Bring a friend. Come and join us. See you there.
ESCAROSA BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION WORKSHOP
ASSEMBLY OF HIVES BODIES, TOPS, BOTTOMS, FRAMES AND FOUNDATION
We had a great turn out. There were quite a few new faces.
Check out the slide show presentation
Looking forward to our big May Workshop and Open Hive Demonstration.
Keep checking in for further details.
Thank you Joe!
 The Escarosa Beekeepers Association is established to help area beekeepers. Our members reside in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton Counties in Florida as well as surrounding counties in Alabama. Our monthly meetings are held in Pensacola, FL. We are comprised of individuals and families, young and old, who share an interest in beekeeping, pollination, honey production, and other products of the beehive. What Should the Northwest Florida Beekeeper be Doing in February? 1. Remove bad combs. 2. Check for V.mites using sticky board or other method for sampling and treat as required. 3. Check for effects of mite treatments 4. Put out swarm catch box with fresh pheromone lures 5. Equalize the colonies 6. Inspect for diseases, V.mites, beetles and queenright. 7. Put on supers 8. Feed to stimulate and check pollen feeding station.  Just Added!
Dr. Jamie Ellis discusses the Small Hive beetle, history,symptoms, and treatments.
Click here to view instantly... (18min 12sec)
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New! Varroa mite video. Click here to view instantly... (25min 22sec) ************************************
New! Trachael Mite video. Click here to view instantly... (19min 11sec) ************************************
New! Nosema video. Click here to view instantly... (15min 15sec)
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New! American & European Foulbrood. Click here to view instantly... (15min 32sec) For more info from University of Florida Extension
including the Beginning and Master Beekeepers Program
go to
 Watch These VideosDr. Keith Delaplane Video, University of Georgia
Dr. Keith Delaplane Video, University of Georgia
Here is a fun and interactive Honey bee site. Give it a try.
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Related Links
We would like to thank Nancy and Joe Taverniti for their wonderful and generous hospitality in hosting the Escarosa Beekeepers Association Annual BeeFest and Open Hive Demonstration last May. It was quite a success. We had a great deal of fun, food and entertainment. Looking forward to doing it again next year.  On August 20, 2011, the Escarosa Beekeepers’ Association set up shop in lovely and historic downtown Pensacola, in celebration of National Honeybee Day. For six hours, our little group of beekeepers entertained the crowds with honey samplings, bean bag tossings, a virtual hive and an observation hive! From the faces of the adults and children alike, the honeybees were a resounding success.
Two of the most often asked questions of the day were: (1) how are the bees and (2) how can I start raising honeybees? What a great place and a wonderful group of people to answer both of these inquiries! Folks who put together caring with action are the best way to get our beloved honeybees back on the wing. All in all, the association saw hundreds of people, passed out literature, fielded questions and shared recipes for delicious honey goodies. Despite the 100+ temperatures, a good time was had by all! Next year, we hope to expand our efforts with more attention to the littlest beekeepers and the addition of a bake sale. Several of our beekeepers donated honey to be sold at the event, with all proceeds going to benefit the club.
Saturday, August 20, 2011 at the Palafox Market in downtown Pensacola We will continue to participate in events such as this to
promote the value of honey bees and beekeeping. AFFILIATED ASSOCIATIONS
 | What's in Bloom? Red Maple Red maple is one of the most abundant and widespread trees in eastern North America. It has the greatest continuous range along the Atlantic Coast of any tree found in Florida-an extent of 2575 km (1,600 mi). Red maple is usually the first tree to bring color to our winter landscape. Temperate winters will often allow the red maple to bloom as early as January. This provides the honeybee with an abundant and muck needed pollen source. Beekeeping Legend Laurence Cutts Inducted into
2012 Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame
 Laurence Paul Cutts’ father was a beekeeper, so it came as a natural progression that he would follow in his father’s footsteps. At the age of sixteen, Laurence began raising queens to sell. This grew into a business in which he produced and sold honey, and provided bees for pollination for various crops in Florida, Alabama and Georgia. He worked in this business until 1985 when he accepted a position with the state of Florida overseeing the state’s apiary inspections.
