The Bee Colony as a Honey Factory by Tom Seeley National Honey Show 2026-09-22 | The Bee Colony as a Honey Factory by Tom Seeley
Dara Kilmartin Bee Vision National Honey Show 2023-01-13 | A lecture given by Dara Kilmartin at the 2022 National Honey Show entitled "Bee Vision". The National Honey Show gratefully acknowledge the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers for their support and the Central Association of Beekeepers for their sponsorship.Bee vision is extremely well adapted to the key visual tasks required of honey bees: efficient flower pollination and nectar gathering by workers, queen spotting by drones and mating by queens. Honey bees have highly specialized structural and physiological visual features: an advanced form of the insect compound eye, a blue shift in the visible light spectrum compared to humans, ability to detect ultraviolet and polarized light and high temporal resolution allowing highly sensitive motion detection. Traditionally, the bee compound eye has been regarded as inferior providing a mosaic image with poor resolution. However, localized structural adaptations in the dorsal eye show a focal area of high resolution approximating human levels of ‘super’ acuity, and we still do not fully appreciate the functional importance of bee colour vision and ultraviolet light navigation.Key questions remain unanswered: if bee colour vision is shifted towards the blue/ultraviolet region, why has no one proven that bees use ultraviolet flower markings in foraging? Why have studies shown a more than 50% loss of queens returning from mating flights to hives marked blue on white, features which should prove advantageous? Recent evidence suggests that bees navigate preferentially towards blue and green contrast, which confounds more than a century of perceived wisdom.Prof Dara Kilmartin is a hobbyist beekeeper with 12 years experience managing 20-30 colonies in 6 apiaries between central and suburban Dublin, rural Wexford and a remote island in Connemara, Galway, Ireland. He is a Beemaster and was awarded the CFL qualification of FIBKA in 2016 following exam lectures in Gormanston on Bee Stings and Bee Vision. He is the Bee Health Officer of the County Dublin Beekeepers Association and is an active member of the Native Irish Honey Bee Society. He regularly gives pollen microscopy workshops and bee dissection/disease analysis and has attended most NDB short courses. Particular beekeeping interests include bee diseases, pollen nutrition effects on bee immunity and comparative bee vision.His day job is as a consultant eye surgeon and Clinical Associate Professor, University College Dublin. He holds a first class honours Masters degree in Physiology and has subspecialty fellowship training in ocular immunology and retinal surgery.
Grace McCormack What we can learn from wild honey bees National Honey Show 2022-12-23 | A lecture given by Grace McCormack at the 2022 National Honey Show entitled "What we can learn from wild honey bees". The National Honey Show gratefully acknowledge the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers for their support.Considered to be extinct due to habitat loss, parasites and disease, anecdotal evidence from beekeepers and genetic data first indicated the likely survival of honey bees in the wild. Dismissed initially as only being ‘feral’ (i.e. escapes from local apiaries) with poor survival we now know that honey bees continue to survive and thrive without beekeeper assistance. Not only that, but the threatened subspecies native to Ireland and the UK, continues to do well in Ireland despite the continued threats from imports. Evidence suggests that Apis mellifera mellifera also contributes significantly to the gene pool in the UK in many places. Understanding how wild honey bees have adapted to current threats facing honey bees will be of use to beekeepers in many ways. Also, the genetic characteristics of those bees that can survive multiple years in the wild will give additional insights around the bees that are best fitted to local environments. Here I will discuss results from our project investigating diversity of wild honey bees in Ireland, how we are using genomic data to better understand the impact of hybridisation on native bees and how wild bees compare to managed bees across a range of features. Preliminary data confirms the existence of local breeding pools. Given the tight association between bees and their environment this data suggests that it is better to use local bees where possible, and hints at the possible negative impact of importing bees into an area.Grace McCormack is a Professor in Zoology at NUI Galway. Her interests lie in evolutionary biology and particularly in using molecular data to understand how organisms are related to each other and the impacts this may have on conservation and on the evolution of organismal traits. The interaction between animals and their parasites/pathogens over evolutionary time is also of interest as is the use of this information in applied science such as biodiscovery (marine sponges) and apiculture (bees). Grace started beekeeping to better understand the species she is now studying, and the University apiary managed by her has 12-15 colonies.
Jeff Pettis Bees that Survive Varroa National Honey Show 2022-12-02 | A lecture given by Jeff Pettis at the 2022 National Honey Show entitled “Bee that survive Varroa”. The National Honey Show gratefully acknowledge the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers for their support and Bucks County BKA for their sponsorship.Varroa mites are a major threat to bees and beekeeping but not all bees are damaged by these mites. Why is this? Some bees evolved with the mite such as the Asian honey bee Apis cerana and they have unique defence mechanisms not found in European honey bees Apis mellifera. I will report on one of these populations, from Brittany France, and discuss possible resistance mechanisms that honey bees use to fight varroa.I grew up in a farm community in rural Georgia in the US and fell in love with bees and beekeeping as a student at the University of Georgia. After completing my studies at Georgia in 1985 and Texas A&M in 1991, I joined the USDA-Agricultural Research Service as a scientist and worked in that role for over 20 years. I published on bee biology, varroa control, the effects of pesticides on bees and CCD. I left USDA in 2016 and now run a consulting business on bee health and manage around 100 colonies of bees with my son Kevin in Salisbury, MD USA where I live. In my spare time I serve as President of Apimondia and enjoy birding and kayaking.
The Great Honey Heist National Honey Show 2022-11-01 | Class 101 Entry No 2 The Great Honey Heist. Award: 1st (Josephine Anderson)Video Clip Class 101: Suitable for viewing on a domestic computer system. The clip should be shot in landscape format.
Queen Hatching from Queen Cell National Honey Show 2022-11-01 | Class 101 Entry No 1- Queen Hatching from queen cell. Award: 2nd (Eleanor Attridge).Video Clip Class 101: Suitable for viewing on a domestic computer system. The clip should be shot in landscape format.
