_tcm18-67281.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/News/2006/October/26100601.asp&h=243&w=250&sz=42&hl=en&start=14&tbnid=0FhJfQg2NxmnCM:&tbnh=108&tbnw=111&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhoneybee%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den)
York & District Beekeepers Association
Combings Magazine
Issue No 17 ~ March 2006
The Combings is the Quarterly Newsletter of the York & District Beekeepers Association offering a good source of information for our local Association.
We welcome contributions. Please submit your ideas to the Editor, John Fuller, e-mail: japlusja@btinternet.com
First Words from the Editor ...
You will all have heard by now that the government have abandoned their attempt to reduce funding for DEFRA with the effect of reducing the numbers of Seasonal Bee Inspectors. This is all due to pressure from beekeeping organisations and probably more importantly – individual beekeepers writing to their MPs.
I believe that Seasonal Bee Inspectors are at the forefront of disease detection. They also know where nearby beekeepers are if there is an outbreak - beekeepers that may not belong to Associations.
While on the topic of Seasonal Bee Inspectors, Mike Booth ‘phoned me in early February and told me that he has retired from the post. No information as yet on his successor.
This year’s auction will be held on Saturday 20 May at Murton. Colin Hattee has agreed to be our auctioneer after the sad loss of Frank Arnold. A flyer with all the details is enclosed with your "Combings".
Mike Booth will inspect any bees you have for sale as he has done in previous years. Contact him on 01482 571709 ‘phone or fax or e-mail at mlbooth@booth.karoo.co.uk
Bees that have not been inspected prior to being brought to Murton will not be accepted.
Our "Introduction to Beekeeping Course 2006" will be held on Tuesdays commencing on Tuesday 9 May and will run for eight sessions. If you know of any one interested have them contact Sue Hesp. A flyer for the course is also included with your "Combings".
Treasurer Chris Robinson told me that on January 26 2006; only 86 members have renewed their subscriptions for the coming year. At the end of last year our membership stood at just over 100. This means that getting on for twenty members, for some reason; no longer wish to be part of York BKA.
Where have we gone wrong? We cannot afford to lose membership at such a rate. Have you ever thought of dropping out? If so what where your reasons for thinking of doing so? Write to the Committee and tell them why. Unless you say something then the Committee will assume that all is well.
You could also put a letter in "Combings", and should you wish it, I will print it anonymously.
Tom Robinson has offered to oversee a queen rearing course during the coming season. I got this e-mail from Tom on Thursday 26th January:
"There will be a meeting of those interested in Queen Rearing on Saturday 18 March at 2pm in the Bee Pavilion at Murton".
This date will follow our committee meeting on 6th Feb when I will speak of any costs the Committee are willing to put into the venture but before the YDBKA meeting on 15 Feb when David Aston will speak on "Back to Basics".
Tom will chair the meeting and it is intended that those interested will carry out the queen rearing with their own colonies but this of course will not commence until May or June."
Tom tells me that only three people have shown any interest so far, yet at the meeting at Murton on 18 January half those present said they wanted to be part of the class when the subject was raised. If you were one of them contact Tom on 01904 626170 or e-mail mautomrobee@btopenworld.com
At a Committee meeting held on Monday 6 February, £200 was allocated out of Association funds for the purchase of any equipment needed for the course.
Tom has been rearing queens for many years now and is an active member of BIBBA.
You are all aware the L&G Glass of Leeds that where our suppliers of honey jars, went bust at the back end of last year. While talking to Tom about his queen rearing class he gave me the address of the company that has taken over from L&G. They are Compak (North) Ltd, of 9 Shannon Street, Leeds. LS9 8SS. ‘phone 0113 235 0662. They have large premises and stock everything that L&G stocked.
No firm decision has yet been made regarding an organised trip to the BBKA Convention at Stoneleigh on Saturday 22 April. In the past it has not had a lot of support. If you are interested, then contact Rob Coleman on 01904 762532. If there is sufficient interest, then Rob will organise a coach.
