Apis-UK October/November 2003

EDITORIAL

Honey Shows
Welcome to the Honey Show Edition of Apis-UK which consists of the October and November issues combined. We produce it as winter advances upon us rapidly and my bees are just just finishing off the last of the ivy and carob. I hope that those of you who visit the show enjoy and value this showpiece of British Beekeeping. I hope to meet some of you on the last day of the show when I make one of my rare visits to the UK (last time, I had to get a mortgage in order to get in a round of drinks). We also have a short report on the Belgrade honey show with an article sent in by Predrag Cvetkovic, and reading this report, I think that many a honey show organiser in the UK will feel a twinge of envy at the attendance figures. A Croatian site is also introduced and it is becoming evident that through the net, more and more of the Eastern European countries are beginning to engage with us in Western Europe in what I hope will be a valuable two way exchange that can only be of benefit to us all. With their long histories of excellence in beekeeping, their innovation, and their different perspectives, I welcome their input. I have no doubt that we can all learn from it.

Wessex Honey Show 2003 Light and Dark Class
Photo Margret Davies

Science and the Beekeeper
The news items reported in this issue show in many ways that the frontiers of bee science are being pushed ever further back and certainly many of the reports are becoming more complex and technical. However, this is always the way with science and it is part of the aim of Apis-UK to keep beekeepers informed and up to date as much as possible with the essential background science to their much valued craft. At the same time though it is important to remember that it is those very beekeepers (and their bees) that are the all important members of this ‘industry’ and ultimately will be the net beneficiaries of any scientific breakthrough or increase in knowledge. With these beekeepers in mind, it was therefore with pleasure that I received a copy of ‘The Apiarist’ the quarterly newsletter of the Harrogate and Ripon Beekeepers Association. I enjoyed reading it immensely and it was good to read that throughout the review there were sentences such as: ‘Entries to the show classes were up again....’; ‘These (training courses) continue to be oversubscribed...’; ‘There was a record number of passes this year.....’ and so it went on - hard work creating a success story and ‘The Apiarist’ reflects this success and the satisfaction of a dynamic association of beekeepers. So thanks to the editorial team for including me in the distribution.

GMOs Again
In this issue, we we also report on a study which indicates that isolation distances will not prevent hybridisation in plants. I know that this research is necessary for many reasons, not least to equip scientists with the tools for fighting hybridisation, but didn’t they know this already? I did, and I’m sure most other beekeepers did. Not perhaps from any scientific knowledge of the subject but from instinct; from knowing what their bees can do; from knowing how plants work. I welcome all research on whatever subject because you never know when some piece of insignificant trivia is going to complete a jigsaw and so save the world - but doesn’t common sense and reason come into it anywhere?

With this profound question ringing in your ears, I again welcome you to this edition of Apis-UK. As I said, I hope to meet some of you on the last day of the show, but if you visit beforehand do call in on Apis-UK and say hello to Steve Turner our intrepid web master and the real brains behind it all.

Keep in touch. David Cramp. Editor.

NEWS

THE NATIONAL HONEY SHOW with International Classes
13 - 15 NOVEMBER 2003 KENSINGTON TOWN HALL HORNTON STREET LONDON
The show is open to all but is best explained as "The Wimbledon of Bee Keeping" where beekeepers from the UK and abroad compete in different classes featuring all products of the hive.

Apart from the exhibits and world class competition, there is a lecture convention plus charity, education and trade stands. Here the public may learn about bee keeping, view related crafts and purchase products while bee keeper’s swarm to the excellent lecture convention and seek out equipment bargains.

Praise bee to Fuller Smith & Turner Plc at the Griffin Brewery, London who will again bee-line a supply of their popular Honey Dew beer, buzzing with flavour, to us. This is displayed in original showmanship style and available throughout the show for all to wax lyrical on its star quality.

A sales range of honey, beverages, beeswax, candles, carvings, moulds, soaps and polish to baking and confectionery, stationery, books, cosmetics, health products, toys and jewellery will interest all ages and communities.

The show will be opened on Thursday 13 November 2003 at 2pm by Kim Flottum the Editor of USA's leading magazine 'Bee Culture'
Press are invited to meet Peter Dalby in the foyer, prior opening - for information gathering prior photo shoots.
Times: Thur. 2.00-7pm Fri. 9.30am-7pm Sat. 9.30am-5pm
Admission and membership: £10 Children U16 and Members - free
Pre-paid day tickets are £8 pp and for groups of 30+ ONLY £5 pp
Further information: www.honeyshow.co.uk
Schedules(programmes): Rev. HF Capener : (+44 ) 01303 254579 showsec@zbee.com
Mo Davies, Voluntary Publicity Officer Tel: 02089406070 National Honey Show
Registered Charity No 233656

INTERNATIONAL BRONZE MEDAL FOR BEE CRAFT
Bee Craft was awarded the Bronze Medal in the 'Journals on Bees and Beekeeping' contest at the International Apicultural Congress, Apimondia 2003, held in the Cultural and Congress Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia. The theme of the congress was 'Beekeeping – a way of living'.

APIMONDIA is an International Federation of Beekeeping Associations that works to create links between everybody involved in the Beekeeping world. It promotes apicultural, scientific, technical and economical development in all countries and the fraternal co-operation of beekeepers’ associations, scientists and individual beekeepers worldwide.
The Apimondia Congress, which is hosted by a different member country on a bi-annual basis, attracts delegates and contest entries from all over the world.
Bee Craft is congratulated on its Bronze Medal achievement, awarded in the face of international competition. There have been significant improvements in the magazine over the past few years, with a move to A4, full-colour in January 2002. Bee Craft aims to carry articles for both beginner and experienced beekeepers and for those interested in the environment, particularly the role played by all types of bee. It includes the latest news affecting bees and beekeepers, including developments in management techniques, legislation and scientific research. Another new feature is The 'B' Kids – a real BUZZ for youngsters of all ages!

