FACED with a crisis that has decimated colonies all over the county, Devon Beekeepers' Association has sent out a rallying call to everyone involved in the hobby: 'Bring your bees in for a health check to make sure they are not harbouring disease'.

Experts will set up inspection clinics on two dates, at Buckfast on Saturday and Barnstaple the following day, and they hope every beekeeper will bring a sample of bees from each of their hives.

"We want everyone to take advantage of this free inspection and advice, whether members of the association or not," said Glyn Davies, from Ashburton, former national president of the beekeepers' association.

"We are anxious to test for the presence of Nosema, a serious infection of the bee's digestive system that could be contributing to honeybee problems.

"Our association is being supported in this venture by the Devon Apicultural Research Group and we will be joined by experts from the National Bee Unit in York. It is important that everyone who keeps bees should come along, even those who keep just a few hives."

This new threat comes after several years have seen a drastic reduction in Devon's bee population.

A survey of association members revealed that 23 per cent of colonies died during the winter of 2007-08.

The next few weeks will reveal losses that have been suffered during the recent severe winter.

But Mr Davies says it is not the cold weather that is the main cause of bee deaths and, however cold, most colonies should survive provided they have a draught-free hive, plenty of food and no severe dampness.

Disease has been the biggest killer, especially Varroa, the virulent bee mite, a parasite that feeds on the body fluids of adult and larval bees.

It made its first UK appearance in Torquay in 1992. Since then beekeepers have struggled to keep bees alive and healthy and improve their understanding and management skills.

Recent environment conditions have not helped either.

During the few summer weeks when bees gather and store most of their natural supplies for winter, the 2007 and 2008 excessive rains and low temperatures found beekeepers artificially feeding their stocks.

Mr Davies says national and local programmes to encourage more people to take up the hobby have been successful and beginners courses all over Devon have been oversubscribed for two years.

"It is a shocking fact, however, that Government figures show there are only around 97,000 known bee colonies in England with 6,100 in Devon, before last year's losses.

"In 1947 when sugar was rationed and beekeepers were allowed extra for their bees, the figures were 373,000 bee hives in England with Devon supporting 18,046."

The first bee inspection clinic will be at the Southpark Community centre in Buckfast on Saturday from 10.30am. Further information can be obtained by ringing Glyn Davies on 01364 652640 or from the website newtonabbotbees.org.uk