Florida melitto files

News for bee lovers Dennis F. Howard Chief, Bureau of Pesticides, FDACS
THE FLORIDA Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has established a new initiative to encourage the use of sound agricultural pesticide practices in Florida to help protect honey bees from potentially harmful exposures to pesticides. The FDACS Division of Agricultural Environmental Services (which regulates pesticides) and the Division of Plant Industry (which includes the Apiary Inspection program) have worked together to launch a new link, Floridabeeprotection. org, on the Departments website. The website provides Florida growers and beekeepers with information relating to agricultural pesticide usage that can help both industries to coexist and thrive. The websites goals are to: (1) identify steps that parties can take to reduce pesticide risks without overly burdening pesticide users or beekeepers; (2) foster communicative and cooperative relationships among growers, beekeepers and regulatory authorities; and (3) promote the legal, responsible, and effective use of pesticides to foster a productive agriculture industry and protect bee health. The new website is intended to cover a wide range of pesticidepollinator issues in Florida. The opening version highlights steps that can be taken to reduce bee exposure in areas of citrus where

Joint publication:
Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services University of Florida/ Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences VOL 7 | ISSUE 1

New website addresses Florida pesticide-pollinator issues: Floridabeeprotection.org

dense stands of young trees (five years old or younger) are treated with soil-applied neonicotinoid insecticides. Immature trees critically require such treatments to prevent feeding by the Asian citrus psyllid, which spreads citrus greening disease. Without these treatments, young citrus trees planted to replace mature infected, dead or dying trees may not reach fruit-bearing age before they too succumb to citrus greening disease. The website provides general information about citrus greening prevention efforts and specific maps where young and mature groves are located, to assist beekeepers in making informed decisions about hive placement near citrus. FDACS expects that the website will continue to develop as new information becomes available. If you have any questions about the website, you can contact either Dennis Howard at the Bureau of Pesticides (Dennis.Howard@ freshfromflorida.com; 850617-7921) or David Westervelt at Apiary Inspection (David. Westervelt@freshfromflorida. com; 352-395-4636).

Floridabeeprotection.org promotes sound agricultural pesticide practices to protect Florida honey bees from harmful pesticides.

Jan Mar 2013

FDACS/DPI
FROM THE DESK OF

DAVID WESTERVELT
Every pesticide label states, It is a violation of federal law to use this product in a manner inconsistent with its labeling. The user assumes all responsibilities for the use of the product. The definition on every pesticide label covers everything involving a pesticide from purchase to disposal and everything in between. It instructs on how to use a chemical product safely, efficiently, and effectively, and serves as a legal binding contract which establishes legal boundaries. Following label directions is critical; misuse can cause penalties to be assessed. We are anticipating the possible use of HopGuard in the near future.

David Westervelt, FDACS/DPI Asst. Chief, Apiary Inspection

Section 18 for Apivar approved; The Label is the Law

THE ENVIRONMENTAL Protection Agency granted a specific exemption under the provisions of Section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, as amended, to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer

Services for the use of amitraz strips (Apivar) to control the varroa mite, Varroa destructor, in honey bee colonies. The exemption is effective December 4, 2012, until December 4, 2013. These chemicals have been tested, trialed, and approved to be used according to the law. Important safety information on use, PPE (personal protective equipment), environmental precautions, storage and disposal are found on the pesticide label. The purpose of the label is to give clear, concise, accurate directions to the user that will allow maximum product effect and reliability while protecting human health and the environment.

