Small Hive Beetle in mainland Europe

[Duncan]

Of course the discovery of the SHB in Italy is of great concern to all of us. But I think it is important to keep some basic facts in mind. This is not Varroa that could easily hitch a ride on the back of a bee.This is not Varroa that can reproduce/spread from a single female. This a beetle and can't just latch on to some bees and move around the EU. Several individuals would have to be imported for it to create a viable breeding population and even then, if the number was say below 50, it would encounter inbreeding problems very quickly. So, I say that the importation of apicultural hardware such as nucs should be banned for obvious reasons. Same for second-hand apicultural equipment. Queen bee imports pose the least risk - especially from outside the designated area. Fruit and potted plants are higher risk.

[gavin]

I'm discussing SHB at our association meeting tomorrow … does anyone know how many Q's are in a "batch". Beebase records something like 1760 batches imported from Italy this year and I see that G. has a figure of 3000 Q's on the SBA Bee Health webpages. Is a batch of queens anything from 1 to a battery box full?


The 3000 figure was previously given on BeeBase but it was then altered down to the 1760 figure if I remember right. I know it says 'Batched queens' but I'm just assuming that number to be the total number of (recorded) queens.

[mbc]

Queen bee imports pose the least risk - especially from outside the designated area. Fruit and potted plants are higher risk.

Seeing as the only previous incursion into Europe, the Portuguese case, was from imports of queens, history, common sense and even a little knowledge of the beetles life cycle(gravid eggs) and previous examples of insects laughing in the face of genetic bottlenecks- Asian hornets ring a bell?- would suggest that this is nonsense.
Do you have a vested interest in continuing queen imports? or is there some other reason you are trying to spread this disinformation?

[Jon]

Malta has decided to take action and ban imports from S Italy.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20141119/local/bee-imports-from-southern-italy-stopped.544790

[gavin]

A letter published by Apitalia (in Googlitalian):



The emperor has no clothes?
[ Back to index (http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&prev=search&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=it&u=http://www.apitalia.net/it/attualita.php&usg=ALkJrhivELBWEg1oy5FVdj5axk3Hfde4Ag) ]





http://www.apitalia.net/images/news/att_ReNudo_smaller.jpg When beekeepers take pen and paper and decide to make their voices heard to say that things in beekeeping are taking a really bad turn. We receive this letter by Ermanno and for the record we publish. The people whom the complaint will have the same space to assert their considerations. Critics, on the other hand, is not a word that has a negative connotation, but the activity of thought engaged in the interpretation and evaluation of a fact, of an action.

The emperor has no clothes?

I read the letter of the FAI entitled "Cockroaches and FAI Calabria" published by apitalia, and makes me smile.
Sure you are putting in doubt the credibility and capacity of institutions (and Associations) have been committed so many and such errors, which even amateurs could have done worse, at least this is my thought. Moreover, it is full right of citizens to criticize the institutions if they believe that they do not do their duty. Criticism is not a word that has a negative connotation, but the activity of thought engaged in the interpretation and evaluation of a fact, of an action.
By the President of the Republic, to the Council, until the last Ecological Operator of the country, are all employees of Italian citizens. They are paid with the money of Italian citizens, and they are accountable.
Once there was the king, and as long as everyone believed it to be of Divine origin, no one breathed. It took a naive child because everyone woke up, open their eyes and saw that the king was naked. Only one child had had the courage to say it. Today, there are institutions, but the story is the same. If you're wrong, you have to have the courage to say it. They, of course, the right of reply. Bread Pane e Vino al Vino.
Someone is trying to sell the idea that Italians if you reform work, create jobs: jobs are created when demand increases, and when demand increases companies are not afraid to take on. Someone wants to make a drawing to Renzi to explain that, if a company does not have orders, but does not assume fires? Then we'll make one to explain how to do it to increase demand.
Someone wants to explain to the institutions intervened in Calabria that a cordon sanitaire is such only if it is physically impossible to cross it? Or just write a piece of paper that says "it is forbidden to move apiaries" because they do not move?
We want to make a small list of the errors that have been made in Calabria?

