SUSTAINABLE SURVIVOR QUEENBEES

A conscientious and practical approach to establishing a quality resource

for regionally hearty honeybee stock

Chosen by Beekeepers for Beekeepers

Who We Are

Superior Honey Farms + Zia Queenbee Company

Mark Spitzig from the Lake Superior shoresUpper Peninsula of

Michigan

Melanie Kirby from the Land of Enchantment

New Mexico, USA

From Honey Production

To Queenbee Rearing

Establishing A Sustainable and Cooperative Beekeeping Operation

THE SOUTHWEST SURVIVOR QUEENBEE PROJECT

Microclimatic Diversity

Incorporating holistic methods adds value to our commodities: Promotes local, regional, national and global

sustainability; While also recognizing responsibility and reverence for our natural resources, environment and landscape heritage.

Sustainable QueensBy selecting and breeding off of Regionally fortified Survivor

stock, Beekeepers will expend less financially while incorporating sound, quality genetics into their livestock management.

*A practical approach

*Networking of area beekeepers

*Establishing a reliable resource for quality livestock

*Routine introduction of diverse national stock

*Thrive and survive test ( thru min. 2 winters)

*Regionally selected survivor stock:

Honeybees chosen by Beekeepers by Beekeepers

A PRACTICAL APPROACH

Visit www.ziaqueenbees.com And

http://www.ziaqueenbees.com/SWSQB_Slideshow.pdf

2007: Phase 1

Zia Queenbee Co. P.O. Box 490 Dixon, NM

87527 Tel: 505/579-4552

Initial Southwest Survivor Queenbee Project set-up in New Mexico

Participation by 6 individual professional beekeepers from 6 different counties ranging from South to North (400 mile range) and from 3,900 feet to 9,000 feet elevation

Technical advisor: NMDA Bee Inspector

2007 CAST OF CHARACTERSProfessional Beekeeper

Location Nominated Breeder(s)

Les Crowder Sparrow Hawk Farm

Sabinal(4600’ elevation)

Carniolan- Russian X:Sabinal

Ken Hays/ Hays Honey and Apple Farm

Bosque Farms (4800’)Truth or Consequences (4200’)

Blue Russian and Italian Crosses: Supergirls 1 and 2

Steve WallBuckin’ Bee

Santa Fe(7,000’ )

Italians: Heidi & Edith

Ed CostanzaA Bee Honey Co.

Edgewood & Belen(6500’) (4800’)

Italian Swarm X: LuLu

Jason GoodhueTaos Honey Trader

Taos(9,000 elevation)

Italian X: Natural Beauty

Mark Spitzig & Melanie KirbyZia Queenbee Co. &Superior

Honey Farms Las Cruces (3900’)Dixon (6000’) Penasco (8900’) U.P. of Michigan

(650’)

Survivor SMR&NWC: Harlow, Chrysalis, Imani, Jasmine, Ital , M. Superior, Ilya, ChollaIrie, CharlotteGem HeikiSW Cross-stocks:Povi, Capilla, Izzy

Honeybees chosen byBeekeepers for Beekeepers

Steve Wall of Buckin’ Bee (Santa Fe) displays a graft of his Italian breeder queen Edith.

These queen cells will mate with ZQB drones.

Jason Goodhue and his daughter Angelina of World Famous Taos

Honey shares future stock with Mark

Les Crowder of Sparrow Hawk Farm and Top Bar Ecoversity fame reviews larva for upcoming cross-stock graft

Derrick Maness (left) of Wild

Mountain Honey in Colorado,

takes a break from grafting. Derrick grafted

his first Survivor Queens (Harlow F₁) in July 2007!

WHAT WE KNOW

WHAT TO DO

We know that particular races are more pest/disease resistant while others may be more susceptible to certain afflictions.

It is true that “bottle-necking” of honeybee genetics here in the USA has been and will continue to be a problem and threat to the apiculture and agriculture industries nationwide without increasing availability to genetically diversified quality stock.

PROMOTIONBy respecting Mother Nature’s

cycles and creating systems in which livestock is managed conscientiously, a livelihood of quality is maintained.

Promoting healthy agricultural practices enhances quality of life for all

As Stewards of our Lands, Resources and Health,

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE BE PROACTIVE IN RESEARCHING AND IMPLEMENTING RESPECTFUL

MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND TECHNIQUES.

