SWARMS: There have been two swarms already – Ngaio and Mt Cook. All swarms collected need to be treated as possible carriers of varroa mite, and therefore should be treated by placing two APISTAN strips in the hive for a month. These strips are available from Trevor Cullen of Caracell, Apiary Supplies, 09 274 7236. BAYVAROL is available from Eckroyds of Christchurch, 03 358 7498.

QUEEN CELLS: If there are queen cells in your hive already, put the frame with the cells in the bottom box and add another four or five frames, but shake the bees off first. Do this during the day. Put a division board on top and then the original hive. The field bees will come back and repopulate the bottom box. The queen will emerge from the bottom, will mate and with a bit of luck, the hive will think it has swarmed. The new queen will take over the whole hive and you can reunite them. This will be explained in full detail at the October meeting.

SUGAR SHAKE: All those who attended the Te Horo Field day of 29 September will have been supplied with a mesh square for insertion in the top of a preserving-type jar for use with the "sugar shake" method of varroa detection. Beekeepers should now be using the sugar shake or Apistan strips to check hives for mites.

RESTRICTED ZONE:; from Paremata right through to the Hutt Valley from Wingate to Trentham including Stokes Valley. Any swarms in those areas should stay in the area. If beekeepers wish they can put the swarms in a box (preferably brand new woodware, freshly painted) at Frank Lindsay’s reservoir site – contact Frank on 04 478 3367. Any other swarms should be checked anyway to ensure they are not carriers of the mite.

Most of the hives around the Cobham mill have been moved away and we are looking for another two ferals in the Pauatahanui area which will help control the spread of the mites in that area (once they are dead!) But we haven’t a dog’s show in the Hayward’s area because there is too much bush, so within the year it will be in both ends of the Hutt Valley, though probably in too small numbers to be detected, but LOOK ANYWAY! By looking at the bees you will not see mites until just before the hive dies with a heavy infestation. So please start looking now with the sugar shake – its a very safe treatment, doesn’t kill the bees, and will detect mites.

Everything in the bush is delayed though due to go in about a week I think. The initial mite treatments that went in about a week after the latest find are due to come out so the hives will be clear of treatment before the honey flow starts. Early manuka is flowering, barbery, rangiora, broadleaf due to start now. If the weather improves the bees will do well. If the wind keeps up only those on sheltered sites will get out.