Carnage in Welsh bee colonies as experts search for answer

LAST month, I was contemplating the possible losses of any of my colonies.

Have I had losses? You bet I have!

Five colonies from my 10 have died out. I am not alone however. Members of the association are also reporting colony losses. On 22nd March, I attended the Welsh Beekeeper’s Association annual convention at the Royal Showground in Builth Wells. Many of the beekeepers present were also reporting colony losses.

The losses have a common theme. On opening up a colony for inspection, all bees are found dead on the floors of the hive. Frames of stores (food) are there in abundance but very little brood ie eggs, larvae or sealed brood present.

What is happening? The National Bee Unit was present at Builth Wells and the staff of this establishment are urging beekeepers to report in with their losses and details of such. This will reveal how extensive the losses are, not only in Wales but nationwide.

My surviving colonies are doing well and with the upturn in the weather conditions, plus the abundance of Oilseed Rape now in full bloom in my area, the colonies are expanding rapidly. This difference within colonies – survivors and non survivors – will have to be studied. Is it a Varroa Mite problem? Is it a new virus being transmitted via the Varroa Mite or is our changing climate having an effect?

An answer will eventually be found; in the meantime the beekeepers must gird their loins and look to the possibility of using the swarming actions of their bees. When bees intend to swarm they will produce Queen cells and although only one Queen per hive is the norm, several cells are produced because the bees like plenty of backups, just in case things do not go to plan.

With the departure of a swarm, the hive still has many bees remaining. There will be developing larvae and of course Queen Cells, one of which will secure the future of the depleted colony. With the emergence of a Queen from one of the many cells, the bees will destroy all the others. They only want one Queen. Before the emergence of a new Queen the beekeeper can make use of sealed Queen Cells to start another colony.

How is this achieved? Well, next month I will explain the process and may even by then have an answer to the cause of the colony losses.

By Harold Williams

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