tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64264113375631660162024-03-27T11:03:17.834-03:00What's the buzz with ATTTAPerennia Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03816554289380527740noreply@blogger.comBlogger198125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426411337563166016.post-25215527658551346822024-03-21T12:48:00.000-03:002024-03-21T12:48:50.814-03:00Beekeeper’s Calendar Series: Spring<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Spring is
here! With its arrival, many beekeepers across the Maritimes have started to peek
into their hives after the winter season. Throughout the spring months, bees
are actively raising brood and increasing their population. Beekeepers are
engaged in assessing winter losses, managing dead hives, providing emergency
spring feed to colonies, setting up electric fencing, eventually inspecting
hives for pests and diseases, and unwrapping hives. Towards the end of spring
bees will be sent to pollinate wild lowbush blueberries in the Maritime region.
Read this week’s blog to learn more about a beekeeper’s calendar during the
busy spring season.</span></p>
<h1 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Beekeeper’s Calendar Series: Spring</span></span></b></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The onset of
the spring beekeeping season starts on that first warm sunny day with an
ambient temperature greater than 5°C, typically in mid-March for the Atlantic
region. By mid-March it is a good idea to do a quick hive check to assess
winter loss, emergency feed if needed, and do any planned Varroa mite
treatments, such as placing Apivar® strips. This is however meant to be a very
quick check, and the brood nest should not be disturbed. As snow melts away
beekeepers should also reconnect their electric fencing, as bears will soon be
a concern. </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnXtijWZCVgX2AguP-ja9pP2JNzZMgedoUi1NolYFM2dDydhdDkhf90Sqjks1XNplHylu-dqeq63S8mZsIXcOSehMQdc0xjx0LZEVRK_XR-98b-g0cy7aEfY7O6AKz3bYpUmX3QmC4egnPf1q0VVKFvim4K9BKzT_Ifpl5dTaoF-aWB4hRfQqz7GjSvJxy" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="481" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnXtijWZCVgX2AguP-ja9pP2JNzZMgedoUi1NolYFM2dDydhdDkhf90Sqjks1XNplHylu-dqeq63S8mZsIXcOSehMQdc0xjx0LZEVRK_XR-98b-g0cy7aEfY7O6AKz3bYpUmX3QmC4egnPf1q0VVKFvim4K9BKzT_Ifpl5dTaoF-aWB4hRfQqz7GjSvJxy" width="273" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">ATTTA©2021</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">If a colony
is low on food stores, fondant is recommended. Conduct a heft test to assess
food stores. A general rule is that if a hive can be lifted easily with one
hand, then it is too light. Fondant is preferred over sugar syrup because bees
will not consume syrup if the temperature is below 10°C.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">During early
spring, colonies are often fed pollen patties when natural pollen is
unavailable. This is because bees require pollen for rearing brood. Feeding
pollen patties in preparation for pollination is a practice supported by
research and proven to be economically beneficial.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">April is
typically the time for the first major hive inspections in the Atlantic region.
