Discovery: New Bacterium May Be Killing Bees In The Winter

3 Pound Packages are available online for purchase, but only around 50 left. Click here to order now. Don't wait too long to order or we may be sold out.

Hello, we are David and Sheri Burns at Long Lane Honey Bee Farms/www.honeybeesonline.com

Serratia marcescens strain sicaria: Killing Bees In Winter?

I worked hard to become an EAS Certified Master Beekeeper so that I can better equip beekeepers on how to do it right. A good master beekeeper is constantly studying new discoveries and reports on honey bees.

Beekeeping is no longer hands-off. You cannot just throw bees in a hive and wait a few months and harvest gallons of honey. 

Beekeeping is more challenging now than it ever has bee. A new bacterium called, 

Serratia marcescens strain sicaria, more simply named sicaria, which means assassin, and Ss1 for short. This bacterium has been found in bees that die in the winter, and in varroa mites. The dying bees seem to drift away from the winter cluster before dying. It still deserves much more research. This should emphasis how important it is to take a beekeeping class. It sounds like keeping mite levels low all year could reduce this bacterium during the winter. Learning how to keep mite levels below 3% all year is essential for the well being of bees.

List of a few of our 2017 beekeeping classes:

Beekeeping For Beginners Feb 18th 1pm-6pm (Only a couple of spots still open)

Beekeeping For Beginners Feb 25th 1pm-6pm

Spring Management March 4th 9am-1pm

A Day In The Apiary With David May 27th 8:30am-11am

Learn To Raise Your Own Queens June 23rd 9am-3pm

See additional classes we are offering for 2017 by clicking here.

SHOP    Freedom Kit Our Freedom Kit has been a top choice for new beginners. Starting with 2 hives is always a better idea. You can share resources between hives and observe difference between hives. Many years ago when we first started beekeeping (24 years now) we called a beekeeping supply company and admitted on the phone that we didn't know what to buy.  The response we got was, well, less than stellar:  "when you figure it out, call us back".  We decided that when we started our company, our customers would never be left to "figure it out".     After seeing what's out there on the market, our customers come here looking for quality, well constructed, made in America Hives....made right here in Illinois.  Our hive kits are assembled and painted.  Made by master craftsmen.  These workhorses will outlast your lifetime. Our boxes are rabbet joints to expose LESS wood to the elements, which eliminates cracks and buckles caused by finger joints. Our telescoping top covers are covered with painted aluminum --which will never rust and will stay looking nice for a long time. We do not cut corners with our inner covers either, these will NOT fall apart on you after the first year as some others do.  Hive boxes come complete with all the frames and foundations so you don't need to spend time trying to figure out which frames go with what foundations and what sizes you need. Complete kits, come with FREE entrance feeder! Allow 2 - 3 weeks for delivery. Pick up available, just call! 217-427-2678 or see all of our hive kits at www.honeybeesonline.com Test Your Beekeeping Skills Take our beekeeping test and see how well you do. Answers are available by clicking here. Jot down your answers on a piece of paper then click the above link to compare and see how well you did. 1. What is the main cause of viruses in a colony? 2. How often should you inspect your hive to verify your queen is laying? 3. List three ways to reduce varroa mites without the use of chemicals or     acids. 4. List two ways to combat small hive beetles. 5. What does one queen cell on the upper section of comb represent? TRUE  OR   FALSE 1. Small hive beetles can not fly, only crawl. 2. Small hive beetles cannot survive a winter inside a clustered colony of    honey bees. 3. Oxalic acid does not kill varroa mites below the capped cell. 4. The universal queen color for 2017 is blue. 5. Honey bees are not on the endangered species list. 6. When a colony swarms they always leave with a new queen and the old     mother queen remains behind with the original colony.  Do You Know What This is? One of the great things about being a beekeeper is that we can continue to learn and become better at what we do. I read that more pilots crash after they have 300 hours of flight time because their confidence exceeds their experience. It's the same for most beekeepers. Keeping bees for a couple of years causes many beekeepers to believe they know every thing there is to know. One of our subscribers recently sent this photo to me wondering what it means to the overall health of her hive. Wouldn't it be nice to have a certified master beekeeper you can get answers from right away? Are you sure you know what you are doing? Once you start beekeeping you will have a ton of questions. Every time you inspect your colony you will have twenty question marks floating above your hat and veil. Is the queen laying enough? Why aren't they building up faster? What does that queen cup mean? What is that worm? When do I put my queen excluder on? Why are they clustered under the hive? Yikes, no eggs! I have expanded my mentorship program to include twenty more subscribers. When you subscribe you become part of our BeeTeam6 mentorship program. Here's what you get for less than $5 a week:     - Access to my personal cell phone to call me when you just don't know       what's going on or you don't know what to do next.     - Access to my personal email to send me photos, videos or questions.     - Access to my cell phone to text question.     - My weekly instructional video.     - A weekly tip, two pages full of new discoveries, best management practices       and more. Example: With spring approaching gain the spring management tips you need to keep your hives healthy. Sign up now for one of these twenty openings before they are taken. Click here now for more information.  Sheri and I want to thank you for the opportunity to help you with all your beekeeping needs. Thank you for supporting a small, family business. We are located in east-central Illinois, about 40 miles East of Champaign/Urbana, Illinois 217-427-2678  or visit us online at: www.honeybeesonline.com SHOP         SHOP

