Conwy Beekeepers' Association
Cymdeithas Gwenynwyr Conwy
|
Conwy Beekeepers' Association Cymdeithas Gwenynwyr Conwy |
|
Download the Application form for Membership to join the CBKA Downloads below; Intro to Beekeeping Course; Session 3, The Honeybee Colony How to transfer bees from a nuc. to a full size hive. Winter preparation record card Beekeeping - An Introduction - CALU Technical note 040401 (compiled by CBKA) Conwy Seed and Honey Fairs, information for stallholders. News:
|
SWARM help - see: www.bbka.org/articles/swarm_help.php Visit National Swarm Co-ordinators: http://www.britishbee.org.uk/swarm_collection.php Why do bees swarm? Swarming is the natural way honey bees divide and therefore increase the number of colonies.
On a chosen day, usually around mid-day, during May/ June the bees "swarm". A cloud of bees in their thousands leave home for the last time. The mother queen is persuaded to leave with them as they seek their fortunes further afield. As mother queen has not used her wings, for flying purposes, for at least 12 months or indeed seen the light of day outside the hive during this time she is somewhat loath to fly very far, so she alights usually within a short distance of leaving home and all of her daughters surround and protect her whilst the "scout bees" search for a new home. In the natural scene this would be a hollow tree but so often they select the eaves or roof void of a house or even the chimney.
Swarm entering skep.
It is at this stage that most non- beekeepers panic, as a cloud of bees invade their property. What do they do?
Swarm being Hived. The bees are 'shaken' from the skep onto the sheet, where they walk up into the dark entrance of the hive.
Click here to return to top of page. |
