Melon watch

The UK -- and indeed Europe -- still seems to be free of the small hive beetle (SHB), and the bee inspectorate in Britain is keeping a special watch in particular places for the nasty invader.

Since SHB can live off a bee for about 40 days and can travel in fruit, beehives around ports are a special focus. Interestingly, the areas around US military bases are also under a closer scrutiny because it seems that the US forces import foodstuffs without much regard for national regulations. They like melons in particular -- and so does the SHB.