Updated | Celebrating Malta’s National Insect: The €2 Commemorative Coin Competition Finalists Announced

The Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee (KNM), in collaboration with the HSBC Malta Foundation, recently launched a competition offering participants the chance to win a €2 commemorative coin issued by the Central Bank of Malta, featuring the Maltese Honey Bee. The coin’s theme was proposed by the KNM Foundation, showcasing the significance of this unique subspecies. Thanks to the generous sponsorship from the HSBC Malta Foundation, seven coin cards featuring this commemorative coin will be awarded as prizes to winning participants.

The competition closed on 30th October 2024, following a one-month extension due to a surge in the Oriental Hornet population. This increase posed a significant threat to the Maltese Honey Bee. The extension aimed to give more people the opportunity to participate, especially as the competition was intended to raise awareness about the Maltese Honey Bee’s importance in Malta’s ecosystem.

Since the competition’s launch, the Maltese Honey Bee has also been officially declared Malta’s National Insect. This recognition has elevated its status as a national symbol and is a testament to the efforts of the KNM Foundation. The Foundation has been instrumental in advocating for the conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee, emphasising its critical role in the environment and the local apiculture sector.

Residents of Malta and Gozo were invited to submit a short, vertically oriented video, between 15 and 50 seconds long, showcasing the Maltese Honey Bee with its distinctive dark-coloured abdomen. Only videos that captured the unique traits of the Maltese Honey Bee, or at least featured some honey bees with ‘Maltese morphology,’ were accepted. This requirement ensured that submissions highlighted the distinctiveness of this local subspecies.

The competition generated significant interest, with many participants eager to contribute to the promotion of the Maltese Honey Bee. The seven videos with the most LIKES on YouTube by 15th November will each win a €2 commemorative coin celebrating the Maltese Honey Bee. These coin cards will be awarded at an event that will be announced soon, providing an opportunity for the winners to be celebrated publicly.

This initiative not only aims to reward creativity but also to foster a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by the Maltese Honey Bee. Threats such as habitat loss and the increasing presence of imported invasive honey bees are continuously diluting the genetics of the Maltese Honey Bee, putting it at risk of extinction. Initiatives like this competition play a vital role in raising awareness and promoting conservation efforts. A similar situation has occurred with the endemic honey bee, Apis mellifera adami, on the island of Crete, which has faced extinction due to genetic dilution caused by imported bees. By highlighting the importance of local fauna, this competition seeks to raise awareness about the Maltese Honey Bee and ensure its survival for future generations.

Vote for your favourite videos now and support the recognition of the Maltese Honey Bee as a vital part of Malta’s natural heritage!

To stay up to date with the Foundation’s work, we warmly invite you to join our WhatsApp community. The smooth functioning of our organisation relies on financial resources, and your support is essential. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a real difference in advancing our mission. You can help by joining the Foundation’s cause, become a supporter for just €10 a year or make a donation here: Support the Foundation.

15 November 2024 (updated) – The seven winners of the €2 commemorative coin commemorating the National Insect of Malta, the Maltese Honey Bee, are:

• Jeremy Bonello
• Brendan Buttigieg
• Sebastian Said
• Jake Desira
• Jorge Spiteri
• Joseph Zammit
• Monika Gerdvilyte

The winners were selected by our audience, who gave a “LIKE” to the videos they enjoyed most. The participants of the seven videos with the highest likes are the winners. The coins will be distributed on the 22nd November 2024 during a ceremony at the HSBC premises in Valletta. We thank the HSBC Malta Foundation for sponsoring the purchase of these coins and for making this competition possible.