Maximising Production with Native Honey Bees: Lessons from Colm O’Neill
BeginnerBeekeeping Irish beekeeper Colm O’Neill shares how native bees, careful record-keeping, and brood management can dramatically boost honey yields while preserving bee health.
Basic Beekeeping Principles
Viral Infections in Honey Bee Queens Disrupt Pheromones and Threaten Hive Stability
New UBC research shows how viral infections in honey bee queens suppress vital pheromones, causing colonies to replace their monarchs and threatening global pollination stability.
Precision nutrition for honey bees: The “super‑food” that could transform UK beekeeping
In recent years UK beekeepers have faced mounting pressures: reduced floral diversity, unpredictable weather, parasites, pesticides and landscape change. Against this backdrop, a significant scientific breakthrough may offer a fresh…
Apimondia Condemns Immature Honey: Why Unripe Honey Isn’t Real Honey
In September 2025, Apimondia – the International Federation of Beekeepers’ Associations – released a landmark statement on the growing issue of immature honey production. The organization warned that this emerging…
Tropilaelaps: The Next Big Threat to UK Beekeeping
Tropilaelaps mites are rapidly emerging as one of the most dangerous threats to honeybee health - and they could soon reach the UK. More aggressive and faster-reproducing than Varroa, these…
Britain’s Wild Honey Bees: Thriving Against the Odds
New research from the University of Sussex reveals that wild honey bee colonies are thriving in Britain’s countryside, sustained by veteran trees and natural selection.
Honey Bee Genetics: An Idiot’s Guide (For Smart Beekeepers)
Confused by bee genetics? This beginner-friendly guide breaks down the essentials of honey bee genetics and explains why working with your local, native bees is the smartest path to sustainable…
OTS Queen Rearing – On The Spot Queen Rearing
The On-The-Spot (OTS) method offers a simple, graft-free way to rear queens - adapted here for British conditions. This sustainable approach empowers beekeepers to raise locally adapted, disease-resistant queens that…
Bee Bread (Perga): Nature’s Fermented Superfood from the Hive
Bee bread, also known as perga, is nature’s fermented masterpiece - a mix of pollen, honey, and enzymes transformed by bees into a powerhouse of nutrition. Rich in proteins, fatty…
Bringing Back Britain’s Dark Honeybee: Victoria Buswell’s Research on UK Apis mellifera mellifera
The native dark honeybee, Apis mellifera mellifera, once thrived across Britain - but decades of imports have blurred its genetic identity. Now, PhD researcher Victoria Buswell at the University of…