Globalization brings with it many threats to endemic island species.
Certainly, as an example, food air miles often makes the news, with consumers urged to buy locally, in a bid to cut down trade reliant on kerosene and its resultant CO2 emissions.
But importing foreign foods brings with it additional risks and uncertainties. One can never know for sure what else is being imported along with their food.
I use this, I stress, as merely a clue as to what may have caused the varroa mite, which carries a number of viruses and which has wreaked havoc on UK bee colonies.
From Defra: (the UK’s Department for Farming, Environment and Rural Affairs)
“Varroosis is an infestation caused by varroa, a serious Asian parasitic mite of honey bees. Originally confined to the Asian honey bee, Apis cerana, it has spread in recent decades to the European honey bee, Apis mellifera. The mites feed on both adult bees and brood, weakening them and spreading harmful pathogens such as bee viruses. Infested colonies eventually die out unless control measures are applied.”
“Since its discovery in England in 1992 the parasitic mite, Varroa destructor, has spread to infest colonies of honey bees throughout the UK.”
So, from Asia to the UK. The world gets smaller all the time. Endemic island species evolve in ways that nature feels is keeping them safe. The introduction of a species previously missing from a food chain can rapidly cause devastation. Native species are cruelly ill-prepared.
From Bee Base:
“… our honeybee has no natural defences (my italics) to the varroa mite, and the mite eventually kills infested colonies if left untreated. Varroa is present on all continents except Australia and was first found in the UK on 4th April 1992 in Devon.”
Such a shame that Devon proved to be the mite’s first target. A British summer brings with it many sounds, but the sound of the honey bee must surely be one of the most comforting and romantic.
Current State of Play
Shockingly, I learn from the Guardian that unless urgent action is taken, beekeepers warn that there is a very real chance that this native species could become extinct within the next 10 years. They’re demanding funding of £8m to find new treatments and drugs.
“The pollinating of farmers’ crops carried out by our bees is provided free of charge,” said Tim Lovett, president of the British Beekeeping Association. “Over five years that work raises £800m for the nation. We are asking for an £8m research programme to save our bees to run for five years. That is 1 per cent of the money our bees generate.”
But back to globalization: many of you reading this will be of course aware of the US’ recent problem – and I don’t use that word lightly – with Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD).
Now then, CCD has yet to hit the UK. But as a report from the BBC gravely suggests:
“Scientists are working frantically to identify the cause of Colony Collapse Disorder, but UK beekeepers fear it could soon spread to them. One swarm of bees in a ship container might be enough to bring the disease.”
Global trade brings with it far more than money. Never has it seemed more imperative to buy locally.
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