1. The news of the discovery of an outbreak has been put on the internet without FIRST had prepared a plan of action.
2. The decree prohibiting the handling of the apiaries arrived very late.
3. It was not set up any cordon sanitaire.
4. They have been called to work without any veterinary expertise beekeeping.
5. E 'used the fire, when there were alternatives (sulfur dioxide, to name one) that would allow you to save at least hives and honeycombs.
6. They were destroyed apiaries in full, and not only the positive colonies, and this prevented him from understanding the pattern of spread of the parasite.
7. E 'was treated soil indiscriminately, even where they were not found larvae or hives destroyed by the same: why poison the land, if there was no need?
8. It has not done anything to find the zero point, the origin of infection: no one bothered even to ask where they arrived parcels bee purchased in February by a company within the outbreak. No one bothered to figure out whether other companies, perhaps in other regions of Italy, had bought parcels bee on the same occasion.
9. have been suggested and used traps absolutely unreliable: the SHB shuns the light and has a corrugated transparent? There are studies on the effectiveness and reliability of the traps. Let us use them.
10. It was requested the support of researchers or entomologists who had already dealt with the emergency SHB trying to curb it (those Canadians, who immediately were made available, just as an example ..).
11. Veterinarians of neighboring regions, were "invited" to perform the checks: if you really wanted to eradicate the parasite, it was necessary to give a peremptory order, do not invite, so much so that the controls began with two months late.

I could go on, but I think the above is already sufficient. Only one word comes to mind: Improvisation. It only works when the artists are doing it.
I conclude by putting a cherry on the cake: the nuclei trap should be placed where everything was destroyed and sterilized, have captured more beetles. And 'perhaps appropriate to also check some oranges of Gioia Tauro, one of them falls to the ground? Australia and the Florida SHB not only survives, but you play effectively feeding on oranges. I spoke Tuesday in Alsace with beekeepers who had worked in Australia for several years. Nearby was a beekeeper Belga that at some point it is pale and asked me, "but where are the oranges Sanguinello?".
To my knowledge, from Sicily. Why do you ask? "I replied.
He said, "Why in Binche, Belgium, to celebrate the carnival, we pull tons of oranges."
"Azz. - I thought - luckily it's cold in February in Belgium. At least it is usually so .... "
Joking aside, to deal with an emergency, we need competent people. It takes in the institutions, but it also takes in the Associations. And it is time to stop going in no particular order: serves one national association, which groups the regional (one per region) divided by districts.
The bees are neither right nor center, nor left. The parties do not exist anymore, Let us explain also to beekeepers. And the presidents of associations.
The King is naked? I think so. Someone explain it to Cirone. With sympathy.





(By Ermanno De Chino - 11/21/2014)

[fatshark]

The BKF has a thread (http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?p=450674#post450674) on a proposition (Following the discovery of Small Hive Beetle, Aethina tumida, (SHB) in Italy in September 2014 this ADM instructs BBKA to urgently seek a ban on the importation of bees and unprocessed bee products into the UK) tabled by West Sussex BKA for the upcoming BBKA ADM.

The BBKA Executive Committee response is included in the first post in the thread. They do not support the proposition.

[Jon]

You have to wonder how the BBKA manages to get on the wrong side of almost every argument related to beekeeping.

[Black Comb]

Just read our ADM's report of the meeting. It appears the West Sussex proposal was voted through so let's see what the executive does now.

[Neils]

The proposition was passed, we will see where it goes from here.

Ignoring commercial interests that I suspect would drown whatever pressure the BBKA might bring to bear. I do wonder whether "grey" imports subjects to zero checking of any nature actually represent a greater risk over the basic checking in place on "legitimate" imports.

