President`s Report – Myrl Stone

1
President’s Report – Myrl Stone
In This Issue
Email: [email protected]
President’s Report
1&2
Vice President’s Report
Secretary’s Report
3
3& 4
Beeginner’s Corner
4
Treasurer’s Report
5&6
Nature Notes
6&7
Classified Ads
7-11
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
CCBA Meeting-Thursday,
March 10, 2016 at 7 pm
West Whiteland Twp Bldg,
Exton, PA
CCBA Conference-March 12,
2016 at WCU
Send newsletter
contributions to:
[email protected].
Submissions may be edited
for length. Ads are *free* for
CCBA members. It’s true!
Non-members are welcome to
place an ad with us for $5.
www.chescobees.org
March is almost here and spring is just around the bend. For the
ever-optimistic beekeeper, there are so many things to do. There are
plans to be made, equipment orders to be placed, and bees to be
ordered. Hmm, maybe this year I’ll try a couple of colonies of
Italian bees.
Browsing through the latest bee equipment catalog, one pauses in
the queen rearing section. Eyes close, head nods and one is in the
bee yard on a balmy early June afternoon. No need for a veil today,
not a threatening aggressive bee in sight. The grafting tool is deftly
slipped under each first instar larvae. Each is lifted, moved, and
placed in a waiting queen cup. Each larvae glides off the grafting
tool perfectly placed and proper side up. The freshly prepared
frame is slipped into a sea of nurse bees. Opening a hive containing
the last grafting round – row upon row of perfectly “Mr. Peanut”
shaped queen cells. One hundred percent take – life is good.
Suddenly a dog barks, the catalog falls to the floor – eyes open.
Stumbling off to feed the dog her requested lunch, one reflects,
“Well that was some dream! Queen rearing, harrumph, that’s
certainly not how it went last year, but this year will be better.”
The beekeeper’s mantra – things will go better this year.
Let’s walk out to the beeyard and take care of a few simple tasks,
which can be of a real benefit to the bee colonies. If any packing,
wrapping, or insulation has been placed on the hives, open, unwrap,
do whatever is necessary to verify that no moisture has built up or is
being retained by the covering materials. I’ll readily admit that I’m
a real stickler for hive moisture control and hive internal dryness.
One often hears reference to melting frost or ice on the lower inner
cover surface dripping into the bee cluster and this certainly can
bring the demise of a colony. However even a damp, high humidity,
soggy interior can be very unhealthy. Throughout the winter, the
colony will suffer a slow steady bee death rate – simply natural
attrition. These bees will fall to the bottom board and slowly
accumulate as the cool ambient temperature prevents the bees from
carrying out their normal house cleaning duties. Add excess
moisture and this dead bee accumulation will become a putrid mess.
Cont’d page 2
2
President’s Report, continued from page 1
Lastly, verify that the hive is tipped ever so slightly forward. This forward tip will prevent any water
pooling on the bottom board.
This leads to our next task – cleaning the bottom board. I use a small hooked tool fashioned from a
length of ½ wide iron bar. Picture a two-foot long straight section with a 90-degree bend and 3” leg –
an L. One removes the mouse guard and entrance reducer if installed. Slide the tool in and
rake/work out the bottom board debris. No mouse guard – shame. Beehives are winter mice
magnets.
Our final consideration - food stores. How much is enough – such a difficult question. The advanced
beekeeper will tip the hives estimating remaining food stores with reasonable accuracy. This is a
skill developed through years of handling hives.
I would suggest for the beginner and intermediate beekeepers a top spacer shim with a fondant
block or a hard sugar block. These products will cover a possible food shortage. One can easily and
discreetly lift the cover and peek determining if the bees have moved up onto and are feeding from
the blocks. If this has occurred, further timely checks can be made and provisions added as
necessary.
I use both techniques, as my goal is that the boxes be as empty as possible coming into spring. Cells
filled with excess honey cannot be used for brood rearing, yielding the strongest possible spring
build up.
Taking attention of these small tasks will help guarantee your colonies’ success moving into spring.
Wax Dipping of hives
>>>> John Mac will be starting up the hive fryer on Sunday March 20th at 349 West Lincoln
Highway, Exton, 19341 to start the dipping at 10 am. The wax and Rosin mix takes about 4 hours to
reach the correct temperature. This will enable a natural look for your hive while preserving the
wood work for many years. The cost is $4 a unit (top cover, bottom board, super or deep) Bring your
own paint if you would like to paint as it cools. Just arrive at any time after 10 am.