A final walkthrough of the 2022 Honey Show National Honey Show 2022-10-29 | In this live video we take a final look at the Honey Show 2022. If you have time today come and visit us at Sandown Racecourse. #beekeeping #beehive #honey #honeyshowPlease follow the National Honey Show on Facebook facebook.com/nationalhoneyshow
A look at our Skep making masterclass National Honey Show 2022-10-28 | In this live video we look at a popular masterclass at the Honey Show: Skep making. #beekeeping #beehive Please follow the National Honey Show on Facebook facebook.com/nationalhoneyshow
Bee photographer Eric Tourneret explores the Honey Show and shares his personal thoughts on some … National Honey Show 2022-10-28 | This morning bee photographer Eric Tourneret's explores the Honey Show and shares his personal thoughts on some of the exhibits. Next year, our centenary, will feature an exhibition of his stunning bee photographs.Please follow the National Honey Show on Facebook facebook.com/nationalhoneyshow
Find out about one of our friends and sponsors ‘The Wax Chandlers’ National Honey Show 2022-10-27 | Meet our friends and sponsors, The Wax Chandlers and hear about their long association supporting our show. Please follow the National Honey Show on Facebook facebook.com/nationalhoneyshow
Honey Show judging in action with Enid Brown National Honey Show 2022-10-27 | LIVE viewing of our show judging in action by Enid Brown, our Judges' Referee. Please follow the National Honey Show on Facebook facebook.com/nationalhoneyshow
Honey Show judging in action with Enid Brown National Honey Show 2022-10-27 | LIVE viewing of our show judging in action by Enid Brown, our Judges' Referee. Please follow the National Honey Show on Facebook facebook.com/nationalhoneyshow
Media Mayhem: How the news media is pitting honey bees against native bees - Kirsten Traynor National Honey Show 2022-09-02 | A lecture given by Kirsten Traynor at the 2021 National Honey Show entitled “Media Mayhem: How the news media is pitting honey bees against native bees”. The National Honey Show gratefully acknowledge the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers for their support and Bucks County BKA for their sponsorship.In the last few years, it has become popular to criticize honey bees as competitors that transmit diseases to native bees. Some beekeepers have been banned from nature preserves where they have kept bees for years. Let's unravel some of the research and examine the real issues at hand.We apologise for the poor audio quality. Dr. Kirsten S. Traynor investigates honey bee health and how pesticides impact social behaviour. She is the Director of the Institute of Bee Science in Celle, Germany. In 2020, she launched a new quarterly magazine 2 Million Blossoms: protect our pollinators. Originally an English major, Kirsten won her first hive in a raffle right after college graduation. These fascinating insects led to a globe-trotting adventure, a PhD in biology, and a new appreciation for the interconnectedness of our planet. But she never lost her desire to write and now combines her skills in science communication. She is the author of Two Million Blossoms: Discovering the Medicinal Benefits of Honey and Simple, Smart Beekeeping.
Vince Gallo How to build honey comb – a bricklayer’s perspective National Honey Show 2022-08-05 | A lecture given by Vince Gallo at the 2021 National Honey Show entitled “How to build honey comb - a bricklayer’s perspective”. The National Honey Show gratefully acknowledge the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers for their support and Reigate Beekeepers for their sponsorship.For hundreds of years beekeepers and researchers have wondered how bees are able to build comb, a question that can now be answered. The wax-made comb of the honeybee is a masterpiece of animal architecture. The highly regular, double-sided hexagonal structure is a near-optimal solution to storing food and housing larvae. The economy of the structures has been described and analysed across the centuries leading to speculation, but without conclusion, as to how such complex cells can be built and packed together so efficiently. In this session I will explain my analysis of the bees’ methods, and hence how they achieve the structure. Honeycomb, while beautiful, is not perfect, and much is revealed by these imperfections. Irregularities are introduced through construction errors, compelled by surface irregularities, or may result from purposeful distortion such as when changing from worker to drone cells. Nonetheless the builders overcome these distortions and, within a short distance, restore the regular hexagonal pattern. Honeybees are capable of building comb downwards, but also upwards and sideways; their method is clearly very flexible. In this session I will show how individual decisions regarding the placement of each speck of wax combine to produce well-formed comb even when presented with such complications. Vince tends his 15-20 hives in Surrey within his garden and two out-apiaries; one of which is at a local school. The bees are kept both as a hobby, but also for research; the later being a result of this retired software engineer deciding to avoid boredom by undertaking a PhD. The research topic concerns the use and construction of honeycomb and now, in the fourth year, the bees and comb are beginning to surrender some answers. Vince is treasurer and an active member of Reigate Beekeepers which provides ample opportunity to help other beekeepers, to assist the public as a swarm collector, as well as promoting the interests of bees by supporting the association at summer shows and giving talks at local groups and schools.
Torben Schiffer How modern beekeeping enhances nectar competition and contributes to species extinct National Honey Show 2022-07-01 | A lecture given by Torben Schiffer at the 2021 National Honey Show entitled "How modern beekeeping enhances nectar competition and contributes to species extinction of wild pollinators". The National Honey Show gratefully acknowledge the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers for their support and Thornes for their sponsorship.New studies show a connection between beekeeping and the decline of wild pollinators based on nectar competition. The competition is further enhanced by the inefficiency of modern beehives, usually thin walled boxes which are showing a vast amount of energy loss. Additionally unnaturally huge volumes enhance the issue as well as inappropriate locations. Especially in the cities where many beehives are placed directly on the roofs, into adverse weather conditions. Moreover the amounts of beehives and their nectar overturn often exceeds the natural resources. Therefore feeding the bee colonies becomes mandatory in order to prevent starvation. However these methods are increasing the whole problematic even further.I learnt conventional beekeeping from my grandfather in 2006. My first awakening happened when I treated my hives against varroa and then found hundreds of antennae on the mesh bottoms. This was the bees’ response to the recommended treatment: self-mutilation. It is this experience which spurred my search for better ways of keeping bees. I was fortunate to be asked by Prof. J. Tautz to do research the differences of climatic conditions in tree cavities and modern beehives and its effects on bee health. We have been able to establish impressive data that lead us to conclude that the majority of bee hives in common use fail to offer the bees an environment that is appropriate to the needs of the species, with concomitant effects on the bees’ health. We can already conclude that most of the bees’ problems in our time are man-made.
Honey bees are what they eat: how do differing diets result in queens or workers? Paul Hurd National Honey Show 2022-06-03 | A lecture given by Paul Hurd at the 2021 National Honey Show entitled “Honey bees are what they eat: how do differing diets result in queens or workers?”. The National Honey Show gratefully acknowledge the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers for their support and Middlesex Beekeepers for their sponsorship.Honey bee larvae destined to become workers are fed worker jelly followed by a diet of nectar/pollen and those destined to become queens are fed royal jelly. These differing diets are then maintained over the entire lifetime of the adult. The ability of an individual honey bee larva to become a queen or worker cannot be because of different DNA: the genome of that larva has the capacity to become either, it is due to the way genes are switched on or off in response to the specific diet; this determines such differing developmental outcomes. Epigenetics is a dynamic set of instructions that exist ‘on top’ of the genetic information, that can encode and direct multiple different outcomes from a fixed DNA sequence. Epigenetic information can be altered by environmental factors, including diet. In the case of the honey bee, the queen larvae are fed a diet of royal jelly, a potent substance capable of changing developmental instructions. I will discuss the very latest advances in scientific technology that have allowed us to investigate how royal jelly results in a queen and why workers are different.Paul Hurd obtained his PhD from the University of Sheffield and performed post-doctoral research at Kings College London and at the Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge. He is currently a Principal Investigator, Group Leader and Senior Lecturer in Epigenetics at Queen Mary University of London. His research group work on the honey bee as an emerging model for epigenetics and are particularly interested in how diet can result in three different outcomes (queens, workers and drones) from the same honey bee genome. His lab was the first to show that honey bee castes differ epigenetically, rather than genetically. They manage and maintain their own research hives and work in his lab is funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, Royal Society and the European Union.
