Listening to Bees

Posted on February 1, 2012 by | Comments Off

According to this story on the BBC News website listening to what is going on the hive may help work out what is going on and, more importantly, assist with diagnosis of hive health or swarming.  Interestingly enough this story appears in their Technology section and not Science/Environment.  Also interesting, to me, is that the recorder is describes as being ‘about the size of an iPhone’ or an HTC Galaxy I guess, or almost any other smartphone but then Apple would have tried to sue – now you know it is a technology story, and it shows how we have moved on. In the old days it probably would have been described as being about the size of a pack of 20 cigarettes!

Will this story ever develop and appear again?  Forgive me if I am cynical about this.

In the meantime we suggest you keep carrying out those inspections.

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Posted in Equipment

Inspection Records Online

Posted on January 25, 2012 by | Leave a comment

For all you ‘tech heads’ who are not afraid of the internet and modern technology – here is one for you! This is an application called ‘Beetight’, that can be accessed from your PC and, for the paid version, from Apple or Android Smart Phones or Tablets, and which apparently will keep records of all your inspections, photos of your hives, treatments, diseases, etc. A free service is available for those with up to six hives while the whole package costs $15 just over £9 a year. I succumbed to temptation early in December 2011. I have entered all the hives in so far and plan on using it next year to see how well it works in practice.  It is designed primarily for US users – one of the mandatory inspection points relates to Africanised bees for example.  There are options to include or exclude other questions for example to notes relating to swarm or supercedure cells.

The link to their website if you are interested is https://www.beetight.com/

Paul Eades, Apiary Manager 9/12/2011

Updated and republished by John Dudman, PBKA Webmaster 25/1/2012 who has signed up for the free version.

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Posted in Websites of Interest

Training Apiary Meetings 2012

Posted on January 25, 2012 by | Comments Off

Meeting dates have been added to the website.  Members can view them here or by going to Members using the menu above and following the link to Association Apiary.

Hope to see you there!

Paul Eades, Apiary Manager

p.s. If you are a member and don’t have the password follow this link.

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Posted in PBKA Apiary

Interested in being a Seasonal Bee Inspector?

Posted on January 21, 2012 by | Comments Off

We (National Bee Unit) are likely to be looking for a Seasonal Bee Inspector to cover part of South West Wales. The post is seasonal (April to September) and full training will be given. Candidates will need strong practical beekeeping skills, good knowledge of bee diseases and their control, and effective communication skills. Seasonal Bee Inspector duties include:

  •    organising and conducting the inspection of honey bee colonies for disease;
  •    maintaining accurate and up-to-date apiary inspection records;
  •    forwarding samples of hive material from suspect diseased colonies to the National Bee Unit lab for diagnosis and following procedures for treating or destroying diseased colonies;
  •    contributing to the work of the NBU in general.

I would hope to be in a position to recruit in early spring and, at this stage, am keen to generate interest. Of course, the process will be subject to standard equal opportunities procedures. I can neither offer the post nor any preferential treatment to anyone. However, I am very happy to answer any questions or to receive expressions of interest in the post from potential applicants and make sure that they receive job details and an application form when they become available.

Best wishes

Frank

Frank Gellatly

Regional Bee Inspector Wales
The Food and Environment Research Agency
Sand Hutton, York, YO41 1LZ

Email: francis.gellatly@fera.gsi.gov.uk

Web: www.nationalbeeunit.com

Tel: 01558 650663
Mob: 07775 119480

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Posted in National Bee Unit

Volunteering

Posted on January 20, 2012 by | Comments Off

The Association is always looking for volunteers to help with its activities.  Click here to find out more.

The whole family are interested in the Observation Hive at the County Show - A volunteer can explain what is going on.

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Posted in PBKA