Warwickshire Bee Inspectors
"In the UK, three serious diseases of bees are currently notifiable and subject to control under bee disease legislation...These are the two bacterial diseases of brood - European foul brood (EFB), American foul brood (AFB), and varroosis (Varroa). In addition the small hive beetle (Aethina tumida) and Tropilaelaps spp are now notifiable throughout Europe..."
Central Science Library
The UK has eight Regional Bees Inspectors and forty Seasonal Bee Inspectors with responsibility for implementing DEFRA'S 'Bee Health Programme' through the detection and control of diseases of the honeybee, APIS mellifera, and tangentally, the education of beekeepers in the management of disease. For a detailed description of the work of a Bee Inspector, visit the CSL website.
Warwickshire Beekeepers Association lies within the Western Region, which includes the following counties:
Cheshire
Gloucestershire
Herefordshire
Avon
Shropshire
Staffordshire
Warwickshire
West Midlands
Worcestershire
REGIONAL BEE INSPECTOR
Mr. Dave Sutton
Acting RBI
Member of Solihull Beekeepers' Association (WBKA)
Tel:01885 482673
SEASONAL BEE INSPECTOR
Justus Klaar
Seasonal Bee Inspector Western Region
30 South Road
Stourbridge
West Midlands
DY8 3YB
Tel. 01384 352177
Contact a Bee Inspector immediately if a notifiable disease is suspected.
Normally, a Bee Inspector will visit the apiary within a couple of days. If disease is present, he will decide what treatment or other action is needed. You are obliged by law to disclose details of all colonies in your possession, including out-apiaries, regardless of the consequences. If it turns out to be a false alarm and there is nothing seriously wrong, you will have had the benefit of an expert eye going through your apiary, which will re-assuring and possibly enlightening.
The control of disease has to be taken seriously. As beekeepers, we have a responsibility to the bees and to the beekeeping community but essentially, anyone who cares about their bees will want to keep them healthy. The sight of a colony "in trouble" is distressing, and not just for the bees. If an apiary has to be destroyed, the loss can be devastating. Members of the association benefit from access to the Bee Diseases Insurance which will cover the cost of any equipment that has to be destroyed due to the notifiable diseases.
At the present time, anyone is free to keep bees without any kind of training. This could change in the future, but for the time being at least, the onus is on beekeepers themselves to acquire the knowledge and discipline of good management.
The recognition and control of diseases of the honey bee is a big subject. It requires knowledge (knowing what diseases looks like), understanding (understanding the implications and effects on a broader scale), and noticing (observation of small details which could be signs). The latter requires a trained eye. A new beekeeper has to be vigilant to notice what the experienced eye picks up in an instant, which is why it is important to develop good management techniques right from the start. The national and regional beekeeping associations are sources of practical guidance.
If you have set up an apiary, but not yet joined an Association please inform the Regional Bee Inspector that you have bees. He will probably want to visit your apiary to check all is well. A visit should be welcomed.
Related Links
Defra, UK - Horticulture - Bee Health
The Bee Health Advisory Panel (BHAP)
Bee Diseases & Parasites (David Cushman's Site)
The New Season Some Key Points for New Beekeepers
Synopsis of a talk given by Robin Hall, Regional Bee Inspector at Stow-on-the-Wold.
BDI (Bee Diseases Insurance Ltd)
Note: if your insurance does not cover the total number of hives in the apiary when the Bee Inspector inspects, the insurance cover for all hives is invalidated.
Bee Inspection Health Service (aka BeeBase website)
The National Bee Unit
Central Science Laboratory
Room 10GA01/02
Sand Hutton
YORK
YO411 1LZ
Telephone: 01904 462510
Fax: 01904 462240
E-mail: nbu@csl.gov.uk