David Element
Wildlife
Photography and Digital Video Images
___________________________________________________________________
Hymenoptera 68 - Western Honey Bees
WESTERN HONEY BEE Apis mellifera (swarm)
WESTERN HONEY BEE Apis mellifera (swarm)
WESTERN HONEY BEE Apis mellifera (swarm)
WESTERN HONEY BEE Apis mellifera (swarm)
- Western Honey Bees Apis
mellifera have been suffering from severe population crashes
during recent years. One reason for this is almost certainly parasitism by
the Varroa
jacobsoni mite, but
there may be other sinister causes of the decline of this domesticated,
hive-based social insect. Neurotoxic substances (to insects, not to higher
animals) being used by agriculture including neonicotinoids are very much
under suspicion as potential causative agents, both for Honey Bees and for
other insects suffering catastrophic population crashes (many of which are
important pollinators in their own right). Toxic chemicals may persist in
the soil for several years after application (depending on their
half-lives) and dust may be spread by the wind so the effects can be
noticed well beyond the confines of agricultural land, or indeed the
set-aside boundaries intended to support invertebrate life. Even if the
use of these chemicals is stopped it may take several years for
populations to recover. The Honey Bee population
in green urban areas may actually be comparatively healthy based on
personal observations by the photographer. An authoritative account of the
effect of the Varroa mite (in the USA, although the same principles apply
elsewhere) may be found at: http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef608.asp. Natural predation of this species does account for
some losses, but as is usually the cases there will be an equilibrium
reached as no predator or parasite can afford to wipe out its prey or
host, respectively. European Hornets Vespa crabro
will take some by ambushing them as they feed but they also capture
smaller social wasps (Vespula) and other insect prey,
unlike the Bee-wolf Philanthus triangulum, a large and handsomely marked
digger wasp that specialises in provisioning its larval nests with
paralysed Honey Bees. On the Continent European Bee-eaters Merops apiaster
take their toll but these have yet to become properly established in the
UK although that day may arrive before too long as the climate continues
to warm in response to human activity. Given the selective nature and
loyalties of different types of wildlife enthusiast, any news about the
establishment of this beautiful bird is likely to be warmly welcomed by
ornithologist but it might generate polarised views amongst apiculturists.
Perhaps of greater concern is the inevitable establishment of the Asian
Hornet Vespa velutina, a reportable
species illustrated elsewhere on this web site and any sightings of which
will have been followed up by the destruction of nests. These large social
wasps will gather around beehives, and they can cause significant damage
by predating the residents in quantity. On the Continent some mitigation
is being offered by some apiculturists by reducing the size of the
entrance slats of their hives. The swarm of worker bees shown above had
gathered on a low-hanging branch (at head height) in a London recreation
ground to surround a new queen. After the bees had been shown to as many
observers as possible, they were collected and removed for safety reasons
by apiculturists so that they could be translocated to a beehive.
- The biology of these bees and many other species have been described in detail in David Baldock's 'Bees of Surrey', a book that will be of value to hymenopterists throughout the UK and northern Europe.
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