Smoking kills

An ancient beekeeper advised me that "Smoking is bad for both bees and keeper."

Sadly, I've lost touch. He's probably propping up a bar somewhere. Or dead. Or both.

Haynes

On Fathers' Day I was given the Haynes Bee Manual. Outstanding. You can buy the Haynes Bee Manual (and read very positive reviews) here.

Baby you can drive my car

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-40258679/bee-swarm-swamps-car-in-hull

Crying wolf, or sounding the alarm?

The trouble is, this is old news...Does repetition get the message across, or numb the audience?

http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/food-and-drink/honey-we-need-your-help-to-save-the-bees-1.2872609

The Bungling Beekeeper's Beekeeping Bible

Here's a nice blog: https://thebunglingbeekeeper.blogspot.co.uk/

Olympics, here we come

The Google card for the Wimbledon Beekeepers' Association lists us as "Sports club in Morden."

Syrup

It's an enormous pity that slang terms, such as syrup, have largely fallen out of use. All the same, I miss the opportunity to write about the hilarious results of confusing syrup of figs with bee feed. It could be funnier than Citizen Khan. Heck,*anything* could be funnier than Citizen Khan.

How on earth did Anand Varma shoot this film?

Swarm!

The same friend called again, this time to say that she had spotted a swarm in her garden. I am waiting at the airport to fly to London. I blame James Nesbitt.

Swarm!

A friend called to say that she had spotted a swarm, sitting neatly on a post, in her street. I am waiting at the airport to fly to Berlin.

Nicer bees and people you could not hope to meet

I get my bees from East Surrey Bees - http://eastsurreybees.co.uk.websitebuilder.prositehosting.co.uk/home - and nicer bees and people you could not hope to meet.

Wax moths save the planet! Hooray (ish)

If your colonies have ever experienced a wax-moth infestation, this news (below) will come as no surprise (and did I see the same report in New Scientist?)

https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2017/04/29/plastic-eating-caterpillars-could-save-the-planet

Pic from The Economist

Colony Collapse Disorder: Beekeepers to Blame?

Looking at this NYTimes article, https://nyti.ms/2lmPODV, it struck me how carelessly the hives are treated: many lids open, multiple hives in proximity. I wonder if bees drifting from hive to hive make the entire stock susceptible to disease?

Big Bugger!

You won't BEElieve it! Brave daredevil strips down completely NAKED before trying out beekeeping - and he walks away without a single sting

Yep, it's the Daily Mail again
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3721947/You-won-t-BEElieve-Brave-daredevil-strips-completely-NAKED-trying-beekeeping-walks-away-without-single-sting.html#ixzz4jPRp6ZNB  Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

You should get that seen to...

You couldn't make this stuff up. Oh, wait a minute - it's from the Daily Mail...a piece on Martin Knox, a beekeeper said to be allergic to bee stings.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3658117/Top-beekeeper-risks-life-time-goes-near-hive-ALLERGIC-stings.html

The Return of the Tree Huggers

CREDIT: PIOTR PIŁASIEWICZ

This (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/how-to-grow/meet-the-men-reviving-the-ancient-craft-of-tree-beekeeping/) looks tremendous. I can't wait to collect honey from a hive 20ft up a tree.

Warré hives

Yet another topic that has escaped me: Warré hives. On principle I like the let-the-bees-alone attitude, and I like the word 'nadiring' even more!

See http://www.bee-friendly.co.uk/

Viable

Lovely pics on this blog: https://beeviable.wordpress.com/ 

Will it ride up with wear?

Beekeeping in the news again, this time The London Evening Standard: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/rise-of-the-urban-beekeeper-london-rallies-to-plight-of-the-humble-honeybee-10283958.html

Comedy-size beekeeping Marigolds. How on earth can she handle the frames with those monsters flapping around her fingers? The suit is on the generous side, too. No doubt it will ride up with wear.

All you ever wanted to know about honeybee forage but were afraid to ask

Ask Mark Patterson, Forage Officer at the London Bee Keepers' Association!

