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I note that in post #1 it was very difficult to follow the flight line of the hornet. I wonder if it would be possible to find another feeding station about half a mile away. By drawing circles of different diameters (on a map) would it be possible to get an idea where the nest is by the...

Thank you Redwood. I will read up about Silicon Dioxide. From what I understand about the local bloomery site, the ore was broken down into small bits. The small bits allowed the heat of the next stage, roasting, to penetrate the bits. The roasting changed the ore into iron oxide .... red bits...

Thanks for the responses. The Greater Manchester Archaeological Unit was closed down several years ago. The wikipedia entry is interesting but not totally accurate about the stages in the process. I will explain the method later.

Looked at a nuc at home. The wasps were queuing to get in. No sign of guards. A look inside showed a mix of wasps and bees. Tried reducing entrance to very small but all the traffic was wasps. Closed the entrance with some perforated zinc and fastened a sticky whitefly strip near the entrance. A...

As well as beekeeping, I am a member of a local amateur archaeological group. One of our ongoing projects is working on a medieval iron bloomery. We have come across an extensive whitish/grey clayey layer. Does anyone know what this might be ? The local ironores are haematite and siderite. I...

I have problems with vandals at my out apiary. I use lengths of polypropylene washing line through the hive stand and tied under the roof. The hive stays mainly together if pushed over.

I "candle" my jarred honey by holding it up to a daylight window and looking through the jar. Black bits are removed using a straw. Placing my thumb over one end of the straw I gently insert the other end into the honey. When the honey end is just above the bit, I raise my thumb and the bit plus...

P-O-H Thanks for the response. What bait do you use in your traps at this time of year ? Do you preserve the dead Qs ? UK BKAs are being encourage to set up Asian Hornet Action Teams. It might be handy for the teams to have actual dead specimens. Although I'm in a surveillance area, I've never...

A swarm going into a bait hive is a plus. It saves them going into a wall cavity or eaves.

Update I am within 500m of the sighting. SBIs set up a trap and are checking it weekly. No reports of other sightings in any of the local traps.

Has anyone experience of using the Vespacatch trap ? I have been seeing Wasp Queens for the last 3 weeks. These Qs show no interest in the trap. I don't want to trap these Qs but isn't the trap supposed to contain an attractant ?

The SBOs are using the traps as sold by Thornes. The makers say that the yellow colour of the solution is attractive to hornets. Is there any point in me sticking hazard tape to my DIY traps built to the "Plenty of Honey" design ?

I use a solar wax melter. Works OK when sun shines. No longer put frames in it. The joints shrink and become wobbly. I am deterred from steam by cost and low wax re-cycling price.

I am confused. On the BBKA website under Latest News there is a statement about Asian Hornet and Wasp traps Is this the 'official' BBKA policy ? No traps ?

Lancashire Keep here. Please could we have a link to the video about making a hornet trap as posted when Tetbury happened ? Also bait to go in it ?

I transfer an occupied bait hive to the permanent hive position within a couple of days of the swarm arriving. After a few days of settling to the new position, the frames of bees are transferred into their permanent hive. I don't shake the bees in. Leaving a swarm in a bait hive for a long time...

When fixing the castellation, I use a couple of push-pins to get it level and the correct height before nailing. You can get the top of the topbar level with the top of the super by using your thumb to match up the top of the castellatio with the top of the super.

I am a swarm collector. I went to the new BBKA site. I wanted to check that my details were correct. I put my postcode in, as though I had a swarm. No result for me or swarm collectors in my area.

I set my mouseguards so there is a bee-space below the bottom edge. Bees can get out (housekeeping) and in (pollen gathering). Ventilation is still there. Never had a mouse in a hive. They are present in the apiary. Odd body found.

Is there really a "front line" ? I'm in a river valley with nearby distribution warehouses...... remember the Scottish sighting. Should we get an NBU warning ?