Bees for Development Journal 141 January 2022
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This article was first published in Bees for Development Journal 38. We are republishing it now in memory of Steven Liseki who sadly died a few weeks ago. Steven was a remarkable person, with tremendous charm, integrity, and who always showed fortitude in the face of difficulties.
After two weeks of feeding, bees sealed the wire mesh in ten feeders with propolis. To continue with sugar feeding we had to break and remove the wire mesh. We found that the robber bee problem could be avoided by replacing the cover of the hive immediately after filling the feeder. Another alternative was to plug the hole with a cork after filling. The time used to fill a feeder in a hive was so short that no bees were coming out to sting. Also, bees could not fly out because the feeder is just the right size to fit inside the hive, leaving no gap for bees. The advantage is that you can feed the bees without wearing beekeeping clothing.
Steven was one of the lead researchers in our team during the 1990s when Bees for Development ran projects in partnership with Njiro Wildlife Research Centre in Arusha, Tanzania - which was where Steven began his research. The research work we completed with Steven and the Njiro team during those years in Tanzania has informed much of Bees for Development’s continuing, steadfast approach to sustainable beekeeping development. It was wonderful to have Steven within the team and we were delighted when he went on to complete his PhD and to build a good and fruitful career.
Colony development after feeding was good and as a result, we had an early (minor) harvest for the first time in our apiary.
Absconding was reduced: only one colony absconded, and this was due to queen failure followed by pest attack.
Nicola Bradbear
Conclusion
Image © Patricia Moehlman
These feeders have proved to be very successful and can be used with any type of top-bar hive (based on the measurements of the hive itself).
Image Source: www.themayor.eu/en/a/view/slovenia-presents-first-international-golden-bee-prize-9623
Golden bee award Winner: Lucas Alejandro Garibaldi from Argentina On 21 December 2021, the Golden Bee Award was presented for the first time at the Carniolan Bee House in Višnja Gora, Slovenia.
Lucas’s award winning project is “a scientific research contribution to raising awareness of the importance and role of pollination for the functioning of ecosystems and the impact on human well-being”.
The Award was received by Lucas Alejandro Garibaldi from Argentina. The recipient was announced by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food and the Chairman of the Golden Bee Award Committee, Dr Jože Podgoršek. Borut Pahor, President of Slovenia, presented the Award.
Lucas is an internationally recognised scientist and researcher who, through his achievements, makes an important contribution to raising awareness of the importance and conservation of bees and other pollinators worldwide, promoting biodiversity, healthy food production and improving people’s quality of life.
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