for beekeepers in tropical & subtropical countries
Kenya hosts the 3rd International Conference on Apiculture in Tropical Climates Delegates from 43 countries travelled to ELBE RPING?
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You will have noticed that the Newsletter now has a new format, and the title as changed too (from Newsletter for Tropical Apiculture}. hope you will find the new layout easy to read, and the articles of interest to you; welcome your comments. Many thanks to everyone who returned the have now received more than 1000 Questionnaire from Newsletter 5. replies, and these are being analysed to help me know what sort of information is most valuable to you. My thanks also to all those who have contributed information and articles for the Newsletter, some items have had to be held over for the next edition. Nicota BRADBEAR |
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International Conference Centre in Nairobi. IBRA convened the Conference, and it was hosted by the Government of Kenya and the Organisation of African Unity. Many different aid agencies from throughout the world co-operated in funding delegates to attend, and it was the resulting wide variety of experiences in tropical beekeeping which made the conference so valuable and useful to those taking part. Kenya was an appropriate country in which to hold the Conference, for in recent years much development in beekeeping has taken place, although there remains great potential for increasing honey production beyond the current level of 10 000 tonnes per year; it is estimated that 80% of Kenya’s land (including some very arid areas) is suitable for beekeeping. Indeed when opening the Conference, the Rt. Hon. W. Odongo Omamo, the Kenya Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, announced a target for the country of 2 million Kenya top-bar hives; at present, most of Kenya’s 100 000 hives are log hives. Keeping bees in log hives has long been practised in Kenya, and the skilful techniques involved have been passed from generation of fathers to their sons—for traditionally only males could be beekeepers. Recent years have seen the development of the Kenya top-bar hive, which uses up less wood than a traditional log hive and allows easier access to the combs for management and harvesting. The Gov- >
ISSN 0256-4424
Kenya recognises the importance of beekeeping and provides support, and other countries have also given assistance. Mr Omamo called for a reduction of incidences in which pest control measures kill bees, and cited the case of a problem which Tsetse fly in Lambwe valley that resulted in the use of pesticides which killed all local bees. Mr Omamo also mentioned that out of the 12 beekeeping co-operatives in Kenya, four were managed by women’s groups, and indeed the role of women in beekeeping was one of the special themes of the Conference. One good example of the
> ernment of
success possible with beekeeping in Kenya is the Kibwezi Women’s Beekeeping Cooperative, which was formed in 1981 (with the help of Canadian funding) and is now well established. Members of the project are divided into groups of five, with each group looking after one Kenya top-bar hive. The project now has its own refinery (the women made the bricks for the building and constructed it themselves), and their high quality honey is marketed in Nairobi and Mombasa, where
African bees Delegates at the Conference take the opportunity to handle hard tries to obtain the currency they can countries were recommended to introrequire, while others felt that the food duce legislation to prohibit the importation of honeybees. Later in the week we heard value of honey should be emphasized and beekeeping must be encouraged primarily more papers devoted to problems with as a source of food for home consumption. Asia. in bee diseases various Very few African countries have exported Management of Apis mellifera and other honey, although they play an important species of Apis in Asia was discussed, as part in the production of wax for the world well as the biology of Africanized bees in market. a it fetches good price. South America, and the effects of their Round-table discussion groups worked In the section of the Conference devoted northwards. continuing spread to formulate Resolutions for the Conferto Apiculture and Bee Management Probwas this Conference for new A topic ence; Resolutions are not just “good intenlems in African countries, we heard of the protection of bees, and “Pollination, tions” but provide a way of “summingareas of in different beekeeping projects up” the Conference, and are subsequently Africa encouraging the use of various types the need for integrated pest managethis session apicultural scienment”—at useful when approaching official organizaof top-bar hive, although many regions detailed research into their described tists tions with requests for aid and funding. By still use fixed-comb hives. Many speakers of honeybees, and the activity pollinatory the end of the week, lectures on almost all more information need for emphasized the the valuable role of honeybees aspects of tropical beekeeping had been about the biology of African honeybees, emphasized as pollinators of various important crops. presented, but much valuable debate and and in particular, a definition and underthe was devoted to section further A exchange of ideas also took place outside standing of the three types of behaviour: of hive the Conference hall, and additional papers, and marketing proabsconding, migration and swarming. processing of in favour slides and videos about tropical beekeepducts—some from free argued delegates are almost bees African entirely ing were given at impromptu evening foulbrood diseases, and Varroa has not yet honey and wax as valuable export crops sessions. Some of the information prebeen detected in sub-saharan Africa. Afri- which provide means for developing counsented will be given in future editions of the Newsletter, and the proceedings from the Conference will be published by IBRA later in 1985.
Kenya National Beekeeping Station
On the Wednesday of Conference week, the Kenya National Beekeeping Station was officially opened. The station is situated in the lush Ngong hills, on the outskirts of Nairobi, and is the headquarters for the Beekeeping Branch of the Kenya Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. 120 staff are employed at the station, which comprises offices, laboratories, library, workshops for the manufacture of Kenya top-bar hives and
other equipment, and demonstration apiaries. The excellent facilities available at the station will surely help the further development of beekeeping throughout The Rt. Hon. W. Odongo Omamo opens the Kenya National Beekeeping Station 2
Kenya.
