NEWS AND USEFUL INFORMATION
EUROPEAN FOUL BROOD
IS IN THIS AREA May 2017
We are very sad to report that two of our members have discovered European Foul Brood in their colonies. It is very important that everyone checks their hives very closely and knows how to identify this infection.
Below is advice on what to do if you suspect you have the disease.
Make sure you are registered on the National Bee Unit that operate a statutory apiary inspection and surveillance programme. Bee inspectors will inspect bee colonies for foul brood, free of charge.
Checking for disease with the Bee Inspector
- Preferably you will go through your hive before the Bee inspector arrives-
- It may be that you have contacted him because you have found larvae that is twisted, creamy or does not have all the larval segments clearly visible.
- You may have cappings that are sunken, not dry looking. Healthy brood is pearly white with all the segments clearly defined.
- It may be that a notifiable disease has been found within 3-5 miles of you and a statutory inspection is being carried out.
- Notifiable diseases are American Foul brood or AFB, European Foul Brood or EFB, small hive beetle, tropilaelaps-mite, Asian Hornet
- Check your course notes, and BBKA or National Bee Unit websites as well as your books and BBKA magazines for pictures and articles about all these (and other) pests and diseases.
- Mark any frames where you have found a suspect cell or capping.
- You can put an extra ‘end cap’ on that frame, or mark it with your queen marker.
- Note which hive is affected.
- When the Inspector comes you will be able to go through the colonies which are unaffected first and reduce the risk of cross contamination.
- Note- the National Bee Unit cannot notify you that disease has been found near you if you haven’t signed up on bee base.
With the Inspector
- If you have a spare suit, gloves, cuffs, its worth having them available if you have more than one apiary
- – then you can changes clothing if Fouldbrood has been found
- Tell the Inspector which hives are affected so that you can go through those unaffected first.
- If its very hot you might consider taking an umbrella to shield you both from the sun.
- Work as a team with the Inspector- it will be much quicker to get through all the colonies.
- It is in your interest to have any affected hives in an area identified and dealt with as quickly as possible.
- Bees are clean and try to remove disease- but they also rob weaker colonies.
- The Inspector has much beekeeping knowledge to share with you.
- Loosen the frames
- Remove each frame in turn and hand to the Inspector.
- While s/he is looking you can be loosening and readying the next frame..
- If you spot the Queen on the frame, inform him, so that she can be removed to a place of safety while the frame is shaken of bees to inspect each cell.
- If European Foul brood is suspected, the inspector will remove the larvae and shake it in a solution, this will be dripped onto a tester.
- If this proves positive a frame will be sent to the NBU for inspection.
- Chalk marks will be put across the hive and records kept as to the number of brood and super boxes affected.
- You will be issued with a standstill notice.
- This means that no honey, equipment, swarms you collect, colonies may be moved from or to that site until the Inspector says so.
- If the colony is small or the infestation established the Inspector will destroy the colony.
- The Inspector will seal the colony in and petrol will be poured in.
- You must dig a hole 3 ‘- deep and everything will be burnt.
- If the infestation is not great then possibly only the frames will be destroyed.
- Brood boxes will need to be flamed.
- Poly boxes will need to be immersed for 20 minutes in bleach + solution as advised.
- If the colony is large and the infestation small you may be given the option of a ‘shook swarm’.
- This means that the inspector shakes will the bees onto new frames of foundation.
- The old eggs, larvae, brood , frames etc are burnt as before.
- Brood boxes etc flamed or polyboxes immersed in solution as advised
- If American Foul brood is found the whole colony and equipment will be destroyed
- Remember it is no shame to get these diseases- only keeping them.
- Destroying colonies affected with foulbrood means that these diseases are not endemic in UK as they are in United States, China etc.
- It is in everyone’s interest that abandoned hives are dealt with and that retiring beekeepers are supported to hand on their stocks and deal with all their old equipment.
- Possibly an association clean and flame day.
