|
Spring is here time to get down to work
Watch out there could be a swarm about
Anaphylactic Shock
Wet & Dry
THE RENT MAN COMETH
Colony Collapse Disorder - Past and Present.
Read the Government response to the petition
Read the Government's response
Honey bees are important pollinators of crops and wild flowers and make an important contribution to sustainable agriculture and the environment. The Government recognises the importance of a strong bee health programme in England to protect these benefits and takes very seriously any biosecurity threat to the sustainability of the apiculture sector.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)has not reduced its expenditure with the National Bee Unit (NBU), and funding for this year remains at the same level as in recent years. In the 2007/8 financial year, Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government are providing the NBU with funding of £1,518,000. There is an ongoing review of expenditure on all Defra programmes, including bee health, and it is not possible to give long-term commitments on the continuation of funding into the distant future for any particular programme. In addition, work is underway to develop a bee health strategy. This is being discussed with all sectors of the industry and should help establish priorities and clarify the roles and responsibilities of government and the industry. The strategy will also determine whether the current approach to disease control is the most effective use of resources or whether alternative approaches might yield better results in terms of disease protection, including any response to potential new threats. That review will include consideration of resource implications and the role that industry has to play in working in partnership with government. In the event of any resultant proposals to change the provision of the NBU's inspection services, there will be further consultation.
In addition, the budget for Bee Health Research and Development in 2007/08 is £192,000, which is comparable to previous years. The R&D programme underpins bee health policy and covers work on all exotic and statutory pests and diseases of bees. This year the programme is focusing on the development of a system for the monitoring and surveillance of Small Hive Beetle (Aethina tumida (Murray)) and assessing the effectiveness of the shook swarm technique for the control of European Foul Brood. A 3-year PhD studentship studying bee viruses will also start this year. Defra is collaborating with other funders to optimise the outcome of the research programme. The inaugural meeting of the Research Funders Forum will take place early in November.
Defra is aware of the press reports about the serious situation in the USA in respect of cases of abnormally high levels of colony loss described as Colony Collapse Disorder. However, despite continuing press speculation, we do not have evidence to suggest that there is something similar happening in the UK. Scientists and inspectors at the NBU are monitoring the situation and are in contact with experts in the USA and in Europe to learn about developments.
It is not unusual for some colonies to be found dead or absent at the end of winter. If beekeepers report such cases in England and Wales to the NBU they are routinely investigated. The very limited number of cases of high losses for which there is no ready explanation is being investigated in depth by the NBU and bee inspectors. The figures from inspections strongly indicate that colony losses in 2007 will not be significantly higher than the 11.1% recorded in 2006, reflecting the upward trend since 2001. The NBU's research and apiary assessments suggest these losses are primarily due to Varroa and inappropriate control. Uncontrolled mite populations can lead to an increase in the associated secondary pathogens like viruses or Nosema.
Top
Colony Collapse Disorder - Past and Present.
During the course of researching beekeeping in the island prior to 1946 in preparation for a presentation given at Highlands College, I came across a series of handwritten summaries of the weather, harvest and events for the years 1936 to 1946. One section in particular grabbed my attention which I feel has relevance today and I have enclosed it in its original form. It was entitled Summary of work done during 1936.
“The year 36 has unfortunately for the beekeeper been more or less a complete failure. This has not just been locally but extends to all points of the British Isles.
We were unable to hold any outdoor demonstrations, little or no honey was gathered and our annual honey show under these circumstances has been quite impossible. For some unknown reason many beekeepers reported suffering losses of stock where the bees left the hives, in many cases sealed stores were left but not a single bee dead or alive could be found.
At one period the bees were gathering honey freely and a plentiful surplus was indicated. A long spell of cold wet weather with biting winds very quickly absorbed this and even rapid feeding failed to stop the losses. "
Although the summary for 1937 gave a better year regarding weather and harvest, colony losses were still being reported, though no further mention of this early Colony Collapse Disorder was made thereafter.
