LETTERS TO THE.
EDITOR
A Stop press item
in Newsletter 11, 1987 stated that Varroa had been identified in Saskatchewan, Canada. John Gruszka, IBRA Re-
gional
éY
Ho
Representative
Provincial
and
Apiculturalist now writes: wish to clarify the situation in Saskatchewan. Varroa has not been found in the commercial beekeeping areas of Saskatchewan in a manner similar to the spread that occurted in the US. The Varroa mites found in Saskatchewan were in packages which had been brought to a remote area of northern Saskatchewan under Ministerial permit and operated under quarantine. These packages were infected with tracheal mites and were part of a twoyear study on the impact of tracheal mites on packaged and wintered colonies in Saskatchewan. These colonies were kept in isolation and under quarantine for the entire duration of the project at La Ronge, Saskatchewan which is 250 km north of the agricultural zone. The Varroa mites were found at the end of the second year of study and all of the colonies in La Ronge were destroyed |
BOOKSHELF Changes to information given in Newsletter 13: Breeding techniques and selection for breeding of the honeybee by F Ruttner.
The English translation of this publication is available from IBRA price 7.75 (excluding postage and packing)* The title of K I Kigatiira’s new book is Beekeeping for beginners and not Beekeeping in Kenya as stated in Newsletter 1.3.
Beekeeping of the Assassin Bees by D Espina Pérez Cartago, Costa Rica; Editorial Tecnolégica de Costa Rica (1985) 158 pp. Available in English or Spanish from IBRA price 5.00 (excluding postage and packing)* After an introductory chapter on tropical beekeeping, the author describes the characteristics and behaviour of Africanized bees, and discusses aggressiveness and its causes in honeybees (in general). Further chapters describe basic management techniques, swarming, migration and_ practical recommendations for beekeeping with the Africanized bee. There is a short list of literature consulted. Also available in Spanish La abeja africanizada.
Les Abeilles compiled and published by \nades-Foundation
Abidjan, lvory Coast; Inades-Foundation (1988) 52 pp. Available from the publishers: 08 BP 8, Abidjan 08, Ivory Coast. In French.
An introduction for would-be beekeepets in Ivory Coast. Descriptions are given of the honeybee colony, what it does and how it works, the types of hives found in lvory Coast, enemies of bees, and the uses of honey and beeswax. Plenty of black and white illustrations and line drawings. This is probably the first book on beekeeping written specifically for ory Coast, and is a welcome addition to the literature. 14
Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Apiculture in Tropical Climates, Cairo, November 1988 byIBRA Cardiff, UK; IBRA (1989) The Conference Proceedings are in their final stages of preparation and will be available shortly from IBRA. Those who were not Delegates at the Conference will be able to purchase copies of the Proceedings from IBRA. *
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in October 1987.
A national survey for Varroa mites was conducted in Canada during the spring and summer of 1988 and no Varroa mites were found. To the best of our knowledge, the Varroa mite does not exist in Canada at present.
John Gruszka, Saskatchewan Agriculture, McIntosh Mall, PO Box 3003, Prince Albert, S6V 6G1 Canada. [Although by
subtropical
no
means
country,
a
tropical or news
of
in Canada was carried in Newsletter Number 11 because the spread of these Asian honeybee mites is of concern to beekeepers worldwide. Those who seek to import or export honeybees must exert great caution and ensure that they do not add to the further spread of honeybee pests and
Varroa
diseases]
Giant snails Here in Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands we have the Giant African Snail (introduced by the Japanese in the 1930s) which is now indigenous to the island. On several occasions have found empty shells at the hive entrances and more rarely have found shells inside the hive itself embedded in propolis at the bottom of frames. Unfortunately have not documented this photographically but am convinced that these snails are attracted to the hives and occasionally, when they are small enough to enter, will actually go into the hive where they appear to be killed by the bees. Perhaps other areas in the tropics have something similar? would be very interested in further information. Samuel F McPhetres, Tuturam Development Co, PO Box 324 CHRB, Saipan, MP 96950, Mariana Islands. |
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