Beekeepers should now monitor Varroa mite levels monthly and provide treatment
when necessary. As Apivar has a 56-day treatment period and a 2-week withdrawal
period, this particular Varroa treatment needs to begin early in the spring
season (mid-March) to ensure completion of the withdrawal period before placing
honey supers. Brood should also be inspected for signs of diseases such as
European foulbrood, American foulbrood, and Chalkbrood, and appropriate
treatment measures should be taken.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">By the end of
April, hives are usually unwrapped in the Atlantic region. Towards the end of
April, nighttime temperatures should consistently remain above 0°C. There is no
urgency to unwrap hives in the Atlantic region, as keeping them wrapped helps
with early brood rearing. Typically, hives are unwrapped to facilitate easy
access for beekeepers to work through them.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">During May,
hives will be sent across the Maritime region to pollinate wild lowbush
blueberries. Up until this point beekeepers need to be assessing hive strength
to make sure each colony will be a standard pollination unit. This will require
splitting strong colonies and boosting weak colonies. Beekeepers also need to
facilitate communication with their blueberry grower partners to make sure
plans are in place and consider having a pollination contract.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">To read more
about a beekeeper’s calendar stay tuned for our next blog post in this series,
where the summer season will be discussed.</p><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Connecting with ATTTA Specialists</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk150951177"><span style="font-family: arial;">visit our website at </span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/</span></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 17.12px;">Email </span><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue; line-height: 17.12px;">abyers@perennia.ca</span></a></span></p></span></h1></span></span></div>ATTTAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13903323201676869896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426411337563166016.post-64905479222815675842024-03-14T09:30:00.001-03:002024-03-14T09:30:00.255-03:00A Potential New Acaricidal Compound for Varroa Mite Management<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">There is a global need for chemical
treatments to manage the honey bee pest <i>Varroa destructor.</i> However, due
to an over-reliance on some of these chemical treatments, especially synthetic
products, miticide resistance has occurred with products such as Check Mite,
Bayvarol and Apistan. Currently Apivar is the only recommended synthetic
product for treating Varroa mites. This means there is a need for more product
options so that beekeepers can alternate their chemical treatments, and
potentially avoid miticide resistance. In today’s blog we will discuss a
potential new acaracide, which has been studied by Dr. Steve Pernal
(Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) and Dr. Erika Plettner (Simon Fraser
University).</span></p>
<h1 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">A Potential New Acaricidal Compound for
Varroa Mite Management</span></span></b></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A project conducted in British Columbia
and Alberta from 2019-2022 has determined that the compound
1-allyloxy-4propoxybenzene, also known as 3c{3, 6}, has strong acaricidal
activity against <i>Varroa destructor</i>. Additionally, the project leads, Dr.
Pernel and Dr. Plettner, determined the product has no appreciable toxicity
towards bees. In 2023, the team generated additional data supporting the safety
and efficacy of the product, with the intention of having the product
registered in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The compound 3c{3, 6} was first
discovered to deter larval feeding in 2010 on a study involving the cabbage
looper (<i>Trichoplusia ni</i>)<sup>1</sup>. In 2014, it was discovered that
this compound can synergize with the active deterrent in neem, Azadirachtin A,
with regard to larval feeding deterrence of <i>T. ni</i><sup>2</sup>. More
recently, in 2016, it was reported that 3c{3,6} repels malaria mosquitoes (<i>Anopheles
gambiae</i>) with similar efficacy to DEET</span> </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: arial;">(N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide)<sup>3</sup>.
This led to another study to investigate if the compound would deter the Varroa
mites’ ability to detect a honey bee host<sup>4</sup>. The study found that
3c{3,6} affects the ability of Varroa mites to detect and reach a honey bee
host<sup>4</sup>, and following this field trials were conducted by Dr. Pernel
and Dr. Plettner starting in 2019<sup>5</sup>.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASioGLXGEumaiaZ4NhlW9sLHtqFgTalyaEwuHGEoG0wyesR2WzC7RQhIYZAYFX4sUBQ58NLXbLb23aJ1oWkRn1owXWXZJ-K3a3szivGx6S3ZhqXwJ0yOCxgepEuXk5a2PqOIQ8BJWnU7VtHaliNV8Ovp6lT0AnT9xkHrM0OICJN8RwuKuHm6f0xk3maPk/s314/Picture1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="314" data-original-width="281" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASioGLXGEumaiaZ4NhlW9sLHtqFgTalyaEwuHGEoG0wyesR2WzC7RQhIYZAYFX4sUBQ58NLXbLb23aJ1oWkRn1owXWXZJ-K3a3szivGx6S3ZhqXwJ0yOCxgepEuXk5a2PqOIQ8BJWnU7VtHaliNV8Ovp6lT0AnT9xkHrM0OICJN8RwuKuHm6f0xk3maPk/w354-h396/Picture1.jpg" width="354" /></a></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">The effect of
hexane control or 3c{3,6} treatment on the choice of Varroa mites between nurse
and forager bees. Bars represent the percentage of mites selecting a nurse
(white) or a forager (stippled) after 60, 120, and 180 min. (a) Control:
hexane. (b) Treatment with compound 3c{3,6} at 10 μg in 1 μL hexane. From study
by Singh <i>et al</i>. 2020.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">In 2023, two field trials were conducted
over differing time frames: one in Beaverlodge, AB during the spring, and the
other in the lower mainland of BC during the late summer/fall<sup>5</sup>. Both
experiments involved the same duration of treatment application (6 weeks) as
well as the same amount of 3c{3,6} (10g) applied to honey bee colonies. There
were twenty colonies used in each test location.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The treatment itself was delivered using
a wooden applicator with 10g of 3c{3,6} dissolved in isopropanol with 2g of glycerol,
administered using three treated wood slats hanging between brood frames<sup>5</sup>.
