Theft as a limiting factor in bee keeping

• Autor(a) principal: MEIRELLES, RAFAEL NARCISO
• Data de Publicação: 2020
• Outros Autores: Pires, Paola Ramos Simões, Lima , Arilson Gabriel Barbosa, Valentim , Taís Tainá de Menezes, Silva , Diego de Oliveira
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Pesquisa Agropecuária Gaúcha (Online)
• Texto Completo: http://revistapag.agricultura.rs.gov.br/ojs/index.php/revistapag/article/view/624
• topic: Apis mellifera; Beekeeper; Melipona; Meliponiculture; Apis mellifera; Apicultor; Melipona; Meliponicultura

Bees are responsible for the majority of cross-pollination dependent on animals, and their breeding has economic and environmental relevance. Therefore, beekeepers and stingless bee breeders, in addition to producing honey and other products, can be important in the process of preserving these insects. However, bees suffer from various pests and diseases, such as varroa mites, nosemosis and sac brood disease, for example. Lately, other factors, such as global warming, deforestation and use of pesticides, resulting from anthropic activity, have caused high bee mortality. But, one of the current problems has been the theft of hives. Thus, this study aimed to assess the occurrence of theft in beekeeping and meliponiculture, through a semi-structured questionnaire, available online, with anonymous and voluntary responses. Of the 259 who responded, 29.1% said they had already been stolen. The item most targeted by thieves was beehives, as 83% declared that they had already lost in wooden boxes or baits. Despite the high rate of thefts, 75.5% did not report the occurrence to the police and 56.4% do not believe that the record has any practical effect. Thus, it is concluded that the man, although promoter of the creations, can be considered a pest of beekeeping and stingless bee creations, and needs specific policies for the activity.