Resources to maintain honey bee health

The Varroa Working Group met for the first time on the 31 January 2023. It aimed to improve the education and knowledge of Varroa management and control in Scotland and to support beekeepers in their management of Varroa. 

The working group was made up of representatives from across the beekeeping community:

• Scottish Beekeepers’ Association (SBA)
• Bee Farmers Association (BFA)
• Professor, David Evans
• Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA)
• Food Standards Scotland (FSS)
• Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD)
• Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)
• Scottish Government, Policy Lead, Bee Health Delivery Lead, Veterinary Adviser
• SASA (Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture)
• Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) / National Bee Unit (NBU)
• UK Administrations
• Defra, Welsh Government, DAERA - NI Government)

The need for the varroa working group was suggested by the Bee Health Improvement Partnership (BHIP) as part of the Honeybee Health Strategy. The Implementation Plan identified Varroa Controls as one of the key issues to examine. 

 

Beekeepers in Scotland still report absence of Varroa in some areas and movement of honey bees from infected areas is the most likely route of Varroa invasion into these areas. 

This downloadable flyer includes a map of where varroa is present in Scotland as well as what you should do to help protect the health of our honey bees.

Download the Varroa map

Since its discovery in England in 1992, the parasitic mite, Varroa destructor, has spread to infest colonies of honey bees throughout the UK. Its management has now become a routine and essential part of bee husbandry. This leaflet describes the biology of the mite, how it can be recognised and monitored, and the approaches beekeepers can use to control the infestation in their hives.

Open or download the National Bee Unit's Managing Varroa booklet 

It is important to be able to recognise and manage Varroa mites in honey bee colonies. If mite numbers are not controlled, a colony may collapse within two to three years. The purpose of this factsheet is to provide an overview of Varroa biology and the best practices for Varroa management.

Open or download the Varroa best practice guide 

If Varroa population levels are not regularly monitored, then infestation may go unnoticed until it becomes severe. Monitoring for Varroa should be performed at least four times each season: early spring, after the
spring honey flow, at the time of honey harvest and late autumn. This fact sheet outlines three methods that can be used.

Open or download the Estimating Varroa populations guide

Artificial swarms can be used to control swarming or increase colony numbers. However, with a few adaptations they can also be used to control Varroa mite numbers in a colony. This fact sheet provides step
by step instructions on how to perform artificial swarms for Varroa control.

Open or download the Artificial swarms for Varroa control fact sheet

A comprehensive presentation on the lifecycle of the Varroa Mite. Also covering a short history of its arrival to the U.K and some useful advice to beekeepers.

Watch the Varroa Destructor video now

A comprehensive presentation on the lifecycle of the Varroa Mite. Also covering the use of varroacides for managing varroa.

 

Watch the Varroa and Authorise Varroacides in the United Kingdom video now

Alcohol washing is a quick and effective method for detecting the presence of Varroa and Tropilaelaps mites, as well as monitoring mite levels in a bee colony. Alcohol washing can remove over 90% (with multiple washes) of external Varroa mites present on adult honey bees.

Watch a practical video on how to carry out an alcohol wash for monitoring Varroa now

The population of Varroa mites in honey bee colonies must be actively managed throughout the year. Drone brood removal is an effective way to remove almost half of the reproducing Varroa mites from a colony.
Drone brood removal is recommended as part of a continuous integrated pest management regimen in the apiary alongside monitoring the Varroa population. This fact sheet details how and when to perform
drone brood removal.

Open or download the Drone brood removal for Varroa control fact sheet

Over 2,000 plants and animals have been introduced to Britain from all over the world by people. These are known as non-native species. Most are harmless, but around 10-15% spread and become invasive non-native species which harm wildlife and the environment, are costly to the economy and can even impact on our health and way of life.

The Yellow-Legged Hornet is one such species. This fact sheet gives detailed information about the place of origin, date and method of introduction, identification, impacts, and control methods. 

Go to the Non-Native Species Secretariat (NNSS) information portal

BeeBase is the Animal and Plant Health Agency's (APHA) National Bee Unit website.

This page from them briefly explains the background and life cycle of the yellow-legged hornet, also known as the Asian hornet.

Go to the BeeBase information guide

 

Monitoring the environment for foraging hornets allows us to identify if a yellow-legged hornet nest may be present in an area. Frequent and widespread monitoring is needed throughout the UK to manage yellow-legged hornet incursions. Members of the public can significantly contribute by monitoring for foraging hornets, and reporting yellow-legged hornet sightings. This fact sheet outlines the process for monitoring yellow-legged hornet activity, whilst minimising the impact on native invertebrates, and for reporting suspected yellow-legged hornets.

View or download the Yellow-Legged Hornet monitoring factsheet

Every year, we receive thousands of reports of suspected yellow-legged hornets, but the vast majority of sightings are of native insects. Please review the identification guidance before submitting a report. 

Here are some resources to help you identify a Yellow-Legged Hornet or its nest:

Open or download a fact sheet on identifying a Yellow-Legged Hornet

Open or download a fact sheet on identifying a Yellow Legged Hornet's nest

If you think you have seen an yellow-legged hornet, please report it using the free Asian Hornet Watch App, available for Android and iPhone, on the online notification form or by emailing alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk or Bees_mailbox@gov.scot

A photograph and the location of the sighting must be included. Please include your contact details so we can get in touch. For more information on how to report sightings, please visit our ‘So you think you’ve seen a yellow-legged hornet’ page.

