APIS Volume 7, Number 2, February 1989
In this issue
- A Case for Diagnostics--Mites on Bees
- Inserting Fluvalinate Strips-Hints on Application
- Melaleuca Survey
- Using Terramycin Correctly
A CASE FOR DIAGNOSTICS
The time has come to put more emphasis on diagnostics in beekeeping. This concept is well known in many fields. Cooperative Extension Services, private consultants and others routinely diagnose ornamental and agronomic crop plants for a wide range of ailments and insect damage. Soils for home gardens and lawns are tested for presence of nutrients, as well as examined for presence of nematodes and other potential pests.
In the past, most diagnosis of beekeeping maladies had been left to the bee inspector. This amounted to looking for outward symptoms of brood disease. The beekeeper was also routinely trained to detect these diseases. A considerable body of knowledge exists to diagnose nosema in bees, but for practical purposes this was only carried out at university or USDA laboratories. A microscope is required and its purchase was not considered essential by beekeepers or bee inspectors.
What kind of microscope to buy? This boils down to how much one wants to see. Unfortunately, it's impossible to diagnose all potential ills with only one kind of microscope. Nosema spores cannot be seen and it's very difficult to see individual tracheal mites with a stereoscopic dissecting microscope that magnifies 70 times. However, dissecting out the tracheal trunks cannot be done using a compound microscope which magnifies 400 times, although nosema spores and individual tracheal mites can be seen at this magnification.
Two microscopes are therefore required: a dissecting and compound microscope. Purchasing both these instruments new could cost well over $1000. If only one can be purchased, probably the dissecting microscope should be first on the list. Fortunately, compound microscopes are often available used or reconditioned. But used stereoscopic dissecting ones are much harder to come by and rarely found at supply houses. This doesn't mean they don't exist, however, and the best strategy is to call several places and put your name on a waiting list for instruments. Try also to stick to quality brands such as Leitz, A.O. Smith and Bausch and Lomb.
There are many potential outlets for used and reconditioned microscopes. A search through the Yellow Pages should reveal a few names and numbers. The bigger cities will probably have firms offering the widest selection of instruments and prices. In the southeast, you might begin by trying:
Southern Micro, 5448 Hoffner Ave., Suite 201, Orlando, FL 32812 (headquartered in Atlanta). Call toll free 800/226-0343; or Flanagan Instruments, head office in New Orleans, 800/228-4845.
INSERTING FLUVALINATE STRIPS
An interesting idea comes from Ralph Russ, current Vice President of the Florida State Beekeepers Association. He's come up with a way to insert and remove APISTAN (R) strips from the bottom of a brood chamber. It saves a lot of time because colonies don't have to be totally dismantled to get the strips in place. The first step is to purchase a flexible "gripper" found at many hardware and auto supply stores. It has four tines on one end which can be extended by pressing with the thumb on the other end of the flexible hose. The tool is used to extract screws, bolts and nuts from places too narrow for the hand to fit in. The "gripper" must be long enough to slide through the brood chamber.
Now insert a wooden toothpick near the top of the APISTAN strip. The toothpick is then placed in the tines of the "gripper" and toothpick and strip are inserted from the bottom of the brood chamber until the toothpick clears the top of the frames. The "gripper" is now turned 90 degrees and toothpick released with the thumb. The strip now hangs just as if it had been inserted from the top. To remove the strip, it is simply jerked from the bottom. The toothpick breaks and the strip comes out. Thanks to Ralph for sharing this innovation.
Another hint comes from Warren Johnson, a Florida state bee inspector. He has found some beekeepers using plastic strips that have been cooled on ice. The cooled strips become stiff, making them easier to quickly insert into the brood nest.
MELALEUCA SURVEY
Dr. Joseph K. Balciunas is currently conducting an informal survey among beekeepers about control of the punk or melaleuca tree. According to Dr. Balciunas, Melaleuca quinquenervia, an Australian tree imported at the turn of the century, has become a serious pest in south Florida. Its ability to foster enormous fires and capacity to destroy wetlands could create negative economic impacts in excess of $1 billion per year.
Dr. Balciunas also says that numerous agencies are already spending over $1 million per year to control melaleuca in critical areas. However, current control technologies are costly, can be environmentally damaging, and are usually ineffective. He proposes to introduce Australian insects to slow the spread of melaleuca. These insects would only reduce seed production and increase sapling mortality. They would have no effect on mature trees.
In order to judge the feasibility of his project, Dr. Balciunas would like beekeepers' ideas on the subject. He has already indicated to me that many persons he's talked with would have little objection to the plan. Of specific interest in the current survey is the following information: The value of melaleuca honey to beekeepers, whether beekeepers would be willing to control the tree in localized areas where most damage is occurring (power line right of ways, Everglades National Park, Lake Okeechobee) and the preferred control methods (herbicides, mechanical removal, burning, insect introduction). If you have opinions about the plan, please contact Dr. Balciunas, USDA, 3205 College Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33314, ph 305/475-0541.
USING TERRAMYCIN CORRECTLY
At the recent meeting of the American Beekeeping Federation in Indianapolis, an informative seminar was presented by Pfizer in association with Mann Lake Supply. It provided information on how to correctly use Terramycin (R), manufactured by Pfizer. The preferred method is to dust three rounded tablespoons of a mixture of Terramycin Soluble Powder (6.4 oz package) and 2 lbs (32 oz) powdered sugar over the top bars of a colony five times at 7-10 day intervals in the spring. In the fall, two times is recommended. Alternatively, one could use the same feeding schedule with a mixture of Terramycin Soluble Powder Concentrate (4 oz package) mixed into 5 lbs (80 oz) powdered sugar.
The presenters did not recommend feeding Terramycin in syrup for two reasons: (1) it breaks down readily in solution (especially if exposed to light) and (2) in order to get the correct amount of antibiotic into the bees (260 mg/oz), the bees must take down a certain quantity of syrup. Determination of the amount of syrup fed/consumed is prone to a good deal of error.
Other formulations of Terramycin exist besides those mentioned above, according to the presenters, but only Terramycin 50-D (Terra-Guard, 50 lb bag) is to be used. This material is used to make up the mixture in bulk. One can use 1 lb of Terramycin 50-D with 10 lbs (160 oz) or mix the whole bag with 500 lbs of powdered sugar. The dosage and feeding schedule is the same as above. It was emphasized that FEEDING TM-10 and TM-50 IS A WASTE OF EFFORT AND MONEY. Both products are formulated on rice hulls for livestock. Bees cannot eat or use the cellulose in rice hulls and, therefore, most of the antibiotic never gets in the colony. Only Terramycin 50-D (formulated on a sugar carrier) should be used.
The presenters said there are many other terramycin (tetracycline) products on the market for use on all types of animals. Many beekeepers are using products not intended for bees. Some tetracyclines are TOXIC to bees.
As a postscript, I learned at the convention that Terramycin continues to be found in honey across the country. One packer begged me to tell beekeepers to please be careful with the product. Finally, the use of sulfa was universally condemned as being illegal, unnecessary and very risky. Many pounds of honey containing sulfa residues have been confiscated and/or rejected in Canada.
Malcolm T. Sanford
Bldg 970, Box 110620
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611-0620
Phone (904) 392-1801, Ext. 143 FAX: 904-392-0190
http://www.ifas.ufl.edu/~entweb/apis/apis.htm
INTERNET Address: MTS@GNV.IFAS.UFL.EDU
©1989 M.T. Sanford "All Rights Reserved
