|
Cover
picture Garden apiary in Catford.
Welcome
to the March 2002 issue of Bromley News.
This time of year I would normally be looking through brood boxes
and doing some early spring cleaning on my hives, but so far I have
only managed to lift the crown boards. Without checking the brood
nest I can’t say if all my stocks have come through the winter, pollen
loaded workers entering the hive can be deceptive and not always proof
of laying queens.
The Bromley bee book library is now on a computer database, some books
are overdue and I will be chasing those people soon. To save time,
could I ask members to look under the bed for any bee books belonging
to the library you had forgotten to return. This way I don’t have
to impose any fines!
About 5 years ago I planted a Abeliophyllum Distichum. Its
a beautiful slow growing shrub with masses of almond-scented white
flowers in early February. When associated with Winter heathers it
turns the heads of passersby. My bees were working hard on these plants
when the sun was on my front garden.
I managed to obtain 50 fumigant strips made by Vita (Europe) Ltd
and thought you might like to read about them. I’m afraid I don’t
have any information as to when we will be able use this treatment
legally in the UK. This was reproduced from their website: www.beekeeping.com/vita
Folbex®
is a fumigant designed for the diagnosis and control of honey bee
mites. The active ingredient, bromopropylate, is impregnated into
paper strips. Fumigation with Folbex® strips leads to dispersion
of very fine airborne particles of active material inside the hive.
Folbex® has a proven efficacy against both varroa mites (Varroa
jacobsoni) and to the mites causing acarine disease (Acarapis woodi)
while being very well tolerated by the treated bee colonies. Acarapis
woodi live in the trachea of bees. It punctures the walls of the trachea
so that the infested bees finally die as a result of the impairment
to their flying activity.
Five
reasons to use Folbex®:
1. Easy application
2. High efficacy (95-100%)
3. Duel acting ( active against both Varroa jacobsoni and Acarapis
woodi)
4. Very well tolerated by bees
5. Posses no risk to users
Internet
News
Apitherapy
check out Peter Dalby’s website: www.pebadale.net
The
Scottish Beekeepers Association
have a new web address since our February newsletter:
www.scottishbeekeepers.org.uk/
The
Kent Beekeepers Association
have a website with a message forum and a swarm coordinators listing
and other useful branch information: www.kentbee.com
Steven Turner
Apiary
News
Once again the weatherman thwarted us on the first Sunday of February.
Too cold and miserable to open up but the tea and biscuits went down
well. Many years ago the date of the first Sunday was chosen because
we noticed that as a rule that particular day was always pleasant
and indeed we went on for many years basking in the sun on the first
Sunday. Let us hope that things return to normal soon and allow us
to get on with our beekeeping.
As you know, we lost the meagre stock in the observation hive, but
all the others show themselves at the slightest sign of sunshine and
I was even joined by a bee in the greenhouse when I was potting up
the Sweet Williams. Although there was not a flower to be seen she
busily inspected every single plant and having satisfied herself there
was nothing to be found smartly turned around and flew out of the
door.
I gather
that the talk on Bee Therapy by Peter Dalby was well received although
one visitor who had come to find out what Bee Venom could do for his
arthritis was put off for life with the mention of anaphylactic shock
and possible fatal results. I noticed that the footnote about it not
happening yet was in the main lost while people were recovering from
the shock of dying from a single beesting.
This
month’s talk will be by that well known and eloquent speaker Brian
Palmer who will be giving us the low down on last year’s BeeTour and
also the Apimondia Symposium that took place in South Africa last
year. I for one look forward to seeing the pictures on the big screen.
I gather he will be giving a repeat at his own branch two days later,
I just hope he doesn't expect us to turn up for that one too as we
usually help to swell his meetings by about seven or eight.
Time to start thinking about getting your supers ready. Never let
your bees get short of space or even think they are. Any stocks that
appear to be doing well get the supers on this month, and don't forget,
we will buy all the honey you can produce.
Peter Springall
Diary
Dates
Tuesday
19th March
This evening lecture starts 7.30pm at the club house.
Brian Palmer talks about the 2001 BeeTour and Apimondia Symposium
that took place in South Africa 2001.
Anybody is welcome to attend this FREE lecture which would interest
beekeepers and non-beekeepers alike.
For
more information
Peter Springall 020-8690-3906 Mobile: 07779970104
Tom Winks Chairman 020-8777-3144
Clive Watson 020-8658-3786
Steven Turner (editor) 020-8698-0313 E-Mail
Visit our website www.kentbee.com/bromley
|
Park
beekeeping Supplies
Thorne’s Main Agent serving South East London and Kent
17 Blackheath Hill Business Centre, 78B Blackheath Hill.
Tel: 020-8694-9960. Now Credit Cards accepted
|
|