__________________________________________________________________________________
3
Vice President’s Report – Walt Talunas
Email: [email protected]
Hopefully everyone has had good success with overwintering their hives. We've had a few nice days where we could
open the hives and do a decent inspection. Spring is fast approaching, so make sure that you, your bees, and
equipment are ready! And even though spring is right around the corner, keep in mind that the bees still need food.
We can still have bouts of weather that will prevent the bees from foraging.
Secretary’s Report – Sharon Jardine
Email: [email protected]
The conference is quickly approaching too, so if you haven't registered yet, please do. Mann Lake will have a table
set up at the conference, but they are also taking orders for pick up at the conference. Email Dave Sando
([email protected]) to place your order .
____________________________________________________________________________
Secretary’s Report – Sharon Jardine
Email: [email protected]
We had a turnout of roughly 100 people at our February meeting.
Our new President, Myrl Stone, started the meeting with his talk on 'Where bees come from'
followed by Jack McMichael with an update on the club finances.
The swarm list sign-up sheet was passed around. If you want to sign up and are not able to
attend an upcoming meeting please can you email me at [email protected]. Please let me
know your address, telephone number, email and which area you want to be listed under, only
one area please. Your address will be used to mark your location on our website map, it will not
be published. The areas are: 1) Southern & Western Chester County. 2) Northern Chester
County. 3) Central Chester County. 4) Main Line & Delaware County. Also please let me
know if you would like to be listed under Removal of Wasps, Hornets, and Bumble Bees from
House Walls and/or Cutouts.
Myrl gave us an update on the conference. If you are able to help before or at the conference
please email Ericka Hahn at [email protected].
After the break we had our raffle. Many thanks go to Dennis Schuelkens, who had a table at the
meeting and was taking reservations for 2016 Nucs, for his raffle donation of a bottle of honey.
Other prizes included 15 boxes of wildflower seeds and 2 CCBA T-Shirts.
Cont’d on pg 4
4
Secretary’s Report continued from page 3
Chris Biondi gave us a report on his Queen Rearing programme, this was one of the CCBA
grants approved in 2015. Thanks Chris!
We had a mini auction of a plant growing light and $30.00 was raised for the club!
If anyone would like me to bring a library book to the next meeting please email me at
[email protected] - please refer to the spreadsheet in this newsletter mailing for book
details and availability.
Our next meeting is on March 10th at our Exton location. Hope to see you there!
______________________________________________________________________________
Bee-ginner’s Corner – Michael Langer
Email: [email protected]
Early Spring?
We will have plenty of information shortly with our March meeting and conference, so I will keep this
short and sweet. A few questions have come in during the past week which might be a helpful share.
The first question was regarding pollen coming in despite the cold temps. We are very fortunate that we
have an abundance of pollen resources in SE PA. Pollen can be observed coming in just about every
month of the year and it is always a good sign of a healthy hive. Right now, your bees are supporting
fresh brood with pollen, so pollen laden bees are an indication of brood and a healthy laying queen, so
far so good! In the next week or so, I will add a small amount of pollen patty to the top of each hive just
to provide a bit of a boost. I think my nucs will take to it and encourage the queen to start laying brood,
if she has not done so already.
Next question related to what to do right now with your colonies. The club recommended via the
Facebook page to keep your tar paper intact. We have some warm days coming, but the tar paper really
helps to keep the fresh brood warm and we will still have a cold snap or two before we are out of the
woods. I am also keeping fondant available as insurance feed and as mentioned earlier, will supplement
a bit of pollen patty. I will also place sticky boards in for a few days just to see what falls. Wax moth
larvae droppings, dead hive beetles, mites or mold might be good indicators of pending trouble.
We should have a warm spell coming up next week which will be a good time for a first peek into my
hives. I will check for fresh brood and overall colony strength while looking for any signs of trouble ie
mice, beetles or wax moth larvae. I will also check on any drone larvae development. As soon as the
drones start flying , swarming can occur. Swarm prevention will be in place by the end of April as I think
we will be having an early Spring. Last year, my first swarm was May 4th.
I hope to see you at the March 12th conference. We will also have a beginner meeting by the end of
March, stay tuned.
5
We had a turnout
of roughly–100
people
at our February meeting.
Treasurer’s
Report
Jack
McMichael
Email: [email protected]
Our new President, Myrl Stone, started the meeting with his talk on 'Where bees come from' followed by Jack
Membership
McMichaelUpdate:
with an update on the club finances.
I am extremely pleased to report that since the first of the year, we have added sixty-three (63) new
The swarm
list sign-up
sheet was passed
around.
want to sign up
and in
areless
notthan
able to
attend
an Add
individuals
to the
CCBA membership
roster!
