Newsletter : June 2003
Newsletter : June 2003
1. Editorial
We are now into that time of year when all my good intentions about successful hive management begin to fray round the edges. Just as the grass grows too quickly for the mower or the rhubarb and elderflowers go over before they can be collected, so my timetable for hive inspections slips because of a crowded diary or because the weather is not suitable when I am free. At the same time the bees' demands for new comb outstrips my rate of supply and it becomes a race to beat the swarms. 2. SHREWSBURY FLOWER SHOW
From the Honey & Wine Stewarding Secretary 3. Committee News.
The Committee met last on the 20th May. There was a discussion about the Association's relationship with the National Trust at Attingham Park. We have an interest in the Bee House there, since the SBKA restored it some years ago and we are keen to promote the SBKA by associating with the Trust in appropriate activities such as the Dudmaston Activity Day (see below). We might also be able to further our educational aims by, for example, maintaining a display about beekeeping in their education centre. Further investigation will take place on this. 4. New Menbers
We are pleased to welcome the following new members into the Association: 5. For Beginners and Others By Gordon Hartshorn.
(i)ANOTHER OLD TIME MYTH DESTROYED 6. "Daddy, the house is on fire...!" by Selby Martin
This was the cry with which we were woken at around 2.00 am one night by our young son. It certainly looked ominous, for the house was full of acrid smoke. On entering the kitchen, the source of the smoke became apparent - three jars of honey in a saucepan that had boiled dry and caused the jars to burst. It is worth remembering that if you put on jars of honey to melt in warm water, don't forget them! 7. A Useful Tray
Last season I came across a very useful bit of kit in a garden centre. It is a square gravel tray. It measures 600mx600mmx70mm. So a hive sits perfectly into it with a bit to spare. I use it when putting wet supers in the shed, taking hives and supers to the apiary, harvesting etc. It just means that not a drop of honey ends up on the floor or in the car. I have even used one for a make shift roof. I have now used mine for a season and can say that I have found it a "must have". 8. Beekeeper's Tool Kit : John Welch
It really was the last straw. Glyn Jones and I had been checking hives at Crickheath and the bees, having found a crop of mustard, had stowed large quantities of unripe honey in every nook and cranny. This splashed over everything: cloths, suits, gloves, equipment, tools. Faced with the task of cleaning up the sticky mess, I decided that the old cardboard box that had been with me for several seasons just wasn't good enough. It was bad enough fumbling for a hive tool or Porter escape amongst the miscellaneous objects in the box, trying to avoid stabbing oneself on the uncapping fork. With everything sticky as well it was just too much.
The April newsletter set out the pros and cons of different kinds of gloves for beekeeping. I have found the Marigold rubber gloves too hot and sweaty in summer, and as Steve Watkins points out, bees have a nasty habit of getting round the cuffs. For those reasons I prefer leather gauntlets. Even these are not wholly stingproof - one can get mild stings through the leather and there is a short stretch of cotton material over the wrist which is even more vulnerable.
The thin sports cotton liners are too bulky for leather gloves. Much better for the job are the tighter fitting cotton gloves sold by chemists for sufferers from skin complaints. They are stocked by John Adams Chemists in Market Street, Shrewsbury and no doubt elsewhere; they are a good investment. 10. Forthcoming Meetings
On June 20th/21st we will again be exhibiting at the West Mids Show in the Education Tent. Do call by if you are around. 11. Postscript
I was called by a woman who I first thought was winding me up. She had found a Bumble Bee in her garden and she had tried very hard to revive it by taking it in the house. She asked if I was a Bee Farmer and would I like to come and collect the bee for my farm. She was serious and was told very politely that it was really a goner and there was not a lot that could be done for this poor bee. It really is unbelievable how little people know about bees and how wrong what they think they know actually is.
So far I have had two swarms emerge, both from very productive colonies. Fortunately I was on hand on both occasions. The first one came out and settled on a nearby tree. I watched it for a while and then went to collect my equipment ready to catch it. When I got back it was on the move again. However, after flying around for a while it eventually returned to its original hive and went back in! When I looked through the brood chamber later I found two sealed queen cells - and the marked queen still present. I took advantage of this unexpected event to set up an artificial swarm before they could go off again.
A second swarm came out of another hive at the beginning of this week. At the last inspection there was no sign of queen cells and I thought they were alright for space then, but I had not been able to get back to them for about eleven days so they beat me to it. This time I did collect this prime swarm and, having moved the hive they came out of to one side, ran them back into a new brood chamber topped by the original supers - having taken the precaution of a newspaper barrier to reduce the likelihood of conflict between the returnees and the stay-at homes who were looking after the stores. So far all seems to be well.