Pesticides in pollen: what are the bees in America consuming? Kirsten Traynor National Honey Show 2022-05-06 | A lecture given by Kirsten Traynor at the 2021 National Honey Show entitled “Pesticides in pollen: what are the bees in America consuming?” The National Honey Show gratefully acknowledge the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers for their support.(The National Honey Show apologises for the poor quality audio with this recording, hopefully this will not spoil your enjoyment of the video)We sampled stored pollen in over 1,000 apiaries over a seven-year time period, analysing the pesticide residues to determine the exposure risk. How do we best judge risk to a honey bee hive? While the samples were just a snapshot in time, we discovered some interesting correlations between pesticide exposure and colony health.Dr. Kirsten S. Traynor investigates honey bee health and how pesticides impact social behaviour. She is the Director of the Institute of Bee Science in Celle, Germany. In 2020, she launched a new quarterly magazine 2 Million Blossoms: protect our pollinators. Originally an English major, Kirsten won her first hive in a raffle right after college graduation. These fascinating insects led to a globe-trotting adventure, a PhD in biology, and a new appreciation for the interconnectedness of our planet. But she never lost her desire to write and now combines her skills in science communication. She is the author of Two Million Blossoms: Discovering the Medicinal Benefits of Honey and Simple, Smart Beekeeping.2millionblossoms.comFacebook.com/2MBlossomsinstagram.com/2millionblossomstwitter.com/2Mblossomstwitter.com/DrKSTraynor
Honeybee behaviour – a look at the mechanisms bees use to manage their lives Lynfa Davies National Honey Show 2022-04-01 | A lecture given by Lynfa Davies at the 2021 National Honey Show entitled “Honeybee behaviour - a look at the mechanisms bees use to manage their lives”. The National Honey Show gratefully acknowledge the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers for their support and the Central Association of Beekeepers for their sponsorship.Honeybees do not operate as individuals but instead operate as a colony, often referred to as a super organism. Their activities and behaviour are highly organised and enable them to ensure the whole colony grows, reproduces and thrives. This talk will look at some of the mechanisms employed by the bees at various stages of the production cycle. We will look at how they are continually looking ahead (metaphorically speaking, of course!) and if we do the same, we will be far more successful in our beekeeping. Understanding what the bees are trying to do will make our management of them much easier as we can work with them instead of against them.Lynfa lives in Aberystwyth and has kept bees with her husband, Rob, for 16 years. During this time she has worked her way through the BBKA assessments to become a Master Beekeeper and in 2019 was awarded the National Diploma in Beekeeping. She is an active member of Aberystwyth and District BKA where she gets involved with training new beekeepers. Lynfa is also a member of the Welsh Beekeeper’s Association Learning and Development Committee. She regularly gives talks and leads training sessions on practical aspects of beekeeping. Lynfa currently has approximately 25 colonies which she manages for honey production and for the joy of looking after bees! In addition she raises her own queens and uses these to produce nucleus colonies and to replace her own stock.
Global pandemics, bee imports and native bees Norman Carreck National Honey Show 2022-03-18 | A lecture given by Norman Carreck at the 2021 National Honey Show entitled "Global pandemics, bee imports and native bees". The National Honey Show gratefully acknowledge the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers for their support and the Surrey Beekeepers Association (SBKA) for their sponsorship.The global Covid-19 pandemic has raised awareness of the problems caused by moving biological material around the world, and of the dangers posed by viruses. In the case of bees, several recent papers have drawn attention to the international movement of bee viruses associated with trade in honey bees. There is good evidence that certain exotic viruses - variants of viruses already found in the UK, have arrived here in recent decades. The large scale COLOSS genotype-environment interactions experiment demonstrated that “local” strains of bee consistently survive better than strains from elsewhere, yet growing numbers of queens and package bees have been imported into the UK in recent years. At the same time there is growing evidence that Britain and Ireland hold important populations of native or “near native” bees. In early 2021, Brexit brought further twists in the tale of imported bees, but it is clear that a long term aim must be the establishment of greater capacity for the sustainable rearing of local bees.Norman Carreck has been keeping bees since the age of 15. He read Agricultural Science at Nottingham University and joined Rothamsted Research in 1987 as an agronomist working on nutrient uptake in cereal crops. Between 1991 and 2006 he was apiculturalist in the Plant and Invertebrate Ecology Division there, with responsibility for maintaining about 80 colonies of honey bees and was also fully involved in research on pollination ecology, bee behaviour, bee pathology and forage for bees. Since 2008 he has carried out research at the University of Sussex on bee breeding and pesticides and bees. Between 2007 and 2018 he was Senior Editor of the Journal of Apicultural Research, and between 2009 and 2018 he was employed as Science Director of the International Bee Research Association. He obtained the National Diploma in Beekeeping in 1996, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society in 2004, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology in 2011. He is a Trustee of the C B Dennis British Beekeepers Research Trust, Examinations Moderator for the Examinations Board for the UK National Diploma in Beekeeping, a member of the “Bee Health Advisory Forum” for the Defra “Healthy Bees Plan” and is the UK member of the Executive Committee of the international honey bee research network "COLOSS". He is a director of Carreck Consultancy Ltd and Bee Publishing Ltd and is an Associate Fellow of the University of Sussex.
Queen Rearing: A comparison of queen rearing techniques Kirsten Traynor National Honey Show 2022-03-04 | A lecture given by Kirsten Traynor at the 2021 National Honey Show entitled "Queen Rearing: A comparison of queen rearing techniques". The National Honey Show gratefully acknowledge the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers for their support and Mr. R.Blaxland for their sponsorship.When I started out in beekeeping, I was told that you don't rear queens, you buy them. But there is nothing more satisfying than rearing your own. Whether you want to rear just a handful for your own use or a few hundred for sale, the same basics are required: Good genetic material, strong colonies, and a way of rearing cells to completion. The pluses and drawbacks of different queens rearing methods will be discussed.Dr. Kirsten S. Traynor investigates honey bee health and how pesticides impact social behaviour. She is the Director of the Institute of Bee Science in Celle, Germany. In 2020, she launched a new quarterly magazine 2 Million Blossoms: protect our pollinators. Originally an English major, Kirsten won her first hive in a raffle right after college graduation. These fascinating insects led to a globe-trotting adventure, a PhD in biology, and a new appreciation for the interconnectedness of our planet. But she never lost her desire to write and now combines her skills in science communication. She is the author of Two Million Blossoms: Discovering the Medicinal Benefits of Honey and Simple, Smart Beekeeping.
