Ever wondered why local honey is becoming so scarce and expensive?  Reasons include the removal of food sources (like the Eucalyptus, the bad old blue gum!), shrinking vegetation caused by denser developments and pests such as wax moth.

But another devastating disease is threatening South African bee colonies -  American Foulbrood (AFB).  According to the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) this extremely serious bacterial disease results in the death of honeybee larvae.  In serious cases it causes the collapse and death of the entire honeybee colony.  AFB was recently found in South Africa for the first time by the ARC-PPRI (Plant Protection Research Institute). 

If the disease is not contained and eradicated, it will almost certainly spread throughout South Africa and into neighbouring countries, says the PPRI.  It's not only a severe risk to the beekeeping industry but to crops like deciduous fruits which rely on honeybees for pollination.

The Department of Agriculture is taking measures to prevent the spread of AFB, according to the newsletter of the PPRI.   (www.arc.agric.za)