During his employment with the state, the varroa mite and small hive beetle were creating major problems for the beekeepers throughout this state. Laurence was instrumental in bringing the need for research to reduce bee hive losses to the forefront. Throughout his tenure with the state, he was always accessible to both commercial and independent beekeepers with an unlimited advice and direction. A commercial beekeeper with over 8,000 hives once remarked that without Laurence he would have lost everything. He recently invented and is presently in the process of marketing a new beetle trap through various bee supply companies in the United States. This trap promises to be a better deterrent for the small hive beetle. Laurence was known as a leader in the state’s beekeeping industry and, as such, was a much sought after speaker and teacher. Due to his leadership, determination and experience, Florida remains a leader in agricultural production. Without honey bees pollinating Florida crops, this state would be unable to produce the quantity and quality of various agricultural products it does today.
Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame
 Beekeepers are now officially FARMERS and protected under HB 7215 Passed (signed by Governor 6-23-11) providing penalties for the theft of bee colonies of registered beekeepers; redefining the term "farmer" to include a person who grows or produces honey; redefining the term "farm theft" to include the unlawful taking possession of equipment and associated materials used to grow or produce certain farm products. VIEW BILL 
This plant typically grows in full sun and a mesic fertile soil that consists of loam or clay-loam, but it will tolerate conditions that vary from this because of its adaptable, weedy nature. During a hot dry spell in summer, the leaves often wilt and the size of the plant becomes stunted. The seeds of this species can remain viable in the soil for up to 60 years and germinate unexpectedly. Primarily small bees and flies visit the flowers for nectar or pollen.
Occasionally, small White butterflies, Pieris rapae (Cabbage White) and
Pieris protodice (Checkered White), will visit the flowers for nectar.
Similarly, the caterpillars of the Cabbage White and the Checkered White may
feed on the foliage. The caterpillars of Evergestis pallidata
(Purple-Backed Cabbage Worm Moth) feed on the foliage of both wild and
cultivated mustards. In the Midwest, the oily seeds of Mustards are not popular
with birds – apparently, they are more important as a food source for birds in
California and the Pacific Coast. Occasionally, Mourning Dove may eat the
seeds. Rabbits eat the leaves of Mustards occasionally, if the foliage is not
too peppery. Wild Mustard is adventive from Eurasia and has
existed in the United States since the 18th century. Habitats include
grainfields, areas along railroads, vacant lots,
gardens, and miscellaneous waste areas. Disturbed areas are strongly preferred.
This species doesn't invade high quality natural areas to any significant
extent. Local Beekeeping Profiles
Doc and Morgan Bullard have been featured in the June/July 2011 publication of
Pensacola Magazine. Go to the link below and check out pages 38-43. Its a great article.
  Becca and James Fritschle have been featured in the July 2011 Pensacola Home and Garden Magazine under the article "Bring in a Second Crop with Fall Planting". The Fritschle's are new to the Escarosa Beekeepers Association. It is wonderful to see them flourishing in their hobbies and enjoying all our area has to offer.
Check-out the Fritschle's blog at www.littlegreenbees.com and also at http://brighthaven.wordpress.com/category/bees/
 Our former club President Bill Bonifay had an excellent year of honey production. Amazing how much sweet honey can be produced from a hive of bees.
 Congratulations Mr. Bonifay. Sweet Success!
Choosing a Nest Site
this excerpt taken from page 72 of
 "Honey bees select a new colony site as the last stage of swarming, or colony reproduction. Colonies generally swarm in late spring, when the old colony has an excess of workers and has become overcrowded. At that time a majority of the workers leave the nest with a queen and form a cluster, usually under an overhanging limb or in a snarl of branches. The swarm then faces a critical problem; it must quickly find a new nest site before the workers run out of honey carried in their honey stomachs or the swarm population will begin to dwindle as workers die. The swarm also has to choose a site in which the new colony can survive and grow for many years."
Read more about honey bee swarms from our BEEINFO page.
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