I note from The North Shropshire Beekeepers' Newsletter that Mike Bain is leaving the county to live in Scotland. Many of us have enjoyed his knowledgeable presentations on hive products and other topics. Since he is Treasurer, Newsletter Editor and Webmaster for his Association's Website he will be very much missed.
Yes it is that time again! The "pleading letters" have started! First a little update: the Honey & Wine Committee have decided in their wisdom to enter all the names of the persons who have stewarded on each day into a Draw and the winner will receive a £25 prize. This will take place on both days, so that not only do you gain free entry into the finest County Show, you might also have a little extra cash in your pocket! The Honey Sales Stand will again be selling YOUR honey at a premium price. Why shouldn't you sell ten or fifteen jars this year? More details about the price & other matters concerning the Stand will be given in the next Newsletter.
Please remember, this Show is the Association's Flagship! A lot of eyes are watching us! You need to be there and we want you there. Please contact me if you can help.
Thank you.
Keith Newman : keith@pentre400.fsnet.co.uk
Brian Goodwin reported that the Website is nearing completion. Details will be about its launch as soon as they are known.
Brian's class for new beekeepers has been very well supported this term. If any member has surplus equipment s/he would be prepared to offer to them please let the Secretary know. Surplus bees would also be welcome - contact Brian for further information.
Keith Newman reminded us of the importance of members offering themselves as stewards and exhibitors at the prestige event of the year: the Shrewsbury Flower Show in August. See his notice above and respond if you can. Further information about the show will be in the next Newsletter.
Mrs. S. Ellison, Minsterley
Mr. S. A. Jones, Kinnersley.Committee Mrs. A. Leeke, Bishops Castle
Mr. & Mrs. R. Tummons, Albrighton. Mr. A. Williams, Bratton.
Mrs. R. L. A. Venezia, Horsehay. Miss K. Smallman, Longden.
Mrs. K. Ibberson, Hampton Loade. Mrs. B. Mowlem, Tibberton.
Mr. C. N. E. Williams, Telford. Mrs. A.E. K. Heath, Grinshill.
We are all aware of multiple mating of queens by drones. What often comes up in beekeeping conversations is how the sperm is stored in the queen's abdomen. Beekeepers will observe that a colony of bees will change its characteristics i.e. the colours of the workers changes from light to dark or vice-versa. Sometimes the colour of the bees is mixed. Of course this could happen if the colony has swarmed or superseded, and if the queen is not marked perhaps the beekeeper is not aware of this change
One of the arguments put forward over the years regarding this change has been the 'layer' theory. This supposes that when the queen mates, the sperm of the drones lies in layers in the queen's spermatheca, and this gives rise to colony change of character. The drones' sperm is used up in "job lots". This has been a popular belief among a lot of beekeepers. The other argument is that all of the drones' sperm is mixed up and that is why the colony has mixed colours among its workers, particularly if drones of different colours have mated with the queen.
However, a German research scientist called Michael Haberl of Munich University has published a paper that now disproves the 'layer' theory. He recorded the egg-laying of a queen bee. Each cell was given a reference number. Every fertilised egg laid by the queen was recorded. The queen was removed and the eggs were allowed to hatch to larvae. Next, the larvae were removed and a reference to their cells recorded. Each larva was then tested for DNA. The results proved that the eggs had been fertilised by many different drones and had been layed in a random sequence.
The operation was repeated the following year. Again it was found that the queen was using sperm in a random fashion. The number of drones that had fertilised the queen was 9. He also found that while some drones were more fertile than others, the proportion of sperm for each drone was approximately the same for each year, again proving that the layering theory is not correct. He also found the average number of drones mating with the queens was 11 for Apis Mellifera Mellifera and 20 for Apis Liguistica.
I am amazed that someone can take up this sort of research, which must have been so tedious, so we can glean a little more knowledge about our bees. Impress your fellow beekeepers by using the term P0LYANDRY, which means a female mating with more than one male!
(ii) FURTHER NOTES ON OPEN MESH FLOORS.
I came across a paper by J.S.PETTIS and H.SHIMANUKI of theUSDA-ARS Bee Research Lab in the USA. A scientific test had been carried out on modified hive floors. The floors were OMFs and here are some of the findings:-
(iii) FOOTNOTE TO LAST MONTH'S ARTICLE ON UNITING COLONIES: Uniting By Exposure To Light
Brother Adam was of the opinion that the most important factor in uniting bees was the behaviour of the bees themselves. He stated that exposure to light for a few minutes had a calming effect on the bees, which would allow peaceable uniting of different colonies. The frames of bees should be exposed to light for a few minutes and they could then be united. He said that special care was needed when uniting bees of a nervous disposition or with mongrels.