Beyond honey bees – an introduction to the rest of the 600 plus species of aculeates Mike Edwards National Honey Show 2022-02-18 | A lecture given by Mike Edwards at the 2021 National Honey Show entitled "Beyond honey bees - an introduction to the rest of the 600 plus species of aculeates present in the British Isles and Ireland". The National Honey Show gratefully acknowledge the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers for their support.The aculeate Hymenoptera include honeybees - but a great many other species as well, even in the British Isles, where there are over 600 species. The talk will give an outline to the major groupings, something of their evolutionary relationship, life-histories and behaviour, with an emphasis on relevance to the beekeeper called out to “a swarm of bees”, to help them identify the “bees” and inform the public. Inevitably, this will deal mostly with the larger species - but there are small wasps less than 5mm long which catch plant-hoppers in the same way as preying mantids!I am not a beekeeper, but a well-established researcher into wild bees and wasps, particularly those found in Great Britain and have been studying these insects for nearly 50 years. I am the co-author of the recently published Handbook of the Bees of the British Isles and am currently working on a similar work dealing with the wasps. An earlier volume, Field Guide to the Bumblebees of Great Britain and Ireland, written with Martin Jenner, has been consulted by many beekeepers as well as general naturalists. That said, I do think it important to have some understanding of honey bees, especially their behaviour and biology. Indeed, my main interest is in the behaviour and biology of this whole group of insects.Mike Edwards
Man made breeding and selection vs natural reproduction and selection - Torben Schiffer National Honey Show 2022-02-04 | A lecture given by Torben Schiffer at the 2021 National Honey Show entitled “Man made breeding and selection vs natural reproduction and selection - why modern beekeeping will eventually send the species of honey bees into its demise” The National Honey Show gratefully acknowledge the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers for their support.For thousands of years humans have harvested bee products like honey, wax and propolis. Historically, man-made harvesting, breeding and selection did not cause a threat to the species of honeybees because only a small fraction of the genetic pool was lying in human hands, most if it was subject to natural selection and adaption. Nowadays tables have turned, and the main part of the 45 million years old, system relevant key species, (which is literally carrying our ecosystem on its wings) is subordinate to the mercy of beekeepers that are either seeking to use honeybees for their own benefit or are somehow caught in the trap of modern beekeeping with all its side effects. Natural selection is the only force that is able to generate bees that are showing all the facets that define independent and locally adapted survivability has been practically abolished for man-made breeding and selection.I learnt conventional beekeeping from my grandfather in 2006. My first awakening happened when I treated my hives against varroa and then found hundreds of antennae on the mesh bottoms. This was the bees’ response to the recommended treatment: self-mutilation. It is this experience which spurred my search for better ways of keeping bees. I was fortunate to be asked by Prof. J. Tautz to do research the differences of climatic conditions in tree cavities and modern beehives and its effects on bee health. We have been able to establish impressive data that lead us to conclude that the majority of bee hives in common use fail to offer the bees an environment that is appropriate to the needs of the species, with concomitant effects on the bees’ health. We can already conclude that most of the bees’ problems in our time are man-made.Torben Schiffer
NatBIP: Achieving a Sustainable System of Bee Improvement - Jo Widdicombe National Honey Show 2022-01-07 | A lecture given by Jo Widdicombe at the 2021 National Honey Show entitled "NatBIP: Achieving a sustainable system of bee improvement" The lecture is sponsored by BIBBA. The National Honey Show gratefully acknowledge the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers for their support.Jo will explain how, just as agriculture is seeking a more sustainable approach towards food production, beekeepers should also be looking towards developing a system of bee improvement that is less reliant on imports and more in tune with local adaptation. This will provide reduced biosecurity risks and the opportunity to maintain and improve the quality of the bees in our area. The practice of bee improvement is appropriate for all beekeepers from beginners, with one or two colonies, to large-scale commercial beekeepers. By all working to the same system, and starting with bees local to our area, we can all contribute to producing a better bee.Jo is a past President of BIBBA. He worked as a bee inspector for 5 years and now runs about 150 colonies, with two assistants, producing honey, queens and nucs for sale. Author of the book, "The Principles of Bee Improvement" which explains how to select and improve the quality of our bees from local stock, with an emphasis on our native strain, rather than resorting to imported queens. He is a strong supporter of the National Bee Improvement Programme (NatBIP) which he sees as appropriate for beekeepers at every level, as a way of promoting a truly sustainable system of bee improvement.
Reading a Hive - Kirsten Traynor National Honey Show 2021-12-03 | A lecture given by Kirsten Traynor at the 2021 National Honey Show entitled "Reading a Hive" The lecture is sponsored by Sussex Beekeepers Association. The National Honey Show gratefully acknowledge the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers for their support.The hardest thing to learn as a beekeeper is how to read a hive. This comes through experience, repetition, and careful observation. Gain some insight into the natural structure of a hive and how you can manage the bees to achieve the goals you set.Dr. Kirsten S. Traynor is the Director of the Institute of Bee Science in Celle, Germany. In 2020, she launched a new quarterly magazine 2 Million Blossoms: protect our pollinators. Originally an English major, Kirsten won her first hive in a raffle right after college graduation. These fascinating insects led to a globe-trotting adventure, a PhD in biology, and a new appreciation for the interconnectedness of our planet. But she never lost her desire to write and now combines her skills in science communication. She is the author of Two Million Blossoms: Discovering the Medicinal Benefits of Honey and Simple, Smart Beekeeping.
Lifes Hard Form The Start National Honey Show 2021-10-22 | Congratulations to the winner of Class 101 at 2021 National Honey Show.Class 101 - Video Clip on a beekeeping subject maximum duration 30 seconds.
Cut Comb and Chunk Honey National Honey Show 2021-09-13 | Cut comb for show and chunk honey by Christine and Peter Matthews.
Long Live the Queen, Please why are Queens Failing? - Jeff Pettis National Honey Show 2021-07-05 | A lecture given by Jeff Pettis at the 2020 Virtual National Honey Show.
The Honey Market in Turmoil - Etienne Bruneau National Honey Show 2021-07-05 | A lecture given by Etienne Bruneau at the 2020 Virtual National Honey Show.
A Year at French Hill Apiaries - Mike Palmer National Honey Show 2021-07-05 | A lecture given by Mike Palmer at the 2020 Virtual National Honey Show.
Sue Carter National Honey Show Judge National Honey Show 2020-11-13 | Sue Carter introduces us to events from the 2020 online show, and items from previous live shows.
