Long distance move.

[must_dash]

A question for all.
My work is causing me to move from Cheshire to the Milan area in August.. So a few questions to the knowledgeable:
Is it possible to move bees that far?
How would you do it?
Would a Buckfast strain bee survive in Northern Italy?
Currently in National boxes, what is common in Italy.
Any other useful information or contacts?

Thanks

Tom

 

[drstitson]

Is it possible to move bees that far? yes - the americans do it all the time (but then they lose hives to CCD). lots of spraying needed as will be very hot at that time of year.
How would you do it? in a van with the rest of your stuff. can easily be done in a oner - aim for overnight ferry. i can arrange a driver and van for you depending on how much gear you have - PM me. you will just need to contact local ASL vets in italy and get your bees checked out by UK inspectors before hand.
Would a Buckfast strain bee survive in Northern Italy? they do have some buckfasts in italy BUT remember it gets hot in summer (40+) and cold (-10) in winter - currently knee deep snow near Modena as we speak.
Currently in National boxes, what is common in Italy. Dadant Blatt. very cheap to buy (<50 euro in the flat)
Any other useful information or contacts?
how many hives do you have? there are restriction wrt distances between apiaries (depends upon number of hives etc). all details available on web. at end of the day probably better to sell up in UK and buy in spring in italy.

 

[Easy Beesy]

if you want someone to look after them til you get back just pm me. How long you likely to be away for? How many? are they ok to stay where they are or would it be easier to move them to my place until you return?

 

[Easy Beesy]

oops sorry double post

 

[must_dash]

With many many thanks to Richard aka drstitson I now have bees at the bottom of my garden.

To cut a long story short Richard drove my bees (and his) all the way from Lincolnshire to Moderna, Italy in May and looked after them till I collected them this afternoon

They must be warm as a hundred of them found the leaking hose pipe in 31 deg C, and you were right about frame converters needing 'adjusting'.

Thanks

Richard.

 

[RoseCottage]

That's all great news. Begs a couple of questions though:

Does the doctor have a house in Italy too or is he moving? Just a nosy parker really.... How long was the journey, did you need to feed on the way, shower them with water, how did they react on arrival, how are they coping at the moment?

All the best,
Sam

 

[drstitson]

rose cottage - just thought that to be on the safe side it would be sensible to have an out apiary more than 3 miles (10 to power 3 in fact) from home one LOL.

Seriously. No special feeding. just shut up before travel then opened 27 hrs later. travel screens on all hives and sprayed whenever stopped for puppy to do her business and have drink/food. were very glad to get out but it wasn't too hot at the time.

only "problem" is coordinating check by LBI within 10 days of shipping - once done the FERA side is very quick and straightforward.

top tip - over bed mozzie nets are great to wrap hives to prevent excapees.

 

[DanBee]

Are we now going to see uproar from Italian beekeepers about the importation of foreign stocks into their neighbourhood, or is that a peculiarly British phenomenon?

 

[must_dash]

The mozzie net is a brilliant idea, had about a dozen 'escape' on the drive home and they were well contained, I didn't fancy driving 150miles in a bee suit....

 

[drstitson]

....not at 32+ degrees anyway!!!!

 

[Lance Hutchings]

Mozzie net would probably work well with a skep too

 

[tonybloke]

I use a cotton sheet with a skep for catching swarms. just spray the knot on the top with water to cool 'em down via evaporation.

 

[Deeperdiverdude]

Mozzie net would probably work well with a skep too

Just need to make sure you don't use one of those mozzie nets that are treated with insecticides!

DDD