Now in 2007 another C.C.D is making it’s presence felt in other parts of the world. Predictably, current research indicates that there are many factors which bring about this condition. These include extreme weather, movement of colonies, miticides, pesticides, fungicides and of course Varroa. All these conditions lead to stress in the bee which in turn makes it susceptible to viral attack. There is evidence to suppose that the virus in question has been identified as Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus a member of the Dicistro Virus family of which the Kashmir Bee Virus is another. The condition was first identified in Israel and affected bees imported from Australia or in very close proximity to these bees. Symptoms included shivering wings leading to paralysis and death. Importation of Australian bees into America started in 2004 and shortly after C.C.D was being reported. Although the American bees did not show the I.A.P.V symptoms the virus was found in all the affected colonies. The condition has not as yet been reported in Australia which may be due in part to the fact that different miticides, pesticides and fungicides are used there.
All importation of Australian bees has been suspended in America and other countries will shortly follow suit which will greatly affect the Australian bee industry.
As with so many things there is always more than one factor that goes to make up events such as C.C.D and proves that the challenges facing our bees today are similar to that which they have had to meet many times before. Sadly due to man's increasing demands for faster, bigger, better and more the rate of natural adaptation within the bee cannot keep up with the changes we inflict on it and its environment and whilst we may find a fix for this virus, another is sure to be waiting in the wings to take its place.
Perhaps it is time to review our methods of beekeeping and place far more emphasis on the health and quality of life of the bee and far less on the quantity of honey or effectiveness of pollination. In the long term it might prove to be a case of less being more.
Bob Tompkins
Top
Anaphylactic Shock - would you know what to do?
Few Beekeepers would claim not to have heard of the term “Anaphylactic Shock” Most of us know it is dangerous but surely all know it can occur as a result of just one bee sting. Anaphylactic shock refers to a very serious condition, which may affect anyone who is exposed to foreign protein or other substance to his or her bodies immune system has become sensitised.These proteins, etc. are called ‘antigens’ & bee venom is one such antigen.
Every day we cone into contact with many different chemicals, proteins & micro organisms. Our immune system recognises these ‘antigens’ & quickly responds by producing other chemicals (histamines) & antibodies to combat the invading foreign matter to render it harmless, sometimes the invasion is too quick & for a while we become ill until our immune system is strong enough to fight off the attack at which time our temperature starts to come down & we return to full health again.
When a foreign substance (antigen) enters the body, e.g. the venom from a bee sting, certain specialised cell in the skin called B cells, quickly react by releasing chemicals (histamines & others), which negate the action of the antigen. The blood vessels around the sting site respond to the released histamines by dilating, thereby increasing the blood supply at the site.
A second group of cells known as T cells are also stimulated by the presence of an antigen & these cells produce substances which limit the activity of B cells is not properly controlled, the result is a greatly increased blood vessel dilation over a much wider area of the body, causing a corresponding drop in blood pressure which affects all the other body cells, in particular the brain which now becomes functionally impaired ‘Anaphylactic shock’.
The symptoms of anaphylactic shock range from a mild feeling of weakness & dizziness to a state of complete collapse. The onset may be slow, delayed or immediate & dramatic, but in every case an individual shows a reaction to a bee sting, which is something, more than the familiar localised skin reddening & irritation. A careful assessment should be made & if necessary the casualty taken to a doctor without delay.
There is no preset sequence of symptoms as each individual will react differently, but commonly a reaction may produce areas of red blotchy skin, swelling of the face & neck or puffiness around the eyes, a feeling of chest tightness & impaired breathing a rapid pulse, etc. Any one or more of these symptoms should be viewed most seriously & the action must be to summon an ambulance. The should be in preference to taking the casualty by car to hospital since the ambulance crew are skilled paramedics who will know how best to deal with the casualty & have all the essential equipment to ensure the casualty’s airway is maintained.
Top
Spring is here time to get down to work
Typical! - there we are, keen as mustard to get stuck into cleaning and checking our colonies with warm, fine weather arriving and then the wind turns to the north and winter returns. March can be the last battle ground between Winter and Spring with the North and South weather systems playing the parts of the opposing armies. Eventually Spring overcomes Winter and settled warm days return to allow us beekeepers to tend our charges.
Most of the colonies I have managed to look into when the weather has been warm enough, have over-wintered very well and still have good stores. The queens are now increasing their laying rate and there is plenty of pollen coming in. Do not be tempted to look through your colonies unless the temperature is at least fifteen degrees and the wind is low or the site is sheltered. Great harm can be caused to the brood at this time of year if it is chilled. There is plenty of time yet to prepare the colonies for their annual race to collect nature’s harvest.
