Bee Health

Starvation Warning!!🐝

apiarymanager Feeding Bees and Starvation, PBKA

In most areas of the UK our Bee Inspectors carrying out inspections over the last few days are seeing bee colonies which are extremely short of food stores within hives. Sadly, we have also attended apiaries where colonies have already died as a result of starvation.

After such a prolonged wet and cold Spring beekeepers should monitor their colony food levels closely, particularly if apiaries have not been visited for some time. Despite the forecast suggesting that temperatures will increase during this week colonies will still need to be checked for food levels.

Feed can be prepared from refined white sugar and water mixed at a 2:1 ratio or one of the proprietary ready mixed syrups available from beekeeping equipment suppliers.

More information about mixing up sugar can be found in the Best Practice Guidelines found on BeeBase.

https://www.nationalbeeunit.com/assets/PDFs/3_Resources_for_beekeepers/Best_practice_guidelines/BPG_7a_Feeding_Bees_-_sugar.pdf

If you have any questions then please contact your local Inspector:

https://www.nationalbeeunit.com/contact-us/ National Bee Unit

Asian Hornet update!

apiarymanager Hornets, PBKA

By the end of 2023 72 asian hornet nests had been confirmed in Britain. This is an enormous increase on previous years but increased awareness and reporting contributed to the total. There were many unconfirmed sightings, including a report from Slebech. As an observation, European hornets seemed to be more abundant in 2023 too. So far in 2024 a dead hornet was found in London, a credible sighting was in Preston at a warehouse handling goods from France. As you start getting you mowers and garden furniture out of the shed, just check there are no hornets waking from their slumber.

Peter Kirkup

Asian Hornet Co-ordinator

 

URGENT:Starvation risk warning!

apiarymanager Bee Health, Feeding Bees and Starvation, PBKA, Varroa

Given the continuing inclement weather and the increasing amount of brood being produced. This is to remind beekeepers everywhere to check their bees for stores (especially nucs), particularly if you didn’t give yours a full winter feed at the end of last season.

So give your hives a heft and if needed, give them some fondant or candy and recheck regularly!

This is also a good time to treat for Varroa while brood numbers are still low.