Sample copies and subscriptions are available from Alison Mouser, Bee Craft Secretary, 79
Strathcona Avenue, Bookham, Leatherhead, Surrey KT23 4HR. More details are available on
the web site: www.bee-craft.com

PCELARSTVO 2003 – BEEKEEPING EXHIBITION, BELGRADE
The twenty ninth beekeeping exhibition "Pcelarstvo 2003" was held from the 2nd to 5th of October this year and gathered the record number of participants and exhibitors. The exhibition is traditionally organized each year in Tasmajdan Park, Belgrade. The exhibition was organized by the Beekeepers’ Society of Belgrade, Belgrade Society of beekeepers and the Beekeeping Association of Serbia. Traditionally, in scope of the opening ceremony, a honey tree was planted in the park – linden tree this year.

300 exhibitors from Serbia, Montenegro and Serbian Republic (Bosnia and Herzegovina) were present. 250 of them were selling honey and other bee products, 40 exhibitors sold beekeeping equipment, while 10 sold books and other beekeeping literature.

Neatly arranged stands and good choice of bee products attracted a lot of people. The number of visitors is hard to be determined. Some estimate that it was between 200 and 300 thousands and that over 100-150 tons of honey was sold. The greatest demand was for Black locust honey, Meadow, Forest and Sunflower honey, but it was possible to buy Linden, Rapeseed, Shop sage, Chestnut honey and many others sorts of honey from this area.

The price of honey exhibited was 250 dinars (3.8€) for 1kg (2.2 pounds). This year, in order to provide an additional security to buyers, special banderols were introduced which every exhibitor had to attach to their honey jars. All the products exhibited were controlled by an authorized inspection committee.

Some beekeeping innovations were presented and rewards and prizes in different categories were granted. The exhibition was visited by a great number of beekeepers from Serbia. Also, there were organised visits from Montenegro, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

During the exhibition, the president of the German beekeeping Association and the vice president of Apimondia Dr. Erich Schieferstein held a lecture about the history and organization of beekeeping in Germany, German beekeeping association, and about honey market in Germany. Pcelarstvo – beekeeping (Serbian) Predrag Cvetkovic E-mail: predragcv@ptt.yu

THE NATIONAL HONEY SHOW IN 2004 – NEW VENUE AND NEW TIMING
Where? The RAF Museum, Hendon. When? 21st – 23rd October. Why? It is affordable; Easily accessible by car from the M1 and M25 and by Tube; Free on-site parking for 200 vehicles; Large exhibition area; Tiered Lecture Theatre for 200; Reasonably priced café and restaurant; Free admission to the RAF Museum; Well clear of any possible congestion charges; Good; selection of local hotels and guest-houses and back to the old popular October timing. http://www.honeyshow.org.uk

BEE TALK
In past issues of Apis-UK we have written extensively on honey bee communication and the various and often controversial theories concerning the subject. We know that some bees such as honey bees can communicate the position of food by dancing in the hive and that this may be allied to odour. Other bees leave scent trails from the food source back to the nest. Now, a recent paper of the Proceedings of the Royal Society (Oct 22), has shed some new light on this fascinating subject.

Researchers from the University of California and the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil have discovered a stingless bee in Brazil that uses an intermediate form of communication. These bees, (T. hyalinata) leave an odour trail only a short distance from the food source, and more intriguingly, the scent drops are more concentrated at one end of the trail than the other. The scent marks are more concentrated around the food source than further away. This abbreviated trail may be less conspicuous to competitors. The scientists believe that communicating food sources to nest mates in the hive (honey bees) may have evolved in order to lessen the risk of foraging competitors discovering it. This newly discovered method used by T. hyalinata may be a similar ploy. The researchers also discovered that the bees fly along the short trail straight to the point where the markings are at their most concentrated, i.e. around the food source. Food sources en route are ignored. It is believed that this enables the bees to arrive en masse at the food source. They are very aggressive bees (towards competitor bees of different species or the same species from a different colony), and aggressive bees arriving en masse provides a definite foraging advantage.

The scent used by the bees is itself interesting. It derives from the mandibular gland of the bees that land briefly and rub their mandibles against the object to be marked. It is composed of a complex of chemicals which evaporate at different rates. At first, the scent elicits an attack response (probably so the bees clear away competitors from the food source), then later a feeding response is elicited. The chemical also enables foragers to draw in reinforcements to the exact spot that they are required to take over, i.e. the new food source, very swiftly.

IT'S ALL TO DO WITH GENES
Past issues of Apis-UK have reported on the Honey bee Genome project, a USA federally funded project to sequence the honey bee genome. As part of this study, researchers at the University of Illinois, have discovered that genes and behaviour go together in honey bees so closely that the occupation of an individual bee can be predicted by knowing a profile of its gene expression in the brain. Even though most of the differences in gene expression were small, the changes were observable in 40% of the genes studied. Professor Gene E Robinson of the university states that ‘this provides a striking picture of the genome as a dynamic entity, more actively involved in modulating behaviour in the adult brain than we previously thought’. (Genome: the complete complement of genetic material carried by a cell or carried by an individual).

This relationship became apparent during a complex molecular study of 6878 different genes replicated with 72 cDNA microarrays that captured the essence of brain gene activity within the natural world of the honey bee. These microarrays allow researchers to get a broad view of gene activity by generating simultaneous measurements of mRNA which reflects levels of protein activity. The mRNA binds to the specific sites on the array allowing for the measurement of expression of thousands of genes. (mRNA: messenger RNA, a single stranded type of polynucleotide molecule containing four types of bases. mRNA carries coded sequences of instructions about protein structure from DNA in the nucleus).

Behavioural differences in honey bees are governed by a temporal polytheism (age related divisions of labour), for example, nurse bees progress to foraging later in life. As this transition occurs, the bee's experience changes in brain structure, brain chemistry, and now it is believed in gene expression.

