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We started doing it because it's a bit like keeping pigs - you'd only name the mother because you're going to keep her and become attached to her, the piglets are just given numbers (if that) for obvious reasons! In the same way, we've named only the queens we're keeping (with initials A,B,C,D...

Final Update: Two inspectors have just visited. They confirmed that this inspection is related to the local foulbrood outbreak, obviously. They were both very friendly and professional, of course. Beatrix had the all-clear, then I had a really scary moment halfway through Charlie's colony...

I expect this inspection is a result of the local foulbrood outbreak, so delaying until spring isn't an option and, having seen all those nasty blobs on Beebase around here, it's a real relief to have an actual expert come here so quickly! Thanks for the advice about providing somewhere to...

Really? I don't think the poor lady will ever get away from here! I think I'd better start writing a list...

I forgot to add, will she want to see my hive records as well?

A bee inspector has booked an appointment to come over and inspect my colonies this week. I've been keeping bees since 2008 and this will be my first official inspection and I have a few questions about the process: 1. Does the inspector do every part of the handling themselves, while I look...

I'm not convinced about the cost per quid being much different - that fiver's worth of glue will surely last several years, judging by the little squidge I spread about for that photo. Was it really much cheaper to use old cola bottles with a dash of El Cheapo Cider, etc, like I've done...

Thanks for that link you gave earlier, Admin. [ http://www.rat-x.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=2&category_id=1&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1 ] I paid by Paypal and it arrived next day - here's the result after just 1 hour, using one dollop of...

looks to me like a 'field digger wasp' [mellinus arvensis] http://www.talktalk.co.uk/reference/encyclopaedia/wildlife/insects_field_digger_wasp.html These are good guys, so far as I know - they catch flies and paralyse them, then store them in the nest for the brood to devour when they emerge...

I'd definitely treat them - I don't think it's worth the risk of sacrificing the health of all your existing colonies, just on the off-chance that you might have managed to catch an elusive strain of varroa-tolerant wild bee. Just my humble opinion, many disagree with me on all sorts of things...

Our local association was having a day demonstrating various different varieties of honey last year and one of the jars was said to be principally from ragwort. It was the colour of congealed pus and smelt like cheesy feet. I couldn't bear to taste any, but some did and spat it straight back out...

I recently had a number of honey-filled frames in the brood box. I damaged all the cappings and replaced them at either side of the brood nest. I had to open the colony up again just a few days later (not ideal, but necessary repairs), and they'd already removed practically all the honey stores...

I'm not claiming to be an expert on wasps but as a fruit seller I've had opportunity to observe many of the blighters at close quarters over the years. As I understand it there are two scents to attract a wasp to a source - the food itself and also pheromones given off by happily-feeding wasps...

I saw a demonstration of supers being cleared like this at our local association a few weeks ago. The super is removed, full of bees still, then the lid is placed back on the hive. The super is placed on its side on top of the flat roof (with all the frames hanging in a vertical position, not...

about a dozen cherries in water - they can't seem to resist them. They're in season now while the wasps are a problem. I use a 2litre plastic bottle with the top section inverted and replace it weekly (full of dead wasps usually!)

I run a small greengrocer's shop and have been selling local honey from a nearby beekeeper here for years and years, never really thinking a great deal about the actual product. It wasn't until this beekeeper asked me to advertise a beginner's group, run by the local association, that I actually...

here's a simple photo example of how to transfer a nuc to a full hive - no complications: http://diary-of-a-beekeeper.blogspot.com/2008/06/transfer-from-nuc-to-hive.html

This looks like a great site and could be extremely helpful to me. One thing which would be even more helpful to me would be the facility to have a sort of 'plan view' of the apiary showing where each colony is sited. I am not very good at remembering the names of each hive in relation to the...

Artificial Swarm.

Sam, I have no idea what a reasonable price would be for local honey - I only can see what other shops sell at and try to remain competitive (I trade as a small independent greengrocer, so the profit margins all have to be as slim as possible, unlike the fancy deli stores, etc.). I guess I'll...