Department aims to control honey bee parasite

The Department of Agriculture and Food has intensified its efforts aimed at minimising the impact on the honey industry of the varroa mite, a bloodsucking parasite due to wipe out the wild Irish honey bee population within five years.

Devices which help to identify the presence of varroa in hives have been distributed to hundreds of bee-keepers, who are being urged under a public information campaign to immediately treat any infected colonies.

The deadly mite, which affects only honey bees, was first discovered in a Co Sligo apiary last summer, having come into the State through hives illegally imported from Britain. It has since spread to Mayo and Leitrim.

"Once you have it, it can't be eradicated, only controlled," said Prof Brendan O Cochlain, education officer of the Federation of Irish Bee-Keepers' Associations (FIBKA). "One never wants to use chemicals but that's the only way bees can be kept in future. All honey bees in the wild in Ireland will be wiped out in four to five years maximum."

Attacking the bee's immune system, varroa leaves it crippled and susceptible to viruses. If a colony becomes infected it will collapse, sending the survivors out in search of another hive, thus spreading the parasite further.

Prof O Cochlain said varroa had implications not only for honey production in Ireland but also the pollination of flowers and crops. "Other bees can carry out the function of pollination but not as well as the honey bee. The honey bee is flower-faithful. It works the flower until it is exhausted."

Varroa was originally confined to a particular species of bee located in the Far East. However, in the 1970s, it crossed over to the common European species of Apis Mellifera with devastating effect.

Since its arrival in Britain, half of the country's bee-keepers have gone out of business. Ironically, however, honey production has increased with the introduction of more efficient, professional production techniques.

For many years, Ireland was the only country in Europe free from the mite having introduced a ban on bee importations in 1980.

"Our big fear was that a swarm would come across on the ferry in the back of a truck," said Mr Don Feeley, a senior inspector with the Department. "Unfortunately, what happened was someone deliberately brought in bees from England, ignoring the ban."

He said the Department had identified three different individuals responsible for breaches of the law, one of whom distributed infected bees throughout Co Sligo, leaving a trail behind him. The Department had considered taking legal action but "it's impossible to prove anything".

After varroa was first discovered in the area, more than 300 hives were destroyed by the Department.

"We thought we might be able to confine it to Sligo. But every country in the world has tried the same and failed. Basically, by the time you find it it's already too late."

Infected hives can be treated with chemicals which stop varroa from spreading and limit its effects.

The issue dominated last month's annual meeting of FIBKA, of which about two-thirds of Ireland's 3,000 bee-keepers are members.

Prof O Cochlain said it was possible a new strain of honey bee could be developed which was resistant to varroa. But in the meantime, bee-keepers have no choice but to be vigilant.