Well, are you? It seemed that no sooner than I’d pressed the ‘Submit’ button on the post last week, that regular reader Frazer commented that there were already swarm cells in Kent. By the end of the month there were reports of swarms lost in Hampshire. By the time this…
Spring trapping in Caergwrle near Wrexham in Wales
Spring trapping to take place in the Caergwrle area, near Wrexham in Wales Following the finding of a dead yellow-legged hornet nest in the Caergwrle area, near Wrexham, the Welsh Government (WG) has asked the National Bee Unit (NBU) to undertake local targeted Spring trapping. They will place selective traps within a…
Vacancy – Bee Health Operational Lead (Outbreak)
The National Bee Unit has a vacancy for a SEO Bee Health Operational Delivery Lead (Outbreak). If you are interested in applying, please follow the link below to the advertisement in the Civil Service Jobs and apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 13th April 2026. Bee Health Operational Delivery Lead…
EU SPS Agreement – Call for information
Defra have recently published a press release which contains information on the legislation likely to form part of UK-EU SPS agreement. The press release is available here. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-eu-sps-agreement-information-for-businesses Beekeepers will be affected as primary producers and in some cases, traders in bees and bee products. A Call for Information has been…
Yellow-legged hornet 2026 rolling update
Please report sightings of Yellow-legged hornets (YLH), also known as Asian hornets, on this online form or download the free Asian hornet Watch app for Apple devices or android devices. As of 28/2/2026: To view the location of destroyed nests, please visit the map page and choose the Asian Hornet map…
Risk areas for Yellow Legged Hornets Spring trapping 2026
Further to DEFRA statement in December about Yellow Legged Hornet spring trapping, the analysis carried out by Fera Science Ltd to help inform local trapping initiatives in England has now been completed. The work has identified areas where there may be a higher risk of overwintering Yellow Legged Hornets (YLHs),…
Advisory leaflet updated: Common pests, diseases, and disorders of adult honey bees
Keep your bees healthy this season. Read our updated ‘common pests, diseases, and disorders of adult honey bees’ booklet. This is an essential guide for every beekeeper, packed with practical advice on identifying and managing common pests, diseases, and disorders that affect adult honey bees. From viruses like deformed wing…
Tropilaelaps advisory leaflet updated
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…
Happy Winter Solstice 2025
As I sit here watching the rain lash against the window (a classic South Yorkshire “winter wonderland”), I am heartened by one glorious fact: Today is the Winter Solstice. While the rest of the world sees today as the depth of winter, we beekeepers know the truth. This is the…
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…