NORTHERN IRISH beekeepers are being given extra training to identify hive diseases.

The province's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has been hosting practical bee disease identification workshops to help apiarists develop their skills, and in turn ensure that the bees can continue to perform their key function as pollinators.

“Beekeepers play a key role in keeping their bees healthy and in the early identification of diseases,” explained DAERA’s senior bee inspector Tom Williamson. “However they should also ensure that their management practices do not risk the health of their bees. Disease can be spread from hive to hive by swapping frames, using hive tools and gloves soiled with propolis and wax, which can contain bacteria and spores the human eye cannot detect.

“As autumn approaches we are urging beekeepers to check their colonies for any abnormalities and be vigilant for the symptoms of two bacterial diseases, in particular American foulbrood and European foulbrood, which we have found in an increasing number of colonies recently.

“These diseases, which kill the bee larvae within the hive, can result in colonies being compulsorily destroyed," warned Mr Williamson. "Good management practices should be adopted to stop or reduce the spread of infection and ensure hives and apiaries are protected.”

Following the workshop held in Enniskillen, the chairman of the Fermanagh beekeepers Association, Noel McAllister, added: “These key learnings should help to improve the individuals’ beekeeping practice over time and we will be asking them to pass on this knowledge to others in our association.”