Cretan honey wins second place

After sampling honey from Corfu, I imagine Cretan honey is similarly amazing. Read more here: https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/08/19/cretan-honey-wins-second-place-at-the-mediterranean-taste-awards-2020/

The winner, by the way, was Taygetos honey Elatis, https://www.medtasteawards.com/the-winners/

Like Buzz Aldrin, I very much like the celebration of coming second. 

'Miel Gibson' honey lands Chilean entrepreneur in hot water

 Please let this be true. See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-53788453

Asian Hornet 50 miles from London

Asian Hornets have been discovered in Basingstoke, about 50 miles from London.

 https://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/18649549.asian-hornets-near-basingstoke-cause-devastation/

Researchers discover honeybees have more than one way to feed on nectar

 

Read it here: https://phys.org/news/2020-08-honeybees-nectar.html

Air pollution could kill off critical honey bees in India

Bees feel the sting of air pollution more acutely than we do. A 3-year study in India finds that even mildly dirty air could kill 80% of giant Asian honey bees, a key pollinator in South Asia. Without such bees and other insects, domestic production of fruit, vegetables, nuts, and legumes could be at risk, the team says.

Read more at https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/08/its-body-looked-warzone-air-pollution-could-kill-critical-honey-bees-india

'Bee Man' to the rescue after swarm at Hove Lagoon

 You gotta love the headline!

https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/18641938.bee-man-rescue-swarm-hove-lagoon/

Buzz Gifts - Save the Bees

If 2020 has taught us one thing - it's that life is precious and delicate. Bees pollinate billions of plants each year, including millions of agricultural crops. It is estimated bees play a key role in one out of every three bites of food we eat. Without them, many plants and crops we rely on would die off. We are hoping to raise £1000 through your kind donations to help The British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) The BBKA educates and trains beekeepers of the future and supports vital research. They also work hard to raise the profile of beekeeping amongst young people through its school programme and junior certificates to ensure the next generation will be well equipped to do the important work we urgently need to continue. Thank you for your donation.

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How do I become a beekeeper?

Keeping bees healthy and productive requires knowledge and skill. Beekeeping is made much easier by belonging to a local Beekeepers Association (BKA), where you should be given advice, tuition and support.  Find BKA here One of the key questions you might ask is: Should I keep bees?  Why join a local association?  You will get great advice, a mentor and access to training and a library of books about beekeeping. Associations will run courses at  certain times of the year which will show you the magical world of beekeeping. By taking part in an 'Introduction to Beekeeping' course, you will understand the level of responsibility required to become a good beekeeper. Most associations support the course with a visit to a local apiary, where you can handle bees, before you make any investment in equipment and your honey bees. And you will have mentors who will help as you start to keep bees for yourself.  Courses Throughout spring and summer, de...

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Colony losses

Came across this amazing site, https://coloss.org/ 

I love the come-hither pose of the two fellas lying down ... 

Through the Honey Bee Watch citizen-science project, COLOSS Survivors Task Force aims to better understand the biological, behavioral, and environmental traits that encourage the survival of honey bee colonies around the world. But we need your help.

Would you be willing to share information about any surviving colonies that you know about that are unmanaged, untreated, and/or free-living? With these data—supplemented with lab tests on select samples—we will investigate and hopefully identify why some colonies thrive with little to no human intervention, while others perish due to various factors. We expect that the findings will improve sustainable beekeeping as well as support conservation efforts.

If you are aware of any colonies that fit these conditions, please fill out our preliminary survey. This is the first of two; the second is in development and will be issued by the end of Summer 2020 to those participants whose reported colonies meet the selection criteria and who provide an email address. The survey is completely anonymous and all information will be treated confidentially.

Honey Bee Watch — Survey I

Bee Kind

Oddly, this tag was attached to a flowerpot. 

Beekeeping: a mugs' game

Four of these for my birthday! (Tis a pity she's a bumblebee... ) 

Sunny Hunny

Seen in Hunstanton, home of King John's Lost Treasure. 

