Thought I'd share a little about something new here in Hawaii. It's nice to have access to rare types of honey for a little cheaper....but this article I found while surfing, is kinda eye-opening. For those of you who don't know... invasive species pose a real threat to the delicate balance of life here in the islands. I also read somewhere once that, "If all the bees on the planet were removed from existence...humans would only have 4 years left to survive." Is this a true statement? Share some feeling on the subject if you're inclined.
Close-up view of a varroa mite.
Photo by: Walter Nagamine, entomologist, HDOA
"On Friday April 6 the parasitic mite, Varroa jacobsoni, was detected on honey bees in Hawai`i for the first time in 4 hives that had been abandoned for some years on the grounds of the Makiki Nature Center in urban Honolulu. The HBA is working closely with the Department of Agriculture to survey the surrounding area and the entire island of O`ahu in order to locate and contain this infestation ASAP.
Please refer any calls related to sighting of any honey bee swarms or feral colonies to Michael Kliks at 988-7203 in Honolulu so that we can locate the bees and collect adequate samples from them for detecting mites and map the distribution of this destructive parasite.
Do not move any managed honey bee colonies within the City and County of Honolulu or between islands until further notice!"
If this manages to get out of hand, it could end up being a serious problem for Oahu. And with the introduction of the new Superferry from Mobile, Alabama....could easily spread to the other islands.
Any thoughts? Complaints? Feelings? Comments?
Aloha,
~Neil
Close-up view of a varroa mite.
Photo by: Walter Nagamine, entomologist, HDOA
"On Friday April 6 the parasitic mite, Varroa jacobsoni, was detected on honey bees in Hawai`i for the first time in 4 hives that had been abandoned for some years on the grounds of the Makiki Nature Center in urban Honolulu. The HBA is working closely with the Department of Agriculture to survey the surrounding area and the entire island of O`ahu in order to locate and contain this infestation ASAP.
Please refer any calls related to sighting of any honey bee swarms or feral colonies to Michael Kliks at 988-7203 in Honolulu so that we can locate the bees and collect adequate samples from them for detecting mites and map the distribution of this destructive parasite.
Do not move any managed honey bee colonies within the City and County of Honolulu or between islands until further notice!"
If this manages to get out of hand, it could end up being a serious problem for Oahu. And with the introduction of the new Superferry from Mobile, Alabama....could easily spread to the other islands.
Any thoughts? Complaints? Feelings? Comments?
Aloha,
~Neil