Welcome to the July edition of the RBKA newsletter. A positive consequence of our poor spring has been fewer Asian hornets, slower build up of the primary nests. Workers from the secondary, much larger nest, start to fly late in July so they will be what we are looking for this month. The National Bee Unit’s request remains, do not kill, photograph on Asian Hornet Watch app. This will allow them to track the worker back to its nest so they can eradicate them all in one go.

I have leaflets, wallet sized cards and a specimen hornet ( in an acrylic block ) which you're welcome to have for talks or presentations.

The latest information from NBU 23 sightings, 20 confirmed. 1 dead hornet found in Romford, remainder all in East Sussex or Kent. The BBKA Asian Hornet team have received the results of genetic testing on Asian Hornets caught in Kent and Sussex, the results reveal that 7 of them are the offspring from a nest destroyed at the end of last year. This means they have successfully overwintered.

Important news just before sending this Newsletter Cathy has been informed of an apparent siting at Bretford, the next village to Brinklow; it was reported on May 15th but not picked up by NBU until Friday. Cathy has put a bait station and vespa trap in the garden of the person who reported it. Cathy suggests maybe all beekeepers around our area could put out a bait station for one week and monitor the activity. If this was an Asian Hornet it could have been a foundress queen?

Cathy Moore

Firstly, as a branch we would like to thank everyone who helped support the Dunchurch Fete in their various roles, wonderful to see new and more experienced members turn up - absolutely great team work, we would not be able to run the RBKA presentations without your help. The day was very warm both in and outside of the marquee, which attracted its own challenges.

The bees were a great success as always, children and parents constantly wanting to discuss bees, a special thank you to Kim for arranging. A small number of individuals signed up to next year’s new Beekeeper course whilst there.

Things to consider this month;

• Do prepare for extraction, book the extractor unit if you need it, and ensure you have adequate jars and equipment ready.
• Do check water content first. [there are many articles available to read to support your first extraction or discus with a member for advice]
• Wasps – if they are becoming a nuisance consider closing hive entrance down to allow only one or two bees access at a time [See article in this month’s BBKA regarding wasp issues and options]
• Do be careful when feeding with syrup in any apiary. [Advice for feeding and when to feed can be found in good beekeeping books and sites]
• You could maybe put aside a comb of honey or a couple of jars of honey for the
• Honey show in Autumn [There are many articles available on preparing items for the honey show – why not have a go ?]
• Nettles and vegetation can become annoying around hive entrances but remember they can also act as semi -protection to the bees from predators too
• Consider a bait station as Cathy suggests for one week and monitor activity, but well away from your apiaries, you do not want to attract AH to your hives.

Gail Plester