Beehives in Hawaii infested by parasites

HONOLULU (AP) -- A tiny mite that began infesting mainland honeybee populations in the 1980s showed up in Honolulu hives for the first time this month and has now been confirmed in bee colonies across Oahu.
The infestation by varroa mites has led the state to ask beekeepers to restrict transport of bees around the islands. There are concerns it could threaten the Big Island's thriving queen bee export industry, which has so far tested free of the mites.
The parasites have been blamed for destroying more than half of some mainland beekeepers' hives and wiping out most wild honeybees there. That destruction preceded the more recent appearance of a mystery bee killer on the mainland that has destroyed tens of thousands of honeybee colonies in at least 21 states. Known as colony collapse disorder, the problem has not shown up in Hawaii.
"This is going to be for us a nightmare," Michael Kliks said of the mites. He's head of the Hawaii Beekeepers Association and owner of Manoa Honey Co. "
Kliks discovered the mites April 6 on a pupa contained in an abandoned hive he recovered from the Makiki section of Honolulu and immediately notified state agriculture officials. Since then, it's been confirmed in several other locations.
It is too late to hope to eradicate or even contain the infestation, Kliks said.
The appearance of the mites could also hurt island crops that depend on wild bees for pollination, such as coffee, macadamia nuts and pumpkins, Kliks said.
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