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Shropshire Beekeepers' Association

 

 

Newsletter : September 2010

 

1.      Editor's Notes

Happy New Year! This may be an unseasonal greeting for many but not for bees or beekeepers. By now the supers containing the honey surplus should have been removed from the hives and steps begun to prepare the bees for a successful 2011. These will include feeding of a thick sugar syrup (2lb/pint of water) to stimulate the queen into laying the winter bees that will take the colony through into next Spring and, of course, initiating treatment for varroa, which can only be done once the honey harvest has been removed.

A vexed problem for me and, I know, many other beekeepers, is how to fit in these two activities that rather get in the way of each other. A practical solution is proposed by John Randall, in the current Leicester & Rutland Newsletter, who writes:

‘Once I have taken off my summer honey in late July/early August, I usually feed my colonies about ½ a gallon of thick sugar syrup. This stimulates the queen to continue laying and also wears out the oldest bees so promoting a colony with as many young bees as possible ready for the winter. After the feed and not at the same time, in August, I do my Apiguard treatment. (You should not feed whilst treating with Apiguard). Early September I then do my winter feeding with thick syrup to ensure all colonies have enough winter stores.’ I have not seen as many wasps as I had expected recently, given the number that were around last month. I suppose we have to thank the rather cooler, wetter and windier August weather for that. Nevertheless the bees will thank you for making it easier to defend their colony by closing down the entrance to no more than an inch or so wide. This reduces the likelihood of a mass wasp attack and makes it easier for the bees to cope with individual intruders (including ‘robber bees’ from other colonies). If you are troubled with wasps you may want to construct a trap for them. Mine consists of a plastic bottle (ex-lemonade/cola/water) with the top cut off about ¾ of the way up, inverted into the body so as to create a ‘funnel’ and held in place with waterproof tape. 3 or 4 inches of a sugary liquid are put into the trap. Wasps find their way in through the funnel but most cannot then get out. Bees, sensible creatures, do not seem to be attracted to this trap.

Another major activity at this time of the year is that the workers will begin to expel the drones from the hive. If you have not witnessed this before you may be rather alarmed to find piles of dead or dying bees on the ground in front of the hive. Of course it is worth confirming that they are drones, so as to exclude the possibility of some other hazard affecting your colony, but otherwise be assured that this is a natural process.

 

2.      Indoor Meetings

There was an extra indoor meeting early in August, at which Jo Schup reprised her talk on autumn varroa treatments. It was well attended (almost 60 members) and the range of questions asked and answered demonstrated how helpful and timely it was. Thanks to Robert Swallow for setting this up.

Our September meeting is on the 8th of the month and will be at the Shirehall in Shrewsbury, commencing at 7.30 p.m. The speaker is Wally Shaw, technical officer of the Welsh BKA, who will be describing “Four Uses of the Snelgrove Board”. If this piece of equipment is a mystery to you then come along to the meeting and all will be revealed!

The October meeting (13th) is our AGM and, given the influx of new members in the last two years, we are hoping for a ‘capacity crowd’. The main business of the evening will be the presentation of reports and the election of officers and committee members. Please use the nomination paper to put forward your own name or that of anyone else you know would be willing to help run the Association’s affairs (check with them first). Committee meetings are held about every 6 weeks so the commitment is not onerous. (All current committee members are reminded that they also need to confirm their willingness to stand by nominating themselves again). Further details of this meeting will appear in the next Newsletter

 

3.      Marking worker bees?

One of my colonies, over a period of two to three weeks changed character dramatically. I was used to strolling amongst the hives without any armour just to see what they were taking in and to have a chat with them. I didn't bother them and they didn't bother me; a lovely amicable existence. Gradually they became a little more aggressive until they were going for anyone who got within 25m of the apiary. There would be 20 to 50 of them all round my head screaming at my veil and stinging my gloves.

It was impossible to source them as these nasties followed you down the row of hives such that every colony appeared to be the same. Although I had a rough idea which hive it was I was wary of taking the ultimate step in case I got it wrong. I mark my queens so why not mark the workers?

