CONTACT US

Meetings start at 7:00 and closes at 10pm

At the Armthorpe Community Centre, 20 Church St, Armthorpe, Doncaster DN3 3AG.

Presentation by Andrew Durham on Asian Hornet – The Beekeepers Guide – Part 1
If beekeepers are to deal with the Asian Hornet, it is absolutely essential that they understand the situation, at what is happening and when it will happen. Without this critical understanding, the beekeeper will always be caught out and be left reacting to the situation rather than proactively anticipating events and proactively mitigating damage.
In Part 1 we look at the hornet situation as it has developed across the English Channel and why that presents an increasing threat to us here in mainland UK. We look at why there are hornet surge years and at the hornet’s lifecycle to see how the threat to our bees develops in the apiary. We look at the hornet’s interaction with the honeybee and at the hidden effects of the hornet’s predation that beekeepers must manage. We will look at the effect on beekeeping in France.
A comfort break/drinks break
Asian Hornet – The Beekeepers Guide – Part 2
If there is a problem with much of the guidance offered to beekeepers on dealing with the Asian hornet it is that it lacks detail.  
In Part 2 we will have a close look at the Spring Trapping of Foundress Queens in the vicinity of the apiary, which alone can significantly reduce hornet numbers in the apiary. We will look at how the beekeeper can make the apiary work for the bee and not the hornet. We take a look at the three main tools that the beekeeper can use to defend the bees – the muzzle, the electric harp and the hornet guard. We finish by looking at how the beekeeper needs manage the situation as it develops across the year.

The talk will last about 1 hr 30 mins so we have booked the room for an extra hour so an Agenda can also be followed.