Volunteers are wanted to man the pavilion at Murton on Sundays during the summer. Contact Secretary Colin Hattee if you wish to help.
Volunteers are also wanted to allow summer meetings to be held at their apiaries. These are informal gatherings held in the evening or at weekends – you choose. Again, contact Colin Hattee who is organising the summer programme.
A final volunteer is wanted to host our annual BBQ. The date, time and place to suit you. Colin Hattee is the man to contact.
With a bit of luck we should be extracting our first batch of rape honey by the middle of May. One problem I always encounter when extracting is honey carbonising on the blade of my hot knife and then becoming baked rock hard. How do I remove this carbon? I have always used steel wool in the past, but it is a laborious job. Do any of you have an easier solution?
While on the subject of extracting – the Association has three hand powered extractors for use of Members. They are held by Rob Coleman on 01 904 762532, Sue Hesp on 01 904 489 449 and Jenny Smith on 01 904 706 941. There is always a demand for them so please use them quickly and return clean so that they are available to others.
Last year at this time bees where in short supply and at an auction held near Whitby of bees and equipment of a gentleman retiring from beekeeping a National hive with three frames of bees went for £85 with a strong colony fetching £140.
The first auction I have heard of is at the Lincolnshire Showground on Saturday 1 April.
Last summer a friend gave me an old galvanised smoker he had acquired and did not want. It is a little different from the norm in as much that it has an inner removable smoke box. It is a snug fit, so was probably designed that way and not something a previous owner has added. This is a common dodge used by those who use tin ware smokers – these tend to burn through the sides – so using an inner sacrificial lining prolongs the life of the smoker.
The bellows on this smoker have two holes in the side facing the smoke box. One in the usual position directing air into the smoke box. The other is 1½ inches in diameter and three inches above the other hole. It is covered from the inside with bellows material. Although not working now, I think this is meant to be a simple one way valve that allows air to enter the bellows quickly then closes when the bellows are squeezed to force air into the smoke box.
On the back of the bellows is printed information on the safe use of smokers thus:
CAUTION: Careless use of a smoker can cause fire or injury.
 | Stop puffing the smoker for a while if a
flame comes out of the nozzle. |
| Don’t allow loose embers to blow into
combustible materials. |
| Completely extinguish the smoker before
storing it in any buildings or vehicles. |
| If you dump smouldering fire out of the
smoker be sure it is completely extinguished before leaving the area. |
| Never place a hot smoker near flammable
materials such as gasoline, alcohol, benzaldehyde, beeswax etc. |
| Never puff a smoker into any ones face even
to ward off bees. |
| Never puff a smoker into any ones face even
to ward off bees. |
| Handle a hot smoker only by the bellows. |
| Keep out of the reach of children. |
All that is commonsense, but the next beekeeper
whose smoker starts a fire will not be the first.
The use of the word "gasoline" will
tell you that this smoker is American. It is made by the Root Company.
I have seen beekeepers attempting to light a
smoker with their veils over their faces. This is a dangerous practice. Puffing the smoker
with just ignited kindling, can cause flames to shoot out the top of the open smoker. If
this flame comes into contact with the flammable material of a veil, nasty facial burns
could result. Always throw your veil back while lighting your smoker until it is going
properly.
While on the topic of safety let me remind you
again about going to out apiaries. Tell your nearest and dearest where you are going and
what time you anticipate returning home. If you have a mobile ‘phone, have it on your
person, fully charged and switched on ready for use in an emergency. Accidents by
definition cannot be predicted,
Still on out apiaries, make a note of grid
references of each of your sites, for they are often remote and possibly difficult to give
any one directions to get there.
Also take your nearest and dearest to your
sites occasionally so they are familiar with there locations.
Once you have determined the grid references of
your apiaries, contact Jenny Smith with them on 01 904 706 941 or e-mail: lowrancehouse@lineone.net.
Jenny is our Spray Liaison Officer. Having your
map references helps her when she gets queries from farmers or spray contractors.
