Monthly meeting May 2007

Our first outdoor meeting of 2007 was held on Saturday 12th May at Linda and Richard's Apiary. The topic was " Swarm Control"

The weather was on our side again and after a doubtful morning, 37 members enjoyed a beautiful sunny afternoon.

After the business part of the meeting where we brought everyone up to date with club developments, we handed out the new revised programme. Linda gave a mock demonstration of swarm control using the new polystyrene nucleus box, before performing the operation on a colony which had started making preparations to swarm a few days earlier.

We realised afterwards, that there was no ventilation on these poly nucs and this must be considered both when blocking off the entrance and during transportation.

Richard took another group into the beginners apiary where they examined an established nucleus. Identifying brood, larvae and eggs as well as the queen and her retinue.