Maltese Bee

The Maltese bee (Apis mellifera ruttneri) is a dark honey bee subspecies unique to the Maltese Islands in the Mediterranean and belonging to the African (A) lineage. It was described as a separate subspecies in 1997 and named after the renowned bee scientist Friedrich Ruttner. Adapted to hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters, this small island bee is under threat from hybridisation with imported bees and from varroa; in 2024 it was declared Malta's national insect.

What is the Maltese bee, and how was it described?

For a long time, Malta's native bee was thought to be an offshoot of the Sicilian or Italian bees. In a study published in 1997, detailed body and wing measurements of the island's native bees set them apart from neighbouring subspecies, and the bee was described as a new subspecies under the name A. m. ruttneri.

Genetic studies have shown that the Maltese bee is closer to North African bees, especially the Tunisian–Algerian bee A. m. intermissa, than to European bees. Like the Sicilian bee, it is a bee of African lineage living on European soil. These traits were shaped during thousands of years of island isolation.

How do you recognise a Maltese bee?

• Colour: relatively dark; the description "light yellow and brown" in older texts is wrong. Yellow-banded bees on the island are mostly imported Italian bees or their hybrids.
• Size: small to medium, with a build similar to North African bees.
• Identification: a reliable distinction is made by wing and body measurements (morphometrics) and DNA analysis.

Behavioural traits of the Maltese bee

• Abandoning the hive: colonies are observed leaving their nest during a dearth (absconding); this is typical behaviour of the African lineage.
• Many queen cups: it builds a large number of queen cups before swarming; dozens of cups have been recorded in a single colony. Regular inspections are important for swarm control.
• Defence against wasps: it is reported to defend effectively against the predatory wasps on the island.
• Winter brood: the island winter is mild and there are plants that bloom in winter; the colony can keep rearing brood throughout the winter, while it reduces its activity during the summer drought.

General praise in older texts such as "high honey yield, adapts to every climate" is unfounded. The value of the Maltese bee comes from its adaptation to the conditions of its own island.

Varroa and imported bees: two major threats

The varroa mite reached Malta in the early 1990s and caused heavy losses in local colonies. To make up for the losses, queens and colonies were brought in from abroad, which accelerated the hybridisation of the local bee.

Interestingly, a study comparing the local bee with the imported Italian bee reported that Maltese bee colonies coped better with varroa, showed stronger hygienic behaviour and produced more honey at the end of the season. A single study is not conclusive; but it suggests that local adaptation may also play a role in disease resistance.

Conservation work and the "island of honey"

In Malta a foundation has been set up to protect the local bee, and public awareness and pure-line breeding work have begun. In 2024 the Maltese bee was officially declared the national insect, and a commemorative coin was minted in its name.

It is generally accepted that the island's ancient Greek name, Melite, is related to the word meaning "honey"; this shows the long-standing place of the bee in island culture. Maltese beekeepers are known especially for honey from the wild thyme flora.

Practical lessons for beekeepers

1. Swarm monitoring: with subspecies that build many queen cups, inspect more often in spring; use the cells for splits or queen rearing.
2. Take care in a dearth: in colonies prone to absconding, check stores and water when forage stops; avoid unnecessary disturbance.
3. Protect the local line: instead of making up varroa losses with imported queens, multiply from surviving local colonies.
4. Keep records: select by recording which colonies cope better with varroa.

Parallels with Türkiye

Malta's situation is also a warning for island and valley populations in Türkiye. Islands such as Gökçeada, or valleys surrounded by mountains, are natural refuges where the local bee can remain pure. Bringing queens into these areas from outside can quickly erase an adaptation shaped over centuries.