To all subscribers to the NBU S.E. Region Mailing List

A month ago I wrote that many colonies were starving as we waited for Spring to arrive. That now seems long ago, as the spring flow has already come and gone in most areas. For a period, warm humid weather coincided with the flowering of key plant species and nectar poured in.
As a result, almost all colonies now have some honey in the supers. However as colonies were generally significantly smaller than usual, most spring honey crops are also below average in size.

The sudden transition to good weather seems to have precipitated a sudden burst of swarming in most areas. The majority of colonies I have examined over the past fortnight have had occupied queen cells at some stage of development, and quite a proportion of colonies have swarmed
leaving little or no brood to examine for signs of disease.

Both beekeepers and bee inspectors have also been active, and as a result there are quite a few foulbrood cases to report this month. Overall some 83 colonies with foulbrood in 48 apiaries have been confirmed in the region this year. About a third of these have been spotted by beekeepers who have either called in their inspector or sent a sample to the NBU for diagnosis. The rest have been found by inspectors during their apiary visits. Spotting problems at this early stage in the year is really helpful, as it greatly reduces the risk that the infection will be inadvertently spread between colonies by the routine movement of combs and equipment between colonies during the
season.

European foulbrood has been found in West Sussex (36 cols), Kent (15 cols), Surrey (13 cols), London (9 cols) and East Sussex (8 cols). Two cases of American foulbrood have been found in separate apiaries in Kent - both of these appear to be new outbreaks in areas with no recent
history of the disease. More details of the distribution of these diseases within counties are given in the attached table.

Bee inspectors have been carrying out disease control work in the apiaries affected by disease and we are also visiting apiaries in surrounding areas as far as we are able. We have been greatly helped in this respect by the many local branches of beekeeping associations who have joined in by organising informal 'apiary inspector tours' of their members apiaries accompanied by their local inspector. This is proving to be the most effective and efficient way to inspect a large number of apiaries in a short time, and beekeepers who have taken part have found that it is an enjoyable, interesting and educational experience. Other associations are always invited to become involved.

Overall we have been finding varroa mites to be present at low levels recently - as they should be at this stage of the year. However, we have been coming across a few apiaries where the infestation is unexpectedly severe. These mainly seem to be either where no treatment has recently been given or where an 'alternative treatment' has not worked as well as expected. It would pay all beekeepers to keep an eye on varroa levels in their colonies by extracting mature drone brood with an uncapping fork. Few if any mites should now be visible in colonies where the mites are really under control. If varroa levels are high where a treatment with either Apistan or Bayvarol has recently been applied, we'd like to hear about it as this could just possibly be a sign of resistance developing to these treatments. Bee inspectors now carry test kits to establish
within a short time whether mites are resistant or not. Ask your bee inspector for further details.

Finally, we have a new bee inspector working in the region this year. This is Peter Bowbrick who may be known to some beekeepers already through his role as Secretary of the Wimbledon Division of Surrey BKA. Peter has been undergoing training in the field and at the NBU in York
during the last month and is now working inspecting colonies in North and West Surrey. He can be contacted on 0208 648 6358. The other Seasonal Bee Inspectors are: Dennis Geoghegan (S.E London and W. Kent: 0208 857 7142), Trevor Davis (E. Kent: 01227 372519, Alan Byham (East and South Surrey, East Sussex, North part of West Sussex : 01737 644474)
and John Yates (Southern part of West Sussex: 01903 234 173). All would be glad to hear from any beekeepers who have any concerns about the health of your bees.

For further details of any of these issues, please feel free to get in touch.

James Morton

South-Eastern Regional Bee Inspector
Central Science Laboratory
National Bee Unit
Tel/fax: 020 8571 6450
Mobile: 07719 924 418
E-mail: j.morton@csl.gov.uk
Web: http://www.csl.gov.uk
Address: 'Geertje', Canal Lock 92, Windmill Lane, Southall, Middx, UB2 4NH

County Name

OS 10 km Square

Area Name

AFB apiaries

AFB colonies

EFB apiaries

EFB colonies

East Sussex

TQ41

N.E. Lewes

0

0

1

5

East Sussex

TQ82

Sandhurst & Beckley

0

0

2

3

Greater London

TQ26

Epsom & Sutton

0

0

1

3

Greater London

TQ27

S.W. London

0

0

2

4

Greater London

TQ36

Croydon

0

0

1

1

Greater London

TQ47

Woolwich & Eltham

0

0

1

1

Kent

TQ47

Woolwich & Eltham

0

0

1

1

Kent

TQ56

Swanley & Kingsdown

0

0

1

1

Kent

TQ65

W. Malling & Hadlow

1

1

1

2

Kent

TQ66

Meopham

0

0

2

3

Kent

TQ67

Gravesend

0

0

1

1

Kent

TQ77

N. Rochester & Hoo

0

0

4

4

Kent

TQ84

Headcorn

0

0

1

1

Kent

TQ86

E. Gillingham

0

0

1

1

Kent

TQ87

Isle of Grain

0

0

1

1

Kent

TR06

Faversham

1

1

0

0

Surrey

SU83

W. Haslemere

0

0

1

1

Surrey

SU84

Farnham

0

0

1

3

Surrey

SU95

W. Guildford/ Woking

0

0

2

4

Surrey

TQ06

Weybridge

0

0

1

2

Surrey

TQ14

Dorking

0

0

1

1

Surrey

TQ24

S. Reigate & Horley

0

0

1

1

Surrey

TQ25

Reigate & Banstead

0

0

1

1

West Sussex

SU81

West Dean

0

0

1

2

West Sussex

SU90

N. Bognor Regis

0

0

2

7

West Sussex

TQ00

Littlehampton

0

0

5

9

West Sussex

TQ01

Pulborough

0

0

1

1

West Sussex

TQ02

Billingshurst

0

0

2

3

West Sussex

TQ10

Worthing

0

0

2

2

West Sussex

TQ11

Steyning

0

0

1

1

West Sussex

TQ12

S. Horsham

0

0

1

2

West Sussex

TQ20

Shoreham & Hove

0

0

1

2

West Sussex

TQ21

Henfield

0

0

1

7

Note:

The Area Name refers to the main town(s) or village(s) in the relevant 10 km Ordnance Survey square. However, this will not always correspond exactly with the town or village where foulbrood has occurred. See an O.S. map or atlas for details