Annual/Termination Reports:

[01/20/2004] [12/10/2005]

Report Information

Participants

Marion Ellis - Nebraska; Zachary Huang - Michigan; Greg Hunt - Indiana; Marla Spivak - Minnesota; Tom Webster - Kentucky

Brief Summary of Minutes

Minutes of NCR-202

January 8, 2004

San Antonio, TX





Administrative Advisor: Chair and Secretary:

William R. Woodson Greg J. Hunt

Dean, Agricultural Research Purdue University

Purdue University 901 W. State St.

West Lafayette IN 47907 West Lafayette IN 47907





Members in Attendance: Marion Ellis- Nebraska, Zachary Huang, Greg Hunt  Indiana, Marla Spivak-Minnesota, Tom Webster-Kentucky.





Members Absent: Whitney Cranshaw, Gene Robinson





Guests: A number of beekeepers from the American Honey Producers Association were present as well as other members of the American Association of Professional Apiculturalists, including Keith Delaplane-Georgia, Eric Mussen-California, John Skinner-Tennesee, Jerry Bromenshank- Montanna, John Harbo and Bob Danka-Louisianna, Frank Eischen and Patti Elzen-TX, Mike Hood-South Carolina and Diana Sammataro-Pennsylvania.





The second meeting of the NCR-202 was held at the Omni Hotel, San Antonio, Texas on January 8, 2004. This meeting site and date were chosen to allow interaction with members of the American Association of Professional Apiculturalists (AAPA) attending the American Bee Research Conference, as well as the American Honey Producers Association and the Apiaries Inspector of America.







The meeting began at 2:00 p.m. immediately following the business meeting of the AAPA. The minutes of the last meeting were accepted as presented.





The agenda was reviewed:

Introductions

Administrative Advisor Reports

State Reports

Break

Accomplishments of 2003

Heartland Apiculture Society as a Coordinating Activity

Items from the Floor

Election of Chairman/Secretary Elect





Introductions

Greg Hunt started the meeting with some brief introductions.





Administrative Advisor Report

Dr. Randy Woodson reviewed the roles of NCR committees. He pointed out that these coordinating committees are no longer considered strictly regional committees but can be national in scope. He also went over examples of specific committees and the types of activities they are involved in, such as publications, web sites and research initiatives. He finished with a presentation of national funding directions. Dr. Woodson also pointed out that some NCR committees have 2-day meetings and the first day may consist of research presentations. He answered questions dealing with possible use of funds for publications and the possibility of expanding the committee to involve more AAPA members.





General Discussion:



Zachary Huang has agreed to set up a web site for the committee. He has chosen an address for this site: http://ncr202.bees.net.





Tom Webster gave an overview of the Heartland Apiculture Societys (HAS) activities. This organization involves commercial and (primarily) hobby beekeepers and is the first truly Midwestern beekeeper association, modeled after the Eastern Apiculture Society but with a simpler, more streamlined organization. The first meeting drew 195 participants in Goshen IN. The second meeting took place in July 2003 at Midway College in Kentucky and more than 300 beekeepers participated. These are very large attendances for beekeeper meetings in this area and people were present from many states, Canada and Mexico. This years meeting will be in Tennessee. It is expected that even larger attendance will occur when the meeting moves to Illinois in 2005. Tom Webster said that this association could help to make our extension activities more efficient and reach a wider audience.





Marla Spivak described her queen rearing workshop which she has given for a number of years. It has been very popular. The group felt that this workshop could be used as a satellite meeting for HAS. Having HAS sponsor it on the website would boost visibility of both the workshop activity and HAS. Marla could increase the size if she enlisted more help.





Marion Ellis described his masters beekeeping program that he is considering augmenting with web-based modules. It is a program that generates outreach services by the participants through service credits. This results in prolonged impact because beekeepers then act as ambassadors teaching others about beekeeping. This could also be connected with HAS but meetings may need to move more to the west if Marion is to make a greater commitment to the organization.





There was discussion about whether NCR202 could help the AAPA by sponsoring publications, such as the revised manual for control of Varroa mites. In response to a question from Greg Hunt, Randy Woodson explained that it may be possible for the experiment stations to help defray expenses for publication. Examples of other committees and publications were presented by Dr. Woodson.





