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/.