Mite warning prompts change to beekeepers’ programme

The Health Committee of The Ulster Beekeepers’ Association had some days earlier issued a warning about Varroa mites resistant to Pyrethroids.

The mites are now widespread in Northern Ireland and are not adequately controlled by either Bayvarol or Apistan.

Dr. Mervyn Eddie, secretary of UBKA, elaborated on this at the meeting and recommended that all beekeepers commence treatment in August with a Thymol based medicine.

He highlighted the three which registered for use in Northern Ireland - Apiguard, Thymovar and Apilife Var. The treatments depend on warm weather during the treatment to vapourise the thymol.

Meryyn emphasised that if the weather turned cold then further action might be required during the winter.

The originally scheduled speaker, Gail Orr, spoke next on exhibiting hive products.

A spokesperson said, “He introduced this subject in a novel way by showing pictures of members who had won cups in the last couple of years at their first attempt at showing and in their first couple of years of beekeeping.

“He then described in detail how to prepare extracted honey, comb honey, beeswax and mead for showing.”

In other news, the Dromore BKA Honey Show will be held on Saturday, September 8, in conjunction with the Hillsborough Horticultural Society’s Autumn Flower Show in Hillsborough Village centre.

There will also be an Intermediate Beekeeping class, taught by Vanessa Drew, in Dromore this winter, beginning September 10.

For an application form contact Vanessa at [email protected].