[Calum]

Message:
I would like to remind you to ensure the safe movements of live bees within and into the EU in
view of the onset of the apiculture season in a few weeks, when such movements are more
frequent and especially as small hive beetle (Aethina tumida) was discovered in Italy last year.
Anecdotal information suggests that movements of live bees (especially queen bees) is prone to
illegal movements, therefore full awareness of the risks posed by those and cooperation of
beekeepers and other stakeholders is crucial in preventing the spread of small hive beetle.
For imports, the correct implementation of Articles 7 and 13 of Regulation (EC) No 206/2010
require cooperation and timely interaction between Border Inspection Posts and the final place
of destination for consignments and, even more importantly, between local veterinary
authorities (including specialist laboratories) and the beekeepers or importers. This cooperation
is also important when the final destination of the incoming consignments is in a different
Member State than the border inspection post of arrival which carries out the relevant import
checks.
For trade, the relevant provisions of Directive 92/65/EEC apply. It is possible that the measures
provided for in Commission Implementing Decision 2014/909/EU of 12 December 2014
concerning certain protective measures with regard to confirmed occurrences of the small hive
beetle in Italy (OJ L 359 16/12/2014, p. 161) will cause different trade and import flows
compared to previous years.
In recent years several measures were taken to improve the bee health knowledge and the
technical capacity of the EU and the veterinary services for implementation of the rules. These
measures included, amongst others, the establishment of an EU Reference Laboratory (EURL)
for bee health and its network of national reference laboratories, the training in bee health of
hundreds of officials participating in workshops in the framework of Better Training for Safer
Food and the revamping of the Commission's bee health page, which you can access at:
http://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/live_animals/bees/indcx_en.htm
In addition, the EURL has also developed visual material for easier recognition of the small
hive beetle (bttps : //sites. anses .fr/en/svstem/files/SHB%20For %2öbeekeepers_2 .pdf ).
In general, the current situation implies higher risks than in the past, but I believe this time we
are better prepared and equipped to prevent new introductions and further spread of the small
hive beetle in the EU.
I count on your coordinated efforts in this regard.
Bernard Van Goethem EUROPEAN COMMISSION DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR HEALTH AND FOOD SAFETY Directorate G - Veterinary and International Affairs Director


F ALL HELP

[Adam]

Just read our ADM's report of the meeting. It appears the West Sussex proposal was voted through so let's see what the executive does now.

I haven't yet seen a "BBKA Calls for a Ban on Bee Imports" in any of the 'papers yet.....

Amendment : However the report of the ADM (p106) states that the executive "does not consider it to be appropriate to seek ... a ban"

http://www.bbka.org.uk/files/library/2015_adm_booklet_final_nm_121114_1417000965.pdf

[Wmfd]

I haven't yet seen a "BBKA Calls for a Ban on Bee Imports" in any of the 'papers yet.....

Amendment : However the report of the ADM (p106) states that the executive "does not consider it to be appropriate to seek ... a ban"

http://www.bbka.org.uk/files/library/2015_adm_booklet_final_nm_121114_1417000965.pdf

One option is to do what a lot of executives do in this position when they disagree with the people they are supposed to represent, organisationally ignore it.

This usually involves silence, arguing the meaning of the proposition, arguing why even if they did do something it wouldn't make a difference, reinterpreting it to suit their existing view, establishment of a sub-committee to discuss the proposition and the appropriate response, .... repeat until no longer required or appropriate.

I'm sure the BBKA wouldn't do that. We must be about to hear, since the proposition did mention BBKA should "urgently seek a ban" and it has been passed.

[gavin]

Reading through that was interesting, not just the EC response to the members' wishes on small hive beetle as voted on at the main opportunity for democracy in the organisation, but several other examples too. I think all beekeeping members organisations should be looking at the mechanisms they have for assessing members' wishes and also how they use that guidance to prepare themselves for rapid decision making. Otherwise you just end up with an elite making their own decisions and then later trying to rebuff criticisms from the membership that they've been ignored. I suspect that there is a tendency in that direction in most beekeeping organisations, but the BBKA seem to be masters at it.

So - for BBKA members - what now? Will they just sit back and accept the organisation's 'official' view on SHB and imports?

[Wmfd]

Yes it does seem an odd position given the comment in the very text that the EC quote:
"While introduction of SHB via fruit has been assessed as a possible pathway, the most likely (i.e. highest risk) route of entry to the UK is still considered to be via movement of honey bees: queens and packaged (worker) bees for the purposes of trade."

