Country diary: A fine place to be a bee
Bees returning to their cosy hives next to the fertile allotments here have much to waggle their tails about. Within their foraging radius there is a wide range of habitats sporting spring flowers, plus the hives are free from two pests found in 'the adjacent isle' – mainland Britain.
Ballabeg means 'small place' in Manx Gaelic, but it is surrounded by big nectar sources. Behind the sleepy village overlooking nearby Castletown lie the upland pastures of Arbory and the controversial moorland site of a proposed wind farm. In front of the hives are the lowland fields of Great Meadow, Scarlett Headland with its chequered pattern of arable land, and Ballawhetstone Farm, where crops of sunflowers will provide summer pollen. Dandelions have been plentiful this year – an essential food supply early in spring when honeybees can be seen returning to their hives carrying bulging golden pollen-sacks on their hind legs.
Bees direct their co-workers to good nectar and pollen sources by doing a now-famous waggle dance, which is extraordinary in the complexity of the information transmitted. Surrounding the allotments, blackthorn is just going over in the hedges, replaced by the brilliantly white May blossom of hawthorn, while apple trees and broad beans sown early are already flowering on some plots.
Yes, Manx bees have a great life and their numbers are stable at about 800 hives. The greatest threat to UK honeybee colonies has usually been from varroa mites, though Asian hornets are gradually taking that mantle. But neither pest is found in the Isle of Man. A ban on the import of bees, hives or used equipment has kept the mite away (its scientific name is aptly Varroa destructor) and the Irish Sea has, so far, prevented Asian hornets from wreaking havoc here.
Varroa mites harm bees not only by feeding on adults and developing larvae but also by carrying nasty viruses. Asian hornets predate adult bees. A colony of Asian hornets can consume more than 11kg of insects in a season, killing off colonies, and early reports suggest they're in 'unprecedented numbers' this year.
The threat from Asian hornets arriving in cargo or containers is a constant worry to Manx beekeepers, but for now, our honeybees are in rude health.
Under the Changing Skies: The Best of the Guardian's Country Diary, 2018-2024 is published by Guardian Faber; order at guardianbookshop.com and get a 15% discount
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