Season and harvest

Weather conditions were near perfect for a good harvest this year. Supering was on 12 & 13 April. May was relatively windy and wet with 5.75 inches of rain. The old saying 'Wind and rain in May fills the barn with corn and hay' proved true as the spring harvest was good, averaging 18 pounds per hive. June and July brought drought -- only a little over an inch of rain per month -- and mean temperatures of 21 C, peaking to 34 C in July. It was an exceptionally good summer and the hives were beginning to run out of space in the supers by the end of July, so several supers had to be harvested immediately to accommodate a continuation of the flow into August. But that was not to happen. August was wet and cool. Over 7 inches of rain fell in the month and there was a lower mean temperature of 17 C. The abrupt change in the weather at the beginning of August brought the nectar flow almost to a standstill. However, the final summer harvest was not taken until 2 September and combined with the June and July harvests resulted in an overall yield of 45 pounds per hive. This was a big increase on the previous year's poor season and about 50% above the UK average per National hive.

Swarming and colony development

Although 9-day inspections were diligently pursued from mid-April to September, 12 swarms/casts were recorded between 11 May (first) and 15 July (last). Catching swarms was greatly facilitated by posting bait hives (40 litres internal volume; dark inside; entrance 1.25 x 0.375 inches; 8-10 ft above ground; one comb inside) around the neighbourhood. Only two swarms observed were lost. One had settled in a difficult position on an old greenhouse. While another job was being attended to first, it took off in a south-easterly direction, but, unobligingly, did not make for bait hives half a mile away in that direction. The other, on 2 June, passed high over Kinlet from the direction of the Church.

With the swarms taken, two of them 35 feet up an oak tree, either new colonies were started or the bees were tipped into existing colonies as reinforcements. Where queen cells were being built in sufficient numbers to indicate swarming was imminent, or where it was uncertain, artificial swarms were carried out using the method described on the page for 2005. In some cases, the parent colony part of the artificial swarm was split into two nucs.

The early onset of swarming, despite there being plenty of drawn super comb available, could be partly due to the high level of winter stores over the 2005-6 winter, starting in October 2005 with about 34 pounds per hive and ending up with an average of 20 pounds in April (see below). This may have resulted in a more rapid build up of the colonies than in previous years. Another factor could be the hot spells in early May, one reaching 23 C on the 11 May, which was the day of the first swarm.

Stores and winter feeding

Stores are measured by lifting up the back of the brood box (without roof, with crown board) with a spring balance suspended from a sash cramp, turning the screw on the cramp until the box is about 1/8 inches off the stand and freely hanging. This can be done with little or no disturbance to the cluster. The weight is then multiplied by two and the weight of box, frames, comb, crown board, bees (20,000, 4 lb) subtracted.

The graph above shows the rapid rise in mean stores during the September 2005 feeding, almost no change between the beginning of October and mid-December, possibly because of absence of brood and ivy nectar coming in to meet immediate requirements in October and November, and finally the consumption of about 3 pounds per month thereafter.

The author decided this year to try to wean the bees off winter feeds of sugar syrup. This means risking losing those colonies that cannot well stock their brood box combs with honey before the winter. It also means timing the harvest so that there remains a nectar flow sufficient to stock the brood box and allowing any uncapped honey in supers to be taken down into the brood chamber. As this was somewhat of an experiment, the available hives were divided into two with some being fed and some not. The feeding policy this year was not to feed any colony with over 25 pounds of stores and, of the remaining, feed those selected for feeding to a target of 30 pounds of stores, i.e. 5 pounds less than in 2005. The mean value achieved by 1 October was 21 pounds but this rose to 25 by 1 November which is probably attributable to the ivy flow.

