The original swarm of Apis florea found in Malta, as found and photographed by Mr Thomas Galea
In the summer of 2024, a colony of the Asian red dwarf honeybee (Apis florea) was recorded for the first time in Europe, in the south of Malta. Approximately 2,000 workers and drones were found on the comb, with no queen or queen cells observed. Favourable climatic conditions, the absence of brood and food, and a relatively small number of bees on a well-developed comb all suggest that this colony had already swarmed. This indicates the possibility that A. florea may have established other colonies elsewhere on the island.
The establishment of A. florea in Malta poses several risks to the local entomofauna, including competition for food and nesting resources, as well as the potential transmission of pathogens such as the Black Queen Cell Virus and the parasitic mite Tropilaelaps clareae.
In light of these concerns, it is essential to determine whether this alien honeybee species has become established in Malta. To this end, a task force of professionals was established, which included the Biodiversity and Ecology Research Group (BERG) of the University of Malta (UM). Professor Aleksander Uzunov travelled from Macedonia to Malta from 31 January to 3 February 2025 to conduct a preliminary survey in the vicinity of the original colony. He was accompanied by Mr Matthew Calleja. Together, they identified areas that A. florea could potentially colonise or forage. However, no signs of the species were detected during this initial search. Their findings were reported to the wider research team, and a follow-up visit was scheduled for 23 to 28 March 2025.
Professor Uzunov during the preliminary search in February. This photo was taken in Wied 呕embaq.
The second survey was conducted by a larger multidisciplinary team comprising Professor Alexander Uzunov, Professor Niko Koeniger, Professor Gudrun Koeniger, Professor Ricarda Scheiner, Professor David Mifsud, Mr Matthew Calleja, Mr Thomas Galea, and a number of students from Germany, Macedonia, and the . The team was very thrilled to include Professors Niko and Gudrun Koeniger, who have a lifelong experience in beekeeping and have spent many years in Southeast Asia studying Apis florea.
The team behind the survey
During this survey, the team was divided into smaller groups that visited both previously identified and new locations. Each group used sweep nets to sample areas with high floral abundance. All specimens were stored in pure ethanol and labelled according to their collection sites. Field notes were taken systematically, including the time of day, temperature, cloud cover, wind speed, and the types of flowers visited by the European honeybee (Apis mellifera). Specimens were then transferred to the laboratory for sorting and identification. No individuals of Apis florea were collected during the week-long survey.
A typical day of fieldwork during the survey
Professor Mifsud using the sweep nets on flowering vegetation
Despite this, the possibility that A. florea remains present on the island cannot be excluded. Malta鈥檚 favourable climate and availability of suitable nesting sites suggest that the species may have established undetected colonies. For this reason, regular surveys will continue, with future efforts aiming to involve the public in this important nation-wide search for this newly introduced species.
(Left) A collection jar being filled with insect specimens; (Right) All insects sorted in the laboratory after a day of fieldwork.
