British beekeepers stung by pestilence and poor weather are being warned to protect their hives from rustlers as thefts rise to unprecedented levels due to a national shortage of bees.
The sharp decline in Britain’s honeybee population following the arrival of varroa mites and two consecutive harsh winters has led to premium prices for top-quality bees and a black market trade in stolen hives. In the latest incident, more than a million were taken from a strawberry farm near Telford, Shropshire. Thefts of 12 hives in Whitby in the north and three from the New Forest in the south of the country have also been reported, as well as cases in Norfolk and the West Country.
David Sutton, the National Bee Unit inspector for western England, said: “You used to get the odd one or two, but not like this. People are realizing the value of bees now because they are very scarce.”
Experts believe the bees may have been stolen to order. Second-hand hives that used to sell for £30 (US$45) can now fetch more than £200. With each hive capable of producing around 22.6kg of honey a year, victims stand to lose thousands of pounds.
Tim Lovett, president of the British Beekeepers Association, said: “To steal bees, you have to know what you are doing. Beekeepers are now on the lookout. It’s a vicious circle. You lose more bees, the price of bees goes up and the risk of them being stolen goes up.”
Richard Lindsey, 41, who runs The Great Little Honey Co and has 600 hives throughout Shropshire and Staffordshire, said the loss of a million bees was devastating. He estimates that thefts have cost him more than £6, 000.
His wife, Marieanne, said: “The beekeeping world used to be like a Harry Potter underworld of beekeepers who all knew one another. To steal someone’s honeybees is like stealing their dog.”
John Howat of the Bee Farmers’ Association said: “You used to hear of a theft or two, but it seems to be at unprecedented levels. The demand has gone up tremendously ... People are stealing them for passing on to someone else, perhaps, or it could simply be because they have seen people paying £150, £200 and more for a good-quality second-hand hive.”
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