A new alarm bell is ringing, this time for the Cypriot beekeeping industry, as a strain of the parasite has been confirmed in Turkey and threatens to reach Cyprus. It is an extremely contagious mite that completely destroys the hive once it infests it.
Speaking on the program “Alpha Kalimera,” Christina Christodoulou, an agronomist and lecturer in organic agriculture and beekeeping, stated that, sooner or later, this particular parasite is likely to reach Cyprus. At the same time, she emphasized that there is no need to panic, as a similar mite is already present in the country, and methods are available to combat it.
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Should the new mite appear in Cyprus, the method of control will be the same as that applied to the mite that is already present. As he explained, there is relevant legislation under which the Veterinary Services prescribe to beekeepers approved formulations—which are authorized for use in the EU—to treat parasites in hives.
Ms. Christodoulou called on the relevant authorities to provide information and training to beekeepers regarding the new mite, so that they can recognize it and distinguish it from the mite already present in Cyprus.
According to her, live bees are transported to Cyprus in small boxes via mail, ship, and possibly across the Green Line. In her view, these are the areas where inspections should be stepped up.
At the same time, she emphasized the need to enact regulations prohibiting the transport of bee colonies through these specific points as well as, more generally, from other countries, stressing that “Europe is also a potential source from which the pest could be introduced.”
