Here come comes Hive Beetle !

[Murox]

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

That really is a spurious misnomer. The UK has always had the ability to 'control its borders'. Government has simply not bothered as it choose to run down the border forces substantially - then it blames the EU and desperate displaced peoples in its extremist xenophobic reactions.

 

[For want of a better word]

That really is a spurious misnomer. The UK has always had the ability to 'control its borders'. Government has simply not bothered as it choose to run down the border forces substantially - then it blames the EU and desperate displaced peoples in its extremist xenophobic reactions.

Well I can assure all of you that as an RAF pilot we were always very aware of the time we left the UK air space!
Happy Days

 

[Michael Palmer]

I can only say to those who still think it okay to import bees from anywhere near SHB. It won’t happen here, eh? They have control of the problem? They’re sampling? You’re all out of your minds. Well I think you’re nuts. Grow your own bees fro what you already have. SHB is a horrible pest . It will get to you and then what? Word eating will not sustain you.

 

[For want of a better word]

I can only say to those who still think it okay to import bees from anywhere near SHB. It won’t happen here, eh? They have control of the problem? They’re sampling? You’re all out of your minds. Well I think you’re nuts. Grow your own bees fro what you already have. SHB is a horrible pest . It will get to you and then what? Word eating will not sustain you.

Words of Wisdom.
Straight from the hip!
Watched all of Michael's Video presentations
Probably knows what he is talking about from his own experiences, not from something written as something to be regurgitated for an exam!

 

[Newbeeneil]

I can only say to those who still think it okay to import bees from anywhere near SHB. It won’t happen here, eh? They have control of the problem? They’re sampling? You’re all out of your minds. Well I think you’re nuts. Grow your own bees fro what you already have. SHB is a horrible pest . It will get to you and then what? Word eating will not sustain you.

We will be f*****d once they get here!

 

[Swarm]

I can only say to those who still think it okay to import bees from anywhere near SHB. It won’t happen here, eh? They have control of the problem? They’re sampling? You’re all out of your minds. Well I think you’re nuts. Grow your own bees fro what you already have. SHB is a horrible pest . It will get to you and then what? Word eating will not sustain you.

Entirely agree.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

That really is a spurious misnomer. The UK has always had the ability to 'control its borders'. Government has simply not bothered as it choose to run down the border forces substantially - then it blames the EU and desperate displaced peoples in its extremist xenophobic reactions.

 

[SDM]

I can only say to those who still think it okay to import bees from anywhere near SHB. It won’t happen here, eh? They have control of the problem? They’re sampling? You’re all out of your minds. Well I think you’re nuts. Grow your own bees fro what you already have. SHB is a horrible pest . It will get to you and then what? Word eating will not sustain you.

What amounts to "anywhere near' ? Ive always felt comfortable with the several hundred kilometres separation that is typical for bees coming into the uk from Italy, but this much closer source does feel different.
The fact that bees on frames are being shipped now particularly bothers me, the risk from packages and queens being much lower.
The truth is that its still much more likely to be fruit or plants/soil that eventually brings SHB to the UK.

 

[Brian Bush]

I can only say to those who still think it okay to import bees from anywhere near SHB. It won’t happen here, eh? They have control of the problem? They’re sampling? You’re all out of your minds. Well I think you’re nuts. Grow your own bees fro what you already have. SHB is a horrible pest . It will get to you and then what? Word eating will not sustain you.

 

[mbc]

Paradoxically, once shb does arrive raising all our own home grown queens will be much much harder as the beetles target weak and queenless units = mating nucs.

 

[sipa]

I can only say to those who still think it okay to import bees from anywhere near SHB. It won’t happen here, eh? They have control of the problem? They’re sampling? You’re all out of your minds. Well I think you’re nuts. Grow your own bees fro what you already have. SHB is a horrible pest . It will get to you and then what? Word eating will not sustain you.

Absolutly spot on !

 

[madasafish]

Any disease or parasite which spreads from one instance cannot be controlled by "sampling".

100% testing is required. Period.

