest Arkansas Beekeepers Club met on Monday
8 October 2012 (NOTE: The club always meets on the second Monday of the
month) at the UA Agrilcultural Extension Office.
President: Tom Nichols
Vice President: Mark Eaton
Treasurer: Nancy Kahanak
Secretary: Victor Mathis
Present for the meeting were 61 members and visitors
BEE FACTS: "Winter Bees" During the winter months when the
temperature outside the hive falls to 57degrees (f) or 14 degrees (C)
the bees move closer and closer together in the hive, and when the
temperature falls below 48degrees (f) or 9 degrees (C) they will form a
tight cluster in the hive across several combs and beneath the stored
comb. They consume their food stores to survive and the effect of food
consumption and digestion plus muscular movements generates heat which
is retained within the winter cluster by the bee's hairy bodies. The
bees in the center are very warm (70degreeS F 21degrees C all the way to
90degrees F 38degrees C) but the bees in the center become hungry and
they have to move to the edge of the cluster where the food is located.
The cold bees on the edge of the cluster move to the center to warm up.
The presentation for this meeting is "Bee Tips and Bee Plants" BY Winfridus Bakker email jhakker@cox net.com
Hives that are
infected with ants are reported to be handled with boric acid. mix a
solution of 2 cups of warm water with 1/2 cup of sugar with 2
tablespoons of boric acid....the solution is put in a shallow dish under
and near the hive.
For nectar and
pollen producing plants support them with a 2:1 RATIO of Blood Meal and
Bone Meal. This is reported to provide an excellent fertilizer for
plant usage.
Success in
beekeeping is defined by location is relation to nectar producing
plants and trees. This simple fact cannot be underestimated. Many
plants and trees that are grown have no nectar or pollen. There are
15,000 flowering plants in North America but only 200 are identified as
nectar producers. Clovers, alfalfa, sweet clover and acacias and locust
trees are among the most important nectar producers. Plants produce
nectar as a purpose to attract insects for cross pollination. Nectar
flow is at a optimum between the temperature of 80 degrees to 90
degrees.....past 95 degrees the nectar flow stops. Factors of SOIL,
TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY, will greatly influence the nectar flow of
plants.
Soil effects the growth of nectar producing plants and trees more so than any other factor.
Water can effect
honey also. Honey with a moisture content of more than 20% WILL grow
rancid faster than less. The pH of honey is between 3.2 and 4.5. The
relativity factor enables honey to be more stable than other foods. Mr.
Bakker gave an extensive report on nectar producing flowers and plants
highlighting each of their advantages.
A flower identified
as the Echium Vulgare was extensively investigated and reported as both
an excellent flowering plant for yards and an excellent nectar producer
for bees.
Another plant,
Agastache (Foeniculum rugosa) was identified as another strong annual
plant which provides an excellent nectar source.
DID YOU KNOW: The
Flag of the state of Utah adopted its state flag in 1913 into the
design a Bee Hive with the word "Industry" adopted as the state motto.
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