In 2023, the amount of 3c{3,6} applied to
colonies was increased from the 8g used in 2022. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">At the start of the experiment the team
performed an alcohol wash to establish phoretic mite loads on adult bees, and they
examined 100 cells of capped brood to determine levels of mite reproduction. After
the treatment period, a second alcohol wash was conducted to determine the
efficacy of treatment. Each colony had a removable sticky board placed beneath
a screened bottom board to collect falling mites, which were collected and counted
throughout the experiment. Additionally, samples of honey and wax were drawn
from brood chambers and supers to assess any potential 3c{3,6} residue risks.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The results of the 2023 field trials are
not yet published. However, results to date indicate high efficacy of both
spring and fall treatments of 3c{3,6}. In 2019, the field trials concluded that
3c{3,6} causes mortality of phoretic mites in bee colonies, as measured by the
numbers of mites dropping onto sticky boards<sup>5</sup>. In 2019, the efficacy
of this compound in the field was 51.2 ± 6.2% in BC and 81.1 ± 2.9% in AB<sup>5</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">References<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><div style="text-align: left;"><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Akhtar,
Y., Yu, Y., Isman, M.B. and Plettner, E., 2010. Dialkoxybenzene and
dialkoxyallylbenzene feeding and oviposition deterrents against the cabbage
looper, Trichoplusia ni: potential insect behavior control agents. <i>Journal
of agricultural and food chemistry</i>, <i>58</i>(8), pp.4983-4991.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Cameron, L.M., Rogers, M., Aalhus, M.,
Seward, B., Yu, Y. and Plettner, E., 2014. Feeding deterrence of cabbage looper
(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) by 1-allyloxy-4-propoxybenzene, alone and blended with
neem extract. Journal of economic entomology, 107(6), pp.2119-2129.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Hodson, C.N., Yu, Y., Plettner, E. and
Roitberg, B.D., 2016. New repellent effective against African malaria mosquito
Anopheles gambiae: implications for vector control. Medical and Veterinary
Entomology, 30(4), pp.369-376.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Singh, N.K., Eliash, N., Raj, S., Kim,
J., Yu, Y., Plettner, E. and Soroker, V., 2020. Effect of the insect feeding
deterrent 1-allyloxy-4-propoxybenzene on olfactory responses and host choice of
Varroa destructor. Apidologie, 51, pp.1133-1142.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Dawdani, S., O’Neill, M., Castillo, C.,
Sámano, J.E.M., Higo, H., Ibrahim, A., Pernal, S.F. and Plettner, E., 2023.
