The crimson dwarf honeybee has established a colony in Europe for the primary time, scientists have discovered.
The bee, Apis florea, is native to Asia and its discovery has raised alarm amongst native beekeepers and conservationists, who concern the doubtless devastating affect on native bee populations.
“It’s regarding that Apis florea has been present in Malta,” mentioned Dave Goulson, a professor of biology on the College of Sussex, who was not concerned within the analysis. “Apis florea is more likely to compete for pollen and nectar with our native pollinators, a bunch of bugs which are already in decline. It’s also very seemingly that these bees shall be carrying a number of ailments which European bees could have little resistance to.”
Earlier reviews present the crimson dwarf species has slowly expanded its territory from Asia to the Center East and north-east Africa, however till now it had by no means been reported in Europe.
“Whether it is in Malta, that is the primary incidence of a honeybee in Europe that isn’t the western hive bee, Apis mellifera,” Francis Ratnieks, a British entomologist and emeritus professor of apiculture on the College of Sussex, who was not concerned within the analysis, mentioned.
When the colony, consisting of greater than 2,000 grownup bees, was found encircling a tree department, DNA testing was finished to establish the species. As quickly because the species was recognized as Apis florea it was eliminated and destroyed. However the researchers, who wrote within the Journal of Apicultural Analysis, suspect a bunch of bees had already left the hive to begin a brand new colony.
The proximity of the colony to Birżebbuġa freeport, Malta’s main cargo hub, suggests the bees could have arrived by way of a business vessel.
“This is likely one of the important (and quicker) routes by which totally different subspecies of Apis mellifera, in addition to different bee, wasp and different flying insect species can transfer from their native ranges to extra distant areas,” mentioned Juliana Rangel, a professor of apiculture at Texas A&M College, who was not concerned within the analysis.
Rangel mentioned this new discovering was yet one more instance of accelerating temperatures because of the local weather disaster driving the unfold of species to beforehand unoccupied territories.
The researchers consider the gentle winters in Malta and different southern European international locations favour the survival of this invasive species. The crimson dwarf honeybee can also be present in Israel.
after e-newsletter promotion
“If it might probably reside in Israel, I dare say it might probably do high-quality in Malta,” mentioned Ratnieks.
It could possibly be “a matter of just some years” for this species to unfold to a different location, Rangel mentioned. “Given the big variety of islands within the Mediterranean which are comparatively close to one another, and the truth that the continental land can also be so close by, it is vitally believable that extra of those incursions will happen sooner or later, threatening our biodiversity in ways in which we could not even but perceive.
“The one factor that we are able to do is to be vigilant, report any sightings of specimens or swarms that seem totally different or new, take away the specimens as quickly as they’re positively recognized, search the neighborhood for different specimens, and proceed with monitoring efforts, particularly in ports of entry the place swarms could be travelling on ships.”