Foraging

Very few foraging observations were taken in 2006 and there were too few data to make it worth plotting a graph. It is not possible for one person accurately to account returning foragers when there is a good flow on. Anything above 20 in the first 10 seconds counting is recorded as '>120/min'. However,this year attempts were made to count with a 1/100 sec stopwatch the first 20 bees seen entering. Often the watch stopped at 5 or 6 seconds indicating a flow of up to 240 bees/min.

Varroa

The winter 2005-6 oxalic acid treatment was on 30 December again. This comprised spraying 7 ml 3% OA dihydrate in 1% sucrose solution in each seam of bees using a calibrated hand spraying bottle. Two frames were removed from the hive and the others slid back one at a time giving 4 ml to one layer of exposed bees and 3 ml  to the other, reducing if the layer was significantly less than a full frame. The spray nozzle is aimed at an angle over the edge of the hive.

Mite drops from two hives were monitored after treatment and comprised 174 (K1) and 1,393 (K2) respectively.

Average (& range) mite drops (mite/day) measured over 3 or 4 days:
April -- 0.1 (0-0.25)
May -- 0.23 (0-0.67)
June -- 2.7 (0.3-12)
July -- 5.5 (1.33-9.67)
August -- 29 (4-151)

The above graph shows the typical logarithmic growth curve of mite build-up in colonies when left untreated. The author does not like to put thymol into hives while honey is being collected, so treatment is left until after the harvest in September. One hive was dropping 151 mites per day showing a heavy infestation. Treatment comprised 4 g thymol dissolved in 12 ml used cooking oil (sunflower) absorbed into two kitchen tissues.

A few pupal fragments were seen in front of one hive after thymol treatment was introduced. The effect was far milder than the previous year.

Wax

So far, these pages have not described processing wax from old comb and from scrapings during hive inspections. All comb, wax fragments and washed/dried cappings are placed in a solar wax extractor (see photos below). This works best from mid-April to mid-September in this climate.

The size is determined by whatever scrap double-glazing panel that just happens to be available. However, do not make it too small as it needs to accommodate several whole brood combs at certain times. Do not make it too big or it will become unmanageable. It is very convenient to cover the sloping aluminium melting tray with an old sheet or some other closely woven light fabric. This removes the particulates and produces a beautiful light-yellow wax in the collecting tray. Ensure that the box is bee/wasp-tight as the aroma created in the hot sun attracts a lot of interest.

Most local beekeepers trade their wax in for new sheets of foundation. The author prefers to make his into candles by hand-dipping. The wax is melted in a 3-litre olive oil tin standing in a well insulated thermostatically controlled water boiler set at about 70 C. The element is from an old kettle and the thermostat is of the type that clamps on central heating pipes or hot-water cylinders (less than £10 from www.screwfix.com). A 5-gallon, or smaller, vegetable/mineral oil drum makes a suitable boiler (NB. The apparatus must be correctly earthed and conform to all electrical safety regulations. It must not be placed where it can be disturbed by children.) Candlewick can be obtained from Candlemakers' Supplies (www.candlemakers.co.uk) who will advise on appropriate wick sizes for different widths of pure beeswax. The author currently uses 3 x 14 = 42-strand wick for a candle that is 3/4 inch half-way up its 10-inch overall length.   

Phenology & weather (temperatures @ 13.00 h except where stated)

