www.wbka.com Rhif/No:188 Gwanwyn/Spring 2015 Gwenynwyr Cymru The Welsh Beekeeper Cymdeithas Gwenynwyr Cymru Welsh Beekeepers’ Association Llywydd/ David Culshaw : [email protected] President Tel: 01978 854593 Cadeirydd/ Chair- Jenny Shaw : [email protected] person Tel: 01248 430811 Is-gadeirydd/ Sue Townsend : [email protected] Vice-chairperson Tel: 01341 430262 Ysgrifennydd/ c/o Jenny Shaw [email protected] Secretary Llwyn Ysgaw, Dwyran, Anglesey, VACANT LL61 6RH Tel: 01248 430811 Trysorydd/ Margaret Jones : [email protected] Treasurer Tel: 01267 231763 Golygydd/ Sue Closs : [email protected] Editor Tel: 01792 429217 Is-olygydd/ Dewi Morris Jones Sub-editor Llwynderw, (Erthyglau Cym- Bronant, Aberystwyth, raeg) SY23 4TG Tel:01974 251264 Membership Sec- Ian Hubbuck : membership@wbka. retary: Individual White Cottage, com Memberships & Manafon Road, Subscriptions Beriew, SY21 8BB Tel:01686 640205 The Welsh Beekeeper #188 2 Spring 2015 Cynnwys/Contents Editorial 4 WBKA Convention 7 On the trail: of Vespa velutina, the Asian Hornet in France – and Vespa crabro, the European hornet in Wales - Frank Gellatly 8 -11 Different types of feeder and their uses - Wally Shaw 12-20 C.S.I. Pollen - an update - Norman Carreck 22 - 25 Visit to Pembrokeshire by BIPCo Members Jo Widdicombe 28-29 Lead contamination of honey - Wally Shaw 31 Notes from a Grumpy Old Beekeeper 33-35 WBKA Examination update from 2014 - Lynfa Davies 36-37 Book Review Ian Glastonbury 38 NDB Course 2014 - Adam Leitch 40-42 Letters 43-45 List of Advertisers 46 Local Area Representatives 47 Photographs: All photographs are copyright to the author of the article to which they refer, unless otherwise stated. Cover picture by Barry Griffiths Gwenynwyr Cymru #188 3 Gwanwyn 2015 Editorial Sue Closs There is always an excitement created by planning the Welsh Convention as it not only heralds the new beekeeping year is about to happen and beekeepers scramble for bargains and innovations, but also offers opportunity to learn from each other formally and informally. With this magazine the WBKA has included a new publication from Wally Shaw entitled An Apiary Guide to Swarm Control. It is a comprehensive man- ual with easy to understand diagrams, covering all aspects of swarming which many of us regard as a failure of our management skills but for the bees is the mark of success in reproduction. You will have the chance to ask ques- tions at the Convention as Wally is speaking on Reactive Swarm Control in the third part of his lecture series about swarming. I am sure you will all join me in passing on our thanks for a very good, concise and useful document which will be coveted by many other organisations. Wally has contributed to this edition of WBK as well. The article on feeders is very helpful especially for new beekeepers who might be visiting the Conven- tion and will find an array of different types of feeders and need to know how and when to use them. The other short piece from our Technical Officer is about lead contamination of honey and reminds us to check our equipment for old and now illegal honey processing equipment. Frank Gellatly describes the relentless march across Europe of the Asian hor- net and the habitat of its more innocent counterpart, the European hornet. Norman Carreck , IBRA, has sent the promised update on the C.S.I pollen project which I am sure you will find of interest and Norman is calling for more participants in the study, providing pollen traps to those who volunteer. So come on, join the 2 Welsh Beekeepers already contributing. Finally, I would like to say thank you to all who have supported me as editor – for all the articles, photos and words of assistance and encouragement. I do hope that you will be as generous with my successor, Grant Williams who cur- rently looks after the WBKA website and is now taking on the role of Editor of The Welsh Beekeeper in addition to his webmaster duties. The Welsh Beekeeper #188 4 Spring 2015 The Welsh Beekeeper No. 188 Spring 2015 www.wbka.com All copy should reach the Editor on or before the last day of January, April, July and October. Views expressed in ‘The Welsh Beekeeper’ are not necessarily held by the Editor or the Publishers, but remain the opinion of the author of the article. Edited, and compiled by Sue Closs. Published by Welsh Beekeepers’ Association Printed by Pensord, Pontllanfraith, South Wales Great care is taken to ensure advertisements are correct but no liability is taken for errors or omissions. Gwenynwyr Cymru #188 5 Gwanwyn 2015 Cymdeithas Gwenynwyr Cymru Welsh Beekeepers’ Association Convention 2015 Saturday 28th March at 0830 Tea and Coffee available from 0800 Hafod a Hendre Hall Royal Welsh Agricultural Showground Builth Wells, Powys, LD2 3SY Mynediad/Admission: Oedolion/Adults - £8.00, Advance Payment - £6.00 (see below) Leuenctid/Juniors (under 17) - am ddim / free admission Guest Speakers: John and Mary Home Bees Abroad Glyn Davies, Master Beekeeper, Devon BKA The Mysterious Sex-life of the Honeybee and the Virus Threat Wally Shaw OBE, WBKA Technical Officer Reactive Swarm Control Dr Max Watkins, Director Vita (Europe)Ltd BDI Sponsored Lecture New Developments in Bee Health “Beekeepers’ Question Time” - your chance to ask the experts.... Trade stands and exhibitions. Bargain beekeeping supplies. All day refreshments. Free Parking. Earlybird tickets (£6.00): Forms available on WBKA website (www.WBKA.com) and from Association Secretaries. Return completed forms plus payment to Convention Secretary by March 21st Address and payment details on form. The Welsh Beekeeper #188 6 Spring 2015 WBKA Convention 2015 On Saturday 28th March, at Hafod y Hendre on the Royal Welsh Showground, beekeep- ers will gather from all over Wales and the borders to attend this year’s Convention. If you haven’t attended before do come along and give it a try. You will be pleasantly sur- prised how friendly and helpful everyone is. You can also take advantage of the many bargains at discounted ‘show only’ prices on offer in the trade hall. Our Convention will be formally opened by John and Mary Home, volunteers for ‘Bees Abroad’ a small UK-registered charity seeking to reduce poverty through beekeeping. John and Mary act as volunteer project managers for several of the charity’s projects in Kenya. As well as helping community groups improve their beekeeping skills, they have been responsible for teaching beekeepers how to make value-added products such as hand creams and wax polish. We are delighted that Glyn Davies, a Master Beekeeper from Devon, is able to join us. He has been a beekeeper since 1976 and currently manages around 30 stocks, to- gether with an active queen rearing programme. His lecture is all about the mysterious sex life of the honey bee and the virus threat. Be sure to be there to find out about this mysterious and fascinating aspect of beekeeping. Following on from last year’s lecture , on how to try and prevent colonies from setting- up to swarm (Pre-emptive swarm control), Wally Shaw moves on to deal with how to manage colonies when they have started queen cells (Re-active swarm control). Argu- ably this is simultaneously the most important and most difficult aspect of beekeeping management. It is a problem that has taxed the minds of beekeepers ever since the movable frame hive came into use because effective swarm control is essential if a good honey crop is to be reliably obtained. After the talk beekeepers may wish to visit the Practical Beekeeping stand for further discussion and demonstration. Our BDI sponsored lecture will be given by Dr Max Watkins who will bring us up to date with the latest developments in beekeeping. Vita (Europe) Limited is one of the very few companies actively involved in honeybee health and is probably now the most widely known, working with beekeepers and research organisations alike in around 60 countries As you leave the lecture hall you will pass the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) stand where you can talk to Frank Gellatly and the Bee Inspectors. You could also visit displays by BDI, Beecraft, BIBBA and IBRA to find out what information and support is available for the craft of beekeeping. The ever popular ‘Beekeepers’ Question Time’ will be joined by Frank Gellatly, the Re- gional Bee Inspector, to form our panel of experts. They will answer questions on any beekeeping subject and with the expertise within that panel you should receive good advice and comments. We look forward to your company. Gwenynwyr Cymru #188 7 Gwanwyn 2015 On the trail: of Vespa velutina, the Asian Hornet in France – and Vespa crabro, the European hornet in Wales Frank Gellatly The Asian hornet has long since been recognised as a major threat to British beekeeping. The National Bee Unit (NBU) has been tracking its spread throughout France, and into neighbouring Spain, Italy, Belgium and German, since its arrival in Bordeaux in 2004. An important part of our work is to ensure that we have effective strategies in place to minimise the chance of its establishment in the UK should Vespa velutina arrive here. Asian hornets in France Last October, six staff from the NBU and the Animal and Plant Health Agency Wildlife Unit went on a study visit to Bordeaux, in South West France, to learn first-hand from the French authorities and local beekeepers of the impact of the Asian hornet in the region. Their observations suggest that the Asian hornet is making a far bigger impact than previously envisaged. The hornets are seen in abundance on flowers, along the coast and at markets, especially where sugary sweets, fruit, fish or meat were present.