Those of you that subscribe to Beecraft will
have read David Astons article "A year in the apiary: December" in the December
05 edition. In it David says - "An important aid to the colony is the provision of a
good sized alighting board. Too often beekeepers expect their bees to land directly on the
hive and, in windy weather, this will reduce their foraging efficiency as they repeatedly
try to gain access to the entrance."
I remember reading an article a short while ago
under the heading - "Do bees need a plain landing strip"? Where the author
questioned the use of the flat alighting boards that some of us use and suggests that they
would be better off with a corrugated or mesh boards to land on, maintaining that if bees
land on a smooth board that is wet and topple over as some do, they cannot always right
themselves and chill.
There where pictures of his corrugated
alighting board and mesh alighting board. If you paint your alighting boards then another
idea is to sprinkle sand onto the wet paint to give bees a foot hold. Any thoughts?
I received this message from Chris Robinson who
was commenting on David Astons "Healthcheck" in last Decembers
"Combings"
"It was interesting to read David Astons
article and particularly his comments on mouse guards. He is not alone in his thoughts
about pollen being scraped off when the bees climb into the hive through the holes as I
have had comments from other beekeepers.
I have overcome this problem by making my own
mouse guards which are simply the conventional entrance block with plated panel pins
fitted at specific centres across the opening. This way the bees do not have to climb over
anything and the mice cannot enter. If anyone wants some of these guards making up I will
be willing to do so".
In December I wrote about a Reynolds hive from
information give to me by Bob Hawker who had read "Combings" on our web site.
Because of my ineptitude with computers I was unable to give you a drawing. Since then I
have been picking brains and got you a picture of a Reynolds hive. You will have to refer
to my article in December to under stand it.
If you wish to take your bees to borage and
have not yet got a site, ring Philip Clayton on 01652 678661. Philip is a partner in a
firm called Glafield that deals in borage in the East Riding and North Lincs as far as
Market Rasen.
I was reading an article on making an increase
without having to look for the queen – which in a populace colony can be difficult.
This method can be used at any time of the year
to either make an increase or as a swarm prevention measure. You will need a complete hive
with a full complement of frames.
Go to the hive you wish to split and remove two
or three frames of brood in all stages plus two frames of stores and put them into your
new brood box. Make sure the queen is not on any of the frames you have taken out. The
simplest way is to shake or brush bees off the frame – it then becomes a lot easier
to inspect the frame quickly to be certain the queen is not on the frame, now fill the
spaces in the donor colony with drawn comb or foundation. Put the queen excluder on top of
the donor box and your nucleus on top of that, then crown board and roof.
After a couple of hours nurse bees will have
gone up into the top box to look after the brood. You can now remove the nucleus onto a
floor on the site of the depleted parent colony. The parent colony should be moved to the
other side of your apiary to allow flying bees to reinforce your nucleus. After a
day’s flying the nucleus should be moved to another site well away and the parent put
back on its original stand.
If you do this manoeuvre to a strong colony it
will soon recover
If done early in the season you may have to
purchase an imported queen to keep it going. If done later on in the season you can let
the nucleus raise its own queen from an egg. If you are splitting a colony that has queen
cells then you will be able to use one of these queen cells. Pick one that has young
larvae visible and brush the bees off this comb rather than shake them of.
I have used this method in the past and it
works well with a minimum of fuss and without the anguish of going through a colony
looking for your queen.
This article appeared in the February 2005
edition of BBKA News. It is an alternative method of changing brood combs without knocking
bees off combs as in the shook swarm method.
Brood Comb Change - Comb replacement in the
spring is important both for the health of the bees and because there is an increasing
amount of anecdotal evidence that those who practice regular comb changing have an
increased honey crop.
Comb replacement using the shook swarm method
was described in December 2004 BBKA. Below is another method of comb change, based on the
Bailey method. Use one or the other; do not try to mix the two on the same hive. A more
detailed description of the Bailey comb change can be found in BBKA News 133, February
2002.
