http://www.thisiswesternmorningnews.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=247715&command=displayContent&sourceNode=247705&contentPK=20647623&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch
The Devon Association of Beekeepers said a quarter of all their bee stocks have died over the winter. Last year’s losses were about 15 per cent.
Brian Gant said, “It’s bad news. There are a number of different reasons why they died out—part of it is the bad weather last summer, which means the queen bees don’t mate properly. But there is also disease. The verroa mite is a big problem everywhere.”
The verroa mite kills bees by sucking their blood and spreads viruses around hives.
Bees in Britain do not have the Colony Collapse disorder that is found in America.
