Bee health report
Members of the public are being urged to notify experts if they think they see a non-native hornet species.
Yellow-legged Asian hornets (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) are a non-native invasive species which are aggressive predators of several species, including honey bees and other pollinators.
Plans for dealing with sightings of the hornet – native to Northern India, China, the Indo-Chinese peninsula and the Indonesian archipelago – are included in the first annual report of the Bee Health Improvement Partnership (BHIP).
The Report also showed positive steps in tracking cases of Varroa mites which pose the biggest threat to honey bee colonies in Scotland.
A map showing the spread of the parasite, and highlighting areas where the mite has not been reported, such as the islands of Colonsay and Oronsay, which are nature reserves for Apis mellifera mellifera (Amm, Black Bee), was shared with beekeepers across the country to highlight where particular care is needed in order to prevent spread of the parasite into these areas.
Background
Published on: 3 April, 2024