Spring is Coming
Are my bees healthy?
Original Article, BeesCene, February 2023
Update: The Technology Transfer Programs in Canada
We are happy to announce that the Canadian Technology Transfer Programs across Canada will have a formal collaboration to help solve the many challenges that our industry is facing. We have many common challenges and working together will strengthen our regional programs and our relationship with the beekeeping industry.
The first Technology Transfer Program started in the early 90’s in Ontario to support the beekeepers that were dealing with the (back then) newly introduced Varroa destructor ectoparasite and the damages caused by the tracheal mite, Acarapis woodi. The team focused on applied research and supporting a breeding program to select varroa resistant stock. The next two technology transfer programs to open their services to beekeepers were Quebec (in 2006) and Saskatchewan (in 2010), followed by the Atlantic team in 2016. Because of their success at working directly with the beekeeping industry, Alberta and Manitoba started their own programs in 2018 and 2019. Lastly, BC joined in 2021. However, in the 1970’ and 80’s the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food had three Apiculture Specialists and many apiary inspectors within the Apiary Program working as extensionists, including Douglas M. McCutcheon (Supervisor of the Apiary Program from 1983 to 1990), Kerry Cark (from 1989 to 2002), and John Gates (from 1796 to 1990) they were involved in relevant applied research projects, including breeding stock resistant to tracheal mites, testing potential acaricides to control varroa mites and tracheal mites (including formic acid), active surveillance of tracheal mites, and analysing the economic impact of acarosis. Unfortunately, some extension positions were dissolved within the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food, but 20 years later the BC Honey Producers Association started a similar program focused on knowledge transfer and applied research as a response to the many challenges that the beekeeping industry is currently facing, the BC Technology Transfer Program (BC-TTP), which works directly for the beekeeping industry and is primarily funded by the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food. The BC-TTP conductsbee research, generates educational resources for beekeepers, and works to identify and transfer technology, skills, and methods to improve honey bee health, increase productivity, and promote local food production in the province.
Spring is coming, are my bees healthy?
Feeding bees in the spring. Feeding bees in the spring is not always necessary. However, it’s highly recommended to check them and make sure they have enough feed; this can be done by ‘trying’ to lift the back of the hive and ensuring it’s not light, but still heavy with feed. If the hive is light you will have to provide sugar syrup, you should stop feeding once the nectar flow starts (well before you place supers on your hives). Honey bees are usually fed 50% sugar syrup in the spring (1 part sugar : 1 part water) to stimulate them, although 75% sugar syrup can also be used (2 parts of sugar : 1 part water). Remember that the best feed for honey bees is syrup made of refined cane sugar or refined beet sugar. Avoid using unrefined sugar (i.e. brown sugar) and corn syrup (Currie, 2021). Also, if your region is still experiencing cold temperatures (<10°C), consider using emergency feed, like fondant.
Pollen and pollen substitutes in the spring might not be necessary. Feeding pollen will depend on the pollen availability in your region and the type of beekeeping production you manage. Feeding bees protein (pollen and pollen substitutes) serves a specific purpose, such as stimulating brood production and queen rearing to start nuc production, intensive splitting, and/or having strong colonies for early pollination services. If you (and your bees) are not required to prepare for this intense management, feeding pollen or pollen substitutes might not be necessary. Plants that produce the first pollen in BC include: hazelnut (Corylus avellana; Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island), pussy willow (Salix discolor; Kootenays, Okanagan, southern interior, northeast, and central interior), bigleaf lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus; all regions), red raspberry (Rubus ideaus; all regions), black raspberry (Rubus leucodermis; Lower Mainland and west Kootenay), kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi; all regions), and Oregon grape (Berberis aquifolium; Okanagan, Kootenays, Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, and southern interior), meadowfoam (Limnanthes macounnii; Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island ), and manzanita (Arctostaphylos columbiana; Lower mainland and Vancouver Island). To find plants in your region visit https://pollinatorpartnership.ca/en/find-your-roots and keep an eye out for the upcoming BC-TTP wildflower manual!
