February 2026 Newsletter
President's Hive
Dear Members,
Winter. As we hunker down in our 70 degree homes, imagine what our bees are doing in their hives. When temperatures drop, honey bees huddle together to make a cluster and shiver their wings. Shivering provides warmth for the hive. Their main goal is to keep the queen warm so the colony can survive. The core temperature in a honey bee hive during winter can be as high as 91 degrees Fahrenheit. Amazing!
We have a great opportunity to “huddle” together at our annual MHBA Banquet and Fundraiser on Saturday, February 21, 2025, at Keller Golf Course in Maplewood. Registration is still open. Detailed information about the banquet and how to register may be found at the top of our website or HERE. Please consider bringing items for our live and silent auctions. If you have items, please reach out ahead of time to [email protected]. Don’t forget to bring your favorite honey for the honey tasting station. This will be a fun evening of socializing with beekeepers.
Here are some important things to know for this month:
February Member Meeting
Our first member meeting of the year is “Immunization Honey Bee Stings from a Medical Perspective” with speaker Dr. Michael Brown, who will help us understand the unique dynamics of bee stings. Why do some people become more allergic after more exposure to stings while others do not? Dr. Brown will shed some light on this fascinating topic. We may even get some tips and tricks on what to do in the advent of a sting! Please join us on Tuesday, February 10th at 7:00 PM, at the University of Minnesota St. Paul Campus in Room 335 in Borlaug Hall. Treats served! Directions to the meeting are found elsewhere in this newsletter. And as always, you can attend the meeting virtually if that aligns better with your needs. The link to join virtually can be found on the right-hand side within this newsletter.
Library Reminder
Lastly, don’t forget to return your library items that you might have borrowed in November.
Jess Marshall-Kurysh
MHBA President
Better Beekeeping Through Education
Next Meeting
Dr. Michael Brown
Immunization Honey Bee Stings from a Medical Perspective
Tuesday, February 10th
7:00 PM
Hybrid meeting:
In-Person: Borlaug Hall, Room 335
Via Zoom: Meeting Link
No Hive Demo
Click here for directions.
Upcoming Events
February 21
Annual Banquet
March 10
Dawn Beck
Fat Bodies and Bee Lifespan
April 14
James Lee
Sustainable Beekeeping Guild of Michigan
February Speaker: Dr. Michael Brown
Topic: "Honey Bee Stings from a Medical Perspective"
Speaker: Dr. Michael Brown
Dr. Michael Brown is a family physician who has contributed significantly to the understanding of honey bee stings, particularly from a medical perspective. He is involved in various educational efforts related to beekeeping and bee sting treatment. He appeared at the MSBA Fall Conference and Honey Show in 2025, where he covered topics on bee stings and treatments.
Dr. Brown's discussions often highlight the dangers of bee stings, particularly for individuals who may have undiagnosed allergies. Recent incidents, such as the tragic death of a man in anaphylactic shock after a bee sting, underscore the importance of public awareness about allergies and emergency preparedness.
He has been featured on the podcast "Two Bees in a Podcast" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYe1jmZv_Gk .
TROPI - WHAT? - NEW MITE ON THE HORIZON!!
WHAT??
You may have heard of it - Tropilaelaps, the new mite which scientists are researching. (The first thing to learn about this pest is how to pronounce it!
Although it looks like a mouthful, it’s not that difficult: Tro-pill-lay-laps.)
WHERE??
Tropilaelaps originated in Asia, with the giant honey bees as its host. Two species of the mite (there are 4) can infest Western honey bees. The mite has traveled westward from Asia and is now in parts of Russia: the route Varroa traveled. Here is a map from Auburn University, which is studying the mite:
THE MITE:
Tropilaelaps is different in some key ways from Varroa:
- It is much smaller - about 1/3 and lighter in color:
- It appears to lack the ability to feed off of adult bees, possibly because its mouthparts can’t cut through the bees’ exoskeleton. It may ride on a honeybee, however, giving it a way to spread from hive to hive.
- Since it seems not to have a phoretic (being transported by adult bees) phase, it is more often seen on the top of the comb. Its motion is rapid and has a start-stop quality to it. Being small, it may be difficult to see.
- Tropilaelaps can multiply more rapidly than the Varroa mite, making it potentially more dangerous.
- Because of the differences between the Varroa and Tropilaelaps, the methods used to test and also to treat Tropilaelaps are different. More on that later as scientists study this new threat.
Classifieds
Mann Lake 3 frame manual honey extractor.
612-269-6777
5 frame nucs, $170. Carniolan and Italian. Healthy, strong, varroa-treated bees! Pick up around mid-May in Prior Lake.
