In 2023, the MEDIBEES project published a preliminary results on the Maltese Honey Bee (Apis mellifera ruttneri). Out of 47 honey bee samples collected in Malta, only six were identified as pure specimens of the endemic subspecies, a troubling 13%. This headline caused widespread concern across Malta and the Foundation even reported in mainstream media.
Following the public reaction, MEDIBEES clarified that the result was based on a limited subset of samples and might not have been representative of the entire dataset. This clarification calmed the situation somewhat back then.
However, two years later, at the congress Apimondia 2025, new insights have reignited concern. Dora Henriquez, from the Centro de Investigação de Montanha in Portugal, revisited the same study, analysing the genomes of honey bee populations across four Mediterranean islands. Her findings highlighted stark contrasts in conservation outcomes:
- Sicily: The Apis mellifera siciliana population shows a high degree of genetic purity, thanks to effective conservation efforts.
- Cyprus: The local Apis mellifera cypria shows varying levels of introgression from other subspecies, but conservation measures have had some success.
- Malta: Only 11% of the Maltese Honey Bee population showed no introgression from other subspecies, an even lower figure than the 13% reported in 2023.
- Crete: The endemic Apis mellifera adami appears to have gone extinct.
This update suggests that the situation for Malta’s endemic honey bee is even more alarming than previously thought. Considering that the samples were collected years ago, it is likely that the genetic purity of the Maltese Honey Bee has deteriorated further since then.
At this time, MEDIBEES has not clarified whether these results are final or provisional. What is clear is that a natural disaster is unfolding right in front of our eyes, and Malta’s honey bee faces a high risk of extinction. The Maltese Honey Bee is currently protected de jure (by law) as the National Insect and by environmental laws, yet de facto (in reality) it has no meaningful protection. This lack of enforcement has left this endemic subspecies in a dire situation. Without urgent and concrete action, including stricter controls or a full ban on the importation of foreign honey bees, extinction may become a matter of when, not if.
The lessons from this research are sobering and a wake-up call! Conservation efforts, as demonstrated in Sicily, can succeed. But in Malta, the failure to enforce meaningful protective measures has left the endemic honey bee on the brink. The extinction of Apis mellifera adami in Crete serves as a stark warning: once lost, a subspecies cannot be recovered.
About MEDIBEES
MEDIBEES (Monitoring of the Mediterranean Honeybee Subspecies and their Resilience to Climate Change for the Improvement of Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems) works to identify honey bee colonies and subspecies most resilient to climate change and pathogens across the Mediterranean region. Honey bees are vital for sustainable agriculture, and the project aims to strengthen resilience in the face of desertification and shifting climates.
A Call for Action
The findings from Apimondia 2025 underline the urgent need for decisive measures to safeguard the Maltese Honey Bee. Without stronger regulation on imports, active conservation programmes, and real enforcement of protective laws, Malta risks following Crete down the path of irreversible loss.
Protecting the Maltese Honey Bee is not only about conserving biodiversity – it is about preserving a living symbol of Malta’s natural heritage.
Original post by MEDIBEES in 2023
Clarification in 2023 after the Original Post
A recent Post (2025)
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.
Leave a Reply