Last night, Scott gave a presentation to the Dane County Beekeeping Association about Varroa destructor, a parasite afflicting the European honeybee across the world. An audio recording was made, but due to technical difficulties (wrong microphone selected on recorder), it is not available. Instead, the notes with citations are available as well as links to a few resources for beekeepers.
Seasoned beekeepers have observed that early on- back in July, many hives had high levels of mite infestation with the possibility that nosema disease was the main causal agent. Several keepers complained about slow growth in their hives. It would logically follow that a shortened lifespan of workers would consequently impact the foraging population and thus result in less nectar collection. Some experienced beekeepers advised treating with Fumigellin-B and consequently observed marked improvement after treatment for nosema. Nosema disease has been a growing concern, hence more difficult for beekeepers to identify and being blamed for hives failing to thrive.
Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee, November 1-2, 2017
Session 5e: Status Update on Neonicotinoids
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Results from the preliminary pollinator assessments show:
• Potential on-field risk from some use patterns appear to be low
o Based on attractiveness to bees and agronomic practices
o Includes seed treatment uses
• Potential on-field risk from some use patterns remain uncertain: more data (to be reviewed in 2017-18) and further analysis will reduce these uncertainties
From: The Diamondback University of Maryland doctoral student Samuel Ramsey has conducted award-winning research on honeybees in Thailand. (Courtesy of John Consoli)
Within 10 years of the introduction of the invasive Varroa mite, almost all of the wild honeybee population worldwide was wiped out, Ramsey said. Some regions of the United States lost more than 80 percent of managed honeybee colonies due to an infestation in the mid-1990s.
Ramsey conducts research on a tiny parasitic mite, Varroa destructor, which is the single biggest contributor to the decline in health of honey populations worldwide. Originating in Asia, the invasive Varroa mite is wreaking havoc on honey bee colonies, both by feeding on adult and immature bees, and by serving as a vector for five debilitating viruses.
Study uncovers puzzling case of insecticides in New Zealand honey
GERARD HUTCHING
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However, the findings are at odds with testing carried out on behalf of the Ministry for Primary Industries between 2014-16, which showed no traces of neonicotinoids in honey for sale.
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“MPI monitors pesticides, including neonics, and their published (2013-14) tests showed no detection of neonics in the honey tested. I understand that MPI has undertaken more recent monitoring since then (2015-16 yet to be published) and again there was no detection of neonics,” Kos said.
Editor’s Note: Justice requires that science-based policies be grounded in high quality science. Unfortunately the EU’s pollinator protection policies are poorly founded. As the US Department of Agriculture explains:
The only basis for the proposed restrictions is EFSA’s risk assessment, which is based on a currently unapproved Bee Guidance Document. This theoretical guidance on how to conduct the risk assessment of the impact of Plant Protection Products on bees is not supported by many EU Member States.
The same conclusion appears in a major review on bee health released in 2017 by a team of University of Guelph researchers. Varroa, other pests/diseases and sometimes-inadequate bee management are the dominant causes of bee deaths. The obsession with neonics by some Ontario beekeepers is puzzling. It’s almost like they are more focused on anti-pesticide activism than on better bee health per se.
Presentation and Notes
University of Maryland doctoral student Samuel Ramsey has conducted award-winning research on honeybees in Thailand. (Courtesy of John Consoli)