The Tropilaelaps advisory leaflet has been updated. This leaflet explains the biology, distribution, and risks of Tropilaelaps mites; invasive brood parasites of honey bees that are now spreading toward Europe. The leaflet outlines their life cycle, harmful effects on colonies, potential pathways for introduction into the UK, and the legal…
Yellow-legged Hornet – Spring Trapping
In the December 2025 Bee Health Advisory Forum, Defra confirmed that they will not ask APHA’s National Bee Unit to carry out Spring trapping activity for yellow-legged hornet (YLH) in 2026. This decision has been taken in response to the high number and geographic spread of later season nest finds…
New Tropilaelaps Rapid Pest Risk Analysis
Following the confirmed findings of Tropilaelaps mites in Russia and Georgia, concerns have been raised that these ectoparasites of honey bee brood are spreading. Therefore Defra have produced a Rapid Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) to re-assess the risk posed to UK apiculture by Tropilaelaps mites. Tropilaelaps mites are not native…
2025 Hive Count
The National Bee Unit is pleased to launch the 2025 National Hive Count today, 1st of November. The hard slog of summer beekeeping is done so make yourself a nice cup of tea, grab your laptop and sink into your favourite chair. It’s time to update your BeeBase records! We…
Safeguarding measures on honey bees and apiculture products from Ukraine
Tropilaelaps mite presents a significant biosecurity risk to Great Britain’s bee population. In recent years the population of Tropilaelaps mercedesae has spread westward from its native range in Asia. There are now confirmed populations in western Russia and Georgia. Surveillance for Tropilaelaps mite in Ukraine is currently limited. Given the…
Healthy Bees Plan 2030: Provision of Hive Side Training – Tender
We are seeking up to three contractors to provide hive side training to intermediate hobbyist beekeepers to teach beekeepers how to recognise pests and diseases and ensure good husbandry practices. The requirement is separated into three lots covering three regions: Lot 1: North of England and Midlands Lot 2: South…
Resources and Priorities
Statement from DEFRA Bee Health Policy Defra is very grateful to all the staff in the Animal and Plant Health Agency and in particular the National Bee Unit (NBU) who are working on the response to YLH. Beekeepers and Yellow-legged Asian Hornet Teams have also provided very valuable support. Defra…
Is nest destruction a dangerous delusion, and is spring trapping the lesser of two evils?
Based on Andrew Durham’s webinar given to the BBKA 03/09/25 Twenty years after Vespa velutina nigrithorax arrived in south-west France, nest numbers and predation have surged across large parts of Europe. Andrew, a Cambridgeshire beekeeper who has studied the hornet since 2014, argues that once the hornet establishes, large scale…
New apiculture programme published
The England Apiculture Programme for 2025-2028 has been published on BeeBase. The programme provides measures to support beekeepers and bee farmers by training events on bee health and husbandry practices as well as improving identification of pests and diseases through hive-side advisory inspections. The programme is delivered by APHA’s National…
‘Starting Right with Bees’ advisory leaflet updated
Our advisory leaflet ‘Starting Right with Bees’ has been updated. This leaflet describes the basics of beekeeping for new beekeepers or for those who are considering taking up the craft. It provides a clear, jargon-free introduction into the basic biology and management of honey bee colonies and provides plenty of…