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Preparing Apiaries for Winter Survival

Barbara Bloetscher State Entomologist/Apiarist

Ohio Dept. Agriculture

Brookfield Farm Bees And Honey, Maple Falls, WA brookfieldfarmhoney.wordpress.com

BeeInformed.org National Survey Results

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2013-14 Winter Loss

Beeinformed.org

OHIO

Preparations for Colony Survival

•  Make sure Queen is strong! •  Manage mite population; •  Treat for Nosema if necessary; •  Other pests & diseases? •  Reduce robbing; •  Order/ prepare feed/ pollen supplements;

Condense colonies; •  Winter protection?

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Considerations

•  General health/vigor; •  Source, age of Queen; •  Size of colony; •  Brood : Honey ratio; •  Mite population throughout the season; •  Other pests & diseases? •  Philosophy of protecting, feeding bees.

Look for Signs of Healthy Queen

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Good Rounded Brood Pattern

Mature larvae being capped

Brad McClincy 2013

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Laying Workers- no Queen

B.E.McClincy

Meet THE ENEMY! Varroa destructor

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1) Infested colonies can die in 6 months- 2yrs.

2) Heavy mite population reduces life span of summer workers; can’t transition from fall to winter.

3) Leads to weakness, inability to fly, high communication & less ability to eat and function in the hive.

Varroa mites as ‘killers’

LeConte, Ellis & Ritter 2010

Varroa mites as Vectors

** Deformed wing virus (DWV), •  Acute Paralysis Virus (APV), •  Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV) •  Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus (CBPV); •  Bee Paralysis Virus (SPV), •  Black Queen Cell (BQCV), •  Kashmir Bee Virus (KBV), •  Cloudy Wing Virus (CWV), and Sacbrood •  Virus (SBV)

These Honey bee viruses have been shown to be associated with V. destructor infestation: * red= Ohio &

USA viruses

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Mites & Viruses found in OH bees via HBH Survey

2011-2012

Viral Pathogens in Ohio Bees 2012

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

Box  # 1 3 4 5 2 9 8 18 15 16 7

Migratry N Y N N N N N N N N N

Sun/Shd S S SH SH SH S S S S S S

Chemicals N Y N N N Y N N N N N

Function Q P H Q H ED H Q H,  Q Q H

Percentile

DWVBQCV

Statewide results 2013

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Varroa mite – a pest or vector?

K-Wing or Wingless bees of value?

Transmission Pathways of Viruses in Honey Bees

Vert

ical

Tra

nsm

issi

on

Horizontal Transmission

X

Queen Drone

Food

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Varroa Mite Population by Month 2009-2012

2011-2012 National Honey Bee Pests and Diseases Survey Report

EIL

ET Average density

Time

Pest

den

sity

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Economic Threshold

Apply controls

Avoid exceeding economic injury level

Dewey M. Caron University of Delaware

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Deciding Upon Action Plan When was sample taken? (sugar roll results)

– Before supers added – April/May • Treat when levels are 2-3 mites/sample (~0.01

mites/bee) – Mid flow (optional) –June/July

• Remove crop and treat when 10 or more mites/sample (0.05 mites/bee)

– Post honey flow before final fall brood rearing – Aug/Sept • Treat when levels are 10-12 mites/sample

(>0.05 mites/bee) * Thresholds assume normal size colonies with brood.

Dewey M. Caron, Elizabeth Burdick & Kristin Danek

Threshold

•  Spring/summer (April or May or Mid-June) –  Sticky boards – over 5-10 –  Adult bees – over 3-4 –  Brood – over 5% Exceeding threshold means additional control may be useful

Pre-fall (mid-August, Sept too late!) –  Sticky boards – over 50-60 means additional control –  Adult bees – over 10-12 –  Brood – over 5-10% Exceeding threshold means additional (chemical)

control needed

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Average winter colony loss between treated or not treated with a known varroa mite product, at least once, April- March. Known varroa mite control products include ApiGuard, ApiLife Var, Amitraz, Coumaphos, Fluvalinate, Formic Acid (i.e. Mite AwayII, Sucrocide, and other products.

Varroa Mite Control Product Use in 2012-13 (Pennsylvania)

Beeinformed.org Management Survey 2013

Those in the North treated with a Varroa mite control product reported 14 fewer overwintering colony deaths per 100 managed colonies (26.4% fewer losses) than those who did not report treating their colonies with a Varroa mite control product. No statistical difference for those beekeepers who were in several regions.