Sunny Hunny

Seen at Snettisham Park Farm, home of the Deer Safari https://www.snettishampark.co.uk/deer-safari

Become a member of the BBKA

Membership of the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) brings many rewards We recommend, particularly if you are a new beekeeper or want to start beekeeping, that you join your local beekeeping group who can provide training and support.  Junior membership and School membership is also available. Support and mentoring Practical teaching at the training apiary Training and education meetings Online forum for beekeeping support £10m third party public & product liability insurance  Monthly full cover membership magazine, BBKA News, posted to you On-line BBKA News magazine archive which is fully searchable Beekeeping examinations held to the highest level Annual Spring Convention and Exhibition with a full range of lectures and seminars Webshop with educational books and resources Discounts from suppliers to help set up as a beekeeper 5% discount for all members from National Bee Supplies www.beekeeping.co.uk You can join via your Loc...

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Beekeeping Gifts

Beekeeping Gifts

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Beekeepers have something to hive-five about

Couldn't resist the headline on this piece: https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/beekeepers-u-honeybees-had-very-163419742.html

Killer Asian hornets threatening to invade UK could be stopped – with pies - Daily Star

PLEASE let this be true: https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/killer-asian-hornets-threatening-invade-22222495

Happy Father's Day

Tooting and Quacking Queens!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-53029218

Honey exhibition, sale held at Baramulla

I like this report, mainly for the phrase "This year during the spring season about 73 quintals of honey has been extracted and processed". 

https://kashmirreader.com/2020/06/12/honey-exhibition-sale-held-at-baramulla/ 

Swarming in Co Fermanagh

Ethel Irvine of the Fermanagh Beekeepers' Association writes "Swarming problems for beekeepers as summer arrives"

Well, summer arrives at diffrnt times in diffrnt places, I guess. The article includes a good description of a Pagden, among many other things.

https://www.impartialreporter.com/news/18504958.swarming-problems-beekeepers-summer-arrives/

Very dark queen; most of mine are practically orange!

https://www.fermanaghbeekeepers.com/

How much is a jar of honey?

In South Sudan, approximately $3.20/kg (or about £1.20 per UK lb).

http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/ArticleView/mid/519/articleId/22101/Modern-Practices-And-An-Expanded-Market-The-Success-Of-Mborisa-Beekeepers-In-Yambio.aspx

Bait hive success - with a QE twist

This year I placed a hive, populated with brood frames and super frames divided by a QE, on some spare ground away from the apiary.

Would it attract a swarm? For the first time in 15 years, YES! 

In fact, I had largely forgotten the hive, and only checked from time to time. When I noticed a ton of activity, it was at the roof, not the entrance. Ambling over to check, I found a full swarm and queen. 

The bees had chosen the roof vents as their preferred entrance, and then clustered in the super. When I looked through the hive, I found the Q isolated, walking around by herself below the QE.

My guess is that the swarm wriggled through the vents, but the Q was too big, so she flew in the normal way, and the bees had not figured out that they needed to move down. 

Anyways, I blocked the vents and the foragers soon switched to the main entrance. After a week I looked again, and the Q is now laying in the brood box. 

How not to respond to bees

BeeHero

If I knew what this article was about, I would summarize it: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/beehero-smartens-hives-pollination-4m-173317428.html 

BeeHero intends to use the Internet of Things to replace beekeepers, all for a measly $4m

Albanian beekeepers

Well, who'd have thought it? The lockdowns imposed in response to the SARS-CoV2-19 virus apparently means a bumper harvest for Albanian beekeepers. 

Did the same apply during the reign of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania (prop. E Hoxha)? 

(Rex Features)

Lego Hive

This you must see: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/un-bee-lievable-beekeeper-builds-133957230.html

Ruairi O'Leocháin of Athlone's Wildlife Apiaries in Co Westmeath decided to build the Lego beehive for "a bit of craic"

 

Queen Bee Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall

Well, I never knew!

The Duchess of Cornwall is new President of Bees for Development

World Bee Day, 20th May 2020

We are delighted to announce that we have the support of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall as President of Bees for Development.

Her Royal Highness explains why she is so keen to supports our work in a short video message, especially recorded for World Bee Day 2020. In it, she explains how she has a personal reason for supporting us. She keeps bees herself, producing honey which she sells to support the charities she is linked to. This year, all proceeds will be donated to Bees for Development.

