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Northern Ireland Bees Survive Winter Better
28 Oct
Summary
- One-in-four bee colonies lost last winter, a decrease from previous year.
- Queen bee issues caused over half of the recorded colony losses.
- Annual survey highlights beekeeper investment in monitoring bee health.
Fewer honey bee colonies were lost in Northern Ireland during the winter of 2025/26, according to new figures. The annual honey bee husbandry survey revealed that approximately one-in-four colonies were lost, a notable decrease from the one-third lost in the previous winter of 2024/25.
Queen bee problems were identified as the leading cause, accounting for more than half of the colony losses. Other contributing factors included dead bees, empty hives, and natural hazards such as storms, floods, and theft, which represented 10% of losses.
Joanna Kirbas, an AFBI entomologist, highlighted the survey's essential role in monitoring bee health and long-term trends, noting the highest response rate in five years indicates strong beekeeper investment.
Dr. Archie Murchie from AFBI stressed the importance of tracking losses, suggesting that changing weather patterns could influence bee health and susceptibility to infections.
The survey also examines disease management, particularly for the Varroa mite. Concerns were raised about the potential spread of the Tropilaelaps mite, which has recently been found in Turkey and Georgia and poses a significant threat to bee broods.
