Been a busy time and a lot going on. What can we say of the weather - one moment it is warm and we put away our winter clothes and the queen starts to lay. Next it is cold and the winter clothes have to be got out and the workers do not want to go out. It is for this reason that the NBU have issued a starvation alert. Check your hives and if you suspect low stores then now is the time to give them some food. More details can be found on our Bee Info page and at the NBU site.
Last weekend was the Dorset Spring Show at Kingston Maurward. The picture above shows what it was like before the gates opened. The picture below shows what happened when the gates opened.
For a full report of what we did go to our new events page and link from there.
As the weather warms up - which surely it will - we must be ever more alert to the risk from an Asian Hornet invasion. At the moment the fertile queens will be emerging from hibernation. They are making a small nest in sheltered locations like a shed roof. Check all your sheds.
The queen will be laying eggs and seeking food for the larvae that hatch. Her need is for carbohydrate so any bait stations or traps should have sweet bait. There are many suggestions on the web but basically anything sweet smelling and full of sugar will do. The French recipes often include a sweet liqueur such as Cointreau. I leave it up to you to decide.
If we can catch one queen now then we might be prevent up to 350 fertile queens going into next winter.
There is an excellent video from the BBKA at YouTube.
Finally a reminder that there is a DWBKA Social at the Colliton Club on Wednesday 8th May at the Colliton Club in Dorchester. The socials consist of beekeepers sitting around chatting about whatever is on their mind. Usually the chat is about bees but not always. It is an ideal chance to find out how local beekeepers are faring in this up and down weather. I hope to see you there.
