The Malta Government: Save the endemic honeybee Apis Mellifera Ruttneri

The extinction of an endemic species beneficial to the environment is a very sad tragedy indeed especially if it can be averted.

The indigenous Apis Mellifera Ruttneri has evolved to live in perfect harmony with the Maltese environment. Foreign apicultural experts are full of praise of this subspecies and strongly urge us, Maltese beekeepers to protect and promote it as its potential has as yet to be fully appreciated. A Malta University study in 2014 has shown that 83% of the bees in the 2000 beehives on the island has the Ruttneri DNA.

Recently an Italian bee breeder has brought 450 hives of disease free foreign bees. Qualified rumour has it that the final number may reach 9000!. This massive intrusion will saturate our skies with male bees carrying alien DNA (queen bees mate in flight) producing hybrids leading eventually to the loss of our endemic honeybee.

We appeal to the Malta government to immediately halt this DNA intrusion thus saving our beloved, hardworking Ruttneri honey bee from extinction