International Bee Research Association - IBRA

09/10/2026

🐝 𝗔𝗦𝗜𝗔𝗡 𝗛𝗢𝗥𝗡𝗘𝗧: 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗘𝗞𝗘𝗘𝗣𝗘𝗥’𝗦 𝗚𝗨𝗜𝗗𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗗𝗘𝗙𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗦

⚠️ Yellow-legged hornet activity keeps rising in the UK. The National Bee Unit rolling update records 212 credible sightings and 74 nests identified in 2026, with recent nests confirmed in Kent, East Sussex, Dorset and Cambridgeshire.

📖 Andrew Durham’s guide draws on years of research in France: trapping, nest destruction, entrance protection and electric harp traps, with clear advice on what works and why.

🔧 Includes a 26 page appendix on building your own harp traps.

✅ Softback, 228 pages 👉 https://www.northernbeebooks.co.uk/en-eu/products/asian-hornet-durham

01/10/2026

🐝 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗬𝗕𝗘𝗘 𝗕𝗬 𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗔𝗗𝗔𝗠

📖 Originally published in German, this volume gathers the knowledge Brother Adam built over eight decades at Buckfast Abbey.

🔬 The book is divided in three parts: the theory of breeding, practical possibilities in breeding, and an evaluation of the breeding possibilities of the different races of honeybees.

🌍 He started with bees at twelve, worked with them for over 78 years and became an international authority on the races and strains of the honeybee.

✅ Softback, 132 pages, Northern Bee Books 👉 https://www.northernbeebooks.co.uk/en-eu/products/breeding-the-honeybee-adam

26/09/2026

🐝🌹 The results of the 4th IBRA International Art Competition! Dear bee lovers! Thank you all for contributing to the selection of the best 2 photographs of ‘flowers visited by bees”.
We received 35 exceptionally beautiful photographs, and we are grateful to the contributors.
See the winners!

24/09/2026

🐝 𝐂𝐎𝟐 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐕𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐀 𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆: 𝐃𝐎𝐄𝐒 𝐈𝐓 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊?

Using CO2 to dislodge Varroa sounds appealing: quick results and no bees sacrificed. But how accurate is it?

New open access research in the Journal of Apicultural Research put it to the test:

🔬 A handheld CO2 injector dislodged only 𝟏𝟔% of mites on average
🧪 CO2 from a lab tank reached 𝟒𝟎.𝟒%
⚠️ At low infestation levels, efficacy fell below 10%

The soapy water or alcohol wash remains the standard for accurate Varroa monitoring.

📖 Free to read: https://doi.org/10.1080/00218839.2026.2711491

The parasitic mite, Varroa destructor, is responsible for the decimation of a significant proportion of honey bee colonies around the world through its traumatic feeding behavior and its efficiency...

19/09/2026

Together with COLOSS Association award and Awards to Students for best Oral and Poster presentation, IBRA also awarded them with free subsriptions for Bee World and JAR journal.
Here, Our chair, Dr. Fani Hatjina, handing out the IBRA awards.
Congratulations to awardees!

14/09/2026

🐝 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘆 - 𝗡𝗼. 𝟭𝟲𝟱 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄

📖 An independent international journal published by Northern Bee Books since 1984, edited by Andrea Quigley & Norman Carreck. Full colour A4, 60+ pages.

🔥 This issue asks how your bees, your apiary and you are coping with record heat, drought and wildfire risk.

🔍 Plus: Maggie Gill on tropilaelaps in Tajikistan and reports near the Georgian border in Türkiye; Chris Farrell on the 2025 Asian hornet season; Graham Kingham on microscopy; Norman Carreck on Brexit ten years on.

🎧 Hear us on the Beekeeping Today podcast this September, or say hello at the National Honey Show in late October.

✅ Subscribe 👉 https://www.northernbeebooks.co.uk/en-eu/products/the-beekeepers-quarterly

07/09/2026

𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗬 𝗣𝗢𝗧𝗦 🍯🐝

Did you know honey pots are a collectible in their own right? 🤔 Written by John Doyle, founder of the European Honey Pot Collectors' Society, this illustrated guide is a charming introduction to the world of honey-pot collecting. 📖

Doyle explores what defines a honey pot, their history, forms and uses, with examples in pottery, glass, silver, wood and more. Practical sections cover starting a collection, display, care and repair, and record keeping. ✨

Perfect for beekeepers, collectors, or anyone who loves the quirkier side of bee culture!

📚 Get your copy: northernbeebooks.co.uk/products/collecting-honey-pots-doyle

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...