LinkedIn bees

Oracle is supporting bees. Check out the LinkedIn post and the source story:

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ines-grandi-374232_a-bee-inspired-story-smart-data-lessons-activity-6668795019861868544-qlfc

https://www.oracle.com/corporate/blog/world-bee-day-052020.html

Four thousand hives

Nice piece here: https://www.countryliving.com/uk/wildlife/countryside/a32568839/bees-thriving-lockdown/

The only bit that really struck home was "the family-run bee farm currently has 4,000 hives"

Holy Smokers!

At a rapid ten minutes per hive, inspections take nearly 700 hours a week!

The article is illustrated with pictures of bumblebees (pictured: Bombus lucorum)

Walking home

Cape bees and asexual reproduction

To follow up my earlier post https://mellifera.blogspot.com/ some more news on Cape bees (Apis mellifera capensis).

In the photo, the Q has the 64 marker disk; right next to her is a 'super worker' bee.

What makes it unique is that the female worker bees are able to lay eggs that develop into other female bees. These eggs are not fertilised by a male (worker bees are unable to mate), so this is a form of asexual reproduction, known as ‘thelytoky’. The Cape bees are essentially creating a clone.

Cape bees only develop this ability once the colony’s queen bee dies. By producing female bees, they can give birth to the colony’s new queen, ensuring that the colony survives. In other honey bee subspecies, the worker bees only produce male bees (drones), which have to fly off in search of a queen bee in another colony.

https://www.sciencefocus.com/nature/virgin-birth-gene-identified-in-honeybees/

Questions for beekeepers

Questions for beekeepers This page will have new questions added regularly. The questions are for beekeepers and will help provide feedback on topics and issues for those involved in beekeeping. Bookmark the page and return every month!  May 2020 - Wax moth question - Useful links  NBU Wax moth page which includes links to  Further information about the biology and identification features of all stages of wax moth can be found on the COLOSS website. Wax moth leaflet- Pdf. https://ift.tt/2yc6Bme

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Bright yellow pollen

Help our bees by Carol Lane

I am a BBKA member who specialises in urban beekeeping and work to raise awareness of the importance of bees to our ecosystem and to help create more bee friendly areas.

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The Joy of Pests

Nice piece here. Check out the joy on Shane Jones' fizzog: https://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/18446981.pest-controller-warns-hornet-wasp-season-started-really-early-basingstoke/

Rewilding for bees and bugs

A well-meaning article in The Grauniad: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/may/12/more-birds-and-bees-please-12-easy-expert-ways-to-rewild-your-garden 

 ‘The traditional English cottage garden is an absolute haven for insects,’ says Mark Fellowes of the University of Reading. Photograph: Borchee/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Honeyed nonsense

From 'Speciality Food Magazine:' 

The Covid-19 pandemic has made consumers keen to boost immunity. High quality honey has antibacterial, prebiotic and antioxidant properties and beekeepers and suppliers report higher than usual demand.

https://www.specialityfoodmagazine.com/news/trend-watch-honey

Pretty in Pink

A friend claims he has a camouflage-pattern beesuit, but I've never seen him in it. I, too, have a cam-pattern beesuit, but I can't find it. (These are the jokes, folks.)

https://natashageary.com/

RHS Plants for Pollinators

Came across the Royal Horticultural Society's 'Plants for Pollinators', here: https://www.rhs.org.uk/science/conservation-biodiversity/wildlife/plants-for-pollinators

Cape bees and asexual reproduction

Amazing piece of research reported here: https://phys.org/news/2020-05-gene-honey-bees-virgin-birth.html

The interesting/worrying section reads: "Every year in South Africa, 10,000 colonies of commercial beehives die because of the social parasite behaviour in Cape honey bees."  

What prevents Cape bees arriving in the UK?

Masses of parasitic eggs laid by parasites in a dying colony. Credit: Professor Benjamin Oldroyd/Univeristy of Sydney

More information: Current Biology (2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.04.033

Bermondsey Street Bees

Seen this for the first time: https://www.bermondseystreetbees.co.uk/  They boast a 'honey sommelier,' which is a bit up its own Aristotle for me. 