Compete with friends and unlock stickers

Do you know what this is? Nope, me neither.

https://www.swarmapp.com/

Middle-class urban beekeepers blamed for town centre swarms

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/wildlife/11600059/Middle-class-urban-beekeepers-blamed-for-town-centre-swarms.html

I particularly like (a) the idea that beekeepers rather than bees are responsible for swarms, (b) the use of 'blame,' and (c) the ignorant lack of hyphen in the newspaper headline. 

Memento Mori

Last year at an NT property, no less, I found a former orchard containing five WBC hives, of which two or three were moribund and yet still had boxes and frames inside. I peeked inside one active hive, which seemed to be full of wax moth (I did not have time to look properly).

After contacting the local association and a bit of asking around, I am fairly sure the beekeeper has sadly flown his last flight, and the NT had, er, not noticed. Which rather got me to thinking: does anyone include "what to do with my bees" in their Will?

The hive at my right shoulder was busy - but look at the height of the grass. The bees could barely fly in!

Nectar

The happy blogger's buzz: colonies building up fast, warmer weather returning, and incompetent beekeeping, like the nectar, in full flow.

Sitrep: Hive Alpha. A mouse gobbled up half of one colony and brood frames during the winter, yet somehow the bees made it through. The girls were rewarded with some spanking new frames and foundation from Thornes, and seem to have recovered well.

Sitrep: Hive Hanoi (a towering ziggurat of WBC lifts, hence the snappy name). More bees than you can shake a stick at - and I have shaken a fair few sticks in my time. I'm thinking of splitting the colony.

St Ermin's

St Ermin's Hotel is offering beekeeping courses, The two-and-a-half-hour sessions cost £25 per person and include a complimentary cocktail at the hotel’s Caxton Bar. 

"The terrace is dotted with wildflowers and bee-friendly plants and is already home to four hives, which house a thriving resident colony of 300,000 Buckfast honey bees."

Available dates include September 13, 16 and 20. Visit www.sterminshotel.co.uk/special-offers/st-ermins-beekeeping-courses to book.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2639446/Guests-swarm-bee-hotel-London-offering-day-trips-Buckingham-Palace-humans-stay-too.html 

Purple hives. Eh? 

EFB

EFB has been found in colonies around 2 miles away ...

Hee-Haw

I like this. I might get one. Donkey, that is.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2615484/No-need-long-face-Boneco-worlds-beekeeping-donkey-suit-protect-stings.html#i-aa1b0e6c

From The Daily Mail online, where else? 

Controlled, randomized

Mirabile dictu, the much-needed extra supers are now on both colonies.

One hive now has (from the bottom up) Brood/Super, QE, Super/Super/Super, and the other is the same except no Queen Excluder.

It's part of my plan to see whether a QE helps or hinders colony development, in a controlled randomized double-blind trial. See diagram (1). Or it could be that I forgot to bring it.

Diagram (1): Pretty much says it all, I feel. 

Despatched

The weather has brightened up and both hives are overflowing with bees and honey... do I have any spare supers to plonk on top?

Of course not. Let's hope Thornes do their stuff... sooner rather than later.

Shaken, not stirred

My first attempt at a shook swarm is going well, in a no-idea-if-it-is-working way.

Forget the textbook steps (assuming, that is, you know them to forget them). I now have two colonies, one queened and one queenless.

If I am successful, the credit is mine; if not, I blame the bees. (I should be in management, eh?)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Drucker#Key_ideas 

Death and destruction

Throwing out the yellowjackets before winter

Queen Bee Blog

Very good blog - much more betterer than D.O.A.I.B.

http://beeblogqueen.blogspot.co.uk

Brand Logic

My honey is proudly labelled "Waxy Beelegs Honey."
Where on earth did I get the idea for the name?

Obviously not written by a beekeeper

The premise of the movie is that a mad scientist (played by Anitra Ford) has created an army of beauties who seduce men to death. One by one the male victims are killed before the local police catch on to the plans of the infested females.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_the_Bee_Girls

Compound eyes

Yesterday's excitement (adding feed to the colony) was immeasurably increased by losing my glasses in the apiary. 

