General Meeting (April 2019)

The Capital Regional Beekeepers Association (CRBA) meets on the second Thursday of every month.

This meeting usually starts with a beginners/intermediate beekeeper corner 30 minutes before the regular club proceedings start around 7pm.

Agenda

• 6pm – Setup
• 6.30pm – Pre-meeting discussions
  • New beekeepers corner (downstairs/lower hall) – Don L
  • Intermediate beekeepers corner (upstairs/upper hall) – Bob L
• 7.15pm – Regular meeting
  • Using different mite control products
    • Oxalic acid vapour – Heinz K
    • Apivar (Amatraz) – Stan R
    • Oxalic acid drip – Barry D
• 8pm – Club business
  • What’s in bloom? – Nairn H
  • What beekeepers are doing in April – Larry L
  • Just so you know – All
• 8.30pm – Social – Bring a travel mug for tea and coffee
• 9pm – Close of meeting

Join us on May 8th when our theme will be inventions and contraptions.

Minutes

President Bill Fosdick opened the meeting. He informed the group that this month’s focus would be treatment for mites – a follow up to last month’s meeting. He introduced the new treasurer, Kazlyn Bonnor and thanked all the people who volunteer for the CRBA – for example the great work for the people who took our equipment to the Iotron. He invited others to volunteer. A graph of the life cycle of the varroa mite was shown along with when to treat. Bill reminded everyone that care is needed with all treatments as they are potentially damaging to us and to the bees.

Three members gave presentations about mite treatments.

Heinz Kaemmerer spoke about oxalic vaporization. He noted that he chooses not test for mites as it can kill bees – he puts paper under the screened bottom board for 48 hours and treats with vapour if there is a mite drop on the paper. He treats from mid-May to the end of July. He also discussed thymol strips and how to make them, noting that thymol also controls mold in the hive.

A question was asked as to how oxalic acid kills mites. Bob Liptrot explained that it burns through the exoskeleton of the mite but if used carefully does not affect bees as their exoskeletons are stronger.

Barry Denluck discussed how to use the oxalic acid drip method of treatment noting that the amount of acid used is small enough not to affect the bees. He emphasized that it must be used with care. The beekeeper should wear protective clothing. He recommended going to Randy Oliver’s website for further information.

Stan Reist talked briefly about Apivar, noting that it affects the mouth parts and antenna of the mite. He mentioned times and types of treatments and recommended reading all instruction labels carefully. He noted that there are differences between Canadian and USA regulations with respect to treatments.

Nairn Hollott noted the plants that are currently in bloom that are useful forage for bees.

Larry Lindahl told another of his funny stories and then went through the list of things a beekeeper should do in April to ensure healthy hives and profitable beekeeping.

Paul Peterson from Red Queen Apiaries will have nucs with local queens for sale starting May 15th – cost
$225. Barry Denluck will have nucs and packages for sale in May – $260.

Bill noted that the Iotron payment amount will be forthcoming soon, that it is time to think about wasp traps, and that Shirley Richardson in conducting a survey of all club members to find out about winter loses.

Next month’s meeting topic will be “Inventions and Contraptions”.

Meeting adjourned for refreshments.