PBKA president David Ferguson gave us a very interesting talk on using “spare” queen cells to raise new queens. The presentation had lots of good practical advice on his own technique making use of mini nucs.
We had a few technical difficulties on the night so David has kindly revamped the format of the presentation to make it clearer for future reference and it is available here for download (pdf).
The Peeblesshire Beekeepers Association AGM was held over Zoom on Wed 24th March 2021
The meeting was recorded and can be viewed at:-
Passcode: .oVK&47W
Draft minutes are available here as well as the secretaries and treasurers reports.
Friday 15th November
Venue: 1745 Restaurant, Traquair House
Time: 7pm
Three course meal £25 per person; licensed restaurant.
To book your place, please contact ">Secretary: Mandy Clydesdale
MENU
Starters
Parsnip, cumin and honey soup with crusty bread
Sautéed Chestnut mushrooms and spinach on Fat Batard sourdough
Chicken liver pate with Traquair chutney and oatcakes
Mains
Crispy chicken with a honey mustard sauce and creamy mash
Slow roast pork belly with dauphinois potatoes
Rich ratatouille on ciabatta
Puddings
Honey gingerbread with honeycomb ice cream
Honey orange poached pears with meringue
Sticky toffee apple pudding and cream
Tea and coffee
The association has recently purchased a 12 frame electric extractor.
The model is the Konigin 12 Frame Electric Radial Extractor supplied by Thornes.
The instructions for use are available to download here.
Peeblesshire Beekeepers will be at the Peebles Eastgate Market on Saturday 1st December.
We will be selling a selection of honey from the association hives and from other local beekeepers.
All honey on sale is produced from the hills and meadows of Peeblesshire, cold filtered to retain maximum flavour – a 100% local food product. There will tasting samples available.
The beekeepers themselves will be on hand if you want to know more about how honey is produced and the amazing creatures that create it.
 |
Just on my way into town the other day I noticed this pair of bumbleebees at the side of the road.
Mating Bumblebees
I’m pretty sure they are white tailed bumblebees. The male is at the back and he should have some yellow on his face that I think I can just about make out. I didn’t have my good camera with me so these are just snapped by the phone.
They looked locked together and weren’t really moving. My book says that “A pair of bumblebees may remain united for anything up to an hour or more ” (!). So I’m glad I didn’t stay to watch, although I did move them to the edge of the pavement so they didn’t get squished in the act.
A bit different to honeybee mating where it is over in an instant for the male…
Peter.
Jim Bell and Peter Stevenson both won prizes in this years competition.
(Peter selfishly only took photos of his own entries – sorry Jim!)
1st prize
Ling Heather Blend
2nd Prize
Honey Jar Label
(Must conform to sales regulations)
3rd Prize
Honey Lemon Curd
No Prize – but very tasty!
Honey date and walnut cake
PBKA was contacted about a “swarm” of bees in Rosetta Road Peebles last week.
Several members went to investigate and it was quickly obvious to experienced beekeepers that the bees were not honeybees – but what were they?
David Ferguson described the scene:-
There are probably about 50 to 100 of them hovering about over a section of garden wall 10 to 15 ft long, which is about 5 ft high to the pavement. I saw a couple going in and out of small holes but most were just generally buzzing about. Nearly all were carrying pollen.
David also took some excellent photos which were forwarded to Buglife.
Jamie from Buglife gave this response:-
Masonry bees are very, very calm and safe to leave around so there is no risk to local residents or children if they’re let be. I’ve not known many people at all to ever be stung by them and those that have are entomologists who are handling them for identification purposes. They’re calm nature is why so many people put up solitary bee homes in gardens to attract them in. If you were unfortunate enough to be stung, it is meant to be far, far less painful or dangerous than that of honeybees.
I’d never say that they definitely won’t sting, but they’re very unlikely to do anything to any passers by at all and they don’t get defensive around their nest areas at all. I would always recommend them being left as they are. They’re window of activity is actually very narrow so it is quite likely that in another few weeks you won’t see them again until either a second brood later in the summer or until 2018, as all they’re doing is filling holes with individual eggs and furnishing them with pollen for food, then sealing them up and leaving them alone.
Buglife also identified the species
Andrena nigroaenea (Buffish mining bee)
Andrena scotica (Chocolate mining bee)
There are plenty of jobs needing doing for the association apiary since the new nucs have arrived.
Please contact Mandy if you are free to help out during the week.
Peter will aim to do an association apiary inspection on Saturday weather permitting. More details here.
Remove mouseguards – it’s still cold but the bees are active. However colonies will still be under strength, so reduce the size of the entrance so it’s easy to defend.
If it’s too cold for them to fly, check have enough stores, or out fondant on, then syrup as the weather warms up.