Millions of bees in Calasparra and Cieza have been destroyed risking the polinization of apricot and peach orchards in the two areas, according to the Association of Bee Keepers of the Murcia region (AARM) which has reported the massacre to the Guardia Civil.
This “authentic extermination” and “catastrophe” which, according to AARM, threatens the livliehood of at least seven local fruit farmers, was allegedly the result of agricultural insecticide spraying in the area.
This is a hard blow for the region which has a bee population of 30 millions known as “flower lovers,” or by their technical name “antófilos.” Bee keepers have found 1,200 bee colonies affected to date at a cost of 40 euros each but the fear is there may be many more.
Various witnesses alerted AARM of the massive death toll in hundreds of bee colonies in Calasparra and Cieza in the area between the Venta de Olivo and Calasparra town.
A spokesperson for AARM claims the massacre is the result of “uncontrolled insecticide spraying” which is banned during the flowering season of the fruit tres.
The tragedy is likely to have affected wild bees and insects as well as those in the colonies, acording to experts.