Pheromone Response Of Honey Bees

Hi, we are David and Sheri Burns at Long Lane Honey Bee Farms and www.honeybeesonline.com and we are excited for the 2017 upcoming beekeeping year. We expect another record number of people to begin keeping bees.

We are also excited about our classes for the new year. Each year we keep increase the number of our classes and we are offering additional speciality classes in beekeeping. Thinking about starting your own business? Join us as we discuss different kinds of bee businesses, along with a discussion on information all small businesses need to know.  We'll touch on employees, advertising, contracts, taxes, and more. This class is on June 11th from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.  Please seek the advice of your own legal counsel when starting your own business.

Our first 2017 Beginners Class will be held February 18th 1pm - 6pm here at our training center.

Check out all our other classes for 2017

PACKAGE BEES FOR 2017

PACKAGE BEES go on sale online in just 12 days, January 1st. They always sell out fast so put it on your calendar. Order online on January 1st as fast as you can. Follow this link that will be updated at midnight Jan. 1st.

Christmas Gift Cards

Maybe you are wondering at the last minute what to get someone for Christmas. Maybe it's too late or you're too exhausted to think anymore. Why not give them a gift certificate from Long Lane Honey Bee Farms and get them started in beekeeping. It is a gift that will entertain them the whole year. In just 4 days it will be Christmas Eve. Now is the time to take advantage of our special Gift Certificates. Sometimes it's hard to know just what to get someone. Beekeeping has always been a huge surprise as a Christmas gift. A gift certificate from Long Lane Honey Bee Farms will give them the pleasure of getting what they have really wanted not just another coffee mug or candle.

If you are considering giving that special someone an entire hive kit with bees, they are available online. However, we can no longer ship hives in time for Christmas. So please use the gift certificate link above.  Remember, our hives are built right here in Illinois. Help keep American, family businesses strong.

Phenomenal Response

Last spring Certified Master Beekeeper, David Burns, began a mentorship program for beekeepers. This program affords the member to have access to David's years of knowledge and skills either by email, his personal cell phone or text.  David didn't expect too many to sign up but the response has been phenomenal. There are still a few spots open to reach David's maximum number he is willing to take. This could be a great gift as well. For more information, visit our Membership Info page. Here's what David says about it, "You'll have access to my personal cell phone and private email. And you can send me videos or pictures of your hive when it just doesn't seem right or you don't know what's going on. You'll also receive a weekly instructional video and a weekly beekeeping tip."

Winter-Bee-Kinds Production Will Soon End For The Year

We will complete our production of WBKs for this year in a few weeks. So if you are on the fence or need another one, please place your order now. Remember it's never too cold or too late to place a Winter-Bee-Kind on your hive. You've worked hard to keep your bees healthy.  Don't let them starve in the winter.

