New Zealand is fast approaching

Dear all
 
Well the next New Zealand trip is now fast approaching with under two months to go before I fly off to collect the emerging subt queens (here's two pictures of subt queens feeding on echium, taken by Andy Tebbs). The season over here is fastly coming to an end so now my attention has turned to preparing and perfecting the rearing protocol for subt. Last year we worked very hard to obtain as many queens as possible but were disappointed with the final numbers. Since then we have tightened our protocol and have hoped to make the changes which will produce many more queens. We all cause have everything crossed for our first reintroduction next June 2011. You can keep up to date with all my progress in NZ on this blog.......
 
So it is coming to the end of the season now in the UK, but having said that the sun is still shining and there are B. terrestris still feeding on buddleia outside my window! Its been a great season for the bees down here in Kent and East Sussex with five of the UK BAP species moving and spreading out. I have high hopes for next year.
 
Till next time.....