Native associated with a country or region The native black honeybee feared to have died out in all but the remote reaches of northern Britain has been found in North Wales East Anglia and as far south as West Sussex ID: 1007083
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1. What is the native Welsh Bee?Native: associated with a country or regionThe native black honeybee, feared to have died out in all but the remote reaches of northern Britain, has been found in North Wales, East Anglia and as far south as West Sussex.https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/apr/18/black-honeybees-rediscovered-in-britain
2. http://swanseabeekeepers.org.uk/ Native Bee traitsDrones are dark brown or blackWorkers have rounded backsides, (meaning that they are less likely to sting)Long-lived bees and queensLong gingery brown hairsHygienic behaviour – they groom each other and bite parasitesNo yellow/orange bands on the abdomen (Italian imported bees)No white or grey hairs on any bees (German imported bees) Advice from The Swansea and District Beekeepers' Society how to look out for native bees which, they say, can stand the cold and the rain! And they’re good natured.
3. We have always kept native bees local to the area. We believe these bees, being native, are the correct bees for us to keep as they have adapted to local conditions over millennia. In our opinion making them the most suitable bees, with which to run a sustainable honey business in West Wales.http://www.cardiganbayhoney.co.uk/index.htm What is a ‘native bee’? What qualities would a ‘Welsh Bee’ need to have?
4. Does it matter if bees are native or not?Does it make a difference to honey production?Add your ideas!?
5. Welcome to Welsh Black Bees, Apis mellifera mellifera, the Honey Bees that fly in the rain!Their qualities are:significant winter hardinesslow tendency to swarmsome lines are very gentledefensive against invaders i.e. waspscareful, maritime brood cyclestrong drive to collect pollenhigh longevity of the worker bees and queenexcellent flight strength even in cold weather and light rainpossibly hardiness against varroa.Are these good qualities?Imagine you are a Bee KeeperYou are going to breed a native Champion Bee to make the best Welsh honey.What qualities are most important to you? Make a list with the most important qualities first. Extract above copied from this web sitehttp://www.welshblackbees.co.uk/ Is the web site genuine? Is it selling something?
6. British Beekeeping Association’s Survey 2017Average crop of honey per colonyhttps://view.publitas.com/welsh-beekeeper/198winter2017/page/8-9 Why do you think some places seem better at producing honey? PlaceAverage crop in KilogramsWales8.07SW England 8.02NW England 10.43SE England 13.65Overall, the 2017 honey crop was 10% less than 2016.https://digimapforschools.edina.ac.uk
7. Factors affecting honey productionBees?Plants?Climate and weather?Soils?Threats?What else?In groups, brainstorm ideas using large sheets of paper and coloured felts. Can you come up with a recipe for great honey production?Have you got some great questions?Why do roadside verges matter? What’s the difference between weather and climate?What kinds of threats stop bees making Honey?Do bees fly in the rain?What bees are best?Are native bees better and why?