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Bees
There are about 20,000 species of bees world-wide. Of these, only 7 (to 9) are classified as 'honey bees'. In the UK we have about 250 species of bee, including 25 or so species of bumblebees; only six of these are common.
Bees come from the order of insects known as Hymenoptera. These include wasps, ants and sawflies. In common, the flying casts all have 2 pairs of wings (as opposed to flies which have one). Hymenoptera has a mixture of carnivorous and herbivorous members - bees are herbivorous, eating pollen and nectar from flowers.
While bees are perhaps most famous for producing honey, it is their pollinating behaviour which makes the largest contribution to our larder - for without this most efficient pollinator, there are many plants which would not produce fruit. Although other species pollinate flowers, the honeybee is particularly efficient.
This Bee Identification Chart will help to determine if your 'swarm' is in fact honeybees or other insects.
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The most common honeybee found in the uk is Apis mellifera. These are found in various shapes and sizes as they have cross-bred with Italian and local bees. The European dark bee (said to be orinally native to the UK) is A.m mellifera and pure Italian-bred bees are A.m. ligustica. The bees of Italian descent have distinctive pale-orange banding. Honeybees famously swarm, causing some alarm when near people. Our local swarm liaison officer is: |
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Wasps and hornets have received 'bad press' in the past. They play an important role in the ecosystem. They can be considered to be the gardener's friend as they like to feed on aphids and other 'nuisance' insects which damage our fruit and vegetable crops. The photo shown here (of a honeybee and hornet) gives a good indication of their relative sizes - you can't really confuse them. Contrary to popular myth, hornets are not unduly aggressive if left alone. |
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You can find out more about honeybees, bumblebees, solitary bees, wasps and hoverflies by looking at the Devon Beekeepers' website: |
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Oxalic Acid Demonstration
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The best time of year to use Oxalic Acid as a miticide is in the middle of winter. Without brood cells to hide in, most of the mites are on the backs of the bees making them particularly vulnerable to this form of treatment.Remember to monitor the treatment by inserting a board underneath the mesh floor to catch the dead mites.
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