NOTES FOR BEEKEEPERS

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 71, Issue 1, 16 July 1945, Page 83

NOTES FOR BEEKEEPERS

Transport of Bees and Equipment

THE shifting of bees to new locations can be carried out readily,. provided sound-standard hive equipment is used. Bees must not be moved to a new location, however, without first obtaining a permit from the Apiary Instructor for the district, a precaution which is necessary to prevent the possible spread of bee diseases. Best Time to Move While colonies of bees may be moved safely to new locations during the winter, the best period is the early spring, when the bees have commenced to break away from the winter cluster. At this period the hives contain a comparatively small number of bees, and stores of honey have been considerably reduced. Furthermore, very little brood will be in evidence at this time of the year. When hives are located for any length of time in one position the flying bees take full observation of every landmark, but in winter, when there are shorter periods of sunshine, the flight of bees is necessarily curtailed. In addition, there are often periods of several days together during which the bees take no flight at all; consequently they must renew their acquaintance with their surroundings when an opportunity for flight does occur. Therefore, if hives are moved during a spell 'of bad weather, the bees will take more readily to their new location when a fine day comes. This applies more particularly when the hives are shifted only a short distance from their, original position. Short Shifts Where odd hives require to be removed only a short distance on the same property very little preparation is necessary. In the winter time, during a spell of bad weather, the hives may be picked up bodily and carried over to their new location, after pushing a handful of grass in the entrance to each hive to prevent the bees from coming out. If a similar shift is carried out during the summer, a considerable number of field bees will drift back to their old location. No loss of bees need occur, however, if a hive or a nucleus box is placed on the old site to collect the stray bees, which may be removed during a.spell of wet or dull weather. Another method is to shift the hives only a few yards each evening until the new position is reached.

Longer Shifts - To move bees long distances successfully necessitates considerable preparation to see that the bees are completely confined, but are at the same time provided with- adequate ventilation. The most important factor is ventilation, neglect of which often leads to heavy losses when bees are being removed. Before preparations are commenced, however, consideration must be given to the means of transport, as this will govern, to a large extent, the method of preparing the hives. Rail Transport Transport by rail has never been popular 'with beekeepers for the very good reason that many have had some rather unfortunate experiences in using this method. In most cases where losses have occurred proper attention was not given to certain details which are absolutely necessary if this means of transport has to be used. To ensure successful transport of bees by rail the following precautions require to be taken. ,1. All combs heavy with honey should be removed from the hives and replaced with empty combs or even frames only. ' Leave only sufficient honey for the bees during the journey and until stores can ,be replaced. - 2. The frames should be evenly spaced and securely held in position to prevent undue movement and the attendant risk of crushing many bees. Hoffman self-spacing frames are best for shifting colonies of bees. 3. Ventilation should be provided by means of a wire screen securely - nailed on to the top of the hive after the lid and mat have been removed. If sufficient screens are available, one may also be placed between the bottom super and the floor-board. The use of this botscreen could be dispensed with, however, except in-instances where the colonies are extremely strong in bees, and may be replaced by securely fixing a piece of wire gauze over the entrance as shown in Fig. 1. The supers should be thoroughly fastened together ; to prevent any movement and the escape of bees. Shifting bees by rail transport in anything but thoroughly sound hive equipment should never be undertaken.

4. To be reasonably sure that the

bees will arrive at their destination in a sound condition make certain that a ventilated wagon is supplied. Place the hives so that the combs run parallel and the entrances face the 'direction of travel. In this position they are best able to take any sudden jolts during transit without crushing bees between the combs. ‘lf space will allow, leave a few inches between each hive, as this will allow a current, of cool air to circulate around the hives. To appreciate the necessity for all the above precautions the beekeeper should understand what happens when bees are being moved to a new location. The constant vibration during transit tends to disturb the bee cluster, and the resultant excitement is sufficient to raise the temperature of the hive considerably, so that the bees are in very great danger of being , suffocated and the brood scalded unless adequate ventilation is provided. This rise in temperature is sometimes sufficient to melt the wax in fairly, new combs and allow any honey to run out. The writer has seen colonies opened up after a train journey when it has been impossible to separate the suffocated bees from the sticky mess of melted combs and honey. Such conditions resulted from the owner’s neglect to see that the Railways Department supplied a ventilated wagon. All other precautions had been taken. Road Transport Experience has shown that the most satisfactory method of transporting bees is by motor truck. Adequate ventilation is assured, and if . the shifting is done during the hours of darkness, the bees will travel more contentedly. Another great advantage is that once the polonies are placed on the truck at the apiary they are not disturbed again until ■ delivered at their new location. This is a very definite saving in labour, and the equipment is subjected to the ■■ least possible amount of handling. The stapling of hives and the fitting of wire screens should be done before the actual shift commences. This allows the bees to settle down after the unavoidable hammering on the hives. All that remains to be done when transport is available is quickly .to block up the entrances with wire cloth as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, using cleats of wood to hold the wire cloth in position. Stretcher for Carrying Hives It is often impossible to get the truck right up to the apiary, and in such , cases it is necessary to carry the hives for a short distance. The hive stretcher shown in Fig. 5 is very helpful on these occasions and ensures the bees being moved about with a minimum of disturbance and great

convenience to the operators. Such a stretcher is very valuable permanent equipment in any apiary. Wire screens which are necessary when moving bees will be found very useful as covers when bringing in a load of honey from the out apiary or when storing supers during the winter.

Construction of Screens

For the economic use of wire gauze the framework of the screens should be made of wooden strips about lfin. wide and just under Jin. thick, which will allow an inch flat-head nail to join the two ‘pieces together and leave the point to be clinched over, thus binding the strips strongly together. The wire cloth, which is purchased in 3ft. widths, should be cut up the centre and divided into strips each 15in. x 18in. By cutting the cloth this way

sufficient material ■to make four screens is obtained from a piece 2|ft. long. The wooden strips should be lapped over to ensure strong corners, the timber required for a screen being four pieces 18|in. x lf-in. and four 14|in. x lfin. Moving Unsound Equipment 'At times it is necessary to move odd lots of bees where the equipment is ill-fitting or in unsound condition, so that it is impossible completely to close in the bees for shifting. Figs. 6,7, and 8 demonstrate the method of dealing with such hives. ' R. PATERSON, Apiary Instructor, Hamilton.