Bungling experts kill 15,000 rare bees – thinking they were wasps
A COLONY of more than 15,000 rare bees was killed after council pest controllers mistook them for wasps.
The experts failed to realise they were rare Welsh black honeybees.
These are the last survivors of the original British bee, which was almost wiped out by a virus a century ago.
Today, less than 1 per cent of Britain’s 250,000 hives contain native bees.
Anglesey County Council pest controllers were called out to a swarm of insects in a compost bin at a residential home.
Yesterday, local beekeepers told of their anger over the extermination of the hive in llanfechell, Anglesey.
Katie Hayward, who runs nearby felin Honeybees farm, said: ‘It was a whole colony wiped out in five minutes.
‘I was heartbroken when I saw it. It was absolutely devastating.
‘The Welsh black bee is native to this country. efforts are under way to try to increase their population so it’s incredibly frustrating to see so many of them being unnecessarily killed. I can’t emphasise enough how much of a disaster it is.’
Southern european honeybees filled the void created in Britain after the native honeybee was practically wiped out.
Black bees are darker and have thicker, longer hair and a larger body to help keep them warm in the cooler British climate. Welsh black bees are hardy insects that can fly in cold rain and respond aggressively to wasps.
A council spokesman admitted its ‘usual procedure was not followed’ and it was investigating the incident.
If honey bees are present on a call-out, a beekeeper is usually called in. The council’s own website says the best way to control bees is ‘the safe removal of a hive’.
Bee populations in Britain are dwindling and face extinction as a result of habitat loss, pesticides and climate change.
They are vital to our environment and economy because they pollinate most crops. It would cost farmers at least £1.8billion a year to pollinate by hand.