© 2008 Meridian Beekeepers

Made by Serif

Could a superbee from Swindon save the world?

A honeybee bred in the town could kill the mite that has wiped out billions of bees around the world.

Will Swindon be remembered as the home of a major breakthrough in halting the global decline of the honeybee? Ron Hoskins,  a beekeeper from the town, has spent the last 18 years looking for a bee that is resistant to the parasite blamed for killing billions worldwide. And yesterday he claimed that his superbee could assure the future of the insect that pollinates around a third of everything we eat.

Hoskins, a former heating engineer, claims to have bred a honeybee that "grooms" other bees in the hives to remove the blood-sucking varroa mite that spreads viruses and disease. It has killed billions of honeybees since it entered Britain in 1992 and has been implicated in the colony collapse disorder that has wiped out billions more in the US in the last few years.

Hoskins calls his strain the "Swindon honeybee". But any of Britain's estimated 40,000 beekeepers hoping to get their hands on his superbees will be disappointed. He says more research is needed and expects it to be some years before his bees could be available to buy.

Find out what progress has been made since this report,  at the

Meridian Open Lecture 20th October 2011 ~ 7:15 for 7:30 ~ At the Martin Street Catholic Church , Bishops Waltham, Hampshire SO32 1DN ~  Tickets £5.00ph, includes buffet & a glass of wine ~ Contact:  Nina Jetten (Secretary) see contacts page for details.