Small Hive Beetle in mainland Europe

[gavin]

This came in on Bee-L overnight.

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Italy's CRA (Ministry of Agriculture's research institute) just announced the finding of SHB in Southern Italy. Europe was previously free from SHB. We hope that Italian authorities will succeed in they efforts to eradicate the new exotic pest. Our concern is for organic beekeeping which is well developed in Italy: in your experience are organic methods for SHB control effective?
Thanks
Umberto

-- Umberto Vesco
DVM, PhD
Italy

[GRIZZLY]

Lets hope to goodness that the authorities get off their backsides and zap it before it becomes established and follows the path of varroa.

[Jon]

Lets hope there are immediate restrictions on the movement of bees out of Italy.

The bees in the documentary went to Hereford.
I remember a couple of years ago Murray posted photos on BKF showing the bees moving from Hereford, isn't that a Coop farm, Later in the year they were moved up to the heather in the Highlands.
When is this madness which puts commercial interests before risk of a new pathogen going to stop?

[fatshark]

... and only a year ago the EU published a 127 page risk assessment on SHB and Tropilaelaps importation/introduction to Europe (http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/doc/3128.pdf). They know the risks and must act promptly. Previous imports of SHB larvae to Portugal were effectively controlled by colony destruction, covering the ground with plastic and soaking in permethrin. Not exactly the organic control the Italian DVM asked about on Bee-L.

[gavin]

The official announcement was yesterday, the discovery on 5th September. It appears to have been in a bait hive run by the University of Reggio Calabria nr the port of Gioia Tauro. Run this:

http://www.mieliditalia.it/index.php...-api-in-italia

through Google Translate and you get this:

Another plague of bees in Italy

September 12, 2014

The CRA-api officially announced that has been identified an outbreak of small hive beetle in the province of Reggio Calabria. It is a beetle of the family of Nititulidi that had invaded North America in the late 90s, causing enormous damage to beekeeping, with infestation levels (several hundred larvae and adults) ever found in Africa, its area of origin.
E 'was found Sept. 5 in a "core bait" place from' Agricultural University of Reggio Calabria in the vicinity of the port of Gioia Tauro. Following the ' official identification, the Ministry of Health has taken the first steps of alarm, with controls in all apiaries within a radius of 20 km and in the tracing and control of all apiaries that have nomadism in the area at risk.
Given the severity of the event, it is appropriate that all beekeepers proceed to the immediate area involved, careful and systematic observation of their hives.
In order to identify any symptoms of the presence of the parasite, the following documentation with some identification keys.
In case of doubt, in addition to the complaint to the local veterinary service, you should immediately contact your network service SPY BeeNet ( reporting form to Beenet , Voicemail BeeNet Tel. 051 361 466)
The prof. Vincent Palmeri, University of Reggio Calabria, author of the discovery and identification of the exotic pest, warned the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry to be activated so that the necessary procedures to limit and eradicate any further other outbreaks and prevent the spread of the pest throughout the country.
Documentation given by the CRA-api:

• How to check the hives to diagnose the presence of the small hive beetle
• More insights on small hive beetle
• Link to SPIA , the Emergency Response System of Beekeeping Beenet

[Rosie]

The official announcement was yesterday, the discovery on 5th September. It appears to have been in a bait hive run by the University of Reggio Calabria nr the port of Gioia Tauro.

This is the depressing bit. The source could have been spreading these for ages before it finally got to a University hive. You can bet that the British authorities will do too little too late.

[Bumble]

That's disappointing, but thanks for the heads up Gavin.

I wonder how long it will take for the British media to run the story.

[Jon]

If they can link it to Neonicotinoid pesticides they will run it.
The UK press is a one trick pony with regard to reporting on bees.

[gavin]

To be fair the nuttier end of the beekeeping spectrum might be the place that starts, although bits of the press might then repeat it.

[The Drone Ranger]

Watched the BBC program with Murray M in Italy.
Blimey what a palaver for 291 packages.
I produced 30 x 6 frame nucs this year and have 14 to overwinter
Pretty easy really and its a hobby for me
That's the trouble with subsidy you cant find enough Italians to give it to