- Mild winter was good news for Jersey’s bee populatins – with numbers on the rise
- Boost in numbers could mean an increase in swarms across the Island
- Beekeepers urge Islanders to report sightings to help the population grow
- Video: Watch an expert show how to collect a swarm
ISLANDERS are being urged to help Jersey’s bee population by reporting sightings of swarms during the next few months.
The number of bee colonies has dropped in recent years because of a combination of disease, a decline in flowers and the increased use of pesticides.
But following a warm summer last year and a relatively mild winter, the population is reportedly increasing again – and the expanding hives could trigger swarms as the bees try to form new colonies.
Bob Hogge, president of the Jersey Beekeepers Association, is urging Islanders not to panic if they find themselves in or close to a swarm.
‘We had a good year last year and this winter wasn’t too cold, so we are going into the summer in a very strong position,’ he said. ‘This means that the risk of swarms is quite high, because an expanding hive can trigger the swarming impulse.
‘It can be frightening to be surrounded by 20,000 buzzing bees, but standing still is the best thing to do, as they will pass quickly on. Bees tend to sting only if they are trying to protect their young or their honey, and there are no young or honey in swarms.
‘Eventually all swarms settle, usually making an elongated ball of bees hanging in a tree or a hedge, and while they are in this ball they can be removed by an experienced swarm collector.’
Mr Hogge added: ‘We haven’t had any call-outs this year, but there have been a couple of reports of swarms. We should get more reports in the next few weeks, especially if the weather hots up. We usually get two or three call-outs a week up to July.’
The specialist collectors shake the bees into a basket, and as long as the queen is among the swarm, they will stay together. The basket is then turned upside down or covered and taken to a hive.
How do I learn about keeping bees?
The best way to learn about keeping bees is to join the free beginners course that the
Association runs during the winter and spring.
The beginner’s course will outline the life cycle of the bee, the different types of hive and their parts and functions, the diseases and pests which sadly bees are prone to and how to extract and present honey.
What do I need?
The basic kit consists of a veil (or you may feel more secure in a bee smock or suit),
Gloves, a smoker to pacify the bees when you open the hive and a hive tool for separating the frames in the hive so as to inspect the frames. Once you decide to keep bees, then you will need a hive, frames and wax foundation on which the bees make their honey and brood cells and, of course, some bees!
Why should I keep bees?
Beekeeping is a fascinating hobby which not only helps with pollination of fruit in your local area but which may also provide around 30 lbs or more of honey per colony. In addition, you will be able extract beeswax for making candles, soap, polish etc.
Will I get stung?
Yes, but unless you are allergic to the stings, the general experience is that the stings hurt less over time. Beginners are likely to get stung more often than experienced keepers but accidental stings are part and parcel of beekeeping.
How much space do I need?
So long as you site the hives away from your neighbours, then you need very little space for one or two hives. You do not necessarily even need a garden – a hive can be sited on a flat roof and in fact this would avoid bees flying at head height near your neighbours.
How much time will it take?
It depends on the season. During the summer you are likely to need to check each hive at least once a week which will take 20 minutes to half an hour. As you become more experienced that time is likely to reduce.
How do I get some bees?
The $64,000 question! It is always recommended that you try to obtain local bees. In practice, here in Jersey, the only way to get bees is by either hiving a swarm or begging or buying a nucleus (small colony) of bees from an established beekeeper. It is possible to import bees from the UK or EU with the permission of the States Vet but it is complicated and may take anything up to a year.
Why do bees make honey?
Unlike solitary bees such as bumble bees, honey bees over-winter in the hive so need stores of food to keep them going through the cold weather. The bees do not hibernate but rather cluster together to keep warn (around 32 degrees centigrade) which takes a lot of energy and hence food. An average hive needs about 30 pounds of honey to get through the winter but a strong hive in a good year can make two or three times that amount which the bee keeper can then take.
How do they make honey?
Bees visit flowers and suck in the nectar, a sweet sugary substance, and then fly back to the hive. The nectar is mixed with enzymes that the bee produces and once back at the hive, they deposit the nectar in wax cells. The nectar/honey has too much water in it to store without the mixture fermenting so the bees leave it in the cells until much of the water has evaporated. Once the water content has fallen to about 17%, the cells are capped with a thin layer of wax and the honey will then stay preserved almost indefinitely – so much so that edible honey has been found in ancient Egyptian tombs, thousands of years old.
Do the bees miss the honey that is taken?
A strong colony can collect more than enough to see it through the winter in a good summer. A wise bee keeper will leave sufficient honey in the hive for the bees to use
over the winter and can also feed sugar syrup in the late summer and autumn if the bees have not collected enough honey for their needs.