Take action and get your Winter-Bee-Kind now.

Did You Know This About Bees?

Bees do not have ears. If that's true how do they hear the lawn mower coming? They have vibration sensors throughout their body. Sound waves produce vibrations. But without ears how do bees talk to each other?

Through pheromones. Pheromone glands are located at various places on bees. These highly volatile vapors are mixed and dispersed throughout the colony and are received by the antenna of the honey bee.

For example, we've all heard of the alarm pheromone. This is a chemical substance located on the sting apparatus of the honey bee. When we are stung the venom sac releases alarm pheromones on the sting site. This alarm pheromone becomes an indicator to other bees where the trouble lies.

Another commonly understood pheromone is the Nasanov gland located near the end of the abdomen on worker bees. You can actually see this gland open and with a good nose you can smell the scent. Nasanov pheromone has several uses, one is to tell other bees where to land during a swarm.

A virgin queen releases pheromones in her mating flight to signal her location to drones. After she is mated this same gland releases a pheromone that prevents workers from laying.

Even developing larvae release pheromones indicating they need fed. There are so many more interesting facts about pheromones!!

Order Your Bee Hives And Other Equipment From Us

Before you run out to a big box store, why not purchase your beekeeping equipment from us? We are experts in the field. Get started on the right foot. Thank you for supporting our family business for all your beekeeping needs. We do it all. We will educate you through a class, provide the bees and yearly queens and supply you with the hives and equipment you need to be successful.  Here's our most popular Hive Kits:

Our Freedom Kit has been a top choice for new beginners. Painted and assembled our hives are made here in Illinois under David's watchful eye. Starting with 2 hives is always a better idea. You can purchase it with or without bees. And comes with the equipment you need to keep bees. 

2 Hives gives you the advantage to move resources around to keep both hives going strong. Lose a queen? Just move a frame of eggs from the other hive. In a good year you can harvest twice the honey! For more info on our Freedom Kit follow these links:

Freedom Kit With Bees (Bees Are Picked Up Here In Spring)

Freedom Kit With Out Bees

Our Liberty kit is similar to our Freedom kit only the Liberty kit is for one hive. You can purchase it with or without bees. All our hives are painted and assembled, ready to be placed in your yard. Comes with equipment you need to get started.

For more information on our Liberty Kit, follow these links:

Liberty Kit With Bees
Liberty Kit Without Bees

Don't get sucked in to all the "new fangled gadgets and concoctions" on the internet. Stay with science and proven methods. Let us help you in all your beekeeping needs.
Sincerely,

David and Sheri Burns
Long Lane Honey Bee Farms

Visit us online at: www.honeybeesonline.com

Or Call: Tues-Thurs 10am - 4pm 217-427-2678

Beekeeping Mentorship

We are David and Sheri Burns from Long Lane Honey Bee Farms and Honeybeesonline.com. Our 2017 class schedule is online now. The two classes that sell out the fastest are the Beekeeping Institute and How To Raise Queens. So if you are interested in making it to these classes, sign up now to reserve your spots. 

Check out all of our classes for 2017 at:

http://www.honeybeesonline.com/beekeeping-classes/

Speaking of classes, we are offering one more class this Saturday here on the bee farm in our training center. "Show Me The Honey."

Sheri will be teaching this class addressing all aspects of honey such as how bees make honey, how to cook with honey, how to extract and bottle honey, the medicinal value of honey and much more. Here's the online link: http://www.honeybeesonline.com/show-me-the-honey-all-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-honey-workshop/

If you are wondering what to get that special someone for Christmas, maybe a beehive kit along with a class. Only 61 days to buy that perfect gift! Why not really surprise them with a hobby that's fun and good for the environment. Visit our website at: www.honeybeesonline.com

Some form of a candy board has been around for a long time. Beekeepers of long ago placed candy in their hives to provide enough food for their bees to survive the long months of winter. There are various mixtures and receipts for candy boards. Some are made with soft candy and some with hard candy. The end result is still the same. The bees will consume the sugar as they need it.

