Vermont Beekeepers Association

Apiology

Apiology – (from Latin apis, "bee"; and Ancient Greek -λογία, -logia) is the scientific study of honey bees.

Control of the microsporidian parasite Nosema ceranae in honey bees (Apis mellifera) using nutraceutical and immuno-stimulatory compounds

nosema ceranae is a microsporidian parasite that causes nosemosis in the honey bee (Apis mellifera). As alternatives to the antibiotic fumagillin, ten nutraceuticals (oregano oil, thymol, carvacrol, trans-cinnmaldehyde, tetrahydrocurcumin, sulforaphane, naringenin, embelin, allyl sulfide, hydroxytyrosol) and two immuno-stimulatory compounds (chitosan, poly I:C) were examined for controlling N. ceranae infections.

More: Nosema

Mite bombs or robber lures? The roles of drifting and robbing in Varroa destructor transmission from collapsing honey bee colonies to their neighbors

When honey bee colonies collapse from high infestations of Varroa mites, neighboring colonies often experience surges in their mite populations. Collapsing colonies, often called “mite bombs”, seem to pass their mites to neighboring colonies. This can happen by mite-infested workers from the collapsing colonies drifting into the neighboring colonies, or by mite-free workers from the neighboring colonies robbing out the collapsing colonies, or both.

More: mitebomb

Colony Size, Rather Than Geographic Origin of Stocks, Predicts Overwintering Success in Honey Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in the Northeastern United States

Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) are key pollinators of agricultural crops. However, approximately 30% of managed colonies die each winter in the United States. There has been great interest in breeding for ‘locally adapted stocks’ which survive winter conditions in a particular region.

More:Local Stock

Varroa destructor: A Complex Parasite, Crippling Honey Bees Worldwide

Varroa is also a highly efficient vector of honey bee viruses and drives changes in virus distribution, prevalence, and virulence.

More:Varroa Vector

Effect of Bodily Fluids from Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Larvae on Growth and Genome-Wide Transcriptional Response of the Causal Agent of American Foulbrood Disease (Paenibacillus larvae)

Paenibacillus larvae, the causal agent of American Foulbrood Disease (AFB), affect honey bee health worldwide.

More:AFB

Efficacy in the Varroa Mite, Varroa destructor, within commercial beekeeping operations

The parasitic mite Varroa destructor and the associated viruses it transmits are responsible for most instances of honey bee colony losses in the United States. As such, beekeepers utilize miticides to control Varroa populations. Widespread resistance has developed to the miticides fluvalinate and coumaphos. However, Varroa has largely maintained susceptibility to amitraz despite a long and extensive use history.

More:Amitraz

Coronavirus stings world's top honey makers with China beekeepers locked down

BEIJING (Reuters) - Beekeepers in China, the world's top honey producer, are bracing for a bleak start to the key spring pollinating season as travel curbs aimed at containing a coronavirus outbreak keep them at home while their bees go without food for weeks.

More: CoronaVirus

Beekeeping in Vermont

Looking at Mites

Peter Hadeka tells us "I placed Formic Pro, 2 pad dose, on 9/7. Cleaned IPM boards. Slid out today and saw many, many mites dead.

"These hives tested only 2% to 3%, but when multiplied by thousands of bees they add up. I was always under the impression that Formic didn't really kill many phoretic mites.

"I guess it does !!!!"

Fred Putnam responds by saying "Besides killing mites in capped brood, Formic kills phoretic mites (the few that are running around unattached to a bee) and ectoparasitic mites (the bulk of the emerged mites that are attached to the bees.)"

Still time to test and treat. Please watch Fred's Mite Management, Counting & Treatment video for details.

Details: Last Updated: 13 September 2020 13 September 2020

If You Missed our Mite Management Workshop...

VBA Recording Secretary and Certified Beekeeper Fred Putnam presented a Zoom workshop on mite management techniques yesterday. Despite some technical difficulties we recorded it and have made it available on the VBA website. The workshop included a pre-recorded video at one of Fred's apiaries demonstrating an alcohol wash. We've edited the recorded workshop to include the original video so the replay is of a higher quality - we encourage you to view it if for no other reason than to learn how to do an alcohol wash.

The documentation mentioned in the workshop is also available at www.vermontbeekeepers.org/mites.

Details: Last Updated: 23 August 2020 23 August 2020

VBA Statement on American Foulbrood

VBA Recording Secretary Fred Putnam wrote the following document that describes how the Vermont Beekeepers Association is addressing American Foulbrood in Vermont.

We want to address concerns about American Foulbrood (AFB) in two ways:

The broader perspective about AFB in Vermont along with what is being done specifically.
Provide information to help you identify AFB in your own colonies.

Details

Last Updated: 12 August 2020 12 August 2020

Read more ...

AFB Reported in Bristol

Brooke Decker
Pollinator Health Specialist
State Apiculturist
Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets

American Foul Brood Announcement

August 12, 2020

American Foul Brood (AFB) Paenibacillus larva has been confirmed at an apiary located in Bristol, Vermont.

The multiple hives and associated equipment have been destroyed by fire by the beekeeper. The remaining colonies are under quarantine and enhanced inspection protocols.

Beekeepers should remain diligent in their hive inspections. Weak, declining, or dead-out hives should be closely examined for scale and clinical symptoms of AFB, before being reused.

Samples of comb, bees, brood or larvae can be sent to the USDA Beltsville Laboratory in Maryland, for analysis.

Enhanced cleaning protocols should be adopted after inspections of colonies suspected of any disease or pathogen, especially AFB. Regularly sterilizing your hive tool, gloves, smoker, and clothing is a recommended best practice for all beekeeping operations.

Any suspect findings of AFB must be reported immediately to Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets-

Brooke Decker
Pollinator Health Specialist / State Apiculturist
802-272-6688

Details: Last Updated: 12 August 2020 12 August 2020

Extracting Your Honey Crop

You're finishing your first successful beekeeping season and now it is time to learn how to harvest your honey crop! Join VBA Vice President Andrew Munkres, of Lemon Fair Honeyworks as he shares his expertise. We suggest you register early as this is a popular workshop.

Note: We are still working out details on how we present this workshop. It may be a live video program on Zoom or part of it may be pre-recorded then presented by Andrew who will take questions during the Zoom call. In any event, we will announce details as they become known. Since this workshop is being arranged on short notice we wanted to give you the opportunity to register for it as soon as it was scheduled!

Details: Last Updated: 10 August 2020 10 August 2020

Last Night's AMA Online

We've posted the recording from last night's AMA Zoom meeting where we discussed AFB and how it is being managed, along with a number of interesting topics. Take a listen (login required) and sign up for the next one...

Details: Last Updated: 07 August 2020 07 August 2020

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