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 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.
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