We've always been concerned about the amount of condensation that can develop in the hive during the winter. The bees produce heat within their hive and as the temperature is very cold outside the hive condensation will develop on the warm side just above the bees on the inner cover or top cover. This condensation can accumulate and drop down onto the winter cluster of bees below. Bees can stay warm in the winter but they must remain dry. If this cold water drips down onto the bees it can reduce their ability to keep their cluster warm. The insulation on our Winter-Bee-Kind helps reduce the excessive moisture and even puts some of that moisture to work as it accumulates on the candy and makes it easy for the bees to consume the sugar. Thus, a Winter-Bee-Kind can help lessen two winter stresses, the lack of food and excessive moisture. We've also found that in upper vent allows bees to take cleansing (potty breaks) flights in lower temperatures.

We make our Winter-Bee-Kinds with sugar and a healthy amount of pollen powder. Many beekeepers make the mistake of only feeding their bees sugar in the winter, but the bees also need protein which they obtain from pollen. Our Winter-Bee-Kinds come with pollen mixed in with the sugar.  We recommend that you place candy boards on your hive by December 22 (Winter Solstice). But anytime during the fall or winter is fine. Even if your bees run out of honey in February put a Winter-Bee-Kind on in February if you have too.

To watch my video on the Winter-Bee-Kind Winter Feeding Board or to read some Commonly Asked Questions Click Here.

What If You Could Call, Email Or Text A Certified Master Beekeeper To Help You With Your Hive?

Knowing what to do and when is the tricky part of beekeeping. Let me be your mentor. I have a special mentorship program called BeeTeam6 where you can call, email or text me concerns or questions they are having about your bees. Plus you receive a weekly tip and a weekly instructional beekeeping video. Even if you are not keeping bees until spring, this is perfect to help you gain the education you need before your bees arrive. I'll be sharing spring management tips during the winter to get you ready for spring.

FIND OUT MORE

Give us a call today. We open at 10:00 a.m. and close at 4pm.

217-427-2678

David and Sheri Burns

Long Lane Honey Bee Farms
www.honeybeesonline.com

Feed Bees Liquid In The Spring www.honeybeesonline.com 217-427-2678

Hello from Long Lane Honey Bee Farms in central Illinois. We are David and Sheri Burns with another lesson in beekeeping. It is important to start feeding bees liquid as soon as possible. I watch the temperatures and in this lesson I will show you how I have calculated the way to feed bees liquid sugar water as soon as possible.

Once again it is MYSTERY PHOTO time!  It’s going to be a little more difficult this time, so put on your thinking caps.

We have posted the MYSTERY PHOTO on our main website at: www.honeybeesonline.com

The winner will receive a nice pair of ventilated beekeeping gloves. Here are the questions that must be answered:

1. What is this a picture of?
2. What is its purpose?
3. What is the scientific name?

Answers must be submitted on our Facebook page under the section where the black photo to the left appears on our Facebook page. The actual photo is only on our front page of our website, www.honeybeesonline.com

Good luck, and study hard.

I Put Together My Dream Hive

I put together my dream hive, a hive that comes with extra things that can help the colony along.  I have only built a limited number of these, but here is what it is. Our typical completely assembled and painted bee hive with wooden frames and foundation. But it also comes with 1) 2 Green Drone Comb for mite control (and information on how to use them for varroa control) 2) 4 beetle blaster traps to trap small hive beetles, 3) I have painted on extra wax on all 30 frames and 4) I have scored the inside of the hive to help encourage the bees to add propolis inside on the walls of the hive which has been shown to improve colony health.

Certainly you can buy the green drone comb and beetle blasters and add them to our Completely Assembled and Painted Hive, but my dream hive has the extra wax that I’ve coated on my frames and the scored inside walls. This takes time and is why we only can sell a limited number of my dream hive.

You can do these things yourself and save a buck if you have the time and wax. Remember our Completely Assembled and Painted hives comes ready to go and shipping is included for $279.

