Pest controls strengthened to protect bee colonies

Defences against the spread of the small hive beetle, a major threat to bee colonies and stored honey, have been strengthened across Ireland, it was revealed yesterday.

The move followed an outbreak in Italy and the news that a number of apiaries have been recently established across Ireland in areas that have been identified as being most at risk for the introduction of the pest and others such as the Asian hornet.

Minister of State Tom Hayes, speaking at the Federation of Irish Beekeepers’ Association annual summer course in Gormanston College, Co Meath, said a sentinel apiary programme has been established this year across the island of Ireland.

He paid tribute to the Federation of Irish Beekeepers’ Association, the Native Irish Honey Bee Society and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland for their assistance in establishing this all-island programme.

Philip McCabe, public relations officer of the Federation of Irish Beekeepers’ Association, will next September become president of Apimondia, the International Federation of Beekeeping Associations, which represents 16m beekeepers worldwide.