Another Asian Hornet sighting!
There has been a confirmed finding of an Asian Hornet north of the Mendip Hills in Somerset. As with the first sighting, work to find, destroy and remove any nests is already underway.
Husbandry Advice:
It is very important that beekeepers remain vigilant and monitor their apiaries and surrounding forage for any Asian hornet activity. At this time of the year, Asian hornets can be seen foraging on the ivy for nectar and preying on other foraging insects for protein.
Traps should also be hung out and closely monitored. When using bait, please refrain from using light beer or lager mixed with sugar as this does not work. In France a Dark beer, mixed with 25ml of strawberry syrup and 25ml of orange liqueur has proven to work well.
Additionally, a protein bait of mashed fish e.g. prawns or trout, diluted to 25% has also proven effective. Anyone wishing to make their own traps may find the following factsheet useful: How to make a homemade Asian hornet monitoring trap.
Further guidance on identifying the Asian hornet can be found on the Asian hornet pages of Beebase where you will find a very useful Asian hornet ID sheet and Asian hornet poster. All of this information can be found on the Asian hornet page of BeeBase: http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/index.cfm?pageId=208
Asian Hornet update from National Bee Unit!
Following the finding of Asian hornets in Gloucestershire last week we have received a large number of suspect Asian hornet reports from members of the public and beekeepers which we are following up. Bee inspectors have now visited over 100 sites. Asian hornets have been seen at just six locations within 500 meters of the original site.
Efforts to track down the nest and destroy it are ongoing. There have been no other substantiated reports of hornets anywhere else in the UK so please be patient while we continue our field work and be assured that when appropriate, national alerts will be sent out via our email alert system. In the meantime, our news feed on BeeBase will be used to keep everyone updated.
Please also see the updated ID sheet to help you Identify Vespa velutina in your apiaries: http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/index.cfm?pageId=208. At this time of the year, the best bait to use in traps is fish bait diluted to 25%
Please continue to monitor your own apiaries using hornet traps and encourage those whom you know are not registered on our database to sign up.
Annual PBKA Honey Show – Saturday 17th September 2016
Just to remind all members that the annual PBKA Honey Show is this Saturday 17th September 2016 at the Visitor’s Centre, Scolton Manor. As you enter the main gate at Scolton, turn left and follow the road down to the Visitor’s Centre pay and display car park.
The centre will be open shortly after 9am and your entries should be available for staging by 10am to allow the judging to start promptly at 11am.
Note that the next day, Sunday 18th September, the final apiary meeting of the season will be held at the Pembrokeshire Beekeeping Centre at Scolton Manor for both beginners and improvers groups, so if you have any queries for the team or would like to share a story, please bring them along.
Please note also that you don’t have to put in an entry to come along to the Honey Show and we would be delighted to see you if you just want to have a look at the entries or fancy a chat over what is likely to be a very busy weekend!
If you have any queries in the meantime, please contact the Apiary Manager on pbkaapiarymanager@live.co.uk
CANCELLED – Beginners Apiary Meeting
Please note that due to unforeseen circumstances, this Sunday’s (11th September) apiary meeting for Beginners is cancelled.
The next (and final) meeting of the season will be at the Pembrokeshire Beekeeping Centre at Scolton Manor, for both Beginners and Improvers on Sunday 18th September at 2pm; the day after the Honey Show.
Apologies for any inconvenience.
Pembrokeshire Beekeepers' Association 