This month the National Bee Unit has released three training/educational videos created by Fera Science and presented by Kirsty Stainton on YouTube.
  
Asian hornet Biology
Asian hornet Genetics
European Foulbrood
 
The videos help fill the gap left by the National Bee Unit being unable to carry out any Bee Health Day training, evening Association talks or attend any national events due to COVID-19 restrictions.

We've been trying to unravel the problems which have stopped some of those who register for Zoom webinars from receiving the event hyperlink from Eventbrite on the day.
The email containing the hyperlink is timed to be sent out two hours before the event starts.
Some email providers are known to block or delay delivery of emails for online events including Hotmail, MSN, Live.com, Yahoo!, AOL, SBCglobal (to name a few).
We suggest:

1. Ensure the following email addresses are added to your contacts list and, if you don’t receive the email a couple of hours before the event, check your junk/spam folders: orders@eventbrite.com; noreply@eventbrite.com
2. Ensure your email inbox isn't full and can receive new incoming emails.
3. If by 6pm on the day you still don't have the link, we will send it to you direct if you email eventsofficer@somersetbeekeepers.org.uk

The BBC’s Chief Environment correspondent Justin Rowlatt (pictured above) is running a series of news features about Asian hornets (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) across BBC channels tomorrow (Wednesday, June 3).
Our AHAT coordinator Lynne Ingram (also pictured) was one of the experts he interviewed for his investigation into this non-native insect
He spent a very hot and sunny time with Lynne in her home orchard apiary to talk about the impact Asian hornets would have if they became established here.
Lynne said: “This is a great opportunity to get the information about Asian yellow legged hornets out to a wider public; to encourage everyone to keep their eyes open for this invasive species; to be able to identify it, and then to report it.
“Also, Justin was interested in the way beekeepers have formed themselves into Asian Hornet Action teams across the country in readiness for any possible incursions.”
Catch the news reports on:

• Radio 4 bulletins from 6am (on the hour)
• Today programme at 7.20 with Martha Cearney
• Breakfast TV
• News Channel
• Digital video on BBC News

Asian hornets are slightly smaller than native European hornets and look like large black wasps with an orange face and yellow legs:

• An Asian hornet queen is up to 30mm long; workers are up to 25mm long.
• Asian hornets are dark brown or black with a velvety body and the abdomen is almost entirely black except for a yellow fourth abdominal segment. Legs are brown with yellow ends.

Asian hornets are a notifiable invasive species and should be reported immediately, preferably with a photo using:

• the Asian Hornet Watch app
• email asianhornet@somersetbeekeepers.org.uk or alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk
• online at www.nonnativespecies.org/alerts/asianhornet

 

brood ​SW Regional Bee Inspector Simon Jones is warning beekeepers against using old comb in bait hives and has asked us to highlight the disease risks associated with using  combs from an unknown source.

He said it had been brought to his attention that someone in the Exeter area is selling old brood combs to bait swarm traps on ebay.

As we say on our website: “There is little doubt that there is a need to focus on apiary hygiene in Somerset. Many diseases can be spread by beekeepers’ actions, but perhaps the most important are those that are not readily visible. EFB often exists in a sub-clinical state and Somerset has a persistent problem with EFB… Nosema is another endemic problem linked to colony losses with the prevalence of Nosema apis and N. ceranae both around 40 per cent of apiaries in the South West. Without an approved treatment, the only management option for Nosema is good hygiene practices.’

Why would a beekeeper want to spent £15 on an old, dark brood comb from an unknown source when it could pose a health risk?
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As seasonal bee inspector Eleanor Burgess said in her webinar about swarming recently, bait hives can be set up with attractants including lemon grass oil, a large lump of propolis and swarm lures are available commercially.

The video was taken by our chairman Stewart Gould and shows the delightful sight of a swarm moving into a new home.
 
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