"Survivor bees" found in Blenheim Forest

[Finman]

Error

 

[Frizzaldo]

Do you think that something is open in the Mystery of Blenheim bees?

Blenheim castle, the birthplace on Winston Churshill.

Isolated place

1000 years old oak trees

A new bee race in the 1.6 km2 oak forest.

DNA analysis needed

In the middle of England.

Survivors from Ice Ace

Don't forget they are protected by some humid valleys that exist nowhere else.

Also their honey (from honeydew at tops of trees (how did he observe this?) and native British sunflowers) tastes better than any other honey.

Funny that a treatment free beekeeper finds bees that don't need treatment ...it's as if we shouldn't be treating after all

 

[IndiBee]

Story seems as accurate as most newspaper stories. Based on something they half understood and put together with something they wanted to be true.

The bit people here seem to ignore/deny is that bees live in woodland.
Something many here seem to disbelieve.
As I have said before - I never buy bees, only collect from woodland. Both in Wales and in France - bees are free if you want them. I don't DNA test the bees I catch, but just can't see that in the remote areas I work how there can be more 'escaped' swarms than those of you that live in built-up areas and can't seem to ever catch free bees.
Make of it what you will.
All the bees I catch are dark
I have never seen a marked queen EVER in a caught swarm.

 

[Boston Bees]

Story seems as accurate as most newspaper stories. Based on something they half understood and put together with something they wanted to be true.

The bit people here seem to ignore/deny is that bees live in woodland.
Something many here seem to disbelieve.
As I have said before - I never buy bees, only collect from woodland. Both in Wales and in France - bees are free if you want them. I don't DNA test the bees I catch, but just can't see that in the remote areas I work how there can be more 'escaped' swarms than those of you that live in built-up areas and can't seem to ever catch free bees.
Make of it what you will.
All the bees I catch are dark
I have never seen a marked queen EVER in a caught swarm.

You seem to be labouring under the belief that people who live in built up areas don't get called out to collect swarms. You should try living in a built up area and being on the swarm capture list of your local BKA. Believe me, the phone rings constantly from May to July. I've lost count of how many swarms I have collected from urban areas.

 

[Ian123]

Funny that a treatment free beekeeper finds bees that don't need treatment ...it's as if we shouldn't be treating after all

Given that he actually admits to 80% losses it’s fair to assume he’s till looking for tolerant bees.

 

[IndiBee]

You seem to be labouring under the belief that people who live in built up areas don't get called out to collect swarms. You should try living in a built up area and being on the swarm capture list of your local BKA. Believe me, the phone rings constantly from May to July. I've lost count of how many swarms I have collected from urban areas.

I am going by the number of people that think they have to buy bees and swarm trapping is a waste of time.

 

[Ian123]

Story seems as accurate as most newspaper stories. Based on something they half understood and put together with something they wanted to be true.

The bit people here seem to ignore/deny is that bees live in woodland.
Something many here seem to disbelieve.
As I have said before - I never buy bees, only collect from woodland. Both in Wales and in France - bees are free if you want them. I don't DNA test the bees I catch, but just can't see that in the remote areas I work how there can be more 'escaped' swarms than those of you that live in built-up areas and can't seem to ever catch free bees.
Make of it what you will.
All the bees I catch are dark
I have never seen a marked queen EVER in a caught swarm.

Pls show any denying that bees live in woodland, they certainly do. They also live in urban areas. Mountain and cliff regions and open savanna. can you pls explain why you keep mentioning marked queens as some sort of reference to how wild they are. The vast majority of queens in swarms will not be marked. Many beekeepers can’t even find a queen let alone mark her!. Secondly the majority of swarms will be headed by a virgin queens so won’t be marked. It’s hardly a great reference for suggesting wild origins

 

[Boston Bees]

Pls show any denying that bees live in woodland, they certainly do. They also live in urban areas. Mountain and cliff regions and open savanna. can you pls explain why you keep mentioning marked queens as some sort of reference to how wild they are. The vast majority of queens in swarms will not be marked. Many beekeepers can’t even find a queen let alone mark her!. Secondly the majority of swarms will be headed by a virgin queens so won’t be marked. It’s hardly a great reference for suggesting wild origins

Indeed

None of my queens are marked, because I can't be bothered, to be honest.

