Amateur beekeepers ‘causing urban swarms’

[jonnybeegood]

One hive............a swarm leaves hive..........swarm is caught and put into a hive.........we now have two hives of bees which will both grow into full colonies ...... therefore we now have twice as many colonies. And so it goes on.
The fact that a hive swarms doent mean that they havent been looked after properly and that therefore they also have varrao.

not all swarms are caught, yes it can be great when a beek catches one, but what about the ones that go feral, die out & get robbed by other bees spreading disease. look at the problems on Mike T's thread, not all swarms are good.

 

[Dishmop]

If a swarm isnt caught it will (should) find somewhere to live and its still a colony, and that doesnt mean that it is diseased or that it will

die out & get robbed by other bees spreading disease.

but then so might one of your hives.

 

[andybeehive]

The problem is not the swarms that are collected but the ones that end up as colonies in inappropriate spaces. Urban bees are unlikely to find a hollow tree its more likely going to be somebodies chimney, loft or wall cavity at which point it’s going to be a difficult and sometimes costly extraction process. The eradication cost will have to be paid by the homeowner or business owner not the original bee keeper as tracing a swarm is never going to be possible.

Once established the “wild” colony is a potential reserve for disease, varroa and more swarms. Several areas of the UK have issues with EFB, a large feral colony can be an obvious source of reinfection of previously cleared sites/locations.

 

[Finman]

.
EFB.... Change queen that they are tolerable to that disease. It is really easy to handle.

 

[Floyd]

There is going to be a Phone in regarding this issue on jeremy Vines Radio 2 show, which starts at Noon.

Should be interesting, wonder what expert he will wheel out

 

[MartinL]

We have strong colonies in the pub loft & Chimney, they swarm 2-3 times every season.
I used to be blamed for them!

It's made the radio today!

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=33559

Where is Martha? ?

 

[user 6228]

nope

 

[Dishmop]

Just out of curiosity...would household insurance cover having to take roof apart to get a swarm of bees.........or would they say its the owners fault for not sealing the holes up? but what roof doesnt have holes that bees and wasps can get through..

 

[Dishmop]

We have strong colonies in the pub loft & Chimney, they swarm 2-3 times every season.
I used to be blamed for them!

It's made the radio today!

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=33559

Where is Martha? ?

Very slow news day then....

 

[hallshoney]

This came up on the Jeremy vine show today what cr*p usual sensational pinko bbc rubbish interviewing members of the public asking them if the swarms they been "attacked "by had come from "hipster " or amateur beekeepers

 

[Edwardking]

Once again, it all points to a need for all beeks to be licensed and qualified, educated and mentored.

 

[Finman]

Once again, it all points to a need for all beeks to be licensed and qualified, educated and mentored.

First kick out "do nothing guys". Next kick off "catch and release guys",

 

[Dishmop]

Once again, it all points to a need for all beeks to be licensed and qualified, educated and mentored.

Common sense would be preferable over eduaction, but people's brains now seem to be called ipods.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Once again, it all points to a need for all beeks to be licensed and qualified, educated and mentored.

 

[Dishmop]

At least it was mentioned on the radio that amatuer only means that you dont do it as a business and not that you are not much good at keeping bees.

 

[BrianO]

Bloody Amateurs !! Can't abide them !

Thank God I am starting my second year and know it all !!

 

[B+.]

Common sense would be preferable over eduaction, but people's brains now seem to be called ipods.

Sadly, there is nothing common about it

 

[Dishmop]

Just realised .... eduaction

Right letters but in the wrong order...

 

[Swinton apiaries]

I wonder how Mannly and brother Adam managed to keep bees with out a piece of paper saying that they could keep bees and I dread to think how langstroth managed it to

 

[Erichalfbee]

They didn't have the Media to whip up a swarm storm.