A3B-Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, September 7,1985 ITHACA, NY. - When some honey bees from Brazil, inap propriately dubbed “killer” bees, escaped from a ship in upstate New York last year, they were carrying deadly mites. Although the bees have since died, Cornell University scientists are con ducting an intensive bee hunt to determine whether any New York colonies have become infested with the dreaded Asian bee mite. The nasty bees themselves are not the object of the pursuit since only worker bees escaped and they are unable to produce any young. It’s the deadly mites they carry that are a potential menace to the honey bees of our nation and that’s a threat to the nation’s honey crop and more than 50 crops dependent on insect pollination, of which honey bees are the most efficient, says a Cornell entomologist, one of the nation’s leading bee experts. About a year ago, a freighter from Brazil docked in Oswego, New York, and a colony of Africanized bees, sometimes called “killer” bees because of their aggressive behavior, was discovered thriving on board. Although the colony and the queen were destroyed, it is feared that several bees may have escaped. Cornell scientists are trying to determine if any of those bees jumped ship and carried the bloodthirsty Asian bee mite, Varroa jacobsoni, to the mainland. The scientists are combing a one mile radius of the Lake Ontario port, trying to capture every single honey bee colony in search of Africanized bees and bee mites. Within the one-mile radius, rewards for honey bee colonies are being offered, and Cornell scientists are tracking down colonies by chasing honey bees as they make “bee lines” for home. “We do not consider the escape of the Africanized bees themselves to be any threat at all,” stresses Roger Morse, director of the Dyce Laboratory for Honey Bee Studies in the New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell. “Our objective is to determine whether the Africanized bees made it to any honey bee" colonies and contaminated them with the deadly Varroa mites.” In fact, so-called “killer” bees are not anything of the sort, Morse is quick to point out. “They are certainly nasty little bees but they are greatly misunderstood,” says the Cornell expert, one of a few scientists in the nation with a great deal of experience with Africanized bees. When African bees were tran sported to Brazil in 1956 for a research project, some escaped. Being more dominant than the gentler native bees, they even tually “conquered” the queens, Abreed apart! 8 oil tanned leather with ViDram (, >lug sole and heel Traditional Irish Setter qual ity shows It s apparent in the rich soft leather the style and craftsmanship But most of alt it s apparent in the feel fit and comfort l You u >mir W iiijjs* Redwings BOOKS SHOE SERVICE 107 E STATE ST QUARRYVILLE PA 17566 717 786 2795 CLOSED WEDNESDAYS Killer bees carried mites into upstate New York thereby “Africanizing” the bee population. Bees in South America came to be known, therefore, as Africanized bees. Although such bees are as ef ficient pollinators as the European bees that inhabit the U.S., they are often more fierce. Yet, they look the same and their stings are no more venomous. “In fact, the only way we can tell the difference is by their size; Africanized bees are about 10 percent smaller,” Morse explains. In the trophies, these bees have picked up the slanderous nickname “killer bees” because they are easily aroused and sting with only a little provocation. The Africanized bees also swarm about twice as frequently as European bees, thus they are able to reproduce and colonize new territory rapidly. It’s estimated that the Africanized bees are migrating north from Central America at about 200 miles a year. They are predicted to enter the U.S. in large numbers by 1990. “Their invasion of the U.S. is inevitable, yet I am not in the least worried about them being here, except for the mites they carry and the fear that so many people have of them,” says Morse, a member of the National Advisory Com mittee of Bee Affairs for the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. APHIS is conducting surveys throughout the nation to hunt down any Africanized bees or Varroa bee mites. Morse’s work in Oswego has been in cooperation with APHIS officials. Morse suspects that Africanized bees in temperate climates will prove to be much less vicious than SURDIAC COALSTOVES Hopper Feed and Automatic Draft Stop By For Demonstration BOWMAN'S STOVE SHOP RD3, Ephrata, PA 17522 Rt 322.1 Mi East of Ephrata (717) 733-4973 Tues. Wed 10-6, Thurs , Fn 10-8; Sat 10-4, Closed Monday they are in tropical areas. In Argentina, for example, where the climate is similar to that of the U.S., Africanized bees are hardly more aggressive than European bees and the Argentinians have not reported problems associated with them. In South Africa, where the bees come from, there also are no reported problems. In tropical Brazil, the bees are undoubtedly easier to anger and quicker to sting. Yet beekeepers have learned to manage their hives very suc cessfully, Morse points out. “Evidently, the closer the bees are to the equator, the more ferocious they act,” Morse ob serves. There also is some evidence that suggests that “killer” bees would not survive a winter very well. The imminent threat, therefore, is the Asian bee mite. Evidently, the mites are not deadly to the Africanized bees but could cripple and deform honey bees in the U.S. by feeding on bee pupae, sucking blood from between adult bee segments, and by attacking drone bees that fertilize queen bees. Thus far, the Cornell