River Wey & Navigations - Phototour with an Apiarist

An Apiarist's Bees
PART FIVE

Beneath mesh at the base of the hive is a board which catches any debris falling from the boxes above. Apiarists examine the debris for any sign of problems. The yellow specks seen here are pollen, and the white is wax debris.

Once under the microscope this visit to the hive unearthed a Varroa mite. The size of a pinhead this eight-legged mite hides where the bees lay the eggs and then feeds on the developing larvae resulting in deformities, weak adults and mortality. A major infestation can severely undermine a hive's chances of survival.
GO TO VARROA PICTURE

Bees have an incredibly complex ability for communication. The queen controls the activity of the whole hive through the excretion of pheromones and the workers (as seen here on Don's bee suit) will adjust their activities according to her instructions.

Bees perform dances upon returning to the hive following combinations of circular, zig-zagging and waggle patterns. This activity communicates the distance and direction of food sources to other bees in the hive. Other theorists say that the dance attracts other workers to investigate the incoming bee for nectar odours.

HOME . . . . . . . . SITE MAP . . . . . . . . GETTING TO KNOW THE RIVER . . . . . . . . EXPLORING THE RIVER . . . . . . . . MAP OF THE RIVER . . . . . . . . MAP OF NAVIGATIONS . . . . . . . . RIVER WEY NORTH BRANCH . . . . . . . . RIVER WEY SOUTH BRANCH . . . . . . . . RIVER UNITED TILFORD TO GODALMING . . . . . . . . THE WEY NAVIGATIONS • Introduction • History • The Godalming Navigation • The Wey Navigation . . . . . . . . RIVER TRANSPORT • Introduction • Lock • Barges • Life on the Barges • The Horse- drawn IONA . . . . . . . . WEY INDUSTRY • Introduction • Watermills • Flour & Bread • Fulling & Cloth • Chilworth Gunpowder Mills • Charcoal Making • Brewing • Papermaking • Ice Houses . . . . . . . . WEY WILDLIFE • Introduction • Habitats • Trees & Plants • Insects • Birds • Fish • Countryside Designations . . . . . . . . WEY PLACES • Introduction • More About ALTON • More About FARNHAM • More About GODALMING • More About WEYBRIDGE • More About BROOKLANDS . . . . . . . . WEY PEOPLE • Introduction • Legends • The Big Names . . . . . . . . WEY ART • Introduction • Boat Art • Inn Art • River Graffiti . . . . . . . . ADJOINING WATERWAYS • Basingstoke Canal • Wey & Arun Canal • The Thames . . . . . . . . LINKS & FURTHER SOURCES . . . . . . . . ABOUT OUR PICTURES . . . . . . . . USEFUL BITS . . . . . . . . FEEDBACK We welcome your comments . . . . . . . . SITE MAP . . . . . . . . WEY RIVER FREELANCE COMMUNITY	An Apiarist's Bees PART FIVE
	Beneath mesh at the base of the hive is a board which catches any debris falling from the boxes above. Apiarists examine the debris for any sign of problems. The yellow specks seen here are pollen, and the white is wax debris.		Once under the microscope this visit to the hive unearthed a Varroa mite. The size of a pinhead this eight-legged mite hides where the bees lay the eggs and then feeds on the developing larvae resulting in deformities, weak adults and mortality. A major infestation can severely undermine a hive's chances of survival. GO TO VARROA PICTURE
	Bees have an incredibly complex ability for communication. The queen controls the activity of the whole hive through the excretion of pheromones and the workers (as seen here on Don's bee suit) will adjust their activities according to her instructions.		Bees perform dances upon returning to the hive following combinations of circular, zig-zagging and waggle patterns. This activity communicates the distance and direction of food sources to other bees in the hive. Other theorists say that the dance attracts other workers to investigate the incoming bee for nectar odours.
	The editor was invited to attend a meeting of the Meon Valley Bee Keeper's Association in Hampshire. Many thanks to Don Burgess and Bill Oakford for their invitation and informative instruction. Also to Astra Pakenham-Walsh and Stephen Tompsett for access to their hives and for their superb hospitality. Photography and words by Phil Kemp		WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT APIARY? More about bees on the Wey River site Meon Valley Bee Keeper's Association The British Bee Keeper's Association National Rural The Bee Farmers' Association of the United Kingdom
	BACK	TOP OF PAGE
	Suggest a topic for another Wey River photo-essay © Wey River 2005 - 2007 : All Rights Reserved