The EC of BBKA are getting themselves into the position of second guessing the legal position, rather than representing the members views. Yes, it may not currently be easy to get a ban because of the rules, but that isn't a reason for saying nothing - which is implicitly accepting the reasonableness of those rules and not pushing for change.

What can BBKA members do? As you say, this was the route for democracy and the organisation's view is that it should "urgently seek a ban". It is unfortunate that this doesn't seem to be being followed, it can't help BBKA's efforts to get more members involved when it doesn't appear (as yet) to be representing their wishes.

Given in the main part in England we're members of associations that are themselves members of the BBKA, it all feels somewhat removed to me.

Is it any different north of the border?

David

[gavin]

Yes it does seem an odd position given the comment in the very text that the EC quote:
"While introduction of SHB via fruit has been assessed as a possible pathway, the most likely (i.e. highest risk) route of entry to the UK is still considered to be via movement of honey bees: queens and packaged (worker) bees for the purposes of trade."


Contrast that statement with this from the third of three Press Releases from the BBKA (http://www.bbka.org.uk/news_and_events/press_office/press_releases.php) where they continue to play down the risks from bee movements and indicate that they are more worried about fruit and plants:

'However, it is important to understand that the greatest risk of undetected entry of SHB into the UK is not likely to be with honeybees but in imported fruit, vegetables and other plant materials. '

It hardly inspires confidence. I suppose that from a position of total trust in the effectiveness of official measures and the total lack of any dodgy dealings in the bee trade industry, that might be justifiable. But who believes either of those?

You are absolutely right about second guessing the legal position. That should not be the function of members' organisations, they should be pressing for action (any legal action) that protects their members' interests and wishes. Without any push at all (or with only a push from one corner of the UK) the regulators see no point in being inventive.

The SBA is more directly a members' organisation and jetisoned the system of government (and membership) via local associations aeons ago, before I was a beekeeper. So the leaders are more directly in touch with the membership at annual meetings, but in my humble opinion it has not been that good at asking for, listening to and acting upon the members' wishes. It could be better at it. Folk probably feel more in touch with the SBA as there are business meetings twice a year to which ordinary members are welcome, and most of those at the top table do go round the local associations giving talks and making visits. We also have a number of other events through the year where members can get involved and mix with some of those making decisions. Maybe that goes on too south of the border, I'm not sure. In some ways the BBKA is in a different position as it has a much larger membership which means a democratic approach and engagement with the membership is harder. However that ADM report seems to show an organisation that doesn't look to its membership to guide its policies in any way.

[Jon]

If people are going to import packages from Southern Italy we will have SHB this year for sure. There is no way a health cert can 100% guarantee lack of beetles in a package. Health certs typically involve very little. A check for foulbrood in the exporting apiary, sometimes samples taken for nosema testing. Those who claim that a health cert guarantees healthy disease free bees are being disingenuous. A health cert will tell you nothing at all about virus or virus loads in the bees you are importing.

[Wmfd]

Contrast that statement with this from the third of three Press Releases from the BBKA (http://www.bbka.org.uk/news_and_events/press_office/press_releases.php) where they continue to play down the risks from bee movements and indicate that they are more worried about fruit and plants:

'However, it is important to understand that the greatest risk of undetected entry of SHB into the UK is not likely to be with honeybees but in imported fruit, vegetables and other plant materials. '

It hardly inspires confidence.

No, it all seems contradictory.



You are absolutely right about second guessing the legal position. That should not be the function of members' organisations, they should be pressing for action (any legal action) that protects their members' interests and wishes. Without any push at all (or with only a push from one corner of the UK) the regulators see no point in being inventive.

Yes, it is surprising what can be done by regulators and legislators when the pressure is on. Suddenly things that were impossible are achieved through creative thinking, or simply saying 'sod the rules' as the French did (although presumably in French) with BSE.