Murder hornets

'Murder hornets' in Washington state threaten bees and whip up media swarm

This story refers (I think) to the invasion in the US of Asian Giant Hornet, Vespa mandarinia, in the same way that we face the woes caused by the Asian Hornet, Vespa velutina nigrithorax

https://clicklancashire.com/2020/05/04/murder-hornets-in-washington-state-threaten-bees-and-whip.html

Eye Bee M

For many years IBM has used the Eye-Bee-M rebus: 

Here's the latest combo: 

In this context I have absolutely no idea what "Bee Wall" is intended to communicate.

Who is this?

Bees & Refugees

The project was the idea of 35 year-old Shepherd's Bush resident Ali Alzein, who fled his home and life in Damascus, Syria. He arrived in the UK in 2012 but found it hard to adjust. https://www.spacehive.com/local-honey

https://www.shepherdsbushw12.com/

East Surrey Bees

Two very nice-looking nucs added to the stash today, from East Surrey Bees
http://www.eastsurreybees.co.uk/

Swarm, or cast?

Too high to reach, unfortunately, and no access from the roof

Tang It!

Called out to collect a swarm today, the bees pushed off moments before I arrived. Maybe tanging would have helped. My preferred method is cussing.

https://digital.nls.uk/moir/tanging.html

Five bee colonies die after hives trashed and honey stolen in Flintshire

More bee-rustling: http://www.deeside.com/police-appeal-for-information-after-beehives-trashed-and-honey-stolen-in-flintshire/

'Tis the season to be wary...

Bees contribute more to British economy than Royal Family

You read it here last (story from 2015!):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/wildlife/11679210/Bees-contribute-more-to-British-economy-than-Royal-Family.html

Honey for Hospitals!

Friday 17 April 2020 Dr Alasdair Driver is acting Chair of East Devon Beekeepers Association ( EDBKA ). He says just before the lockdown for corona virus he needed hospital treatment. "Just before the world entered into global disarray, I had to undergo some minor treatment at the Royal Devon & Exeter hospital, where I received the most amazingly excellent care. So, it occurred to me that with the added pressures and stress the staff there are now under, a small gesture from a grateful member of the beekeeping world may be of use." This then blossomed into a bigger idea of the branch to offer a larger amount of honey for the staff to enjoy. "So, with the backing of the EDBKA committee to raid the apiary supplies, I asked the hospital if a donation of honey for the staff would be useful .....back came a resounding YES!"  Dr Driver and his wife ordered special labels and spent Easter Monday morning jarring up and labelling over 130 jars of honey for the staff.  ...

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Swarmshaker

Neat way to grab a swarm... https://twitter.com/i/status/1249581328963682309

Lockdown cripples migratory beekeepers

Beekeepers in India have found themselves banned from travel during the coronavirus lockdown:

https://kashmirreader.com/2020/04/14/lockdown-cripples-migratory-beekeepers/

Average winter losses

Our beekeeping association reports average winter colony losses of 33%.

Beehives destroyed in suspected arson attack

Infuriating news: https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2020-04-08/police-appeal-after-pensioners-beehives-destroyed-in-suspected-arson-attack/

Stanton Fitzwarren by Highworth, near Swindon

Starvation in a land of plenty

Another colony lost to starvation. In this case, they had eaten all the winter fondant and a fair bit of the fondant placed on the hive in January - about 1 kg in total - but it was too far from the cluster.

I heard of a near-by apiary where 7/8 of the colonies have starved this winter.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20442957-starvation-in-a-land-of-plenty

Temporary Office Closure March 2020

Office Temporary Closure  The BBKA is closing the office for 3 weeks due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. During this time no orders from the shop will be processed.  The phone lines will still be answered but please bear with the staff during this time as there may be delays. The phone lines are being redirected but only one call can be taken at a time. It will be easier for staff if you send an email to bbka@bbka.org.uk or direct to the team member if you know their email address. Advice for beekeepers tending hives during Covid-19 Pandemic  Swarm Collection curing Covid-19 Pandemic  If you are enquiring about Swarms please see our swarm page If you have a beekeeping question please join the BBKA Forum If you have made an order from the shop after 24/3/2020 it will not be processed until staff return to the office. If you have a question about Asian hornets please see our AHAT map page If your question relates to be added as an AH...

