By Dyan Kleckner

The next time you come across a beehive in the wild, consider doing a good deed for local farmers, the Hawai‘i agriculture industry and scientific research. Remember where you saw the hive, then call or email the folks at the UH Honeybee Varroa Project. These dedicated researchers with the UH Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences are interested in studying viruses in honeybees transmitted by the varroa mite, and hope to get samplings from wild hives in order to study the aggravating ag pest.

With the spread of the varroa mite, the number of wild honeybee colonies has decreased dramatically, impacting pollination of many crops grown in Hawai‘i. Thus, the project needs the public’s help in locating wild honeybee colonies on four major islands—Maui, Kaua‘i and the Big Island—through December. Under the direction of researchers Mark Wright and Ethel Villalobos, samples will be collected from the honeybee colonies and examined for varroa infestation, which is often associated with the spread of bacterial diseases and viruses. Stephen Martin, a researcher from the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom, and others in his lab are also collaborating with UH Mānoa on the statewide project.

If you spot a wild honeybee colony on Oahu, Maui and Kaua‘i, call 956-2445 on O‘ahu or email uhbeelab@gmail.com. On the Big Island, call Maria Diaz-Lyke at (808) 887-6183 at the Kamuela Extension Office. Getting notice of a wild beehive location, for these researchers, will be news sweeter than honey.

A UH researcher takes a sampling from a honeybee hive in the wild.

Dyan Kleckner is a public information officer for the UH Mānoa campus.