Every year, we receive thousands of reports of suspected yellow-legged hornets, but the vast majority of sightings are of native insects. Please review the identification guidance before submitting a report. 

If you think you have seen an yellow-legged hornet, please report it using the free Asian Hornet Watch App, available for Android and iPhone, on the online notification form or by emailing alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk or Bees_mailbox@gov.scot

A photograph and the location of the sighting must be included. Please include your contact details so we can get in touch. For more information on how to report sightings, please visit our ‘So you think you’ve seen a yellow-legged hornet’ page.

The Scottish Government have established a contingency plan for the Yellow-Legged Hornet. 

Read the Yellow-Legged Hornet Contingency Plan on the Scottish Government website

This Fera training video goes into depth about the biology of the Yellow-Legged Hornet so that you can more easily identify one.

Watch the "Asian Hornet [Yellow-Legged Hornet] biology" video on YouTube

This video shows a home-made Yellow-Legged Hornet trap in a magnolia bush in an apiary in Andernos-les-Bains, South West France.

Beekeepers there have found that (in addition to the sugary liquid bait) the most effective traps are those that already have a hornet in them. The movement and noise appears to attract other hornets. Beekeepers catch and place a live hornet in the trap when it is first set up.

Watch the "Asian Hornets [Yellow -Legged Hornet] in a trap" video on YouTube

This video shows a Yellow-Legged Hornet (Vespa velutina), in close up detail on the ground.

Here you can see the distinct yellow tipped legs, orange face, dark brown velvety abdomen and yellow/orange band on the 4th abdominal segment. It is very distinctive from the European hornet (Vespa crabro).

Watch the "Asian Hornet [Yellow-Legged Hornet] on the ground" video on YouTube

This video shows Yellow-Legged Hornets ‘hawking’ in front of a beehive in Andernos-les-Bains, South West France.

The hornets jostle with one another in front of the hive and hover in front of the hive entrance, they face outwards and hunt the bees returning to the hive. In this video you can see a honey bee captured. This will be quickly decapitated, with the bee thorax and abdomen (protein) taken away back to the nest for consumption by the developing hornet brood. The bees in the hive itself are reticent to leave the hive and you can see many guard bees gathering on the landing board at the front to defend the colony.

The colony constantly needs to defend itself against predation. Ultimately what kills colonies is the inability to forage normally and the colony is therefore not strong enough to survive, particularly over winter.

Watch the "Asian Hornets [Yellow-Legged Hornets] hawking a beehive" video on YouTube

This video shows the destruction of a Yellow-Legged Hornet nest in Andernos-les-Bains, South West France, where the town authorities and beekeepers have been tackling and destroying hornet nests for a number of years.

This destruction was done slightly later than the advised time of before dawn, to allow filming to take place. All the places where nests are destined to be destroyed need thorough reconnoitring and planning, so that it can be done safely. The site was visited the previous day and an area for the cherry picker marked on the road and cordoned off once the machine was in place. This nest was 23m up in the tree and despite the appearance in the film, the power lines were nowhere near the nest!

Nests are first injected with substances using the extendable delivery rod to kill the hornets, and then the nest is bashed down to the ground onto a ground sheet and removed for analysis and destruction. This prevents any potential reestablishment of nests in the same tree.

Watch the "Destroying an Asian Hornet [Yellow-Legged Hornet]" video on YouTube

Here Nigel Semmence from the National Bee Unit talks about the Yellow-Legged hornet, and APHA’s work to prevent the spread of this non-native species and protect bee health.

Watch the Safeguarding with Science video on YouTube

To prevent contamination of honey, which may be intended for human consumption, only products that have
been authorised by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) can be legally applied to honey bee colonies without a veterinary prescription. This fact sheet lists the authorised medicines that can be legally used by
beekeepers on honey bee colonies in the UK without a veterinary prescription. 

Open or download the Bee Medicines fact sheet now

Beekeepers are required to keep proof of purchase and a record of purchase, administration and disposal of all veterinary medicines for a minimum of 5 years under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2011SI 2159.

Download a copy of a veterinary medicine administration record for you to use with your apiary

Queen trapping is a technique used to induce a brood break in a colony for the purpose of controlling the Varroa mite population. The queen is trapped on a series of frames that are used as bait frames to attract and
trap Varroa mites. The capped brood frames are then destroyed, thus resulting in a decrease in the mite load in a colony. This fact sheet describes how to perform queen trapping.

Open or download the Queen trapping fact sheet

This easy to understand graphic offers an annual overview of integrated pest management techniques. 

Open or download the Integrated pest management graphic

Cleaning your extractor is important, it is an expensive piece of equipment, and you want to keep it in good condition. More importantly, if you are sharing extracting equipment there is the risk of transferring dirt and disease. Find step-by-step instructions on how to properly clean your shared extractor here. 

Instructions on how to clean your shared extractor

 

This downloadable template can be customised for your own winter beekeeping preparations. 

Download the winter preparations card here