Na Beacha!! Bees!!

05Mar

Na Beacha!! Bees!!

Toisc an aimsir a bheith meirbh bhíos abálta tabhairt faoi na beacha inné.
Is fada ó chuireas orm an chulaith agus ó lasas an ceansaitheoir. Is breá liom boladh an deataigh agus boladh na coirceoige is boladh an tsamhraidh é!
Bíonn idir imní agus sceitimíní orm roimh dom an choirceog a oscailt. Cé chaoi a bheidh said? Sláintiúil fuinniúil nó leathmharbh? Agus níos tábhachtaí fós cén sórt giúmar a bheidh orthu? Uaireanta bíonn siad an trodach agus drochspin ceart orthu ach nuair a bheannaím dóibh le cúpla focal agus puth beag ón gceansaitheoir bíonn fáilte níos fearr romham!
An tráth seo den bhliain bíonn imní ann i gcónaí maidir le sláinte na mbeach agus cibé ar tháinig said slán ón ngeimhreadh. I rith an Gheimhridh bailíonn na beacha in aon liathróid amháin sa choirceog agus ar an mbealach sin coinníonn said iad féin teolaí- mar sin bíonn an- leisce go deo ar aon bheachaire an choirceog a oscailt ró-luath ar fháitíos go marófaí iad le fuacht.
Pé ní é, bhí said féin amuigh inné ar thóir pailine agus neactair. Tá an Caisearbhán agus Nóiníní, Aiteann agus bláthanna eile an Earraigh amuigh anois agus fliúrse bídh iontu dos na beacha.
Is aimsir ghuagach í aimsir an Earraigh. D’fhéadfadh cúpla lá nó cúpla seachtain an-fhuair nó an-fhliuch nó an-ghaothfar a bheith ann. Chuirfeadh sin stop le heitiltí agus tóir foráiste. Chuirfeadh easpa foráiste agus stór ídithe meala isteach ar riaradh na larbhaí. Dá mbeadh aon chur isteach ar riaradh na larbhaí chaillódh sé ná beadh dóthain beacha ann chun an foráiste a tharrac isteach agus bheadh beacha an Gheimhridh ag éagadh rud a chuirfeadh críoch agus deireadh leis an gcoilíneacht agus ar ndóigh fágfaí mé gan aon mhil sa phróca!
(Is beacha iontacha iad beacha an Gheimhridh. De gháth ní mhaireann an bheach ach go dtí go n-ídeofar a sciathán tuairim is 60 lá. Is dream ar leith iad beacha an Gheimhridh seachas na hoibrithe, ladrainn agus an chráin bheach.  Is iad beacha an Gheimhridh an ghlúin deiridh larbhaí a riartar san choireog san Fhómhar. Tugtar cothú ar leith dóibh atá gann ar phroitéin agus ar an gcaoi sin bíonn sraith saillí orthu agus tairgeann said substaint ar a dtugtar vitiligeinin a neartaíonn an córas imdhíonachta sa chaoi is gur féidir leo maireachtáil ar feadh sé mhí. Sin iad na beacha a riarann an ghlúin nua agus tá sé ríthábhachtach aire mhaith a thabhairt dóibh!)
Ar ndóigh éitlíonn siad amach chun dífhaechaithe. Is neacha an-ghlan iad na beacha agus coiníonn said an choirceog glan i gcónaí má bhíonn sé de mhí - ádh aon luch dul isteach ann ar thóir bídh nó compórd maróidh said é agus ansin clúdóidh said é le céir ionnas nach scaipfeadh aon fhabht sa choirceog agus ansin san Earrach caithfidh said amach é!
Inné nuair a thugas cuairt orthu bhí said ag eitilt isteach is amach faoi theas na gréine agus iad in ardghiúmar! D’osclaíos an choirceog agus radhac bhreá romham- na huachtair beo le beacha agus iad ar mire gur chuireas isteach orthu. D’fhágas bronntanas deas bidh leo agus dhúnas suas an choirceog arís. Áthas orm go bhfuil said ag déanamh go maith agus dóchasach go mbeidh ualach mór meala chugainn faoi dheireadh an tsamhraidh! 

Yesterday was the perfect day to inspect the hives, the weather was warm around 15 degrees and not even a puff of wind. The bees themselves were out flying foraging on dandelion, daisy, and gorse as well as going on cleansing flights. I put on the suit, gloves and all the gear. Mine love to try and get at my hair so I cover my head with a scarf as well just in case! Honestly it is not a nice thing to have an angry bee caught in your hair because a sting on your head is so nasty!! The smoker was lit- I just adore that smell because it is really the scent of summer! The first visit is always with some trepidation, are they healthy, have they come through the winter ok? Are they hungry? I say a few words to them and then give a little puff just to say I am visiting before opening up. They were fire- alive buzzing away and looking good so I just gave them some food and closed up again. Those bees are amazing, they are winter bees. Winter bees are a different group to summer bees, they live for approx. 6 months and their main job is to raise the first new generation of summer bees without them the colony would collapse. Most bees live just until their wings wear out, about 6 weeks or so. The winter bees have a different physiology. When the queen lays them in autumn they are fed a low protein diet and they develop a large fat body and they produce a substance called vitellogenin which pumps up their immune system and extends their life. This visit is very important so make sure that they are in good condition and have enough food to see them through. Spring is wonderful, but unpredictable the weather could mean a few weeks where they are not flying or where the forage is delayed or destroyed, or the temperatures are too low to warm up the nectar in gorse. Any disruption to the raising of the first new generation has huge implications and timing is everything! Thankfully they are fine  so I can leave them for while before making another visit.  Here’s hoping for a fine spring and summer and lots of lovely honey!!

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