Volume 3, Number 7, July 1985

Copyright ©1985 M.T. Sanford "All Rights Reserved"

In this issue:

African Bees--Harvesting Night/Day
Long-Term Use of Pollen Traps
Bee Venom Allergy--The Beekeeper's Family at Risk?

WHAT WE CAN EXPECT WITH AFRICANIZED HONEY BEES

It pays to think ahead. There's little question that Africanized honey bee behavior will give beekeepers cause to rethink some of their management practices. When I was in South America, I heard about some beekeepers who harvested honey at night; it seemed that Africanized honey bees are often more manageable in the evening. This certainly is a turnabout, because experiences manipulating colonies of European honey bees at night are some of the most unpleasant I've ever had. It's difficult to defend yourself against an unseen honey bee that crawls and stings. Nevertheless, the risk of getting stung by a few crawling Africanized bees at night appears to be preferrable to facing the aggressivity of the bees during the daytime.

Honey harvesting at night is also common practice in Africa. A recent article, however, in the Newsletter for Beekeepers in Tropical and Subtropical Countries, by S.O. Adjare of the University of Science and Technology, Ghana reports a simple, safe and inexpenseive method for harvesting honey in daylight, even at the warmest time of day, when the bees are most active. As reported in the June/july Issue of Life, Newsletter for the League of International Food Education, the method uses beehives on platforms that can be easily moved, rather than being hung from trees as is traditional. First the bees are smoked, then the hive is moved at right angles from the flight path. This diverts the field bees which return to the old site where an empty hive has been placed for them to cluster and keeps them from "bothering" the beekeeper. This makes sense because fewer bees are left in the hive and they are younger bees less likely to sting. The comb is then collected as quickly as possible, put in a covered receptacle with a lid and the hive returned to its old location. The author points out that daylight harvesting of honey is advantageous all around. By being able to see, the beekeepers can harvest more efficiently and control the brood nest better, as well as detect diseases and predators.

Another management technique suggested in the same newsletter by a Mr. Francis Sosu is to use the leaves of the cassava or manioc plant as a bee repellent. The leaves are squeezed and the sap smeared on the beekeepers bodies keeps the bees away. Is it possible that in the future beekeepers in Florida will be forced to choose between harvesting honey at night or daytime and/or to use or not to use cassava leave sap to keep their bees at bay?

LONG-TERM USE OF POLLEN TRAPS

More evidence has been published about effects of long-term use of pollen traps on colonies. According to New Zealand Apicultural Advisory Officer, A.G. Matheson in his May newsletter, a German study discovered that permanent use of single-grid pollen traps with an efficiency of 25%-35% reduced honey yield by some 60%, perhaps caused by a 37% increase in pollen collection by bees to compensate for that lost by trapping. Total pollen collected per colony each year was estimated at 15 kg (33 lb), corresponding to 3 kg (6.6 lb) raw protein. An economic calculation showed little benefit in placing on a permanent pollen trap, although Mr Matheson states this of course depends on the relative value of pollen and honey at any given time. The study referenced is Gransier, K. 1984. Effect of Permanent Use of Pollen Traps on Colonies of Apis mellifera carnica. Apidologie 15(3):265-266, in German.

BEE STING ALLERGY

Mr. Matheson also cautions beekeepers in his district to protect those closest to them from bee sting allergy. Evidence from Canada reveals beekeepers' families to be at high risk in developing general or anaphylactic reactions to bee stings. This appears to be due to beekeeper work clothing that has been stung and may distribute minute quantities of bee venom around the household. Family members coming in contact with the material by breathing it or through washing machine use can become sensitive because the low dosage is not enough to manufacture blocking antibodies to the venom antigens, but in sufficient to stimulate production of "memory" substances which cause allergic reactions when a full sting is received.

The best way to protect your loved owes is to wash beekeeping gear separately from other clothes and not leave unwashed overalls, gloves, and other paraphanelia around the house. If family members become allergic to bee stings, they usually can be desensitized, according to Mr. Matheson, but a New Zealand study confirms that use of whole-body extract does not work. The only effective way to desensitize a person is with a program of regular injections using honey bee venom. It goes without saying, of course, that a qualified allergist should be consulted before any regimen of injections begins.

Sincerely,

Malcolm T. Sanford
Bldg 970, Box 110620
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611-0620
Phone (352) 392-1801, Ext. 143 FAX: (352)-392-0190
http://www.ifas.ufl.edu/~entweb/apis/apis.htm
INTERNET Address: MTS@GNV.IFAS.UFL.EDU
©1985 M.T. Sanford "All Rights Reserved

Return to top of document