Beekeepers

Bee Health

DIAGNOSTICS

Notifiable Pests and Diseases

SASA provides laboratory based diagnostic support to the Scottish bee inspectorate in the identification and control of the statutory bee pests and diseases American Foulbrood, European Foulbrood, Tropilaelaps mites and Small Hive Beetle. Samples submitted by Scottish bee inspectors are examined for the presence of these statutory bee pests and diseases, and if confirmed SASA provides support in the implementation of legislation and control of these diseases.

Pesticides - Useful Links

  • Scottish Government Pesticide webpage - Background information on pesticides and their regulation.
  • Scottish IPM Plan - A plan of integrated pest management activities designed to support Scottish growers in adoption of an integrated approach to control insect pests, weeds and diseases.

Importing bees into Scotland

These controls are aimed at reducing the risk of the introduction and spread of exotic bee pests, in particular Small Hive Beetle and Tropilaelaps mite (which are notifiable in the UK). If you are importing bees, whether for your own use or to sell on, it is important that you comply with all the import conditions in order to protect the health of honey bees in the UK. 

Adult Bee Diseases

Introduction and Biosecurity

Adult honey bees can suffer from a number of pests and diseases, and in some instances these can cause the affected colony to weaken and die.

In cases of colony loss, we would always recommend that a beekeeper carries out a basic hive ‘post mortem’. This should involve checking for common issues such as queen problems, starvation and Varroa control. 

Varroa

Introduction

Since its first discovery in England in 1992 the parasitic mite, Varroa destructor, has spread to infest colonies of honey bees throughout the UK. It has caused massive economic losses and expense for beekeepers, and its destructive power is evident from the huge number of colonies lost since it first arrived in Europe. Varroa management has now become a routine and essential part of bee husbandry.

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