You will need:
| A clean brood box filled with clean frames
and new foundation |
| A spare queen excluder |
| 2 dummy boards |
| 1 gallon of thick sugar syrup (warm if
possible) and a feeder. |
Method
Early in March, clean the floorboard.
Mid March, remove any empty lateral frames from
the old brood box. Close up remaining frames and put in a dummy board. Put the new brood
box directly on top of the old one, (no queen excluder) with new frames vertically aligned
over the old ones and add a dummy board. Keep the surplus new frames safe until required.
Feed the colony with the gallon of syrup, put
on top of the new brood box. Trickle a little of the syrup down the frames to alert the
bees to its presence. Bees will not secrete wax with only stored honey; they need an
'income'. Clean (scorch) the cover board and roof before replacing.
Bees will move into the new box and begin to
draw the foundation, When there are enough cells, the queen will move up to lay. As soon
as the queen is in the top box, put the spare excluder between the two boxes to prevent
her from returning to the lower box. (Be absolutely sure the queen is in the top box!)
Add new frames to the top box as required.
Three to four weeks after insertion of the
queen excluder, all brood in the bottom box will have emerged; the box can be removed, the
wax melted and the box and frames thoroughly cleaned.
It would be sensible to replace the floor with
a clean one at this stage.
It may be necessary to put a queen excluder
over the upper box and add a super, before removal of the lower box, if there is an early
nectar flow.
At all times keep watch on the stores and feed
if necessary.
The larger the hive body, the more lateral frames should be removed, to persuade the bees to move upwards for more space. If there is an early rape crop in the vicinity, you may find the new brood box full of rape honey! If you can lift it, extract it and you have your new brood combs!
David Aston sent me this short article. It is self explanatory and, should you need it, is good ammunition when asking farmers if you can put your bees on their land.
SOME RECENT DATA TO SHOW FARMERS GOOD REASONS
WHY THEY SHOULD BE INTERESTED IN HONEYBEES POLLINATIONG THEIR OSR.
Most beekeepers in the YDBKA have bees that
work Oil Seed Rape (Brassica napus).
The following notes were taken from a
presentation at Apimondia 2005 describing work done at the Institute of Apiculture,
Liptovsky Hradok in Slovakia.
The experiments were carried out with the rape
variety Zeus and were performed in 3 localities during 2004 in northern Slovakia.
Parts of the rape plants were bagged before
pollination by honey bees.
Using standard methods a number of parameters
were measured, recorded and the results are described below for each of the three
localities.
The Sun newspaper carried an article at the back end of last year under the banner headline "KILLER SWARM - black cloud of frenzied bees sting wife to death after car hits their hive." A woman was stung to death in Johannesburg, when the car she and her husband where traveling in was involved in a motoring accident and finished up crashing into an electricity sub station.
It then goes on in the sensational manner of such papers to say that 250,000 bees had built a honey comb measuring six square meters. Witnesses said bees poured out of the sub station "like thick black smoke". The bees also attacked her husband who was trying to pull her away and he is in hospital fighting for his life. Passers by where also stung as where paramedics called to the scene. The bees became quiet when firemen sprayed them with water.
A passing beekeeper said "they where African killer bees. They are very aggressive and will follow you for more than half a mile – just 100 stings can kill a human being".
I had thought the bees in question A.m adansoni which have a reputation for being aggressive. So I contacted David Aston. Here is his reply. "My thoughts are that any colony that has a car run into its home would be likely to react in an aggressive way. The fact that it was an electricity substation is interesting and I wonder if the electrical fields had anything to do with their behaviour.
I don't think it would be the adansoni race because they are not present in Joburg, or in South Africa, nor do I think they are africanised bees."
I spoke to Terry Nundy about this lady being stung to death and the toxicity of bee venom and he has produced this item for you.
Bee Stings ...
This article was the result of the Editors thoughts on what constitutes a lethal dose of bee venom.
