Sussex Bee Convention
Last Updated on Sunday, 09 November 2008 20:21
I got a day pass to attend the Sussex Beekeepers Centenary Annual Convention 2008. This was the first conference to take place after Professor Ratnieks (the UK's only Professor in Apiculture) had joined the University of Sussex, and, by good fortune they had managed to get him as a guest speaker. Additionally, you may have seen in the press that Rowse Honey have agreed to fund some beekeeping research, and Norman Carreck (NDB) who now lives in Sussex has joined forces with Professor Ratnieks to study hygenic bees and they both gave fantastic lectures. The convention takes place in the 100th year of the association and the day proved a worthy celebration.
The morning started with Normans talk which gave a wonderful insight into bee losses, placed into a context of beekeeping research, viruses and historical phenomenon of similar events. It's too difficult to summarise such a scientific lecture but needless to say it was funny, pitched at the right level, and full of quality scientific data.
The lecture was followed by two practicals. The first was hosted by Regional Bee Inspectors Alan Byham and Nick Withers, and the second by National Bee Inspector Richard Ball.
Sussex Beekeeping convention 2008
Nick Withers prepares a sample - removing the abdomen prior to the traceal mite checks
Bee with head removed pinned to cork for viewing under microscope
Bee sample free of tracheal mites
Alan Byham prepares a sample
Convention members learn about looking for Nosema
Nosema found in this sample. You can see the small "rice grains"
Nosema free sample - only pollen grains found
Tracheal free mite sample
Richard Ball - Regional Bee Inspector
Richard Ball lectures on EFB & AFB
AFB Scale visible in the infected comb
A frame from a drone laying queen
AFB comb aseessments
Frame of EFB - look for the twisted larvae (right hand side,just below middle)
Frame of EFB - look for the twisted larvae (just left of middle, just below half way up)
Using EFB and AFB field test kits
Positive results for EFB
Professor Ratnieks afternoon lecture
Professor Ratnieks also gave a very interesting lecture, covering his current research activites and the move to Sussex, it was both reassuring to see the research he was doing and frustrating to see how little funding is needed to allow so much more. It's clear Professor Ratnieks and Norman Carreck will make a great team and the Sussex beekeepers will benefit from their local proximity. One of the most interesting aspects was the research done on queen introduction previously. This involves dequeening colonies for a number of days before smoking very very heavily and running new (mated or virgin) queens in. Data showed this to be 100% successfull. Results like this, which are based on good science and provide husbandry benefits don't seem to be quickly and readily adopted by beekeepers which is a shame after the detailed research to obtain the relative success rate of such introductions. I've made a mental note to obtain the paper and will give it a go next year.
The afternoon concluded with a question and answer session from the lecturers and demonstrators. Finally a glass of wine was provided and the last 100 years, and the next 100 years of the SBKA was toasted. A very interesting day and a shame that more RBKA members weren't able to attend.
Open forum at the end of the afternoon