Average winter colony loss of Treated vs. Untreated Colonies for Varroa Mite between April and March 2013 by Region

Beeinformed.org

ApiGuard ApiLife Var Amitraz Coumaphos Fluvalinate Formic Acid (MiteAwayII)

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Hygienic behavior

SOLUTION?

Chemical Control •  Traditional miticides; •  Essential oils for mite

knockdown –  Thymol

•  Organic Acids –  HopGuard; –  Formic acid;

•  Other chemicals… –  Apistan? CheckMite?

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Nosema treatment

•  Allow good air circulation, provide essential oil honey bee supplements;

•  Reduce stress as much as possible; •  Signs of Fecal smearing does not confirm presence of

Nosema. TEST!! •  DO NOT TREAT unless Nosema is severe. Test bees! >1

million spores/bee is tolerance level. - Treat summer and fall if necessary (after honey supers removed);

•  Studies show that Preventive treatment may not reduce infection and may INCrease level of infection.

•  Studies suggest neither Nosevit or Fumidil can effectively curtail or ‘cure’ infection in colonies.

•  Nosema found in larvae, pupae and feces… •  Bleach all infected frames, destroy foundation to avoid re-

infection.

Small Hive Beetle

small hive beetle adult, photo by USDA

Life Cycle:

• Adults over winter in hives in cold climates.

• Eggs laid in honey comb.

• Larvae eat comb, wax & larvae 10-16 days, destroying combs.

• Combs full of frass and goo.

• Mature larvae crawl out and tunnel in soil to pupate 3-4 weeks

• Adults return to hives

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fermented honey comb.

SHB larvae

Fermented honey leaking from super

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•  Spin frames asap! (old frames before new frames); •  Maintain sanitation in yard and honey house; •  Inspect packages/ nucs before placing in apiary. •  Keep hives strong, protect weak hives; •  Use hygienic strains of bees; •  Repair broken boxes, remove frame spacers; •  Do not store dead hives outside; •  Do not leave frames out to be robbed; •  Pick up and destroy rotting fruit.

Small Hive Beetle Control

Remove unused patties

SHB larvae!!

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Average winter colony mortality suffered by beekeepers who used or did not use Small Hive Beetle traps in some of their colonies, between April 1 2010 and April 1 2011, by proportion of use in their operation.

http://beeinformed.org/

Hive Beetle Traps & Treatment

•  Treat beetles before numbers are high;

•  Homemade- Cardboard, CD •  Commercial traps- Freeman, West,

Hood, AJ Beetle Eater; BeetleBlaster… •  Predatory soil nematodes-

Steinernema riobrave or Heterorhabditis indica.

•  CheckMite+ controls both SHB and varroa mites;

•  GardStar®. Treat soil (3-5’) if SHB larvae in hive (June/July)- Potential for Resistance

Always read label directions!! www.thebeeyard.org   CheckMite+

4x4”

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Robbing and Invaders

From….. •  Honey bees; •  Yellow jackets/ bald faced and other hornets; •  Mice and other Varments.

•  Reduce Entrance •  Repair; replace broken corners; •  Reduce honey leakage; •  Smoke exterior of hive when working hives

and limit time in hives.

adventuresinbeeland.wordpress.com

Mouse Guards

•  Screen entrances

•  Mice can squeeze through ¼” openings!

•  Use ¼” gauge hardware cloth; commercial mouse guards; other chew-proof Closures.

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Colony Considerations

•  General health/vigor; •  Size of colony; •  Brood : Honey ratio; •  Source, age of Queen; •  Philosophy of protecting, feeding bees.

Colony Size Fall •  Should cover at least 4 frames, front &

back per brood box. •  3 or more frames capped brood and eggs/

larvae.

Spring •  cluster should be at least 2-3 grapefruits in

size.

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Healthy Colony Ratio

•  Queen? 3-4+ frames should contain eggs, larvae and sealed brood.

•  Brood-honey- 3-4 frames of brood for 6+ frames of honey.

•  Hive should weigh at least 80 lbs.; •  Make sure honey is available in all brood boxes;

** Dump debris on bottom board, look for evidence of rodents, beetles, caterpillars and beetle larvae.

The $500 Question.. How cold and how long will winter bee??

Brookfield Farms, Maple WA

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Temperature in a hive

West Mountain Apiary http://www.westmtnapiary.com/winter_cluster.html

beehives in the snow, Romania pinterest.com

Winter Protection

a)  Wrap?

b)  Insulate?

c)  Windbreak?

d)  All or None of the Above

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Bee Hive Monitor openenergymonitor.org weekendhomestead.net

Place Hives on Blocks to Allow Proper Air Circulation around Colonies

Use of Natural Windbreaks

mygardenasylum.blogspot.com

Windbreak from the Prevailing Winds

•  Straw Bales,

•  Natural Tree/ Shrub line, Building;

•  MAKE SURE Colonies get Morning and afternoon Sun!!