3  Jan: Bees busy at most hives, sunny, 9 C.
8 Feb: Bees busy at most hives -- bright yellow crocus pollen coming in, sunny spells, 7.5 C.
18 Feb: Lots of bees on crocuses on K roadside verge. Bees in church feral colony flying.
28 Feb: Snow a.m.; 0 C @ 09.30.
4 March: Bees on hellebores and crocuses, busy hive entrances.
11 March: Bees on crocuses at H, sunny, 8 C.
19 March: Sycopsis sinensis positively humming with honey bees; still working hellebores and remaining crocuses; sunny, 8.5 C.
29 March: Bees now working Pieris japonica, Sycopsis sinensis and hellebores and gorse on road by TyN, weak sun, 10.5 C.
31 March: 7 bees on heather by east exit from village; first skylark song heard; 9.5 C.
5 April: Much pollen coming into hives; light wind, 8 C.
10 April: First chiffchaff song; Pieris japonica and Sycopsis sinensis now mostly faded but still the occasional bee on them.
14 April Bees on rosemary at H; sunny, 12.5 C.
15 April: Willow at T humming with honey bees; lots of yellow pollen coming into hives, 14 C.
19 April: First honey bee ever seen on dandelion -- an important source of nectar in some areas; blackthorn flowers starting to open; willow in full flower; 2 larks singing at Ty Morfa; miner bees by willow at Ty Morfa; 12.5 C.
23 April: Bees working acacias, scimmias, hellebores; heard blackcap; butterflies: speckled wood, large white, orange tip, peacock, comma; sunny all day, 11.5 C.
24 April: Cherry flowers opening in front of H.
25 April: Cherry at back of Ll. G. cottage humming with bees; sunny intervals, 13 C.
26 April: First sedge warbler heard.
27 April: Blackthorn blossom at its peak but no honey bees ever seen on it; first terns seen; larks singing at Ty Morfa.
28 April: Wild violet blossom at H at its peak; bees on cherry at H; scout bees at T bait hive, sunny all day, 14 C.
29 April: Comma at T.
1 May: General agreement amongst UK subscribers on irishbeekeeping (at) yahoogroups.co.uk list that blossom is exceptional this year.
2 May: Very strong wind but bees still foraging on cherry at H; 13 C.
3 May: Occupied queen cells in 4 colonies; could emerge on 11 May.
4 May: Half-a-dozen bees interested in T shed roof bait hive; up to 30 in subsequent days including at T garden wall bait hive.
10 May: Church feral colony swarmed but reentered.
11 May: Swarm and artificial swarms, 23 C.
12 May: Swarm, 21.5 C.
16 May: First foraging to cotoneaster; windy, sunny intervals, 16 C.
19 May: 3 queen wasps on cotoneaster; sunny, 13 C.
20 May: Hawthorn coming into blossom near Y Rheithordy; rain a.m., sunny p.m., 12 C.
24 May: Bees on ceanothus at H and on Madeley kale at T; sunny spells, 11.5 C.
3 June: Swarm observed by Bron Eifion nurseryman; sunny, 20 C.
4 June: Bees working ceanothus on T lane; sunny, 21 C.
9 June: Bees working cranesbill at H; sunny, 27 C.
11 June: Swarm entered T shed bait hive; sunny, 22 C.
13 June: Continuing scout interest in T bait hives; spring harvest; sunny intervals, 19 C.
17 June: Swarm passed over Ty N in north-easterly direction.
25 June: First bramble flowers (over old greenhouse).
4 July: Bees working wild rose on T lane; 25.5 C.
11 July: Worker wasps visiting hive entrances; wasp traps set up; sunny, 18.5 C.
15 July: Last swarm to enter a bait hive; treated with 3% oxalic acid spray.
18 July: Wasp nest in an old WBC hive roof on top of derelict Lada Riva used as store; 32 C.
29 July: Emergency honey harvest due to shortage of supers.
1 August: Himalayan balsam in flower down river; lots of bumble and some honeybees working it; flower buds visible on Japanese knotweed.
4 August: Bees working willowherb on railway; serious drought, overcast all day, 19.5 C.
5 August: Bees working borage at T; 8 mm rain overnight, 21 C.
12 August: No honeybees seen on Himalayan balsam or borage; few isolated flowers on knotweed; 17 C.
16 August: Evidence of attempted robbing at Ty N, therefore entrances reduced to one inch; first honeybees seen on balsam at Bont F and Junction Pool; hazy sun, 20 C.
20 August: Only one honeybee per 25 bumbles on Himalayan balsam at Concrete Pool; first honeybees seen working knotweed on both sides of river at Concrete Pool.
