[sleafordbka] FW: care of bees
- From: "Melody Espin" <Melody_Espin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <sleafordbka@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 25 Aug 2011 08:38:15 +0100
Good morning Sleaford Beekeepers
It's raining which must mean the Bank Holiday is nearly here! Please
find below a reminder from Andy Wattam about feeding and treating this
month.
Kindest regards
Melody Espin
Sleaford District Secretary (Acting).
________________________________
From: Celia Smith [mailto:sec.lincsbka@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: 24 August 2011 23:14
To: celia@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: care of bees
Dear District Secretary
Please forward the message below, from Andy Wattam, to all members.
It is perhaps worth adding that as far as varroa treatment is concerned
there are 3 thymol based treatments available for use now - as soon as
supers are removed - these are Apiguard, Apilife var and Thymovar. It is
vital to have healthy bees going into the Winter.
The other point worth adding as far as food is concerned is that a
colony of bees needs at least 20kg of stores to see it through the
Winter so start feeding strong syrup now ( 2 parts sugar to 1 part
water) or use Ambrosia and give them lots!
Regards
Celia
Hi Celia
Hope you are well?
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
<https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/beebase/index.cfm?pageid=167>
Many Thanks and Kindest regards
Andy
Andy Wattam
National Bee Inspector.
Head of Bee Health Field Inspection Service for England & Wales.
Willow House
4, Lincoln Road
Bassingham
Lincolnshire.
LN5 9HE
Telephone: 01522 789726 and 07775 027524
Website: www.nationalbeeunit.com
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