Bee To Sea

07/09/2026

Tell me you're a beekeeper, without telling me you're a beekeeper!

Trying to raise some more awareness about this invasive predator, by dedicating the front window to information and beautiful bees for the week.



See it, snap it, send it!
Download the Asian Hornet Watch app

06/09/2026

If one of your girls stings and you remain super calm, enduring the pain, they can 'unwind' the stinger, removing barbs as they do.
🐝 Have to credit other beekeepers as this was learnt earlier this year.

06/09/2026

🌼 🌸 🌻 🌹 🏵 🌼
A bit before the summer we created these, somewhat interactive, business card-esque, wild flower boxes to give to people.

One of our loyal customers sent some images through to us. Wild flowers still making their garden look pretty amazing, despite the long drought period. Including this Amaranthus, or Love-lies-bleeding, they hadn't seen for a few years.. Cool stuff.

05/09/2026

🐝 When there is a concerned gardener nearby.
It's cool - this is just a Hornet Mimic Hoverfly.

04/09/2026

⚠️ 𝗬𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘁 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 ⚠️
𝟳𝘁𝗵 - 𝟭𝟯𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿

Hey everyone. This has been quite the week for YLAH news and media updates. As volunteer verifiers we took a call Tuesday, although thankfully turned out to be a nest of Europeans.

Neighbouring counties Somerset and Dorset have both had sightings and confirmed nests. We hope heree to be able to create an informative post to help identify and improve awareness. Please take a moment to share this amongst your friends.

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙡? 𝙄 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙜𝙨.
Great! But these are non-native & invasive predatory ones. Who honey bees in paticular have a very hard time dealing with. 🐝 🐝 🐝
And it's not just bees, Exeter University carried out studies on the digestive tracts of these insects, finding a wide range of beetles, butterflies, wasps, moths and flies (and more) contained inside.
A small number of Asian Hornets can decimate a honey bee colony. For us, this is all pretty serious.

𝙊𝙠, 𝙨𝙤 𝙬𝙝𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙠?
This is the rime of year where the numbers of an Asian Hornet colony begin to peak and predation ramps up. The nest also goes from producing workers to hornets ready to start mating.

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙄 𝙙𝙤 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥?
You can help us by being a little vigilant- keep an eye out when in the garden, or walking the dog. Tell people in conversation. Spread awareness.

If you see something you think pretty well might be one, try to take a picture - if it's safe to do so. The general.public are doing a brilliant job reporting sightings. But with the high volumes reported, a clear photograph is a huge help confirming the species and identifying them.

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥?
Many things, learning from our fellow beekeepers in France & Belgium, we volunteer our time, attend regional meetings and more. Our literature has links to the apps and sources of further information.
We monitor, spread awareness, build kit and help people know what to do.

Please take a moment to familiarise yourself with these images. The distinctive key element is the yellow 'socks'. Although they share many characteristics with the European Hornet, the YLAH will be slightly smaller.

𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙖 𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜?
Apple users:
‎Asian Hornet Watch App - App Store https://share.google/rhiuGxeYcwR33GbPg

Android:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.ac.ceh.hornets

By email: [email protected]

With thanks to the BBKA - The British Beekeepers Association for the images here.

30/08/2026

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀

This video of a Yellow Legged Asian Hornet, produced by the BBKA - The British Beekeepers Association is helpful in identifying this invasive insect.

Click the link for more information on these insects as well as other beekeeping updates.

Yellow-Legged Asian Hornet

28/08/2026

Right then.

Its that time of year again. Preparing for the Nationals.

We have the opportunity to enter a number of categories, but will need to prepare, refine and get them ready for October. 🐝 🐝

27/08/2026

The hum of the hive, best listened to loudly :) 🐝

Checking one of the colonies at the weekend, the hum of the hive this time of the year, is truly amazing!

Our happy place when we are with the bees.