The SBA is more directly a members' organisation and jetisoned the system of government (and membership) via local associations aeons ago, before I was a beekeeper. So the leaders are more directly in touch with the membership at annual meetings, but in my humble opinion it has not been that good at asking for, listening to and acting upon the members' wishes. It could be better at it. Folk probably feel more in touch with the SBA as there are business meetings twice a year to which ordinary members are welcome, and most of those at the top table do go round the local associations giving talks and making visits. We also have a number of other events through the year where members can get involved and mix with some of those making decisions. Maybe that goes on too south of the border, I'm not sure. In some ways the BBKA is in a different position as it has a much larger membership which means a democratic approach and engagement with the membership is harder. However that ADM report seems to show an organisation that doesn't look to its membership to guide its policies in any way.

That does sound a better structure, and they sound like they are trying. I haven't heard of ordinary member meetings here, maybe they just don't invite me. ;-)

To be fair to the BBKA, it is always going to be harder for people to feel engaged with a much larger organisation, but that should mean being more responsive when the membership is clear in its view.

David

[fatshark]

If people are going to import packages from Southern Italy we will have SHB this year for sure.

I fear that you could extend this to imports from the places that either overwintered their bees in Southern Italy or imported nucs from Southern Italy last year. There was clearly a long period when the beetle went unnoticed … if it's already in Germany or France, for example, then the horse has already bolted.

We've been over this ground before and there appears little movement from the national associations. The BBKA stance is particularly disappointing. Previous importations have, I believe, all been with bees or bee products. NBU analysis indicates that bees/equipment/products are the real threat (risk analysis posted elsewhere in this thread).

I was fortunate to again hear Michael Palmer give his Sustainable Apiary talk this weekend … what he preaches should and could be expanded to cover a entire country.

[Jon]

Locally the export health cert involves a check for foulbroods, mite levels and not much more. Our Department in NI where samples are sent (AFBI)can also check for nosema and acarine.
Noone is going to be looking at virus and even the known viruses often have a series of variants which will vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
I wonder how much time and effort a place like Greece, a major exporter of bees and queens, is likely to be investing in export checking.
May well have other priorities at the moment.

[Wmfd]

http://www.bbka.org.uk/files/pressreleases/shb_import_statement_1424684197.pdf

Looks like the BBKA aren't convinced by health certificates either.

I don't know whether to laugh - they seem to be moving, albeit slowly.

Or cry - this isn't a surprise and we still don't have a statement in line with the ADM.

David

[Adam]

My guess is that IF the BBKA can get around to a press release, most of the 'papers will print it along with 'all bees are dieing' and the oft-quoted bit from Einstein. There'll probably be something in there from one 'paper mixing up neonicitionods as well. Any bet on which one it will be? The publicity might even wake a politician up from their pre-election stupor....

[madasafish]

My guess is that IF the BBKA can get around to a press release, most of the 'papers will print it along with 'all bees are dieing' and the oft-quoted bit from Einstein. There'll probably be something in there from one 'paper mixing up neonicitionods as well. Any bet on which one it will be? The publicity might even wake a politician up from their pre-election stupor....

Pre election stupor?

I take it you are referring to the 2020 GE as nothing is going to happen for this year and next year depending on the composition of whomever forms the new Government.. in my view..

[drumgerry]

Not sure whether this is moderator policy or not but we tend to keep most general political stuff out of this forum. Something which I'm quite happy with. Even at the height of the referendum campaign we managed to keep schtum about what was going on. I'm sure all of us could debate the ins and outs of the coming election till the cows come home but there are plenty of non beekeeping venues in which to do so.

[gavin]

It is certainly a good principle to avoid political discussions wherever possible on fora like this. My comment on the referendum was this one, designed to promote reconciliation and understanding after a heated few weeks off the forum:

http://www.sbai.org.uk/sbai_forum/showthread.php?1840-When-tomorrow-comes

Occasionally someone shows religious, racial or political intolerance. That is certainly something we don't want to see on here - it would either be taken down by the original poster after a nudge, or by one of the team.

In case anyone is wondering what happened to the queen and nuc rearing discussion in this thread I 'hived' (sorry!) it off to here:

www.sbai.org.uk/sbai_forum/showthread.php?1918-Was-SHB-Now-more-queen-and-nuc-raising (http://www.sbai.org.uk/sbai_forum/showthread.php?1918-Was-SHB-Now-more-queen-and-nuc-raising)

[drumgerry]

I'm glad I missed that referendum thread. There's some stuff on there I would have taken issue with in the aftermath.

