Beekeeper Pest Surveillance Samples in England, 2008

Figures for samples submitted by beekeepers for testing of exotic pests in England during 2008. The dataset is broken down to county level and includes counts for samples submitted and those testing for Small hive beetle and Tropilaelaps mites. Data originates from a live database maintained by the NBU and is provided by the Government Digital Service under Crown Copyright.

Use Cases

• Mapping regional beekeeper engagement in pest surveillance based on sample submission counts.
• Assessing the geographic distribution of testing efforts for exotic pests like Small hive beetle and Tropilaelaps.
• Establishing a baseline for exotic pest absence in the UK, as neither pest had been confirmed at the time.
• Analyzing potential data inconsistencies arising from historical county boundaries stored in BeeBase.

Strengths

• Provides data for a specific year (2008) with geographic breakdown to county level.
• Includes explicit fields for counts of samples submitted and tested for two specific exotic pests.
• Source is an official live database (NBU), suggesting an authoritative collection method.

Limitations

• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• County data may not reflect current administrative boundaries, as it uses historical BeeBase records.
• The data is a snapshot from a dynamic system and may have been updated retrospectively, causing potential inconsistencies.

Provenance

Source

National Bee Unit (NBU) database via the Government Digital Service.

Collection Method

Samples submitted voluntarily by beekeepers for testing.

Time Range

2008

Freshness

Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.

Geography

England, at county level.