Marion Ellis cited the example of the corn rootworm committee. They have been very successful in gaining federal funding by coordinating research and applying as a group. Dr. Woodson said that the trend in funding continued to be towards integrated, regional and collaborative efforts. There was further discussion about the possibility of using the different approaches towards control of Varroa and technology transfer for beekeepers as the focus of a multi-investigator grant proposal because all of the members in the group have a research component that addresses the problem of parasitic mites (Varroa). These research programs are in response to the devastating impact of Varroa on the industry, and the appearance of resistance of mites to the few registered pesticides. Pesticides also have the associated problems of honey contamination and side-effects on queens. Some of the researchers are using breeding, and a few are mechanical methods, such as electrical shocks or inert dusts to remove mites from bees. Dr. Woodson indicated that what Marion was saying was certainly true and that these collaborative, interdisciplinary proposals are encouraged by the major federal granting agencies.





Election of Chairman/Secretary-Elect



Greg Hunt then mentioned that Zachary Huang had been elected as secretary/chair at the last meeting and would begin that position this year. He called for election of next years secretary/chair-elect. Marla Spivak nominated Marion Ellis. The nomination was seconded. No further nominations were received and Dr. Ellis was elected unanimously by voice vote.





The group then considered what venue to have for the next meeting of NCR202. The possibility of holding the meeting in conjunction with the national meetings of the Entomological Society of America is being considered as an alternative to the AAPA meetings. It was decided that the new chair (Zachary Huang) would poll the members and decide on a venue early this summer.





The meeting adjouned at 5:10 p.m.





Approved:





Greg J. Hunt

NCR-202 Chairman and Secretary 2003





William R. Woodson

NCR-202 Administrative Advisor 2003

Accomplishments

Greg Hunt was involved in the second years conference of the Heartland Apiculture Society in 2003. The selection for bees with resistance to Varroa mites is ongoing at Purdue using stocks from other researchers and colonies that have survived without treatment. The Hunt lab is currently focused on trying to identify candidates for the genes that influence certain honey bee behaviors (including stinging) by combining results of genetic mapping and the ongoing honey bee genome sequencing project.<br /> <br><br /> <br><br /> <br>Tom Webster has been selecting for resistance to Varroa mites by cooperating with beekeepers to locate survivor colonies, and raising queens from those hives with the lowest mite populations. He has also been studying the biology of infection of queen and worker bees with Nosema disease. He sees some indication that Nosema can be transferred trans-ovarially. Another focus is the efficacy of modified hive bottom boards to partially control Varroa mites. The use of both modified bottom boards that allow mites to fall off bees, and the use of resistant stocks of bees could help reduce pesticide use and lower costs of mite controls for beekeepers.<br /> <br><br /> <br><br /> <br>Marla Spivaks lab also has been involved in searching for ways to breed for resistance to Varroa, by selecting for bees that express hygienic behavior. Her hygienic stocks are widely used in the U.S. and now maintained in California by instrumental insemination. Her lab has most recently has been looking at whether hygienic behavior and another mite-resistance trait, suppression of mite reproduction, or SMR, are related traits. They have also been crossing hygienic and SMR lines of bees and finding that they perform well.<br /> <br><br /> <br><br /> <br>Zachary Huang has a graduate student who is working on the mite zapper, an electrical device to kill Varroa mites in quick hive treatments. This patented device involves the use of one honey comb embedded with wires. It uses comb size that results in the production of male honey bees (drones) that Varroa mites are particularly attracted to. After zapping the mites, the dead drones are removed by worker bees and the process is repeated. He is currently trying to get field data with a new USDA grant. He is also involved in studies of the distribution of Nosema spores in wax in the hive and the effect of CO2 and juvenile hormone on physiology and behavioral development of bees.<br /> <br><br /> <br><br /> <br>Most recently, Marion Ellis has been working on a mechanical method for controlling Varroa by treating entire colonies of bees with powdered sugar. This project is nearing completion. It seems to offer some control. It could be made more effective but is labor-intensive. He also had a student last year studying mating biology in urban setting by locating drone (male honey bee) congregation areas. He gives 2-3 shortcourses a year for beekeepers, has been involved in a lot of web-based instruction and is working on beekeeper card information set for youth education that would be similar to the very successful set about bumble bees.