Our Chairman talks about the 2020 show; plus supporters say what it means to them National Honey Show 2020-10-06 | This year’s National Honey Show, 22nd to 24th October, will be a professional, online conference welcoming beekeepers worldwide. Everyone is welcome to attend the event free of charge, to attend lectures, demonstrations, visit our trade hall and take part in other exciting activities. Visit our website to see the programme and registration details: http://www.honeyshow.co.uk
Understanding Bee Colony Biology (Part 4 of 4) Ralph Büchler National Honey Show 2020-02-06 | A lecture given by Ralph Büchler at the 2019 National Honey Show entitled "Understanding the Complex Biology of Honey Bee Colonies and its Links to Colony Health (Part 4 of 4)" The lecture is sponsored by BDI Bee Diseases Insurance Ltd. The National Honey Show gratefully acknowledge the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers for their support.Ralph BüchlerWorking with honey bees since his youth, Büchler studied agriculture and biology at Bonn University and finished his PhD in bee science. In 1990 he moved to the bee institute in Kirchhain which is one of the larger German training and research centres for beekeeping. Since 1997, he is leading the institute with its about 20 coworkers. Honey bee selection, disease resistance and alternative varroa treatment concepts are in the focus of Büchler´s research activities. He has participated in many national and international research projects like Smartbees, Coloss, Fitbee and is recently coordinating an EU study on varroa resistant stock and a national selection project on SMR. Büchler acts as the scientific adviser for the breeder association “Arbeitsgemeinschaft Toleranzzucht”. He is author of hundreds of papers, book contributions and scientific films.Understanding the Complex Biology of Honey Bee Colonies and its Links to Colony HealthBefore we start to fight certain bee diseases and parasites we should ask how bee colonies cope with them under natural conditions and what may be the critical differences under modern beekeeping conditions. Why do swarms prefer to settle apart from the mothers nest, what can we learn from the inner nest structure, how does the complex mating biology of honey bees affect colony vitality? The idea will be followed that certain disease problems correspond with certain deficiencies in the natural self protection of colonies. Special attention will be paid to the natural brood and bee population dynamic of honey bees and its consequences for health protection. If we improve our understanding of these natural mechanisms we can improve our management concepts and develop strategies to control diseases and parasites by biological and biotechnical means. This will be explained with some practical examples from AFB, chalk brood and, most relevant, Varroa control.
Sustainable Varroa Management (Part 3 of 4) Ralph Büchler National Honey Show 2020-02-05 | A lecture given by Ralph Büchler at the 2019 National Honey Show entitled "Sustainable Varroa Management Based on Biological and Technical Methods (Part 3 of 4)" The lecture is sponsored by The Central Association of Bee Keepers. The National Honey Show gratefully acknowledge the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers for their support.Ralph BüchlerWorking with honey bees since his youth, Büchler studied agriculture and biology at Bonn University and finished his PhD in bee science. In 1990 he moved to the bee institute in Kirchhain which is one of the larger German training and research centres for beekeeping. Since 1997, he is leading the institute with its about 20 coworkers. Honey bee selection, disease resistance and alternative varroa treatment concepts are in the focus of Büchler´s research activities. He has participated in many national and international research projects like Smartbees, Coloss, Fitbee and is recently coordinating an EU study on varroa resistant stock and a national selection project on SMR. Büchler acts as the scientific adviser for the breeder association “Arbeitsgemeinschaft Toleranzzucht”. He is author of hundreds of papers, book contributions and scientific films.Sustainable Varroa Management Based on Biological and Technical MethodsMost Varroa induced colony losses occur during the autumn or winter season in consequence of an insufficient health status of the winter bee population. Even when starting from a low initial mite infestation in early spring, critical mite and virus infection levels can be reached until the period of winter bee production if colonies continuously rear brood throughout the whole season. To overcome this situation beekeepers may learn from the brood dynamic of swarming colonies where the propagation of Varroa is interrupted by a brood break over several weeks at the peak of colony development which basically improves the health status of the hive. Several alternative biotechnical treatment strategies like total brood removal, trapping comb technique or queen caging are available to utilize the positive effects of a brood interruption without reducing the productivity in a modern beekeeping environment. The different requisites, advantages and disadvantages of those methods will be described in order to identify the most suitable procedure for a given beekeeping situation. In any case, colony losses due to Varroa can be avoided and the use of drugs can be minimized by a consequent use of these biotechnical measures in combination with the utilization of selected stock.
Environmental Adaptation of Honey Bees (Part 2 of 4) Ralph Büchler National Honey Show 2020-02-04 | A lecture given by Ralph Büchler at the 2019 National Honey Show entitled "Environmental Adaptation of Honey Bees and its Consequences for Selection (Part 2 of 4)" The lecture is sponsored by C.B.Dennis British Beekeepers Research Trust. The National Honey Show gratefully acknowledge the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers for their support.Ralph BüchlerWorking with honey bees since his youth, Büchler studied agriculture and biology at Bonn University and finished his PhD in bee science. In 1990 he moved to the bee institute in Kirchhain which is one of the larger German training and research centres for beekeeping. Since 1997, he is leading the institute with its about 20 coworkers. Honey bee selection, disease resistance and alternative varroa treatment concepts are in the focus of Büchler´s research activities. He has participated in many national and international research projects like Smartbees, Coloss, Fitbee and is recently coordinating an EU study on varroa resistant stock and a national selection project on SMR. Büchler acts as the scientific adviser for the breeder association “Arbeitsgemeinschaft Toleranzzucht”. He is author of hundreds of papers, book contributions and scientific films.Environmental Adaptation of Honey Bees and its Consequences for SelectionA recent European study showed strong genotype – environment interactions which do affect the productivity, behaviour and survivability of bee colonies. Some data will be presented to better understand for example the relevance of winter clustering or swarming tendency. If it is true, that the best bee has to be identified under local conditions, selection should be focused on local populations instead of importing breeding stock from external sources. And in general, preservation of the natural biodiversity of European honey bees has to be recognized as a priority objective. For those reasons, the EU funded SMARTBEES project (www.smartbees.eu) supported the establishment of regional breeder groups in many European countries. A standard performance test protocol has been developed which enables access to modern breeding value estimation and improvement of local populations. Meanwhile, an “International Honey Bee Breeding Network (IHBBN)” was founded to support the cooperation of regional breeder groups and to further develop the strategy of “preservation by utilization”.
Varroa Resistance Characters and Selection Protocols (Part 1 of 4) Ralph Büchler National Honey Show 2020-02-03 | A lecture given by Ralph Büchler at the 2019 National Honey Show entitled "Varroa Resistance Characters and Selection Protocols (Part 1 of 4)" The lecture is sponsored by E.H THORNE (BEEHIVES) LTD. The National Honey Show gratefully acknowledge the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers for their support.Ralph BüchlerWorking with honey bees since his youth, Büchler studied agriculture and biology at Bonn University and finished his PhD in bee science. In 1990 he moved to the bee institute in Kirchhain which is one of the larger German training and research centres for beekeeping. Since 1997, he is leading the institute with its about 20 coworkers. Honey bee selection, disease resistance and alternative varroa treatment concepts are in the focus of Büchler´s research activities. He has participated in many national and international research projects like Smartbees, Coloss, Fitbee and is recently coordinating an EU study on varroa resistant stock and a national selection project on SMR. Büchler acts as the scientific adviser for the breeder association “Arbeitsgemeinschaft Toleranzzucht”. He is author of hundreds of papers, book contributions and scientific films.Varroa Resistance Characters and Selection ProtocolsApis cerana as the natural host of Varroa destructor has developed effective resistance behaviors to cope with Varroa infestations without serious losses. And also from Apis mellifera several resistant populations are known by now which show interesting differences compared to susceptible populations. The mainly responsible characters of those resistant populations will be described. Together with the experience from different breeding programs a description of relevant characters and suitable testing protocols with regard to selective breeding will be given. Recent data on mite population development, hygiene behaviour, suppressed mite reproduction (SMR) and brood recapping (REC) will allow for a closer evaluation of the long term potential of resistant honey bees in European apiculture.
