Beekeeping Notes

No creature has been studied over the years more than the honeybee, and much received wisdom passed down from one generation to the next. In the fullness of time a lot of this socalled knowledge has turned out to be absolute twaddle, a prime example being the ancient belief in Begonia.

Begonia was respected as absolute truth before being rubbished many, many centuries later. Before rejecting what follows as some form of delayed April Fool’s joke, have a look at a tin of Tate and Lyle’s Golden Syrup. If you don’t have one in your kitchen cupboard you can always borrow one off the shelf next time you go shopping. On the side of the tin is a drawing of a dead lion surrounded by a cloud of insects, and the inscription “Out of the strong came forth sweetness”. For well over 60 years I scratched my head wondering what on earth that could possibly mean. Not no more since I took up beekeeping. The words come from the Old Testament Judges 14:14, dating from around 500 BCE, and refer to the long-held belief that bees were created from rotting animal flesh.

Over the centuries this story evolved into scientific fact until in Roman times no farmer would be without his agricultural manual kept handy on the bookshelf for guidance and advice. The recommended method of begonia was “to slaughter a good young bullock of two or three years……. then wait 6 weeks after which time a miraculous cloud of bees will pour forth, like a shower from summer clouds”. Of course, there was much more to it than that, but there’s no need to go into the gruesome and gory details for now. It was not until well into the 17th century that Willian Harvey (who two years earlier had discovered the circulation of the blood) cast doubt on the whole principle. So how could such a wild belief remained unchallenged for so many years? One possible explanation is that an altogether different insect, the drone-fly, does indeed lay its eggs on rotting carrion and closely resembles the colour and shape of the honeybee. Another lies in the attraction of a belief in resurrection and the eternal soul. We believe what we want to believe. Be that as it may by the end of the 17th century begonia was well and truly consigned to the dustbin of science.

Honeybee colony losses have been unusually severe this year, with over 50% failing to make it through the winter. Spring was unusually wet and windy, and swarms reported a full four weeks later than in previous years, and smaller and fewer in number.

So every swarm is important to help build up the numbers before winter sets in again. If you do come across a swarm of bees or one comes to rest in your garden, please phone a local bee - keeper to collect them (myself - Tony Rand on 07503 164823 or Rich & Trudi Wild on 01787 210 946). We will make sure they are safely collected and rehomed.