Remember to make a note of which frames and waxes may need changing as you clean, usually the outer ones are the ones to look at first as these will most likely have mould growing in the cells due to their close contact with the outer walls of the hive. In a few weeks time when your colonies are stronger with good numbers of young bees emerging then you can replace these frames, moving the next poorest to the outer ends and the new waxed frames positioned next to a frame containing stores. The bees will then quickly draw out the new wax ready for the queen to lay into.
When adding the first super, ensure that most of the frames contain drawn waxes thereby giving the bees plenty of space to store the nectar. Later boxes can contain a greater number of new waxes should the need arise. A.B.F.
Top
Watch out there could be a swarm about
realised very early on how fortunate I was to be a beekeeper. It meant I could spend my days outdoors in beautiful, unspoilt countryside and watch each season work its magic.
In the years that I have kept bees I have not come across the start to a season like this one. Fine warm, settled weather has allowed the bees to expand unchecked by cold or wet. The result is strong colonies, ready to take advantage of the early flow.
With this in mind it is best to super early rather than late and if possible to use a mix of drawn and undrawn waxes. This way the field bees have somewhere to put the nectar and the house bees have something to use their wax on. I believe that if you keep your workforce busy they have little time to get up to mischief.
With mischief in mind it is possible that this will be a swarm year given the strength of colonies and the fine weather, (I have had a couple of calls this week) so ensure that you check through your colonies every seven to nine days to nip any trouble in the bud. If in any doubt as to what to do, phone a friend. A.B.F.
Top
Wet & Dry
Once again nature is proving that the only certain thing about her is her unpredictability. A wonderful warm settled April has been followed by a cool wet May. Any unsealed nectar that the bees collected is now being rapidly consumed as the bees are forced to stay at home. You only have to crack a crown board to look in that top super to see that the bees have moved back down and the super is empty.
At least they have stores to fall back on, however for any new colonies this is a time of great stress as the bees are forced to stay in and have very little in the way of stores and their numbers will be depleting as fast as the queen lays fresh brood. It is vital at this time that we beekeepers feed these colonies if they are to thrive. The old adage is if in doubt feed a gallon, if the bees do not need it they will not take it down. Check four or five days later and if need be feed again.
I have no doubt that the strong winds we have experienced recently have affected the nectar flow,taking a large proportion of the tree flower away, so let us hope that nature remains unpredictable and brings us a warm settled June and July. A.B.F.
Top
THE RENT MAN COMETH
Well, the seasons have turned and it’s the time of year when you tap on your hives and say to the bees within that there is no such thing as a free lunch, & ” you have had board and lodgings all year and now the rent is due”.
Do not delay in taking off the supers as there is very little coming in now, the Varroa counts will be climbing rapidly and any further delays will mean that you will be removing the treatment strips when daylight and weather will be against you and your bees.
Apistan is the chosen treatment again this year and the usual method is to insert two strips per colony, however most of our colonies for example are brood and half and I feel that the two standard strips are A. too short to cover the depth of box and B. insufficient treatment for the size of colony.
I now use three strips per brood-and-half with the third strip cut in half and stapled to the other two strips thereby giving full depth and strength coverage. Added to this I feed every colony with Thymol added to the syrup as described previously. This might seem a bit extreme, however with D.W.V on the increase the use of Thymol in the feed will have a longer lasting effect on the mites if it’s tied up in the makeup of the winter stores. It has been a hard year for the bees so make sure you feed them well if you want a strong colony to be still there in the spring.
Once you have extracted the honey, attention must be paid to the storing of supers. There is a large population of mice this year and packaging and storing must be done with this in mind. I freeze all my supers and waxes. Once removed from the freezer leave them to come back up to room temperature and then wrap in newspaper which absorbs any excess moisture, then wrap up in a good quality plastic bag and seal. Use your queen excluders & spare crown boards between the boxes when stored so that should a mouse get in it cannot travel through too many.
Now is also the time to be looking for that special honey for the annual honey show. Time spent now selecting, straining and bottling will pay dividends later. Amis. B. Flyt.
Top
|
