BBKA News
BBKA News
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Neonics will not be used on sugar beet in 2021
Wednesday 3 March A forecast from the Rothamstead Research Group says virus yellows in the sugarbeet crop will be very low this year and neonic seed treatment will NOT be used with first flights of aphids likely to be six weeks later than last year. The BBKA is pleased to hear this but will campaign against use of the neonics in years 2022 and 2023 which is allowed under the licence granted by Defra. The British Beet Research Organisation (BBRO) says the weather was the reason. "With February temperatures fluctuating from very cold to unseasonably warm conditions, especially during the last three weeks of the month, this has meant the independent virus yellows forecast has been uncertain with regards to the 9% trigger threshold for the use of Cruiser SB on seed. The 1st of March forecast predicts that 8.37 % of the national sugar beet area will be affected by virus yellows by the end of August 2021." This graph from Rothamsted Research shows the histor... -
Asian Hornet Week 2021
Asian Hornet Week 2020 6-10 September We are asking everyone to be vigilant in looking out for this alien species, the Asian Hornet, Vespa velutina. This hornet could decimate our pollinators including our honey bees, it is important to have everyone actively looking for it. Follow the BBKA on social media and share the Asian hornet week posts to help raise awareness Twitter Facebook Instagram Autumn is the time for trapping as wasps and hornets lose their sources of floral nectar and find hives full of honey very attractive. We are asking beekeepers to put an hour aside every day to watch for hornets hawking their hives during Asian Hornet Week. A brilliant article from APHA Science blog by Peter Davies. The threat of the Asian hornet The blog covers the background, the threat they pose, role of AHT and dealing with an incursion. A must read for all involved in their local AHT teams! Effect on Biodiversity From the Invasiv... -
BBKA News Archive Update
To all members - we sincerely apologise but we are currently experiencing severe technical issues with the BBKA News Archive platform. We are working towards getting these issues resolved as soon as possible. However, this is not going to be a quick fix and we ask members for their patience whilst these issues are resolved. In the meantime, please keep checking the BBKA website for an update. As soon as the platform issues are resolved, we will update the website informing members that the BBKA News Archive is back up and running. We will also issue notifications through eR2 and our social media channels. -
BBKA statement on Bee Importation
In light of the recent importation row BBKA would like to reiterate our statement on imported bees. You are reminded of the BBKA’s position of discouraging the importation of queen bees and packages from outside the UK. Prospective purchasers should satisfy themselves both of the origin of bees offered for sale and the regulations on bee importations pertinent to their location. -
Defra publishes blog about bee importation row
Imported Bees You are reminded of the BBKA’s position of discouraging the importation of queen bees and packages from outside the UK. Prospective purchasers should satisfy themselves both of the origin of bees offered for sale and the regulations on bee importations pertinent to their location. February 8 2021 Defra has published a blog setting out the law on importing bees post Brexit: There has been a significant amount of press interest in, with some eye-catching headlines suggesting that 15m bees could be burnt under new Brexit import rules, with the story picked up in the Telegraph, Guardian, Times, Independent and Mail. So what’s happened? Since the end of the Transition Period, it has no longer been possible to import colonies or packages of bees directly into Great Britain from the EU. It’s still possible to import queen bees, and in 2020 we imported over 21,000 to GB. Anyone looking to import b... -
2021 Winter Survival Survey
Winter Survival Survey 2021 Please use the following link to access the BBKA Winter Survival Survey https://forms.gle/D49RppfNYdqkpDpE9 The survey period is from 1st October 2020 until 1st April 2021. Don’t complete the survey form before the 1st April but please do return it before the 30th April. -
Prey Spectrum of Asian Hornets
Research Grant Title: Prey Spectrum of Asian Hornets Research Grant Period: September 2020 to December 2022 Grantee: University of Exeter Prof J.L. Osborne, Prof C.R. Tyler, Dr P.J. Kennedy, Dr J. Poidatz 1st quarter Report The Asian hornet (Vespa velutina nigrothorax) is an invasive non-native predator, of bees and others insects, that is rapidly spreading across parts of Europe since its accidental introduction into south-west France in or before 2004. In France, beekeepers estimate they have lost 5-80% of honeybee colonies (average 30%) in areas where Asian hornets have become well established.&... -
Research Project Presentations 2021
Research Project Presentations Please purchase a ticket for this event. Tickets are free but we would welcome a donation. Saturday February 27th 2021 An opportunity to hear from three of our funded research groups how they have progressed. 10.30 am. Brief introduction – Pam Hunter Timings are approximate 10.40-11.10 Hannah Samson, Leicester University. Looking at the effect of air pollution on pollinators using bumble bees as a model. The microbial communities of gut samples have been analysed using DNA 11.20 – 11.40 Philip Donkersley, Lancaster University. Looking for the presence of insecticides, fungicides and herbicides in bee samples from municipal sites. 12.00 – 12.30 pm. Nick Balfour. Sussex University. Setting up a data base of plants and insects interactions (DOPI). There will be an opportunity to ask questions to each researcher. -
Asian Hornet Conference 2021
Conference starts at 10am Asian Hornet Conference Provisional Programme Time Talk Speaker 10.00 - 10.15 Welcome and Introduction to the conference Anne Rowberry 10-20 - 11.10 Asian Hornet and research updates Prof.Stephen Martin 11.10 - 11.20 Break 11.20 -12.00 The French Experience Andrew Durham 12.00 - 12.10 Break 12.10 - 12.50 The Situation in the UK Nigel Semmence NBU/Defra 12.50 - 1.30 Lunch/ Short Video 1.30 - 2.15 the Atlantic Positive project and some of the research and experience from Galicia Dr Sandra Rojas-Nossa the University of Vigo 2.15 - 2.30 Short Break 2.30 - 3.20 Current & ongoing University of Exeter Asian Hornet research Dr Peter Kenned... -
Our Chair writes to Prime Minister about neonic licence
