Tropilaelaps mite detected in beehives for first time in Nepal

KATHMANDU: Tropilaelaps mite, which has become the big problem in beehives in Asian countries as well as India, has been seen for the first time in Nepal.

Foreign scientists, who arrived here to participate in three-day international conference organized by Agriculture and Forestry University here, found this mite in course of monitoring beehives in the district.

A team comprising scientists of Korea and Taiwan had examined commercial beehives in eastern Chitwan.

According to Associate Professor at the University, Ram Hari Timilsina, such mite was found in course of examining beehives by a team comprising Honeybee and Pollination expert Dr Kedar Devkota, Chief of Honeybee Development Office, Chitwan, Sujan Amgai, Scientist of Andong University South Korea, and scientist of National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan.

The government should officially certify that it is mite after all evidences were submitted to the government.

The government has been saying that such mite was not found in mellifera reared commercially here so far. Devkota proved that the mite found in course of monitoring by foreign scientists was Tropilaelaps.

Devkota shared that the scientists have advised farmers and the Nepali experts as well to take precaution as the Varroa mite has also been found in that connection and it further breeds during June, July and August.

According to him, discussions were held during a conference on management of pest and disease of bees organized in the Netherlands three months back that Tropilaelaps mite is a big challenge in countries of Asia.

The conference had also deliberated on ways of controlling this mite.

Nepal Beekeepers Association immediate past president Shiva Sharma, who was together with the scientists during the observation, said the beekeeper farmers should take precaution in view of the detection of the mite.

Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture Prof Dr Arjun Kumar Shrestha said that various other important achievements have also been made in course of the conference.

Along with Nepal, scientists from America, Taiwan, Korea, Bangladesh, India and Norway are participating in the conference. More than 50 working papers are to be presented in the conference that is concluding today.

Dr Shrestha said that more than 700 people have benefited from the conference that saw discussions on various researches carried out by the University and researches on agriculture conducted at the international level.

Future research topics to be conducted by the University were identified and prioritized and extensive interaction held to that connection in the conference.

Besides, the foreign scientists have carried out onsite observation of various aspects related to agriculture and provided their feedback.