Patagonian beekeepers have downplayed recent bee mortality, attributing it to the introduction…

Patagonian beekeepers have downplayed recent bee mortality, attributing it to the introduction of diseases from migratory beekeepers and calling for improved controls. Guillermo Grosvald, head of the Comahue Beekeepers Cooperative, noted that local beekeepers have informal agreements with fruit growers to notify them of pesticide applications, allowing beekeepers to temporarily cover their hives to avoid exposure. He emphasized that while pesticide exposure can be harmful, the primary threat to hives is the varroa mite, which causes significant mortality rates.