Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Franklin Witter, says that the Ministry’s Apiculture Unit is strengthening its efforts to safeguard the national honeybee stock against the threat of Africanized bees.
This, he says, is being facilitated through research and development-based activities.
“To date, DNA samples have been collected from our honeybees for genetic analysis. Preliminary results have been received and a final report will be made to the stakeholders as soon as the DNA tests are completed,” said Witter.
He was speaking at the Ministry’s World Bee Day celebration held at the Ministry’s Hope Gardens Complex in St. Andrew on Friday, May 20, 2022.
Africanized bees are a hybrid species of the western honeybee, which is invasive and more aggressive.
“Africanized bees pose a threat to the productivity of the honeybee colony as well as public safety and domesticated animals,” stated Witter.
The move to protect honeybees has also led to the drafting of a national action plan to combat the entry and management of Africanized bees.
“This includes the mapping of colony movements, installation and monitoring of interception traps, determination of the African lineage of the local stock and training of stakeholders,” said Witter.
The Apiculture Unit is also doing additional work to maintain four lines of queens with superior hygienic characteristics at the Bodles Research Station with the aim of replenishing and safeguarding Jamaica’s honeybee population.
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