ThatIfisyou
a tremendous
result
two
months.
upcoming
meeting
please
can
you
email
me
at
[email protected].
Please
let
me
know
your
address,
to that the 15 lifetime honorary and courtesy memberships and the 126 members from 2015 who have
emailand
and we
which
you want
to beactive
listed under,
only one area
please.there
Your address
nowtelephone
paid theirnumber,
2016 dues,
arearea
currently
at 204
memberships.
Of course
are thewill
be used to mark your location on our website map, it will not be published. The areas are: 1) Southern &
other 183 of you who are receiving this Newsletter who have not yet renewed your memberships for
Western Chester County. 2) Northern Chester County. 3) Central Chester County. 4) Main Line & Delaware
2016. Please be sure to renew now by paying the modest dues of just $10 per household by either:
County. Also please let me know if would you like to be listed under Removal of Wasps, Hornets, and Bumble
Bees from House Walls and/or Cutouts.
1)
mailing a check made payable to the CCBA to me at 1118 Cotswold Lane, West Chester, PA
19380;
Myrl gave us an update on the conference. If you are able to help before or at the conference please email
2) Using
card for the CCBA 2016 Event at Eventbrite.com, or;
Ericka
Hahnaatcredit
[email protected].
3) Paying by cash or check at our monthly meeting, or;
AfterComing
the break
we had
ourwill
raffle.
Manyto
thanks
gocredit
to Dennis
who had
a table at
the meeting
4)
soon,
- you
be able
pay by
cardSchuelkens,
at our monthly
meetings
(more
on thatand
was taking
reservations
for
2016
Nucs,
for
his
raffle
donation
of
a
bottle
of
honey.
Other
prizes
included
15
later).
boxes of wildflower seeds and 2 CCBA T-Shirts.
Please join me in welcoming the following new members as well as a few who have returned in the last month
Chris Biondi gave us a report on his Queen Rearing programme, this was one of the CCBA grants approved in
after
a year
or more
2015.
Thanks
Chris!away from the CCBA:
Name
Town & State
Name
Town & State
We had a mini auction of a plant growing light and $30.00 was raised for the club!
Daniel McMichael
Phoenixville, PA
Karen Chorney
Media, PA
MarkIf Mummert
Chadds
Ford,
PA
Dan
Heffernan
Garnet Valley, PA
anyone would like me to bring a library book to the next meeting please email me at
Gordon
Hetherston
PA
John Anderson
Landenberg,
PA
[email protected]
- pleaseLandenberg,
refer to the spreadsheet
in this newsletter
mailing for book details
and
Caryn
Hetherston
Landenberg, PA
Keith Kauffman
Thorndale, PA
availability.
Maddison
Paule
Devon,
PAExton location. Hope to see
James
Cochranville, PA
Our next
meeting is on March 10th
at our
youMay
there!
Joelle Cutrona-Buzzard
Kennett Square, PA
Eric Mann
Downingtown, PA
Mark Gingrich
Dover, PA
Maximilian Frantz
Thornton, PA
Maja Murphy
Kennett Square, PA
Susan Shuller
Thornton, PA
Ron Rothrock
West Chester, PA
Chris Thistlethwaite
Downingtown, PA
John__________________________________________________________________________________
Mastrippolito
Avondale, PA
Michael Coble
West Chester, PA
Vince Talucci
Downingtown, PA
Selena Moressi
Mark Meaders
Newtown Square, PA
Brett Sanders
Elverson, PA
Marc Brooks
Pottstown, PA
John Washburn
Lincoln Univ., PA
Alan Gephart
Spring City, PA
Glen Keiser
Oxford, PA
Randy Knight
Downingtown, PA
Tami DeMarco
Glen Mills, PA
Association Finances
As of 2/27/2016 we have just over $19,183 in our accounts. That amount includes $6,580 in 2016 conference registration
fees and membership dues paid through the Eventbrite site we added this year. The conference is only two weeks away as I
Treasurer’s Report continued from page 4
write this. If you have not already registered to attend, I urge you to consider doing so. It is going to be another great
program, filled with important and useful information that you can use to improve your beekeeping whether you are just
starting out or a veteran beekeeper. I am sure that your bees will appreciate your attending the conference! Cont’d pg 6
Cont’d page 5
6
Treasurer’s Report continued from page 6
Other News & Notes: Aside from the Eventbrite website we set up to make it easier and more
convenient for you to pay for the conference and/or your membership dues, we are in the process of
obtaining credit card readers that will be available at the conference, our monthly meetings, and other
CCBA events which will make it easier for individuals to make payments to the CCBA, and simplify the
recordkeeping for the Association. Just one more way your association is keeping current with the
times.
