International Bee Research Association - IBRA

01/09/2026

𝗙𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗦𝗔𝗙𝗘𝗧𝗬 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗕𝗘𝗘𝗞𝗘𝗘𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗦 🍯⚖️

Beekeeping is unusual: even as "just a hobby," it's food production - and that means legal responsibilities most beekeepers never learn about. 🐝

Written by Andy Pedley, a beekeeper of 30 years and an Environmental Health Officer in the UK, this 106-page book is the only one of its kind dedicated to producing honey and other hive products safely. 📖

Inside you'll find:
✅ Consumer Protection law explained for beekeepers & bee farmers
✅ A full HACCP covering both extracted and comb honey
✅ Guidance on hygiene for candles, wraps & polishes
✅ Practical steps to reach a high Food Hygiene Safety Rating

Whether you sell a few jars at the gate or run a commercial operation, this is essential reading. 🌿

Get your copy: northernbeebooks.co.uk/products/food-safety-for-beekeepers-pedley

30/08/2026

IBRA's 4th Art competition!
Time to vote for the best photo awards!
DEADLINE:: 13th September!
Help us select the best 2 photos of 2026 to be used as cover photos of our two journals
Here is the link for thoso who wish to contribute!
More details of the photographs can be found here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1G7A_EhF4lFXk7CJ1gRl6ky9BfamjtEKl/view?usp=sharing

Dear participant, IBRA's Art competition for 2026 is about 'Flowers visited by bees' It is time for you to help us select the best 2 photos of the 35 received! There are 35 photos presented in this board and we would like you to give your preference, by only specifying the number, which represents t...

26/08/2026

𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗩𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗬 🍯🐝

Ever wondered what really happens to honey between the hive and the jar? 🤔

In this practical 36-page booklet, author Wally Shaw explores what honey actually is, how to harvest it with care, and how to prepare it for sale or home use while preserving its natural quality. From foraging and extraction to bottling and batch dating, it's a clear, no-nonsense guide for beekeepers who want to bring a top-quality product to market. 📖✨

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲:
🔸 What honey is (and what else it contains)
🔸 Honey foraging & harvesting techniques
🔸 Equipment for processing honey
🔸 Preparing and bottling honey for market

Published by Northern Bee Books (2018) | Softback, 36 pages

👉 Get your copy: https://www.northernbeebooks.co.uk/en-eu/products/harvesting-honey-shaw

20/08/2026

🐝🔬 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗔𝗖𝗖𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗟𝗘 🔬🐝

𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗲𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮

This study investigates whether 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗡𝗔 (𝗲𝗗𝗡𝗔) extracted from honey can be used to detect bee pathogens.

Researchers analysed 𝟭𝟯𝟱 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 collected across Australia, looking for the bacterium 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘀 and the protozoan 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗽𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗲𝗯𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗲.

🔬 𝗦. 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘀 was detected in 𝟳𝟴 𝗼𝗳 𝟭𝟯𝟱 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 (𝟱𝟴%), providing the first evidence of this bacterium in Australian apiaries.

🔬 𝗠. 𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗲 was not detected in any sample, highlighting the need for further targeted surveillance.

📖 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲:
https://doi.org/10.1080/00218839.2026.2707040

The bacterium Serratia marcescens and the protozoan Malpighamoeba mellificae are opportunistic and rare pathogens, respectively, that can compromise digestive health in honey bees (Apis mellifera)....

13/08/2026

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗕𝗥𝗔 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀! 📚🐝

How much can we learn simply by watching our bees?

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗯𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗿 by Paul Honigmann explores a thoughtful, observation-led approach to beekeeping, helping readers better understand colony behaviour while embracing low-intervention, treatment-free principles. The book covers everything from interpreting bee behaviour and reading comb to hive management, swarm biology, diseases, genetics and much more.

Whether you're a beginner looking for a solid foundation or an experienced beekeeper keen to refine your observational skills, this comprehensive 400+ page manual is an invaluable addition to your library.

📖 Find out more and order your copy here:
https://www.northernbeebooks.co.uk/en-eu/products/the-observant-beekeeper-honigmann

10/08/2026

A new open access article in JAR by Fani Hatjina & co-authors concludes that digital measurements of HPG acini is a highly reliable method; it can be used in Tier 1 risk assessment process of any contaminant as well as proxy for higher Tier studies: https://doi.org/10.1080/00218839.2026.2697586
Taylor & Francis
Join IBRA: https://ibra.org.uk/join-now

The use of neonicotinoids has undoubtedly behavioral and physiological effects on bees. This work aimed to ring test the digital measurement of honey bees’ hypopharyngeal glands (HPGs), validate th...

06/08/2026

🐝 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: 𝐀𝐧 𝐀𝐩𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 📚

Swarm control is one of the most challenging - and most important - aspects of successful beekeeping.

In 𝐀𝐧 𝐀𝐩𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥, beekeeper Wally Shaw provides a practical, easy-to-follow field guide packed with clear diagrams and proven techniques to help beekeepers make confident decisions at the hive. The 2022 revised edition reflects years of additional experience and covers both preventative and reactive swarm control strategies, with a strong focus on practical hive management.

Whether you're looking to improve your colony management or refine your swarm control skills, this is a valuable addition to any beekeeper's library.

📖 Available from Northern Bee Books:
https://www.northernbeebooks.co.uk/products/an-apiary-guide-to-swarm-control-shaw

31/07/2026

🐝🦠 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗔𝗖𝗖𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗟𝗘

🚨 Can a simple, affordable diagnostic test help improve the fight against American foulbrood?

American foulbrood (AFB), caused by Paenibacillus larvae, is one of the most devastating bacterial diseases affecting honey bee brood worldwide.

🔬 A new open-access study published in the Journal of Apicultural Research introduces a 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘄𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗔 𝗸𝗶𝘁 designed to make AFB diagnosis faster, simpler and more accessible.

✨ The kit can:

🐝 Detect P. larvae in suspected larvae and pupae samples
🧬 Distinguish between the two main ERIC genotypes (ERIC I and ERIC II)
⚡ Provide a rapid, low-cost and easy-to-use alternative for laboratories without PCR facilities

🧪 Even more impressive, the researchers reported 100% agreement with PCR in experimentally infected larvae using newly developed monoclonal antibodies.

❄️ The kit components also remained stable for at least 11 months at 4°C, making it a practical option for routine diagnostic use.

💡 Since ERIC I and ERIC II differ significantly in virulence, identifying the genotype could help improve disease management, surveillance and prevention strategies - supporting both beekeepers and veterinary authorities in responding more effectively to AFB.

📖 Read the full open-access article here:

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00218839.2026.2676350

24/07/2026

🐝 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗸𝗲𝗽 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 🐝

𝗕𝗲𝗲-𝗦𝗸𝗲𝗽 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 by Chris Park is a beautifully illustrated guide to the heritage, folklore and practical craft of making and using traditional straw skeps.

From learning how to coil straw and create a skep, to making protective hackles, managing bees, harvesting honey, producing beeswax candles and even brewing mead, this book brings together practical skills and centuries of beekeeping history.

📖 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽-𝗯𝘆-𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, historical insights and fascinating folklore, it is an inspiring resource for anyone interested in traditional beekeeping, natural hive forms and the enduring relationship between bees and people.

Written by skep-making expert Chris Park, the book explores a remarkable tradition while offering hands-on guidance for those who want to try making a skep themselves.

🔗 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲: https://www.northernbeebooks.co.uk/en-eu/products/bee-skep-making-park