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Maintain good ventilation & air circulation!

http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/vista/html_pubs/BEEKEEP/CHAPT5/chapt5.html

Keep front entrance clear of snow;

Provide opening/ hole at top of hive to allow air movement through hive;

Condensation turns to moisture which will kill bees!

Screened bottom board??

Insulation Rf= 4+

Xtra super

Foam Insulation

Xtra super

Dwight Wells 2013

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Adam Ebert's Tales of Bees eberthoney.com

The Commons Getty Collection Galleries World Map App www.flickr.com

Bee Deaths���Often Caused by…. •  Condensation; •  Inability access honey; •  Continuous Freezing

Temps; •  Inability to Process

Sugar

Food Supplements

•  Sugar- honey (use their honey- no other honey source!!), table sugar, corn syrup…

•  Fondant- molded into frames or on top of frames; homemade or from numalin….

•  Pollen- pollen patties, artificial vs real pollen;

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Dr. Randy Oliver http://scientificbeekeeping.com/

Pollen patty

Pollen patty

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BeeInformed.org

National Honey Survey Results 2013

To Feed or Not to Feed..

•  General vigor/ health of colony (s); •  Pests MOVE!!! •  Goal of Production- OH hearty or desire to

increase? Consider ….

Past experiences; Costs involved; Genetics/ lineage of Queen;

Treat or not, Protect or Not….���

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•  The Label is the LAW! •  Follow label directions to protect bees, people and the environment

Follow Label Directions on all products!

Please protect me!!!!

Apiary Diagnostic Labs •  Pesticide poisoning- bees or comb

– Call ODA immediately after kill or when dying. Very hard & $$ to detect

– Coumaphos .15 ppm – Fluvalinate .02 ppm

•  Bee diseases- bees, comb or smear – USDA Beltsville

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USDA Honey bee Health Survey

•  If you have > 10 hives in an apiary and want to have the colonies tested for viruses, both Nosema spp, other diseases and pests,

•  Survey is part of nation wide study to determine viruses and other diseases of honey bees.

•  Contact Barbara at 614-728-6373 Bbloetscher@agri.ohio.gov or Cindy McGinnis- (614) 728-6373 Ohio Dept. Agriculture

Ask for help! Contact County Apiary Inspector or State Specialist

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General Beekeeping and Winter Prep Sites

•  Candy Board http://wcoba.com/content/candy-boards-versatile-tool-winter-survival

•  Insulation for inner cover http://wcoba.com/content/simple-and-effective-insulation-wintering-bees

•  National Honey Board http://www.honey.com/ •  http://MAAREC.cas.psu.edu •  BeeInformed.org •  American Beekeeping Federation

Contact Info

Barbara Bloetscher (614) 728-6373 Bbloetscher@agri.ohio.gov Ohio Dept. Agriculture

http://www.agri.ohio.gov/divs/plant/apiary/apiary.aspx

OSBA http://www.ohiostatebeekeepers.org/ OSU http://entomology.osu.edu/extension-outreach/

household-and-structural-pests Ohioline fact sheets http://ohioline.osu.edu Bee Informed http://beeinformed.org/

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Adam Ebert's Tales of Bees eberthoney.com

bee hives in the snow // Wayward Spark pinterest.com

Thank you for your work on behalf of beekeepers and your community.

Thank You

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Winter protection

•  Damage – Mouse guard! – Bear/ deer / wind

guard •  Wind

– Storm fence – Straw bales –  Inside Box or barn –  Insulation- inner cover

or surrounding hive

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http://foxhavenjournal.com/tag/beekeeping/

in most surveys (including the BIP), BQCV is second only to Deformed Wing Virus (DWV), the well-know calling card of varroa. As its name indicates, the BQCV virus primarily attacks developing queens. The virus can still be found in workers and drones, but they do not appear to have any symptoms. This virus is typically detected by PCR, or polymerase chain reaction, a common molecular technique that amplifies the unique genetic signature of the virus.

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Possible signs of pesticide toxicity

•  Piles of dead bees in front of hive; •  Bees sluggish, confused, paralyzed (*some bee

viruses can have similar symptoms); •  Aggressive behavior; •  Lack of foragers; •  Regurgitation on surfaces; •  Dead brood in front of hive; •  Poor brood pattern (queen poisoned); * 50-90% of bee deaths occurs 24 hr after

application. * ULV malathion is highly toxic to bees for 5 days.