News Item: : Saturday 1st May 2010 Apiary Meeting
(Category: Apiary Report)
Posted by Sally
Monday 03 May 2010 - 23:35:11
Another cold afternoon for our meeting when over 20 keen beekeepers listened to Ian Homer - formerly the Regional Bee Inspector, now an Extension & Learning Officer - who kindly gave us a very interesting talk on ‘Bee Health’.
Firstly he brought the updated Fera (The Food & Environment Research Agency) versions of the booklets on ‘Managing Varroa and Foul Brood’.
Further copies can be obtained by contacting The National Bee Unit, tel 01904-462510 or visit the website at www.nationalbeeunit.com.
He gave us some very useful information on how to recognise disease.
A FEW FACTS1. Ian said that sadly Beekeepers are not very good identifying disease - the Bee Inspector picks up over 90% of bee diseases that are discovered 2. The Beekeeper must be able to recognise what is normal brood3. Varroa management should be incorporated at every inspection of a colony
The Hives then were opened up and diseases were looked for ...
HIVE 7 - 14x12No other disease found – except for varroa mites of which there were very few. On inspection – it was noticed that in the supers with castellations, brace comb was being built up between the supers & frames (with undrawn foundation) - which can cause a problem. Only fully drawn frames should be put into castellated supers.
Lot of bees in colony – no queen found - no sign of eggs – young larvae present - a couple of queen cells found - decision was made at the time to look at this colony again in 48hrs and then take appropriate action
(NB: This colony was examined again on Monday 03/05/2010, the queen was found (and marked) and an artificial swarm made).
HIVE 4 – NationalNo other disease found – except for a high varroa mite count on tray - this will have to be dealt with very soon.
On inspection Queen marked Green seen laying well
Drone culling done – very few mites were seen in cells
(NB This colony was examined again on Monday 03/05/2010 and an artificial swarm made)
HIVE 2 – NationalNo disease found – no mites found.
This colony was shook swarmed 2 weeks ago – all the new frames drawn out well – queen laying well – good-tempered bees
HIVE 6 - 14X12No other disease found – except for very few varroa mites.
Ian took at least 30 bees home to check for Nosema and Acarine – nothing was found.
This colony not doing very well – the bees were moving around slowly on the combs – only 2 brood frames had any signs of eggs and larvae – the queen a very poor layer – thoughts are that as it was a queen who was born late last year and that she was not properly mated,
Date of next monthly meeting Saturday 5th June 2010 at 1430hrs
This news item is from West Dorset Beekeepers
( http://westdorsetbees.org.uk/news.php?extend.29 )
(Category: Apiary Report)
Posted by Sally
Monday 03 May 2010 - 23:35:11
Another cold afternoon for our meeting when over 20 keen beekeepers listened to Ian Homer - formerly the Regional Bee Inspector, now an Extension & Learning Officer - who kindly gave us a very interesting talk on ‘Bee Health’.
Firstly he brought the updated Fera (The Food & Environment Research Agency) versions of the booklets on ‘Managing Varroa and Foul Brood’.
Further copies can be obtained by contacting The National Bee Unit, tel 01904-462510 or visit the website at www.nationalbeeunit.com.
He gave us some very useful information on how to recognise disease.
A FEW FACTS1. Ian said that sadly Beekeepers are not very good identifying disease - the Bee Inspector picks up over 90% of bee diseases that are discovered 2. The Beekeeper must be able to recognise what is normal brood3. Varroa management should be incorporated at every inspection of a colony
4. Every effort should be made to avoid crushing bees for bee health as any disease is likely to be carried in the stomach of the bee – therefore crushed bees spread disease
5. Ian recommended that Hive tools and other utensils that are used be put into a solution of 1 kilo washing soda to a gallon of water which makes a ph12 – an effective disinfectantThe Hives then were opened up and diseases were looked for ...
HIVE 7 - 14x12No other disease found – except for varroa mites of which there were very few. On inspection – it was noticed that in the supers with castellations, brace comb was being built up between the supers & frames (with undrawn foundation) - which can cause a problem. Only fully drawn frames should be put into castellated supers.
Lot of bees in colony – no queen found - no sign of eggs – young larvae present - a couple of queen cells found - decision was made at the time to look at this colony again in 48hrs and then take appropriate action
(NB: This colony was examined again on Monday 03/05/2010, the queen was found (and marked) and an artificial swarm made).
HIVE 4 – NationalNo other disease found – except for a high varroa mite count on tray - this will have to be dealt with very soon.
On inspection Queen marked Green seen laying well
Drone culling done – very few mites were seen in cells
(NB This colony was examined again on Monday 03/05/2010 and an artificial swarm made)
HIVE 2 – NationalNo disease found – no mites found.
This colony was shook swarmed 2 weeks ago – all the new frames drawn out well – queen laying well – good-tempered bees
HIVE 6 - 14X12No other disease found – except for very few varroa mites.
Ian took at least 30 bees home to check for Nosema and Acarine – nothing was found.
This colony not doing very well – the bees were moving around slowly on the combs – only 2 brood frames had any signs of eggs and larvae – the queen a very poor layer – thoughts are that as it was a queen who was born late last year and that she was not properly mated,
Date of next monthly meeting Saturday 5th June 2010 at 1430hrs
This news item is from West Dorset Beekeepers
( http://westdorsetbees.org.uk/news.php?extend.29 )