🐝 Battling the Swarm: A Tough Few Weeks at Yorkshire Apiaries

This summer has tested us in ways we never expected. At Yorkshire Apiaries, we’ve always known that beekeeping comes with its fair share of challenges—but nothing quite prepared us for the relentless assault we’ve faced from wasps and European hornets over the past few months.

It’s been traumatic. Devastating, really.

We lost a strong hive that was in the delicate process of requeening—a hive we had high hopes for. Watching it fall, despite our best efforts, was heartbreaking. And not long after, a small nuc gifted to us—full of promise and potential—was overwhelmed and destroyed. These weren’t just boxes of bees. They were part of our growing family, nurtured with care and optimism. We have lost two queens; one bought only 10 days ago and one from the donated swarm. As a last-ditch attempt, we have used the newspaper method to try and save the last 50 bees. We had to transfer them to super frames, and we live in hope. We just couldn't give up on them.

Newspaper method for combining hives.

The scale of the invasion has been staggering. Thousands of wasps, day after day, descending like a plague. Traps filling within hours. And the European hornets—larger, louder, and just as lethal—have added a terrifying dimension to the fight. It’s been a daily battle to protect the remaining colonies, fortifying entrances, setting traps, and doing everything we can to give our bees a fighting chance. We will update on our Hive-Five equipment once fitted to our entrances with a verdict of how helpful they are! For now it is cardboard and tape! We even tried tunnelling the entrances on the nucs but nothing could keep them out!

The onslaught of the wasps.

We know many of you are facing similar struggles. The late summer surge in wasp activity has hit hard across the region, and it’s easy to feel helpless when nature turns so aggressively against our hives. But if there’s one thing beekeepers are known for, it’s resilience. We learn, we adapt, and we support each other.

So, here’s to the fighters—the bees and the beekeepers alike. We’re still here, still working, still hoping. If you’ve got tips, stories, or just want to share how you’re coping, we’d love to hear from you. Let’s keep this community strong, even when the season isn’t.

Stay safe out there and give your bees an extra bit of love today. They need it—and so do we.

Warm wishes,

Yorkshire Apiaries