Honey detective work raises fears for bees
An interesting article on the BBC News – DNA detective work on honey has given a rare insight into the foraging habits of honeybees.
Continue reading →Lewis Turner
BIBBA Events
The Bee Improvement and Bee Breeders Association (BIBBA) have had a successful and popular programme of webinars that have covered general beekeeping and bee improvement, with lots more coming in the new year. Please visit their website for more details.
Continue reading →This Month in the Apiary: December
Check the weight of the hive / level of stores and add fondant if needed.Quite often beekeepers give their bees a Christmas present of fondant on Boxing day.With the entrance narrowed down it’s important to check that the entrance is clear as there is a danger that bees that have died in the hive can start … Continue reading →
Even Moderate Drought Conditions are Bad for Bees
A very interesting article from Entomology Today, well worth a read!
Continue reading →This Month in the Apiary: September
Varroa treatment should have been completed. Note treatments are temperature dependent and may be less effective as temperatures drop. Unite small healthy colonies or unite to stronger ones. Assess stores. Nationals need approximately 40lbs /18kg of stores feeding should be finished by mid -September. ( A brood frame holds 5lb/2.3kg, supers 3lbs/1.4kg). Feed 2:1 syrup. feed … Continue reading →
European Foulbrood Alert
Please be aware that there has been an increasing number of reports of EFB in our locality. As this is a serious and notifiable disease beekeepers should ensure they are familiar with the symptoms and are also registered on Beebase. If you suspect you may have an instance of EFB in one of your colonies you … Continue reading →
SBKA Winter Bee Feed
From Paul, David and volunteers, The Bee Feed Team: The Suffolk Beekeepers’ Association is again offering winter feed supplies. Bulk feed can be purchased in cans or in bulk where you supply your own containers, we also sell fondant and candipollen. Orders are made in kg (rule of thumb a syrup can when over full holds … Continue reading →
A Bee C: Scientists translate honeybee queen duets
An interesting article on the BBC. The wording about feeding the bees in “sealed cells” could be better but interesting all the same!
Continue reading →Rescuing wild colonies
In addition to being called out to collect swarms you will get asked about bees that have already made a home, where it’s not ideal! Over the last couple of weeks I’ve had a few calls, we had the bees in a box which I posted about in a previous post which was a lovely prepackaged … Continue reading →
Looking inside a top bar hive by Barry Crabtree
Barry Crabtree from the Ipswich and East Suffolk BKA invites you to join him on Zoom to look inside a top bar hive this Saturday 13th. Register in advance via Zoom. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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