Stingless bee health issues
Since early November, last year, there have been some very slow wheels turning around the most recent stingless bee health issues.
I have been communicating with researchers from the Western Sydney University (WSU) about the possibility of investigating some of the ‘diseases’ that have been reported by some bee keepers. Of course, the Christmas break and beginning of the Uni semester have seen very slow progress in this area.
In the meantime, Adam Hutchinson from the Sydney Branch, has been communicating with researchers at the University of Sydney (USyd). He has also had some dealing with a small number of bee keepers in regard to obtaining samples.
Recently, I have asked the researchers from both WSU and USyd if it would be possible to collaborate in this area and that the issue is of great concern to the stingless bee keeping community. All parties are in agreement, but of course…. the university wheels still turn slowly. This collaboration includes Adam, who has volunteered to coordinate information between bee keepers and the collaborators. adam@nativebees.com
Currently we are waiting for a PhD Candidate and a Post Doctoral Fellow to be inducted into the university system.
Then the Ethics committee will (hopefully) give the okay for the ‘Stingless Bee Pest and Disease Snapshot Survey’ to be put into
action, being sent out to members of the ANBA and other stingless bee communities.
Regards, Megan