Orange County Beekeepers Association

According to our by-laws, we need to vote for our new officers at our November Meeting. We need to elect a President, a Vice-President and a new Director.

Following are the descriptions for President and Vice-President.  Remember this club is run solely by member’s volunteering.

SECTION 1:  PRESIDENT:  The President shall preside at all meetings of the Chapter using regular
parliamentary usage and Robert’s Rules of Order.  This officer shall appoint such special committees as
is deemed necessary, fill vacancies on any office, and perform such other duties as the Chapter may
direct.  The President will be authorized to make deposits and disburse all monies, should the Treasurer
be unable to perform those duties.  The President shall be an active member of the NCSBA.
SECTION 2:  VICE-PRESIDENT:  It shall be the duty of the Vice President to perform those duties of
the President in his or her absence, or upon the President’s request.  If the Vice President is unable to
perform this duty in the absence of the President, then the Vice President may appoint any member to
act in his or her stead.
The Vice-President, with the assistance of the Directors will make the necessary arrangement for
programs and secure speakers for same.  When directed by the Chapter, he/she will secure a meeting
place and make necessary arrangements for the regular meetings.
The Vice President shall be an active member of the NCSBA.

The OCBA is gearing up for a busy fall.  Along with our regular monthly meetings on the second Thursdays of each month, we will be hosting a number of other events.  On September 14th, there will be a field day to learn how to apply soft chemical treatments for Varroa Mites, time and location TBA.  On September 21, we will host a workshop to learn how to use beeswax.  This will take place at Lewis’ shop on 86 N. from 10-12.  please email Geneva for directions or look for more details on the listserve. On November 2nd will again teach our introductory bee school from 10-12.

thanks Geneva

Apiary Inspector, Nancy Ruppert, spoke to us at our June meeting about bee nutrition. Here some tidbits from her talk.

– Good nutrition can increase a worker bees’ life span. An increase of just one week can have a great impact on the hive overall.

– A healthy colony needs 700 lbs of nectar per year

– Nectar Substitutes

• Cane sugar is the best substitute
• HFCS is suitable but can vary from 42% to 90% fructose, 42% is most like honey which is what should be used
• Heating HFCS above 120 degrees can make it toxic. Use caution with HFCS that has been stored in drums during the summer where it can reach these temperatures.

– A hive needs about 2-3 pounds of pollen per week

– When carbohydrates are needed

• During a dearth
• Build up for winter
• Wax building
• Stimulate the queen to lay (in the spring to late summer to boost population)
• Brood rearing

– Bees need pollen to process carbohydrates

– Importance of pollen as it relates to the duty and age of the worker bee

• Nurse Bees (1 to 12 days) need pollen for the development of their hypopharyngeal glands so that they can produce royal jelly
• House Bees (12-18 days) make wax and pollen is needed for their wax glands to develop properly
• Forager Bees (18+ days) pollen is required for the development of their flight muscles

– The best natural pollen is comprised of 25% protein, anything higher is hard for them to digest. When using pollen substitutes 15% protein is best

– When evaluating pollen stores in the hive, look for a rainbow of colors. This indicates a good variety of pollen sources which is best for the health of the colony.

– There are 10 amino acids that bees need for good health. The only way to get this is from a variety of pollen sources

– Good Pollen Sources

• Dandelion
• Canola
• Apple

– Bad Pollen Sources

• Pine
• Sunflower
• Ragweed

– When to feed pollen

• During pollen shortages (during a dearth or during winter)
• Prior to stress placed on the hive due to…

• Brood rearing
• Commercial pollination
• Making splits
• Raising Queens
• Development of winter bees
• During the nectar flow

• Feed pollen when feeding sugar

– If you were to piece together all of the bits of pollen scattered throughout the hive it would fill about 2-3 frames

– When pollen has a bit of sheen to it, that means that honey has been added. Pollen can mold and ferment quickly, the honey acts as a preservative.