Here come comes Hive Beetle !

[Hachi]

It would be evident that the level of beekeeping expertise needed to cope with the small beetle in a hive would be beyond that of the average beginner.

I think that beekeepers need to consider the consequence of importing any bees with potential pests and parasites, especially from an country flagged up as having a reoccurring disease problem.

Common sense it seems it not that common!

It looks to me as you have offered no evidence to substantiate your claim, that you have no evidence?

 

[Hachi]

Staying on the broader topic of pests, I was at a presentation at the weekend where the AH was discussed and it was recognised, by those close to it, we'd all better get used to having the AH round as the NBU hasn't the funds for a sustained campaign to eradicate it from the UK.

Now it can be argued, the AH is here under its own steam faster than the SHB alledgedly being imported on bee's from Italy. Perhaps the controls in Italy are working and we should panic about what IS here.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Now it can be argued, the AH is here under its own steam faster than the SHB alledgedly being imported on bee's from Italy. Perhaps the controls in Italy are working and we should panic about what IS here.

SHB got established in the US because US agriculture department officials totally ignored the issue when the first discovery was made (apparently the first specimen sent in sat in a matchbox in the back of someone's drawer for months)
AH got established on the continent for more or less the same reason
We've been alerted here so are keeping an eye out, but as far as I can see - some would just love for it to become established here just so they can hare around the countryside feeling important so it's more like wishful thinking than accepting the inevitable.

 

[thorn]

It looks to me as you have offered no evidence to substantiate your claim, that you have no evidence?

Which claim? That pests and diseases can be imported and cause problems?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Which claim? That pests and diseases can be imported and cause problems?

Maybe this one -

I am shocked to find that bees carrying this hive beetle are being imported, .

 

[For want of a better word]

Maybe this one -

Sorry from reading the posts of those with all the knowledge and vast experience I was given to believe that all these pests and diseased were already in Europe?

Perhaps it has not been found on our little island, but that does not mean that it is not here, just not reported as yet?

Anyone ever heard of the Precautionary Principle?

 

[thorn]

Maybe this one -

Better to say that bees from a part of the world where the hive beetle is found are being imported. It's almost certain that as a result we'll find them here in time.

 

[Goran]

I think how scientists estimate SHB spread is wrong. They count on insects and completely ignore humans.. In fact humans spread all, SHB et al is result.
Like I read earlier it spread to Sicily when beeks " run away" with their colonies from quarantined area.. That is what is found.. I don't know how many more " run away" and where. In fact I wouldn't be surprised they end up to north Europe - knowing us..
Just try not to worry on things You can't change.. relax..

 

[foghornleghorn]

I think how scientists estimate SHB spread is wrong. They count on insects and completely ignore humans.. In fact humans spread all, SHB et al is result.
Like I read earlier it spread to Sicily when beeks " run away" with their colonies from quarantined area.. That is what is found.. I don't know how many more " run away" and where. In fact I wouldn't be surprised they end up to north Europe - knowing us..
Just try not to worry on things You can't change.. relax..

Supposedly it was worth your while to have bees in the area, heard of beeks getting paid to have lots of old equipment burned. Just had to dump a few bees in first

 

[Hachi]

Sorry from reading the posts of those with all the knowledge and vast experience I was given to believe that all these pests and diseased were already in Europe?

Perhaps it has not been found on our little island, but that does not mean that it is not here, just not reported as yet?

Anyone ever heard of the Precautionary Principle?

Your absolutely correct we'd all best plan on vampires being here after all perhaps they're here, just not reported as yet?

 

[Hachi]

SHB got established in the US because US agriculture department officials totally ignored the issue when the first discovery was made (apparently the first specimen sent in sat in a matchbox in the back of someone's drawer for months)
AH got established on the continent for more or less the same reason
We've been alerted here so are keeping an eye out, but as far as I can see - some would just love for it to become established here just so they can hare around the countryside feeling important so it's more like wishful thinking than accepting the inevitable.

Ha know what you mean Jenks. The presenters point was that the NBU simply hasn't the budget to keep going indefinitely at the level of resource being applied currently. Then if you consider a hive produces up to 200 queens each year and can advance 40Km, you're not talking many years statistically for someone to claim it is now established.