Publications

Impact Statements

1. None

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Report Information

Participants

Marion Ellis - Nebraska
Zachary Huang - Michigan
Greg Hunt - Indiana
Marla Spivak - Minnesota
Tom Webster - Kentucky
Nancy Ostiguy - Pennsylvania
John Skinner - Tennessee
Keith Delaplane - Georgia (new)

Brief Summary of Minutes

Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting
Minutes of NCR-202
January 13, 2005
Reno, NV


Administrative Advisor: Chair and Secretary:
William R. Woodson Zachary Huang
Dean, Agricultural Research Purdue University
Purdue University 901 W. State St.
West Lafayette IN 47907 West Lafayette IN 47907


Members in Attendance: Marion Ellis - Nebraska, Zachary Huang - Michigan, Greg Hunt - Indiana, Marla Spivak - Minnesota, Nancy Ostiguy  Pennsylvania, Keith Delaplane - Georgia

Members Absent: Gary Brewer, Richard Houseman, Gene Robinson, Donald Steinkraus, James Tew

Guests: A number of the American Association of Professional Apiculturalists, Eric Mussen-California, Mike Hood  South Carolina, Ed Levi Arkansas, John Skinner-Tennesee, Jerry Bromenshank- Montanna, John Harbo and Jeffery Harris-Louisianna, Jose Luis Reyes Camillo, Bob Cox and Raul Rivera -TX, Mike Hood-South Carolina, and Heather Matilla, Rob currie, and Medhat Nasr  Canada.

The third meeting of the NCR-202 was held at John Ascuaga's Nugget Casino Resort, Reno, NV on January 13, 2005. This meeting site and date were chosen to allow interaction with members of the American Association of Professional Apiculturalists (AAPA), the majority of whom conduct beekeeping-relevant research, and whose research results are presented at the annual meetings at the American Bee Research Conference, as well as the American Bee Federation (ABF) and the Apiaries Inspector of America (AIA).

The meeting began at 6:20 p.m. immediately following the business meeting of the AAPA. The minutes of the last meeting were accepted as presented.

The agenda was reviewed:
Introductions
Accomplishments of 2004
Items from the Floor
Election of Chairman/Secretary Elect

Introductions
Zachary Huang started the meeting with some brief introductions.

General Discussion:

Zachary Huang reported that the site for NCR202 was up and running, the address is http://ncr202.bees.net. Zacharys research was similar to 2003, with research on mite sodium channel, nosema spore dynamics in colonies, and field tests and improvements on the Mitezapper. He also travel to China to study mite reproduction and changes of mite cuticular hydrocarbons in relation to different host bees.

Greg Hunt worked as a trustee for the Foundation for the Preservation of
Honey Bees in 2004. He also revised the 40 year old 4-H manual for youth. Research activities were centered on behavioral genetics and genomics of bees, and a breeding project for resistance to Varroa.

Marla Spivak teamed with Marrion Ellis to conduct a 5 day workshop on beekeeping and queen rearing and the event was very successful. She also has her own queen rearing workshop in March. She continues to conduct research on the hygienic behavior of bees which has implications for resistance to both Varroa and American Foulbrood.

Marion Ellis continues to do research on using powered sugar for treating Varroa mites and also tested the use of oxalic acid for mite treatment. Marion suggested that his university has the software/hardware available to host pre-recorded powerpoint presentations, so that beekeepers can download the files and both see and hear the presentations. Marion offered to put the website up and maintain it. There was discussion about charging a modest fee to access the site to cover site maintenance with any surplus going to the AAPA's student scholarship fund.

The following topics were proposed and different people volunteered to various topics.

Getting started?
Honey bee colony life history
Equipment to house bees
Protective equipment for beekeepers
Examining a honey bee colony
Choosing apiary locations
Getting started with package bees
Managing bees for honey production
Diseases and pests of brood
Diseases and pests of adult bees
Honey harvesting and processing
Beeswax processing
Marketing hive products
Keeping bees in urban areas

Election of Chairman/Secretary-Elect

There was some confusion as to whether another election was needed since Marion Ellis was elected as the present at the last meeting. Marion was scheduled take over the meeting at Jan 2006 and a new chair should be elected at that meeting.

The meeting adjouned at 7:00 p.m.


