Varroa Treatment with Apitrax – 14th August ’25
JULY ’26 – DANGER – YELLOW LEGGED ASIAN HORNET!
We are lucky as so far this year, no reports of Asian Hornets have been made in our area. However, the spread has been reported as far west as Dorset- so they are heading our way! The Devon Asian Hornet Action Team (AHAT) have requested our vilgilance and asked (if we are able) to please put out and monitor a bait station (not traps) during August:
From AHAT
During the month of August we are asking you all to monitor for Yellow legged Asian Hornets.
This is the reason for gathering plastic pots. Hole in the top, ‘J’ cloth wick. Soak in attractant available from your branch coordinator or we will be posting a simple recipe to try. Put it somewhere you can easily observe.
If you wish to make your own bait here is the recipe:
Strong sugary solution (although insect protein is fed to the hornet larvae, the adults need sugar for energy)
Attractive aromas – jam, mashed fruit or berries, fruit cordial especially blackcurrant.
Fermenting aroma – yeast can help
Products of fermentation – a little vinegar or cheap white wine or beer. (These also help to keep bees away, although very occasionally in a drought, bees may visit despite the deterrents.)
If wasps are visiting, your mixture is good for hornets. If no wasps, either your mixture needs tweaking or your area has no wasps.
Please report any AH sightings via the Asian Hornet App
Further to this, I will be representing the Exeter Branch with an information stand at the Farmers Market on the Piatza, Exeter Quay on the morning of Saturday 15th August. If you can attend and bring along a small container, I will have some Trappit bait to dispense. After that the bait will be at the Branch Apiary to be collected Sunday afternoons.
Many thanks, Steve Tucker, Secretary@exeterbeekeepers.org.uk
________________________________________________________________________________________________
April ’26
Dear All,
Following the ‘call for help’ for the Branch Apiary meeting on Sunday, I am writing to update you on the outcome and discussions of plans for the apiary going forward.
Thank you to those who were able to turn out today, it was a very productive and useful meeting (with excellent bacon butties + cake). A quick look round the hives showed, sadly, that probably only 4 colonies have survived overwinter (a full inspection will be performed this coming Thursday). Within the shed we found plenty of beekeeping equipment and hive boxes (brood and super), roofs, crown boards, floors, QE’s, frames etc all in good order and more than adequate for our needs as well as plenty of foundation.
We had a discussion with those present about how best to manage the Apiary henceforth. The conclusions were very much in line with those proposed recently by the committee:
- We need volunteer(s) to act as ‘Coordinator(s)’
- We need to further break down the responsibilities/roles required to run the apiary to make the overall task manageable with volunteer(s) for:
- Equipment – inventory, supplies, maintenance
- Grounds persons- grass mowing etc
- Host – open gates, meet and greet when apiary ‘open’ teas and coffee etc
- Laundry (bee suits)
- Hive inspections/records/treatments etc
- Honey processing.
It was restated and agreed that the principal reason for the Exeter Apiary is teaching.
David Packham said half a dozen colonies would be more than adequate for this purpose. It seems very sensible to restrict the colony numbers in the Apiary to this number where possible.
It was requested that good notice be given to members about activities at the apiary.
It was suggested that ‘working parties’ to inspect and perform housekeeping tasks with the bees would continue with a small team on Wednesday afternoons.
‘Open Apiary’ would be on Sunday Afternoons ; For these sessions it was suggested a demo of a procedure would work well e.g. “shook swarm” or a topic for discussion e.g. Varroa IPM
If you have any suggestions or can offer to help with any of the listed tasks (or anything else) it will be very much appreciated. This is not about beekeeping expertise, it is about helping to keep the apiary functioning on a regular basis.
There is much to be gained by us as beekeepers from being involved. Improving our skills and knowledge as well as lots of fun and friendship (and cake)!
Best Wishes, Steve Tucker on behalf of EBKA Committee tucker.steve@btinternet.com
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
2