[gavin]

I was sorry to have started it after a bit. Anyway .... SHB ....

[drumgerry]

Fair enough Gavin I'll stop talking about not talking about politics!

[fatshark]

From the BBKA's Worker Bee newsletter …

2210

… actually, worse than underwhelming … :(

[Jon]

In some quarters the emphasis seems to be on dealing with the beetles when they arrive as opposed to taking measures to prevent their arrival.
An acceptable compromise might be to allow queens, subject to very careful inspection, but ban any form of package or nuc.
With regard to Italy itself, noone will know until late spring how far the beetles have spread. With luck they are still in the initial area of infestation but they could be far further afield by now.
The health cert does not even cover a plethora of existing bee pathogens anyway let alone SHB.

[Adam]

"In some quarters..." Correction.. "In ALL quarters..."

A health certificate for an export is a legal requirement in any case so the advert that Worker Bee is referring to is saying nothing.

I noted that Worker Bee did not state that due the members demands for an importation ban as voted on at the last ADM that the BBKA was now calling for one; lobbying the government and would be putting out a press release and alerting the media. (And calling for more government funding)..

[fatshark]

What's particularly disappointing is that they didn't even take the opportunity to voice their opposition to imports generally … this email will have gone to the new crop of enthusiastic young beekeepers. These are the ones desperate for bees having trained over the winter. Arguably they're also the least likely to find any 'passengers' in their colonies (though I fully accept that even beekeepers with many years experience are often poor at identifying pathogens and disease). The Sussex BKA proposal was supported at the ADM got a brief mention in last months newsletter (a very brief mention).

:(

[Jon]

The UBKA has also someone going round the associations telling them how to deal with beetles when they arrive.
The Native Irish Honeybee Society (NIHBS) is clear in its call for a ban on imports to the island of Ireland.
Contact has been made with ministers north and south of the border but there seems to be no appetite anywhere to take any measures.

[fatshark]

It's interesting (for which, read 'depressing') that when I talk at associations and discuss the risk of SHB importation I've yet to meet a 'rank and file' member who isn't concerned at the apparent lack of action by the national associations. Of course, it's only an interested subset of members that attend winter association talks …

[prakel]

Chris Slade's latest bee blog (April 12. 2015):


A dozen of us were there in time to eat our picnic lunches and natter for a while before officially starting. The short straw had been handed to Martin Hann, the local Bee Inspector who had spent the last week being updated by his (ex FERA but I can’t remember their current name) organisers at Sand Hutton near York. I informed Martin that because FERA has been sold off by the Government I have deranged my data on Bee Base.

He was full of cheerful news, for instance, although spotting invaders is a priority, their eventual success is regarded as inevitable. Asian hornets are causing much more concern than Small Hive Beetle. Bees can live with the latter but will be wiped out by the former.

He went into some detail about how they act and how they can be trapped in fizzy drink bottle traps. Unfortunately these work best when you’ve somehow caught a hornet and put it in the trap so that it can, pheromonally, attract sisters. I write ‘sisters’ but they may be even more closely related than that as DNA test have revealed that all the (in season) millions of Asian hornets are descended from, at most, 2 queens!

With regard to the Small Hive Beetle, Martin revealed that the Italians have, so far, destroyed about 3,500 hives, but that annually tens of thousands of hives are moved in and out of that area from Austria and thereabouts, which is worrisome.

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCIQFjAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fchrissladesbeeblog.wordpress.com %2F&ei=-2ArVer-FdDoaKyKgcAO&usg=AFQjCNHtrxF9WJ462f1L5kEOYS_v_ws1-w&sig2=3QPk_hUKquvmccgb9ABZxA&bvm=bv.90491159,d.d2s

What I'm failing to understand is if the 'Ministry' are so certain that a beetle invasion and eventual success is inevitable AND that it's not going to be that big a deal once they're established, why does the threat of total destruction still hang over our colonies?

A bit of a mixed message being presented here which might well leave some people making a few wrong decisions when it comes to picking up the phone.