BOOKS, BLOGS AND WEBSITES
- Guide to Bee Keeping - storing and selling honey http://www.arenaflowers.com/features/bee-keeping/
- Organic Gardening Resource Center http://www.groworganic.com/organic-gardening/
We have strong connections with leading institutions like Southampton University, engaged in ongoing research into bees and their environment. From time to time, we invite speakers to deliver talks on this and other research. See the Events page for further details. We will also post articles on this page to help keep our members informed. Information on other research may be found via the Links page.
VIDEO CLIPS
Video clips are also available to help guide new (as well as more experienced) beekeepers through the various tasks involved in keeping bees or to share news and views from the beekeeping world:
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Michael Palmer: The Sustainable Apiary
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Michael Palmer: Queen Rearing in the Sustainable Apiary
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4. Bees in the Borough: Saving the British Black Bee
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Maria Spivak: Why Bees are Disappearing
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Anand Varna: The first 21 days of a bee's life (extract from video 6)
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Anand Varna: Breeding varroa-resistant bees project
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How to make Beeswax Flowers and Candles without a Mould
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Every city needs healthy honey bees - Noah Wilson-Rich
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NEWS AND RESEARCH AND INTERESTING LINKS
Want to Help? Here Are 10 Things You Can Do To Save The Bees
1. Support Local and Organic Farmers
Given that insecticides are cited as being the main cause of bee decline, a switch to organic farming is the first logical step. Organic farmers work with nature and the seasons to grow their crops, without the use of harmful pesticides, supporting both biodiversity and the bee. Take a trip to your local Farmer’s Market, meet the people who grow your food and admire the sheer variety of local and in-season fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs. Pre-packaged store bought produce will never look the same again, and buying organic benefits the bees, local farmers, the environment and your health!
2. Practice Organic Gardening at Home
Bee-killing chemicals are not only found in industrial practices, but also in many household insecticides too. Make sure to use only certified organic seeds, weed-killers and insect repellents or, better yet, make your own. Why not check out these great ways to Eliminate 8 Common Garden Pests Naturally; these 8 Natural Ways To Kill Garden Weeds or these 10 Genius Tips For Successful Organic Gardening? The more hard-core gardeners out there might even consider providing all the right conditions to foster a diverse and balanced ecosystem in their garden, encouraging an array of birds, butterflies, pollinators, and other wildlife in order to keep pests under control, the way that nature intended.
3. Plant Bee-Friendly Flowers & Shrubs
Attract these invaluable creatures to your garden by filling it with vibrant and bee-friendly plants. Not only will you be greeted with an array of colour when you step outside your door, but you’ll enjoy beautiful aromas, fresh seasonal flowers for your kitchen table and organic herbs picked straight from the garden. If you’re stuck for space, try planting some on your balcony, in window boxes or hanging baskets – the bees will thank you for it! Ideal plants include Hawthorn, Portuguese Laurel, Winter Honeysuckle, Lilac, Rosemary, Lavender, Fuchsia and Hydrangea with the British Beekeepers Association providing a full listing.
4. Buy Only Local Honey
Buy local organic honey as opposed to mass-produced supermarket brands. Your local beekeepers are far more likely to care about the health and wellbeing of their bees than large productions companies, who just focus on their bottom line. Not only will you keep your food miles down and support local businesses, but eating local honey may also help ward off seasonal allergies.
You can find a local honey supplier using this clever online tool.
5. Become a Beekeeper
This one is definitely not for everybody! It takes a certain kind of person to want to dress head to toe in protective clothing and spend their day around bugs that will inevitably give them a sting or two. But if you’re interested in learning first-hand how these captivating creatures contribute to our world, and are concerned with conservation, then it just might be for you. The American Beekeeping Federation offer free information on how to start beekeeping and the British Beekeepers’ Association even run beginners’ training programs.
6. Adopt a Hive
If you’re not ready for the challenge of keeping bees, but are interested in saving these incredible creatures, then you can always ‘adopt a hive’. Contact your local beekeeper or national association to see if they offer this program. For an annual fee you will be supporting the work of beekeepers, and will receive honey and honey-based products from your adopted hive, along with information packs and other goodies. You may even have the opportunity to visit your bees!