Anaphylaxis apart (more of this another time) There are obviously a number of factors which influence the morbidity and mortality from beestings : age and size of the victim - a small child would be more vulnerable ; general health and pre existing disease such as heart and circulatory problems ; the site of the sting - those around the mouth and nose are more dangerous as there are more mast cells in this area to produce histamine giving rise to more swelling and inflammation, and finally the number of stings. It may also be possible for the victim’s medication to be a factor. For example, it has been suggested, but not proven, that individuals taking non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs commonly used as analgesics (Brufen) and for arthritis (Voltarol) have a more severe reaction to bee stings. This is interesting because arthritis may be more common in beekeepers. A Spanish study showed that 50% of village beekeepers developed arthritis, but I am not sure how rigorous or controlled the investigation was.
In the literature the number of bee stings at one event giving rise to a serious risk is variable. De Bruyn (Practical Beekeeping) thinks more than 50 is dangerous and several hundred lethal. F.S.Stuart (Beekeeping Practice) states that 100 stings are lethal, as does Dr Stuttaford in an article in "the Times".
It seems reasonable to assume that weight for weight, bee venom is on a par with snake venom in its potency. We should be grateful that, due to its barbed sting, the bee has only one chance.
What are the constituents of bee venom?
It contains a number of different chemicals chief amongst which are:-
MELLITIN and PHOSPHOLIPID A. Toxins which cause tissue damage and release histamines.
HYALURONIDASE. Known to physicians as the spreading factor.
This spreading factor enhances the distribution of the toxins through the tissues.
Incidentally hyaluronidase is used in medicine to enhance the absorption of drugs and fluids given by injection into the tissues. These chemicals produce tissue damage and the release of histamines at the site of a bee sting thus producing the pain and inflammation.
Because of the number of constituents in bee venom effective local treatment is symptomatic rather than specific.
The first step is to reduce the dose of venom by removing the sting as the attached venom sac continues to contract even after it has been detached from the bee.
For this reason it is said that the sting should be carefully scraped off the skin to avoid squeezing the venom sac, but recently it has been suggested that speed of removal of the sting is more important than technique.
Local applications may ameliorate the reaction: ice packs (frozen peas are usually available); TCP; hydrocortisone cream; Olbas oil (vegetable oils) and antihistamine creams have all been used but are not specifically effective.
One remedy which had several favourable reports in the 1980’s (Bee Craft) is alcoholic extract of mallow leaves (The garden mallow or lavatera) marketed as "Mallow Balm" or as "Formula B Sting Relief" (Mallow and St Johns Wort in elderflower gel). This is also claimed to be effective in wasp stings and insect bites. I have never used it and I wonder if it is still available. Has the reader any experience of this or other remedies?
All of the above applies to the treatment of no more than several stings.
The treatment of a victim with a potentially serious number of stings is obviously better carried out in hospital along the lines of treatment for a severe allergy such as an anaphylactic reaction, with cardio – pulmonary and circulatory support; oxygen; adrenaline; and steroids.
But as I have said, more of this another time.
Editors note: I find it interesting that Spanish research show 50% of "village beekeepers" developed arthritis. It is odd that village beekeepers develop this ailment – are not urban beekeepers afflicted in the same way?
I always understood that bee stings reduced the likelihood of developing arthritis.
Yorkshire Beekeeping Association Websites
Below is a list of Yorkshire Beekeeping Association web sites for your perusal.
Barkston Ash - www.barkstonashbeekeepers.org.uk
Harrogate and Ripon - www.hrbka.org.uk
Halifax - www.bdevel.co.uk/bees
Beverley - www.beverleybeekeepers.co.uk
York - www.ydbka.org.uk
Leeds - www.leedsbeekeepers.org.uk
The Danish firm Swienty have brought out a small stainless steel radial honey extractor that spins honey out of frames horizontally. It is 36 inches in diameter and eight inches deep. It holds three or four frames (depending on size) and is hand driven.
It is designed with developing countries in mind. As the population of these countries tend to live on the bread line, I would think that the price of a stainless steel extractor would be beyond their reach. The same thing in food grade plastic would be far more affordable.
