Prairie State Beekeepers - October 6, 2024
The October meeting will be held at the Nipper Wildlife Sanctuary as part of a Fall Outing from 3 PM to 7 PM.
No Zoom session link will be available for the October 6, 2024 Fall Outing.
Click here to see the Summary of Events Page for full details and map to the location.
The October meeting will be held at the Nipper Wildlife Sanctuary as part of a Fall Outing from 3 PM to 7 PM.
No Zoom session link will be available for the October 6, 2024 Fall Outing.
Click here to see the Summary of Events Page for full details and map to the location.
There have been some reported issues concerning the PSBA Google Group forum with members who have non Gmail based email addresses. Some but not all Yahoo and Outlook based email addresses have encountered the problem.
A few have been unexplainably removed from the group by Google. When we try to add the non Gmail based email address to the group, an error message states, the person cannot be directly added to the group, but must be invited.
If you have not been receiving the monthly zoom invites via the google group or have not seen any google group emails for a month, then...
A few have been unexplainably removed from the group by Google. When we try to add the non Gmail based email address to the group, an error message states, the person cannot be directly added to the group, but must be invited.
If you have not been receiving the monthly zoom invites via the google group or have not seen any google group emails for a month, then...
- Check your spam/junk folder and tell your email client the email from the PSBA group is not spam. We have noticed even Gmail will occasionally mark the PSBA google group emails as spam.
- Try to add yourself back to the PSBA Google group. Go to the Google Group tab of the PSBA website and click the blue icon.
- If you are already a PSBA Google group member it should take you to the group. If you are not already a PSBA Google Group member, it should allow you to be requested to be added to the group. Be sure to use your name and email address you used to join PSBA.
- If you accidentally click on the link and unsubscribe yourself from the PSBA Google group you can use the above stated procedure to get yourself added back to the group.
- If the email address does not appear on the PSBA membership list, the add request will not be approved. See the below screenshot of the Google Group page tab.
Items to check in September/October
- Stock up on winter feed supplies (such sugar/hfcs-55/pro-sweet)
- Check for signs of robbing. Usually occurs during nectar dearth
- Once honey supers are removed liquid feed (inside a spacer box) until lower temps prohibit it.
- A 1 to 1 sugar to water ratio for sugar syrup. The 1 to 1 ratio is by weight, not volume. Can be a tad thinner such as 1.5 parts of water to 1 part sugar. Do not feed your honey bees hummingbird syrup (4 parts water to 1 part sugar). Switch to a heavier syrup for fall feeding
- HFCS-55 (not corn syrup from the store) can also be fed to bees. Mix it with 30% to 50% water).
- Check for signs of Small Hive Beetle (SHB), have your hive tool at the ready to smash any SHB the bees have run to the topside of the inner cover.
- Massive Swarms in September may be the result of colony absconding and not the result of a swarm
- Tips and suggestions for preparing colonies for Fall and winter
- Use caution when treating colonies for varroa mites with Formic Acid or Formic Acid Pro if your queens are 2+ years in age. Follow label directions regarding the applicable temperature range
- Prairie State has extractors to loan to members who do not have one. Contact Rich Ramsey to schedule use of extractor.
- Prepare spacer equipment for winter feed supplies which should be put on hives in December
- Wondering where the bees are finding the pollen they are bringing in? Check the pollen sources by time of year on the documents page of our website
- NASA has also produced an online map of honey bee forage sources by region
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2025PSBA Membership dues:
The membership application/renewal form can be found on the Documents page tab of the website. Bring it to the next meeting you can attend. Give your membership renewal or new membership form and payment to the Treasurer. The Treasurer will notify the Membership Secretary to renew the member for Prairie State and to advise the ISBA of the renewal. New member applications will be reviewed by the officers before the membership is approved. You can mail in your renewal to Kathy Kaesebier (Treasurer). Her contact information is below so you can email or call her to obtain her mailing address. The mailing address is also posted on the Prairie State Google Group. |
Our thanks to Jefferies Orchard
for their continued support of Prairie State Beekeepers 
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Your membership entitles you to a discounted subscription rate for the American Bee Journal magazine. Bee Culture is also an excellent publication, but it does not offer a discounted subscription.
Contact Information & Officers:
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Prairie State
Beekeeping Presentation Committee Chairperson & Apparel Committee Chairperson Melissa Gerard Athens, IL 217.691.2223 [email protected] |
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ISBA Vice President
Steve Petrilli Mechanicsburg, IL 217.638.7891 [email protected] |
ISBA Legislative Liaison
Rich Ramsey Rochester, IL 217.691.9354 [email protected] |
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State of Illinois Dept. of Agriculture Apiary Inspector
Illinois Bees and Apiaries Program Arvin Pierce Waverly, IL 217.638.6371 [email protected] |
Vertical Divider
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Local Commercial Beekeeper - Honey & Queen Producer
Andy O'Connell Springfield, IL 217.299.4892 [email protected] |