CRUCIAL QUEEN REARING CONCEPTS

SELECTING for GENETIC VARIABLES:

High Production Pest/Disease Resistance Hygienics Gentleness Longevity:

2 year “Thrive and Survive” regiment

Open mating variables

Diverse Survivor Drone Breeder Saturation Queen Fecundity/Promiscuity

Diverse Sister and Sub-Sister Families

SELECTING BREEDER QUEENS

New Mexico Dept. of Agriculture Bureau of Entomology and Nursery Industries Assistant Bureau Chief , Mr. Greg Watson serves as our technical advisor. He is also the NM State Bee Inspector. Here with Mark, he inspects Breeder colonies and hive temperament.

Mark displays grafted cells of Breeder Lulu from

Ed Costanza of A Bee Honey Co.

Melanie grafting from Varroa resistant stock

Conscientious Mating Conditions

Mating Nuc Size- Extended period of non-disturbance- Diverse Drone Stock Saturation

Some Interesting Research

Cornell University (2007, July 20). Genetic Diversity In Honeybee Colonies Boosts Productivity. http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2007/07/070719185521.htm

Public Library of Science (2007, October 10). For Honey Bee Queens, Multiple

Mating Makes Her Attractive To Workers. http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2007/10/071008183309.htm

Cornell University (2006, December 11). Queen Bee Promiscuity Boosts Hive Health.

http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2006/12/061211124247.htm

2008: Phase 2 Extend invitation to similar zones:

Colorado, Utah, Idaho

Evaluate 2007 Cross-Stocks and begin 2008 Cross-Stocking

Consultations requested from various institutions for Phase

3 development

2009: Phase 3 Open mated Survivor Cross-Stocks and II

SW Survivor Breeders are made available to participants and the greater public as well as to queen producers

Share 2007 Initiated Cross-Stock Breeders interstate with regional queen producers.

Advanced Protocols requested involving national bee laboratories and researchers

A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP

NETWORK In ACTION

NETWORKING=

FARMERS+RESEARCHERS+INSTITUTIONS

By sharing information and implementing practical plans and

techniques, we promote the healthy sustainability and

longevity of American agriculture while also revitalizing our

individual farm industries

SHARING EDUCATION

Through Cooperative Extension and development, project design

incorporates scientific inquiry and analysis while promoting

Applied Research directly affecting farmers in the field.

Verbalizing vital needs and assessments,

Farmers share and teach Scientists.

Through Applied Research,Scientists educate Farmers.

An Integrative Approach

CONSCIENTIOUS BEEKEEPING:Beekeepers Initiative

Finding Balance With Modern Science Natural Systems and the Real World

As Stewards of our Lands, Resources and Health,

it is imperative for us to be proactive in researching

and implementing sustainable management

practices and techniques to better

secure our industry and our livelihoods.

Become true Bee-Stewards

• Practice Pro-Active Management• Keep Researching, Reading and

Sharing

Role and Chosen

Responsibility of

Beekeeper:Understand our role, and our limitations while respecting natural cycles .

An Integrative Approach

Whether working with a horizontal or vertical system,

unforgettable key notions include:

Regardless of container, the beings therein are alive & constitute an organism;

a.k.a. LIVE-STOCK,and should be managed conscientiously.

“Natural” Beekeeping?Means practicing conscientious management: acknowledging and complimenting Mother Nature’s own cycles

Natural does not equal “hands off” attitude

Maximizing Mother Nature’s own cycles while respecting health of honeybee livestock

If opposed to supplemental feeding, then it is responsibility of beekeeper to move their colonies to suitable forage .

Timely management is recommended

If bees fall ill, responsibility of beekeeper to research and implement safe methods for control

Care should be taken to neither ignore contaminate

your honeybee livestock; to not compromise their nutrition and to

not contaminate their hive products.

“Organic” Reality?• Location

• Equipment

• Environmental and Industrial Factors

While we keep our bees in as many “Organically Certified” farms as possible- We do not claim our honey to be “Organic”. We have

control over what we add to the bees. Yet, we do not have complete control over where they fly. Thus, unless one is completely isolated

and there are no environmental contaminants in the air, in the water, in the soil, on the plants, and in their hive- then the term “Organic”

should not apply. However, the term “Natural” definitely does.