scientists have not yet found any Africanized bees or Asian bee mites in the hives that they have examined from Oswego, but they will con tinue to monitor the area for the rest of the summer. APHIS probably will follow up by sur veying the five-mile radius of the port for another five years. “A potential problem of this magnitude must be taken very seriously,” Morse warns. “These mites have already caused ex tensive honey bee colony deaths in more than 35 nations, including countries in Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa. It is probably inevitable that they will make it to ************************* Preston Twp. Wayne County EMSON FARMS MILKING HERD & BRED HEIFER DISPERSAL OF REGISTERED HOLSTEINS -61 HEAD SELL FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13,1985 12:00 Noon A tremendously strong and upstanding group of cows, several in this herd stand near 60 inches. One of the top herds in Wayne County, this group is backed by strong production. The dams actually average 20,123 3.7 738, three dams and 12 granddams are over 100,000 lifetime. This is an early fall freshening dairy, many due at or near sale time. Feature Individuals: STAR - A fourth generation VG JEMINI with 18,330 4.1745. Her dam is VG with 17,000, the second dam is VG CHIEF with 31,620 milk and 1147 of fat. STAR is due to “SPIRIT.” PRUDENCE - A third generation VG CAVALIER projected at 21,391 of milk and 819 of fat. Backed by two generations of VG dams over 17,000 of milk and 4.3 test. Bred to “SPIRIT”. LEA A “MARK A” projected over 20,000 from an EX ELEVATION with 29,210 4.41279. CONSTANCE - A GP ELEVATION granddaughter projected to 19,331, from a 23,950 BRIGAOEER, the next dam EX with 22,170. Other Sires Represented: Jet Stream, Jemini, Creek, Willow, Wileeda and Persuader. Service Sires: Stewart, Spirit, Citamatt, Banker, Creek, Ira and Mars Tony. Mr. Lepro has bred many Excellent cows in the past, many potential Excellents will sell. The 1985 classification breakdown is; DIRECTIONS: EMSON FARM is located in Preston Twp., Wayne County. Two miles Northwest of Orson, PA. From Rt. 370 in Orson take Rt. 670 north. 12 miles from Rt. 92 at Gelatt, PA and 5 miles from Thompson, PA on Rt. 670. Watch for arrows. Owners: E. W. and JANET LEPRO R.D. #2, Thompson, PA Auctioneer: Ph0ne:(717)727-2719 Wayne Weaver „ . ■ „ _ R.D. #2, Tunkhannock, PA Sates Mgr. & Pedigrees: (717)333-4194 Lie. No. 984 L < 717 ) 836-5495 ************************* 6 VG 27 GP 16 G the U.S.” Morse stresses, therefore, that it is essential to leam how to cope with these pests. Cornell is the only institution concentrating research on the deadly mite. Morse and his graduate students not only are surveying the Oswego area and examining the honey bees that are found, but also are releasing marked bees at the port to determine if bees new to an area can find colonies. About 5,000 bees were released at varying distances from known counties. Only five bees found hives and they were very close-only 25 yards away. “This tells us that lost bees do / IT’S MAGIC n\ , How quickly C_ / 7 7i ' 7 3 foß?fL You Get Results ' x or 717-626-1164 not have a great ability to find a colony unless it is very close,” Morse observes. Members of his group, both at Cornell and in Brazil, also are studying the biology and control of the mite, trying to come up with a miticide that will exterminate the mite without harming honey bees or leaving a harmful residue. “The spread of the Varroa jacobsoni bee mite is just one example of how increased air and sea traffic around the globe is spreading pests and diseases around the planet at a horrendous rate. As a result, American agriculture is continually being threatened,” Morse concludes. ACRE LANCASTER UEtg COUNTY HOG AND BEEF FARM PUBLIC AUCTION VALUABLE REAL ESTATE 21'x60' Sealstor Silo w/Leadig Unloader “To Be Sold Separately” THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3,1985 At Precisely 2:00 P.M Located along Old Line Road, Manheim. Directions: Take Route 72 North of Manheim, PA. Turn onto Colebrook Street, continue approx. 1 mile until you come to a Y, bear to the left onto Line Road. Continue to Auction Site. (Watch for Auction Arrows). To Inspect Real Estate Call (717 ) 665-3808 or Auction Firm. FARM FEATURES!! Total of 98 Acres, 72 Acres Tillable, 26 Acres Pasture w/Spnng Fed Stream. Farm In A High State Of Cultivation. 450-500 head Nebraska Hog Finishing Unit. Approx. 27’x170’. Large frame bank bam 40’x80’ and 40’x40’ loafing lot being attached to bam. Feed lot with automatic feeder for ap prox. 100 head. Feed lot is all concrete. 4 SILOS 14’x50’ Concrete Silo, 14’x64’ Concrete Silo, 10’x32’ Harvestore Silo w/Unloader, * 21’x60’ Seal Stor Silo w/Leadig Unloader. Other Buildings; Com Shed w/Storage area. 2M> story frame dwelling w/asbestos siding. 3 year old asphalt shingle roof; 1 car attached garage; 1 % bathrooms; large kitchen being nicely decorated w/built in cabinets, linoleum flooring; 4 bedrooms, nicely decorated some w/carpet; living room w/hardwood floors, 2 stairways; full attic; electric heat; laundry and office area. This farm located in Rapho Twp. Manheim, Pa. is ideally set up for hogs and steers. Farm has frontage along two roads: Old Line Road and Orchard Road. Attorney’s J. David Young, Sr. J. David Young, Jr. TEEMS: 10% Down day of auction. Balance by January 1,1986. Auction For DONALD L HERSHEY GERALDINE M. HERSHEY R.D. #6 Manheim, PA 717-665-3808 Auction Conducted By The J. Omar Landis Auction Service Jay M. Witman, AU-01127-L Apple & Roberts Streets Ephrata, PA 17522 (717) 627-0789 or 665-5735
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