We had another Basic Beekeeping Class last Saturday it was awesome. The students were so good and ask detailed questions and were very engaged. It was a nice day, but the threat of snow was looming over us for the evening. The storm held off until Sunday, but this is what it looked like one day after the class. Close one! We have another basic beekeeping class this Saturday 9am –3pm  with 2 openings still available. See a list of our classes for the year.

 

Now For Today’s Lesson

I want to get liquid sugar in my colonies as soon as possible to help clear their guts and to stimulate early spring build up of more brood. The earlier I can get my colonies strong in numbers the sooner I can split and make more hives, more nucs and queens in the spring. I’ve been watching the forecast and here in Illinois we are going to have several days where temperatures will rise above 50 degrees (f).  Here’s the temperature forecast for me:

Fri      High 26   Low  22
Sat     High 40   Low  24
Sun    High 41   Low  26
Mon   High 44   Low  28
Tue    High 52   Low  33
Wed  High 58   Low  38
Thu   High 48   Low  31
Fri      High 44   Low  32

So, after evaluating the temperatures, I plan to take off my winter wraps mid morning on Saturday so the sun can help warm the hives. Otherwise my wrap will work against the colony and prevent the warm sun from warming the hive. Insulation works both ways. On a cold day it can keep the cold out, but on a warm day, it can keep the warm out too.

Then,  I will take off my Winter-Bee-Kinds at noon on Monday and place on my Burns Bees Feeding System. I will feed my bees 1:1 sugar water and our patties. They probably will not fly much on Monday, but that’s fine because they will fly on Tuesday as highs will be in the low 50s. This will provide the needed cleansing flights after eating the patties and liquid sugar. I will stop feeding them this way on Wednesday until I can evaluate the forecast at that time. If it stays below 45 I will keep my Winter-Bee-Kinds on. But if it warms up I’ll keep feeding them with my feeding system. Again, my rule of thumb is the 50 degree (f) mark.

My strategy has a dual purpose. First, I want to feed my bees to stimulate early brood expansion. Secondly, I want to reduce the potential of the microsporidian, Nosema, by having the bees eat and take cleansing flights.

I realize this information varies depending on the temperatures where you live. My main trigger is sunny days above 50 degrees (f). I can feed my bees a day or two prior to a flight day. However, when I see that temperatures may drop to where bees cannot fly, I’ll stop feeding them a day or two prior to the cold snap. I don’t want to fill up the bees with sugar water and have the cold weather pin them in the hive for two weeks.I will not wrap my hives again unless lows drop below 10 degrees (f).

It is amazing what this approach will do to help strengthen the colony late in the winter. I will NOT remove any frames. It is still not warm enough to remove frames.

Now, let me give you a secret tip. It’s a little risky, so apply at your own risk. My bees will be used to going in and out of their Winter-Bee-Kind ventilation slot at the top of the hive. When I remove it and place on the Burns Feeding System, they will be forced to go in and out of the bottom opening as they do throughout the year. However, I will cut a slot in my Feeding System at the same location where the WBK slot was located. This will allow the bees to eat and fly without having to travel up and down so much. Why is this risky? In a warmer environment and where hives are not equal or not equally being fed, a starving colony might smell the slot on the Feeding System and rob out the hive with the upper opening, especially if you put Honey-Bee-Healthy in the sugar water. The smell could attract other colonies running low on food. I have never had this happen, but I want to warn that it could happen.

I can get by with doing this because I equally feed my colonies at the same time, thus reducing the need for them to go out and rob other hives. I could have feral hives in the area that might scout out the feeding slot, but I’ll keep an eye on it. If you want to play it safe, you should not worry about cutting a slot and make sure the Burns Bees Feeding System is sealed at the top, and your colony will soon use their lower entrance after removing the Winter-Bee-Kind.  This usually takes a couple of days for all the bees to orientate to the lower entrance.I will add additional pollen powder to my patties to help stimulate brood build up.

Thanks for joining us for another beekeeping lesson. Check out our website for all your beekeeping needs.  We have hive kits with bees still available.

David and Sheri Burns

Long Lane Honey Bee Farms
217-427-2678
www.honeybeesonline.com