“Yucatan’s Melipona Bee Hives Devastated by Extreme Heatwave”

A recent heatwave in Yucatan has severely impacted the production of honey from the Melipona bee, a species endemic to the Yucatan Peninsula. This extreme weather event not only threatens the bees themselves but has also decimated an uncounted number of hives across several local municipalities. This has resulted in a significant decrease in honey collection, the extent of which is still being assessed by local producers.

Mario Navarro Meneses, a local beekeeper, described this year as one of the most challenging for the environment. "The extreme heat literally melted many hives' combs, and we're still dealing with the aftermath," he said. The situation has been worsened by the use of pesticides and chemicals in local farming, which has led to further bee deaths.

In response, local beekeepers have rallied together to save the remaining hives. Currently, there are approximately 120 local groups involved in beekeeping, primarily in the southern part of the state. However, it's believed that many more groups are also struggling with the same issues.

It's been emphasized that reforestation of native species and proper regulation of farming chemicals are vital to combat the loss of hives. If these issues are not addressed, producers warn of a potential catastrophe for the industry within the next five years.

Meneses stressed the importance of conservation and habitat restoration. "If we don't focus on regenerating the places where we work with bees, we can't call ourselves beekeepers. We're simply exploiters," he said.

To address these challenges, the Yucatan Beekeepers' State Meeting will take place on August 15. The meeting will focus on the main issues affecting the industry and will include workshops and working groups to establish support and conservation strategies for this traditional activity.