March 2018, Issue 159

Whangarei Bee Club INC

Newsletter

Inside this issue:

Events/Notices 1

Plant of the month 2

Last Club Day 2 - 3

Financial/News Stuff 4

Upcoming Events and Notices

This Club Day – 3rd March:

Next Club Day – 7th April: See you there😊

Whareora Hall

Bring: 10.15am • Cash for the produce table

• Produce for the produce table

• Your loyalty card to show at the door

• Bee suits

Directions From SH1, turn off to Kensington. Turn left into Mill Road, then right at

Whareora Rd. Keep on Whareora Rd until it joins Pataua North Rd and

carry on for a few more minutes. The hall is on the right. Park on hall side

of road – please do not park on the road.

Helper Roster for March Club Day

Help in the kitchen: Suzie Scourfield

Setup Lunch: Jon Hampson

Reminders:

On Club Day, please do not park on the road

- use the paddock adjacent to the Hall when

the car park is full.

For novice beekeepers who need AFB

checks, please contact Paul Martin who will

arrange for someone in your area to check

your hive;

Please register your hives with AsureQuality

at the following link:

https://www.asurequality.com/our-

industries/apiculture/apiary-register/

Notices:

A call for nominations for the committee

for the May AGM. Especially a call for a

new Treasurer. Barbara is stepping down

from this role but will still be around to

help the new person.

Trevor Clifton can be contacted for AFB

checks. Call him on 0274 330155 or email

tkclifton52@gmail.com

Plant-of-the-Month Contributed by John Beauregard

Plant-of-the-Month (short articles of interest to Northland beekeepers, especially non-commercial beekeepers.)

Eucalyptus is an enormous genus with over 700 named species in Australia, further complicated by

significant hybridisation. Most of these species have common names that vary from state to state. In New

Zealand we generally use their scientific names to minimise confusion.

The species imported into New Zealand tend to be summer and autumn-flowering. Most are grown

commercially for sawn timber but there are several that are used ornamentally although these are too big for

the confined space of a garden.

http://leafland.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/eucalyptus-ficifolia-tree-2-600x600.jpg

http://www.milliganseeds.co.nz/files/m-20090204143209-1233711129-2-600x450.jpg

As myrtles, they will be potentially susceptible to myrtle rust, along with manuka, kanuka and pohutukawa,

Unsurprisingly, the honey from eucalypts is variable but much of it is dark in colour with a bold and

distinctive taste that is almost medicinal. The honey lends itself to specialty baking applications. Walsh

records eucalypts as useful pollen sources even though little of it is of immediate use to the bees as they

wind down brood rearing for the season.

In April 2016 this column reviewed Hebe stricta, koromiko. 2018 is shaping up to be a very good year for

this valuable autumn nectar source.

“Nectar and Pollen Sources of New Zealand,” RS Walsh, published by ApiNZ, is a principal source of information. The club's

library holds a copy of this very useful booklet. The web references provide excellent photographs, some of which are from

proprietary sources such as plant shops.

News from last Club Day ___________________________________________________________________________________

Club Day Summary: 3 February 2018

WDC Bylaw Review

The changes made are practical rules without being too prescriptive. Good guidelines.

The number of beehives allowed on a suburban property is related to the size of the property.

Image from:http://www.terrain.net.nz/

MPI Manuka Definition Update

Changes have been made to GREX (general requirements for export) at the 11th hour. If you want to export

you have to be on the Beekeeper List. All honey boxes for extraction for export have to be identified i.e.

with apiary number. You must keep auditable records.

All changes come into force on 5/2/18.

Multifloral definition stays at 1mg of 2-MAP which is good.

Guest Speaker: Dr Jonathan Hill from Hill Laboratories

Jonathan gave an overview of the history and capabilities of Hill Labs. They are New Zealand's largest

privately owned analytical testing laboratory, specialising in environmental, agricultural & food testing,

including honey testing.

