THE BRITISH BEEKEEPERS' ASSOCIATION

Founded in 1874 Registered Charity No. 212025

EXAMINATION FOR PROFICIENCY IN APICULTURE

MODULE 1 HONEYBEE MANAGEMENT

20th March 2004 Time Allowed 1½ hours

Instructions to Candidates - Read the questions carefully. Answer All Sections

It is recommended not to spend more than 10 minutes on Section A,
50 minutes on Section B or 30 minutes on Section C.
Adhere strictly to the subject matter of the questions.
Use only BLACK pen for text. DO NOT USE COLOURS.
Black pencil may only be used for diagrams.

SECTION A (10 marks, 1 for each question)

Answer ALL the questions in this section. Use one or two word or short phrase answers.
Q1 Bees will probably ……………..………… a space less than 6 mm and ………………….……….
in a space greater than 10 mm. Complete this sentence.

Q2 Name two self spacing frames. …………………….……………………....…………..……………….

Q3 State one advantage of starting beekeeping with an

over-wintered nucleus compared with a swarm: …………………………………………….………….

Q4 Name two desirable features

in selecting an apiary site. …………………..…………………..…………..………....…………………

Q5 During which part of the year would you expect the population
of brood to increase at a faster rate than the population of bees? …………………………………..……

Q6 Name two things a beekeeper

can do to minimise drifting. …………………………………………………………..…………………

Q7 (a) What is the main source of energy for bees? …………………………………….………………….

(b) What is the main source of food for body building? ………………………………..….…………….

Q8 Name two uses for nuclei. ……………………..………..……………………….…….....…….……….

Q9 What is the best time of day to take home a swarm collected in a skep? …………….………..………..

Q10 During the active season a colony of honeybees should be moved less than ………………..………..or

more than …………..………..………………...……….. to avoid loss of bees. Complete this sentence.

PLEASE HAND IN THIS SHEET AT THE END OF THE EXAMINATION

 MODULE 1 HONEYBEE MANAGEMENT
20th March 2004

SECTION B (40 marks, 10 for each question)

Answer any FOUR questions from this section. Write short notes for your answers. Marks

Q11 (a) State five reasons for feeding bees with sugar syrup. 5
(b) Describe how to prepare sugar syrup. 2
(c) When feeding how do you minimise the risk of causing an outbreak of robbing? 3

Q12 (a) Give three reasons why beekeepers sometimes unite two colonies of honeybees. 3
(b) Describe a safe method of uniting two queen-right colonies, in single brood chambers,
in the same apiary. 7

Q13 Write short notes on the following as if to guide a new beekeeper:

(a) Describe one type of a clearer board. 2
(b) A step by step description of the procedure for clearing bees from supers using a clearer
board, starting with checking that the honey is ready for extracting and finishing with
the removal of the supers from the apiary. 6
(c) State a method used for clearing bees from supers of oil seed rape honey. Explain the reason. 2

Q14 (a) List eight requirements for a colony of honeybees to be successfully overwintered. 4
(b) Describe what the beekeeper needs to do, month by month, after removing the main honey
harvest in early August, to prepare the colony for winter. 6

Q15 (a) Give a brief summary of the various reactions which may occur in humans to stings
by honeybees. 4
(b) What first aid may be appropriate for humans stung by honeybees? 3
(c) What advice would you give a new beekeeper to minimise the risk of his bees stinging
a neighbour? 3

SECTION C (25 marks)

Answer ONE question from this section. Give labelled diagrams where applicable.

Q16 An examination of a colony every 7 days from April to July is needed to assess its condition.
(a) List six main things you are looking for during these examinations. 6
(b) Write brief notes including any action needed under each item listed in (a) as if
to advise a new beekeeper. 19

Q17 (a) What factors that control the production of queen cells? 5
(b) What measures can a beekeeper adopt to minimise the likelihood of swarming? 6
(c) Describe step by step one method of swarm control starting with finding advanced
open queen cells. 10
(d) Why is it important for beekeepers to control swarming? 4