After a brief search, touch-based location saved the day; I trod on them. A little wonkier for wear, I once again have compound eyes. 

Stolen from http://www.keeping-honey-bees.com/compound-eyes.html

Furtive beekeeping

I have been looking for one of these camo suits for aaaages... Furtive beekeeping beckons
http://www.thebeeshop.co.uk 

As good as you can get round these 'ere parts...

The Association runs bee health check days: 30 bees crushed, examined &c for nosema and acarine, and eyeballed for varroa. The girls are all healthy, I am glad to say - mainly because they are from East Surrey Bees, which is pretty much as good as you can get round these 'ere parts.

This honey smells of PR

An amusing, if unbelievable, story: http://shar.es/zzKl8

Bez, the former Happy Mondays star, has revealed he suffered an unpleasant bee attack after leaving his trouser zip undone while tending his bee hive.

Glowing like a Good 'Un

Bicycling in a beesuit is really not recommended, especially not up Wimbledon Hill. I was glowing like a good 'un when I reached the top.

• Horses Sweat
• Men Perspire 
• Ladies only Glow

Talking about bicycles: Here's a pic of Jana Kinsman, Bike-a-Bee, Chicago.
Is Chicago flat or lumpy? I think we should be told. http://bikeabee.com/about

African 'killer bees'

How to save our bees: cross-breed them with African 'killer bees'    Photo:  Eureka Entertainment
The RC helicopter was justified - it was used to film swarms in flight, apparently. 

Graeme; Now, you may say I'm a loony...

I note in this article in the hallowed e-pages of the never-hysterical Daily Mail that keeping urban bees may be bad for bees. The argument, posited by Professor Francis Ratnieks and Dr Karin Alton from the Laboratory of Apiculture and Social Insects (LASI) at the University of Sussex is roughly this:

• In urban areas there are more bees than the forage will support 
• The bees will starve and die, or starve and become harbours for disease

Would that not, therefore, be a self-correcting situation? Not ideal, possibly, but then again that's pretty much how life works out, if you're an insect.

Bill and Tim: You're a loony.

Croatia finds another way to keep bees busy - Americas - Al Jazeera English

Scientists in Croatia are using the insects to help find land mines.

http://www.aljazeera.com/video/americas/2013/05/2013521295032120.html

Something to do with sugar. 

Thymol

Is it just me, or does anyone else like the smell of Apiguard?

Swarm ... or not ...

This evening the bees were hanging out of the hive, dripping over the landing board like a wet beard. My first thought was that they were about to swarm - but on inspection I could find no queen cells. Mind you, that doesn't say too much!

Gathered ethically, for maximum absorption in a balanced way

I am not making this up, I promise: straight from http://www.seventhwaveuk.com/63-propolis.html.

Propolis

Certain honeys are known to heal, and are proven effective against many strains of bacteria.  Some of the best contain a bit of Propolis.  But for maximum health potential, this is a supplement containing just pure Propolis.

There's a massive 1,000mg per capsule of purified Bee Propolis. As an all round foundation vitamin and mineral supplement, just one a day is perfect.  But if you need to repair and restore, then we recommend two a day.

Just like all of the treasures from the beehive, Propolis is bursting with nutrition. Over 180 nutrients are present including all your key vitamins and minerals, trace elements and amino acids.  Propolis is one of natures richest sources of bioflavonoids (antioxidants). And of course everything is totally natural, and works with your body in a balanced way.

People have been enjoying the benefits of Propolis for thousands of years! And modern research has proven how effective it is.  The benefits are wide, with excellent therapeutic effect, but Propolis is especially recommended for your immune system, circulation and gum health.  Please note that EU legislation prevents us discusing how Propolis may help specific health conditions.

We are so proud to be the UK's natural and additive free supplement brand, and it means you get the maximum absorption and results. The additives used in other products are potential allergens, and can really reduce effectiveness.  You can read more on this here.