Medicinal Honey - a Sweet Solution against Superbugs? Shona Blair National Honey Show 2020-02-02 | A lecture given by Shona Blair at the 2019 National Honey Show entitled "Medicinal Honey - a Sweet Solution against Superbugs?" The lecture is sponsored by C.B. Dennis British Beekeepers Research Trust. The National Honey Show gratefully acknowledge the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers for their support.Shona BlairDr Shona Blair is a microbiologist who has been studying the medicinal properties of honey for 20 years, pioneering this research in Australia. Shona was awarded her PhD in 2004 from the University of Sydney. She has since led many projects focusing on the wound healing and antimicrobial properties of honey, particularly against antibiotic-resistant ‘superbugs’, and the effects of eating honey on human gut health.Shona has been an invited keynote speaker at numerous scientific, medical and beekeeping conferences in Australia, Brazil, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Korea and the USA. She has published her research findings in the scientific and popular press including microbiology and wound care journals, as well as popular beekeeping and health magazines. Since her student days, Shona has been involved in the Australian beekeeping industry and she has actively worked to raise awareness of the importance of honey bees, beekeeping and medicinal honey. She held the role of inaugural CEO of the Wheen Bee Foundation (2013 – 2014), established to raise awareness of the importance of bees for food security. In 2013, she joined the Executive Council of the NSW Apiarists’ Association, where she works with commercial beekeepers to help tackle some of the issues faced by the industry. She received the prestigious Keith McIlvride Memorial Award in 2017 in recognition of her services to the industry.Manuka honey article on The Conversation (one of the top-read articles of 2017)Medicinal Honey - a Sweet Solution against Superbugs?Honey really is liquid gold, and people have always held it in high regard. It has been a prized food and a powerful medicine for many different cultures throughout history.However, its medicinal use largely fell from favour in the 1940s with the introduction of modern antibiotic drugs. Unfortunately, the misuse of these lifesaving drugs means that today we face a shortage of effective treatments for infections, because there is a huge global increase in the number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria – or ‘superbugs’.Our urgent need for other treatment options, has led to a renewed interest in complex, natural products with antimicrobial activity, like honey. One of the most exciting things about the antimicrobial activity of honey is that it works against a very wide range of microbes that cause infections, even antibiotic-resistant superbugs. Apart from its ability to stop superbugs in their tracks, honey also encourages wound healing and stimulates our immune response, and has additional therapeutic qualities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and prebiotic (i.e. boosting gut health) properties.
The Principles of Bee Improvement Jo Widdicombe National Honey Show 2020-02-02 | A lecture given by Jo Widdicombe at the 2019 National Honey Show entitled "The Principles of Bee Improvement" The lecture is sponsored by Bee Improvement & Bee Breeders Association. The National Honey Show gratefully acknowledge the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers for their support.Jo WiddicombeJo worked as a bee inspector for 5 years and now runs over 100 colonies, with the help of an apprentice, producing honey, queens and nucs for sale. Author of the book, "The Principles of Bee Improvement" which explains how to select and improve the quality of our bees from local stock rather than resorting to imported queens. Jo is currently President of BIBBA.The Principles of Bee ImprovementThe talk will explain how I have gone about improving the quality of my bees by selecting from the stock in my area. After trying queens of various types I quickly got disillusioned with the results, at best short-term relief, and set about finding a more sustainable way to improve my bees. By simple methods we can maintain genetic diversity within the population and produce a hardy, locally adapted bee with qualities that can be built on year on year.
How Bees Fly Simon Rees National Honey Show 2020-01-09 | A lecture given by Simon Rees at the 2019 National Honey Show entitled "How Bees Fly" The lecture is sponsored by Federation of Middlesex Beekeepers. The National Honey Show gratefully acknowledge the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers for their support.Simon ReesSimon is a hobby beekeeper and has been keeping bees since 1995. Simon was born in Cardiff, Wales. Simon started keeping bees in Twickenham, Middlesex in 1995 after completing the Twickenham & Thames Valley BKA beginners' course. On moving to Dublin in 1996 he established an apiary in the garden. He currently has 2 apiaries in Co. Wicklow. Simon has completed the FIBKA (Federation of Irish Beekeeping Associations) preliminary, intermediate, senior and lecturer's certificates since moving to Ireland. Simon has a keen interest in lecturing, particularly on the science side of beekeeping. Simon is a former Chair and Honey Show Secretary of the Co. Dublin Beekeepers' Association. He set up and helps manage the Facebook group ‘Beekeepers of Ireland’ (open to beekeepers everywhere) which has over 3000 members. Simon lives in Dublin with his wife Eimear.How Honey Bees FlyIn this lecture you will learn about the honey bee’s flight equipment – wings, engines, fuel and flight control. We will also look at the mechanics - at an introductory level - of honey bee flight. The lecture will contain videos and demonstrations to aid understanding. By the end you will have a good understanding of how bees fly.
Basic Honey Bee Genetics for Beekeepers John Chambers National Honey Show 2020-01-09 | A lecture given by John Chambers at the 2019 National Honey Show entitled "Basic Honey Bee Genetics for Beekeepers" The lecture is sponsored by Buckinghamshire County Beekeepers Association. The National Honey Show gratefully acknowledge the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers for their support.John ChambersFor John, beekeeping represents escape from everyday pressures. Inside his apiary, he is at peace and connects differently with the world. Town noises recede as a multisensory symphony of natural rhythms comes to the fore. He enjoys the passing seasons; the cawing of the high-flying resident crows who have become his friends; the hedgehogs; the mice; and the toads. He loves the botanical chaos of the untended borders and the teeming biodiversity of the neglected and increasingly bumpy lawn. In the middle of all this are his many honey bee colonies which get darker and easier to handle with every generation of locally-reared queen. Nothing beats lying in long grass on a summer’s day, gazing up at the sky and watching one’s bees flying in their thousands as they go about their activities, completely unbeknown to people passing by on the other side of a simple brick wall.Basic Honey Bee Genetics For BeekeepersTrust honey bees to flaunt basic genetics as taught at school! They follow more complex rules that we have thwarted for the last 150 years. To improve our national stock, we must collectively act in sympathy with the biological realities of honey bee genetics. This presentation starts by considering what a breed is, before revealing something astonishing about breeds of honey bee. Then, Gregor Mendel’s failure to improve his honey bees is contrasted with his landmark work with the common pea. The rest of the lecture provides insight into why he failed. In turn it considers quantitative trait loci; haplodiploidy and sex determination; genetic recombination, polyandry and the benefits of intra-colony genetic diversity; the fates of fatal, maladaptive, neutral and beneficial genes; the perils of inbreeding depression; the ecological headache of outbreeding depression; the importance of selection pressure; and what we might infer from genetic bottlenecks. All these genetic considerations (and a few more besides) should concern and fascinate us all. By the end of this presentation, it should be clear why it is so damaging to import honey bee stock and how we can improve our local stock quickly, simply and optimally, using an augmented “bees know best” policy.