By studying artificial colonies with same aged bees, they noted that some individuals will begin to forage up to two weeks earlier than others, whilst others of the same age will 'grow up' normally and act as nurses. So in the same hive they had bees of the same age carrying out different tasks. Now this was previously known about by most beekeepers but its relationship with the emergence of a dominant pattern of gene expression clearly associated with behaviour was not known about. In short, the researchers believe that the genome responds dynamically to changes in the bee’s social environment. (The report may be read in full in the journal Science. Oct 10).

IT'S NOTHING TO DO WITH GENES
NON GENETIC ORIGINS OF SOCIETIES POSTULATED
In contrast to the previous article stressing a genetic link to individual behaviour, an Arizona State University researcher Jennifer Fewell believes that amongst social insects there is an alternate cause of the development of societies. In a most interesting viewpoint essay written in Science (Sept 26), she argues that complex social structures like those seen in social insect communities can arise initially from the nature of group interactions, in other words, the inherent dynamics of networks.

The development of social systems is often assumed to be driven by species modifications arrived at through natural selection. Certain social characteristics such as caste systems and complex behaviours have been thought to be traits programmed by genes created through evolutionary process, but Fewell contends that the relative simplicity the insects themselves (as opposed to say Man for example) argues against the systems being created soley by the evolutionary development of biocomplexity in the individual organisms.

'We look at human groups and we think we have these elaborate systems of interaction because we are elaborate beings, but when you look at an ant, you know that it is not an elaborate being. When you see how elaborate their societies are, you realize that there is another answer to the question of how these arise. And if there is another answer for them, there might be another answer for us too'.

She argues that network dynamics can create organised social structures when relatively simple connections between various individuals in a group create patterns of behaviour of increasing complexity, much in the same way that relatively simple mathematical rules can create mathematical patterns of great intricacy. She also adds that this applies whether to group of students given a group task, or a nest of termites building a complex air conditioning system for thermoregulation of the nest.

Though social networks are commonly thought of as evolutionary adaptations, Fewell turns this idea on its head by suggesting that the network forms first following the logic and pattern of group connections, then adaptation follows to strengthen the pattern.
Humans are affected by the same kinds of emerging properties. If you look at global patterns of social organisation, you can see networks shaping what is going on. You are in part, what your social environment makes you. (A very interesting discourse which ultimately comes to a similar conclusion to Gene Robinson in the previous news item where he states that the genome is responding dynamically to changes in the bees social environment, i.e. you are in part, what your social environment makes you. Ed).

PERFUME. WATCH WHAT YOU WEAR
In a recent edition of Apis-UK we reported on wasps attcking a man and concentrating on the area around his hearing aid. Well perfume may also be a danger to the wearer as well. In a report in the scientific journal Nature, Japanese scientists at Tamagawa University in Japan suggest that wasps and hornets may be provoked into attacking by sensing some of the chemicals used in perfume making and food preparation. They extracted a number of volatile chemicals from a pheromone of the worlds largest hornet, Vespa mandarina and found that this extract caused intense alarm and defensive behaviour amongst the hornets. The chemicals triggering the behaviour (2-pentanol, 3-methyle1-1-butanol and 1-methylbuti1 3-methylbutanoate) are found in some cosmetics and fragrances as well as some manufactured foods. An entomologist at Griffith University in Brisbane Australia, Professor R Kitching said that the reaction of insects to smells on human beings is not an unusual effect which is why some people are more susceptible to mosquitos for example than others. He also added that some women are more prone to wasp attack during menstruation. So if you wear a perfume and get attacked, avoid it next time.

In the last issue we reported on forest ants using propolis type substances as nest defence against disease and fungal growth. I said then that I thought bees used it for this as well, but added that I hadn't seen any research on the subject. I still haven't, but casting around, found an interesting study on insect bacterial defence which may have implications for human disease resistance. Ed.

INSECTS MAY OFFER LESSONS IN DEFEATING BACTERIAL RESISTANCE TO ANTIBIOTICS
This research was carried out by the Wistar Institute and its report was published in 2000.
The key element in insect anti bacterial defence and their immune system is an array of small antimicrobial peptide molecules. These ‘latch on’ to the outer or inner membranes of bacteria, punching holes in these membranes, thus killing the bacteria. The Wistar Institute scientists found that there is an intracellular target for one of these antimicrobial molecules and this has been isolated from a sap sucking insect. The molecule is being studied to see if it can be used as an antibiotic in humans. In earlier work the team found several powerful anti microbial molecules used by flies, bees and other insects to defend themselves against infection. In this study, they identified the receptor for one of these molecules which is potentially more significant because with knowledge of the receptor, the doors can open to the development of strain specific antibiotics. The receptor in question is a heat shock protein. These proteins in both bacteria and animals play an important role in during infections that produce fevers. Fevers cause the cell proteins to become misshapen and not function correctly. Heat shock proteins help to repair this state of affairs. The anti bacterial molecule of the insect disrupts this repair mechanism of the bacteria thus killing it.

STUDY HEIGHTENS FEAR OVER GM SUPERWEEDS
The journal ‘Science’ reports on a study which concludes that cross pollination between GM plants and their wild relatives is inevitable and could create hybrid superweeds resistant to the most powerful weed killers. This study is the first such national study of how genes pass from crops to weeds. This is a government funded study and the findings contrast with earlier assessments of gene flow between farm crops and weeds. They had suggested that the danger of hybridisation was limited. But the results of this research which invloved analysing satellite images of the British countryside and patrolling 180 miles of river banks and showed that isolation distances will reduce hybrid numbers but not prevent it. They conclude that in the UK context, hybridisation is more or less inevitable. (I think that any beekeepers could have told them that. Ed). However, the study will enable scientists to do two things: It will allow scientists to assess what needs to be done to limit the spread of pollen and genes from GM crops; and it provides a starting point for scientists to do predictive modelling. The full study can be found in the journal ‘Science’ 10 Oct.

