World Bee Day 2022: Don’t fear the swarms
World Bee Day was celebrated last Friday, a UN-designated day to show the fundamental importance of the little bee. To celebrate and educate, Knocklong’s Pauline Walsh, founder and secretary of the 3 Counties Beekeeping Association, tells The Avondhu what to do when you see a swarm (don’t panic!), and why bees swarm.
“With Spring’s arrival, the flowers start growing, the days warm up, and it all encourages our native Irish honeybee to come out to pollinate and feed on the amazing array of flowers available, continuing to be a very important part of our eco-system. Our honey bee, the Apis mellifera mellifera, is very unique to our island and has developed to survive our climate.
BEE SWARMS
“Bees are now awake and growing in their colonies, and soon they will multiply enough to need to expand, which they do by swarming. The bees will prepare a new queen, and when she is almost ready to be born the older queen is slimmed down so she can fly and take half the colony, along with half the honey stocks, with them to start their new hive.
“When bees swarm they will all take to the sky, and to those who have never seen one, they can be panicked. However there is no need to be afraid as the bees are busy looking for another home, and with their bellies full of honey they are not aggressive unless you interfere with them.
Bees will hang in a group which resembles a bunch of grapes, and it can be quite big. If one comes across a swarm it is advisable to leave them alone and contact a beekeeper who will safely remove and rehome them, keeping both bees and the public happy. Members of the 3 Counties Beekeeping Association will gladly assist.
3 COUNTIES BEEKEEPING ASSOCIATION
Pauline says the association has expanded beyond its moniker since it was established in 2016.
“The association is based in South-East Limerick and covers West Tipperary and North Cork, though we also have members from Clare, Dublin, Kerry and Derry. When I am asked what three counties we cover, I respond, ‘Whichever three you would like it to be!’
“One of the joys I have is sharing the knowledge I am continually acquiring from more senior beekeepers. We have a Junior section in our beekeeping
association, and here the under-18s are accompanied at all times by their guardian, who is a full member too. We have the joy of the young members’ eagerness, and it gives faith that beekeeping will be in good hands into the future.”
“Another joy was the creation of our Tigín Honey. Hopefully this year will be better for the bees and therefore better for honey production, where excess honey can be harvested to be bottled and sold locally. I have some of my grandchildren interested in the art of beekeeping and when we have the new season honey they say, ‘Granny I just love the taste of new season honey’, just like professional honey samplers! Luke is now almost 11 and his brother Conor is almost nine, they were beekeeping when they were just two and three. The latest recruit is three year old Darragh who is already showing interest.”
Therefore, if you see a swarm, the 3 Counties Beekeeping Association will gladly help. North of the Galtee Mountains, Pauline Walsh can be contacted on 087-9641388. For those south of the Galtees, please contact Alan Forskitt on 085-1429402.
To join the association or to get further information, you can visit the 3 Counties Beekeeping Association online.