Members of the BBKA
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Blackpool & Fylde Beekeepers Members of the BBKA |
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August Checklist |
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Preparing equipment ready for extracting |
Check all extracting equipment is clean, ready for use and on hand. This will include amonst others > Spinners > Sieves > Buckets > Frame knives, forks and rollers etc.
Don't forget when removing supers and frames for extraction, leave some stores for your bees and room for them to collect winter stores. |
Removing and storing supers full of honey |
Removing full supers does require a little bit of preparation, for example > Clearer boards should be checked and cleaned well in advance. > stack supers so they are moth and bug-proof completely sealed off |
Checking for varroa |
Not sure which of the numerous treatments options to use, then download the Bee Base article entitled Managing Varroa |
Throat mites and nosema |
Nosema - check for brown stains or streaks on the comb and the outside of the hive. Although not all nosema strains show signs of
dysentry. At this time of year it is still possible to do a bailey change, but drawn comb must be used Throat mites can only be checked for by microscope, as can nosema. Anyone interested in taking the BBKA microscopy course should contact John Charlton who is the course tutor. |
Wasp and hornet traps |
Wasps can kill a weak hive off within 24 hours. Wasps traps should be widely used, but any hive under serious wasp attack
should be removed to a safer location Asian hornets are particularly prevalent at this time of the year and may be seen hovering in front of hives. So hornet traps and observation are the main weapons against this menace.
Any sighting of asian hornets should be immediately reported to your local representive or the via the downloaded
Asian hornet watch app, preferably with a photograph. |