Italian bee monarchs driving Maltese queens towards ‘extinction’

Honeybees endemic to the Maltese islands are facing imminent extinction, research by the MEDIBEES Project shows.

The research indicates that of the 47 samples analysed, only six were found to be pure Maltese (Apis mellifera ruttneri). This constitutes only 12.8% of the collected samples.

One of Medibees’s tasks is to characterize the different honeybee subspecies of the Mediterranean to determine their conservation status.

As anticipated, most honeybees were hybridised with imported Italian honeybees.

“At this rate, our endemic subspecies, which is only found in the Maltese Islands, is facing imminent extinction,” Fondazzjoni għall-Konservazzjoni tan-Naħla Maltija (KNM) said.

The study pointed out that many beekeepers in Malta import ligustica queens from nearby Italy.

“By this, they put the genetic integrity of their subspecies at risk,” researchers said.

In seven samples, bees also shared genetic background with Algerian samples.

KNM stated the need to address the issue from the roots is now emphasized more than ever, calling for a ban on the importation of foreign honeybees.

“Time is of the essence, and we must act promptly before it is too late!” the foundation said.

It also said it is currently working on implementing one of the recommendations, which is to have the Maltese honeybee designated as Malta’s national insect by the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA).

Medibees aims to generate new knowledge on the genetics of bees and their adaptation to climate change, develop new genetic tools to promote the selection of climate change resilient Apis mellifera breeds, train beekeepers (who are directly involved in the project) to use good management practices, and valorise beekeeping products and by-products.