THE BEE PRESS

BEECRAFT
Beecraft October 2003 Volume 85 Number 10
The latest issue of Bee Craft offers a wealth of information, advice and items of interest for all beekeepers in its monthly columns. http://www.bee-craft.com/ The following is its contents list:

Editorial; Getting started: dealing with the honey harvest Margaret Thomas NDB; Bee Craft Humble Boy competition Win tickets to see Humble Boy in Nottingham and Malvern; Wax Moth and Woodpecker Control Michael Boki; Keeping stingless bees Adam Hart PhD; Reverend Charles Butler Joyce Rushen; All change! Celia Davis NDB; The How to of hive selection and construction Alan Johnston; Bees, ants and bears Bob Gilbert; In the Apiary: bee books by women writers (1905-1953) Karl Showler; Herbs for bees and beekeepers: mint (mentha spp) Alison Mouser.

BEECRAFT
Beecraft November 2003 Volume 85 Number 11
Editorial; November 2003 Apimondia 2003 Ivor Davis PhD; Getting started: post-season reflections Margaret Thomas NDB; Origin of the National Diploma in Beekeeping Fred A Richards NDB; Field test kits for foulbrood disease Ruth Waite PhD The 'How to' of cleaning equipment Alan Johnston; Honey bees and beekeeping in the Yucatan Adam Hart PhD; Instrumental Insemination Day Albert Knight; In the Apiary: bee books by women writers (1965-1988) Karl Showler; Beekeeping in Ireland Eddie O'Sullivan; Book reviews: What good are bugs? By Gilbert Waldbauer; Insect Bites and stings by Dr Harry Riches; Bumblebees by Christopher O'Toole.

BEE IMPROVEMENT AND CONSERVATION - AUTUMN 2003 NUMBER 15
Contents: Editorial Philip Denwood; Queen raising and selection in Yorkshire Tom Robinson; I had a dream Bill Spence; Queen rearing workshop George Marsh; Breeding Groups James Kilty and Gordon Hartshorn; Evaluation of Queen Mating Isolation in the Peak District, Sheffield, by means of DNA Microsatellites Dr. Francis L.W.Ratnieks and Dra. Annette Jensen; Raising, mating and making use of queens Part 6 Friedrich-Karl Tiesler and Eva Englert; Bee Farmers' visit to Jutland Tom Robinson; Cell size Philip Denwood; BIBBA membership survey Terry Clare; Lester Wickham Albert Knight; Conferences Tom Robinson.

THE APIARIST NOV 2003. FROM THE HARROGATE AND RIPON BKA
(We always welcome news from the associations in the UK and abroad and details of their newsletters/reviews etc. Ed.)

The Honey Show
It is appropriate that in this Show edition of Apis UK, they report on the success of their annual Honey Show held in September as part of the North of England Horticultural Society’s Autumn Flower Show. The bee keepers wearing a uniform (muy bien) of green tops noted an increase in entries to the show classes and the opening of a new class for 3 microscopy slides. (The association is believed to have over half of the qualified microscopists in the BBKA).

Other Articles
Varroa mite resistance to Bayvarol and Apistan; Biological Control Solutions come to bees’ rescue; Annual General meeting Report; Report on the Heather meeting, Hawe’s Apiary; Book Reviews; Plants and Beekeeping; Howes; Fly with the Beeman; Couston; Quiet Queens; Bee swarms 2003; The colony in Winter; Visit to Sedburgh BKA; Buzzwords; On the values of various woods for the fire; Historical notes; Recipe. Honey nut crisps; From the Internet; The new honey regulations.

ARTICLES

AN INVESTIGATION INTO NATURAL COMB (Part 1)
Having made observations concerning brood-nest shape and its positioning within the colony, it would appear that the building of natural comb is rather a haphazard affair, of random piecemeal construction, without rule or reason.

The strict discipline enforced upon bees by wax foundation is completely absent and foreign to their normal environment.

For some reason however, general compliance to this enforced regimentation occurs in moveable frame hives. It is nevertheless against the bee's instinct to be confined and regulated in this way.

The question therefore arises as to whether preventing the bee from constructing comb in accordance with nature, may actually promote disease, encourage parasites and hinder basic hygienic habit.

What parameters guide natural comb construction? material of cavity? volume? width? breadth? depth? entrance size? position? direction? temperature? humidity? illumination?, all features to be considered, advantages to be taken into account and utilized, and compensation to be allowed for when unfavourable conditions apply.

The final result will be a summation of all the individual circumstances, the flexibility of the structure will ensure that the most economical, effective and efficient solution has been made.

These items for consideration however are unable to be included when all has been predetermined by man by the provision of moveable frame hives, fitted with wax foundation.

There must be reasons why bees often build contorted and convoluted comb, reasons clearly understood by the bees, but not fully appreciated by our good selves.

As there may be some relationship between healthy bees and natural comb or conversely unhealthy bees and the use of wax foundation, some form of investigation must surely be undertaken.

When commencing such a project as proposed above not only may we be guided by our own observations and reasoning, we may also consult others, such as Herrod-Hempsall and Cowen; hear their opinion on such matters as comb construction and instinct.

We may even expand our range of questioning further still, to include Fabre for more general entomological comment.

They all stand there waiting, in orderly file along the shelf, cheek by jowl, a little dusty and dog-eared perhaps, but no matter, their thoughts, their reasoning, their answers, and indeed even their questions, are still fresh, albeit some of the questions remain unresolved.

What an adventure, let us explore, youth is on our side, remember our mentors are all over 100 years old.

So; do bees collectively obtain and evaluate information whilst 'Stringing' prior to jointly undertaking the construction of natural comb?

Is it a carefully crafted structure which avoids and controls disease and parasites?

Has the introduction of wax foundation together with the ease of manipulation and inspection actually caused the problems we now experience within our hives?

Let us attempt to acquire a better understanding of natural comb, and the instinct which no doubt controls its construction.

Any relationship there may be concerning health and hygiene should then become apparent.