Horizontal extractors are not new. Some years ago a plastic two frame extractor was on sale in this country made by Brinsea Products. Other horizontal extractors date back to the 1880’s – so the idea is not new.
There was an advert in the autumn 05 Beekeepers Quarterly asking for 200+ "National Commercial Dadant hives. If you can help then ring 01 892 860 334 evenings. Some body is going into beekeeping in a big way.
In the November 05 edition of the Yorkshire BKA Newsletter there is a small piece saying that Cleveland BKA have decided to leave Yorkshire BKA. No reasons are given.
The queen marking colour for 2006 is WHITE.
Forthcoming Events
| Saturday 11th March. Yorkshire BKA Spring Conference. |
At the Buckles Hotel on the A64 between York and Tadcaster, commencing at 11.00. The speaker will be Willie Robson on "The Work of the Chain Bridge Honey Farm". York Beekeepers visited Chain Bridge some time ago.
| Wednesday 15th March 2006. Murton 19.30. |
Norman Carrick will speak to us on Bee Research at Rothampsted.
| Saturday 1st April |
Lincoln District BKA auction at the Lincoln County Showground. Commences 12 noon. More information from Alan Campion on 01 522 522 679 or Bill and Jenny Williams on 01 522 703 365. The Lincoln County showground is on the A15 at Scampton a few miles north of Lincoln.
| Wednesday 20th May (Murton 1930 hrs) |
We will have a speaker from the National Bee Unit. More details later.
| Saturday 22nd April (0900 to 1700 hrs) |
BBKA Spring Lecture Convention and Exhibition will be held at Stoneleigh Park Exhibition and Conference Centre, near Coventry. More details from Mary Dartnall on 023 8077 5445.
| Saturday 29th April 2006 (Bishop Burton) |
Yorkshire BKA’s Annual Conference will be held at Bishop Burton College on the A1079 some five miles west of Beverley. This years speakers are Philip Cunningham of Doncaster BKA, Dr Susan Colby of Ohio State University, Columbus, USA and Norman Walsh, Past President of Ulster BKA.
Registration will start at 08.30 with the first lecture at 09.30. The event is scheduled to end at 16.30.
Cost - £20 .00 with lunch and £15.00 without. More information and to book a place contact Dudley Gue, 87 Grove Park, Beverley. HU17 9JU. ‘phone 01 482 881 288.
| Tuesday 9th May. Murton. |
The first of eight "Introduction to Beekeeping" courses. Contact Sue Hesp on 01 904 489 449.
| Saturday 20th May 2006. Murton. 12.00. |
York BKA will be holding their 7th Annual Auction at the Yorkshire Museum of Farming, Murton York. Lots for sale accepted from 09.00, viewing from 11.00 and the sale will commence at noon.
Murton is situated on the A166 York to Bridlington road just off the Grimston Bar roundabout. Do not confuse the Farming Museum with the cattle auction site.
| Saturday 3rd June. Yorkshire BKA |
Spring field day to be hosted by Wharfedale Beekeepers at Bolton Abbey.
| Wednesday 21st and Thursday 22nd June. |
Lincoln Show at the show ground on the A15 a few miles north of Lincoln.
| Saturday 5th August. |
Tockwith Show. In the past, York Beekeepers have manned a stall at the show talking to the public about bees and beekeeping. David Aston has organised this in the past – if you are interested in helping, then give him a call.
| Wednesday 18th October . Murton 19.30. |
York Beekeepers Annual General Meeting.
| Thursday 19th to Sunday 21st October. |
National Honey Show will be held at the RAF Museum, Hendon, North London.
Looking ahead a bit ...
York BKA’s 2007 auction will be held on Saturday 19th May.
York BKA are to be hosts for the Yorkshire BKA Spring Field Day in 2007.
Looking ahead even further.
| Sunday 9th to Friday 14th September 2007. |
Apimondia 2007 will be held in Melbourne, Australia. For more information :- www.apimondia 2007melbourne.com