Got A Bee Problem In Malta? Here’s The Best Way To Deal With It While Safeguarding The Precious Creature
The Maltese honey bee is an endemic species, only found on the Maltese islands, and enjoys protected status due to dwindling numbers.
However, as precious as these creatures are, they can be quite a pest if one finds their home or shop surrounded by a hidden hive.
A local cafe recently had an ongoing issue involving a group of bees that kept appearing inside the establishment, resulting in an annoyance for both staff and customers.
Having tried various methods, they ended up resorting to bee traps – but is this the best way to go?
Lovin Malta spoke to the president of the Malta Beekeepers Association Jorge Spiteri, along with Arnold Sciberras, a well-known exterminator, to hear more about the best practice possible.
“All endemic species including the bees, which are not listed in Schedule X of the Flora, Fauna, and Natural Habitats Protection Regulations are protected,” Jorge Spiteri noted.
But he questioned: “Why should anyone try to get rid of the organism responsible for over 80% of the food that sustains us?”
“If there is a swarm of honey bees, one may wish to seek the assistance of a beekeeper to relocate such swarm through the local apiculture societies,” he suggested.
“Relocating the swarm should reduce the harm to the honey bees as much as possible. One could prevent the likelihood of bees nesting in their household enclosed spaces such as ventilators. Such spaces can be lined with fine nets that prohibit access to similar insects from the outside.”
Pest expert Arnold Sciberras explained how while there are no laws in place about killing bees in Malta, there is some legal framework available in relation to the importation and exportation of bees.
“In general, bees are considered a beneficial species so they should not be harmed.”
“From my end, as a professional pest control consultant, I deal with bees, and usually when bees are a deterrent in places where they are of danger to humans, they can usually be removed,” he confirmed.
“I remove them in a non-invasive way to save them – usually I remove them with one of my technicians who is also a beekeeper, and at the same time he uses them for agriculture,” Sciberras explained.
“Right now the main concerns are these hornets, which are an imperative danger to honey bees. These hornets are a pest, not just for honey bees but also for humans,” he said.
“Our focus right now is firstly to deal with these hornets, and secondly to remove any bees that are bothering humans and place them in agriculture.”
So: if you ever encounter a problem with bees, do not take matters into your hands, and contact a proper expert to handle the situation before it gets out of hand and results in some essential insects dying unnecessarily.
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