| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| TAVASCAROW |
For the Welsh beekeepersFound this link on another site.Thought it might be useful to Sally, Mochyn & Chez or any other Welsh bee keepers. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/7410975.stm 
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| lottie |
I don't live in south wales but there is certainly a problem in west wales, last year I lost 2 colonies in the summer but they were my only 2 carnolian strains. All the others overwintered well even a late cast I took in early august which I fed well. However I know of people who had heavy unexplained losses--one chap lost all 8 hives. I have just seen some recent stats which suggest losses are worse here than in other parts of the u.k. . Interestingly when I was in Lancs we were told varroa had more or less seen off the "wild" colonies but ever since we have been here I seen very dark what I believe to be native bees foraging and we took a swarm of them a couple of weeks ago---time will tell if they are more robust. | ||
| TAVASCAROW |
It's this bit I thought you would find particularly interesting.
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| jocorless |
I think that is more or less what I've been told by far more experienced beekeepers - In Wales there appears to be patches of wild colonies something that hasn't been seen in Lancashire for a long time |
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| mochyn |
We're higher up in Sir Drefaldwyn, but there have been losses here, if I remember. We have a great bee-inspector though who I think will know about this and help out if needed.
All I'm worried about just now is that they're stroppy (because of the weather, I think) making it difficult to pick fruit... |
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| sally_in_wales |
We definatley get wild colonies round here,but I don't know if they are truly native or naturalised swarms from domestic hives.
They are small, dark, good tempered bees as a whole, our colony was one we never needed smoke with unless doing a major hive strip, am hoping if the current occupants make it that they will be the same, certainly they gave no trouble when I went through the combs at the weekend |
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| mochyn |
We used to have a wild swarm in one end of the roof every year, but none for the past two. Hope they haven't succumbed... | ||
| TAVASCAROW |
The bees I am working with are small blacks.
There's a lot of talk about brood cell size. Normal brood foundation is larger than natural & thus produces bigger bees which pre varroa was great. As varroa prefers large drone cells to lay in the larger brood cells are a good second thus allowing varroa to build up to epidemic proportions. In natural comb the varroa can only lay in drone cells so their numbers don't rise as dramatically plus some think the smaller bee can self groom which the larger fatter bees can't. I'm hearing reports of a few wild swarms down here as well so maybe natural selection is working & all is not lost.
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| jocorless |
I've been considering moving to small cell foundation, I wanted to get my number of colonies up to 4 or 5 so I could experiment with one
My worker bee's are quite small and very very dark almost black and also are very good natured and gentle although the drones are huge - The original queen strain was Buckfast Whilst I was taking my BBKA Basic exam at the weekend - I had to go through some bee's at another apiary and they really were not as well behaved as mine - they were extremely grouchy, not overly aggressive but there was a definite hostility there that you just don't get with mine - they were also very yellow and looked more like wasps than honey bee's - I had asked about buying in a Queen from this particular person but on reflection I'm glad he didn't have any spare |
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| TAVASCAROW |
This link says it better than I can.
http://www.lapalmamiel.com/ |
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| jocorless |
Fantastic - thank you - very interesting reading | ||
| IanNW |
The local Beekeeper for Conwy and south Clwyd is also one of the main providers of Nucs and Queen Bees for the area. He uses the local black bee which is originally native, and by reputation quite placid.
Where i hope to get mine from come next April/May. |
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| lottie |
Thanks 
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| lottie |
Hope the swarm of black bees I've taken are placid we've got one very aggressive hive we need to requeen that ended up with me in A&E the problem is they are also our most prolific hive. |