PHIRA-Science

25/10/2026

🔬 Two insects. Two very different outcomes. One important discovery.

Following yesterday's video, here's a closer look at what we found when we exposed bumble bee and paper wasp larvae to Tropilaelaps mercedesae mites.

🐝 On bumble bee brood, mites survived for no more than 48 hours. We found no evidence of feeding.

🐝On paper wasp brood, mites survived for up to 108 hours — and feeding-associated lesions were found on all ten exposed larvae.

Remarkably, feeding was also detected on the pupa of one paper wasp after it transformed from a larva.

Why does this matter?

These results provide the first experimental evidence that Tropilaelaps can feed on the brood of a non-Apis hymenopteran.

Could interactions with other insects help the mite persist when honey bee brood is unavailable? And could this have implications for surveillance and spread?

Those questions now deserve further investigation in the field.

📄 Our new paper in the Journal of Invertebrate Pathology:

The honey bee mite Tropilaelaps mercedesae can feed on paper wasp brood: Preliminary laboratory evidence.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022201126002491?dgcid=author

24/10/2026

Could Tropilaelaps feed on wasps? Our new research provides the first experimental evidence that it can.

Tropilaelaps mercedesae is a serious emerging parasite of honey bees. But one important question remains: how does it persist when its migratory natural hosts, giant Asian honey bees (Apis dorsata), leave their nests and abandon their brood?

Our new paper, published in the Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, investigates an unexpected possibility: could Tropilaelaps mites feed on the brood of other insects?

🔬 What we found

We exposed larvae of two non-Apis species - the European paper wasp (Polistes dominula) and the buff-tailed bumble bee (Bombus terrestris) - to Tropilaelaps mites under laboratory conditions.

The results were striking:

🐝 Feeding-associated lesions were found on all exposed wasp larvae.

🔬 Mites survived on wasp brood for up to 108 hours, and feeding-associated wounds were also detected on the pupal cuticle of one individual following metamorphosis.

🐝 Although mites survived temporarily on bumble bee larvae, we found no evidence of feeding on them.

Why does this matter?

These findings challenge the assumption that Tropilaelaps feeding is restricted to honey bee (Apis) brood. They raise new questions about whether interactions with other insects could help mites persist between periods of brood availability, and whether non-Apis insects near infested apiaries should be considered in future surveillance.

This is particularly relevant to the ecology of migratory giant honey bees (Apis dorsata) and to understanding the potential spread of Tropilaelaps.

We have demonstrated feeding under experimental conditions, and have not shown reproduction or the establishment of a natural alternative host. The next step is to investigate whether these interactions occur in the field.

📄 Gill, M.C., Medwell, J. & Janashia, I. The honey bee mite Tropilaelaps mercedesae can feed on paper wasp brood: Preliminary laboratory evidence.

Journal of Invertebrate Pathology (2026).
https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1n-4V534QEfyx

Research by PHIRA-Science and collaborators, supported by Bee Disease Insurance, UK.

23/10/2026

🐝 Tropilaelaps Mites: Biology, Identification and Management — Online Workshop

I'm delighted to be speaking at this online workshop organised by the Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists (CAPA) on 26 November 2026!

At PHIRA-Science, we work internationally on Tropilaelaps research, developing practical approaches to understanding, detecting and managing these challenging parasites. I'm particularly pleased to be joining colleagues Irakli Janashia, Heather Broccard-Bell, Geoff Wilson and Bajaree Chuttong with whom we regularly collaborate on this research.

The international line-up will cover Tropilaelaps biology, identification, diagnostics, surveillance and practical management strategies, with opportunities to ask questions and share experiences.

📅 Thursday 26 November 2026
🕒 10:30 am–3:00 pm EST / 15:30–20:00 GMT
💻 Online

👉 Find out more and register:
https://capabees.com/tropi-workshop/

I hope to see many of you there! Please share with anyone interested in honey bee health and Tropilaelaps management.

21/10/2026

21/10/2026

🐝 SWARM 2026: the work doesn't stop when the workshop ends

It's now a week since SWARM 2026 began in Georgia, and it's been really encouraging to see conversations continuing and collaborations developing since the workshop ended.

Organised by PHIRA-Science, SWARM 2026 brought together researchers, bee health specialists and extension professionals to share knowledge, learn practical skills and explore ways to work together on the challenges facing honey bee health.

For us, an important part of a successful workshop is what happens afterwards.

Following SWARM, Irakli Janashia, Heather Broccard-Bell, Meghan Milbrath and I got straight back to work in the apiary and laboratory, preparing for winter trials and further research. We also began developing a new approach to field detection of Tropilaelaps, an idea that emerged during the workshop. We hope this work will contribute to more practical ways of identifying and monitoring these mites.