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CURRENT APICULTURAL RESEARCH
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Professor Ademilson Espencer Egea Soares from the Department of Genetics, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil is well known for work on the genetic mutation which causes a split sting in Apis mellifera. He made this discovery while studying with the famous geneticist Professor Warwick Estevam Kerr. His research on cardboard bait hives has been enthusiastically received by Brazilian beekeepers, many of whom are putting his discoveries into practice. The following article is a translation of some of the major points of an article to be published in the Brazilian beekeeping journal: Correro do Apicultor, in 1985.
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Cardboard bait hives: A practicable alternative to capturing swarms by Ademilson Espencer Egea Soares, Depto do Genética, Faculdade de Medicina, University of Sado Paulo, 14.100 Ribeirao Preto-SP, Brazil.
Since ancient times, bait hives have been used for attracting swarms. Beekeepers in Brazil currently use a variety of methods; a commonly used technique is to place Stacked boxes containing newly extracted combs on stands, and another method is to hang in a tree a box containing 4 frames
with strips of foundation covering a third of half of the frame: old fruit boxes and other cheap or freely available wooden boxes are also used. Beekeepers often use strong smelling Substances smeared on to the entrance or inner walls of the bait hives with the aim to increase the hives attractiveness to swarms. The substances used include pure propolis, alcohol extract of propolis, alcohol extract of material from old comb and lemon grass. The Lemon Grass (erva Cidreira, Cymbopogon citratus) is a traditional alternative to the swarm lures de-
veloped by Dr John Free at Rothamsted, England (see Newsletter 5 page 3). We are currently testing the preference of swarms for the swarm hives at the Department of Genetics, Ribeirao Preto. Problems of swarming with the Africanized honeybee and the capture of swarms using bait hives caused us to carry out basic research on colour preferences and to determine the annual peaks of the swarming season in Brazil. Research in central New York State, USA (Seeley, T. D. and Morse, R. A. 1982 Bait hives for hon-
eybees—Cornell Cooperative Extension Publication No. 187) found that European honeybees prefer the following characteristics: height about 15 feet above the ground well shaded, but highly visible
5
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entrance size of about 10 cm? entrance positioned near the floor of the hive cavity volume of 40 litres dry and draught-free, especially at the
top. Distance from parent nest, entrance shape, cavity shape and entrance direction
were found not to be important. The results showed that bait hives painted in light colours (white or yellow) were 1-5 times more attractive to swarms than those painted in dark colours (leaf green, sea blue and black). In Brazil there are two major swarming seasons a year between March/May and August/October, when 28% and 62% respectively of the annual total of swarms were collected. Swarms show differences between the two seasons. In March to May, following the rainy season of December—February, swarms were small, usually without drones (the presence of drones indicated that the swarm originated from a strong, well-fed colony) and they were therefore mainly absconding or migratory swarms leaving an area of limited forage to look for an area of richer forage. In August to October captured swarms were large, with drones present, and were therefore most likely reproductive swarms. The research demonstrated the economic value of swarm boxes, for with just 25 boxes, 120 swarms were captured in a
year.
Following discussion with
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beekeeper who had observed that swarms in towns chose cardboard boxes, we studied swarm preferences for the material of the bait hive. Testing a cardboard box sold
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Plan of cardboard bait hive demonstrating the position of the wooden batons, entrance, and wire used to hang the hive.
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Cardboard bait hive placed in tree.
by the Brazilian post office against a normal 4 frame nucleus and a 10 frame Langstroth box, the cardboard box was 10 tumes more efficient. The cardboard post office boxes have the same width as Langstroth hives and 5 normal frames (with 3 was foundation) can be placed inside. Support for the frames is provided by 2 wooden batons on the inside secured opposite 2 wooden batons on the outside of the box. Nails on either side of the outer wooden baton enable the bait hive to be hung at 25 m above ground by wire from a nail in the trunk of a tree. 100 litre plastic wastepaper bags cover and protect the cardboard bait hives from rain and dew, and an entrance of 10 cm? is made in the front of the box. The cardboard hive is used only to capture swarms and not as a hive for productive colonies. Swarms can be left up to 2 months although the combs can be transferred to a Langstroth hive as soon as there are unsealed larvae. If combs are transferred before this there is a greater possibility that the swarm will abscond. The cardboard bait hive is a cheap and excellent way for rapid increase in apiary size. In Brazil the maximum cost is just US$2. Other types of cardboard boxes can be used, and if the dimensions are not correct for a Langstroth frame use a top bar with a bead of melted wax or attached foundation. Introduction and translation by Margaret Nixon.
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COLOMBIA Comunidad Por Los Nifios has started an apiculture project which is now flourishing in many regions of Colombia, with all the joys and hardships of working with the Africanized bee. Africanized bees have reached virtually all areas of Colombia and provide a readily available and free source of bees for hives. The project is funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the University of Guelph. Materials (5 Kenya top-bar hives, overall, gloves, veil and smoker) are loaned, without interest, to beekeepers for a two year period. At present there are about 150 hives distributed in the coastal region of Antioquia and another 150 in the mountainous inner region of Antioquia. The climate changes drastically and thus each area has its own idiosyncrasies and problems. Unfortunately the fame of the “killer bee” has preceeded the work of the project, and preformed opinions are hard to dispel. Since resources are limited, the area of work is restricted to the geographical region easily accessible to the two people working on the bees project. Enquiries have been received from many interested communities who are situated too far distant to be accessible to the project. (Mr Car! Lowenberger, Communidad por los nifios.)
