The NBU has posted some guidance regarding beekeeping during the COVID-19
pandemic:
COVID-19 and Beekeeping Update
<http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/downloadNews.cfm?id=170>
OBKA have made a few more points. Amalgamating these and some other
thoughts:
*Key points:*
- Swarms (1) - the NBU recommend you do all you can to minimise these.
Translation: regular invasive inspections; squash queen cells;
pre-emptively split colonies. This goes against our ethos of allowing the
bees to follow their natural lifecycle, and remember swarms are an
important part of parasite control because of the associated brood break.
And in my experience, splits don't stop swarms! Once the bees decide it is
time to swarm they will do so, and let's face it they will probably find a
suitable cavity somewhere. What you *can* do is set up your spare empty
hives asap, and when warm enough pre-emptively give your bees room to
expand into their existing hive by moving top bars (in TBHs) and adding
boxes (in vertical hives) which should reduce the number of swarms.
- Swarms (2) It should still be possible for some people to collect
these if they want to, observing suitable social distancing etc.
- Swarms (3) This season, we will still run a "swarms wanted" list but
we will have to do things a bit differently. For example if someone comes
to my house to pick up a swarm I have caught from my own hives, I will just
tell them where the box is and let them take it - but I don't plan to go
out and about as we have a vulnerable 84yr old with us.
- Maybe carry a copy of the NBU advice when travelling to an out apiary
just in case you are stopped by police.
This is going to be a very odd year and may accelerate the spread of
"survivor" traits due to more escaped swarms allowed to do their own thing.
Paul
