In the summer of 2024, a colony of the Asian red dwarf honeybee (Apis florea) was identified in southern Malta, marking the first documented occurrence of this species in Europe. The colony, consisted of around 2,000 worker and drone bees. No queen or queen cells were found, suggesting the colony had already swarmed. The advanced comb structure, small number of bees, and lack of brood or food stores point to a post-swarming state, implying the potential presence of other undiscovered colonies on the island.
The introduction of Apis florea to Malta raises serious concerns for the local insect population. This exotic bee may compete with native species for foraging and nesting resources. It could also act as a vector for diseases and parasites, including the Black Queen Cell Virus and Tropilaelaps clareae, a parasitic mite. Given these risks, it became imperative to assess whether Apis florea has successfully established a breeding population in Malta.
To investigate this, a task force was formed comprising specialists from various disciplines. A key member of this initiative was the Biodiversity and Ecology Research Group (BERG) from the University of Malta. As part of the initial response, Professor Aleksander Uzunov travelled from Macedonia to Malta between 31 January and 3 February 2025 to conduct a preliminary inspection near the site of the original discovery. He was joined by Mr Matthew Calleja. During their fieldwork, they examined possible nesting and foraging sites but found no evidence of the species’ continued presence. Their observations were compiled and shared with the wider research team, prompting a more extensive survey scheduled for 23 to 28 March 2025.
The second phase of the study saw the involvement of a larger and more diverse team. This included Professors Aleksander Uzunov, Niko Koeniger, Gudrun Koeniger, Ricarda Scheiner, and David Mifsud, as well as Mr Matthew Calleja, Mr Thomas Galea, and students from Germany, Macedonia, and the Entomological Society of Malta. The team was especially pleased to collaborate with Professors Niko and Gudrun Koeniger, renowned for their decades-long research on Apis florea in Southeast Asia and their extensive expertise in apiculture.
During the March survey, the team divided into smaller units, each assigned to explore both previously identified and newly selected areas. Fieldwork focused on regions with a high abundance of flowering plants. Sweep nets were used to collect insect specimens, which were preserved in ethanol and carefully labelled with details of their collection sites. Researchers recorded comprehensive field notes, including weather conditions, time of day, and types of flowers visited by the native European honeybee (Apis mellifera).
Following field collection, specimens were transferred to a laboratory for analysis and identification. Despite the breadth of the survey, no Apis florea individuals were detected.
While no additional colonies were found, researchers caution that the presence of Apis florea in Malta cannot yet be definitively ruled out. The island’s climate and landscape offer favourable conditions for this species, making the possibility of undetected colonies plausible. Consequently, the monitoring efforts will continue on a regular basis.
Looking ahead, the team aims to expand the scope of this investigation by involving the Maltese public. Citizen science will play a vital role in tracking the spread and status of this introduced species. Increased awareness and participation can help safeguard local biodiversity and contribute to the early detection of potentially invasive species like Apis florea.
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Source: University of Malta NewsPoint, “Preliminary Survey for the presence of Apis florea in Malta,” May 2025. https://www.um.edu.mt/newspoint/news/2025/05/apis-florea-malta-research
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