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Members Pages
Here you will find information for East Devon Beekeepers branch members, including downloads of the current and archive Newsletters below, information about the branch library, reminders about bee management and disease control, ‘For Sale’ and ‘Wanted’ and more.
The Buzz from the Branch News Letter – August 2026
Dear Member,
MONITORING IS THE BUZZWORD THIS MONTH
You read back in the July Buzz, that Devon is asking us to monitor for the Asian Hornet using bait stations across the county during August.
That time is upon us.
Time please for us to work together. PLEASE TAKE PART.
24 Members near the Dorset end of our branch area have already been contacted by Milly Frankpitt our Asian Hornet co ordinator. They have already been monitoring in July.
Now August is here the invitation is open to everyone else in the branch to join in along with the rest of the county. Please collect a tub of Lure (Asian Hornet bait called Trappit) and set up a bait station in your location.
ONE POT OF LURE PER MEMBER IS IN THE BEESHED TOILET ROOM NOW AWAITING COLLECTION. PLEASE SIGN THE COLLECTION SHEET SO WE KNOW WHICH MEMBERS ARE PARTICIPATING ACROSS THE BRANCH.
OR MAKE YOUR OWN BAIT ( see recipe) but still inform us that you are monitoring. It’s important we build up a picture across East Devon.
Bait Station Instructions from Milly
You will need a pot with about 100ml of bait. Please do not put the bait in a trap because of the risk of by catch. Put a j cloth through a hole in the lid of the pot and let it soak up the attractant.
Please be aware that it is currently illegal to catch and release an Asian Hornet.
You need to download the Asian Hornet app for reporting purposes.
You will need a camera. It is important to get a photo of the insect at this stage. If an AH appears at your monitoring station you can rest assured it will return with its mates. Hence the importance of getting a photo for identification purposes. If it is verified as an Asian Hornet, tracking will begin by the NBU to find and destroy the nest. If you do see a suspicious hornet we also have verifiers on hand to help you get a photo or identify the hornet. So please check the BBKA website for further information about monitoring along with a location map of verifiers.
I would be very interested to hear about your experiences of monitoring and am always on hand for advice. I will also be at the Honiton Show, AH stand so come and say hello. Please feel free to email me with updates.
Please be aware that it is currently illegal to catch and release an Asian Hornet.
You need to download the Asian Hornet app for reporting purposes.
You will need a camera. It is important to get a photo of the insect at this stage. If an AH appears at your monitoring station you can rest assured it will return with its mates. Hence the importance of getting a photo for identification purposes. If it is verified as an Asian Hornet, tracking will begin by the NBU to find and destroy the nest. If you do see a suspicious hornet we also have verifiers on hand to help you get a photo or identify the hornet. So please check the BBKA website for further information about monitoring along with a location map of verifiers.
I would be very interested to hear about your experiences of monitoring and am always on hand for advice. I will also be at the Honiton Show, AH stand so come and say hello. Please feel free to email me with updates.
contact: amelia.frankpitt@gmail.com
Recipe for bait
Strong Sugary Solution (AH will feed their young protein from the insects they catch but the adults need sugar for energy)
Attractive aromas – jam, mashed fruit or berries, blackcurrant cordial
Fermenting aroma – yeast or the products of fermentation, cheap beer, wine, vinegar (also keeps bees away)
Place your monitoring station on a level surface, where visiting insects can’t be a nuisance to people and away from your bee hives.
If you see wasps you know your station will attract hornets. There is plenty of information on the BBKA website on the front page and also in the members hub.
Recipe for bait
Strong Sugary Solution (AH will feed their young protein from the insects they catch but the adults need sugar for energy)
Attractive aromas – jam, mashed fruit or berries, blackcurrant cordial
Fermenting aroma – yeast or the products of fermentation, cheap beer, wine, vinegar (also keeps bees away)
Place your monitoring station on a level surface, where visiting insects can’t be a nuisance to people and away from your bee hives.
If you see wasps you know your station will attract hornets. There is plenty of information on the BBKA website on the front page and also in the members hub.
FYI
Look up your March 2026 Beekeeping magazine pages 16 and 17 where there are lots of bait station ideas.
HOPEFULLY THE MONITORING ARRANGEMENTS ARE CLEAR. THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR PARTICIPATING.
International Meeting of Young Beekeepers
For those of you following Harry's journey at the IMYB event, Harry says of his Northern Ireland trip. "Everyone was so friendly and I made loads of contacts. We were selected to represent England at IMYB through a mixture of written assessments and practical tests (plus having to have the Basic Assessment). Once there we had various competitive beekeeping activities, and interviews about how we got into beekeeping, what inspired us to come to the IMYB, what we'd learnt so far.I learnt a lot about different methods of beekeeping based on geographic and cultural differences. As well as the beekeeping activities we visited Stormont. We came joint third overall out of 27 or 28 countries. England have never been that high up in terms of scoring!"
WELL DONE HARRY AND TEAM ENGLAND
Devon Beekeepers' Day (formerly President's Day)
Saturday 26th September at Boniface Centre Crediton. Booking is now open – see page 8 of Beekeeping magazine for details.
BASIC ASSESSMENTS – well done all of our candidates. More details next month.
WANTED
The apiary team would like to hear from any member who is replacing their under the worktop freezer. It will likely measure 85cm x 60cm x 60cm.
They will use it to make a warming cabinet for apiary use. Will collect.
Contact Bob Muckett 07971 317350
FOR SALE
The apiary team have decided to standardise the gas equipment at the apiary and have chosen to run with Propane.
Two Calor gas butane cylinders, 4.5kg are therefore available for sale.
If any member would like one or both,( £15 each) please contact Bob Muckett
direct 07971 317350 and BACS the money to EDBK.
Contacts:
Chair: Alasdair Bruce chair24@edbk.co.uk
Secretary: Val Bone val.valbone@gmail.com
Swarms: Stan Wroe stanwroe@aol.com
YLAH Co Ordinator Milly Frankpitt amelia.frankpitt@gmail.com
Buzz archive. Download current or previous issues.
Winter Varroa treatment – Oxybee solution
Treatment around Christmas / beginning of January aims to catch the Varroa when there is no brood for Varroa to hide in.
Treatment:
- The solution should not be too cold, nearer blood heat would be good. The day can be cold with the bees well clustered.
- Ideally draw up 50ml solution in a syringe.
- Have a lit smoker handy (but should not be needed if crown board removed very carefully).
- Between the brood frames are ‘seams’ of bees. Use 5ml for each seam of bees. Only treat the bees, do not put the solution down empty seams/gaps. So if there are only 4 seams of bees only use 20 ml.
- Practice with water beforehand so that you know how to deliver 5 ml along each seam. We find that 5 ml is a continuous series of little drops.
- If you have a super on top of the brood box and you know the cluster is below it, you can remove the super gently to treat the bees.
Best wishes for a Happy Christmas and a Productive New Beekeeping Year!
Notes from the Oxybee Instructions:
- Oxybee is an acidic substance. Use gloves and eye protection.
- Oxybee shall only be applied in brood free colonies.
- Do not use higher doses than recommended.
- Outside temperature should be at least 3°C during treatment.
- Use only once per colony.
Buzz Archive
2026
| January 2026 | February 2026 |
| March 2026 | April 2026 |
| May 2026 | June 2026 |
| July 2026 | August 2026 |
| September 2026 | October 2026 |
| November 2026 | December 2026 |
2025
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