Native Irish Honey Bee Society

01/10/2026

Urgent search for Asian hornet nest in Cork after second insect found

Experts are racing to locate a possible nest before a mated queen can escape and overwinter elsewhere in Ireland

30/09/2026

Thinking about keeping bees, but not sure where to start?

Now taking bookings for next block of classes:October 2026Tuesday Evenings (6pm-9pm) Starts 6th October, each Tuesday 5-6 classes, 3 hours each Welcome to our online Beekeeping Course at Donegal Bees! Unlock the secrets of successful beekeeping with our comprehensive course designed to equip you wit...

30/09/2026

The National Museum of Ireland will now examine the single Asian hornet which was captured and confirmed in Co. Cork.

30/09/2026

The National Parks and Wildlife Service has today (29th September) confirmed a recent sighting and subsequent capture of an Asian Hornet (Vespa velutina) at Ringaskiddy, Cork.

See press release for full details: https://shorturl.at/1dxLj

The public are asked to remain vigilant and report suspected Asian Hornet sightings immediately with a photograph through the Asian Hornet Reporter: www.invasives.ie/asianhornetreporter

A photograph is required to verify all reports of Asian hornet. Photographs allow the National Biodiversity Data Centre to verify that the species sighted is an Asian hornet, as many native species can look very similar.

For help with identification and to learn more about Asian hornet visit: www.invasives.ie/asianhornet

25/09/2026

The mite can't cross the Channel on its own. Its most likely route in is through imported bees and used beekeeping equipment.

Tropilaelaps: a threat we still have time to keep out.

Yesterday we shared some good news on import safeguards. So today we're taking a look at the bigger picture behind it and why we want to keep raising awareness and taking action.

Tropilaelaps is a parasitic mite of honey bees, currently spreading westward across Asia and eastern Europe. It's smaller than Varroa, breeds faster and our European honey bees have no natural defences against it, having never evolved alongside brood parasites. Where it takes hold, it can cause serious colony losses and it's notoriously difficult to treat.

However, currently Tropilaelaps isn't established in the UK. And unlike Varroa which arrived and established before we could act we still have the chance to keep this pest out.

The mite can't cross the Channel on its own. Its most likely route in is through imported bees and used beekeeping equipment. That's exactly why strong import controls, careful sourcing and vigilance matter and why the BBKA has been pressing for precautionary measures as the mite spreads closer.

We're in a rare and valuable position: able to act before a threat arrives, rather than scrambling after it. Prevention now is worth far more than any cure later.

Beekeepers can help by only importing responsibly and by staying alert. Tropilaelaps is a notifiable pest, so any suspicion must be reported to the National Bee Unit straight away.

25/09/2026

Join us at the 2026 All-Ireland Hedge Laying Championships on Saturday 26th September!

📍 Oghil, Monasterevin, Co. Kildare, W34 RF89 (Exit the M7 at Junction 14)
⏰ Open to spectators from 10-4 pm.

See this traditional countryside skill in action and enjoy the accompanying food and trade stalls, including local craftspeople. It’s a family-friendly day out and there will also be opportunities to hear from experts about how to plant and manage hedgerows for nature.

The event is free to attend, just arrive on the day and follow the direction of our parking stewards.

🏆 Would you like to compete? We have categories for both novice and experienced hedge layers. Email us on [email protected] for more details.

🔗 Discover our previous All-Ireland Champions on www.hedgerows.ie/hedge-laying-championships.

25/09/2026

The Georgina Campbell Natural Food Award being presented to Karin Stierle and Kieran Harnett representing both NIHBS and natural food producers. Kieran is also part of the Dublin Honey Project.

25/09/2026

Why is honey one of the most faked foods in the world?

24/09/2026

Are you a beekeeper? BEE-GUARDS needs your experience.

Take part in the survey: https://beeguards.eu/survey/

How does beekeeping affect the environment, and how can we make beekeeping more sustainable and resilient in the future?

As part of the BEE-GUARDS project, we are working to better understand the environmental impacts of beekeeping. To do this, we need information about how beekeeping is actually practised.

We therefore invite beekeepers to take part in our survey, “Environmental impacts of beekeeping.”

The survey covers topics such as colony management, honey harvesting and extraction, the use of resources and materials, and the economics of beekeeping.

Your experience can help researchers build a more realistic picture of the environmental footprint of beekeeping and identify opportunities for more sustainable practices.

The survey takes approximately 20–30 minutes to complete. All responses are anonymous and will be used for research within the BEE-GUARDS project.

Please share the survey with other beekeepers in your network. The more experiences we can include, the stronger the basis for developing sustainable and resilient beekeeping practices.

EU Science & Innovation CREA - Ricerca

24/09/2026