Bee-Keeping Talk by GEOFF COOPER, 10th November 2004

We were greatly entertained and informed about the pleasures and pitfalls of bee-keeping by a local bee-keeper, GEOFF COOPER. Geoff's involvement in this fascinating hobby was sparked at a lecture given by the well-known and highly respected engineer and scientist, Professor Eric Laithewaite, some twenty years ago. The message to us was that bee-keeping is for people from all walks of life and all ages, 3 to 103 years!

Although there are many types of bees on our planet - estimates range from 10,000 up to maybe 25,000 - the species managed by bee-keepers in the UK is Apis mellifera. Geoff stressed the point that A. mellifera are 'wild', as opposed to 'domesticated', and that bee-keepers can only manage their colonies to the mutual advantage of both parties, i.e. the bee-keeper and the bees.

Geoff touched on four aspects of bee-keeping: bees in the wild, basics of bee-keeping, a bee-keeper's year and bee-related topics. With the aid of his extensive assortment of artefacts, honeybee books and some burning questions from the floor, he imparted many interesting facts about, and insights into, bee-keeping, which included that: there are social and solitary bees; all bees are nectar gatherers but only the honeybees produce a surplus that can be harvested; there are three types of bee in a colony, one queen, between 15,000 and 60,000 workers (female) and a few hundred drones (male) during the summer months. The workers build brace comb in the wild but, in managed colonies, are given wax foundation in wooden frames on which to build the comb. The term 'feral' in bee-keeping terminology means any bees not in a hive as opposed to escapees. The cells are hexagonal and come in two sizes, one for breeding workers and another slightly larger for breeding drones; cells are also used to store their food that is nectar and pollen. The nectar (c. 80% water) is converted into honey (c. 20% water). Beeswax is edible; swarms are collected by bee-keepers in skeps which are made from straw or wickerwork; feral colonies are those that have set up home in the wild; skeps were used by bee-keepers before the invention of modern, wooden hives. The queen lays the eggs (unless things go wrong!) - up to 1000 a day in the early summer - having been mated in the air by up to 15 drones (gang rape!); drone congregations assemble at between 100 and 200 m in the air. Workers undertake a series of tasks after emerging from their cells: cleaning cells, feeding the young (nurse bees), building comb, guarding the hive/colony and, finally, foraging until the end of their lifespan; foragers normally operate within a two mile radius of their home, but can go further, and pollinate many crops. The hive temperature is maintained between 32-35°C and, in managing honeybees, a bee-keeper needs to be mindful of many aspects/activities, including the repair of damaged hives, especially woodpecker holes, bee diseases, e.g. European and American foul brood, acarine disease, the parasitic mite Varroa, swarming, space, when to extract the surplus honey, whether sufficient supplies have been left for the winter months, mouse guards and, most importantly regarding neighbours, the temper of the bees.

Geoff concluded his talk by inviting us to view his exhibits of hive products, to taste his delicious honey and to look at some of his many books and scientific articles on bee-keeping and related topics.

His final comments, quoted from Professor Pickard: 'Bee-keeping is like studying a fairytale ...' and '... like drinking from a well with no bottom'. Thank you, Geoff, for your insights into the pleasures of bee-keeping.

SANDRA RICKWOOD