7. Set up a Bee Refreshment Station
Now that you have rid your garden of nasty insecticides and are actively attracting pollinators through your choice of flowers and shrubs, it’s a good idea to set up a refreshment station for tired bees. After all the work they do, a bee can easily wear itself out and it’s not uncommon to see a lone bee lying on the ground, seemingly dead, as it tries to muster up the energy to find food and fresh water. Give them a helping hand by setting up this easy DIY Bee Watering Station or, for an added boost, mix up a little sugar-water syrup. Never give bees artificial sweeteners or honey, which can contain traces of viruses that may be passed on.
8. Learn More About These Captivating Creatures
While no one wants to hear that the world’s bee population is under threat, many may balk at the idea of actually attracting bees into their garden. However, it’s important to understand that, unlike wasps and hornets, bees are not aggressive and will not sting unless they feel under threat. By learning how to act around a bee, you will avoid getting stung and need not fear them. Honeybees actually die after they sting you (although other types of bees do not) which should prove that they will not attack unless absolutely necessary!
Bees are attracted to brightly coloured clothing so wear light colours when out in the garden, and avoid heavily scented beauty products or perfumes. They are often found in the grass so watch where you step and wear shoes when gardening or playing. If a bee hovers around you, don’t swat it – just stay still and he will soon ‘buzz off’! If you’re still not comfortable with the idea of bees in your garden or neighbourhood and have found an unwanted hive, make sure to contact your local beekeeper who will safely remove it without harming its inhabitants. A quick online search will find you a local keeper, or contact your national beekeeping organisation.
9. Lobby on Behalf of Bees
Unless there is major legislative change or public outcry, industrial farming will continue to use these bee-killing pesticides and destructive agricultural practices. Speak up to influence the governments and companies who can make these changes happen. We need to call for more studies into the health and welfare of bees so we can more fully understand the devastating impact these practices are having on our pollinators, our environment, and our own health. Encourage your local government or council to fill public spaces with bee friendly plants, and petition to conserve what’s remaining of the bee’s natural habitat in woodlands, grasslands and hedgerows. Make a start right now by signing Greenpeace’s petition to Save The Bees!
. Tell A Friend
Lastly but by no means least, help to raise awareness of the bees’ plight so that we can build awareness and work together to save the world’s hard working bees and our future food supplies!
Sharing this article is a great way to start, so post a link on your Facebook, Tweet to your followers (you can use the Click To Tweet feature below to share a link to this article) and Pin to your Pinterest account to help spread this important message.
1. Support Local and Organic Farmers
Given that insecticides are cited as being the main cause of bee decline, a switch to organic farming is the first logical step. Organic farmers work with nature and the seasons to grow their crops, without the use of harmful pesticides, supporting both biodiversity and the bee. Take a trip to your local Farmer’s Market, meet the people who grow your food and admire the sheer variety of local and in-season fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs. Pre-packaged store bought produce will never look the same again, and buying organic benefits the bees, local farmers, the environment and your health!
2. Practice Organic Gardening at Home
Bee-killing chemicals are not only found in industrial practices, but also in many household insecticides too. Make sure to use only certified organic seeds, weed-killers and insect repellents or, better yet, make your own. Why not check out these great ways to Eliminate 8 Common Garden Pests Naturally; these 8 Natural Ways To Kill Garden Weeds or these 10 Genius Tips For Successful Organic Gardening? The more hard-core gardeners out there might even consider providing all the right conditions to foster a diverse and balanced ecosystem in their garden, encouraging an array of birds, butterflies, pollinators, and other wildlife in order to keep pests under control, the way that nature intended.
3. Plant Bee-Friendly Flowers & Shrubs
Attract these invaluable creatures to your garden by filling it with vibrant and bee-friendly plants. Not only will you be greeted with an array of colour when you step outside your door, but you’ll enjoy beautiful aromas, fresh seasonal flowers for your kitchen table and organic herbs picked straight from the garden. If you’re stuck for space, try planting some on your balcony, in window boxes or hanging baskets – the bees will thank you for it! Ideal plants include Hawthorn, Portuguese Laurel, Winter Honeysuckle, Lilac, Rosemary, Lavender, Fuchsia and Hydrangea with the British Beekeepers Association providing a full listing.
