Bee Health

Neoticotinoid Insecticide Poisoning – The Evidence Grows

apiarymanager Bee Health, Neonicotinoids

About 30 per cent of British cropland – 3.14 million acres – was being treated with neonicotinoid chemicals in 2010.

Reports published in the journal Science on March 29th from British and French scientists, and extensively reported in the UK press today, confirm that both honey bees and bumble bees are seriously harmed by exposure to neonicotinoid insecticides, even by tiny doses not sufficient to kill them outright.

The British study led by Stirling’s Professor David Goulson looked at the impact on  bumble bees and found that queen production was 85% lower in bees exposed to when exposed to “field-realistic levels” of imidacloprid than control nests not exposed to the chemical.

Mikaël Henry from France’s National Institute for Agronomic Research in Avignon led a study of honey bees exposed to another neonicotinoid product, thiamethoxam. The study found that at sub-lethal doses, “Non-lethal exposure… causes high mortality due to homing failure, at levels that could put a colony at risk of collapse,” by seriously affecting the bees’ homing abilities to the extent that they proved to be two to three times more likely to die while away from their nests than unexposed bees.

Spring Checks Best Practice

apiarymanager Bee Health

As the season starts and the bees become active again it is important for beekeepers to carry out their first spring checks to assess how the colonies have overwintered and to prepare them for the coming season.

The ‘Spring Checks‘ leaflet provides best practice guidance for beekeepers carrying out these checks.

For further Advisory Leaflets and Best Practice Guidelines click here

From Beebase

Fumidil® B – Details of Withdrawal

apiarymanager Nosema

Those of you who were at the AGM to hear Frank Gellatly or who have read this month’s edition of Bee Craft will be aware that Fumidil® B, which was the only recognised treatment for nosema, is being withdrawn from the UK following a decision by the Veterinary Medicines Directive (VMD).  This brings the UK in line with the rest of Europe.

Manufacturers have until June 30th to sell stock and retailers can sell the product up to its expiry date.  This document (Word format) on the VMD/DEFRA website quotes a shelf life as packaged as 2 years.  So, in theory at least, this could be on sale until the end of 2013 – although it is very doubtful that suppliers will have stocks at that date.

 

Ambrosia Bee Food

apiarymanager Feeding Bees and Starvation

With white granulated sugar becoming more expensive, many beekeepers are turning to specialist alternatives with Ambrosia Bee Food being very popular.  The product is specially formulated for bees by its manufacturers in Germany, the sugar used comes from sugar beet apparently but which has been processed using enzymes to produce a feed which is very close to nectar, will not ferment or otherwise degrade and is highly acceptable to the bees.

Unlike many products sold for bees this one seems to work.  Ricky Wilson uses it in his queen rearing colonies and reports good results with rapid colony buid up.  He is also planning to obtain a bulk supply for sale, in smaller quantities, to members – will let you know more about this when we have details. Frank Gellatly also reported good results when we were discussing this after our AGM.

You can read more about the product in this helpful brochure from the manufacturer.

Parasitic Fly Implicated in US Bee Losses

apiarymanager Bee Health

The New Scientist has this coverage of evidence that a small parasitic fly Apocephalus borealis may play a significant role in Colony Collapse Disorder in North America.  The parasitic fly causes the bee, in this case, to become disorientated and this in turn helps spread the parasite to other bees in the area.  Full report.

This reminded me of the effect Toxoplasma gondii has on the brains of rats which also has the effect of allowing the parasite to spread more rapidly.