 

[CharlieL]

Hi everyone,

My name is Charlie and I work at Bee Equipment. Thank you for the concern over the bees, it made us realise that more information was needed. We'll be adding this to our website imminently. The following is from our Director, Patrick Murfet:

We will be importing Italian bees from an area that is clear of small hive beetle, the area is southern Italy’s Puglia region.
Our precautions are as follows:
We met with the suppliers at Apimondia in Canada recently to satisfy ourselves regarding the professionalism of the company and its approach to beekeeping.
Having then had a telephone conversation with a seasonal bee inspector who tells me that in recent years bee inspectors had come across this company and they had supplied relevant health certificates and that the bees supplied had been in good health.
We are now planning to follow this up by visiting the suppliers on the 23rd January, two representatives of my company will go, myself a commercial beekeeper with over 300 colonies and nearly 20 experience I also hold the BBKA General Husbandry certificate, among other qualifications.
My colleague also a commercial beekeeper of many years’ experience and holder of several BBKA qualifications including general husbandry and is also a DASH (Disease Accreditation Scheme for Honeybees ) accredited Bee Farmer.
Between us we will spend two days examining hives and the sounding ground condition as well as the operation in general to assure ourselves of a good, well produced and professional breeding programme.
Only then will we confirm our order for 1.5kg package bees and queens, I emphasis “ Package bees” to avoid any confusion we will NOT be importing Nucs of bees on frames. The nuc setup is done in our own apiaries using only equipment prepared by us.
This is part of the health and security methods we use, the packages will be inspected by our seasonal bee inspector as required by DEFRA at the same time as they are decanted into our own 5 frame nucs, these will then be reared into the Nucs offered for sale.
We take the approach that just as with all races human included Ligustica will add a much needed diversification and strengthening of honeybee populations in the UK, this is borne out by much of the Buckfast Abbey and Brother Adams research and development of the Buckfast Bee, but this dwindled soon after Brother Adams death in 1996.
The original Buckfast Bee has since in many areas been depleted and crossed with all sorts including our own native black bee.

 

[Ian123]

Lol not really sure how to start on this 1 maybe I will just say good luck!! And go find a tin hat..just going to sit back and watch this.....on the other hand Rodney has a cse in beekeeping so we are all safe!!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

That folio full of BBKA sistificates has really put my mind at rest

 

[For want of a better word]

That folio full of BBKA sistificates has really put my mind at rest

Even my Ex mentor Master Beekeeper admits that having a list of credentials as long as a boy scouts arm will not prevent the possibility of importing small honey beetles into the UK.
My wife even had a Facebook thing about the Kent based importer Beekeeping Equipments sent to her about audacious plans to import bees from an infected country this just shows contempt beyond belief for British Beekeepers and beekeeping.
The WI are now on the warpath!

 

[madasafish]

Hi everyone,

My name is Charlie and I work at Bee Equipment. Thank you for the concern over the bees, it made us realise that more information was needed. We'll be adding this to our website imminently. .

All I would say is you need only make one mistake and import bees and one Small Hive Beetle.. and your business is going to suffer irretrievable reputationlal damage..

And no-one one will ever let you forget it..

And you will lay yourselves open to court cases for damages from those affected..

If you think the revenues involved are going to be sufficient to offset the ensuing costs and loss of profits, then I would suggest you seriously reconsider.

And of course, the warnings you have been given on this thread will be produced in court to show you were aware of the likely problems and ignored them..

The words "grossly negligent" spring to mind..

If you do decide to go ahead, Ii is unlikely I will buy anything from you in the future..

 

[Michael Palmer]

Hi everyone,

My name is Charlie and I work at Bee Equipment. Thank you for the concern over the bees, it made us realise that more information was needed.

More information needed....Riiight

 

[Ian123]

All I would say is you need only make one mistake and import bees and one Small Hive Beetle.. and your business is going to suffer irretrievable reputationlal damage..

And no-one one will ever let you forget it..

And you will lay yourselves open to court cases for damages from those affected..

If you think the revenues involved are going to be sufficient to offset the ensuing costs and loss of profits, then I would suggest you seriously reconsider.

And of course, the warnings you have been given on this thread will be produced in court to show you were aware of the likely problems and ignored them..

The words "grossly negligent" spring to mind..

If you do decide to go ahead, Ii is unlikely I will buy anything from you in the future..

There won’t be any court case as the imports are perfectly legal.....come on at least keep the moaning realistic. Now Charlie’s worried about the buckfast bee not sure he’s aware there are many fantastic breeders all over Europe could be a worrying gap in beekeeping knowledge there!!

 

[drex]

As consumers we can all choose where we purchase goods from. I make a lot of my own stuff and when possible buy from non specialist suppliers as anything labelled up for beekeeping seems to carry a surcharge. I raise all my own bees. Often the problem is that I end up with too many ( even queens). I give a good few to those just starting out. I agree with Michael Palmer that my beekeeping should be sustainable.