We will commence with a definition of terms and an outline of the structural properties of hexagon cells, and then see where chance and reason may lead us. Ian Rumsey

The association needs more investments and any support from any one who can provide it.
Alisher E-mail: alisher83@yahoo.com

VICTORIAN BEEKEEPING AT HELIGAN
Heligan is a classic Victorian estate in Cornwall, and was designed to be as self-sufficient as possible. Bees were an integral part of such a garden, for pollination, honey and wax, and although I knew next to nothing about them when I visited, I had been thinking about bees and Heligan made me think even more.

Beekeeping at Heligan pre-dates modern hive design, and the bees were kept in an early-Victorian Bee Bole wall – a construction with 14 cavities to house skeps. Wooden doors provided protection from the elements, but had space for the bees to get in and out. The key skill for the beekeeper was getting the size of the skep right, because honey collection involved killing the bees by smoking the skep in a sulphur pit - they didn’t say what effect this might have had on the honey! Since honey collection involved destruction of the colony, they would only do this after the bees had swarmed, so that there was a successor colony for the next year. This is why the size of the skep was critical - too small a skep meant the bees would swarm very early and the honey yield would be low, but if it were too large they would swarm too late to build up sufficient honey supplies to see them through the winter.

The original Bee Boles wall was sited near the fruit and vegetable gardens to ensure good pollination, and they tried to use it when they restored the garden, but apparently with limited success – it proved very difficult to collect a honey crop and keep the swarms. Also, because of their location, the risk of visitors getting stung was too high. They still keep bees on the estate, but much further off, away from the main visitor areas. We didn’t see these, and so I do not know if they have replicated the old structure or whether they are using modern hives.

This description of beekeeping at Heligan is based on what we were told by the guide. Thinking about it now, with the benefit of a little real beekeeping under my belt, I would probably have asked more questions, and I’d be interested in any comments on the methods they used. In particular, smoking the skeps to extract the honey seems efficient but rather brutal - would there be another way of clearing them of bees before the days of the porter bee escape? The other thing I might question is the idea that if the skep is too large the bees would swarm very late in the season. Last spring I got the distinct impression that swarming is a very strong instinct, and that they would swarm if they were living in the Albert Hall, but my experience is very limited, and perhaps I just have bees with itchy feet! Catherine Cooper E-mail: catherine.cooper@danre.net

BEEGINNER'S LUCK?
Having started with a swarm collected in Bromley and got about 25 lb. of honey from them last year, I was looking forward to expanding this year and bought a couple of brood bodies and some supers. My hive survived the winter very well but, inexplicably, went queenless just at the start of the season. George, my mentor, very kindly gave me one of his queens, as he wanted to try a new one and the colony had started settling but unfortunately, my new queen got through the queen excluder into the super.

Whilst trying with expert help to get her back into the main brood body we accidentally assassinated her and I went queenless for at least two or three weeks.

The Club came to the rescue because some wild comb had been collected with a colony on it and was offered to anybody interested. I took up the offer and collected a cardboard box full of wild comb attached to some bramble and bees. My plan was to put a spare brood body on top of the existing one and leave the wild bees (separated by newspaper) with their queen to settle in. Then to encourage them down to the frames and remove the wild comb.

As a beginner, I was quite nervous about having the bees in my shed at home and transporting them to my hive. I could remember carrying my first swarm sizzling in a box and thinking it was rather like walking along bumpy ground with a chip pan filled to the brim with boiling fat. So I decided to do this as soon as I woke up the following morning which turned out to be about 5 a.m.

I duly drove up to the apiary in the early dawn and carried the box to near my hive. I lit my smoker and got kitted up in my bee suit. I carried my newspaper and box of bees on wild comb over to my hive and got everything ready. I was nervous but thought I could cope. I smoked the entrance gently and took the roof off. Then I lifted the top board using my hive tool and with the smoker at the ready.

The bees were not at all pleased to see me, rushed out, and found their way between my gloves and my sleeves up both arms. Being stung on both arms in the semi darkness and having bees inside a suit is not something I would recommend to anybody but what could I do? I had already opened the box of wild comb bees and if I did not introduce them the whole exercise would have been wasted. So I slapped my arms, opened the hive fully, banged the newspaper on the brood body, chucked the wild swarm in the empty brood body put more newspaper above it replaced the supers and the lid and moved smartly away from the apiary.

There were still a few live bees buzzing around inside my suit so I opened it up and shook them out. I was considerably rattled by the whole experience and did not visit the hive again for several weeks. My arms swelled up (as they do, don't they?) and then went back down again after a couple of days but the stings itched for weeks and the scars lasted even longer.

After a long summer holiday, I went back to my hive full of fear and trepidation but I need not have been worried. The colony is thriving in a double brood body and had put a fair bit of honey in the supers too. I have given them their anti Varroa treatment strips.
The lessons I have learned are:

BEES CAN BE DANGEROUS
I was asked if I would look at a swarm/colony which arrived about two months earlier and entered the floor space underneath an attic bedroom. The house owner was concerned that honey would start dripping through the kitchen ceiling and wondered if removal was the best option.
Just like the TV series “Mission Impossible” Your bee challenge this month - should you decide to except it! If anybody from your bee force be killed or injured, we will deny any knowledge etc. Before committing myself to suicide missions I always look at the job and give a quote. There was a limited window of opportunity of only two weeks while the occupier of the room was on holiday.
On visiting the property you could tell from the alleyway that the occupying forces where indeed honeybees mainly by the loaded pollen baskets looking like bomblets. The owner had cleared the room of furniture and carpets which made it easy to remove some of the flooring. I could see the combs where attached to the top of the floorboards. I decided to come back another day with my equipment and undertake the work to remove and save the bees.
It was a hot Sunday afternoon, the floor boarding was removed. With gentle smoking all the combs where cut out and inspected for the queen but she wasn’t seen which is not unusual in operations like this. I put all combs in a large cardboard box trying not to damage them.

The plan was to put the cardboard box with an open entrance where the combs where originally positioned and cover the box and hole in the floor with a black blanket and hope all the flying bees would go in the box with the brood combs. Going back that evening I found the bees hadn’t gone in the box and the majority were still under the floorboards making more combs. The extreme hot weather might have prevented this plan from working.

