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ASIAN HORNET WATCH
Asian hornet – Vespa velutina
Vespa velutina” width=”360″ height=”167″> Hi I’m velutina! I’ll see you soon?
Vespa velutina, is an evil predator, of the Honey Bee and could reach Cumbria sometime in the very near future. Our changing climate could help it survive the cooler temperatures in the Northwest of England.
We need to be aware, on the lookout for it and report it’s location immediately!
This is a species alert:
Vespa velutina, also known as the Asian hornet is an invasive non-native species from Asia. It arrived in France in 2004 where it spread rapidly. As a highly effective predator of insects, including honey bees and other beneficial species, it can cause significant losses to bee colonies, and potentially other native species. The National Bee Unit has confirmed a sighting of the Asian hornet in the Tetbury area of Gloucestershire in September 2016 – the first time the hornet has been discovered in the UK. The places it is most likely to be found are in southern parts of England or goods among which it could be accidentally imported (such as soil with imported pot plants, cut flowers, fruit and timber). Active months between April and November (peak August/September). Inactive over the winter.
Ideally sightings should be sent in via the Asian Hornet Watch app or the online recording form using the links below:
Poems by Doreen Edmondson
Three poems about beekeeping are displayed by kind permission of Doreen Edmondson’s daughter.
New Equipment for loan to Members
PDBKA Equipment for Loan
Dear Member,
By spending the Grants that were issued to us last year, PBKA has been able to purchase additional equipment for members to borrow. These now include the following:
- A Swienty Steam Wax Melter and generator: this can be used to clean up all wax from frames.
- A 9 frame electric honey extractor with screens
- *A memory stick with information and guides to achieving the BBKA Assessments.
These items are in addition to the equipment which we already had available for loan:
- Two honey extractors : one manual ‘table top’ and one electric stainless steel.
- A compound microscope : suitable for identifying nosema and pollen.
- A stereo microscope: suitable for identifying acarine .
These items will be expensive to replace and repair. To ensure that a small sum is being raised to enable us to maintain these resources and to maximise the numbers of people who will have an opportunity to borrow equipment, the Trustees have decided that the loan system should be updated as follows:
- A £20 deposit will be required for each item . This will be refunded if the equipment is returned in good condition.
- A £1 a day hire fee for the first 5 days. This will increase to £2 per day if the loan is exceeds 5 days.
You will be asked to indicate when you intend to return the item when you borrow it and to pay the hire fee at this point.
All the resources for loan are stored at Greystoke Castle.
*You can obtain a copy of the memory stick with the BBKA Assessment by supplying your own pen drive to which it can be copied. The contents of the BBKA memory stick will be loaded onto the PBKA laptop stored with the other resources. You will be able to copy it onto your own memory stick from the laptop. There is no fee for this service.
Please contact Marie Maguinness (Tel: 017684 80940) or E mail: to make the arrangements to borrow items.
You can also use the contact form to reserve the equipment. You can find the form in the main menu under contact; Equipment loans.
Beekeepers buzzing about grant award
PENRITH Beekeepers Association has been given a helping hand from a leading housebuilder in the form of a £1,000 grant from the Persimmon Homes Lancashire Community Champions scheme.
The national match- funding program seeks to support groups and charities working to improve the quality of life or environment for local people.
Penrith Beekeepers Association promotes beekeeping in Penrith and the surrounding areas to help eradicate the diseases and disorders in honey bees.
The windfall will help to buy much-needed specialist equipment which will help bees to survive extreme winter weather. Diane Finch, sales and marketing director for Persimmon Homes Lancashire, said: “The community champions scheme was devised to help us support small local charities and organisations that are making a real difference to the lives of people living in the area.”
The C&W Herald, Saturday, 28th January, 2017