Honey Bees. QUB CCRCB 11 th January

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Tiffany Pearson
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1 Honey Bees QUB CCRCB 11 th January

2 Contents The Beekeeping Year Inside the hive Outside the hive Swarming Discussion

3 Who are we talking about?? Honey Bee: Apis mellifera, migrant from Africa after the last ice age. European subspecies Irish {Northern European Black bee}: Apis Mellifera Mellifera Italian: Apis Mellifera Lingustica Carnolian: Apis Mellifera Carnica Spanish: Apis Mellifera Iberica Buckfast: hybrid of many unstable??

4 Three Castes of Bee

5 Dark Queen

6 Queen and workers

7 Marked Italian Queen

8 Inside the Hive Seasonal changes within a honey bee colony in 2 month slots January February March April May June July August September October November December

9 Outside the Hive There are critical plants at certain times through the year These produce either large quantities of food for bees or small quantities but at a vital time What do bees take back to the hive? Nectar Pollen Water Propolis

10 January - February Coldest months Bees cluster heat and preserve food Mild days cleansing flights Queen may start to lay a few eggs in centre of cluster Hive is sealed dont open Ventilation damp fosters mould and disease Beekeeper making up new equipment

11 January February On fine days bees emerge to forage Still have stores of honey {hopefully} but need to supplement this and start feeding newly hatched larvae - pollen Key plants: snowdrop, crocus, hazel, witchazel, willow, mahonia Low Nectar but good pollen yields Supplement with bakers fondant

12 The Beekeeper in Winter

13 March - April Colony activity increases Significant increase in population Grow from 5000 to {up to 60000} by June Food required pollen and nectar Larval food little royal jelly then bee bread 21 days from egg laid to emerging adult {3 egg, 5 larva,13 pupa} 3 weeks before adult fully mature Colonies most at risk from starvation Beekeeper clean and replace equipment

14 March April Bee numbers in hive are increasing Great danger of starvation 1 or 2 weeks bad weather can be disastrous Plants: willow, cherry, dandelion, early fruit bushes, gorse, hawthorn Feed with light syrup, early flow stimulates the queen to lay can be risky

16 May June The big flow of the year fill supers, 25lbs, of honey per week Beekeeper will collect largest part of annual honey crop Key Plants: horsechestnut Others: oil seed rape {other brassicas}, apple {and other fruit trees only cherry good nectar}, dandelion, raspberry

17 May - June Queen now laying 1000 to 2000 eggs per day Large quantities of nectar and pollen required Large numbers of young bees orientation flights Colony may raise new queens in special cells Swarm control a major issue Beekeeper needs to thoroughly inspect each hive weekly check for eggs and queen cells

18 Eggs in cells

19 Eggs and larvae

22 Worker Emerging

24 Honey stores on brood frame

25 July - August Traditional time to store excess honey No longer true climate and agriculture July dearth Nectar gathered is 80% water Honey is < 20% water Supercedure of queen Beekeeper remove honey, feed bees Treat for varroa

26 July August June gap is now the July dearth Few good flowering plants Fancy garden species with double flowers have no nectar or pollen Agricultural practices have left few flowering plants Plants: lime, white clover, blackberry, annuals in hay meadows {none left}, H. Balsam Move hives to Mournes for heather

27 Varroa Mites

31 Frame with honey

33 September - October Colony activity slows Bad time for drones?? Wasps a serious threat Hive gets sealed for winter with propolis Last burst of laying by queen winter bees Beekeeper {remove honey}, requeen, unite weak colonies, reduce entrance, mouse guards, extract honey

34 September October Another critical period bees lay up stores for winter winter bees Shrubs such as fuscia, willow herb Ivy love/hate relationship for some beekeepers excellent pollen source, honey crystallizes {hard} Michaelmas daisies {asters}, Golden Rod

35 November - December Bees cluster A little brood is reared to replace lost bees Beekeeper add insulation in roof, treat for varroa with oxalic acid, watch for diseased and dying hives and close these up.

36 November December Weather/season dependent End of ivy Little foraging winter cluster Boxing day feed bees fondant

37 Swarming

38 Swarming Swarming season is May June Nuisance and loss of honey Prime swarm Old queen and flying bees Up to half colony Settle close by while scouts search Leave brood, nurse bees and queen cells 3 to 4 weeks before new queen is mated and starts to lay

39 Queen Cells

40 Cast Multiple queen cells left in hive First queen to emerge may kill rivals Bees may prevent this so this queen swarms Can be repeated until no bees left Large casts will/can survive Later casts small very poor chance of survival Beekeeper should prevent casts

41 Swarm South Parade

42 Lure into box

44 Brush up the last few

Honey Bees QUB Green Champions 9 th April

Honey Bees QUB Green Champions 9 th April 2014 http://www.qub.ac.uk/staff/area/bees/ http://belfastbees.wordpress.com/ Contents The Beekeeping Year Inside the hive Outside the hive Swarming Discussion