I noticed last year, on the BBKA website, there was a "corridor" from the severn estuary to the wash that was approx. 40Km wide with no AH Action Teams identified.

Sorry didn't mean to hijack the thread so we'll close AH here and start another if needed.

 

[Goran]

Supposedly it was worth your while to have bees in the area, heard of beeks getting paid to have lots of old equipment burned. Just had to dump a few bees in first

" This apiary was under surveillance since May 2019. On 2nd. May, the authorities intercepted a movement of 64 colonies without any accompanying document at the port of Villa San Giovanni (located on the Calabrian coast). The colonies were sent back to the apiary of origin in Lentini. Several controls were subsequently carried out in this apiary to confirm the absence of A. tumida. During a control, 13 colonies of unknown origin were discovered and SHB was detected in two of them. Epidemiological investigations showed that these 13 colonies were stolen on 9th. June in the protection zone of Reggio di Calabria (located on the continent)."

Money is everywhere.. no limits to human greed..

 

[justsmith]

I still think the SHB will come over in soil on a plant and not when it's on bees

 

[For want of a better word]

Your absolutely correct we'd all best plan on vampires being here after all perhaps they're here, just not reported as yet?

Before my time, it was retired from service with our RAF in 1955, but one at least exists in the RAF museum!

https://www.google.com/search?q=vam...mAhVFqHEKHfuCDKIQ9QEwAHoECAYQAw#imgrc=_&vet=1

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I noticed last year, on the BBKA website, there was a "corridor" from the severn estuary to the wash that was approx. 40Km wide with no AH Action Teams identified.

That's a blessed relief then

 

[domino]

I'm not sure about other associations but teaching beginners how to manage increasing stocks had very little focus in my association beyond splitting for swarm control.

I'm now able to raise queens within my own apiary pretty much by searching the NBU site finding this guide - http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/index.cfm?pageId=278 and paying to go on a course to learn how to graft. Then asking questions on forums, people I know and watching videos.

When I was learning to keep bees queen rearing was presented as a dark art when to learn how to do it I wouldn't call it easy but it's entirely achievable.

I wonder if we purchase so many queens simply because beekeepers aren't taught how to make them?

 

[Hebeegeebee]

Not someting I'm keen on.

Me neither. There's no point in dicing with the devil.
Maybe if we leave the EU we can control our borders!

 

[Stiffy]

Me neither. There's no point in dicing with the devil.
Maybe if we leave the EU we can control our borders!

Dream on, even if it was desirable, plans to continue the importation of bees after Brexit have already been put in place.
Like most rhetoric coming out, it’s all smoke and mirrors, mostly designed to make the ‘real leaders’ of this country richer
S

 

[domino]

Maybe if we leave the EU we can control our borders!

The government can control the import of bees now. There is an entire regulatory framework to do it, in this case of importing bees from Italy the UK has decided it's okay.

 

[madasafish]

I'm not sure about other associations but teaching beginners how to manage increasing stocks had very little focus in my association beyond splitting for swarm control.

I'm now able to raise queens within my own apiary pretty much by searching the NBU site finding this guide - http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/index.cfm?pageId=278 and paying to go on a course to learn how to graft. Then asking questions on forums, people I know and watching videos.

When I was learning to keep bees queen rearing was presented as a dark art when to learn how to do it I wouldn't call it easy but it's entirely achievable.

I wonder if we purchase so many queens simply because beekeepers aren't taught how to make them?

Anyone can raise afew queens through splits. When you try to raise queens in more than (say) 10 at a time, you need lots of resources-- mainly bees- for mating nucs..You need at least 6 hive to do that - and preferably mpre- or your honey production colonies suffer...

I write as a raiser of 15-25 queens pa and 7 production colonies..And you need to stick to a timetable - difficult when working lots of hours.. And you need good weather.. which may be OK in the SOuth but round here is hit and miss.

My early in the year attempts often perish through cold or don't mate properly due to weather...see this year...

Dispiriiting if a beginner at QR..

(apologies - can't read well broken glasses)