BEELINES December, 2004

Regularly scheduled meetings are on the 2^nd Tuesday of each month. 7 p.m.
Meetings at 1305 Pine Avenue in Snohomish in the Christ the King Lutheran Church building.

Next Meeting: Tuesday November 14 at 6:30

Dates to Remember
Dec 14: NWDBA Holiday Potluck
Jan 11: January NWDBA Meeting

Holiday Potluck
Our annual Holiday party potluck will be at our regular location (but in a different room) on our regular meeting day, Tuesday Dec 14th at 6:30 pm rather than 7pm. All members and their family and friends are welcome. Please bring a main dish, dessert, or salad. There is a microwave and stove available to reheat dishes.

Anyone having extra door prizes or inventory items they want to donate, please bring them that evening.

New and old officers should also bring soda, coffee, eggnog, mead or whatever to drink.

Bring your festive spirit and jingle jollies and see you all on Tuesday!

December Beekeeping
Keep the entrances free of dead bees.  This is a good time to go to beekeeper meetings and read all the beekeeping magazines that have been stacking up all year.  Repair old equipment, assemble all the new frames and supers you will need next year.  If you need apiary permits for outyards, apply for them now.

January Beekeeping
Make or order spare hives and other equipment required for the coming season.  See that hive entrances are kept clear of dead bees.  Note the amount of bee loss in your apiary note book.  Order queens and package bees now to avoid the last minute rush.

Dear NW District Beekeepers:

It has come to my attention from the October issue of BeeLines that some beekeepers are using formic acid as a miticide in their hives.  EPA registered a gel formulation several years ago but the manufacturer had problems with the plastic pouch leaking creating human exposure hazards they couldn’t overcome.  The product was voluntarily withdrawn from the market.  Formic acid is not registered at this time and it is illegal to use an unregistered pesticide or contrary to label directions, including application to a site (bee hives) that is not on the label.  WSDA recommends against using unregistered pesticides for mite control in honey bee colonies.

Communications with EPA reveals that they are currently considering a Canadian formic acid product for registration.  Reports suggest that their evaluation will be complete by December 31, 2004.  The labeling process may follow in 2005.  EPA is also reported to oppose registering a liquid formulation due to its human exposure hazards.

Canadian beekeepers have been using formic acid legally for several years.  Unfortunately many did not follow label directions and repeated cautions to use an approved respirator with an organic vapor cartridge.  It is reported that a number of beekeepers across Canada suffer from damaged lungs because they breathed formic acid repeatedly during applications to bee hives.  Unfortunately their lung damage cannot be reversed.  A Canadian acquaintance of mine is no longer able to engage in practical beekeeping due to his damaged lungs and the lack of oxygen intake.  A few years ago when beekeepers in Washington were using the acid, reports surfaced that hired workers had nose bleeds, skin burns and eye discomfort, and had to go to hospital emergency rooms.  Use of formic acid by workers also raises liability and worker protection concerns, and WA State Department of Labor and Industry regulatory issues.

Sincerely,

James C Bach

WSDA Pesticide Compliance Investigator,
Apiary Specialist
509 225 2611
email: jbach at arg.wa.gov