Spring is nearly upon us, and the bees won’t wait, so make sure you have all your equipment and
yourself in shape and ready for the start of another beekeeping season. Don’t get caught scrambling
once the dandelions start to bloom!
Hope to see you all at the conference and monthly meetings. If we haven’t met, please make a point of
introducing yourself to me.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Nature Notes – Tim Sterrett
[email protected]
When maple flowers explode into bloom with a halo of stamens around the open buds, winter is
over for Chester County bees. Maple nectar and pollen provide fresh sugar and protein to
colonies that are industriously raising bee larvae. These larvae will have become foraging adult
honeybees in time for the locust bloom in May.
Robins are gleaning fruit from trees and bushes and from the ground beneath. The birds seem
to leave certain trees and bushes until something tells them the fruit is ready. Then the flocks
gather to strip the fruit. Songbirds do not react to food taste the way we do. People mix cayenne
pepper in with bird food to discourage squirrels which can taste their food. The hot pepper
doesn’t bother song birds. Birds have short digestive systems compared to our twenty-five foot
intestines. Their guts have to work rapidly to extract nutrients. Perhaps the birds can tell by
texture when fruit is ready for them.
Ducks quacking in the late winter woods? Wood frogs move from woods to shallow water
where they quack and breed. The shallow water of these vernal (spring) pools is less likely to
harbor fish that would eat the wood frog eggs.
Many of us prefer native plants and trees in our yards and gardens. Native plants feed the
insects that are near the broad base of the web of life, keeping us surrounded with birds and
butterflies. In spite of our nativist tendencies in the garden, we also like daffodils which came
originally from Spain and Portugal.

Chickadees start building nests by arranging moss on the floors of bluebird houses. Water
striders appear from nowhere to skate on the surface of ponds and slow-moving streams.
Nature Notes continued from page 5
Cont’d pg 7
7
A warm March day will bring out comma and question mark butterflies, fifty-cent coin size butterflies
with scalloped wing edges and earthy brown and orange markings. Hidden on the underside of the hind
wing is a tiny white arc (the comma butterfly) or an arc with a dot (the question mark butterfly).
Commas seem to be more common in Pennsylvania. Both species winter over as adults and fly on warm,
late winter days.
Also wintering over are mourning cloak butterflies which dance through the woods on warm March and
April days. Mourning cloaks have dark brown wings edged with a narrow gold or cream band.
Jupiter rises in the east after dark. Orion is standing up now at center stage in the south. To the right of
Orion is bright orange Aldebaran (“al-dab’-a-ran”), the bloodshot eye of Taurus the Bull. To the right of
the “vee” of Taurus is the Pleiades (“plee’-a-dees”) star cluster. Sharp eyes may see a miniature Big
Dipper of seven stars in the Pleiades. A telescope shows the Pleiades to be a cluster of about a thousand
young stars. The Pleiades star cluster is only about 100 million years old. The Sun and the Earth are
about 4.5 billion years old. To the left of Orion is Sirius the brightest of our night time stars. (by Tim
Sterrett)
Classified Ads
Spring Sugar Syrup
5 gallon buckets of 1:1 sucrose and water mix with nothing else added.
Ready to feed to your bees to promote spring buildup. $23/bucket by preorder and pre-payment only.
By Monday, March 7th, contact Carmen Battavio (610-331-6279;
[email protected]) to order.
By Friday, March 11th, check payable to Carmen Battavio and received at 1607
Williams Way, WC, PA, 19380.
Saturday, March 19th, 7 AM to 9 AM pick up syrup at Battavio Plumbing/ Heating/
Cooling, 640 Snyder Ave, Suite M, West Chester, PA 19382. Drive around to loading
dock in the back. Bring your own clean 5 gallon buckets for filling. Please be sure
your lids fit your buckets.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Forest Hill Woodworking
Warren Graham’s Local Survivor Stock Nuc
2016 5-Frame Nucs
Forest Hill offers a full range
Local Survivor Stock nucs for sale in Spring
Of beekeeping equipment
and Summer. Please contact Warren at
And supplies. For our online 610-565-2032 for more information.
Catalog, please visit:
http://foresthillbeesupply.com
Closed on Sundays.
Available starting
weekly 1st wk of April
$165.00
Dennis Schuelkens
Crisscross Road Bee Yard
610 216 8522
[email protected]
8
The annual run is on for
Bee Packages & Queens
Orders are now being taken for April 3 delivery/pickup
(As always, dates are contingent on conditions: weather, bee population)
Quantities are very limited – order soon to get in
NOW is the time to reserve fresh 3lb packages of proven quality bees
(choose Italian or Russian). You get them within hours (not days),
delivered directly from pickup to a location near you (S/E PA).
