Author Archives: Meridian Beekeepers’ Association

Varroa destructor is an external parasite of honey bees. It is non-native to the UK and Europe and was accidently introduced in the early 1990s via the movement of infested honeybees from Asia. It has now spread worldwide. Varroa lives harmoniously with the Asian honeybee (Apis cerana) which has adapted to it. Elsewhere, Varroa hasContinueContinue reading “Varroa, an overview”

Shook Swarm This is a temporary page, a step-by-step guide will appear here shortly. The shook swarm or shakedown method is a simple and effective process. Although it may seem drastic, when it is carried out in the spring it usually has the benefit of invigorating the bees. Beebase, Shook swarm. Newer beekeepers are sometimesContinueContinue reading “Shook swarm”

Apiaries should be sited so that only the beekeeper ever gets stung! By having high walls or hedges around an apiary, bees can be forced to fly well above close neighbours. If neighbours or pets do get stung, relations can be impaired and the risk of danger to life, although small, cannot be overlooked. AnaphylasisContinueContinue reading “Siting your apiary”

A nucleus colony, or nuc for short, is a small honey bee colony created from a larger one. It’s so named because it’s smaller than a full-sized colony and is centred on a queen bee and a nucleus of worker bees. The value of nuclei. A good quality nucleus is like gold dust and canContinueContinue reading “obtaining a nucleus”

In Britain, we have a maritime temperate climate which is one of the most varied weather systems in the world. British bees are best adapted to cope with our climate and the resultant vegetation. Local bees are better still. Maritime temperate regions are found in areas near coasts where the sea and onshore winds provideContinueContinue reading “Our temperate climate”