Asian Hornets

[Erichalfbee]

Being very much in the front line down here on the South Coast I've been taking an interest in the Asian Hornet since the first one was found in the UK a few years ago .. we appear to have gone through various incarnations of what we (as beekeepers) should actually be doing ... the advice (at present) from the best sources appears to be know what you are looking for, watch out for them, get a photo if you see one and report it.

Just out of interest (and a very rare occurrence) I had a look at what the BBKA has to say and from their section in their website on the hornet there's a 15 minute video about making a (very elaborate) "Monitoring Trap" which, as far as I can ascertain will probably trap every insect species interested in whatever bait you choose to put in there.

I'm a bit disappointed that our National Association appears to have little or no understanding of what is currently required and their social media manager appears to be reliant upon a third party to provide a statement to the press. You would think that they would have a pre-prepared, factual, hard hitting statement with photos that they could distribute to local press wherever and whenever a nest is found ...

You will have to add in the usual BBKA org website address as it's not a website we encourage members to visit.

https://***************/faqs/how-to-make-an-asian-hornet-trap

For what it's worth - there is even less information available in the NBU website. Are we being just a bit complacent about educating beekeeper and the public to this growing menace ?

It seems to be being left to Dad’s Army which at the moment seems the lesser of two evils

 

[Brian Bush]

I am not sure if I am Corporal Jones or Captain Mainwaring at present.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

the term 'entomologist' means little to most people and the specialist Apps are not something they choose to engage with.

it's not a 'specialist' app, it's the Asian Hornet UK Location database (at least two of the admins on it actually work with the NBU to confirm/verify sightings). coupled with the Asian Hornet Watch app it's the only two you really need

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I hope no-one has reported using Asian Hornet Watch

why not? it's what it's there for - better to have false alarms checked and discarded than a genuine AH sighting go unreported

 

[Dolo]

it's not a 'specialist' app, it's the Asian Hornet UK Location database (at least two of the admins on it actually work with the NBU to confirm/verify sightings). coupled with the Asian Hornet Watch app it's the only two you really need

You are welcome to believe the general public will be downloading the AHUK app, I hope it has a large takeup as we go forward
You said in another post: "better to have false alarms checked and discarded than a genuine AH sighting go unreported."
For me and others, Facebook is one of several tools that helps fulfil your wish and I think we have to agree to disagree.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

You are welcome to believe the general public will be downloading the AHUK app, I hope it has a large takeup as we go forward
You said in another post: "better to have false alarms checked and discarded than a genuine AH sighting go unreported."
For me and others, Facebook is one of several tools that helps fulfil your wish and I think we have to agree to disagree.

pretty pointless if the sighting doesn't get to the NBU

 

[Murox]

It seems to be being left to Dad’s Army which at the moment seems the lesser of two evils

That does seem to be the usual standard UK "coordinated strategy" to most things that actually require a determined focused response.

 

[OldFarm]

Your explanation in the first paragraph most certainly isn't what was being claimed, hence my questions regarding the very specific instance that was being discussed.

Block under the hives? My hives are on the ground where I can kneel down to inspect them.

As I stated in a later post, I have now watched the videos linked, a week ago today.

You are right, my comment about inability to bring in water when there are hornets hawking did not relate to the Andrew Durham sessions, not sure where I got that. But he certainly talks about the problem of stress caused by hornets being under the hive and open mesh floors.

 

[Karol]

If cold winter weather reduced hibernation survival to 0.0033% (your imaginary rate) would it be reasonable to assume that other insect survival would decline similarly, and that velutina spring prey would not be the excess quoted? In other words, does predator and prey winter survival follow a similar pattern?

Not imaginary. Population density obviously is highly variable depending on topography and ecology. Think of it this way. To give some context, human dwellings range from 30u/ha (7,700 dwelling units per square mile) in suburban areas to 200u/ha in urban areas so 1000 wasp nests per square mile isn't actually that great a number.

Cold winters actually improve queen survival. It's mild winters that devastate vespine populations. The reason is quite simple. During mild winters queens come out of hibernation prematurely when there are no naturally occuring carbs to sustain them so they starve.

Problem for velutina in our climate is that mild winters don't favour survival but cold winters don't provide a long enough season for nests to mature adequately. The exception perhaps is along the south coast but even then velutina will struggle. That's not to say that every reasonable measure should be taken to prevent velutina from gaining a foot hold. Hat's off to the NBU. I think they're doing a great job.

 

[madasafish]

That's not to say that every reasonable measure should be taken to prevent velutina from gaining a foot hold. Hat's off to the NBU. I think they're doing a great job.

In my view, we should not reinvent the wheel but use what tools we have available.

 

[Karol]

In my view, we should not reinvent the wheel but use what tools we have available.

