From: "deelusbybeekeeper" <deelusbybeekeeper@excelonline.com>
Date: Tue, 2 Oct 2001 13:55:41 -0700
To: <BiologicalBeekeeping@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Re: Coumaphos in the UK?

Robert wrote:

> I sent this originally to the Irish List; I think Dee's right in that we
> may be approaching the stage when chemical-based beekeeping begins
> to crash in the UK. Does anyone know where hard information is
> available relating either to coumaphos contamination of combs, and
> its effect on the bees, especially on queen raising, or on the effect
> pyrethroids have on drone fertility? There's anecdotal evidence, but
> it would be far better to be able to write to the relevant Minister with
> some solid scientific stuff on the harm coumaphos does to bees.

Reply:

Robert for coumaphos on its effect on the bees, especially on queen raising
I found this in checking back issues of ABJ Feb 2001 page 93. Here is
comment from Dave Miksa (one of the largest and best queen breeders in the USA):

On this day 10 of Sept 2000, I will give to you a short review of our
problems with strips:

It all began in Feb 1999 as our need to provide good mite-free bees for
shipment in the US. One tool to come along was the new strips, so we placed
one strip in all of our colonies, including cell builders in Feb 1999, a few days after we received the shipment under US/EPA section 18 use permit.
Each spring we produce 50,000 queen cells using 120 queen-right colonies
that we use as starters and finishers. The strips were placed in the top box
of cell builders whre cells and brood are, in order to control Varroa mites.
We did all other 2200 colonies of bees that we operate, too. All worker and
drones brood matured fine.

Along about three weeks into cell production, we had several queen cell
customers bring to our attention lots of jelly in cells and pupae
underdeveloped. At the same time we were candling cells anyway for black
queen cell virus, we found the same problem. It was random, some bars had
10%, some 9%, some 80% damaged pupae. Upon further investigatioins, we ruled out the chance of contaminated feed (we only use our honey and sugar from food wholesale stores for humans), chance of poison pollen or honey flora source (yellow jasmine), chance of chilling, or poor handling - NONE of these stood out as something we did differently from the past, except it was the first time ever that we had used strips.

So, on the second day after finding out about the dead or dying queen cell
pupae, we pulled out all strips in cell producers. At that time, I called
several friends in queen production to warn them and all of our queen cell
customers. We had to replace several thousant cells, so we told them how it
happened. It took another 3 to 4 weeks to wash out the residue in cell
builders to whre we found under 10% deformed strip queen cells.

To prove to ourselves that the strips were at fault, we placed three strips
in the top box of a cell builder. Eight days later we took out the cells and
dissected them, 29 out of 30 grew, but only one was good out of the 29, so
we had 95% + loss.

At the same time as I was counting the bad cells, the USDA/ARS lab in Texas
called me because they had word that I had a problem. I told Jim Baxter from the USDA just what I had found out.The USDA was testing for strips and had not done testing on queen cells. Of course, they claimed I was the only one having the problem. I was also one of the very first to use strips in the US under the Section 18, as Florida was the first state to have the paperwork
done. We have seen some damage from brood used to "boost up" cell builders from colonies that had strips pulled 6 weeks before. The USDA would not make public my discovery.

So, I placed a note on the Internet in March 1999 that there was a queen
cell problem when using strips. They were MAD!!

Since, then, I have had many others in queen rearing thank me for giving
them advice not to use strips during and even up to 6 weeks prior to queen
cell production.

We are having a very good season; bees in good shape and we are all sold out of queens until Apr 2001. We rear about 80,000 queen cells per year for
ourselves and others. This year we are caging 20,000 + laying queens.

(Note from Jerry Hayes) I spoke to Mr. Miksa about this information. He told
me that he thinks Coumaphos works great for Varroa control in colonies. His
opinion is that it shouldn't be used when raising queen cells.

Now I Dee add comment here: Question: As residues build up in colonies by
using strips and since some brood was damaged from brood used to "boost up" cell builders in comments above, How long before the right to raise queens is lost in beehives from users using strips on a continuing program?
Robert-- I think this will help you in UK for something to give to your MAFF
personnel looking into things.

Also on beesource.com please note. Chemical books say not to mix coumaphos and pyrethroids together! Go to the chemical section to read more if you like.

Sincerely,

Dee A. Lusby