jul-aug-2020

Possible Factors for Fluctuating Loss Rates Although high honey bee loss rates are always concerning and costly, it is important to remember that the total number of U.S. colonies remains fairly stable year to year (as documented by USDA APHIS Honey Report. This is because beekeepers are able to divide their existing colonies to create new colonies, therefore replacing those they have lost. However, this still comes at a cost of time, money and lost honey and pollination income, which can make a business unsustainable if they recur too often. Pests and Diseases There are a number of pests and pathogens that harm honey bees. Chief among these is the Varroa destructor mite, an ectoparasite that feeds on developing and adult honey bees and transmit harmful viruses. Several of BIP’s Field Health Specialists who are out in the field monitoring colonies across the country, reported high levels of Varroa and viruses towards the end of the season in 2018. If left untreated, this can lead to weakened, smaller colonies going in to the winter, greatly increasing their chances of dying. Poor Weather Conditions During 2019 Almond Pollination 2019 was an extremely wet spring in California during the almond bloom, which presents honey bees with a number of challenges. Rainy days reduce the amount of time bees can forage for nectar and pollen, which they need to survive and raise brood while they are pollinating almond orchards. Our field specialists observed that colonies seemed to have lower amounts of pollen stored in their colonies than in other years, possibly due to the wetter weather, Colony Loss Rates 31 J U L Y – A U G U S T 2 0 2 0