It's been great to see people from different countries and across the honey bee health community sharing knowledge, making connections and finding opportunities to work together. Bringing researchers, bee extensionists and people working on bee health treatments together has already opened up conversations that could lead to new collaborations and research opportunities.

That was a big part of the reason for organising SWARM in the first place. We wanted it to be more than a few days of presentations — an opportunity for people to learn from each other, develop new ideas and carry on working together once the workshop was over.

A big thank you to everyone who took part and has continued the conversations since. There's plenty more work to do, and I'm looking forward to seeing where these collaborations lead.

SWARM 2026 was a starting point, not an ending. 🐝

16/10/2026

🐝 SWARM 2026: bringing honey bee health research and practical experience together

SWARM 2026 has come to a close in Kutaisi, Georgia, after three days of presentations, discussion and practical sessions focused on honey bee health.

Organised by PHIRA-Science and our collaborators, the conference brought together international researchers and beekeeping specialists to share knowledge and explore some of the challenges facing honey bee health today.

The programme covered a wide range of topics, including:

🔬 Tropilaelaps research — Irakli Janashia presented on the history of Tropilaelaps in Georgia, while Maggie Gill explored the biology, reproduction, behaviour and transmission of these mites.

🐝 Honey bee immunity and mite management — Jiří Danihlík discussed why inducing honey bee immunity does not necessarily translate into improved bee health, while Kirsten Traynor explored brood-break strategies for mite control.

🧪 Treatment development — János Fenyősy presented on oxalic acid vaporisation and the development of new formic acid doses for mite control.

🌍 International perspectives on bee health — David Peck shared experience of efforts to keep Newfoundland and Labrador free of Varroa, while Meghan Milbrath presented on European foulbrood and new research into this long-established disease.

🌿 Practical learning — delegates also took part in hands-on laboratory and apiary sessions, developing their skills in Tropilaelaps detection and working directly with the challenges involved in honey bee health research.

A huge thank you to all our speakers and participants for sharing their expertise, asking important questions and contributing to such a valuable exchange of knowledge.

At PHIRA-Science, we believe that combining scientific research with practical experience is essential to improving our understanding of honey bee pests and diseases and developing effective approaches to bee health.

Thank you to everyone who made SWARM 2026 possible! 🇬🇪🐝

16/10/2026

Seeing the threat first-hand at SWARM 2026

Today we have further updates from the SWARM conference in Kutaisi, Georgia, a region known in antiquity as Colchis, home of the legend of the Golden Fleece.

In a remarkable piece of hands-on science, Maggie Gill (Founder and Principal Researcher at PHIRA-Science) has set up Tropilaelaps-infested nucs on the roof of the conference hotel, giving scientists and policymakers the rare chance to see this parasitic mite with their own eyes.

It may sound unusual, but it’s invaluable. Tropilaelaps is one of the most serious emerging threats to honey bees worldwide and most people working to prepare for it have never actually seen it in the flesh. Experiencing it first-hand and observing how it looks and how it behaves in a colony builds the understanding needed to recognise and respond to it should it ever spread further.

A huge thanks to Trustee Jane Medwell for sharing these updates with us.

14/10/2026

🐝 SWARM 2026 is underway in Georgia! 🇬🇪

This week, researchers, beekeeping specialists and bee health professionals have come together in Kutaisi for SWARM 2026, a conference focused on honey bee health, pest management and practical approaches to protecting honey bee colonies.

The programme brings together international expertise on a range of important challenges, including Varroa management, honey bee immunity, disease control and the biology, detection and management of Tropilaelaps mites.

Alongside scientific presentations, delegates are taking part in practical laboratory and apiary sessions, sharing knowledge and developing the skills needed to tackle emerging challenges in apiculture.

PHIRA-Science is pleased to be part of these discussions, contributing to research and knowledge exchange on honey bee health and Tropilaelaps biology.

📍 Kutaisi, Georgia
📅 14–16 October 2026

13/10/2026

A few days ago, I had the pleasure of presenting in Dresden, Germany, on a growing concern for honeybee health: Tropilaelaps mites — a lesser-known but potentially even greater threat to honeybees. 🐝

Tropilaelaps is still far less widely recognised than Varroa, but it deserves much greater attention. Understanding this parasite, its biology, and the challenges it presents is increasingly important as we work to protect honeybee populations and prepare for the threats facing beekeeping worldwide.

The presentation is now available on YouTube for anyone interested in learning more!

🎥 Watch the presentation here: https://youtu.be/rlKx0BT9PwA?si=43-d2EbyhFVZVK_v

Thank you to the organisers in Dresden for the opportunity to share my work and contribute to the ongoing discussions around honeybee health and the future of beekeeping.

Please feel free to share with anyone working in apiculture, bee research, or honeybee health. The more awareness we can raise about Tropilaelaps, the better prepared we will be.

Abendveranstaltung des Dresdner Imkervereins beim Deutschsprachigen...

10/10/2026