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.