An entire bee colony has been destroyed after a person allegedly sprayed the insects with household insecticide before professionals could arrive to identify and assess them.A Maltese pest control company, which collaborates with the Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee, said it received a distressed call on Tuesday evening reporting what was believed to be a serious insect invasion.However, according to the company, a neighbour intervened before its team had the opportunity to inspect the insects and allegedly sprayed the bees.When the colony was subsequently inspected, the company said it had been devastated, with both the bees and surrounding area carrying what it described as the “unmistakable smell” of a popular household insecticide.“For us, this is absolutely heartbreaking, an important and irreplaceable part of our natural heritage,” the company said.It stressed that people should avoid taking matters into their own hands when encountering an unusual concentration of insects, particularly when they cannot confidently identify the species involved.“What begins as an attempt to solve an immediate problem can unintentionally result in the destruction of a completely different and protected population,” it said.The company urged people not to automatically reach for insecticide when insects become a nuisance, instead recommending that they keep their distance and contact someone qualified to identify and assess the situation.“Please do not spray insects simply because they appear to be a nuisance or because you believe you know what they are.”The company said it was not sharing the incident to publicly shame the person involved, but rather to raise awareness about the potential consequences of acting before an insect species has been properly identified.“One simple phone call and a few minutes of patience could potentially have saved an entire colony,” it said.What do you make of this?•