Beekeepers hold barbecue for visitors

Editorial Department • Published 8 Jul 2010 16:00 0 Comments

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Fermanagh Beekeepers' Association hosted a demonstration of various techniques involved in the summer management of bees, followed by a barbeque. This was held at the apiary in the grounds of the Enniskillen Campus of CAFRE on Saturday, June 26. Forty-two beekeepers from Fermanagh and from Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo and Tyrone attended. Luckily the weather was hot and sunny, excellent for beekeeping and barbecuing.

The format and preparation of the apidea mating hive was explained. Beekeepers were shown how to collect, from a strong colony, the young nurse bees which would be suitable for looking after the emerging queens, and when they are mated, the eggs and brood until they could be introduced into a larger colony. This involved finding the queen in the colony, trapping her, and shaking flying bees from a number of frames. Those left clinging to the frames are nurse bees and these are, in turn, shaken into a nucleus box and sprayed liberally with a sugar solution. The correct amount of these bees was added to each apidea.

The queen cells were then removed from the queen-rearing colony and introduced to the apideas, which were left in a cool dark place for three days when they were opened and allowed to fly. It is hoped that the Association will have a number of queens for use in about three weeks.

The make-up of a five frame nucleus was demonstrated and another queen cell was added to this, and left to hatch, mate and begin to lay eggs.

Two members of the preliminary class had brought their new hives to the apiary, where their bees were ready to be transferred to the hives. The technique of finding the queen in each and marking them was shown.

The demonstrators were Andrew Elliott and Ethel Irvine and they answered a raft of questions while working with the bees.

The barbeque which followed was very much enjoyed. Thanks are due to the many members of Fermanagh Beekeepers' Association who showed our visitors around the apiary facilities and who helped with the arrangements for the meal but especially to Graham Farthing who was head chef and directed operations. Andrew and Yvonne Elliott were excellent hosts. The Association also thank the Staff of the College who helped with the arrangement of tables and other practicalities which helped make the day a success.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 08 Jul 10

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