Natural Beekeeping International Forum

[biobee]

So that everyone has quick access to the National Bee Unit updates on the Asian Hornet, I have added a feed to this page

http://www.biobees.com/bee-keeping-news.php

You can access it directly from the top menu.

[catchercradle]

Thanks for this,

I must admit I suspect that long term we are going to have to learn to live with the Asian Hornet, the only thing that isn't clear yet is whether it will establish itself before or after I get too old to carry on keeping bees myself

[biobee]

I think it is an inevitable consequence of globalization. The fact that they were found in two locations in Devon, separated by 80 miles, far from the previous known locations in Wales and Gloucestershire, is an early indication that we are about to be attacked from multiple entry points. It is easy for a solitary queen to hitch a ride on a ferry under a car, caravan or trailer - or somewhere on the ferry itself - and hop off at this end to find plentiful new territory in which to establish a nest.

I have heard from several beekeepers in France who tell me that they have made it much more difficult to keep bees than before they arrived. We will have to do our best to keep them out, of course, but I can see FERA giving up on this pretty fast when they find their meagre resources stretched to breaking point, which I would guess will happen sometime this year or next.

[Adriaan]

The asian hornet situation in Belgium is possibly even worse. In 2017 at least 7 nests have been identified and destroyed, mostly in the south-west.
Two of them were not found untill late autumn and had already sent out hundreds of queens. Probably not all nests have been found.
New queens may fly 60 km before overwintering and starting a new nest in the following spring.

This spring I will install several monitoring traps.

friendly greetings

Adriaan

[biobee]

Good luck, Adriaan! I'm thinking of buying a shotgun for the first time in my life...

[catchercradle]

I might set up some monitoring traps too. If I find a nest, I am guessing that the method I occasionally use for wasps of covering them with a large pile of grass clippings that will heat up as they rot down will work.

Usually I ignore wasps nests but just occasionally they build one in a place that is too inconvenient for me to live with.

[Adriaan]

Monitoring traps are best used in early spring when the young queens go out to find energie rich food to help them build an embryonic nest. This nest is not very high off the ground.
Somewhat later when their numbers reach maybe 50, they swarm and build a new nest high in a treetop where they are nearly invisible and untouchable.
You would need a huge pile of grass to cover that nest.

my plan is to call in the proper authorities and let them deal with it

friendly greetings

Adriaan

[charentejohn]

Hi, looks like this may be a good place to relate my story and ideas. I am in France (Charente) and noticed the first in this particular area last year. Now they seem to be established so I will need to take some action.

Hopefully this will help some UK keepers, see end of post for details.

I had a bird box the bees decided to use, this is a long saga so if you are interested search for charentejohn posts some with photos.
They are now in a shady spot and have been happy for a couple of years. I don't collect honey just leave them alone unless they need help, they did and do.

Neighbours doing some burning so checked bees were ok, they are next to a TBH I was hoping they would use. Horrified to find Asian Hornets in it, right next to the bees... So checked here and they have a 'shoot to kill' policy and all asian hornets must be reported and will be destroyed, local mayor's office pays half the cost if on your land.

So someone came and powder filled the TBH and the hornets died. Some returning ones were really mad and attacked the bees some going inside the hive. All calmed down but after a week or so I noticed a couple and the bees were pinned down with only a few foragers out.

Since then up to 4 have been around so I tried to proof the hive as follows, put mesh with string tied to hang down, like grass only the other way. Bees ok hornets not happy, not really good though so.....

What I have done/will do.
I made a 'muzzle' to cover the front, 13mm mesh bent and fitted to a shelf. You could just make one piece and hang it from a couple of hooks on the hive as long as it covers the entrance. Bees confused then did, land on wire and immediately take off again to go into the hive. Now getting better at it, they seem to prefer dropping down on the mesh from above in one move.
Hornets don't go inside, except by mistake, and if so immediately try to leave. They hang about but have a larger area to cover. As in photo the strings are also an inconvenience. Just watched one chase 6 bees around for a few mins before catching one. They seem to have a few flying about outside the mesh, some foragers out and about but not many.

How to catch hornets, use a butterfly net. You can buy kids ones but a friend is making me one from thick wire and net curtain material. I have a rough one using wire and a flower bulb sack but too floppy.
The hornets are intent on the bees so just hold the net on a 1m+pole underneath them. Then quick up and fold over and off to spray or dunk in a bucket of water. This really works well with no flailing of swatters or putting out bait.

I am awaiting delivery of the Thorne trap as it says asian hornet specific and can be placed next to bees. If the claims are right I will let you know, can't find any reviews. I will need to do something like that as the hive is 'wild' so I am not always there.
If it works I will put out traps in the area in spring in neighbour's gardens too as they want rid of them as well.
http://www.veto-pharma.eu/26-asian-hornet-control

In conclusion the hornets have probably done some damage but slowed for now. I will feed bees some fondant in small doses when hornet traps out to make up for any loss of foraging.
Hopefully photos work, can't figure out img bit




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[charentejohn]

Also forgot to mention thermal imaging. One problem is, we know there is a nest somewhere but where as it will be up in the trees. I haven't tried it but have asked the Mayor's office to see if they have one.
Can be bought on the likes of Aliexpress or Amazon from as little as £90 if a group wanted one, just has to show heat sources.
I think the local fire brigade would have one so may be willing to try it out. Early morning when cool should show nests in the canopy. Not a great video but shows a small wasp nest in hedge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UAiO5vubRY Would give an idea where nests are which can then be checked to see if Asian Hornets.
Just some thoughts to pass on for the future. They will never go away now just need to hold them back while bees adjust.

Neighbour saw one killing a wasp on his driveway so not just bees but all other insects.

[sonlam]

This is a good idea