I went back another evening and managed to get the remaining bees fanning and running upwards into another cardboard box using some Fabi-Spray, this bee repellent spray is very effective in confined spaces. The bees needed to be moved more than three miles away, which I had pre-arranged with Janie and David in Penge who were expecting me that evening. What they didn’t expect was me turning up at 11pm to hive them. Picture David and Janie in their night clothes with torches at the bottom of their garden! I used a empty brood box to put the cardboard box with the combs in and shook in the rest of the bees. I can tell you the bees were not pleased with this treatment and went on a stinging season at the only part of my body not fully protected which were my ankles (no socks), with all this going on I placed a second brood box with foundation on top and retreated as fast as possible.

The only reason why I didn't wait until the next day to hive the bees was due to work commitments. That evening my ankles were a little sensitive but I slept OK. The following day I could not walk as my ankles were both badly swollen. I had to phone in sick, it was two days before I could walk again. Bees can be dangerous so wear your jellies! Steven Turner

RAMBLES THROUGH THE RENAISSANCE
My daughters are my severest critics. (‘That’s what you think!’ grumbles Sid Bonkers over his breakfast toast and honey.) My little insights are greeted with jeering ribaldry accompanied by comments on what a dire history teacher I would be. Too bad! Too bad! Just come with me on this little jaunt.

And now to the curious stuff. I am trying to read a book which I can’t really follow. It’s about the Black Death in 14th century Europe. The author is making two points. The first is that the Black Death was not the same as modern plague which is transmitted via rats. He investigates cemetery records, wills and testaments, the evidence presented to the Vatican regarding saints who cured Black Death sufferers. A terrifying aspect of the disease was how contagious it was and how quickly you died. At great risk was anyone – such as priest, gravedigger, doctor, lawyer – whose job put them in contact with the sick. (I’m getting round to the bees....) In 1348-9 London was hit, and one professional group was almost wiped out – The Worshipful Company Of Wax Chandlers. Their work included not only supplying beeswax candles for funerals, but also embalming the dead.

The author’s second point is a bit tenuous, but he makes it plausible if not entirely convincing. The Black Death struck repeatedly throughout the 14th century, particularly in Italy. Each time however, the population was more resistant. Within living memory, Italians had been staring into the jaws of hell, but now they were increasingly being spared. It is proposed that this was the spur for the Renaissance, that there was a huge upsurge of relief and optimism and a cultural explosion.

(The Allan Gallery now contains a genuine Denis May, plus two works by an American artist, primarily encaustic with other media. ‘Encaustic?’ This was originally (I believe, although our art correspondents will correct any misapprehension) a Roman technique, where the pigments were mixed with beeswax and applied by melting the beeswax onto the base.)

Right, come back to the Renaissance, and the greatest – Leonardo da Vinci. 1505, and the Black Death is becoming a memory. Leonardo embarks on an over-ambitious painting, the Battle Of Anghiari. Fed up with the difficulties of The Last Supper he attempts encaustic on a vast scale, but getting the temperature wrong means that everything runs – a bit like putting a Turner watercolour in the dishwasher.

Ho hum. I wonder if anyone has read this far. I’ve lost track of how many years I have been writing articles, and possibly no-one ever reaches the end. Never mind. Here is the last leap in my bee-linked theme, right into the Vatican. Pope Urban VII (a few years later than Leonardo da Vinci) adopted the coat of arms of Florence (where Leonardo worked) with the addition of three bees. Anyone who’s interested ask me for a numismatist’s catalogue which I have, especially if you have £10,000 to spare for some papal coins. Matt Allen

FACT FILE

The fact file for this month is short, relevant and to the point, taking the form of a reminder. Beekeepers are still encouraged to keep a weather eye out for the small hive beetle. So remember what it looks like. There are some easily identified features relating to the beetle and its larvae to help you distinguish it from others.

Eggs are laid on the hive floor or in crevices.
Larvae have spines on their back.
Larvae have three pairs of legs near the head, and not on each segment like the wax moth grubs.
Larvae are active in light and do not leave silk behind unlike wax moth larvae.
Adult beetles have clubbed antennae. This is a very distinctive feature.
Adults hide from light.
Adults are black in colour and have short wing cases.

Next month’s fact file will look at what we know about Drone Congregation Areas; an interesting aspect of honey bee mating.

A HONEY RECIPE
This new section aims to provide a recipe each month which uses honey as an essential ingredient but which is fairly unusual. Help would be appreciated! We’ll see how it goes. Overseas recipes are welcome.

RECIPE
Here is a recipe using that old fashioned fruit, the quince. I didn’t know much about these things until I bought our present acreage which has lots of these trees growing on it. I do remember though that my mother used to make a lot of quince jelly/jam. (Making this now) So here goes. It’s nice.

You will need: 150g of brown sugar; 2 large quinces; nutmeg; a vanilla stick; 4 dessert spoons of honey. The whole process takes around 20 minutes.

Peal the quince and cook in a saucepan with the sugar, vanilla stick, and nutmeg, all covered with water.

Once the quinces are cooked, cut them into rounds and place these on the dessert plates.

Reduce the liquid still in the saucepan until it is well thickened. At this point add the honey.

Pour the resulting sweet sauce over the rounds of quince on the plates and serve.

That will serve four.

HISTORICAL NOTE

THE BIRDS AND THE BEES
This month we look at the real reason why honey guide birds Indicator indicator, seek the destruction of honey bee colonies in Africa.