Call Viktor at 952-212-6853
Wanted: 10-20 frame power honey extractor. Please call Dan at (320)296-5622
RAW HONEY FOR SALE:
Running low on honey, we have buckets of raw single source available.
3# PACKAGES & 5 FRAME NUCS:
For more information call Fieldstone Apiaries
Www.FieldstoneApiaries.com
612-979-8213
or email [email protected]
Did you know your membership allows you to place classified ads in the MHBA Newsletter?
Seeking Outreach Education Coordinator
Hello Beeks!
We are in search of a volunteer to serve as our MHBA Outreach Education Coordinator.
I know that many of you love talking about bees and enjoy sharing your honey bee knowledge with others. MHBA’s Outreach Education provides an opportunity for individuals in our organization to do just that. As volunteers, we serve as the “public face” of the Minnesota Hobby Beekeepers Association, presenting and speaking at events such as schools, preschools, assisted living communities, libraries, festivals and community fairs.
The volunteer Outreach Education Coordinator receives requests from the public for presentations via a form submitted on our website. Next, the coordinator sends out an email with a brief description of the date/event/request, to our list of over 35 volunteers. Volunteers pick and choose from requests and reply with their interest (via email) to the coordinator.
The Outreach Coordinator also maintains & replenishes our wealth of educational supplies. We currently have two sets of supplies to serve different parts of the metro area. There are typically 15-20 requests for our services each year.
Please reach out to [email protected] with your interest.
If you would like to be added to our Outreach Education volunteer list, login to mnbeekeepers.com and visit https://mnbeekeepers.com/get-involved/ complete and submit the “Become a Community Outreach Educator” form.
A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words
Email a photo to [email protected] before noon on the day of the member's meeting so he can project it on the screen during “Ask the Expert.” We will all learn from you what you see in your hive.
Online Resources
Please visit our website!
https://mnbeekeepers.com/
We continue to make updates and changes to our website. Recently, we reorganized the Education page.
https://mnbeekeepers.com/ed/
Stay tuned for no-cost Community-based beekeeping classes & events in the new calendar:
https://mnbeekeepers.com/events/
If you are offering a class/event, you may submit the details to have it listed on our website:
https://mnbeekeepers.com/add-a-community-event/
Join Us On Facebook
Join our members only Facebook group:
https://mnbeekeepers.com/facebook-group/
This is a place for members to ask questions, share answers, share photos and videos, and socialize online.
MHBA Board Minutes
Please check the website for the latest, approved Board meeting minutes.
More Announcements
Membership Renewal
There are three ways to renew your membership today!
- Renew your membership online with a credit card (preferred).
- Mail the membership renewal form to our treasurer at the address provided
- Renew in person by bringing your completed form and check to the next meeting.
Our Renewal Form can be found at our Become a Member page:
https://www.mnbeekeepers.com/become_member
Newsletter Submissions
The MHBA newsletter welcomes articles, photos, recipes, etc. from members. Please send them to the editor:
[email protected]
If an article is a reprint from another source, permission must be gained if required. The due date for newsletter submission is the 25th of the month for the next month's newsletter.
MHBA Board
| Position | Member |
|---|---|
| President | Jessica Marshall-Kurysh |
| Vice President | Bill Thompson |
| Secretary | Michelle Maas |
| Treasurer | Bob Hinschberger |
| Directors | |
| Ryan Alaniz | |
| Peg DeSanto | |
| Willie Gabberd | |
| Quintin Holmberg | |
| Charlie Kundinger | |
| Katie Lee, PhD. (appointed) | |
| Mike Paskeuric | |
| Liz Pepin | |
| Anne Pierce | |
| Gary Reuter | |
| Karen Voy | |
| Past President | Kate Winsor |
| Membership | Steve Buck |
| Newsletter | Willie Gabbard (Advertising) |
| Quintin Holmberg (Editor) | |
| Technology | Quintin Holmberg |
| Gary Reuter | |
| Librarian | Gail Dramen |
| Outreach | Susan Bornstein |
| Ask Buzz | JoAnne Sabin |
| Swarm Chasers | Bob Sitko |
| Hospitality | Mark & Cathy Lee |
| Banquet | Jessica Marshall-Kurysh |
| Youth Scholarship | Christine Shoemaker |
Get Involved
Make this the year to get more involved in your club! To become a Community Outreach volunteer or a Swarm Chaser please complete and submit the appropriate form by visiting:
https://mnbeekeepers.com/get-involved/
NOTE: The contents of this Newsletter are the sole property of the Minnesota Hobby Beekeepers Association (MHBA). NO REPUBLICATION OR USE in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, by any other person or entity without the prior express written permission from MHBA’s Board of Directors is permitted. MHBA may be contacted at [email protected]