This evening’s speaker, Bruce Rodriguez, is a passionate backyard beekeeper from Berks County where he currently manages 28 colonies. He became interested in catching honey bees even before he received a package he ordered in 2010 and has been so successful that to date he has not purchased more honey bees. Bruce will describe his traps, methods and experiences as well as the management required once the honey bees are secured. Much of a beekeeper success is built on honey bee management experience. Bruce is an experienced beekeeper and has been successful with trapping swarms and rescuing honey bees from cut-outs. His presentation will be interesting and helpful for anyone who has or never has performed this method of securing honey bees.

In addition, past Association President Mark Antunes will give a summary of the irradiation program he initiated that allows PA and regional beekeepers to sterilize their hive wooden ware or other contaminated equipment using gamma irradiation. The program goals are to provide a viable, sustainable and cost effective alternative to burning hive equipment to control AFB and to allow the safe use of contaminated or otherwise suspect supers, frames and honeycomb after treatment.

This gamma radiation treatment of wooden ware can provide your honey bees the cleanest, healthiest and safest equipment and environment in which to live and prosper.