The island of Comino, in Malta, will become the official conservation site for the Maltese honey bee, Apis mellifera ruttneri. The Ministry of Agriculture has designated this small island, located between Malta and Gozo, as a protected area for the conservation of this endemic honey bee, which was declared Malta’s national insect in 2024.

All beekeeping activities on the island will be regulated to protect the genetic identity of this bee. Comino will also become the headquarters of the new Maltese Honey Bee Conservation and Expansion Programme, which aims to strengthen local queen breeding programmes and improve scientific research and monitoring of Apis mellifera ruttneri.

Read more on local media aquí y aquí.