What a wonderful and beautiful day to go out for breakfast. Seated L. to R. are Senia, Wayne, Johnny, Tommy, Diane, George, Wayne and Lisa. For us beekeepers, the conversation always starts off about the weather. And then how our bees are doing. The spring excitment is showing. We talked about the upcoming NCSBA Meeting in New Bern, N.C. Feb. 5th.,6th, and 7th. at The Riverfront Convention Center. There will be 500+ vendors thers. The impending advancement of the "Yellow Legged Hornet" kept us busy for awhile as with the tropilaelaps mite that is concerning. It amazes me that the mixture we use in the "Yellow Legged Hornet" traps consists of dark brown sugar and grape juice, in equal amounts. This solution was invented by the S. C. State Bee Inspection Coordinator Mr. Brad Cavin. His work, over the years with the Georgia Dept. of Agriculture led him to, out of many different baits he tried, only one seemed to attract the Yellow Legged Hornet. The dark brown sugar/grape juice mixture seems to only attract the YLH, and a few insect pests. He went on to say that no beneficial insects were detected in the YLH traps. Be on the lookout for a "Bee Blast" to our next "Bee Breakfasts" and "Bees and Brews". For more info on the "YLH", visit www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-pests-diseases/yellow-legged-hornet