INDIA Sac brood in Apis cerana Himachal Pradesh: Apis cerana colonies in northern India are badly affected by sac brood disease. This viral infection does not cause much harm to Apis mellifera colonies but great losses have been reported to native Apis cerana colonies. In the northern state of Himachal Pradesh, about 50 colonies of Apis cerana owned by the state 4
horticulture department died of this disease during last winter and spring. This disease was first reported in India from Assam and Neghalaya in 1981 and is now spreading to other states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. So far the disease has not been reported from the Kashmir valley, where beekeeping with Apis cerana is widespread. Earlier, the disease was reported from Thailand, and it was not present in India in the native bee species prior to the introduction of Apis mellifera. More than 90% of colonies affected by this disease tend to abscond resulting in mixing of queens or complete loss of colonies.
(Dr L. R. Verma)
vered an outbreak of American foulbrood disease of bees in certain areas of Kingston. In the past, Jamaica has had four outbreaks of American foulbrood disease. The first three in 1918, 1926 and 1935, all occurred within the old Corporate Area of Kingston. The fourth, in 1943, was much more serious, not only within the Corporate Area, but spreading also to St Thomas, St Catherine, Manchester and St Elizabeth. During the first outbreak, all hives (1719) within a three mile radius of Kingston Parish Church, whether infected or not, were burnt in two huge fires on Kingston Race Course. In the other outbreak only infected and suspected colonies were burnt. Thus in 1943, 1710 colonies were burnt. As far as is known there has been no recurrence of the disease since 1944 until this recent outbreak. The Ministry of Agriculture has instituted an Island-wide survey and inspection of all apiaries to determine the distribution of the disease. If the disease is localized then it can be confined and eradicated by methods of total destruction within the prescribed area. If however it is widespread, such measures would be ineffective and other control methods, such as drugs, would have to be applied.
(Source: Mr L. Church; Daily Gleaner, 29 September 1984)
MOZAMBIQUE
Patiala: Beekeeping has become a viable economic proposition in Punjab and has the potential of becoming a source of stable income for educated rural youth. For example, Mr Kulwant Singh, a young beekeeper, says that he had the training to manage more colonies [of Apis mellifera] but at first he had insufficient funds. For setting up a colony an investment of Rs 500 is needed—banks would not agree to lend him the money as they did not consider beekeeping a bankable project. To meet running expenses he had to sell his 17 colonies for Rs 5800 in the first year and 27 colonics for Rs 6500 in the following year. “‘And this was the most painful act of my life’ says Mr Kulwant Singh with tears in his eyes. ‘““No farmer would part with colonies and slash his breeding programme like this”. Now Mr Singh receives advances from business men who want to be assured of the supply of honey, and receipts from the sale of honey are sufficient to meet the recurring expenses and take care of his colony multiplication programme.
(The Tribune,
JAMAICA The Plant Protection Division of the Ministry of Agriculture recently disco-
Mozambique is promoting beekeeping with the objective of turning honey hunting traditions to active and economic management of bees. It is hoped to discourage the poor type of activities used in exploiting bees (and the hazards this involved) and the destruction and killing of useful trees to get bark hives. The Beekeeping Programme was officially in-
augurated in April 1982 and had three main objects: (1) to train personnel at all levels of beekeeping (2) to establish a factory to make basic beekeeping equipment and (3) to investigate ways of making honey containers out of plastic. By 1984, all basic materials, except bee gloves, are being made in Maputo. The Mozambique Transition Hive has been introduced, of manageable size and cheap to construct. This type of hive is being introduced to co-operative unions, family sectors, parastatal organizations and provincial apiaries. The programme helps beekeepers in every province with technical assistance from the headquarters.
(Source: M. N. Kawa; Domingo, 4 March 17
June)
1984)
NICARAGUA
ing methods.
Production in 1983 was such that (after some problems) the national government was persuaded to impose a total ban on all honey imports. This ban came into effect on | May 1984. Papua New Guinea’s annual honey consumption is about 42 tonnes and 77 tonnes were produced in 1983.
(Ing. Carlos Mendoza Arréliga)
(Mr Ianameto Mopafi)
NIGER
The 1984 honey crop did not live up to expectations, and it seems that since beekeeping on a commercial scale started in Papua New Guinea there has been a two year pattern of good and poor honey crops. We are therefore optimistic for 1985! In 1984 24 tonnes of light, amber honey were exported to GFR, and 2°2 tonnes to GDR.
A national beekeeping programme is being Sponsored by SINAFORP, National Bank, CARE of Nicaragua and MIDIN-
RA. The programme aims
to help small Scale beekeepers, giving them training and technical help to modernize their beekeep-
A beekeeping project is underway in Gaya, 4
small town in the very south of the Niger Republic, at the frontier to Benin. The Climate is that of the Sudanian Savanna (rainfall 600-800 mm during May-—October). Log hives are treated with a special “medicament” which is the secret of every beekeeper. Before placing a log hive in a tree, the beekeeper places the hive over a hole in the ground which contains burning “medicament”. The smoke of this burning Mixture is believed to give the hives a “taste” which attracts bees. The first part of the programme is aimed to teach beekeepers the skills of beekeeping (as opposed to bee hunting), the importance of taking care of the environMent to ensure the production of honey and how to handle and process honey. The Second part of the programme is to teach apiculture to students who will themselves become teachers of beekeeping. The beekeepers are now interested in Starting a beekeeping co-operative to market honey and wax.
