Each spring thousands of honey bee colonies are moved throughout the Maritime region to pollinate wild blueberry fields. For some beekeeping operations, colonies are moved within a relatively short radius of their home apiary pollinating nearby fields. Other operations may move colonies significant distances with colonies migrating across counties and provinces to pollinate wild blueberries. The migratory beekeeping practices that exist within the Maritime region, across Canada and within North American present significant health risks to honey bee colonies, operations and industries. This week’s blog will discuss associated honey bee health risks of migratory pollination practices both within and outside of the Maritime region.
Associated Honey Bee Health Risks of Wild Blueberry Pollination and Migratory Beekeeping Practices
Each
Maritime province has unique pollination practices which present various risks
to colony health. Within each Maritime province, colonies are migrated
throughout the province to pollinate wild blueberries. Nova Scotia has recently
allowed for the importation of a strict number of Canadian honey bee colonies originating
outside of the province during the time of wild blueberry pollination. For
decades prior to 2025, the province did not grant permission for the
importation of honey bee colonies, and only Nova Scotian honey bee colonies
pollinated wild blueberries. Both New Brunswick and PEI import thousands of
colonies each year from across Canada to meet the pollination demand. In 2024,
New Brunswick imported 26,737 honey bee colonies. Last season, PEI imported
3,472 honey bee colonies some of which were from British Columbia and were transported
across the country traveling throughout most of the Canadian provinces. In
addition to honey bee colonies, managed non-Apis pollinators such as bumble
bees and alfalfa leafcutting bees are imported from outside provincial boards,
and historically outside Canada, to meet the pollination demand.
Throughout
Canada thousands of colonies are moved to and from various provinces to
pollinate wild blueberries among other crops such canola, apples, cranberries,
and highbush blueberries. The one exception to interprovincial movement of
honey bees is Newfoundland and Labrador as the province does not permit the
importation of bees to help maintain their exceptionally unique pest and
disease profile, which is free of Varroa mites, American foulbrood, European
foulbrood, small hive beetle and wax moth.
Outside of
Canada migratory beekeeping practices are prevalent and globally the movement
of honey bees and the spread of pests and diseases could have an impact on
Canada’s industry including the spread of new pests and diseases into Canada
and the availability of approved countries for queen importation. Canada
imports queens from European counties, Australia, New Zealand, South American
countries, with the majority of queens imported from the United States. The
United States has significant migratory beekeeping practices where greater than
2 million colonies follow major bloom cycles for pollination and honey
production. Their migratory practices start with almond pollination in February
with over 60% of US colonies converging in California in February and March
(Bond et al. 2021). From California, bees move to pollinate apples and pears
in Washington, blueberries in Maine, and cranberries in Wisconsin (Bond et
al. 2021). In summer and fall many colonies move to the Northern Plains for
clover honey production, and then these hives are transported to southern states
such as Texas, Florida and Georgia to overwinter (Bond et al. 2021).
Biosecurity
practices, and the associated risks of various pests and diseases, needs to be
evaluated at the level of within an apiary, operation, province, region,
country and internationally. As the geographical range expands so does the
likelihood of different honey bee pest and disease profiles. Therefore, as the
migration distance for pollination increases, so does the risk of transmitting various
pests and diseases to other colonies, apiaries, operations, provinces and
countries.
When
colonies converge in wild blueberry fields, and other pollinated crops, various
pests and diseases can spread between colonies of different origin and pests and
diseases can be spread to local colonies in the surrounding area. Some of the
pests and diseases of concern within the Maritime region include American
foulbrood, small hive beetle, high levels of Varroa mites and amitraz-resistant
Varroa mites. Additionally, both the Canadian and North American beekeeping industry
are remaining vigilant against the introduction of new pests and diseases such
as the Tropilaelaps mite which is prevalent in countries in Asia.
Across North
America the pollination demand is high and often pollination requirements
cannot be met with only local hives. Therefore, there is a continued need to
import hives into various regions. Many regions, including the Maritimes, are
working towards growing their beekeeping industry to better support pollination
demands and reducing reliance on imported hives. In addition to increasing the
number of commercial beekeepers and colonies going to pollination it is equally
as important that hives are managed to be strong and healthy which will
contribute to low winter loss each year. Within Canada each provincial
apiculturist helps minimize the risk of spreading pests and diseases by
conducting inspections before/after colonies leave/enter the province, and each
province also has inspection programs and regulations within province to help
minimize the spread of pests and diseases.
Other than
the spread of pests and diseases, there are additional honey bee health risks
related to pollination. Both the transportation of colonies and placement of
colonies on various agriculture crops adds stress to honey bee health.
Different crops provide different nutritional value to honey bees and
pollination can be linked to reduced nutrients and forage availability for
honey bees. Additionally, there may be increased agrochemical exposure while
honey bees are placed on pollination crops, which further contributes to poor
health. A future blog will further discuss how wild blueberry pollination can
have an impact on honey bee health.
References
Bond, J.K.,
Hitaj, C., Smith, D., Hunt, K., Perez, A. and Ferreira, G., 2021. Honey bees on
the move: From pollination to honey production and back.
Connecting with ATTTA Specialists
If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:
visit our website at https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/
Email attta@perennia.ca