Once upon a time, a small brown bird came across a dead elephant.
“ Aha” he said delightedly, “this elephant will be my new home”. He made his mark on the elephant’s carcass and went off to gather the rest of his family to the new homestaed. In the meantime, a mouse found the elephant and decided to make his home in the carcass. The bird on returning with his family remonstrated with the mouse and tried to claim his property back, but even though they argued all day, they couldn’t reach agreement over the ownership of the dead elephant. So, they went to the judge to let him decide the relative merits of their case. The local judge happened to be a honey bee. The bee deliberated for a long time and then gravely handed down his decision. “The elephant belongs to the mouse”, he said. When the bird exclaimed that he had found it first and had even made a mark on the carcass to prove his ownership, the bee told him he was lying and that it was the mouse’s property. From that day onwards goes an ancient fable from Zimbabwe, the bird and the bee have hated each other and at every opportunity, the bird seeks the destruction of the bees’ nests.

Of course, this is prmitive mans’ attempt to explain the theory behind the actions of the Honey Guide, a bird which leads both animals and man to wild bee nests for them to take. The bird then feeds on the wax and other debris including the odd grub, but only incidentally eats the honey. The bird actually can digest the wax. This member of the woodpecker family performs a cuckoo act on other birds and the young manage to turf the real young out of the nest and take it over for themselves. Most of the various honey guides eat beeswax but only two varieties lead other animals and man to the nests. The local people always leave a good chunk of comb for the honey guide and wouldn’t dream of taking all of the bees’ honey. They fear that if they do, the bird will punish them by leading them to a snake or a leopard. The bird also leads the ratel or honey badger to nests for the same purpose.

Our last historical note has struck a cord with a reader in France. Here is his method of cooling his bees down in the record high temperatures we all suffered over the summer months. Ed.

Dear David,
I found the historical note on hive temperatures very interesting and thought that my experiences this summer might be of interest to other readers.

I am an English apiculteur living and beekeeping in the South west of France. I started here with one hive, great expectations but no experience 11 years ago. I now have 4 hives, a little experience and a true realisation of how little I really know about the little ladies. However, that is another story. My point in writing is to share the experience of the summer we have just had.

The heat wave seemed to start in early June with temperatures rising steadily with each passing week so that most days in August seemed to be well into the 40s°C and there were several day where it reached 49°C. There was no rain to speak of from the end of May until early September.

Three of my hives were in shade and the bees seemed to cope reasonably well with the heat, however, the fourth was in full sun. As the sun mounted in the sky and the temperature crept up to 40°C and above, a large number of the bees left the hive and were to be found on the outside of the hive. They were clearly unhappy little ladies. I suspected that they had left the hive to reduce congestion between the frames and allow an increase in ventilation. I also suspected that they were experiencing considerable discomfort from being exposed to the full heat of the sun. It seemed only right to give them a little help. I filled an old plastic bowl with water, immersed a couple of old towels and draped them over the hot sides of the hive but leaving the ends of the towels in the water. Capillary action kept the towels wet; the heat of the sun evaporated the water at the rate of almost 1 litre per hour and hopefully reduced the temperature inside the hive.

The plastic bowl treatment worked well for a hobby beekeeper with only one hive at risk, but it would be impossible for a professional with hundreds of hives.

As a final thought, or is it a moan, the honey harvest was negligible. From 4 hives I was able to take less than 15 kg of honey, compared with over 50kg from 2 hives last year. The heat and drought almost eliminated any forage for the bees. There was no shortage of bees as all colonies were strong and were rearing brood right through the heat wave. There were good reserves at the beginning of June but these went down significantly in July and August.

Never mind, next year it will be a wonderful year for bees! Best wishes David Foster Pradal 46230 Lalbenque France E-mail: patndave@club-internet.fr

As you know, we still haven't got the bottom of the hollow bumblebee business, (but I haven't lost hope yet), but here in the following letter is a site on the web with some good shots of live bees and non hollow bumblebees on flowers. Take a look and if you can help, do send some shots to Chris Clayton. Ed.

Dear Editor,
I have taken some photographs of plants attractive to bees, both honey and bumblebees, with the emphasis on the latter.
This may be of interest to the hobby beekeeper who wants to stock up his garden and enjoys the sound of buzzing.
If anyone would like to help me with a few pictures to put on the site, this would be welcome.
The site is www.beeplants.info sincerely, Chris Clayton.

Dear Editor,
My name is Michal. I’m 18 year old student from Poland. I have asked some companies to sent this letter to you. In the future I want to study pharmacy. Some time ago my father was given a pack of Royal Jelly from his friend because of my father’s health problems.. I became interested about it. I read a lot of articles and found out that it is very healthy food wchich can really help a lot of poeple and heal their illnesses. As one example I can give a case of my mother’s nails. She had a lot of problems with them. The problem was that her nails were crumbling and had a double ends inspite of the fact that she was taking I think every kind of pills and it didn’t help her. As soon as she has started to take 1 gram of Royal Jelly per day all of her problems disapeared immidiately My goal is to write a book about Royal Jelly,which can help a lot of people. My idea is to collect opinions of scientists, doctors, owners and managers of a bee farms from all over the world and put it into my book. I think that it is only possible with Your help. If you find some time I would be grateful if you could write me some opinions like:
1. Why fresh Royal Jelly is lyophilised?
2. Do gastrics have bad effect on fresh Royal Jelly?
3. Why lyophilized Royal Jelly is better than fresh Royal Jelly?
4. What kind of nutrients and active biological materials contain Royal Jelly?
5. Do Royal Jelly have effect on life length?
6. Do Royal Jelly have any anti aging effects?
7. Does your expirence allows you to give opinion that Royal Jelly have protective or therapeutic effects against: heart dieseses, fatigue, efficiency of mind, radiation, tumours, malnutrition, nema esthetic syndrom, chronic hepatitis, diabetes, hypertension, tumours immunotherapy, promotion of healing after surgical operation, potency, resistance of the human body, anorexia, dieseses of movement organs, skin dieseses, influenza, Another, which one?
8. How, how much and when should people take Royal Jelly
9. When doctor should supervise tretment of Royal Jelly?
10. Is there a posiibity that Royal Jelly treatment can be bad for people?
Best regards, Michal Bisaga E-mail: royal_jelly@op.pl

Dear Editor,
from T+T Consult International October 2, 2003
New services, news regarding ecological beekeeping, Certificates and Awards (Germany and International)

Whereupon do you need to keep your eye on? For one thing on a good program, important learning contents and learn aims. Beyond that naturally on good teachers.

