As its name suggests, the Maltese Honeybee is endemic to the Maltese islands.
Today – the third Saturday of August – is World Honeybee Day!
As pollinators and producers of honey, honeybees are an important part of ecosystems across the world and, unfortunately, they’re disappearing.
World Honeybee Day has been created to raise awareness about the risks that honeybees face, such as habitat loss and toxic pesticides. Urban developments have contributed to habitat loss – leaving honeybees with nowhere to live.
In honour of this occasion, here’s a bit about the islands’ very own species of honeybee: the Maltese Honeybee.
The Maltese honeybee (Apis mellifera ruttneri) is endemic to the Maltese Islands. This species evolved into existence following the separation of Malta from mainland Europe by the rising Mediterranean Sea.
The new species became well-adapted to the Maltese climate, with its high temperatures, dry summers, and cool winters. Additionally, the Maltese Honeybee can be quite aggressive, defending itself against wasps, beetles, beekeepers, and even trespassing humans.
For a long time, the Maltese honeybee was the only one on the Maltese Islands. That is, until 1992 when the Varroa mite parasite attacked and devastated around 4,000 bee colonies.
Queen bees and drones had to be imported to make up for this loss, but the Maltese honeybee is still the dominant species. Since this attack, the species has developed some resistance to the Varroa mite.
Our local honeybee species is protected by law and by a national coalition that was established last month. Launched in late July, the Coalition for the Conservation of the Maltese Honeybee (Il-Koalizzjoni għall-Konservazzjoni tan-Naħla Maltija) has one main purpose: to conserve the Maltese Honeybee.
Based on this purpose, the coalition has created five main objectives:
- For the Maltese Honeybee’s importance to be recognised in terms of our national ecology, beekeeping and agricultural sectors.
- For the Maltese Honeybee to be recognised as part of Malta’s natural heritage, and thus should be conserved in a holistic manner.
- To encourage knowledge and research about the Maltese endemic Honeybee, as well as its breeding.
- To assemble and coordinate various entities, individuals and NGOs that are interested in the Maltese Honeybee’s conservation.
- To emphasise the importance of legislation that would protect the Maltese Honeybee in a holistic way.
Did you know this?
Kristofer Hantosi/Flickr, @blue_honey_malta/Instagram, Il-Koalizzjoni għall-Konservazzjoni tan-Naħla Maltija/Facebook