Hangout with Bee Craft : 35
th Bee Craft
Q A
Wasp! I’ve seen my fi rst wasp today! Is it time to set wasp traps? Sarah Gosney
Wasp nests have an annual life cycle with an overwintered, mated female starting up on her own in the spring. As the fi rst workers emerge, they
undertake tasks around the nest, including foraging for food for the developing larvae. The adults are benefi cial as they catch aphids, fl ies and other insects. Unfortunately, they also catch bees. They masticate their victims and feed this to the larvae. In return, each larva ‘rewards’ the adult with a drop of sugary liquid. Towards the end of the season, the queen
is right inside. The outside can remain as rough as you wish. You can cut the various pieces from these planks. If you glue the faces of the boards together to get the right thickness, make sure that the joints do not coincide as that introduces a weakness to the plank. Likewise, when you put the walls together to make the hive, make sure that you don’t have a coincidental joint running horizontally.
I would guess that pallet wood is soft and
therefore may not be terribly durable. After all this work, it would be a shame if the hive did not last long. Painting the exterior of your hive with a microporous paint will help to extend its life. Bee equipment suppliers sell suitable paint for hives.
September 2016 Vol 98 No 9
reduces her egg-laying rate, the number of larvae declines and adults start to look elsewhere for their carbohydrates. One of their targets is a honey bee colony. If wasps can gain access, they have a ready source of sugar by raiding the colony’s stores. Reduce the hive entrance down to a size that the colony can defend easily. If this is a single bee space and incoming foragers have to queue to get inside, that is not a problem. The important thing is to prevent wasps gaining access. Once inside, a wasp picks up the colony scent and when it returns to steal more honey, it will be allowed in because it ‘smells’ right. If you set up a wasp trap, either a commercial design or one made from an old plastic bottle, place it some distance from your apiary. Remember to check regularly to see if it needs emptying or topping up. If the trap has a large access, you may catch some hornets. Check whether these are European hornets (Vespa crabro) or the Asian hornet (Vespa velutina), distinguished by its yellow legs and black abdomen. If you suspect an Asian hornet, send a photo and the location to the GB Non-native Species Secretariat on
alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk
In the time available, it is not possible to discuss all questions that are received for a webinar. These pages are designed to answer some of these and share the information with a wider group of readers. We hope you fi nd the answers helpful and will join us at the next webinar on Wednesday 14 September.
Q A
What books do you suggest to prepare for the examinations? José Pablo
After keeping bees for 12 months, a beekeeper can take the British Beekeepers’ Association Basic Assessment. The Association then offers
seven module examinations: 1 – honey bee management; 2 – honey bee products and forage; 3 – honey bee pests, diseases and poisoning; 5 – honey bee biology; 6 – honey bee behaviour; 7 – selection and breeding of honey bees; 8 – honey bee management, health and history. (Module 4 has been discontinued.) On completion of modules 1, 2, 3 and one other from 5, 6, or 7, candidates are awarded the Intermediate Theory certifi cate. Those passing all modules are awarded the Advanced Theory certifi cate. General and Advanced Husbandry certifi cates are offered for those who want to concentrate on practical beekeeping. A beekeeper who obtains the Advanced Theory and Advanced Husbandry certifi cates becomes a Master Beekeeper. Specialist microscopy and show judge certifi cates are also available. The BBKA offers a correspondence course for those unable to attend day or evening classes. Further details from Bob Gilbert,
BBKAccourse@aol.com Past papers are available at
www.bbka.org. uk/learn/module_past_papers There is a list of recommended books at
www.bbka.org.uk/fi les/library/book_ list_2014_1427724326.pdf
Apimondia Gold Medal for Popular Beekeeping Journals, 2007, 2013 and 2015
www.bee-craft.com
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