Strength and health. Honey bee strength can be measured based on the population of worker bees in the spring. Colony strength is an indicator of health. Assessing the strength of your colonies can help determine if management is needed to help them build up their population (e.g. feeding them). There are different methods to assess colony strength, some of them are laborious and very specific (i.e. used for research purposes; Delaplane et al., 2013). As a general parameter, a viable honey bee colony in the spring (May 1st) should have a minimum of 4 frames, and each of the frames should show 75% of their area covered with worker bees on both sides (CAPA, 2021). Remember, the outside temperature should be right to conduct brood inspections, as reference:
You can open the inner cover of your hive (take quick peek) when the temperature reaches 10°C
Only inspect frames when the temperature is >15°C
Once you’re able to inspect the brood chamber, take a look at the frames and assess the following: strength, presence of the queen (she might not be laying eggs yet), food stores, signs of diseases. Signs of diseases in the spring (brood might not be developing yet) include:
Dysentery. Observed as an excess of faeces on the top bars, combs, and on the front of the hives. In most cases, dysentery is caused by poor feed in the fall (e.g. unrefined sugar syrup, corn syrup, or 50% sugar syrup delivered in the fall). However, nosema disease and amoebiasis cannot be discarded as the cause of dysentery. These diseases are caused by the pathogens Nosema (Vairimorpha) apis and Malpighamoeba mellificae, respectively. Note: Nosema (Vairimorpha) ceranae does not cause signs of dysentery.
Hive entrance with signs of dysentery (red circle) and chalkbrood (yellow circle).
Scales on the bottom of the cells could be a sign of European Foulbrood (EFB) or American Foulbrood (AFB). The AFB scale is particularly hard to remove for the bees. If you find scales in the comb, it is better to discard (preferably burn) the wooden frame and comb. If you use plastic foundation, scrape the wax off the plastic foundation and plastic frame using a putty knife, power wash the plastic foundation (if possible), soak the plastic foundation or frame using house bleach (sodium hypochlorite) diluted in water (250 ml of household bleach per 5 L of water) for 10 minutes. Rinse the plastic foundation or frame thoroughly before reusing. If you decide to reuse the plastic foundation, spray the foundation with 50% sugar syrup to stimulate the bees to work on it. If you suspect AFB, reusing the plastic foundation might not be an option.
Ventilation and winter wraps. Remember that good ventilation and insulation will increase the chances of survival of your bees. Make sure the bees have proper ventilation, particularly in humid areas. There is no rush to remove winter wraps, they can stay until temperatures reach >0°C over night.
If your bees didn’t survive the winter, consider the following:
Did I monitor for varroa mites throughout the year and keep the mite levels below the economic threshold (below 3%)?
Varroa destructor is the number one cause of winter mortality in North America; failing to control mite levels could result in winter mortality (including strong colonies).
Did I inspect the brood chamber regularly for pest and pathogens (e.g. European Foulbrood, American Foulbrood, Chalkbrood, Sacbrood)?
Diseases can weaken colonies and hinder their ability to survive the winter.
Did I confirm the presence of diseases with the lab (e.g. Nosema disease, European Foulbrood, American Foulbrood)?
Confirming the diagnosis of diseases, like the ones mentioned above, could help guide you through best management practices and help your bees regain their health and strength before the winter.
Did I replace failing queens?
Signs of failing queens include small colonies unable to build up, observing remnants of queen cells on brood frames, colonies with a history of supersedure and/or swarming, colonies with a history of recurrent diseases like chalkbrood.
Did I do proper fall management?
I kept mite levels below 3%
I fed my bees enough 75% refined sugar cane syrup (~15L or 4 gallons per colony).
I placed the hives in the best location possible, considering wind and humidity.
I wrapped my hives and gave proper ventilation (this management varies depending on the region).
It’s exciting to start a new season, and spring management is essential to start building healthy and productive colonies. Reflecting on your previous management (good and bad decisions) could help you improve your current and future bee management.
Author: Nuria Morfin, Lead of the BC Technology Transfer Program
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook <@bc_ttp and @BC Tech Transfer Program>
Share your thoughts with us using the #BCTTP
Acknowledgements. We thank Heather Higo, Heather Sosnowski and Kerry Clark for their valuable suggestions.
References
Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists (CAPA) (2022) Statement on Honey Bee Wintering Losses in Canada 2022. Available at https://capabees.com/shared/CAPA-Statement-on-Colony-Losses-2021-2022-FV.pdf
Delaplane, K. S., Van Der Steen, J., & Guzman-Novoa, E. (2013). Standard methods for estimating strength parameters of Apis mellifera colonies. Journal of Apicultural Research, 52(1), 1-12.
Currie, R. (2021) Available at https://youtu.be/aS9xlfdRBf8
McCutcheon, M. D. (2013). A History of beekeeping in British Columbia from 1950 to 2000. The British Columbia Beekeeping Association (BCHPA) pp. 31-39.