22 August: Government local bee inspector inspects all hives; no problems found.
26 August: Bees working wild rocket at T; 17 C.
2 September: Last harvest; thymol treatment begins.
3 September: Cover accidentally left off extracted supers just outside house. Massive robbing ensued within 15 minutes and the air at C. Ll. close was thick with bees. It also provoked robbing 1/4 mile away at the apiary. Entrance blocks were inserted to restrict apertures to 1 inch.
4 September: Thousands of bees on knotweed at Concrete Pool, often 4 per flower spike; only 2 seen on balsam after counting 30 bumble bees on it; honeybees still coming to house door after robbing incident the previous day; overcast, 18 C.
6 September: First 2 ivy flowers seen open on Bont F.
9 September: Knotweed at Concrete Pool humming with bees, tens of thousands estimated; using binoculars confirmed presence of bee line between the knotweed stand and the apiary; sunny all day, 21 C.
11 September: First ivy flowers seen open on churchyard boundary wall; mean foraging rate 76 returning/min; sunny, 22 C.
12 September: Very little borage left in flower but a couple of bees on it; sunny then overcast, 20 C.
13 September: Despite strong wing from south the knotweed has thousands of bees on it; watching the beeline, the bees are seen struggling against the wind close to the ground right up to the trees bordering the meander common land, then suddenly rise up over them at the last minute; lots of honey bees now on balsam; many small copper butterflies by beach; windy, sunny, 21 C.
15 September: Many ivy flowers now out by church but still only wasps, flies and hover flies on them; slight breeze, sunny, 18 C.
17 September: Very vigorous foraging to knotweed still; average 104 returning/min/hive; on balsam counted 36 bumble bees to 19 honey bees; ivy pollen now coming in; many bees coated with balsam pollen; sunny intervals, humid, 18.5 C.
21 September: Balsam pollen coated bees coming into most hives; bees working clematis in K garden on corner of P close.
22 September: At least half the flowers faded from knotweed at Concrete Pool, but still being worked by bees; hum barely perceptible from a few yards away; 19 C.
23 September: Bees working fuscia at D, C. Ll. close.
24 September: First honey bees actually seen working ivy by church; 21 C.
25 September: Lots of honey bees on balsam at Bont F meadow; 19.5 C.
28 September: Almost all knotweed flowers faded and no honey bees on the few left, but large numbers of bees working balsam at Concrete Pool.
30 September: Handful of bees still working vestiges of T borage.
2 October: Many bees still coated in balsam pollen; few bees on ivy by church; fed those colonies selected for feeding; sunny, showers later, 15 C.
3 October: Stacked supers (numbered) outdoors under covers away from hives; put mouse guards on all hives; strong smell of ivy nectar by hives; 14.5 C.
7 October: Busy foraging; some balsam pollen coated bees.
9 October: Few balsam flowers still at Bont F but only 2 honey bees seen on them.
17 October: Foraging rate like early summer; nearly every hive has bees returning at over 120/minute, even a nuc; sunny, then overcast then rain p.m., 17 C.
20 October: Bees collecting gorse pollen by island south of railway bridge over D; first time honey bees seen on that gorse; 13 C.
29 October: Bees working fuscia at D, C. Ll. close.
1 November: Most colonies flying; hefted; sunny all day, 9.5 C.
12 November: Put ear to hives; even the weakest colony still murmuring and scratching.
14 November: Candle dipping.
22 November: Construction of modified Abbé Warré hive begun.
26 November: Lots of bees flying; inspected supers in stack for wax moth; no signs; sunny, 10.5 C.
6 December: 14.00 h, no bees flying; 10 C.
9 December: Bees audible in all hives; bees seen on mahonia; sunny, 8 C.
10 December: Finished Warré hive.
11 December: Bees on mahonia; foraging at two hives was 27 and 16 per minute, the latter had gorse pollen coming in; sunny, 8 C.