(Mr Bernhard Wedenig)
TANZANIA A
new National Association for Beekeepers in Tanzania is proposed, as it is felt that
beekeeping in Tanzania has reached such a stage that an organization is now required to further assist beekeepers. At present, there is a Beekeeping Division of the Tanzania Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, but there are limitations to government organization in dealing with the manufacture and distribution of beekeeping equipment out of limited annual budgets. Mr G. Ntenga, Interim Chairman of the new Association, appeals for moral and material support from interested beekeepers’ associations. a
TRINIDAD (Africanized bees arrived in Trinidad in 1979.)
The Apiaries Unit is using “bee against bee” in
a concerted
effort to help put the beseiged beekeeping industry on a managable footing. The Unit, based at Curepe, is importing 300 pure-bred Italian queen bees to use in an island-wide programme of requeening existing colonies. ‘There is no question about it. We have to learn to live with the killer bees—and tame them. What we have to do is to remove the hostile queens and replace them with pure-bred Italian queens. We have to replace the aggressive bees with docile bees”, said Mr Sardanand Ramnarine. The more interaction the docile, pure-bred Italian queen has with the bees, the greater the chances for the gradual elimination of the aggressive characteristics of the feared bees. The Apiaries Unit will also embark on an educational thrust, teaching management techniques to beekeepers. A few local beekeepers are not unduly concerned about the Africanized bees. In fact, they seem to welcome them. Phagoo Lalman told ‘The Village” that he did not mind them at all. “Listen” he said, “I am getting more honey now. I know how to handle them. I do not think the industry will suffer. It is the public we have to be afraid for, since they are not trained to deal
with bees.” (Source: Mr Gladstone Solomon; The Villager, April 1984) a
(Mr Harald Himsel)
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Bees were introduced in the early 1900’s and kept by expatriate hobbyists in small numbers at home and at institutions where
they worked. In October 1976, through a bilateral aid agreement with New Zealand, large scale beekeeping began with 500 beehives. The first goal was to assess the beekeeping potential of different parts of the country. If this proved positive, the second goal was to train nationals in the profession who would work towards improving their standard of living and support the national economy by reducing the amount of honey imported. After seven years of operation, these goals are now being achieved, and there are 2700 hives owned by 60 beekeepers. A company owned by 50 of the 60 beekeepers was formed in 1983. The 50 are Share-holders from which 9 directors and a chairman are elected. The company has a central plant through which all the beekeepers’ honey is extracted, packed and marketed.
This hive belongs to a beekeeper living on the 9th floor of a city building in Maputo, Mozambique. The hive is a hard plastic box made for catching swarms and carrying combs from apiaries to processing rooms. The frame with 6 sections is used for securing cut combs from wild colonies when transferring them to modern hive—the combs are not tied to the frame. Alter the brood has emerged, the honey stored there serves as good cut-comb honey. (M. N. Kawa, Programa Apicela, Mozambique) a
RACTICAL BEEKEEPING
Daylight harvesting of honey by Mr S. O. Apyjare, Technology Consultancy Centre, University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
The aggressiveness of the tropical honey bee makes it difficult for many beekeepers and wild honey-tappers to approach their bees, or harvest their honey-combs in broad day-light. In practice comb-moving and most related jobs like brood-nest control are performed late in the evening or delayed to the night or early in the morning when bees are less aggressive. There have been two occasions near here when some hives were opened during the day at 10 am by beekeepers wearing protective clothes. The entire inhabitants of a nearby village had to desert their homes and take refuge in bushes. The harrassment continued until 5 pm when the villagers were able to return to their homes. These are some of the reasons why most honey-tappers do their work at night. It is not easy to work in the dark for light must be provided, and this definitely requires an extra hand to assist the process. Flash lights which are ideal for the job are beyond the reach of the average honey-tapper. In most tropical countries, dry-cell batteries cannot be found on the open market; therefore lanterns and liveburning torches have been used, the obvious danger being that bees are attracted to them and most of these bees are burnt. Sometimes the attracted bees cover the lampshade so that visibility is made difficult. Under such circumstances an efficient job cannot be executed and crushing of precious bees and combs cannot be ruled out. Beginners find it difficult at night to differentiate broodcombs from honey-combs and all are harvested together. It is because of these problems that beekeepers must endeavour to evolve a method to do the work during the daytime to ensure efficiency. The Apicultural Promotion Unit of the Technology Consultancy Centre has 6
adopted a simple, effective and efficient method of approach to harvest honey and control the broodnest even during the warmest time of the day (i.e. between 11 am and 3 pm) without any danger. The plan is as follows: 1. Take a good container with a lid to the hive. 2. Smoke around the hive to allow hiding bees and “‘security guards” to rush in and gorge themselves with honey, or * apply any desensitizing material to make the bees less aggressive. 3. Carry the hive away towards a different direction not in the flight-runway and place it on a temporary platform erected for the nearest hive in the apiary; ali the returning foragers will come and wait for their hive. The beekeeper can provide an empty hive in place of the one that has been removed so that the bees will play around as they wait. Now the operator is confronted with bees which have had enough smoke and cannot show any considerable aggressive tendency. 4. Proceed with the normal honey harvest until the work is completed. The beekeeper is warned here to execute the job quickly to avoid robber bees which can give trouble. The lid must cover the container of honey combs to avoid robber bees. 5. On finishing, the hive must be dressed and covered with the lid and carried back to its original position—and the empty box or hive which was placed there for the waiting foragers removed. The waiting bees now join their colleagues.
