- Joined
- Jul 8, 2010
- Messages
- 2,984
- Reaction score
- 7
- Location
- Exmoor
- Hive Type
- None
- Number of Hives
- None of my own
Our association, together with all the Lincs ones and probably others - has received this message from the National Bee Inspector Andy Wattam (really nice helpful chap).
Trust he wont mind me reproducing this here. Most will know all this, but its a timely reminder for us novices. He inspects up our way so is referring to local flows.
Could I ask you please to put out a reminder to all of the
District Secretaries about members looking at the food levels of
Their bee colonies, and also highlight Varroa Management at this
Critical time.
I have been out inspecting quite a bit recently and almost exclusively
Have come across bees which are starving, some to the point where their
Demise was only hours away - I have even taken to carrying syrup in the
Car with me, as, in general terms beekeepers have nothing in stock for
contingency feeding. In some cases I have had to pour syrup into empty
Comb and onto the top-bars for the bees to feed to get them going again
As they were at that 'creeping' point which signs almost imminent demise
Of the stock
A very sad state of affairs I am sure you would agree? – These are not
Isolated incidents, but on some days are reflected in every site we visit.
Also in many cases I am seeing increased levels of Varroa - this becomes
More and more ‘visually’ evident in colonies whom are short of food as
the brood nest diminishes and the mites move onto the bees themselves. Again in
Some of the cases the Beekeeper had neither thought about, nor prepared
To carry out any sort of Varroa controls, or doing much in the way of
Monitoring. Can I emphasise again that where insert boards are used with
Open Mesh Floors the boards must be made sticky before use, otherwise
A consistently low mite count will be realized, as the mites will simply
Walk off! Often back into hive to continue their quest.
I am seeing in lots of cases of people using icing sugar as a 'Varroa Treatment'
It should be borne in mind that Icing Sugar is to be seen as a complimentary
Technique to other forms of Integrated Pest Management. As a standalone it
Rarely has sufficient knock-down to achieve the full controls on its own
Unless it is done regularly, skillfully and with the correct Open Mesh Floor
In place, IE: With sufficient drop beneath to ensure that the mites cannot
Return to the Hive, and sufficient cover onto the bees – the value of just
Sprinkling icing sugar onto top bars is very questionable, although in some
Cases it has helped to keep the bees alive! By giving them something to eat.
Again something else which rears its head regularly is where a beekeeper
Has taken delivery of a Nucleus – filled up the compliment of the Brood Chamber
with Foundation And provided no supplementary feed – the bees are sitting there,
just surviving On the drawn comb with no hope of expansion to survive the winter.
Please Please – Heft hives to check for Weight, Look inside and see
What is happening, Feed now to ensure winter survival unless hives are
So heavy you can hardly lift them.
Keep an eye on the wasp situation and reduce entrances / set traps where
Necessary.
We are now approximately three weeks into a dearth of nectar, unless you
Are within flying distance of a specific crop which is providing something
Of value, and from what I can see in most areas a minimum of 10 days before
The Ivy comes properly into flower to be of use.
The link below will take members to the Fact Sheets Section of
Beebase where they will find information on many of the subjects
Outlined
https://secure..fera.defra.gov.uk/beebase/index.cfm?pageid=167
Many Thanks and Kindest regards
Andy
Andy Wattam
National Bee Inspector.
Trust he wont mind me reproducing this here. Most will know all this, but its a timely reminder for us novices. He inspects up our way so is referring to local flows.
Could I ask you please to put out a reminder to all of the
District Secretaries about members looking at the food levels of
Their bee colonies, and also highlight Varroa Management at this
Critical time.
I have been out inspecting quite a bit recently and almost exclusively
Have come across bees which are starving, some to the point where their
Demise was only hours away - I have even taken to carrying syrup in the
Car with me, as, in general terms beekeepers have nothing in stock for
contingency feeding. In some cases I have had to pour syrup into empty
Comb and onto the top-bars for the bees to feed to get them going again
As they were at that 'creeping' point which signs almost imminent demise
Of the stock
A very sad state of affairs I am sure you would agree? – These are not
Isolated incidents, but on some days are reflected in every site we visit.
Also in many cases I am seeing increased levels of Varroa - this becomes
More and more ‘visually’ evident in colonies whom are short of food as
the brood nest diminishes and the mites move onto the bees themselves. Again in
Some of the cases the Beekeeper had neither thought about, nor prepared
To carry out any sort of Varroa controls, or doing much in the way of
Monitoring. Can I emphasise again that where insert boards are used with
Open Mesh Floors the boards must be made sticky before use, otherwise
A consistently low mite count will be realized, as the mites will simply
Walk off! Often back into hive to continue their quest.
I am seeing in lots of cases of people using icing sugar as a 'Varroa Treatment'
It should be borne in mind that Icing Sugar is to be seen as a complimentary
Technique to other forms of Integrated Pest Management. As a standalone it
Rarely has sufficient knock-down to achieve the full controls on its own
Unless it is done regularly, skillfully and with the correct Open Mesh Floor
In place, IE: With sufficient drop beneath to ensure that the mites cannot
Return to the Hive, and sufficient cover onto the bees – the value of just
Sprinkling icing sugar onto top bars is very questionable, although in some
Cases it has helped to keep the bees alive! By giving them something to eat.
Again something else which rears its head regularly is where a beekeeper
Has taken delivery of a Nucleus – filled up the compliment of the Brood Chamber
with Foundation And provided no supplementary feed – the bees are sitting there,
just surviving On the drawn comb with no hope of expansion to survive the winter.
Please Please – Heft hives to check for Weight, Look inside and see
What is happening, Feed now to ensure winter survival unless hives are
So heavy you can hardly lift them.
Keep an eye on the wasp situation and reduce entrances / set traps where
Necessary.
We are now approximately three weeks into a dearth of nectar, unless you
Are within flying distance of a specific crop which is providing something
Of value, and from what I can see in most areas a minimum of 10 days before
The Ivy comes properly into flower to be of use.
The link below will take members to the Fact Sheets Section of
Beebase where they will find information on many of the subjects
Outlined
https://secure..fera.defra.gov.uk/beebase/index.cfm?pageid=167
Many Thanks and Kindest regards
Andy
Andy Wattam
National Bee Inspector.
smilielol5:ha!), and the Co-op had no storage space and clears spillages up immediately. But our little corner shop was as good as gold, and I was beckoned into a store room with several bashed and split but otherwise clean bags of sugar still within their outer, plastic wrapping. Took the whole lot for free (about 12kg in total) in return for helping to move some boxes (shopkeeper had a bad back). Fair exchange!