The discussion was based around honey and it ranged from ‘manuka honey forecast models’ to false

negatives in C4 sugar tests, to the new MPI testing requirements – ¾ of customers are testing to the new

MPI regs, including DNA testing, compared with the 3 in 1 and 4 in 1 tests.

For more information visit https://www.hill-laboratories.com. Go to ‘Testing’ then ‘Honey Testing’.

NPH Update

Either book an extraction date on the WBC website or contact Karl on 027 394 0571 (text rather than ring).

Karl pointed out that running the extraction plant is a casual role and he is not there every day. It is better if

he is there when you bring your supers in so he can load them into the hot room. He suggests you consider

using the pricker to get more out of your frames. Either you can do it or he can do it for you for an extra

dollar a box.

As far as honey yield goes you need to manage your expectations. It would pay to check on the quality of

your frames before you bring them in e.g. is there old brood on some of them.

You must have the ‘harvest declaration’ form filled out when you bring in your honey - find this form on

our website, plus there are some hard copies at the Plant.

WBC Honey Competition

Entry will only be in 500g clear plastic jars which the Club supplies (90cents each).

There will be 4 categories plus a peoples’ choice award.

We are still looking for an associate judge to help the main judge. Let Paul know if you can think of

someone appropriate e.g. a chef.

Nick-Nack Section (None today)

David & David

It was a great start this year but since Xmas it has become similar to last year, not so good. In fact it’s even

patchier than last year.

Better queens this year because of the better Spring.

The honey season is mostly over and robbing has started. Already reducing entrances of some hives because

of wasps.

To see if wasps are around try a mixture of meat, vinegar and fruit juice. If they are then use Vespex to kill

them. It is a protein-based bait targeted at wasps that contains the insecticide, fiprinol.

Check for varroa. It is usual to start varroa control treatment once you’ve taken your honey off. Either

chemical strips or other methods. Go to www.randyoliver.com for further information.

News/sites to check out

New to Beekeeping?

https://apinz.org.nz/new-to-beekeeping/

Rachel Rose: Honey sector growth unsustainable

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-

country/news/article.cfm?c_id=16&objectid=11982

705

MPI's definition of mānuka honey changed on

eve of legal challenge from beekeepers

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/100976518/mpis-

definition-of-mnuka-honey-changed-on-eve-of-

legal-challenge-from-beekeepers

NZ GOVT STANDARD FOR MANUKA

HONEY COMES INTO EFFECT FEB 5TH

2018

https://www.tastyhoney.com/blog/manuka-

honey/nz-govt-standard-for-manuka-honey-comes-

into-effect-feb-5th-2018/

Australia and New Zealand at loggerheads over

manuka honey trademark https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/12/au

stralia-and-new-zealand-at-loggerheads-over-

manuka-honey-trademark

Better breeding boost for bees

https://farmersweekly.co.nz/#

Bee happy – learn the basics http://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-

times/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503349&obj

ectid=11995093

War Dance of the Honeybee

https://www.the-

scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/51390/title/W

ar-Dance-of-the-Honeybee/

Image of the Day: What Does a Bee See?

https://www.the-

scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/51216/title/Im

age-of-the-Day--What-Does-a-Bee-See--/

How honey bee gut bacteria help to digest their

pollen-rich diet.

http://americanbeejournal.com/honey-bee-gut-

bacteria-help-digest-pollen-rich-diet/

Thanks To All

Contributors of the

Newsletter

Whangarei Bee Club Incorporation

Bank balances as at 20 January 2018

Operating account 4,966.41

Savings account 26,198.34

Total funds at 20 Jan 18 31,164.75

Plus income from

Membership fees 330.00

Book sales 45.00

Hive sale 400.00

Interest received 33.39

808.39

31,973.14

Less expenditure

Bank fees 2.40

Hall hire 65.00

Licences 47.44

Club provisions 265.23

Nth Pure Honey account paid 44.57

Website 42.55

RWT on interest 11.02

478.21

Total balance at 20 Feb 2018 31,494.93

Made up of

Operating account 5,274.22

Savings account 26,220.71

31,494.93