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blowin · Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 1:08 am Post subject: How are hives doing over here ?

I hear reports on radio 4 ( uk ) about mites & bugs & unexplained losses decimating bee stocks . Are they exaggerated and/or is it as bad over here ?
Did I also hear that REPS or some other scheme will now fund beekeeping ?

lofty · Joined: 07 May 2008 Posts: 65 Location: north mayo

You would have to check with teagasc there is something there alright for fruit and veg production as well. I heard a piece on radio as well talking about some disease that will wipe out bees, serious consequences if it materialises we will all have a very limited diet from what i gather. The few bees that we have seem to be happy enough at the minute

keithrawlins · Joined: 18 Feb 2007 Posts: 152 Location: banbridge

i know one keeper with 9 hives lost 7 last winter ,he went to check them and they were emty not 1singel bee.this was in lurgan but he is the only one i have heard about.

wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1163 Location: Campile. Wexford

I took a swarm a few weeks ago which is doing ok but not great Crying or Very sad

. There is not much activity at the hive entrance on most days and I may well have to feed them soon. I would have thought that all this grassland around would have loads of clover in the sward, but this does not seem to be the case. I hear that the scientists are now saying that all the unexplained losses of bees may be because of climate change, and that the Bee is a barometer indicating worse to come. Crying or Very sad

Gods forbid. Evil or Very Mad

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greentree · Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 10:00 am Post subject:

Lots of bumble bees here but very few honey bees. Is it like that in other parts of the country?

quarryman · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 417 Location: Sligo

Lots of Bumble Bees and wild honey bees here. I put 5 out of the house yesterday. We have lots of wild and cultivated plants in flower at the moment. We also have a lot of mature Sycamore trees that are in flower and the trees are literally "humming".

We are in South Sligo.

blowin · Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 2:31 am Post subject:

Bumbles but very few honey bees up here in the hills . I leave purple clover growing where-ever I can ---- read somewhere that the more endangered species of bumbles are very dependent on that .

wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1163 Location: Campile. Wexford

There seems to be plenty of bumbles around and as quarryman said some trees hum with bees. Unfortunately honey bees are unable to work these bushes etc. Mores the pity. Got to try and breed a honey bee with a bumbles tongue me thinks.
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wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1163 Location: Campile. Wexford

Interesting year thus far. I have picked up two swarms. The first was in early May and was full of promise, but they have struggled to put on weight. The second was just two weeks ago and without continuous feeding is unlikely to survive. Ho Hum. We will give them a go though. I would be interested to hear from other bee keepers as to how their season is going.

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