Beekeepers discuss keeping bees healthy at Haiku conference

WAILUKU, Maui (AP) — Maui County beekeepers have been exploring ways to keep bees healthy as the county remains one of the few places untouched by an invasive species known to attack the insects.

Beekeepers gathered at the Maui Bee Conference over the weekend to discuss how to keep the bee population thriving.

“This is a very unique environment for bees to thrive,” said Lauren Rusert, apiary section chief for the state Department of Agriculture. “Hawaii has a great opportunity to start fresh and not be on the chemical treadmill,” she added, explaining that some pests on the Mainland have become resistant to certain chemicals.

Experts at the conference acknowledged the threat of the varroa mite, which feeds on bee larvae and lays eggs inside the hive. Maui County has not been affected by the invasive species, which made its way to Oahu in 2007 and the Big Island in 2008.

Rusert said keeping the varroa mite out of Maui County can be achieved by staying aware and alerting agricultural officials to possible threats.

The Department of Agriculture is trying to find a solution to the pest problem in Hilo. Scientists have been using semen samples to breed a “varroa sensitive hygiene” bee that can better fight off varroa mite. Rusert said “it’s not the silver bullet,” but it will help beekeepers in the area to produce stronger, more resistant hives.

In Maui County, there are 55 beekeepers registered with the state and nearly 600 hives. Hawaii’s honeybees produce the second-highest amount of honey per hive at 93 pounds, according to the Department of Agriculture. Hawaii beekeepers also provide 25 percent of queen bees on the Mainland and 75 percent of those used in Canada.