Wow, what can I say, Tuesday 5th May 2010 we are out in the Apiary having our practical session and its cold (again). Coldest May night for many years from what I read. Not surprisingly the tutors decided we would not do much hands on today as it would be bad for the bees and especially the brood.
On a more positive note. Just as we were starting someone noticed a swarm neatly bundled up in a tree about 4 meters off the groud. This was the first time I have ever seen a swarm of bees and it was amazing to see how calm they all were and harly moving at all. Guess they were all trying to keep warm until the scout bees could find them a nice home. Swarming is the bees natural process of splitting thereby increasing colonies (if they survive).
Anyway what did we learn this week. Had a great talk about the Varroa mite. Very nasty mite which feeds off the bodily fluids of the adult bees, laval bees and pupal. In order to determine infestation we were shown to put a varroa floor covered with vaseline under the hive for one week. Some of the Varroa would over the course of the next 7 days fall and be trapped on this board. You then just need to count the varroa to determine if you have a small or large infestation. Poor bees, the mite really weakens their immune system leaving them suseptable to disease, it can wipe out an entire colony if not dealt with. Luckily there are ways of dealing with this, but thats another story :)
We were also shown something I'm sure I will really enjoy, how to harvest the yummie honey. Seems so simple, just place a couple of one way valves (porter bee escapes) under the super to harvest, leave for a day and then take of the super (hopefully free of bees) to harvest. The bee escapes allow the bees to exit but not return, most should be done in a day or so.
Quite a short lesson mainly due to the cold. It was nice to start the lesson with the lighting of the smokers, I didn't get to try this last time around. Its fairly easy, at least now I know what to do with some of the grass clippings (leave to try for smoker :) )
So just need the lovely British weather to change and then should get hands on with the bees, hopefully next Tuesday. Until then, back to my books...
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