Yield and health is much higher than having them shipped.
Certified
Inspected
Freshest
Beginners welcome – we are happy to help!
For pricing and more info or to reserve your package(s):
Online: http://chescobees.net/Packages.shtml
Phone: 215-591-9933
Email: [email protected]
Martin Billingsley
Brookhaven, PA 19015
9
Southeast Pennsylvania
SPRING PACKAGES
Available for Pickup Saturday, April 9* or Saturday, April 30*.
(* Updated date due to cold and rain in Georgia.)
Order your packages now for pickup after 12:00pm on Saturday, April 9* or Saturday, April 30*.
At 2:00 P.M. on the day of pickup, see a demonstration on installing package bees. Conveniently
located in the exact center of Montgomery County near Valley Forge, Norristown, and Lansdale
turnpike exits. Package includes 3-pound workers with Italian queen. For more information or to
download a package order form, visit www.pabeekeeper.com, email
[email protected], or call 610-584-6778.
Worcester Honey Farms, 2011 Shearer Road, Lansdale, PA 19446
Southeast Pennsylvania
Hands-on Beekeeping Class
This course is scheduled for five Sunday sessions from
February thru July at Worcester Honey Farm. Only 25
people for each group of classes will be accepted and
advance registration is required.
The instructor is committed to present a knowledgeable and
enjoyable, interactive, and intensively hands-on workshop.
We are friendly and encourage you to contact us throughout
the course for advice, help, or a sympathetic ear.
To reserve a spot or get more information, visit
www.pabeekeeper.com and download a registration form,
email [email protected], or call 610-584-6778.
10
Swarmbustin’ Honey is offering local Nucleus
Colonies in the Spring & Summer of 2016!
NUCLEUS COLONY: will contain 4 deep frames with a laying Queen, 2-3
frames of brood, an ample population of bees and adequate food stores. This is
considered a 4 frame Nuc. Our boxes house 2) 4 frame nucs. All beekeepers
should tend a minimum of 2 colonies, hedging your hobby towards beeing selfsustainable! Ordering in multiples of 2 is handy, yet we can make up singles.
PRICE: $159.00 / per Nuc & $35.00 deposit per box. Nuc orders will bee
filled in the order in which they were received. To reserve your nucs, we need
only your vitals; name, email addy, tely #, physical addy and the number of
Nucs you wish to reserve. No $ now. Payment for the Nucs, (CASH or check)
xpected when you pick up your nucs, along with a deposit (Check preferred) on
boxes. For Xample: The cost of 4 Nucs is $636.00, with a separate deposit
check for $70.00 until our boxes are returned.
ORDERS & QUESTIONS: We welcome questions regarding ordering, and
will assist with your planning needs or concerns arising throughout the year.
Email correspondence preferred via [email protected] or our
landline at 610-384-2384. We will also bee holding 3 workshops here at the Bee
Farm tailored to Spring Management of Fresh Nucs gratis. The Xact dates have
yet to bee determined, though we will have a workshop in April, May and June.
PICK-UP : Swarmbustin’ Honey, 190 Thouron Rd, West Grove, PA. 19390
First round of Nucs will bee available late March/ early April, weather
depending. Consult your Farmers Almanac, Think Spring & wait for updates
from
[email protected]
**A NOTE FOR BEEGINNERS: We recommend:
CCBA Beeginners Seminar held March 12th 2016
Reading & Researching all that you can whilst you have time!
11
2016 Spring Packages
TESLA BEE SUPPLY OF WEST CHESTER
ORDER
NOW!
MANN LAKE RESELLER
Quantities
are
Limited!
 3-pound packages with mated, laying Italian
queen from California; these are NOT
southern packages.
 Calm, gentle and productive!
 Multiple local (West Chester) pick-up dates.
Choose a pick-up date:
Day #1 – Estimate is April 2nd
Day #2 – SOLD OUT! April 9th
Day #3 – Estimate is April 16 th
Item
Quantity
Make Check Payable to:
Tesla Bee Supply
Mail to:
Tesla Bee Supply
812 Sharon Circle
West Chester, PA 19382
Price
3 LB Package with
Italian Caged Queen
129.95
Italian Queen
30.00
Total
Total Due 
Print and mail this form along with payment to the address shown above.
Name _____________________________________________
Address __________________________________________
City ________________________State______ Zip_______
Phone ____________________________
Email: __________________________________________
Please PRINT legibly.
TeslaBeeSupply.com
ORDER NOW – Quantities are
limited.
We will contact you once the delivery
date is determined.
Send questions to: [email protected]
12