Gathered ethically from honeybees in the mountainous region of Extremadura, Spain. This is one of the most natural, and environmentally conserved parts of Europe and ensures the Propolis is of an exceptional quality.

Beekeepers facing 'meltdown' as more than half of hives wiped out

The headline on this story on Independent.ie seems, well, a little over-dramatic. 'Meltdown,' as in a runaway nuclear fission reaction, produces an ugly, hot jumble of radioactive fuel, control rods, moderator and coolant. That sounds a teeny bit more serious than beekeepers losing stocks.

Three Mile Island was serious. Chernobyl, though not strictly a meltdown, was serious.

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/beekeepers-facing-meltdown-as-more-than-half-of-hives-wiped-out-29394236.html

Canicide

Should you ever wish to kill your dog, this looks like the answer: asphyxia, heatstroke, dehydration... and bees being bees, apitoxosis.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/bazza-the-beekeeping-dog-creates-a-buzz-with-outfit-designed-to-protect-him-from-stings-8690781.html

Jericho Beekeeping...

Today I indulged in a little Jericho Beekeeping, a concept borrowed from property surveyors (drive by, toot the horn, if it falls down...).

I glanced in the hive for all of two minutes, perhaps less. The girls are in a new brood box on new foundation, and thanks to the warm weather are doing well. Masterful Inaction, that's me.

Toot Toot!

Incompetence is back, Oh Yes

The bees are happy in their new home, if a little confused. They are flying out of the back of the hive, not the front.

How come?

That's because I forgot to re-insert the floor in the hive, so the girls have been Commando for the past few days, flying any which way they fancy.

Ooops. Fixed now. 

Feed and fallibility

Turned up this evening to move the nuc frames into a nice new brood box, only to discover that the nuc frames did not have spacers on them, and the brood box does not have castellations. Positioned the frames by eye, placed the feeder on the crownboard, and will return with spacers.

Where's one of these when you need one?

Back to the future

Great Scott!

This evening I picked up a nuc from East Surrey Bees, and popped them into the apiary.

The endeavour followed my usual form: the light was fading, and my goodness I am out of practice. Still, the girls should be happy in their new home. I shall turf them out into a brand-new brood box and frames tomorrow evening, and add feed.

Deafening silence

Slight interruption to the normal lack of service on the blog by the arrival of Child Number Three (20 May, 3.7kg, Lalita). She demands more attention than bees, blogs and beer. Just.

Beelore

Waaaaay the most interesting and informative beeblog I have come across so far: http://beelore.com/

A World Without Bees

Sadly, one of the colonies has died, which temporarily leaves me bee-less (the other colony is in more competent hands than mine). A world without bees...

Montana Wildlife Gardener

A real rant, and quite a good one: 

http://montanawildlifegardener.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/my-garden-rant-guest-rant-honey-bees.html

Bad Things for Bees

From The Independent 30 March 2012. For the more technically minded, the diagram shows that Things Are Very Bad, and (top right) Some Things Are Really Awful. The yellow hexagon means "Beware Pirates." For a less scientific interpretation, see  http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/new-pesticides-linked-to-bee-population-collapse-7601198.html 

Not a lot of people know that

Sir Edmund Hillary

With his brother Rex, Hillary became a beekeeper,[1][6] a summer occupation that allowed him to pursue climbing in the winter.[7] His interest in beekeeping later led Hillary to commission Michael Ayrton to cast a golden sculpture in the shape of honeycomb in imitation of Daedalus's lost-wax process. This was placed in his New Zealand garden, where his bees took it over as a hive and "filled it with honey and their young"

Not a lot of people know that.


Text info from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Hillary Pic from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067128/. Sir Edmund looks an awful lot like Michael Caine. Shome mishtake, surely?

Iran does something good

Take a look: http://www.mellifera.ir  There is a button to show the site in British English (yes, British English) for those whose Farsi is a little rusty.

Apocephalus borealis

The author, Sandy Simpson, Polmont Horticultural Society, of an article referring to yet another threat to bees: apocephalus borealis. Seen in The Falkirk Herald