Foundation for the Conservation Maltese Honey Bee 

The Maltese Honey Bee 🐝 (Apis mellifera ruttneri) is an endemic subspecies of Honey Bee found only the Maltese archipelago. The connection of this unique insect to Maltese nature, apiculture, and culture has deep roots that go back thousands of years.

Unfortunately, the characteristics of the Maltese Honey Bee are being compromised by the importation of foreign breeds of  honey bees to Malta. Since bees mate outside with minimal distinction between subspecies, this is leading to genetic mixing (hybridisation) of the Maltese Honey Bee. Consequently, the Maltese Honey Bee is directly facing extinction, gradually losing its distinctive ‘Maltese’ characteristics and the subsequent adaptation challenges it faces in local habitats and climate.

The Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee was established to raise awareness about the unique biodiversity of the Maltese bee and to advocate for comprehensive measures to ensure its protection.