Bee Health

Healthy Beekeeping App from Vita (Europe) Ltd. [Updated]

apiarymanager Bee Health

VitaAppVita (Europe) has just released a smartphone app which they describe as ‘The first-ever smartphone app about keeping healthy honeybees …” and go to say that “The app is free and gives beekeepers easy mobile access to information and photographs about honeybee disease identification and treatment. The app, suitable for nearly all smartphones and tablet devices, can be downloaded free from www.healthybeeguide.com. It runs on Apple or Android, on iPhones, iPads, Samsungs and Blackberrys and the full range of smart mobiles.”

[UPDATE: Have now tried this….Seems this isn’t an App but a mobile friendly website].

Welsh Government – Draft Action Plan for Pollinators; consultation response

apiarymanager Bee Health, Education & Training, Environment, Training

WG Draft Action Plan for Pollinators for Wales consultation response from Pembrokeshire Beekeepers Association

Welsh Government recently issued the Draft Action Plan for Pollinators for Wales as a consultation document.

The PBKA has put together a response, which it has sent on behalf of the association and the document is attached for information (see the link at the top of the page).

Urgent message from the WBKA

apiarymanager Bee Health, Feeding Bees and Starvation, WBKA

This changeable weather can be very harmful to our bees, with some Bee Inspectors already reporting low levels of stores. It is the responsibility of the beekeeper to ensure that they have sufficient stores to see them through until better conditions allow them to forage in earnest again.

We need to establish the level of stores within the hive* and if necessary supplement them by feeding syrup** and /or pollen.

Please, do not allow colonies to dwindle or perish, when we can do something to stop it.

John Page
General Secretary
Welsh Beekeepers’ Association

——————————————————–

Footnote from Pembrokeshire Beekeeper

* Do not let the level of stores fall below about 5 kg. To help with estimating, a BS deep frame full on both sides holds about 2 kg of stores – but of course stores will be spread across several frames.

** A “weak” syrup mixture should be fed 1:1 by weight is a good compromise and easy to remember.

Best Practice Downloads from Beebase which may be helpful: