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Apiarists at the Warkworth Beekeeping Society meeting this month said they had been hard hit by wasps during the summer, with some losing up to five hives.
Although a cool spring initially reduced wasp numbers, they came back with a vengeance thriving in the dry conditions throughout summer and autumn.
The dry also meant that bees had fewer sources of food, making hives more vulnerable to attack from wasps.
Wasps attempt to rob honey from hives, and an average of seven bees will die per wasp defending the hive.
A drop in honey prices also meant that beekeepers were not monitoring their hives as closely as they waited for better times.
However, recent rains have knocked back wasp numbers, helping hives recover.
Beekeeper Grass Esposti says this coming spring the society’s apiary will reopen and training days will be held for amateurs who want to learn to open and inspect a hive.
“The idea is to have fun, not get stung,” she says.