Integration is shaped by

Attitude • Many Paths, Many Teachers

Mother Nature, the Honeybees themselves and other beekeepers

• History and Research Past-Present-FutureThe Langstroth system is over 150 years old.

What is modern is our thinking.

• Circumstance

• Personal Preference

REMINDER: regardless of container, the way we manage and respect the organism contained is what is vital. Let us work together to become true Bee-Stewards within both systems.

THE MELTING POT True beauty is in our diversity.

Being a Purist is negotiable-each has their own definition, whether you agree or not.

While perpetuating simple methods, it is also pure to promote efficiency rather than redundancy

Holistic management defines itself as:

relating to or concerned with wholes or with complete systems rather than with the analysis of,

treatment of, or dissection into parts (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

Many Spices-ONE MAIN INGREDIENT

The state question in New Mexico is, “Red or Green chile?”Some opt for one or the other and then there are those of us who

request both (also termed as “Christmas” or “Rainbow”)

Beekeeping is a creative art in that there are many paths of this animal husbandry. Finding a mode of operation that works for you and

your bees will be unique. Like most things, success through moderation does apply. By not boxing yourself into one type

or kind of system and management; and remaining flexible, and open, and inspired, interchange and cooperation can occur.

Practicing pro-active supplementation can enhance the immune systems of

honeybees while also providing balanced nutrition.

Many of us take vitamins or herbs to supplement our diet- the same

principles can be applied to animal husbandry.

Top bar hive body with screen bottom for Varroa Mite control

and ventilation

A home recipe pollen patty was given to the bees along with a Coconut grease patty containing essential oils in

the bottom of a Top bar hive.

The DOWDA methodApplication of Powdered Sugar with the

use of a screened bottom.

Mechanical Varroa Mite Control Method in TB

One can use a sticky board underneath to get a mite count. The screened bottom can then be sealed or diminished in size by closing off with a piece of wood (from underneath) to avoid drying of brood (arid climates) and in winter.

We use a mix of 4:1 powder sugar to garlic powder Space Top Bars apart and shift enough

powdered sugar to fully coat all the bees

This method of Varroa mite control does not control mites in sealed brood.

This can be used when needed and also as part of routine Fall/Spring management.

Top Bar “Nursery” in a Langstroth Box- box courtesy of Rosy Verdile, Christ in the Desert Monastery

Recycled pieces of Duragild and Pierco used

Adds to straightness and sturdiness of the comb built for ease of transport and for strengthened brood frames.

The recycled pieces are attached

to 19” l x ½” w wooden top bars in

halves so as to accommodate their removal and re-

attachment to diversely sized top bars and

top bar hive bodies. The recycled Pierco strips are screwed into the top bar and can be unscrewed

The recycled duragild is attached with beeswax to the Pierco strip to extend the comb “guide”

What is ZIA? Four is the sacred number of the Zia Pueblo sun symbol and can be found repeated in the four points

radiating from the circle.

North- South- East- West

Infancy, Youth, Adult & Elder

Spring, Summer, Autumn & Winter

Dawn, Day, Dusk & Night

ZQB believes that with life comes four sacred obligations one must develop:

a strong body…to lift honey boxes a clear mind… after 18 hours work

a pure spirit…to endure the sticky sweet stingsand a devotion …to the welfare of honeybees

A Little Background“Beekeeping is truly a humbling profession for me. I am routinely inspired by my many mentors: the honeybees,

Mother Nature and numerous beekeeping and non-beekeeping acquaintances. The mystery is the allure-” Melanie M. Kirby

United States Peace Corps1997-1999 Agriculture Sector

Beekeeping Extensionist Volunteer- Paraguay S.A.

Center for Human Potential(CHP) 2003

Beekeeping Extensionist Technical Trainer – Paraguay S.A.

Commercial Beekeeping Experience Hawaiian Queen Big Island, HI (2000)

Kona Queen Big Island, HI (2000-2004)

Honey Land Farms Florida (2005)

Zia Queenbee Co. &Superior Honey Farms

(2005-present day)

Email: ziaqueenbees@hotmail.comTel: 505/579-4552

Let us learn from each other and continue to share beekeeping!