Managing Bees for the Honey Crop John Donoghue National Honey Show 2020-01-09 | A lecture given by John Donoghue at the 2019 National Honey Show entitled "Managing Bees for the Honey Crop" The lecture is sponsored by Surrey Beekeepers Association. The National Honey Show gratefully acknowledge the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers for their support.John DonoghueI grew up on a small farm in Co. Offaly Ireland and am a Carpenter/Joiner by trade. My first hive of bees was a swarm from a wild colony in the roof of the old farmhouse. My granduncle who kept bees all his life gave a hive to a neighbour and he helped hive the swarm. I was in primary school at the time. I manage 50 to 60 colonies, mostly national hives. I started to exhibit at honey shows in the mid 1970s and won my first trophy at the National in London in 1979. After many years exhibiting I now have the honour of judging at these shows and encourage new exhibitors. I have lectured to many associations over the years on the very practical craft of beekeeping and try to pass on some of the knowledge gained over more than forty years, some of which can only be passed on through touch and feel.Managing Bees For the Honey CropDeals with knowing your local area and when to expect the main honey flow. Getting supers ready for run honey or cut comb. Maintaining strong stocks. Avoiding congestion, giving queens room to lay and providing space for incoming nectar. Predicting what might happen by reading the present situation. Minimise swarming and dealing with swarming colony.
Efficient Beekeeping for the Busy Beekeeper Irene Power National Honey Show 2020-01-09 | A lecture given by Irene Power at the 2019 National Honey Show entitled "Efficient Beekeeping for the Busy Beekeeper" The lecture is sponsored by Reigate Beekeepers. The National Honey Show gratefully acknowledge the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers for their support.Irene PowerIrene comes from a well-known and successful beekeeping family and has had many successes in honey shows in Ireland and London. As a lecturer she is always in demand at home but has also lectured in England, Wales, Denmark and Texas. She is a member of South Tipperary Beekeepers Association & former Secretary of the Clonmel Honey Show (Largest Honey Show in Ireland). Irene provides beginners courses, Intermediate & Senior Study Groups in county Limerick and helps with outdoor demonstrations in South Tipperary. A very practical beekeeper, she maintains 15 - 20 colonies, with keen interests in honey bee health, queen rearing and honey production. Irene believes that planning ahead and maintaining all your production hives at full capacity is important.Efficient Beekeeping for the Busy BeekeeperThe age profile of beekeepers in recent years has lowered, with many in full time employment, possibly with young families and other interests that have a demand on leisure time. Even if you don’t fit into this category, our lives in general seem to be a lot busier these days. Grandparents play a bigger part in minding grandchildren than what I remember and also people are working longer and retiring at an older age. We are always rushing around and more often than not we are on-line & available on our phones or some other electronic device.This leaves less time for our hobbies and enjoyment of the world around us. The amount of work involved in beekeeping with limited time requires extra planning, more organisation and adapting management methods to suit your available time. We often get one opportunity to complete tasks in the apiary, as we may not be available tomorrow, two, three or five days’ time that some manipulations demand.My talk covers some tips of how to manage your beekeeping operation a bit more efficiently so that we can continue to practice & master the craft and enjoy it, in this incredibly busy world we live in today.
Bees and Plants - the Best of Friends Mary Montaut National Honey Show 2020-01-09 | A lecture given by Mary Montaut at the 2019 National Honey Show entitled "Bees and Plants - the Best of Friends" The lecture is sponsored by Bermondsey Street Bees. The National Honey Show gratefully acknowledge the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers for their support.Mary MontautMary Montaut is the Editor of The Irish Beekeeper (An Beachaire). She has been keeping bees in Bray, Co. Wicklow, for about twenty years and regards herself as an Eternal Beginner, because there is always so much to find out and understand about bees. She also edits the Irish Garden Plant Society journal, which seems to complement her passion for bees. Her interest in honey bees has gradually extended to include all sorts of pollinators, and she is on the Steering Committee of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, representing the Federation of Irish Beekeepers’ Associations. However, she is the first to confess that she is more of an Eternal Student in both of these fields than any kind of specialist - always eager to learn and read more about the wonderful relationship between plants and bees.Bees & Plants: the Best of FriendsThe theme of this presentation is the mutualism between bees and plants. The aim will be to give you some simple principles on which you can make your gardening choices so that you will be benefitting the bees and other pollinators in your own patch, whether that be your garden, or an allotment, or just a window-box. There will be plenty of examples from my own garden, but also I will have regard for the different conditions of climate and soil, and I hope to encourage listeners to understand how best to cherish the pollinators in their own particular micro-climate.
Langstroth: How Much Credit Does He Deserve? Simon Rees National Honey Show 2020-01-08 | A lecture given by Simon Rees at the 2019 National Honey Show entitled "Langstroth: How Much Credit Does He Deserve?" The Jean Blaxland Memorial Lecture, sponsored by Mr. R. Blaxland. The National Honey Show gratefully acknowledge the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers for their support.Simon ReesSimon is a hobby beekeeper and has been keeping bees since 1995. Simon was born in Cardiff, Wales. Simon started keeping bees in Twickenham, Middlesex in 1995 after completing the Twickenham & Thames Valley BKA beginners' course. On moving to Dublin in 1996 he established an apiary in the garden. He currently has 2 apiaries in Co. Wicklow. Simon has completed the FIBKA (Federation of Irish Beekeeping Associations) preliminary, intermediate, senior and lecturer's certificates since moving to Ireland. Simon has a keen interest in lecturing, particularly on the science side of beekeeping. Simon is a former Chair and Honey Show Secretary of the Co. Dublin Beekeepers' Association. He set up and helps manage the Facebook group ‘Beekeepers of Ireland’ (open to beekeepers everywhere) which has over 3000 members. Simon lives in Dublin with his wife Eimear.
Our Beekeeping Method on the Island of Terschelling by Harmen van der Ende National Honey Show 2019-12-04 | A lecture given by Harmen van der Ende at the 2019 National Honey Show entitled "Our Beekeeping Method on the Island of Terschelling" The National Honey Show gratefully acknowledge the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers for their support and Francis Capener (in memory of William Mundy) for their sponsorship.Harmen van der EndeHarmen is a beekeeper on the Island Terschelling in the North of the Netherlands. At the moment he owns 25 beehives on the west side of the island. He is a beekeeper since 2000 and his age is 56 years old. In his working life he is Senior Lecturer at the Maritime Institute Willem Barentsz and owns a master degree in Maritime Innovation. His biggest hobby is beekeeping and he is specially interested in the native bees of the island (Apis mellifera mellifera). To preserve the black bees he is one of the organizers of a program to reach this goal. He is also involved organising the SICAMM conferences.Our Beekeeping method on the island TerschellingIn this presentation a short history of beekeeping on Terschelling is discussed and some experiments we have done with different species of bees. Eventually we decided to keep our native bees and with these bees we have developed the beekeeping method I will describe.This method has been used for a long time now and we are very satisfied with it. The method is based on the following important assumptions:• As little intervention as possible in the hives.• Swarm prevention/control as close as possible to a natural swarm. • No selection on the best queens for honey production, but average based on how colonies handle normally (not aggressive).• Providing spare queens. • Brood break to reduce the amount of Varroa mites.The steps to take are not very difficult and can be done by not very experienced beekeepers. From our experience using this method also reduces the total amount of Varroa mites to an acceptable level.Our method will be explained from spring to autumn in steps, including a description of the inspections done by us. We have to note that this method is suitable for our island (Terschelling), where honey can be harvested in April and May (willow), in July and August (statice) and in August and/or September (heather).