For clarity, by reasonable measures I meant those measures currently being pursued by the NBU. I am not advocating any thing else at present in the UK.

The forum does however extend beyond the UK and I am aware of the problems that our friends overseas are experiencing with established infestations. I report on the use of fipronil custard for two reasons.

Firstly because it has been trialled and successfully eradicated Vv and by that I mean no Vv in the following season meaning collapse of nests prior to sexuals being produced. (The main problem is resurgence which occurs if similar action is not taken with neighbouring infestations. So to be trully effective it requires concerted coordinated effort by a statistically meaningful number of beekeepers).

Secondly, there's a lot of confusion regarding the use of fipronil custard which could lead to environmental harm if undertaken by naive actors. It is certainly not suitable or safe to use as an open bait and it is certainly not safe to use if not properly formulated, correctly prepared or validated.

My abiding hope is that fipronil custard is not required in the UK and that the present incursion is just that. A temporary blip.

My other abiding hope is that our neighbours in Europe and channel islands eradicate Vv so that the risk to the UK is vastly reduced. For our neighbours, fipronil custard is much more relevant.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

In my view, we should not reinvent the wheel but use what tools we have available.

and there's a good few tools out there by what I can gather

 

[rolande]

the problem is, many will think that 'reporting' it to your local FB page is sufficient, the truth is, some self important 'expert' may confirm but not report it on the official AH app - which means it will never get to the NBU. I have no doubt that this is happening already.

Fair comment.

I'm a big believer in self help and think that's best achieved close to home but I admit that it doesn't always work as well as hoped.

 

[fian]

You are right, my comment about inability to bring in water when there are hornets hawking did not relate to the Andrew Durham sessions, not sure where I got that. But he certainly talks about the problem of stress caused by hornets being under the hive and open mesh floors.

In my apiary I have a water source where my bees go to refuel. Well, on the occasion of the velutina I installed electric harps. On the third day the velutinas had stationed themselves at the water source to capture bees, so I had to proceed to fence the water source so that they could only exit through the upper part and through the harps (no problems for the bees but which reduces the maneuvers of the hornets).

 

[pargyle]

and there's a good few tools out there by what I can gather

And here's the electric harp - whilst we may not need it here yet it seems to be a well put together system and not that expensive (Well - until we need it in the UK by which time it will be sold at eye-watering prices by our bee supply houses !).

https://www.timberbee.com/produto/painel50/?lang=en

 

[jimmiestan]

Im not convinced that local pages will cause any more confusion, the process is simple enough; if you see one, report it.

I'm pretty certain every local area is capable of producing a handful of people who are equally as capable of making an id as anyone else the issue seems to be the condescending tone of some members who aren't administrators, I know that there's one Asian Hornet id page (not sure if it's the one mentioned above) that seems to have regular posts asking members to go easier on people asking questions. Now, if a person goes onto a page and that's the first kind of post they see they'll probably just shrug their shoulders and scroll on.

As relatively new beekeepers we almost decided to cease following this useful site after some rudeness. Glad we kept going and are getting to be aware of who posts what, as it were.

 

[Erichalfbee]

As relatively new beekeepers we almost decided to cease following this useful site after some rudeness. Glad we kept going and are getting to be aware of who posts what, as it were.

This forum has always been a broad church and some rudeness allowed provided it isn’t aimed at one particular person. “Kick the ball not the player” is something we should all abide by.
I’m glad you decided to stay. Our archives are a trove treasure
If you find something that breaks the rules then we have a report button. Not all reports are acted upon but all are looked at

 

[OldFarm]

And here's the electric harp - whilst we may not need it here yet it seems to be a well put together system and not that expensive (Well - until we need it in the UK by which time it will be sold at eye-watering prices by our bee supply houses !).

https://www.timberbee.com/produto/painel50/?lang=en

Some of the mark-ups seem insane. The cone in the jabeprode is 13 euros if you buy it in the EU, but £30 from the outfit in the uk selling them.

 

[Pembroke]

Some of the mark-ups seem insane. The cone in the jabeprode is 13 euros if you buy it in the EU, but £30 from the outfit in the uk selling them.

If you have a 3D printer (or know someone who does) the cones for the French traps are available on Thingiverse at no cost. All you then need is the bait box to fit the cones to.

 

[OldFarm]

If you have a 3D printer (or know someone who does) the cones for the French traps are available on Thingiverse at no cost. All you then need is the bait box to fit the cones to.

Yes, we've printed a few out. Toying with ideas of making traps with buckets (I have a lot of lidded buckets kicking around). It should be possible to make effective traps for very little money. The French have put in a lot of effort in to developing effective traps, which should give us a jump start. I just hope people share their designs and that effective targeted trapping will be widespread from next year. I've tried making mead this year, if it's a flop, it might make reasonable bait.