It is frequently discussed within the beekeeping industry if wild blueberry pollination has an impact on honey bee health. In a recent blog “Associated Honey Bee Health Risks of Wild Blueberry Pollination and Migratory Beekeeping Practices” (published March 12, 2026) it was explained how migratory beekeeping practices can promote the spread of pests and diseases which directly impacts the health of colonies during and following pollination. However, 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, such as wild blueberries, can add stress to honey bee health, which will be explored in this week’s blog.

 

Understanding how Wild Blueberry Pollination can Impact Honey Bee Health

 

Each spring thousands of Maritime colonies travel around the region to pollinate wild blueberries and other agriculture crops. Although pollination is an essential service provided by honey bees it has been questioned by beekeepers and researchers what impacts pollination has on the health of honey bees. To start, it is important that beekeepers understand that the transportation of colonies increases stress on bees. The migratory beekeeping practices discussed in a past blog post (March 12, 2026) have a known impact on the health of honey bees. Transportation can impact bees in a variety of ways such as impacting their ability to thermoregulate the hive, increasing susceptibility to pests and diseases (such as European foulbrood), preventing access to diverse forage sources, and creating physical stress due to the vibrations of transport¹. Transportation practices create a less healthy environment for honey bees, and can weaken colonies prior to pollinating crops or returning to their home apiaries. Therefore, beekeepers must mitigate this stressor by sending strong and healthy colonies to pollination, with adequate food stores. Beekeepers can also make their own management decisions regarding the distance they are willing to transport colonies to support colony health.

 

Once colonies are placed on various agriculture crops there are other health considerations. The availability of nutritional forage while pollinating crops is a key consideration for colonies to remain healthy. In the Maritime region the majority of honey bee colonies are used to pollinate wild blueberries. The ATTTA team investigated the availability of diverse forage by collecting pollen samples from colonies placed on wild blueberry fields over a three-year period. It was found that the diversity and nutritional value of available pollen during wild blueberry pollination is highly dependent on individual field conditions. For example, wild blueberries fields surrounded by a diversity of land use, such as agriculture and residential area, offered a variety of pollen sources to honey bees and greater potential to fulfil their dietary needs, whereas vast blueberry fields surrounded by coniferous forests offered fewer, less varied sources of pollen². Stocking density of colonies during pollination can also impact the availability of forage, and is something worth discussing between the beekeeper and grower.

Honey bee pollinating wild blueberry flower (ATTTA©2016)

 

One other health risk associated with pollination practices is exposure to agrochemicals. If fields are treated with pesticides before or during the pollination period honey bees, among other commercial and native pollinators, are at risk of pesticide exposure and associated impacts. Recent research found that various insecticides, herbicides and fungicides are found on wild blueberry fields in Quebec, however, pesticide concentrations found in bee bread and nectar remained below the LD₅₀ for each active ingredient tested³. To help protect honey bees, and other pollinators, from agrochemicals, there should be clear communication between beekeepers and growers regarding the timing and choice of various pesticide applications. Growers should aim to use products with reduced toxicity to bees, and should not apply any agrochemicals immediately before or during the pollination period.

 

Pollination services are essential to food security, provide needed revenue to beekeepers and provide a service required of wild blueberry production. The use of honey bees for pollination services is vital, however, that does not mean that beekeepers and growers should not recognize and help mitigate the stress pollination can cause for honey bees. It is in the best interest of both the beekeeper and grower to help keep colonies healthy during the pollination period to ensure a sustainable pollination industry year after year.

 

References

1. Melicher, D., Wilson, E.S., Bowsher, J.H., Peterson, S.S., Yocum, G.D. and Rinehart, J.P., 2019. Long-distance transportation causes temperature stress in the honey bee, Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Environmental entomology, 48(3), pp.691-701.
2. Atlantic Tech Transfer Team for Apiculture. 2023. Best Management Practices Guide For Honey Bee Pollination of Wild Blueberries in Atlantic Canada.
3. Quiroga-Arcila, A.M., McCune, F., Fournier, V. and Giovenazzo, P., 2025. Bee-ing a Pollinator: Constraints, Concerns, and Challenges of Lowbush Blueberry Pollination. International Journal of Fruit Science, 25(1), pp.28-63.

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