Most new beekeepers quickly learn how to work out when a colony is making preparations to swarm. That’s because, an unchecked swarm will result in a diminished population within the hive, a loss of bees for the beekeeper and can be a nuisance to neighbours. A swarm will certainly reduce the foraging force at aContinueContinue reading “Queen cells and how to identify the different types”
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Louise: reflections on 2022
It was a warm, wet January with ten sunny days but I couldn’t get to my colonies and was reduced to external checks only. All colonies were taking in plenty of pollen indicating queens were already laying. By putting in and removing varroa boards a week later and then examining the drop of pollen andContinueContinue reading “Louise: reflections on 2022”
Marking your queen
Queens emerging in 2023 will be marked Red There are good reasons for marking your queen. Not only does it make it easier to spot her in a busy colony and allows you to keep track of her age, but it helps you determine that the queen you’re looking at is the same queen youContinueContinue reading “Marking your queen”
Christmas dinner 2022
If you’re not on the list, you’re not coming in!
Watch this short film to see the fascinating behaviour of guard bees. They move forward to ‘greet’ incoming bees (or possibly other insects like wasps) and very quickly, make a decision about whether the newcomer is friend or foe. Friends are allowed to pass and others are quickly repelled. What is going on bottom right?ContinueContinue reading “If you’re not on the list, you’re not coming in!”
Meridian Beekeepers’ Association 