4. Buy Only Local Honey
Buy local organic honey as opposed to mass-produced supermarket brands. Your local beekeepers are far more likely to care about the health and wellbeing of their bees than large productions companies, who just focus on their bottom line. Not only will you keep your food miles down and support local businesses, but eating local honey may also help ward off seasonal allergies.
You can find a local honey supplier using this clever online tool.
5. Become a Beekeeper
This one is definitely not for everybody! It takes a certain kind of person to want to dress head to toe in protective clothing and spend their day around bugs that will inevitably give them a sting or two. But if you’re interested in learning first-hand how these captivating creatures contribute to our world, and are concerned with conservation, then it just might be for you. The American Beekeeping Federation offer free information on how to start beekeeping and the British Beekeepers’ Association even run beginners’ training programs.
6. Adopt a Hive
If you’re not ready for the challenge of keeping bees, but are interested in saving these incredible creatures, then you can always ‘adopt a hive’. Contact your local beekeeper or national association to see if they offer this program. For an annual fee you will be supporting the work of beekeepers, and will receive honey and honey-based products from your adopted hive, along with information packs and other goodies. You may even have the opportunity to visit your bees!
7. Set up a Bee Refreshment Station
Now that you have rid your garden of nasty insecticides and are actively attracting pollinators through your choice of flowers and shrubs, it’s a good idea to set up a refreshment station for tired bees. After all the work they do, a bee can easily wear itself out and it’s not uncommon to see a lone bee lying on the ground, seemingly dead, as it tries to muster up the energy to find food and fresh water. Give them a helping hand by setting up this easy DIY Bee Watering Station or, for an added boost, mix up a little sugar-water syrup. Never give bees artificial sweeteners or honey, which can contain traces of viruses that may be passed on.
8. Learn More About These Captivating Creatures
While no one wants to hear that the world’s bee population is under threat, many may balk at the idea of actually attracting bees into their garden. However, it’s important to understand that, unlike wasps and hornets, bees are not aggressive and will not sting unless they feel under threat. By learning how to act around a bee, you will avoid getting stung and need not fear them. Honeybees actually die after they sting you (although other types of bees do not) which should prove that they will not attack unless absolutely necessary!
Bees are attracted to brightly coloured clothing so wear light colours when out in the garden, and avoid heavily scented beauty products or perfumes. They are often found in the grass so watch where you step and wear shoes when gardening or playing. If a bee hovers around you, don’t swat it – just stay still and he will soon ‘buzz off’! If you’re still not comfortable with the idea of bees in your garden or neighbourhood and have found an unwanted hive, make sure to contact your local beekeeper who will safely remove it without harming its inhabitants. A quick online search will find you a local keeper, or contact your national beekeeping organisation.
9. Lobby on Behalf of Bees
Unless there is major legislative change or public outcry, industrial farming will continue to use these bee-killing pesticides and destructive agricultural practices. Speak up to influence the governments and companies who can make these changes happen. We need to call for more studies into the health and welfare of bees so we can more fully understand the devastating impact these practices are having on our pollinators, our environment, and our own health. Encourage your local government or council to fill public spaces with bee friendly plants, and petition to conserve what’s remaining of the bee’s natural habitat in woodlands, grasslands and hedgerows. Make a start right now by signing Greenpeace’s petition to Save The Bees!
. Tell A Friend
Lastly but by no means least, help to raise awareness of the bees’ plight so that we can build awareness and work together to save the world’s hard working bees and our future food supplies!
Sharing this article is a great way to start, so post a link on your Facebook, Tweet to your followers (you can use the Click To Tweet feature below to share a link to this article) and Pin to your Pinterest account to help spread this important message.
BEE DISEASE RESEARCH
BBC Spotlight, the BBC regional programme for the South West has shown a 10 minute feature on the work done to date by the members of the research team on phase one of the ReViVe project. This is now available on their website / iPlayer for the rest of us to view. In addition the full paper surrounding phase one is also available on an open access website. Both links are available from BDI's home page: http://www.beediseasesinsurance.co.uk/home
The full paper of the preliminary research can now be accessed here http://www.nature.com/ismej/journal/vaop/ncurrent/index.html#27102015
and the BBC SW clip here http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b06kjlsq/inside-out-south-west-26102015 (The clip starts after 10 minutes and lasts for 10 minutes.
