BEEKEEPERS are warning agriculture and wildlife will be affected as bees are wiped out by a killer mite.

The Blackburn and East Lancashire Beekeepers Association say wild bees are nearly extinct and beekeepers are also reporting losses, threatening the pollination of plants.

Until recently beekeepers had successfully controlled mite populations with a chemical treatment applied in the autumn after the honey is removed.

It now appears that Varroa mites have thrived over the winter, after developing a resistance to the treatment.

The association claims its membership of 90 bee-keepers is tackling the problem alone, after govern-ment cuts this month put an end to bee inspections.

One Clitheroe beekeeper has lost seven colonies while four other members have lost at least one colony.

Secretary John Zamorski, from Clitheroe, says the Varroa mite feeds off bees and causes disease. and he fears he will hear even more bad news when the group meets at the weekend.

He said: "Throughout last winter the mite population has been quite high and bees are becoming weaker.

"We have had funding reduced at a time when bees are in more danger than ever.

"The US and Australia are throwing money at this problem, but our government is ignoring it.

"Beekeepers are hobbyists and don't have the expertise that inspectors have.

"This is the first month without inspections so it is down to our members to spot problems and call out an inspector but disease and pests can be difficult to see."

Mr Zamorski keeps 16 colonies of honey bees - about 800,000 insects.

Fellow member Bob Fulton, from Darwen, who keeps 17 colonies, added: "We're not scientists, and we can't get out a microscope every time we thing something's wrong.

"In the past when bees died, we could send samples to Defra for free testing.

"It now costs £25 per sample which is a lot of money if there's a dozen to be tested."

Mr Zamorski said: "Some of the treatments used are organic and natural, made from the thyme plant or from rhubarb leaves.

"The chemical treatment has been very successful in the past, but it is becoming less effective.

"I use natural treatments on my own colonies and I hope that will be enough to get me through the summer."

The British Beekeeper's Association say pollination by bees contributes £165million a year to agricultural economy and provides £76m worth of food.

The Blackburn branch supports the campaign to increase funding to protect bees.