Affected hosts
- Apis mellifera
Merops apiaster
European bee-eater
Migratory insectivorous bird that captures bees and other insects in flight. It may concentrate temporarily near apiaries, but responses must be strictly non-lethal.
Agent
Merops apiaster
Notifiable in Portugal
No
Signs to watch for
Adult bees
- Birds hunting above the apiary
- Perching on wires or trees nearby
Brood
- Capture of worker bees
- Possible temporary reduction in activity
Colony
- Apiaries near nesting colonies
- Migratory flocks
- Scarcity of alternative prey
Confirmation and identification
Field observation and monitoring
- Highly colorful plumage
- Long curved bill
- Agile flight
- Distinctive calls
- Visual counts without disturbance
- Record the duration of presence
- Compare with hive activity
Laboratory methods
- Do not chase, capture, injure, or kill protected birds.
Control and impact reduction
Good practices
- Monitor the real impact
- Temporarily adjust hive layout or orientation
- Seek guidance from ICNF if the conflict persists
Prevention
- Avoid new apiaries near nesting colonies
- Use safe visual barriers
- Reposition hives when technically feasible
- Killing
- Poisoning
- Destroying nests
- Disturbing breeding
- Netting that can trap birds
Ongoing monitoring
Indicators
- Birds observed
- Duration of presence
- Foraging activity
Recommended frequency
- Monitoring is mainly seasonal, especially in spring, summer, and migration periods.