That evening I got an aerosol of fluorescent red paint from the workshop and after giving it good shake donned my armour again and waded into the fray. I waited until I had got a large crowd of bees going round and round and really going for me then stepped briskly back and sprayed a cloud of red paint into the air. Next morning I opened the suspect hive and lo and behold, there was my evidence. The queen was promptly dispatched to the hive in the sky and a nucleus placed alongside for uniting the next day.

A great relief and hopefully it will be a happy ending.
Deryck Johnson (Essex BKA Courtesy eBEES]

 

4.      Confessions of a new beekeeper (Part 1) by Stephen Woolley

My future beekeeping venture started unbeknown to me some years ago when I took early retirement from my job in the Midlands. I say my beekeeping venture, my current wife Margaret decided that she wanted to keep bees and it really is her project, but you know when wives say I am going to do something, husbands instinctively know it usually means we. When the venture eventually started to gather pace I was, not reluctantly I have to say, dragged along as well. But all that was in the future.

At this time we were heavily involved with horses and as I was retiring we decided, like most horse owners, that it would be nice to have a place of our own where we could keep the horses at home. We eventually found somewhere with a few acres in Central Wales. After a short time we found that the horses were ripping the ground apart and sadly they had to go. We turned the place over to a small flock of rare breed sheep, leaving us with a patch of land which we eventually turned into a kitchen garden. (Bear with me here, the bees will be along eventually).

With the garden planted up we suddenly realized that there didn't seem to be many insects about to pollinate the plants. In reality there were plenty about we just didn't see them, we noticed one or two bumble bees but that was about all. Then the light bulb suddenly flashed on, what about a beehive? We found that the Shropshire Bee Keepers Association did a theory course and a practical course on bee keeping which would be ideal for us. As we have a bit of a habit of doing things a bit back to front we had missed the theory course but booked on the practical course at the apiary (see, getting technical now) at Radbrook college.

We turned up at the college car park feeling a bit like the new kids on the first day at school, then with borrowed suits and veils we found our selves in the hands of the instructors. I had been stung by a bee when I was a child and I think when something like that happens when you're very young it seems to leave an exaggerated impression. I can't say I was terrified but I was certainly very, very cautious when we approached the hives.

When the instructor opened the hive I was astonished to see the make up of the interior and the activity of the bees, this was a first for me, and I found it fascinating. I was so intent on looking into the hive that I didn't immediately notice the bee that had landed on my veil and, as it crawled in front of my eyes I could feel the draught of its wings about a couple of inches from my face. I cannot describe the degree of will power that prevented me from flapping round like a privy door in a hurricane; I just brushed the bee off and stood still. I suppose the main motivation that kept me from hurtling around the field with arms and legs flailing in all directions was the overwhelming desire to stop myself looking total pratt in front of all the other new kids and giving the instructors the opportunity for that wry smile and the knowing nod.

Anyway, the matter was settled and eventually we started to acquire a hive and some bits and pieces of equipment, it almost came to taking out a second mortgage but suppose our grand children may see a profit one day. We contacted Brian and asked to be put on the waiting list for a colony and within a very short time he came back to us with the details of someone who had one to sell. He couldn't have been more helpful. He advised us to bring our suits and veils and to wear them in the car when we pick the bees up, so that in the event that some bees should escape we would be protected. He also put the bees in the car for us in such a way that as we drove around bends and traffic islands the frames wouldn't sway around in the box and damage the bees. We kept our suits and veils on and hoped we wouldn't get stuck in traffic, other motorists would think we were guests at some bizarre wedding ceremony where the guests as well as the bride wore a very large hat and a veil.

We had had the colony for about a fortnight, and curbing our enthusiasm had only opened it up about twice in that time. The thing that caused us concern was that we couldn't find the queen or see any eggs. No matter how hard we tried no queen, no eggs only grubs and sealed brood that we thought had been there when we acquired the colony. Yes I know now, we found grubs, more on that later. Margaret contacted the seller, I won't name him, he is such an excellent fellow I don't want to cause him any embarrassment, and said that she didn't think the queen survived the journey. He immediately offered us a second colony in replacement without charge to see how things went. This was just over three weeks from the date we purchased the first colony. We couldn't find any eggs only grubs. Now, those of you who know your Apis mellifera from your elbow would immediately say "'ang on, grubs after three weeks, the period from eggs to mature bees is only twenty one days, there must be a queen in there laying eggs." But we in our frenzied minds didn't think of this did we? The seller explained this but still handed over the second colony just in case.

