R&DBKA

Give your bees space, and shade on hot days. Look out for wasps

After a disappointing spring and late swarming, this should be the month of production in the Romsey area. Colonies should have a strong foraging force and hopefully a steady nectar flow. Make sure that your hives are partially shaded on very hot days, and that the bees have access to water. Allow the bees plenty room; nectar can take up to 3 times as much space as honey so be ready to add another super. Wasps will start to pose a threat - reduce your hive entrances before they predate your hives. Wasp traps work well but also kill other species. Wasps dislike tunnels so you could buy a gadget from bee suppliers or make something to run along the width of the entrance; bees are smart enough to work it out. Check for and repair hive damage that gives wasps a back door. When you inspect, make it quick and always cover the supers; the aroma of honey is a wasp attractant. Unite small, healthy colonies so that they have an effective quota of guard bees

Keep an eye on the weather:

• In spring the bees will use every warm, dry day to forage and build up colony strength. Cold or damp days can slow them down
• In summer the days are long but if it is too dry there will be a shortage of nectar; too wet, and they will be unable to forage
• In autumn the bees are consolidating. If it is warm, they will carry on rearing nrood and foraging. Cold weather will send them into a cluster
• In winter they will cluster to keep warm, but heavy rain may lead to damp conditions in the hive, strong wind can topple a hive that is not secure, snow can block the entrance

Click for the weather forecast for Romsey.
Check the forecast for the coming week to be ahead of your bees

We make no apology for repeating this message.
If you have not yet heard about the Asian hornet, please pause to read this.
It is not native to UK. It was introduced accidentally to the south of France and in a few short years it has bred, evolved and migrated throughout western Europe.

It is a predator with an insatiable appetite for insects. All of our native insect species are at risk but a colony of honey bees offers a feast. A colony of Asian hornets will eat their way through a hive of bees in a few days by 'hawking' in front of the entrance and picking the bees off as they come and go.
Please look out for this predator. It may be pretty but it is not welcome. In fact, it is NOTIFIABLE so if you see one, please refer to the the latest advice IMMEDIATELY