Section 312 IAC 18-3-7 - Africanized beesAuthority: IC 14-10-2-4; IC 14-24-3
Affected: IC 14-24
Sec. 7.
(a) Apis mellifera scutellata is a species or subspecies of bee which may endanger the honey industry in Indiana.(b) Apis mellifera scutellata is a pest or pathogen. This section governs the control of Apis mellifera scutellata.(c) This subsection provides the criteria to establish what is the minimum action required to control Apis mellifera as follows: (1) If one (1) swarm, nest, or managed colony without a comb with a less than seven-tenths (0.7) probability of Africanization is detected or confirmed by the division, no additional action is required.(2) If one (1) swarm or nest without a comb having at least a seven-tenths (0.7) probability of Africanization (or a managed colony with a seven-tenths (0.7) to nine-tenths (0.9) probability of Africanization) is detected or confirmed by the division, the following applies:(A) The following for feral bees:(i) Any swarm or nest shall be destroyed.(ii) If the bees are detected in association with a vehicle of conveyance or transportation, the vehicle shall not leave the site until eradication is completed.(B) The following for a managed colony of bees: (i) Requeening and brood disposal of the colony shall be completed.(ii) Other colonies in the vicinity of the affected colony shall be sampled as determined by the division.(3) If two (2) or three (3) swarms or one (1) nest with a comb having seven-tenths (0.7) or greater probability of Africanization (or a managed colony with more than a nine-tenths (0.9) probability of Africanization) is detected within an area that is no larger than one (1) square mile, the following applies: (A) The following for feral bees: (i) Any swarm or nest of feral bees within the area of one (1) square mile shall be destroyed.(ii) Any managed colony within the one (1) square mile area shall be inspected.(B) The following for a managed colony of bees which has more than a nine-tenths (0.9) probability of Africanization: (i) The bees and broods in the colony shall be destroyed.(ii) All feral swarms and nests within the one (1) square mile area shall be destroyed.(iii) Any other managed colony within the one (1) square mile area shall be inspected.(iv) Queen excluders shall be placed on any managed colony to confine the queen within the colony until inspection and control activities are completed within the one (1) square mile area which is regulated under this subsection.(4) If an inspection of an adjacent apiary with a previous detection of Africanization also discloses evidence of Africanization, the adjacent apiary is an extension of the original detection and shall be treated as provided in this subsection depending upon the probability of Africanization. Any managed colony subsequently found in a physically separate apiary is a separate detection and treated depending upon the probability of Africanization.(5) The division director may order eradication activities in addition to those prescribed in subdivisions (1) through (4) where appropriate to the control of Apis mellifera scutellata.(6) An eradication activity required under this subsection shall continue for the longer of the following periods:(A) Until eradication is declared by the division director.(7) Unless otherwise inconsistent with IC 14-24 or this article, the division may apply the recommendations for the control of Apis mellifera scutellata which are contained in USDA-APHIS-PPQ-EP, Action Plan for African Honey Bee (1983).Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 18-3-7; filed Nov 22, 1996, 3:00 p.m.: 20 IR 946; readopted filed Oct 2, 2002, 9:10 a.m.: 26 IR 546; readopted filed Sep 19, 2008, 10:23 a.m.: 20081008-IR-312080076RFA; Readopted filed 7/17/2014, 3:48 p.m.: 20140813-IR-312140105RFAReadopted filed 9/18/2019, 1:18 p.m.: 20191016-IR-312190373RFA