SUMMARY OF RESEARCH BY BEN JONES:
The effect of dietary pollen on the health and behaviour of Honey Bees. National Bee Unit, The Food and Environment Research Agency, University of Exeter.
The effect of dietary pollen on the health and behaviour of Honey Bees. National Bee Unit, The Food and Environment Research Agency, University of Exeter.
DAILY MAIL ONLINE 14.3.201
Pesticides change bees' choice of wildflowers and stop them learning how to extract nectar
Pesticides change bees' choice of wildflowers and stop them learning how to extract nectar
NEW STUDY on GROOMING BEHAVIOUR by HONEY BEES AGAINST VARROA
In a new study, scientists have compared the ability of two strains of honey bees to defend themselves against the parasitic mite varroa by grooming the mites from their bodies. http://www.ibrabee.org.uk/news/press-releases/3808-new-study-on-grooming-behaviour-by-honey-bees-against-varroa
In a new study, scientists have compared the ability of two strains of honey bees to defend themselves against the parasitic mite varroa by grooming the mites from their bodies. http://www.ibrabee.org.uk/news/press-releases/3808-new-study-on-grooming-behaviour-by-honey-bees-against-varroa
DAILY MAIL ONLINE 18.4.2016
Why bees are cleverer than you think: Insects are conscious of the world around them and use their buzz to control pollen
Why bees are cleverer than you think: Insects are conscious of the world around them and use their buzz to control pollen
SCIENCE DAILY 12.1.2016:
Conflict among honey bee genes supports theory of altruism. Using modern genetic approaches, a team of researchers has provided strong support for the long-standing, but hotly debated, evolutionary theory of kin selection, which suggests that altruistic behavior occurs as a way to pass genes to the next generation.
Conflict among honey bee genes supports theory of altruism. Using modern genetic approaches, a team of researchers has provided strong support for the long-standing, but hotly debated, evolutionary theory of kin selection, which suggests that altruistic behavior occurs as a way to pass genes to the next generation.
National Bee Unit Honey Bee Research Projects
Current projects
The NBU has an active and internationally recognised research programme that has led to the production of over 30 peer-review publication in the last 5 years. Projects vary widely in scale and content, but all share the aim of obtaining information that will provide beekeepers, the scientific community and government policy makers with the best advice to improve our collective understanding of honey bee health. Our research programme focusses on providing practical tools to help beekeepers adopt good husbandry practices in order to mitigate threats and maintain healthy honey bee stocks. Our current project portfolio can be summarised as follows:
Current projects
The NBU has an active and internationally recognised research programme that has led to the production of over 30 peer-review publication in the last 5 years. Projects vary widely in scale and content, but all share the aim of obtaining information that will provide beekeepers, the scientific community and government policy makers with the best advice to improve our collective understanding of honey bee health. Our research programme focusses on providing practical tools to help beekeepers adopt good husbandry practices in order to mitigate threats and maintain healthy honey bee stocks. Our current project portfolio can be summarised as follows:
- Varroa biology and Integrated Pest Management tools for its control
- Development of mathematical models for understanding the spread of pollinator pests and diseases.
- Long-term impacts of honey bee disease control policy
- Studies into genetics and honey bee diversity in the UK
- Identifying novel honey bee pathogens and characterising their distribution
- Improving risk-based approaches to honey bee health surveillance
- Compiling evidence about beekeeping practices in the UK
- Comprehending how land use impacts the health of honey bee colonies
- Understanding the nutritional needs of honey bees to improve colony health
- Small and large-scale field studies that monitor honey bee health
- GLP regulatory studies and assessment of veterinary medicines for bees
- Studies into the biology and control of Small hive beetle
- Pest Risk Assessment of exotic threats to UK honey bees, in order to assist with Contingency Planning
