PAU TIPS FOR HONEY BEE MANAGEMENT AND MUSHROOM GROWING IN FEBRUARY

LUDHIANA, FEBRUARY 13,2011-----

The entomologists and microbiologists of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), apprising farmers of the operations of honey bee management and mushroom growing in February, have advised them to follow the practices for the beneficial results.



The microbiology expert advised that the cropping of white button mushroom should be continued for whole of this month together with the cropping of Dhingri.



The entomologists of the PAU said that as the weather starts warming up by the middle of February, abundant pollen and nectar rewarding important bee flora like Brassica (sarson/raya/gobhi sarson) and Eucalyptus are on bloom. Thus, this the ideal period for colony growth, told the experts and added that drone brood rearing is also initiated. The experts advised, “With the onset of spring, remove the winter packing of the colonies and clean the bottom board. Thoroughly examine the colonies at noon time on some calm and sunny day for availability of food stores, bee strength, brood rearing and performance of the queen bee. Unite the weak colonies, and queenless colonies with queen-right ones. Provide stimulative sugar syrup (sugar: water = 1:2) feeding if needed. Prefer to provide this feed in empty drawn combs.”



Elaborating, they suggested that depending upon the growth of the colonies, provide already raised worker brood combs/frames with comb foundations. Depending upon the need, super chambers can be added, said the experts, adding that to enhance bee activity on new frames with comb foundations, raised combs with honey should be provided as bait. Equalise the colonies, the maximum possible for food reserves, brood and bee strength following standard techniques. Infestation of ectoparasitic mites (Tropilaelaps clareae and Varroa destructor) and brood diseases maybe noticed in the honey bee colonies. They impressed upon the beekeepers to keep vigil on the brood diseases and on suspicion, immediately consult experts. Appropriate advised control measures should be undertaken. And non-chemical methods should be preferred. Colonies may also be prepared towards end of February for mass queen bee rearing for requeening or for stock multiplication or for selling the bee colonies. The beekeepers who have already migrated their apiaries to sarson/raya belts, can extract ripened Brassica honey by the end of February. The experts emphasized that all the recommended measures should be followed to prevent swarming of colonies