Welcome to the June 2025 Newsletter from Rugby Beekeepers

A message from our Chair Asian Hornet update. A nice spring has continued to support survival of the Asian Hornet queens. Our best statistics are from the Jersey AH group. So far in 2025 there have been 1200 queens captured and 100 nests found and destroyed. To give perspective, by this date in 2024 there had been 61 queens captured and 5 nests destroyed. In the entire year the figures were 200 queens and 58 nests. Mainland UK statistics are much lower, to date we have spotted 24 queens, last year at this time the number was 15. The recommendation from the government is still only to trap in areas where the hornets are expected, but do be vigilant. If you spot anything suspicious, take a photo and send it using the Asian Hornet Watch app. Incidentally there was a possible sighting in Co. Durham this week, not confirmed but there are traps out. Cathy Moore

‘A swarm in June is worth a silver spoon... 17th century saying ‘ The swarming and Pagden splits have truly started now. However, so has the extracting of spring honey, especially if oilseed rape is local to your apiaries. Honey produced from oil seed rape crystalises very quickly and can set so hard that extraction is impossible. If you think you have osr nearby then you should extract as soon as you see the yellow fields turning back to green. You can book the branch extractor if needed, contact the branch for further details.

Do be mindful of Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus symptoms, see on-line if you have doubts, it can spread through the apiary fast. I am aware of 5 cases locally now. In two cases whole colonies have had to be destroyed.

Be mindful of what is known as the ‘June Gap’ by many. The forage drops in most areas during June putting bees at risk of starvation, with brood building and population increasing. There is a higher risk if you have extracted, check for stores, feed if necessary but remove supers if you start feeding syrup as you adulterate your honey.

Do find time to just watch your bees. They are a delight and never fail to amaze, whether returning with shopping bags full of pollen or removing their unwanted corpses.

There are two more shows we are attending, Dunchurch Fete on the 22nd June and Woolston on the 29th of June. If you are able to offer any of your time to help setup, run or take down our stand it would be most appreciated. For Dunchurch contact Samantha Peckett and for Woolston contact Gail Plester

Things to consider in June

• Unwanted visitors may be highlighted by short silvery lines along the capped brood, look for the wiggly pale wax moths, take the hive tool and remove them
• Hygiene, keep your standards high. Ideally wear a clean suit to each apiary. Soda Crystals in water for hive tools and washing smoker down. Wear clean gloves for each hive
• Disease check, be mindful of what is normal, if in doubt take photographs and advice. - A Varroa count is worth considering via a varroa board insert, see National Bee Unit for guidance
• Consider setting out bait hives if you are looking for a swarm, a nuc or hive with some old frames of comb in can really attract a swarm
• Keep the apiary safe - grass, wild brambles and nettles can make the ground around the hive unsteady and brambles can be a real trip hazard. Cut down if an issue, but bear in mind that bees hate petrol strimmers!
• Carry on your weekly checks for swarming until your bees have swarmed or you have performed a split
• Don’t assume that the one queen cell you left will produce a queen, give the colony 4-5 weeks to get their new queen ‘up and running’ and then check to see if you have eggs and maybe young brood
• Again, a reminder to check on stores, do not let your bees starve after all their hard work and yours. If you live in a rural area with just wheat and barley in the fields you need to vigilant as these crops don’t provide any forage for your bees. Gail Plester