[To be continued………………………………………….]

 

5.     Wood Preservers for Beehives

In our May Newsletter there was an article, originally published by Cheshire BKA, giving guidance as to which Cuprinol products may be used on beehives. However, it has become apparent that Cuprinol have reservations regarding the new formulations used in some of their products. The current Somerton BKA Newsletter provides an important update [Courtesy eBEES]:

The British Beekeeping Association state in their handbook ‘Advice for Beekeepers’ that tests have been conducted at the National Bee Unit. Following these tests, Cuprinol Garden Wood Preserver (DP) Red Cedar, Cuprinol Trade Wood Preserver (T) Red Cedar and Cuprinol Trade Low Odour Wood Preserver Clear (T) are safe for use with beehives. This advice is dated July 2009 and things have moved on since then.

A few days ago, I chanced upon Cuprinol’s website and read the following message. ‘Due to EU legislation Cuprinol has had to change the active ingredients which are used in its wood preservers. New formulations have not been tested for use on beehives and as a result Cuprinol cannot recommend any of its wood preservers on beehives’.

Somewhat perturbed by this I phoned Cuprinol’s Technical Department and was told that there are indeed new formulations, which cannot be guaranteed for use on beehives. These have the suffix (BP). There is no absolute condemnation of these products. They have not been tested for use on beehives and Cuprinol, quite rightly, will not endorse any products until such time as they have been proven to be safe. The products mentioned in the BBKA handbook, which are old stock, but may still be obtainable, are safe for use with beehives.

If you wish to check or verify this information, please contact Cuprinol Technical Department on 08704 44111 or visit the website.

 

6.     Home Made Thymol Varroa Treatment   

(I came across this article on this internet blog: Ed.)

Ingredients (sufficient for about 12 colonies)

Instructions
Melt the PURA in a saucepan and allow it to cool until warm to the touch. Put the caster sugar into a plastic container and thoroughly mix in the thymol crystals until all lumps are broken down. Add the sugar/thymol mixture to the melted Pura and mix thoroughly until the mixture is the consistency of a paste. If well sealed the mixture may be stored in the bottom of a refrigerator for up to 12 months.

Usage
On a piece of grease-proof paper about 10cm x 15cm spread the mixture so that it is about 5mm thick and place on top of the brood frames. The crownboard should allow a bee space above the paste. All ventilation should be closed except a 10cm wide entrance. Refresh the mixture every two weeks until the drop falls below 2-3 mites per week.
The ambient temperature needs to be above about 15c In the event of low temperatures (i.e. less than 10c to 15c) increase the area by spreading the mixture more thinly. This stuff is very temperature dependent, too low and it is slow in working - too high and it could interfere with the workings of the hive.
Note: Do not apply the thymol treatment when supers are still on. It is also advisable to remove excess winter stores in the spring before the bees transfer it into the supers.

 

7.      An Early Open Mesh Floor [From Taunton BKA Beelines Aug 2010, courtesy eBEES ]



Drawing of a WBC floor showing a piece of sliding perforated zinc which when positioned would keep out wasp etc. and provide ventilation. (From the October 1919 edition of Bee World.)

There is rarely anything new in beekeeping and this didn’t catch on.

 

8.      Notices

Oswestry BKA
AGM & Dinner will be on Saturday October 30th at the White Lion, Whittington - 7 for 7.30 pm - £20.00 per head. Flyer with all menu details enclosed for Oswestry members. Subs for 2011 can also be paid at this meeting. Please make cheques payable to Oswestry BKA. Reply slips to the secretary, Glyn Jones, 12 Hampton Fields, Oswestry, SY11 1TJ by Friday 22nd. October. (There is a limit of 40 persons so book early to avoid disappointment). Remember, the Association needs your support to survive.

 

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