The cheapness of this plan is obvious; daylight is utilized to ensure proper execution and efficient harvest or efficient broodnest control. Diseases can easily be detected. Hive predators like the wax
moth, wax moth larvae and beetles can be found and eliminated. Crushing of combs and bees in between top-bars is minimized or avoided. Top-bars can be restored to their proper position. Work can be done throughout the day. In darkness crushing of bees in between top-bars cannot be avoided and this carried with it another serious problem, that is, the last top-bar may not fit. The entire top-bars must be removed again, the dead bees found in between them swept away and the top-bars re-arranged. This repetitive process may not guarantee the answer to the problem and the frustrated beekeeper may leave the problem unsolved. In this way, the bees will have to solve it by carting propolis to fill the gap created by the careless beekeeper and all beekeepers know how propolis carting wastes the time of the insects in honey production. To take advantage of this cheaper process it is advised that beehives must be erected on platforms to facilitate easy moving instead of hanging them on trees or nailing them to a table. *
The Centre has just discovered a local plant grown in Southern Ghana which one particular village of honey-tappers use to desensitize bees. The villagers describe the plant as “very effective”. The Centre will be making serious effort to make investigations to determine its application. The result will be made available to the International Bee Research Association.
And more news of substances used to quieten bees (see also Newsletter 5. p 7). ....
Mr Francis Sosu from Ghana writes at Kintampo in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. Kintampo district is one of the bee populated districts in Ghana. During our two years of operation with Kenya top-bar hives we discovered that the leaves of cassava plants can be used as bee repellent. We squeeze the
“My project is
leaves and smear the sap over our bodies. This protects us from being stung by the bees. We have other plants and means of protection from bee stings used by local honey-tappers, who are not yet aware of modern beekeeping methods.” Br Forster from the Solomon Islands
writes “One professional beekeeper (when we were being knocked about by a very unlikeable hive of black bees) produced some raw linseed oil from his bag and smeared it on exposed areas. The bees still took off with evil-looking intent but wheeled away before making contact”! @
Expert consultation on Beekeeping with Apis mellifera in tropical and subtropical Asia, Bangkok, 9-14 April, 1984 The purpose of the Beekeeping Consultation recently held in Thailand was to discuss the potential of beekeeping with European races of A. mellifera in tropical and subtropical Asia. The Consultation was organized and funded by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in co-operation with the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok. Delegates from 13 Asian countries attended the Consultation, and these were joined by FAO Beekeeping Consultants from throughout the world, and Nicola Bradbear represented IBRA at the Consultation. The Consultation was held in Thailand because the last ten years have seen the introduction of A. mellifera into the country, and some 30 000 colonies are now established. Commercial beekeepers are creating wealth and employment by producing honey for the local market (where it fetches a good price), and honey and royal jelly for export; the Thai beekeeping industry is now worth $15M annually. Two days of the consultation were spent visiting apiaries near Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand, which is the centre of the main beekeeping area.
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Psy Experts examine combs of Apis mellifera
The Asiatic hive bee, A. cerana is kept throughout the country, mainly in log hives in the North and in movable-frame hives in the South of Thailand. There is an
abundance of bee forage (although not in the area immediately surrounding Bangkok), and major nectar sources in Thailand are Longan (Nephalium longan) and Lychee (Nephalium luchi) which require insect cross-pollination for fruit production. Only in the last few years has it been known that fruit production by the Longan tree benefits from insect cross-pollination, and the presence of A. mellifera beekeeping in the Chiang Mai area has increased longan fruit production by 30% (production of the fruit is worth some $23M annually). Migratory beekeeping is practised, and it is the wealth of available nectar sources,
ier.
and the possibility for commercial beekeepers to be mobile, which has allowed a rapid expansion of the beekeeping industry in the last ten years. The development of the industry has also
Colonies of Apis mellifera beneath Longan tree
depended on research carried out at scientific establishments in Thailand, the availability of beekeeping training courses at several centres, and the beekeeping associations which have been established. The Thar beekeeping industry is now almost self-sufficient, with all equipment being manufactured within the country.