 

[Finman]

Also their honey (from honeydew at tops of trees (how did he observe this?)

That is easy to see. Honeydew is to be seen in lowest branches too. And lots of insects making noise. Oaks have often honeydew. But then comes a rain, and food is washed away.

 

[Ian123]

I am going by the number of people that think they have to buy bees and swarm trapping is a waste of time.

If you care to look you’ll find many discussions and advice here regarding bait hives. I caught my first swarm in a bait hive aged 12. I researched it, set it up on a shed roof and was there to watch them arrive. It’s not rocket science, and it was some years before noobtube. What’s wrong with buying bees from a reputable supplier anyway if funds allow, you are far likely to get a viable predictable colony than some random swarm.

 

[IndiBee]

If you care to look you’ll find many discussions and advice here regarding bait hives. I caught my first swarm in a bait hive aged 12. I researched it, set it up on a shed roof and was there to watch them arrive. It’s not rocket science, and it was some years before noobtube

Excellent. Mu comment was aimed at those that seem to have problems with this and buy bees.

 

[IndiBee]

Pls show any denying that bees live in woodland, they certainly do. They also live in urban areas. Mountain and cliff regions and open savanna. can you pls explain why you keep mentioning marked queens as some sort of reference to how wild they are. The vast majority of queens in swarms will not be marked. Many beekeepers can’t even find a queen let alone mark her!. Secondly the majority of swarms will be headed by a virgin queens so won’t be marked. It’s hardly a great reference for suggesting wild origins

Exactly why I said "make oif it what yo will"

 

[Ian123]

Excellent. Mu comment was aimed at those that seem to have problems with this and buy bees.

But what’s wrong with buying bees, free bees and advice how to catch them is available here. If any came on here saying I’ve got a tight budget people would probably say seconds hives and a bait box. If people have rather more to spend some would suggest reputable suppliers. Again what’s the issue.

 

[IndiBee]

But what’s wrong with buying bees, free bees and advice how to catch them is available here. If any came on here saying I’ve got a tight budget people would probably say seconds hives and a bait box. If people have rather more to spend some would suggest reputable suppliers. Again what’s the issue.

What's the issue?
Whatever you want to make it

 

[Finman]

Are certain types more likely to carry more than one queen?
Opologies I digress.

I have thought, that swarms have more virgins, when weathers are bad and a swarm cannot leave when they should. Then virgins start to emerge and several queens leave the nest.

 

[Ian123]

What's the issue?
Whatever you want to make it

I’m not making an issue or think it’s one. I rightly or wrongly assumed the manner you mentioned it in was negative. I’m happy to be wrong. I can think off many reasons a good nuc from a supplier is a far better option for beginners. It’s certainly not the only option though, I’ve given bees to people who’ve helped me in the past.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

What's the issue?
Whatever you want to make it

It's obvious from your previous posts that it's seems to be an issue with you - nobody else

 

[Ian123]

This is a job for . . . . . . BeeBase.

I now (temporarily) have an apiary on the Blenheim Palace grounds (Oxfordshire map ref : SP441160). Number of apiaries within 10km? . . .. . 194

Looks like the Dukes of Marlborough may find it difficult to control the local drone congregation areas.

This is why articles or people like this are a PITA. The next time you or another want a site in the area someone’s had a word! suggesting your bees aren’t local enough or this amazing strain of super local extra local resistant bees that are under threat. I think ITLD has had a similar situation if I remember correctly and the local wildlife trust quoted honey bees out preforming native species to me. If you see BS call it out!

 

[Skinfaxi]

Funny how peaple try to nationalise wildlife.. nature does not care about stupid humans and the corporate government

 

[Finman]

Funny how peaple try to nationalise wildlife.. nature does not care about stupid humans and the corporate government

I looked, how much Britain has native cows they are many, 22 breeds. Then you have there native sheeps, chickens, goats, docs...

National horse breeds I found 16 different Wild horses have been 500 000 years ago BC. So before Ice Ace.

6 (six) native cat breeds. Perhaps their nationality can be compared to Buckfast.