Bee Health
NBU – Starvation Alert!
Over the last few days during routine inspections, we have observed honey bee colonies that are extremely short of food stores. We urge beekeepers to check the levels of food stores in colonies and monitor closely, particularly if apiaries have not been visited for some time or if a honey crop has recently been removed. Colonies need to be checked because they can succumb to starvation very quickly.
In addition, in many areas wasps are very populous and we have witnessed lots of beekeepers across the regions who are losing colonies to wasp attack. Please read our fact sheet on wasps for advice about how to prevent wasp related losses
Feed can be prepared from refined white sugar and water mixed at a 2:1 ratio, or ready mixed syrups may be acquired from beekeeping equipment suppliers. For more information on how to make a sugar syrup and feed bees, please read our best practice guidance: NBU best practice guideline for sugar feeding of honey bees.
If you have any questions, please contact your local Inspector. Contact details can be found at https://www.nationalbeeunit.com/contact-us/.
Varroa warning!
I found this report in the Guardian, it tells of the catastrophic effect VAROA mites are having on bee colonies. The report is very worrying. It says Varoa are becoming resistant to miticides. Hopefully this link I share works and you can read the article for yourself. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jul/08/record-us-bee-colony-dieoffs-climate-stress-pesticides-silent-spring-aoe
Peter Kirkup
PBKA Asian Hornet Coordinator
Asian Hornet Coordinator Report
A brief comment on the Asian Hornet or Yellow Legged Hornet, it seems the new term is preferred, in June, Kent and East Sussex provided the only confirmed reports. PLEASE DO NOT try to deal with a nest if you find one, REPORT IT. https://risc.brc.ac.uk/alert.php?species=asian_hornet
Let’s talk about… WASPS, that time of year is upon us, time to reduce the entrance gap to one bee space. I am reluctant to kill wasps, they have their role to play in nature, perhaps my observations and ideas will be helpful to you when you inevitably face a wasp invasion. Putting out wasp traps I abandoned long ago, they cause the demise of wasps and other insects, even worse, the wasps that escape seem to tell other wasps they found a sweet drink and more start appearing. It is likely a wasp nest is near by, to find it can be tricky. Wasps are easy to catch so you can glue a bit of foil to one, release it and see where it goes. This year, if I get a problem (shouldn’t do as hives are big and strong) I will offer the wasps a sweet liquid treat away from my hives, they might choose the easy option and not harass my colonies. What do you think, do you have other solutions? If my attempt fails I plan to adopt a biological weapon, watch this YouTube video to see how organised wasps can be and what secret defense you can employ. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9RfjS6rVoE&t=216s&pp=2AHYAZACAcoFFEFjcm9iYXRpY3MgbWluaXNjdWx
Peter Kirkup
PBKA Asian Hornet Coordinator
Highly Recommended Webinar! Tropilaelaps with Maggie Gill on July 3rd, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Tropilaelaps with Maggie Gill. Join us for a webinar on Jul 03, 2025 at 7:30 PM BST.
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Like Varroa, Tropilaelaps are brood parasites that feed and reproduce on honey bees. Originating in Asia, they have jumped species from their native hosts the giant Asian honey bees to our western honey bees. In much the same way as Varroa did in the 1980s are spreading westwards and were confirmed for the first time in Europe in 2024. Unfortunately, Tropilaelaps poses a much greater threat than Varroa, causing colony losses of between 50 to 80% in areas where they have recently been detected for the first time. Their faster rate of reproduction, shorter phoretic phase and apparent ability to survive on alternative hosts make them more difficult to control and treat.
Find out more about the biology, behaviour, and distribution of this exotic pest and the threat it poses to UK beekeeping.
Maggie Gill has been a beekeeper for 20 years, producing queens and nucs on a small scale and also working in honey bee research. Her research has seen her work with universities and beekeepers in Thailand, Lao, Canada, Chile, Sweden, Iran, USA and most recently Georgia to study honey bee pests and diseases. Currently a senior entomologist at Defra, Maggie worked as a seasonal and regional bee inspector for Wales for 10 years.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Pembrokeshire Beekeepers' Association 