Low-temperature scanning electron micrograph of Varroa destructor on a honey bee host. Photo: USDA-ARS

Florida Melitto Files | News for Bee Lovers

HBREL Extension Resources

Jeanette Klopchin Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory

uf/ifas HBREL NEWS

I AM writing this article to share with you the extension activities of the Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory (HBREL). Our principle program for beekeepers is entitled Partnering with Beekeepers to Improve the Sustainability of Beekeeping. This includes offering a yearly Bee College, managing the Master Beekeeper Program, publishing our newsletter, The Melitto Files, and serving as a source of information for beekeepers in Florida, the United States, and worldwide. HBREL staff and students participate in our extension efforts, and we try to accommodate every extension request we receive. We do our best to be available to all local and state (and even international) associations to speak, lecture, and present workshops at monthly meetings, conferences, conventions, and other events. We also have Polycom capabilities at UF and highly encourage groups that are farther away from Gainesville to take advantage of this technology. You typically can find polycom services hosted at your local county extension offices or at your nearest university. We post a contact email address (honeybee@ifas.

ufl.edu) and phone number (352-273-3932) so that people wanting to ask a question about honey bees or beekeeping can contact us. We also provide information via our websites www.ufhoneybee. com and www.afbee.com. We host our Video Field Guide to Beekeeping series on the website. We also host a citizen science project, managed by PhD student Jason Graham, and the site focuses on native pollinators and their habitats. The site can be found at www.ufnativebuzz.com. Our main site, www.ufhoneybee. com, will be reformatted in 2013, enabling easier access to pertinent beekeeping information stay tuned. We have over 75 beekeeping documents hosted on http:// edis.ifas.ufl.edu/. These are available to the public for downloading and distributing. Our publications are most easily found by typing honey bee or James D. Ellis into the search bar on the EDIS site. Most recently, we have added Bottling, labeling and selling honey in Florida ENY519, Swarm control for managed bee hives ENY160, and Preserving woodenware ENY125. We are consistently updating and adding to our document list, so this is a site that can be checked regularly for new information.

In 2013, we are expanding our ever-evolving extension program at HBREL. January will include the launching of our first international extension event, the Caribbean Bee College. Our team will be partnering with St. Georges University in Grenada, the Association of Caribbean Beekeepers Organizations, and the Grenada Association of Beekeepers to offer this program. Our primary goal is to partner with beekeepers and other groups in the Caribbean in an effort to share information, tools and resources that we hope will improve the sustainability of beekeeping in the islands. Our UF Bee College (the Florida version) will be from March 89, 2013. This year, we host Dr. Wayatt Mangum, a life-long beekeeper and scientist and world-renowned for his work on top-bar hives, as well as Randy Oliver, a beekeeping expert and host of www.scientificbeekeeping. com. Our nationally recognized Welsh Honey Judge program will be getting a bit of a makeover this year at the UF Bee College. With the help of Michael Young MBE, world-class honey judge, we will offer both beginner and advanced training, with the addition of two new levels Continued on Page 6

Jan Mar 2013

HBREL Resources, Continued from Page 3 to the program. These new levels will bring new rigor to our program and give our Welsh Judges opportunities for further advancement. Be on the lookout for more information on our website. In addition to the UF Bee College that occurs in Marineland in March, and the new Caribbean Bee College occurring in Grenada in January, our team plans to create a third Bee College in South Florida, to serve the ever-growing needs of their beekeeping community. The HBREL will offer intensive apiculture workshops this summer at the UF Entomology Department in Gainesville. The first is an Artificial Insemination workshop taught by Sue Cobey, which will occur in March. During the months of AprilAugust we will host additional monthly workshops on topics such as Honey Bee Pest and Disease Identification, Native Bee Identification, Honey Extraction, and more. Primary enrollment seating will be given to our Master Beekeeper Program participants, yet the courses will be open to the public. Registration options and more information will be forthcoming at www. ufhoneybee.com. Due to the growth of our extension programming, all registrations for HBREL events will occur at http:// hbrel.eventbrite.com/, where participants can easily enter their information and pay by credit card or by check. The use of this automated registration service allows our programming to be more efficient, thus giving the participant a better experience. The staff and students at the HBREL answer phone calls/e-mails/letters, and work with local county extension offices, local associations, other universities, beekeepers, beekeeping associations, etc. We are here to help; all you have to do is ask, and we will do the best we can to accommodate your needs. We are constantly trying to improve our extension and outreach services and truly value the relationship that we have developed with Floridas beekeeping community. The winter season is upon us, and we hope that all of you, your bees, and your families have a happy and healthy season.