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Very annoying

At times like this you regret having docile bees, and dream of a feisty colony chasing the vandals high and low...

Dead clever

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/03/how-undertaker-bees-recognize-dead-comrades

Cash crop - and it's not the honey

According to this piece, migratory beekeeping can earn up to $200,000. Crikey.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/to-bee-or-not-to-bee-the-great-dilemma-zrlztxwl5

Beekeepers can make $200,000 in a few weeks by sending hives across the country, says Matias Viel of pollination start-up Beeflow Photo: Gabriela Hasbun, https://www.gabrielahasbun.com/ 

Midlife crisis

What if all the wasps disappeared?

Slightly annoying presentation style, but fun all the same.

Hive Records Using Bricks!?

Vandalism

Well, it happens. Annoying, to say the least.

https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/crime/2020/03/11/telford-beekeepers-plea-after-hives-are-vandalised/

The Nineteenth Tee

Spotted at the Royal Wimbledon Golf Club. Very nicely kept hives, and all busy on a mild March morning.

Starvation

On a warm day I checked my colonies, Jericho beekeeping style, and saw that there were no flying bees from one colony.

Closer inspection showed that they had starved. There were plenty of stores, but probably out of reach during the cold snaps. Like Stewart's video, the colony had fondant, which they had earlier been eating.

Found a relevant video from Norfolk Honey.

Kangaroo Island Bees

The bush fires in Australia have devastated Kangaroo Island, apparently one of the few places where pure strains of Ligurian bees flourish.

This fella is trying to rebuild his business - https://gogetfunding.com/bee-keeper-needs-funds-after-bush-fires-in-kangaroo-island-south-australia/

Upper entrance, anyone?

This is the first I have heard of this. Reading between the lines, it may be the last, too:  https://www.honeybeesuite.com/the-upstairs-downstairs-intrance-better-hive-access/

The Honey Bee Suite blog is *excellent*

See also https://www.honeybeesuite.com/a-gentle-warning-about-upper-entrances/

How bees argue

Great article here, http://www.overcomingbias.com/2020/01/how-bees-argue.html

I particularly like the overcomingbias.com statement:

"This is a blog on why we believe and do what we do, why we pretend otherwise, how we might do better, and what our descendants might do, if they don't all die."

Note: We, and our descendants, are all going to die, but you get what they mean.

Personalized number plates - in Georgia

Well, what about this? January 7 edition of Bee Culture

Controlling varroa

The Bad Beekeeping Blog has a nice summary of some academic articles on controlling varroa. Read them here: https://badbeekeepingblog.com/2020/02/15/a-guide-to-controlling-varroa/

Scott Bauer, USDA

Extra Bee Health Course

Due to the high demand for places on the Bee Health Courses that the BBKA are running in March, we have arranged an additional date - Sunday 29th March 2020 at the National Beekeeping Centre, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth.  For more details and to book a place, please go to the shop on the BBKA website. https://ift.tt/2HBI7DO This email has been sent to all Area Association eR2 Managers, would you please share this information with your branches and members? -ends- 

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St Valentine's Day

Biscuiteers!

Beekeeping wisdom

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-51401315

Trustees 2020

Trustees The BBKA was founded in 1874 and originally brought together some 26 county beekeeping associations, not to replicate their work, but to be in a stronger position to represent their interests at government level and to facilitate a nationwide educational structure supported by a common examination process. Currently we run as an umbrella to our 74 Associations. Each Association has one elected member who votes on all things beekeeping in the UK, at our Annual Delegate Meeting (ADM), at the beginning of every year.  Appointed at the ADM are the President and 12 Trustees, who collectively comprise the Executive Committee (EC) that is the governing body of the BBKA. Delegates may adopt propositions at the Annual Delegate Meeting that provide policy direction to the EC. We are now a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)  This page lists the trustees for 2020.  This page also includes an email address for each trustee as well as information about w...

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Know your bees

Nice book with excellent illustrations.
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/s?k=Know+Your+Bees&i=stripbooks&ref=nb_sb_noss_2