Pollinator problems - looks like an iffy year

[AJB Temple]

Following on from the midge thread, it seems Kent is on the front line for pollination threats.

Someone I know well has a dozen or so bee hives on a local farm. Three have just been destroyed due to European Foul Brood which is spreading rapidly this year. (It deforms the bees). Horrible job as the bees are euthanised then burnt.

Anyway, as this person had provided me with a frame of brood (unhatched bees), I notified the Bee Inspector, even though I can see no signs of EFB. Usually they would do a courtesy visit, but our local guy says they are inundated with visits to deal with Asian hornets. The government has no useful plan to deal with the highly destructive Asian Hornet invasion as although there is an effective insecticide that does not harm other pollinators, they have the frankly idiotic policy of waiting for the public to report Asian Hornet nests and then they go and destroy the nest. Bee Inspector can do roughly one a day. With licensed insecticide any pest controller could do several in a day.

 

[Lurker]

My assumption is that DEFRA is populated by civil servants for whom Hampstead Heath is the furthest they have ventured from an urban area.

 

[AJB Temple]

Indeed you may be right. The system is doomed to failure. I suspect that hardly anyone knows how to identify an Asian hornet, except bee keepers, and even fewer know that it should be reported, and fewer still who to report it to. It's mainly Kent now, due to the sea port traffic, but once established in Kent they will spread through the UK like wildfire.

Our first line of defence is unpaid volunteers ffs. The effect on agriculture will not be trivial, but of course the most important thing is rewilding and building social housing estates, not food self sufficiency.

 

[RogerS]

Careful as we're potentially crossing the line on politics/Govt policies.

 

[Blackswanwood]

I recall reading that Exeter University have developed an automated monitoring capability for Asian Hornet called VespAI.

Insects landing on a baited platform under a camera are analysed in real time by AI. It’s been proven to work in the Channel Islands and is being rolled out more widely now. Probably a good example of AI being better than a human - accurate, low cost and no loss of concentration or toilet breaks.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

My assumption is that DEFRA is populated by civil servants for whom Hampstead Heath is the furthest they have ventured from an urban area.

Department for Ensuring Further Reductions in Agriculture.

 

[HappyHacker]

Commonly known in farming communities as: Department for the Elimination of Farming and Rural Affairs

I do not think it is political as no political party appears to be interested in farming other than planting trees, re-wilding, building solar farms and houses on farm land. Don't worry though we can import all the food we need when we no longer produce any.

 

[RogerS]

Mod hat: Come on, chaps. You know how these things can start.

 

[Cabinetman]

Don’t see any argument here at all Roger. We are all definitely in agreement.
The situation of the importation of foreign species can only get worse as we become ever more global. Quarantining ships, airplanes (and the passengers +luggage) - well it’s just not going to happen I’m afraid.

 

[AJB Temple]

This was not posted with politics in mind. Far from it. Food production affects us all though. I think the real problem with asian Hornets is not catching the individual flying hornets with bait and traps, but finding out where the Queen is nesting and stopping her. Honey bees in a decent colony may have 60,000 bees and 1 queen per hive. The queen does not fly again as she is too heavy after mating unless the colony slims her down for a swarm. Asian hornet nests may build up to a colony of around 6,000, so much smaller, but of the flying bees there could be a few hundred new queens. So it is a super organism, like honey bees, but with a very efficient means of growing and spreading. Cold winters kill them off, but we don't have them any more so the AH can overwinter. It is getting media coverage, but I am not sure that people have grasped what the risk is. Farmers will have, but the media thinks antics at Young Farmer's social events are more important currently.

 

[RogerS]

Don’t see any argument here at all Roger. We are all definitely in agreement.
The situation of the importation of foreign species can only get worse as we become ever more global. Quarantining ships, airplanes (and the passengers +luggage) - well it’s just not going to happen I’m afraid.

Ian, it doesn't take long for someone to post about, say, the Environment Agency not doing anything/doing something badly and that then segues into someone saying that the reason is because Liz Truss drastically cut its budget which then segues on to other things that the Govt have done or have not done etc etc.

 

[AJB Temple]

Ian, it doesn't take long for someone to post about, say, the Environment Agency not doing anything/doing something badly and that then segues into someone saying that the reason is because Liz Truss drastically cut its budget which then segues on to other things that the Govt have done or have not done etc etc.

That someone being you Roger in this case talking about the fragrant, intelligent and extremely beautiful Liz Truss Just teasing.

 

[Lurker]

Roger, by all means jump hard on any political comment…… when it actually happens.