2012 Woman of the Year Award

Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory Technician Jeanette Klopchin received the Florida State Beekeepers Association (FSBA) 2012 Woman of the Year Award for her dedication to work in the Florida beekeeping community, in programs such as the Master Beekeeper Program and Bee College. Congratulations, Jeanette!

Florida Melitto Files | News for Bee Lovers

Suit up as it suits you,

IVE BEEN backyard beekeeping for a little over four years now, and I am certainly no expert on the dos and donts of beekeeping. In fact Ive learned that if you present a question to 10 different veteran beekeepers men and women who have spent 20 or more years managing honey bees you will probably hear 10 different answers. However, most experienced beekeepers will agree that the best method of beekeeping is safe beekeeping. Feeling safe is especially important for anyone who has just started beekeeping. For those who are new, the concept of beekeeping is often much more inviting than the reality. Many brand new beekeepers approach their hives with fear and trepidation. This is only natural. New beekeepers know that bees sting. Bees are, by nature, defensive creatures. They rapidly react to perceived threats, and are quick to release alarm pheromones. Bees move quickly. Every day new beekeepers witness hundreds of worker bees swiftly flying in and out of the hive entrance. Bees are noisy. New beekeepers hear the constant buzz of the bees, and the din of a healthy, productive hive can be, well, scary. New beekeepers who approach a hive often dont know what to expect. They may not know that a colonys collective reaction frequently has nothing at all to do with the actions of the beekeeper attempting to manage the hive. Weather, outside noises, vibrations, the health of the queen, the time of day all of these and more can factor into the disposition of the hive. Inexperienced beekeepers may not understand or have the ability to judge the mood of a hive. The saving grace for many new beekeepers is the pheromone-masking smoker, and the safety and security offered by protective gear, like a veil, jacket

And enjoy the benefits of protective gear

Michelle Peterson Advanced Level, Master Beekeeper Program; President, Treasure Coast Beekeepers Association

or bee suit, and gloves. Although the occasional sting can be painful and cause discomfort, multiple stings can be dangerous. The right protective clothing keeps beekeepers safe and ensures that every experience working with the bees is a safe one. As beekeepers gain experience and a level of comfort working bees, some may prefer to work without gloves, a suit, and even a veil. This can happen within months, or may occur after many years. Still others will always prefer the reassurance of complete protection and will wear a full bee suit or, at the very least, a veil whenever they are visiting the bee yard. Regardless which category you fall into, remember that the decision is yours, and you should always work bees the way you feel most comfortable. Beekeepers should respect each other no matter how much or how little gear they use. So, suit up as it suits you. Wear the protective gear that provides you with the level of comfort you desire. When in doubt, always err on the side of caution, because a safe beekeeper is a happy beekeeper.

Jan Mar 2013

Notice of Development of Rulemaking:

DATE AND TIME: January 17, 2013, 10:00 AM 1:00 PM PLACE: Doyle Conner Building 1911 S.W. 34th Street Auditorium Gainesville, FL 32608 (352)395-4700

Removal and Relocation of Live Bees from Structures Rule Change Workshop

For questions regarding the proposed rule development or a copy of the preliminary draft (if available), contact: Michael J. Page Chief of Bureau of Entomology and Pest Control 3125 Conner Boulevard, Ste N, MS C-41 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1650 (850) 617-7988 Michael.Page@FreshFromFlorida.com.

David Westervelt Bureau of Plant and Apiary Inspection Division of Plant Industry 1911 SW 34th Street PO Box 147100 Gainesville, FL 32614-7100 352-372-3505 x128 David.Westervelt@ freshfromflorida.com
http://www.freshfromflorida.com/ pi/plantinsp/apiary/apiary.html

Jamie Ellis, Ph.D. University of Florida Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences Bldg. 970, Natural Area Drive PO Box 110620 Gainesville, FL 32611-0620 352-273-3924 jdellis@ufl.edu
www.Afbee.com www.ufhoneybee.com http://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu/

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Florida Melitto Files | News for Bee Lovers

DACS-P-01492