Zachary Huang
NCR-202 Chairman and Secretary 2005

Accomplishments

Greg Hunt: In 2004 Greg served as a trustee for the Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees, which is an industry-based charitable foundation for education and research in apiculture. The Foundations activities included funding travel scholarships for graduate students and helping to fund an Ag education centre in California. Educational activities included workshops and a college course in beekeeping and re-writing three 4-H manuals (available at the http://ncr202.bes.net). The manuals were written in a way that should be useful for other north central states. Indianas 4-H manuals had not been revised in 40 years and the situation was similar in other states in the region. Research activities were centered on behavioral genetics and genomics of bees, and a breeding project for resistance to Varroa. The selection procedure for breeding mite resistance was simple but labor intensive. The two largest beekeepers in Indiana produced about 2000 queens from Purdues breeding stock. There were sold or or to be used in their own hives in Indiana this year (2005). Greg plans to increase the number of queens produced from the stock and the proportion used in their operations next year.<br /> <br /> Marla Spivak: Marla and her PhD student Abdullah Ibrahim worked on mechanisms of hygienic behavior in SMR bees (bred by John Harbo, USDA). The main finding was that bees bred for SMR display hygienic behavior: they detect and remove mite parasitized brood. But there is also some physiological effect of SMR brood on mite reproduction, because mites from SMR colonies have lower reproductive success on SMR pupae compared to non-SMR pupae, and mites from non-SMR colonies have lower reproductive success on SMR pupae compared to non-SMR pupae. This physiological effect remains to be investigated. <br /> <br /> They also continue our field trials in commercial apiaries of bees bred for both hygienic behavior and SMR  they are selecting for both hygienic behavior and reduced mite reproductive success, and are obtaining promising results -- these bees have significantly lower mite loads compared to "pure" hygienic colonies, and produce as much honey as controls.<br /> <br /> Zachary Huang: Zachary had a high school student working on the possibility of using Electronic Insect Feeding Monitor for monitoring varroa mite feeding behavior. By forming a complete circuit with the mite and bee pupae through electrodes, voltage changes can be recorded on a computer. It was possible to distinguish different wave forms of electric voltage changes when mites were resting, walking, or feeding. Their preliminary findings are being submitted to Journal of Apicultural Research. Their lab continues to improve the mitezapper and obtaining more field data. A postdoc and Zachary have been working a manuscript to determine the comparative lethal temperatures of Varroa mites and the honey bees, by using sophisticated thermal kinetics models. His lab also was continuing (2nd year) the study of determining the distribution of Nosema spores in beeswax, honey, and their relationships to the actual rate of infection in workers. Zach continues to work on the mite sodium channel and together with Ke Dong, has obtained a USDA-NRI recently. <br /> <br /> Zachary continues to maintain his website http://cyberbee.msu.edu. He administered the site entirely by himself including hardware, software, security, backup and maintenance. The site was mainly used for beekeeping information, which received a total of 3.6 million hits during 2004. The website reached 99,000 unique client computers during the year, transferring about 53.4 gigabytes of information. He also became the webmaster for the official website of Michigan Beekeepers Association (http://www.michiganbees.org) in 2004. Over 60 people from 9 states participated. <br /> <br /> <br /> Marion Ellis: Marion has been doing follow-up research on using sugar dusts to control varroa mites, and also evaluated other chemicals for mite control (oxalic acid, and etoxazole). Oxalic acid is a low cost alternative that shows promise for controlling fluvalinate and coumaphos-resistant mite populations. Etoxaole did not cause any significant decrease in mite population. Bag Bash - an entomology teaching and learning event for youth was a big success. Over 3,500 youth, parents, and teachers attended this years event. Marion also developed a website to support Bug Bash that includes modules for teaching young learners basic facts about insects. Marion continues to do the Master Beekeeping Workshop, which was at its 9th year. Marions Bee Tidings newsletter has a total subscription of 224 members<br />

Publications

Extension publications from members are listed at http://ncr202.bees.net. <br /> <br /> Each member also has produced 3-6 referred publications during 2004.<br /> <br /> It is recognized that we need to produce regional publications that are specific from the NCR202 group and identified as such.

Impact Statements

1. Honey bees are the most important pollinator in US agriculture, but are recently plagued by varroa mites, tracheal mites, American Foulbrood and chalkbrood diseases. Research and extension programs by NCR202 members are helping beekeepers to fight these two pests. Tangible results from our group include : 1). Spivaks hygienic queens are widely used to fight off American Fouldbrood and varroa mites, 2). Hunt and Webster are both breeding bees resistant to varroa using survivor colonies from beekeepers, 3). Huangs mitezapper is a promising new technology that leaves no chemical residues in honey because it uses heat to kill mites, and 4). Ellis sugar dusting method is being used by many beekeepers now for mite control.

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