I have not tried this method but it appears to be a bit "ify" to me. There is also is the problem of robbing with frames of bees left about. Has anyone tried this method, and if so was it successful?
Less dramatic but equally important is the care needed in filling the jars in the first place. Too often when opening a jar I have found the lid covered in horrid black gunge. This is caused by honey that has spilt over the edge in the bottling process and later reacted with the metal of the lid.
I don't normally sell honey but the prospect of doing so at last year's Flower Show led me to take more care than usual. I discovered that it is possible to fill a jar cleanly without loss of time. The problem is the thin thread of honey that hangs from the tap of the settling tank after it has been shut. Depending on the viscosity of the honey, it will be a moment or two before this retreats back up towards the tap. Don't remove the jar until this happens, or enough honey will fall onto the thread of the jar to cause the blackening referred to above.
After a further moment or two, it will start to drip again. To time one's bottling to achieve the best result, one should have the next empty jar ready to hand. As soon as the thread of honey retreats, quickly take away the full jar and put the empty one in its place. If you are too slow at this, honey from the next drip will land on the bottling surface and you will get honey on the bottom of the jar as well as inside it. Between whiles, of course, the lids have to be screwed on. Personally, I prefer to suspend bottling after every twenty jars or so in order to do this. It is surprising how quickly a jar overflows when you are not looking at it and the result is very messy indeed.
The retail price of these trays is £4.99 each and they are available atWyevale or Percy Throwers or Dobbies etc. I have also been in touch with a local manufacturer and in quantity we could get them at £3.44 each for 20 or more and £3.25 each for 50 or more. If there are enough members who want one I can pick some up from Kingswinford the next time I am there. Personally I think they are really good value. Contact me if interested.
Steve Watkins
I spent a week or so surveying the market for a suitable washable toolbox. I had little idea of what the specification might be: I just looked for the biggest. Then, when I had almost made up my mind to buy a particular model, I dropped into Homebase and there it was - the toolbox!
It is actually two boxes. The top one has several compartment divisions in the lid, with a transparent cover. In this I store small items - queen cage, marking cage and paint, drawing and push pins, matches, pencil and pad, plastic ends, magnifying lens, etc. Under the lid is a removable tray containing hive tools, bee brush, water spray and, of course, Waspeaze. In the box are smoker fuel (in an ice cream carton), baccy, newspaper, plastic sheets (always useful for putting supers down on or as emergency examination cloths or even temporary roofs), spare gloves and so on, with a couple of inspection cloths. I have added a cupboard handle on the side for the smoker to hang on. This box also has a component tray that rotates out from the base. The tray is empty at the moment, but would be ideal for a picnic lunch.
Now the bottom box. One of my perennial difficulties is that of carrying around spare frames. A day or two in the boot with equipment, wellies, bee gear and shopping and your new foundation is usually looking very battered. 'Serendipity' is my favourite word at the moment as the lower box length could have been designed for holding frames: they fit snugly so they don't rattle about (long lugs) and it holds 5 B.S. shallows or deeps plus an extra shallow frame. On top of the frames sits a spirit level (from the £1 shop in Oswestry), which happens to be exactly a National width: 18". You can use it to level and space the bricks as you prepare your site! Lastly another tool tray with hive straps, liquid smoke, sharp knife, pad saw and secateurs (swarm recovery), pliers, length of clothes line, blow lamp, etc. The two boxes clip together, with two wheels on the bottom and a foldaway handle on the top box so, with a free hand for your washing soda and waste wax containers, you are ready for the fray!
Then, your examination completed, your bees settling down to their interrupted routines, you can rest your weary frame on your new tool kit and reflect on the marvels of nature. (P.S. These Stanley toolboxes are (at time of writing) half price - £14.99 - a real bargain!)
Selby Martin
Our next Out Apiary meeting is on July 5th (at 2.30 p.m.) at Mrs Hodgson's Lavender Farm at Astley Abbotts near Bridgnorth. We will also be helping with the National Trust's Activity Day at Dudmaston Hall on 13th July. Contact Brian Goodwin for further information.
Oswestry BKA has a meeting on 21st June at the secretary's apiary. Contact him for further details (01691 654448). They will also meet on 12th July by invitation of Mr. & Mrs. Welch, Kenilworth, School Lane, Gobowen. C. Wynne Jones will be demonstrating aspects of colony management. Both these meetings start at 3.00 p.m.
Steve Watkins, (Swarm Removal Co-ordinator).
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