A honey seminar, as it is offered at the German bee institutes, is of great benefit. The honey certificate of the D.I.B. (Dustmann 2003), that is being given out to the empowerment for using the D.I.B. Trade mark at the end of the honey seminar, places an alternative to the ordinary „Bio" („organic") -certificates - at least in Germany.

Prof. Jost H. Dustmann/PhD estimates the phrasing „Bio" („organic"), or „Oeko "(„eco") before the word honey as „superfluous and improper" (Dustmann 2003a). It inveigle the not with the state of affairs trusted consumer to wrong ideas or misconceptions, to the assumption, to find regarding „organic"- honey something which is especially „natural ", of higher value. According to (Dustmann 2003a) this is yet an „erroneous belief ".

We can only confirm that. We have reported in diverse articles and press - releases.

Thus, what can be concluded?: Either D.I.B. Certificate, or D.I.B. Certificate plus T+T certificates (for the beekeepers in Germany) resp. T+T certificates and awards (for beekeepers worldwide) awarded by T+T Council, valid not only in Germany but internationally. To Certificate and Awards-page: www.thiele-und-thiele-consult.de/certificates_us.html

BEEKEEPING COURSES

Introduction beekeeping course run by the London Beekeepers Association at Roots and Shoots on Wednesday evenings for ten weeks starting Wednesday 14th January 2004 Details from the website www.kentbee.com

A Beekeeping Course is being run by Community Education Lewisham at Mornington Centre from 20th April until 18th May 2004. The classes are on Tuesdays at 10.00 until 12.00 for five weeks. The tutor is Karl-Josef Kemper. Details from 020-8698-5819

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Event organisers are welcome to forward dates and details of their events to the editor (by e-mail) for incorporation on this page.

13th November 2003 - The Central Association of Bee-Keepers Social Evening. Arrive 6.45pm for 7.00pm at the Wax Chandlers' Hall, Gresham Street, City of London, EC2V 7AD. Join us after your day at the National Honey Show for a talk and a finger buffet with wine in the splendour of the Livery Hall at the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers. Speaker: Prof. Robert Pickard, British Nutrition Foundation: "Diet and health in honey bees and humans". Tickets: £20.00. All welcome, but numbers are limited. Early application is advised. Details from: CABK Secretary, 6 Oxford Road, Teddington, Middx TW11 OPZ. http://www.cabk.org.uk

13-15 November 2003 The National Honey Show Download PDF 15KB NHS 2003 The National Honey Show is held at Kensington Town Hall, Hornton Street, London, UK. You will be able to download the show programme from the National Honey Show site from the support pages URL: http://www.honeyshow.co.uk

22-24 November 2003 - 1st International Beekeeping Congress of CARI Louvain-la-Neuve
What Future For European Beekeeping?
The aims of this congress are to: analyze the situation of beekeeping in the European Union; estimate the importance of the present changes and the impact that they have on our way of beekeeping. The challenges to cope with are numerous (declines, quick evolution of genetics, new techniques of environmentally friendly beekeeping more friendly that involve less curing products, accession of new European partners (PECO), development of quality products, new products, the place of the honey bee in the environment). We must cope with these challenges if we want to defend and develop our way of beekeeping. During these two days we shall participate in debates based on several real examples presented by lecturers coming from several countries of the Union and from the PECO. A simultaneous translation to the French language is provided. An exhibition of posters showing the state of development of research in various subjects as well as an exhibition of new equipment will also be shown. It is possible to reserve a meal on the spot for those who want.

Provisional program
Saturday 22nd November 2003
THE HONEY BEE
09.00 Official Congress opening
09.20 Which bee for tomorrow?
12.00 Lunch
14.00 The honey bee in our environment
16.00 To an integrated way of beekeeping
Sunday 23rd November 2003
THE PLACE OF THE HONEY BEE AND BEEHIVE PRODUCTS BEEHIVE IN OUR SOCIETY
09.15 Reception of participants
09.30 The honey market
12.00 Lunch
14.00 Tracks for tomorrow
16.00 The honey bee in our society
16.40 Final debate and recommendations
Monday 24th November 2003 (optional)
Discovering Belgium
Optional tour: Bruges or Brussels.

Registration Fees
Before 31" August: 30 Euros (20 Euros for one day)
After 1St September: 40 Euros (25 Euros for one day)
After the 30th October: we cannot guarantee the provision of earphones for the translation.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL CART asbl - Place Croix du Sud 4 B - 1348 LOUVAIN-La-NEUVE (Belgium) Tel: +32 10 47 34 16 FAX: +32 10 47 34 94 E-mail: info@cari.be http://www.cari.be

22-25 February 2004 - Apimondia Symposium on Tropical Beekeeping: Research and Development for Pollination and Conservation. Heredia Costa Rica More detail is available from: Isanchez@una.ac.cr

23-27 February 2004 - 7th Asian Apicultural Association Conference Los Banos College, Lagunas, Philippines. More information from: cleofas.cervancia@up.edu.ph

24th April 2004 BBKA Spring Convention and Exhibition

6-10 September 2004 - 8th IBRA Conference on tropical Bees: management and diversity. Ribeiro Preto, Brazil.

16th April 2005 BBKA Spring Convention and Exhibition

Harrogate and Ripon BKA Events Listing 2003-2004
(All meetings unless otherwise notified are held in the Field Classroom at Harlow carr at 7.30pm.
13 Nov. Introduction to Honeybee anatomy and Physiology.
6 Dec. Christmas Dinner at the memorial Hall hampsthwaite.
13 Jan. Beekeeping Health and safety Issues.
19 Feb. Maintenance of Heather Moors.
March Date TBD. Beekeeping medicines.
23 Apr. Observation Colonies.
23 May. Visit to Chainbridge Honey Farm.

Editor: David Cramp Submissions contact the Editor
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