Colony Extracted from Treehouse Roof

Justin Decker uses a specially
designed vacuum to gently remove
bees from rafters.

Photo courtesy of A.J. Capalong

LBB intern, Justin Decker, a senior at North Pocono High School, helps remove a honeybee colony that settled into the roof of a beautiful treehouse in Spring Brook, PA.  The colony turned the tree house into a bee house back in June.  Homeowners contacted LBB after reading a recent article about the Lackawanna Backyard Beekeepers in the Times-Tribune.  The colony was safely relocated to a Langstroth hive complete with their own comb and food stores to be cared for by Decker and other members of the Lackawanna Backyard Beekeepers.

Fleetville Bee Rescue

Beekeepers Renee Czubowicz and Jim Davis spend an afternoon in Fleetville removing comb from a fallen tree in an effort to save the weakened colony before cold weather sets in.  Unfortunately, no comb was able to be saved due to severe wax moth infestation.

Dept. of Agriculture Inspection

Dept. of Agriculture inspector examines
hive for signs of bee disease.

All beekeepers in the state of Pennsylvania are required to register their hives with the Department of Agriculture.  Recently, LBB beekeeper Ellen McGlynn had her hives inspected for the first time and found the process both fun and cathartic.  At only $10 per bee yard (not per hive), an inspector will come to spot check each hive, answer questions and concerns, and do sugar rolls on several hives to inspect for varroa mites.  While many beekeepers find the whole inspection idea a scary prospect, the inspector made clear that they are not out to verify zoning.  Their job is to keep track of bee disease and make recommendations where necessary.  Click HERE to view article in Scranton Times-Tribune.  Be sure to click on 'Photo Gallery: Beekeepers' for some beautiful bee images in Ellen's bee yard. 

Honey Tasting at Everhart

Beekeepers Jim Davis and Ellen McGlynn presented honey at the Everhart Museum's mead and honey tasting event, "Sweetness and Light," August 2, 2012.  Not only did our beekeepers offer up a bit of their own local comb, they shared their knowledge of other American favorites like tupelo, basswood, goldenrod, star thistle, and KILLER BEE honey!  The honeys were paired with delectable morsels by Accentuate Caterers.  Looking for a nice appetizer for your next party? Try mascarpone cheese on Belgian Endive drizzled with tupelo honey and sprinkled with almonds. You won't regret it.

Bee Exhibition at Everhart Museum

LBB members participated in the Everhart Museum's summertime exhibition "Directing Sunbeams" featuring photography from Northeastern Pennsylvania beekeepers. The exhibition was part of the larger "Beeyond" exhibition featuring microscopic bee photography by Rose-Lynn Fisher.