Blog - varroa

honeybee on lavender

A different perspective on the honey bee – Apis mellifera.

by Chris, 14 September, 2018, 2 comments

This month a paper appeared in the Science Mag authored by people at the Cambridge Conservation Group; it argues that the present focus on the (western) honey bee (Apis mellifera) is misguided. The honey bee is indeed the most important single species for crop pollination, and there has been a rapid growth in the number of managed colonies over the last 50 years. This is especially true in areas where this honey bee species has been introduced. It was introduced to the Americas in the 1600’s. Read more...

The Great British Bee Count (and App) - 2018.

The Great British Bee Count (and App) – 2018.

by Chris, 19 May, 2018, 3 comments

This week saw the start of the 2018 Great British Bee Count. The aim of the count is to estimate the number of bumblebees and solitary bees that are buzzing around this year. As the woodlands blog has reported on many occasions, bees and bumblebees are threatened by viruses, mites, pesticides*, inclement weather, habitat loss etc - so a count across the country (from John O'Groats to Land's End) is a 'good thing' informing, for example, the Pollinator Monitoring Scheme how bees and bumblebees are faring across the country. The information also contributes to the National Biodiversity Network Atlas  (NBN), which records the current status of all species in the U.K. To help with this, there is a smart phone App - available for either iPhones or Android Phones. The App enables you to submit sightings of bumblebees and bees (with photos where possible) Read more...

The birds and the bees, insecticides and wildlife

The birds and the bees, insecticides and wildlife

by Lewis, 24 November, 2015, 1 comments

The woodlands' blog has often reported on the problems that bees and bumblebees are facing; these range from habitat loss & fragmentation, changing agricultural practices, parasites (varroa) and viruses, climate change and extreme climate events and the use of pesticides (particularly neonicotinoids). Now there is evidence accumulating that the decline in various bird species (sparrows, swallows and tree starlings) can be correlated with the use of insecticides. A group of researchers from Birdlife (Netherlands), the Dutch Centre for Field Ornithology and Radboud University, Institute of Water and Wetland Research have been studying bird population declines at the turn of the century. Read more...

Bees - and the weather.

Bees – and the weather.

by Chris, 23 July, 2012, 10 comments

Bees are important pollinators, especially for crops like apples. The UK apple market is estimated at some £320 M per annum. Though current estimates vary, it is pretty much certain that this year’s apple harvest will be down, perhaps only 50% of that of a ‘normal’ year. Though the trees produced blossom in plenty and all looked good for a ‘bumper harvest’ – it then rained and rained. Because of the weather, there were few bees, bumblebees or other pollinating insects. This has not been a good year for bees (or indeed, bumblebees). Why? Read more...

Threats to the Honeybee

Threats to the Honeybee

by Chris, 18 August, 2010, 11 comments

At the start of the twentieth century, it has been estimated that there were about one million beehives in the U.K. Now the number is about 280,000; there has also been a significant decline in the number of beekeepers. Read more...

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