A Nepal Odyssey : 27


Worker bees with (right) a varroa mite and (below) a Tropilaelaps mite


source of information (much more than can be written here) but fi rst-hand experience allows alternative views to be absorbed.


The mites are very similar to


varroa, about which we all know a lot, but Tropilaelaps has some very defi ning differences. It is more oval in shape, slightly smaller than varroa, and is extremely quick in its movements. It requires the presence of brood to reproduce which makes it less likely to become established in all parts of the UK, should it get here. Our beekeeping friend, Ishowari, introduced us to Tropilaelaps and was very relaxed about its presence. It did not seem to be causing too many problems for his bees. We found the mites in some of his ‘exotic’ Apis mellifera stocks of bees. On opening some of the sealed brood cells, the mites were brought out into the daylight and scurried about very quickly, much to our interest and amazement. Video clips were taken to exhibit the speed at which the mites moved. Several mites were seen over a number of cells suggesting a serious infestation. The damage infl icted on developing larvae was similar to that caused by varroa. Organic methods were being used to control infestation because of the high cost of


September 2016 Vol 98 No 9


available chemical treatments. Ishowari showed us that he used a local herb. He placed it on the hive fl oor from where the natural oils and aromas permeated the hive and deterred the mites. This could possibly be a source of treatments should the problem ever get to the UK.


Apis dorsata and Apis fl orea


While in Chitwan, we were also very lucky to get access to Apis dorsata, the giant jungle honey bee, and also its close relative but hugely contrasting cousin, Apis fl orea, the world’s smallest honey bee. A. dorsata is the queen of honey bees in its size and visual appearance: golden yellow and very calm. This was the fi rst time I had


seen A. fl orea and we were lucky enough to get so close to the colony that we saw the queen and queen cells, and tasted the very unusual honey – a true ‘Attenborough’ moment. A. fl orea is almost as visually impressive as A. dorsata. She packs a sting and now I can boast having been stung by all four Nepalese species of honey bees, with minimum reaction!


BBKA Basic Assessment


Before we left Chitwan, I had the pleasure of assessing Ishowari for his British


Beekeepers’ Association (BBKA) Basic Assessment. As a local educator and president of his beekeeping association, he was


Apimondia Gold Medal for Popular Beekeeping Journals, 2007, 2013 and 2015


Apis dorsata (above) and an Apis fl orea queen (left)


www.bee-craft.com


a model candidate and passed with ease. I truly believe he will further the cause of the BBKA examination and assessment system with his fellow beekeepers and encourage the craft of beekeeping in Nepal. I was pleased to have taken the time to assess the fi rst Basic Assessment in Nepal and hopefully encourage others to study.


Stingless Bees


We spent a few more days with Ishowari and shared some thoughts on queen rearing and royal jelly production. I was also introduced to a stingless bee species. This, again, was another fi rst for me.


Nepal has so much to offer as a beekeeping destination and I am sure that the temptation to travel will draw me back.


Earthquake Recovery


Before returning to the UK, we visited Lapu Besi, eight hours drive from Kathmandu and the village of our guide and his family. It is only fi ve or six kilometres from the epicentre of the earthquake of 2015. We wanted to witness and understand the situation fi rst hand and help if we could. We were overwhelmed by what we saw and concluded that there is so much to be done here and every little helps. We helped as much as we could and, being beekeepers, we took two western style Newton hives and other equipment to help promote


manageable frame-beekeeping in the village. Apis cerana are managed/kept in log hives in most of Nepal but beekeepers who have the resources keep them in hives that look very similar to our National hives. We donated two such hives and helped relocate a colony from a log hive to a Newton hive with a view to an artifi cial swarm being made when circumstances allowed. We hope that this will help provide an opportunity for a developing enterprise in this very needy part of Nepal and help the village get back on its feet, even in a small way. It was very interesting to know that, less than a month later, the village was host to Prince Harry, who visited and helped with some muscle power in rebuilding the local school that was, along with most of the other buildings in the village, totally shaken to the ground.


The Wider World of Beekeeping


Our educational adventure ended all too soon but, by making the effort and visiting, indulging, recording and sharing these experiences, the wider world of beekeeping can be better understood and used to the benefi t of all. 


[Simon is available to give talks on various beekeeping subjects: e-mail: sicroson@me.com]


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