Blog

With very high levels of varroa mite being reported so early in the season, Vita outlines a smart use of Apistan to test infestation levels and to reduce the varroa mite population during swarm management.

A local beekeeper has discovered he is now regarded as a beecharmer having worked wonders with a problematic bee nest with the help of Vita’s swarm lure. Any more novel uses out there?

Some Upstairs honeybees take up residence high above the setting for the TV programme, Downton Abbey. But how can they be served with Apiguard? We think they’ll be needing it this year!

In southern Britain, swarming time is here! Here’s a ten second video of one leaving. It’s as if there is an air blower in the hive flushing out the bees. Even the You Tube rendering can’t quite keep up!

A one-minute video glimpse of the industry of a nucleus colony of honeybees in early May in southern England. It’s fairly frantic! And there’s a surprise on top of the entrance door.

Which bee predator has a heartbeat of 800 per minute, consumes more than its own body weight daily and scoops out bees for lunch? It’s a menace in eastern Canada, but there is a way of keeping it at bay.

Oh dear, it looks like the UK newspaper headline writers are getting the Asian hornet threat out of proportion! Rest assured it’s really a threat to honeybee colonies rather than humans.

Friday 25 April 2014 is World Doodle Day and the organisers have decided to link it to a good cause — honeybees. Vita will also give a prize for the best doodle relating to bees.

Vita’s Guest Blogger had a nasty shock opening a hive this month to find that there were quite a few bees with symptoms resembling Deformed Wing Virus – suggesting a varroa infestation.

A surprise find from last year.

You can tell it’s spring in Britain — the oil seed rape is just coming into flower and Vita is preparing to go to the BBKA Spring Convention this weekend in Shropshire. There’s lots to talk about …

It’s time for a change — old comb for new foundation. Regular change brings lots of benefits and healthier bees. And maybe even a cost saving if the wax is rendered and recycled in exchange for new foundation.