Class 101 Video Clip - Winning Entry National Honey Show 2019-10-27 | Class 101 at the 2019 National Honey Show.Congratulations to Sue Carter for coming in first.Video Clip on a Beekeeping Subject maximum duration 30 seconds. To be judged on its beekeeping interest.
Class 101 Clip Entry - 2nd Prize National Honey Show 2019-10-25 | Class 101 at the 2019 National Honey Show.Congratulations to Bill Fisher for coming in 2nd.Video Clip on a Beekeeping Subject maximum duration 30 seconds. To be judged on its beekeeping interest.
A Closer Look at Factors Affecting Queen Quality by Clarence Collison National Honey Show 2019-03-06 | A lecture given by Clarence Collison at the 2018 National Honey Show entitled "A Closer Look at Factors Affecting Queen Quality" The National Honey Show gratefully acknowledge the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers for their support and Federation of Middlesex Beekeepers for their sponsorship.The quality of the honey bee queen is directly related to the development and productivity of the colony. There are numerous factors that can affect queen quality. In recent times many beekeepers report that queens are superseded soon after they are introduced into a colony. We will review several factors that may be responsible for this decline in queen longevity and quality. In addition to looking at her basic biology, we will develop answers to two basic questions: 1) how can you determine if you have a good queen? And 2) What makes a good queen?This will be the second presentation in the "mini programme".Clarence CollisonAs part of my undergraduate degree program majoring in entomology, I took my first course in beekeeping in 1966 which stimulated my interest in bees. During my Master’s program, I studied nectar secretion and how it affects the activity of honey bees in the pollination of hybrid pickling cucumbers. This research area was continued during my PhD program and was concerned with the interrelationships of honey bee activity, foraging behavior, climatic conditions and flowering in the pollination of pickling cucumbers. Throughout my career at The Pennsylvania State University and Mississippi State University, I have served as an Extension beekeeping specialist, taught beekeeping, trained graduate students, written numerous beekeeping publications, published two books and conducted many educational programs for the beekeeping community. For several years I chaired the “Master Beekeeper” certification program of the Eastern Apicultural Society of North America. I write a monthly column “A Closer Look” and prior to that “Do You Know” for Bee Culture magazine.
Whats Going Wrong With Our Queens? Roger Patterson National Honey Show 2019-03-06 | A lecture given by Roger Patterson at the 2018 National Honey Show entitled "What is Going Wrong With Our Queens?" The National Honey Show gratefully acknowledge the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers for their support and Thorne for their sponsorship.An overview of the current queen problems that are detailed Here with some suggested ways of dealing with them. Despite denial by some “experts”, many beekeepers worldwide are experiencing unexplained queen failures, queens “disappearing” and the supersedure of young queens during the summer. This could mean that colonies may swarm on supersedure cells, or if not dealt with, can be terminal for the colony. These problems have only recently appeared at a high level, since about the turn of the century. The problem is that newer beekeepers regularly see problems and don't understand they aren't natural.There has been little research done and the best the beekeeper can do is recognise the symptoms and manage their bees accordingly. This presentation is regularly updated and gives examples of real cases.This will be the first presentation in the "mini programme".Roger Patterson started keeping bees in his native West Sussex in 1963. He is a practical beekeeper who has learnt a lot by observing bees and beekeepers. Roger has been a demonstrator at the Wisborough Green BKA teaching apiary for over 40 years and is currently the Apiary Manager, where there are normally more than 30 colonies for tuition. For about 15 years he had 130 colonies of his own, but is now down to around 25. In addition to writing, Roger speaks and demonstrates widely on the practical aspects of beekeeping, where he is usually seen with his well known border collie Nell. He owns and runs the Dave Cushman website, which is considered to be one of the world's most comprehensive beekeeping websites.
AFB/EFB Typing and Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus by Kirsty Stainton National Honey Show 2019-02-19 | A lecture given by Kirsty Stainton at the 2018 National Honey Show entitled "AFB/EFB typing and Chronic bee paralysis virus" The National Honey Show also gratefully acknowledge the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers for their support and Bee Diseases Insurance Ltd (BDI) for their sponsorship.Kirsty will provide an overview of the genetic typing of American and European foulbrood, how to recognize symptoms of these diseases and how research into different "types" of EFB could help control this disease. Kirsty will also talk about Chronic bee paralysis virus and how to recognize the symptoms of CBPV, she will also give details on how new research might help us understand the potentially devastating effects of this virusKirsty Stainton is a senior scientist with Fera Science Ltd. She started her scientific career with a Ph.D. from Oxford University on the use of genetic modification for control of insect pests. Her post-doctoral research involved studying an insect bacterium called Wolbachia and its effects on the host. She joined Fera Science in 2016 where she has worked on research involving Asian hornets and honey bee viruses.
How to complicate your life, and pass on your beekeeping knowledge, before you kick the bucket National Honey Show 2019-02-19 | A lecture given by Michael Smith at the 2018 National Honey Show entitled "How to complicate your life, and pass on your beekeeping knowledge, before you kick the bucket" The National Honey Show also gratefully acknowledge the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers for their support and Buckinghamshire County Beekeepers for their sponsorship.Beekeeping is a skill learned through direct mentorship. For new beekeepers, it can be hard to find experienced and knowledgeable mentors. For potential mentors, it can be hard to know whether it’s worth it to invest time in a potential mentee. Through high school, university, and graduate school, I’ve established beekeeping clubs using the “College Beekeeper” model, which allowed me to learn beekeeping, teach beekeeping, and recruit student researchers. In this talk, you’ll learn how to setup a beekeeping club at your local educational institution, how to keep it from taking over your life, and why mentoring new beekeepers is worth it. Remember, most of us will eventually die, so you might as well teach someone the beekeeping tricks you’ve learned.Michael Smith is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Collective Behaviour at the Max Planck Institute of Ornithology/University of Konstanz. His research focuses on movement patterns in honey bee colonies, and how individual bees detect the developmental state of their group. Michael first began beekeeping in 2005, while attending The United World College of the Atlantic, in St. Donats, Wales. He continued beekeeping during his undergraduate degree at Princeton, while also conducting honey bee research at Wellesley College with Heather Mattila. In 2017, Michael completed his PhD in Tom Seeley’s lab at Cornell University, where he studied growth, development, and reproductive investments in honey bee colonies.
