Losses in the bee population is a global issue and affects both Apis mellifera and Apis cerana. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has published a fascinating report on the global decline of honey bees.
You can read Richard Black’s comments on the BBC Environment blog the summary on the UNEP website or read/download the full report here.
Bees over-wintering are mostly confined to their hives and this crowding together with the extended life of workers provides conditions for the build up of nosema spores in the abdomen. Find out more about Nosema on Beebase.
We are running a nosema testing workshop on Saturday, April 9th starting at 9.30 and closing at about 3.00 pm. This will be held at the Picton Community Centre adjacent to the County Hall car park which is free on Saturdays. If nosema is diagnosed, treatment is advised by dosing feed with Fumidil B.
For this workshop, members must bring a sample of bees from each hive, collected as described in these instructions. If anyone has any innovative ways of collecting flying bees we would be glad to hear about them.
Location wanted for four hives in the Cosheston area.
Contact the Secretary secretarypbka@hotmail.com if you would like to offer a possible site.
The Environment Secretary, Caroline Spelman, will have to answer a question in the Commons from the former Home Office minister David Hanson about whether the Government will investigate if the effect of neonicotinoids on the grooming behaviour of bees is similar to its effect on termites. Full report in the Independent
The Welsh Beekeepers’ Association 2011 Convention, is on Saturday 26th March and starts at 9.00am. Tea & coffee will be available from 8.30am. The location is Hafod-a-Hendre Hall, Royal Welsh Agricultural Showground, Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, Powys, LD2 3SY. Admission for Adults is £8.00: Juniors (under 17) get in FREE! It will be a great day for all beekeepers, so we hope to see you there!! Check out the WBKA website for more information.
Pembrokeshire Beekeepers' Association 