2020 - is the consensus that its a bad year for beeks ?

[DaveG23]

quite a few people reporting VQs not coming back from mating flights. I do wonder if the perpetual cloud makes a flying queen easier to spot for predators. Certainly I can see more bees against a cloudy sky than a clear one!

 

[jool]

Here in Kent Honey harvest for me has been average but will not have to feed this year as my needs have been met and the girls will have more than enough for winter. I to have had poor luck with queen rearing with mated queens failing to return. Swarm numbers have been higher but that may be lockdown. People at home to see and report them.