Notes from the Apiary Inspector – MARYLAND STATE BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION, INC.

Cybil Preston, State Apiary Inspector, MDA

Happy Summer!

Weather has been SUPER unpredictable, with fluctuating temps from the 50's to the 90's. What a crazy Spring! Original swarms and residual swarms seem to be a very common theme this year... along with "I think I am queenless."

Apiary Inspectors and inspections are in FULL swing. We had a large number of nucleus colony inspection requests: seemingly more than normal. Bees seemed to have overwintered better than last year. My thoughs on this is better varroa control.

We have seen a larger than normal number of hives suffering from Bee PMS (Parasitic Mite Syndrome) this Spring. Symptoms we are seeing include dead brood, some smelly brood, chewdown, what looked like EFB (European Foulbrood) and Sac brood. Black Shiny bees with bloated abdomens and shaking/buzzing on the frames were observed, as well: possibly Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus. Colonies were over threshold with varroa and needed to be treated.

We will again participate in the National Honeybee Survey. I am looking for beekeepers with 8 or more beehives in the same location, who would be willing and wanting to participate. Participation in the survey is free of charge: an inspector will take 1/3 cup samples of bees from each colony and beeswax for the double sampling. Tests are run on the samples and the beekeeper will get a print out and run down of hive issues and virus presence and prevalence. Anyone wishing to participate should contact me.

We have swarm traps out at several locations at both the Port of Baltimore and at BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport. The swarm lures are refreshed bi-weekly.

I would like to encourage the local Beekeeping associations and ALL beekeepers to enter Club displays and educational exhibits in The Maryland State Fair. The Maryland State Fair has not yet posted the dates for entering exhibits, however. I ASSUME it to be Sunday, August 20, 2023, from 3PM to 8PM, and Monday, August 21, 2023, from 9AM to 7PM. Honey judging will be on Tuesday \3. The dates and times of the Honey show exhibits and judging are subject to change. The MD State Fair will open on Thursday 8/24/2023 and be open til 9/10/2023. Take the summer to prepare your entries so we have a GREAT show in August! It's FAIR-iffic!

The honeybee disease detector dogs are now on VACATION till the fall when weather gets colder. Tukka has healed very well and is back to his normal crazy high strung self. They are currently spending their days snoozing and swimming.

[Return to June 2023 BeeLine newsletter]