Quarry Bees

I officially hate sheep... 🐝

Microscopy for beekeepers 🐝. Me being very intent, preparing euthanised bees for dissection.

Thanks ti the National Bee Unit, yesterday I saw examples of both American and European Fowlbrood infeccted comb. One seen, and smelt, hard to forget.

Microscope day 🐝. The world of the bee is the world of the small. Today was spent, care of Swansea Beekeeping Association, learning to identify pollen traces and to dissect dead bees for educational as well as diagnostic purposes.

Scientists identify culprit behind biggest-ever U.S. honey bee die-off USDA research points to viruses spread by pesticide-resistant mites, indicating a worrying trend

Three auick lessons from the great bee die off #savethebees 🐝. 1) It's just North America. 2) The beekeepers messed up. (Not Jason Statham) 3) Cutting back on public funded monitoring makes things worse. Did I miss anything?

www.science.org/content/arti...

Swarm to re-home in four stages. First bees af 3:00, re-homed at twilight.

Most UK beehives have some form of open mesh floor that allows hive detritus to fall through (and be collected). Examining the mess will often identify the presence of dead varroa and lead to more thorough investigation and action.

Sometimes it's wise to leave your bees alone..🐝 Inside this box is, hopefully, a newly introduced Queen Bee. She needs time to be fully accepted. Pollen on the legs of this bee may indicate that she's started laying eggs. Fingers crossed 🤞.

Bees are known a busy bees for a reason 🐝. Sometimes I video bees and slow things right down. It's amazing how much more you can see.

Swarm in a shed 🐝 National Botanic Garden of Wales yesterday. The beekeepers were confronted with large quantities of bees in the equipment shed. Luckily, the Queen bee's own entry had been stalled by a wire grill and she was easily relocated outside. The other bees soon followed her scent.

Insect Week - Royal Entomological Society Help Insects Thrive and Stand Tall for the Small Insect Week returns from 23–29 June 2025, celebrating the fascinating world of insects and the vital role they play in keeping ecosystems healthy. Led ...

Insect Week 🐝. The Royal Entomogical Society invites you to 'stand tall for the small'. If you're a fan of all things creepy crawly, this may interest you? Sign the pledge to discover, observe and protect. 🦋

www.royensoc.co.uk/insectweek/

So that's swarm #6 of bee fishing, sorry swarm season. It's a good size. I'm not throwing it back.

This wasn't supposed to happen 🐝. Wrapped elasterplast around the Queen Cage exit so that she could stay warm, fed and isolated until I was ready. The bees, bless them, ripped off the tape and let her out early. Very smug with themselves they are too.

Insects are dying: here are 25 easy and effective ways you can help protect them From turning out the lights to letting leaves rot, these small steps can create big changes at home or in the wild

It should be #savethebugs of course, #savethebees is short on context and nuance.

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

I think this is our 5th swarm now.. I understand why local papers build up the drama, but stand still, listen and watch, they're truly amazing. 🐝

Things near the bees 🐝. Last week I set up a camera on a swarm trap that I was optimistic would entice a swarm of honeybees. I was unsure as to whether tiny bees would set off the sensors, I shouldn't have worried. I should, however, have remembered to fit a memory card first. Duh..

Today was tte first day in her new hive for a purchased Buckfast line Queen Bee. As part of her managed introduction she'll stay safe in her isolation cage for a few days longer. But, signs are that they seem to like her.. 🤞

When you gain a swarm of bees, the first instinct is to peer between the frames to gauge how strong it is. Four or five frames of bees, like here, has great potential. 🐝

Well who doesn't like free bees?

Moving in is our second swarm 'caught' by a scented 'trap' in exactly the same position, three weeks apart. Welcome girls. 🐝

There were dozens of these beautiful insects on display today. My best identification, is that they are Five Spotted Burnett. This is indeed a species common in Wales. However, the time to see them in flight is between July and August. Perhaps they're as confused by our changing weather as we are?

I actually wasn't taking a selfie, just pressed the wrong button. Quite like it in B&W though.

Unloading 🐝 Ireland is the 'emerald isle' , but Wales must be a close second, being similarly irrigated by the Irish Sea. It has rained with insulting persistence for a week, but as soon as it stopped, I was out, a trailer full of bee boxes and a good excuse over my tardy inspection schedule.

I'd better start saving up...

Waiting for a close up.. 🐝 A disadvantage of Swarm Traps is they rarely 'catch' when you're around and you miss the fun. Something new for this year is setting up trail cams on likely spots in the hope of catching the arrival of a swarm. The most suitable emoji here is 🤞...

Waiting for a close up.. 🐝 Click to see wide view. A disadvantage of Swarm Traps is they rarely 'catch' when you're around and you miss the fun. Something new for this year is setting up trail cams on likely spots in the hope of catching the arrival of a swarm. The most suitable emoji here is 🤞...

Some bees yesterday...

Honeybee, with full pollen baskets, foraging on St John's Wort. Myndd Mawr, 4th June.

Not all pollinators buzz 🐝. A keen imbiber of nectar and a consequently superb pollinator, living-up to its name, is the Thick Thighed Beetle. Pictured in Myndd Mawr Country Park, 4th June.

Too busy to chase swarms of bees, I put out scented Swarm or Bait Traps to offer an enticing option for new colonies. No bees to be seen, now, but this inventive but doomed swarm was clearly thinking 'outside of the box'?