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The major problem faced by Thai beekeepers is the infestation of their A. mellifera colonies with the mites Tropilaelaps clareae and Varroa jacobsont. Tropilaelaps clareae is a native parasite of A. dorsata, while Varroa jacobsoni is a native parasite of A. cerana. Both species of mites parasitize A. mellifera, which seems less able to cope with the presence of either of the mites than can the native hosts. Control of the mites is difficult, requiring an interruption of the brood cycle, chemical treatment, and a good technical knowledge of hive management on the part of the beekeeper. Thai beekeepers have found that of the two mite species, it is J. clareae which is the more destructive to A. mellifera. Because V. jacobsoni has been spread to so many parts of the world, there is now a large amount of literature available on the disease. This is not the case for T. clareae which, mainly confined to tropical Asia, has not been fully researched, and yet may represent a severe threat to world
support research, development, training and extension in all areas of tropical apiculture. Reports were heard from the delegates attending the Consultation, describing the current status of beekeeping in their countries. In many parts of Asia effort is being devoted to beekeeping development, as the benefits and importance of beekeeping at subsistence level are being realized. However, there still exists a general lack of understanding of the value of beekeeping by those who are not involved. Many beekeeping problems are common to all of Asia: areas still wait to be evaluated for beekeeping potential, and lack of research must mean that many good pollen and nectar sources are yet to be identified. To establish successful beekeeping projects,
local bee forage must be examined and a “floral calendar” produced, giving information on the seasons of nectar and pollen production of different plants, and identifying possible dearth periods. Only after establishing such a floral calendar (which may take several years) can an efficient scheme of hive management be determined, which may involve some migratory beekeeping to take advantage of different crops as they come into flower. The final resolution of the Consultation was that national governments should recognize the new potential offered by A. mellifera beekeeping under a wide variety of conditions, but only consider introductons after adequate testing, and after appropriate technology has been introduced and placed on a scientific footing. ml
beekeeping.
Movement by man of A. mellifera which has been kept in an area near Varroainfested A. cerana led to the introduction of Varroa to Europe, and the Consultation heard reports of acarine disease and American foul brood having been accidentally brought into Asia. Great care must be taken to ensure that further such mistakes do not occur, and the Consultation resolved that every government in tropical and subtropical Asia should introduce legislation for the quarantine and regulation of bee importations. Ideally bee breeding programmes should be established in Asia, making the importation of bees for restocking unnecessary.
Although disease is the major problem, there are other hazards facing A. mellifera introduced to areas where the species is not native. For example, a different and larger range of bee predators, the effects of tropical temperatures and humidities on bees evolved in temperate zones, and perhaps competition for resources between introduced and native species. The Consultation stressed the need to identify and examine such constraints, to allow the development of a viable industry. The Consultation also emphasized the great need for more knowledge of the biology of honeybees living in the tropics. For these reasons, a Resolution was passed that international aid agencies should help to establish a centre, in a place where all four species of Apis are available for study, to 8
A bee scene from Panataran Temple on the Isle of Java, in the area of Borobudur Temple. “Again Hanoman has started to destruct the garden. The birds and porcupine (trenggiling) are on the run. Honeybees, bumble bees (kombang) chase away from the trees. A small, fearful monkey in another tree is looking at the (F. Scholten) devastation”.
THE BARREL HIVE RACTICAL BEEKEEPING This is a new idea, invented by Mr G. W. Hayes, while working at the Agricultural Technical Institute in Ohio, USA. It occurred to Mr Hayes that the design of a Kenya top-bar hive could be copied using empty barrels, cut in half lengthwise and laid on their rounded side. The shape of the barrel then allows bees to build their comb in the natural elliptical pattern, hanging down from the top-bar as in the More familiar designs of top-bar hive. Not all countries have steel or plastic barrels cheaply available, but in some areas these may be more easily obtainable than timber and wood-working tools. Preparing the barrel-hive requires equipment to cut a barrel in half (either an acetylene torch, Sabre saw or hacksaw), and some means of making holes in the barrel for an entrance. The barrel must be thoroughly cleaned until there is no trace of the previous contents. Wooden top-bars like those used in other top-bar hives must also be prepared, with each end made flat to rest on the sides of the hive, and the inside edges of the bars coated with beeswax as an enticement for the bees to start comb building. When top-bars are placed on the hive their width and spacing is critical so that bees have enough space to build one comb from each. Bees have been found to live successfully in such hives and build comb from the top-bar just as in a more conventional top-bar hive.
Additional points:
1. Some form of lid is required and, to protect the hive from strong sunlight, the exterior can be coated with cow dung.
The barrel hive with top-bars in place, and one top-bar shown with comb
2. Queen excluding devices are not required as the queen isolates herself, usually to the front % to % of the barrel hive. This leaves the remaining portion of the barrel hive for storage of honey without brood being incorporated in the same comb,
3.
A stand can be built for the hive, or
it could be suspended with wire like other top-bar hives.
pe ae
cd
a A top-bar with comb
If supplemental feeding of sugar is syrup necessary, one or two quarts may be poured on to the bottom of the barrel hive, and very little, if any, drowning occurs. 4.
5. Remember that one barrel can provide two hives! a
FORTHCOMING EVENTS JAPAN The XXXth International Apicultural Congress, October 10-16, 1985, Nagoya. For further details write to: The Secretariat, The XXXth International Apicultural Congress, c/o Japan Travel Bureau Inc., Foreign Tourist Department, 1-13-1 Nihombashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103, Japan
USA Development Beekeeping Seminar V, July 22—August
2, 1985. Write to: Dr Norman Technical Ohio USA Institute, Wooster, 44691, Stanley, Agricultural
a beekeeper in Guyana, and he would be interested in corresponding with beekeepers in other tropical countries. If you wish to write to Mr Alleyne, his address is: 2572 Kaikan Street, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana, South America.
