Out Of The Comb
Since 2021, the Out Of The Comb research team has participated in the Ministry of Rural Development and Food’s surveillance programme for early detection of Aethina tumida, a beetle that is a significant honey bee pest. The beetle has not yet appeared in Greece, but the risk of introduction is real, as it has been present in Calabria, southern Italy, since 2014.
In this context, countries neighbouring Italy operate monitoring systems in apiaries near potential entry points, such as ports and airports, to detect its presence and take immediate action.
As part of this programme, the Laboratory of Sericulture and Apiculture maintains colonies under specified conditions and uses special traps inside the hives, which are inspected regularly. Inspections are carried out both by the Laboratory’s research team and by the Ministry’s partner veterinary services.