Mr Alwin Alleyne is
SOURCE MATERIALS FOR APICULTURE APICULTURE: SOURCES d’INFORMATION FUENTES DE INFORMACION EN APICULTURA New editions of the Source Materials for Apiculture leaflets are now available in French and Spanish. These valuable leaflets have been prepared by the International Bee Research Association (IBRA) under funding from the International Development Research Centre, Ottawa, and are being distributed to selected libraries and beekeeping centres in French and Spanish-speaking developing countries. Individual leaflets are available free to beekeepers in developing countries, and the leaflets can also be purchased from IBRA (1 or US$1.60 each; 8 or US$11.25 for a set of ten in one lanquage). The titles
of the leaflets are: Apiculture: Sources d'Information ASI Fourisseurs de matériel apicole dans les régions tropicales et subtropicales (8 pages) ASI 2 Commercialisation des produits du rucher: adresses 1
d'importateurs et d'agents (10 pages)
ASI 3 Plantations pour abeilles dans les pays en voie de développement (10 pages)
ASI 4 Possibilités de formation en apiculture dans le monde entier (12 pages) AS! 5 Sources de travailleurs volontaires pour le développement de I'apiculture (6 pages) ASI 6 Sources de subventions pour le développement de l'apiculture (12 pages) AS! 7 Comment obtenir des informations sur l'apiculture dans les pays en voie de développement (6 pages) ASI 8 Livres de références sur l’apiculture pour les pays en voie de développement (6 pages) ASI 9 Matériel éducatif an apiculture (6 pages) ASI10 Directives aux auteurs d’ouvrages sur l'apiculture (6 pages)
Fuentes de Informacién en Apicultura Proveedores de equipo para apicultura en el trépico y subtropico (8 paginas) FIA 2 Comercializacion de productos apicolas: direcciones de importadores y agentes (10 paginas) FIA 3 Plantando para las abejas en paises en desarrollo (10
FIA
1
paginas) FIA 4 Oportunidades para entrenamiento en apicultura en todo el mundo (12 paginas) FIA 5 Fuentes que proveen obreros voluntarios para desarrollo apicola (6 paginas) FIA 6 Fuentes de ayuda/donacién para desarrollo apicola (12 paginas) FIA 7 Como obtener informacion apicola para uso en paises en desarrollo (6 paginas) FIA 8 Libros de referencia en apicultura para paises en desarrollo (6 paginas) FIA 9 Material de apoyo educacional sobre apicultura (6 paginas) FIA10 Cémo escribir sobre apicultura: pautas para autpres (6 paginas)
To obtain the leaflets write to IBRA, Hill House, Gerrards Cross, Bucks. SL9 ONR, UK
A NEW COURSE ON HONEY PROCESSING The first International Course on the Technology of the Production and Processing of Honey took place in September in the Faculty of Agriculture, National University of La Plata, Argentina. Delegates attending the course were from Argentina, Brazil,
Chile, Colombia, Peru and Spain. An American Organization for Developing Beekeeping (OIDA) may be created, and this will bring together practising beekeepers from different Latin-American and
Spanish countries. The new organization will be based provisionally at Facultad de Agronomla de la Plata, Catadra de Zootecni (Animales-Menores de Granja), Casilla de Correo 31, Calle 60 y 118. 1900, La Plata, Argentina.
Diploma in Apiculture
Delegates at the new course in Argentina 10
An international course taught within the Bee Research Unit at the Department of Zoology at University College, Cardiff. A one-year course starting each October intended for those who already have science degrees or appropriate posts in government research or the agricultural industry. Write to Dr R. S. Pickard, Bee Research Unit, Dept of Zoology, University College, Cardiff CFi 1XL, Wales, UK.
eY
Honey
BOOKSHELF Two major new Directories
from IBRA
1.
Directory of Important World
Honey Sources by Eva
Crane, Penelope Walker and Rosemary Day, ISBN 086098-141-X, 384 pp. 1984
IBRA
has been collecting data on honey sources for over 15 years, with a view to undertaking a world survey when funding could be obtained. In 1981 the Interna-
tonal Development Research Council in Canada agreed to such funding and the Directory of Important World Honey Sources was published last September. The Directory is packed with new data; it has entries for 467 nectar or honeydewProducing plants that are major honey Sources. Some of the sources are geographically widespread, such as lucerne and many of the eucalypts; others are much more localised, such as the leatherwood found in Tasmania. Each entry gives details of the plant and its economic uses, flowering period, nectar or honeydew flow, pollen production, and the chemical and physical properties of its honey, including flavour, aroma and granulation. Certain components of each entry have been coded so that programmed searches can be made for plants with particular Characteristics. There are 51 different search fields, and the Directory includes lists made by using some of them e.g. drought tolerant plants. The Directory makes it possible, for the first time, to
comprehensive work has been published on pollination, this book was compiled (with financial support from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs), to help growers and agronomists find out what specific crops require to achieve optimal pollination and therefore highest economical yield. This Directory provides information on more than 400 crop plants grown in tropical, subtropical or temperate zones. The entries are written in narrative style using few technical terms, and a glossary and index of names help to make the book easy to use. Full references and other useful lists are also provided. The crops listed in the book show
astonishing variations in pollination answer questions such as: Which of the world’s important honeys remain liquid for a year or more? Which are at risk of granulation within a few days of storage in the hive? Which honeys have been reported to contain a toxic substance? Do some countries have important honey sources that are not being exploited because they are not recognised as such? (Rubber, Hevea brasiliansis, and New Zealand beech, Nothofagus, have only recently been recognised and exploited as important honey sources.) The EEC regulations lay down a number of upper/lower limits for honey characteristics: how do the actual ranges measured for important honeys world-wide compare with the EEC requirements? The Directory includes references, and three indexes: common names of the plants, Latin synonyms, and insects which produce honeydew. The Directory is available from IBRA, price 27.50 post paid. Under the terms of the IDRC grant it has already been distributed by IBRA to certain libraries and resource centres in developing countries.
gt
Lost-wax casting: a practitioner’s manual by Wilburt Fein-
Directory for World Crops by Eva Crane and Penelope Walker, ISBN 0-86098-143-6, 184 pp. 1984
This is the second major Directory pub-
IBRA in
Other publications
etek
2. Pollination
lished by
mechanisms and requirements, and knowledge of these by the grower can be important; inadequate pollination is a major constraint to yields from some crops. For example, on irrigated desert land, crops which require insect pollination may fail because suitable insects are not present. Many crop plants require insect pollination, and often the best way to ensure this is to place colonies of honeybees nearby, and recommendations as to the number of hives necessary are quoted wherever possible. Of course not all the crops mentioned require insect pollination, some are self-pollinating and other pollinating agents mentioned include gravity, wind, bats, birds and rain. This Directory is available from IBRA, price 14.00 post paid. The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also provided funding for the book to be distributed by IBRA to certain libraries in developing countries.
1984. Because so little
burg: edited and illustrated by Jim Byrne. ISBN 0O-
903031-88-4.
74
pp.
Many blackand white photographs and line drawings. 1983
if
> Lost-wax casting is a method for making a precise replica of an object by casting it in molten metal. A model of the casting is created in wax, which is then covered in soft clay. The wax model and its coating are then fired to harden the mould and at
the same time to melt out the wax. After removal of the wax, molten metal is poured into the empty mould cavity, and when the metal has solidified, the mould is easily broken to release the casting.
For centuries the lost-wax process has been used to produce metal castings of finely detailed objects, usually for use in religious ceremonies. However, the finish that can be achieved is exactly what is required to produce high-precision castings for modern engineering industries, and bush-bearings, plumbing fittings, pulley wheels and machine parts can all be made by the method.
The manual has been written for craftworkers and people with limited money, and is based on the author’s experience of working in countries where the ideal materials and equipment are not always readily available. The manual is designed to encourage resourcefulness in building equipment, and the author hopes that it will stimulate new interest in this valuable technique.
books of special merit, or those that are difficult to obtain outside their country of origin. The Association’s experience shows
for beginners
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7
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The Golden Insect by Stephen Adjare ISBN 0-946688-60-5, 104 pp. 1984 Black and white illustrations and line drawings. a new edition of the book first published in 1981, now revised, enlarged, and given a new and attractive format. The book aims to put into the hands of Ghanaian and other African beekeepers relevant information that can be readily understood and put to use. The clear text and illustrations will surely be appreciated by many learner beekeepers. Published by Intermediate Technology Publications (address as above). Available from IBRA 6.50 post paid.
This is
Publication lists available from
the International Bee Research Association
Published by Intermediate Technology Publications, 9 King Street, London WCZ2E 8HN, UK. Available from IBRA, price 5.95 post paid.
The IBRA has from its establishment been active as an apicultural publisher and over the last ten years, in addition to its own publications, has stocked many other
that beekeepers are eager to find books on bees, beekeeping, pollination and hive products, and to keep up to date with
apicultural technology.
IBRA has three lists of publications: List 1 IBRA publications; List 2 International book selection; List 3 Audio-visual materials. a separate list is being prepared to meet the needs of the apiculturalist working in the tropics; the list will include some materials available free or at low cost for those in developing countries. It will be sent to all who receive the Newsletter. In January IBRA issued a revised and
Currently
updated edition of List (IBRA’s own publications) which cover the following topic areas: Beekeeping and bee breeding techniques, honeybee behaviour and anatomy, other bees, pollination, bee products and bee forage, the tropics, beekeeping history, early english beekeeping books, bee diseases and enemies, human allergy to bees. Of particular value to those working with bees are the IBRA bibliographies and reference works which enable the user to identify the literature they need for their 1
work.
The updated List 1 and Lists 2 & 3 are obtainable from M. Kempton (Book sales) IBRA, Hill House, Gerrards Cross, a Bucks., SL9 ONR.
This Newsletter is produced by Dr Nicola Bradbear, Information Officer for Tropical Apiculture at the International Bee Research Association (IBRA), under funding from the Overseas Development Administration, UK. It is sent, free of charge, to those in developing countries who are involved with beekeeping. ltems from the Newsletter may be reproduced, but acknowledgement is requested. Contributions, letters and news of forthcoming events are welcomed; these may be edited for reasons of space and clarity. Also, if you have any enquiries about beekeeping and the information you need is not available locally, then write to Nicola Bradbear at IBRA. Published by the International Bee Research Association, Hill House, Gerrards Cross, Bucks SLO ONR, UK.
12