Effects of dialkoxybenzenes against Varroa destructor and identification of
1-allyloxy-4-propoxybenzene as a promising acaricide candidate. Scientific
Reports, 13(1), p.11195.</span></li></ol><div><div style="text-indent: -24px;"><h1 style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Connecting with ATTTA Specialists</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk150951177"><span style="font-family: arial;">visit our website at </span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/</span></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 17.12px;">Email </span><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue; line-height: 17.12px;">abyers@perennia.ca</span></a></span></p></span></h1></div></div></div>ATTTAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13903323201676869896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426411337563166016.post-65357439824405743392024-03-07T10:00:00.001-04:002024-03-07T10:00:00.259-04:00Review of NB Beekeepers’ Association AGM 2024<p><span style="font-family: arial;">This past weekend, the Atlantic Tech Transfer Team for
Apiculture had the pleasure of attending the New Brunswick Beekeepers’
Association Annual General Meeting in Dieppe, NB. The meeting was
well-attended, with over 100 beekeepers, blueberry growers, and industry
representatives from across Canada. The meeting spanned two days, March 1<sup>st</sup>
and 2<sup>nd</sup>, and included a tradeshow, multiple speakers, industry
updates, workshops, an annual business meeting, and a panel discussion. Read
this week’s blog to learn the highlights of the event.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h1 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Review of
NB Beekeepers’ Association AGM 2024</span></span></b></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Another successful annual general meeting of the NB
Beekeepers’ Association occurred on March 1<sup>st</sup> and 2<sup>nd</sup> in Dieppe,
NB, where approximately 100 beekeepers and/or industry representatives were in
attendance. Ian Steppler was the keynote speaker of the event, where he gave 3
presentations over the two-day event. Ian is well known for his YouTube channel
“A Canadian’s Beekeeper Blog”, which has over 80 thousand subscribers, and
highlights his 20 years of beekeeping experience. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ian spoke about transitioning from a sideline to a
commercial operation. During his presentation, Ian described how he effectively
manages people, incorporates various pieces of equipment into his operation,
and manages his time, so that his large-scale commercial beekeeping operation
runs as efficiently as possible. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ian gave a presentation on queen rearing. Ian’s beekeeping
operation raises 700-1000 queens annually. Ian outlined the main advantages of
raising local queens, including quality/longevity, availability, associated
costs, and biosecurity. He discussed how he selects his breeder colonies and
the wide variety of traits he selects for, as well as providing detailed
information on the timeline he follows when rearing queens.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The final presentation by Ian Steppler was on nuc
production. In his operation, they produce nucs to replace winter losses each
year. Having a supply of nucs going into the winter ensures that winter losses
can be replaced come Spring, and during a good year for winter loss, any
surplus of nucs can be sold for additional profit.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQglQviHLZKAcEwIwuMgDEpD9tCW0nf2VZznZY6Acf6nfMC6rj2kInrflLuuilR6a2i0-aIZ0SJo9TLM-SBBCPtTGyAGrBHdXrFCpKZcmlql8N58lfqdFQRFSnYPCn1Gq4_7Z84fUcxBHML224EXIotNICJHpXyRnQW523Euev1VBLMecJWo6pwIVsYC3k/s4032/IMG_1375.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQglQviHLZKAcEwIwuMgDEpD9tCW0nf2VZznZY6Acf6nfMC6rj2kInrflLuuilR6a2i0-aIZ0SJo9TLM-SBBCPtTGyAGrBHdXrFCpKZcmlql8N58lfqdFQRFSnYPCn1Gq4_7Z84fUcxBHML224EXIotNICJHpXyRnQW523Euev1VBLMecJWo6pwIVsYC3k/s320/IMG_1375.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">New Brunswick Beekeepers’ Association Annual
General Meeting 2024.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">During the meeting attendees heard from the provincial
apiculturist, Chris Maund. New Brunswick currently has 558 beekeepers (7% commercial)
and over 12,000 honey bee colonies. The average honey production in New
Brunswick this past year was 18.9kg/hive. The price of pollination rentals for
2023 ranged between $157 to $200 per hive for wild blueberry pollination and
between $125 to $275 for cranberry pollination. The province imported
approximately 19,000 colonies, the majority of which came from Ontario.
Currently, the New Brunswick border is closed to the importation of bumble bees
from Mexico and honey bee queens from Ukraine. Overall, the province had a good
year for overwinter loss, with an average of 24.2%, which is below the national
and Atlantic Canada average. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Attendees also heard from the chief apiary inspector, Karen
Thurlow. No cases of American Foulbrood or Small Hive Beetle were found in New
Brunswick colonies in 2023. For Varroa mite treatment, Apivar continues to be
the leading treatment in New Brunswick, with oxalic acid being a close second.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Mike Melanson gave a blueberry industry update during the
meeting. There were 60 million pounds of blueberries produced in New Brunswick
in 2023. Pollination was supplied by 30,000 honey bee hives (both from New
Brunswick and imported from elsewhere in Canada), over 5,000 leafcutter bee
colonies, and 9,000 bumble bee quads. Overall, excessive rainfall in New
Brunswick added additional pest pressure to blueberries and delayed the harvest
for 2023.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Atlantic Tech Transfer Team was pleased to give a
workshop on miticide resistance. The workshop covered an overview of past
projects done by ATTTA, highlighting the efficacy of various Varroa mite
treatments in Atlantic Canada. The presentation also provided insight into the
science of how reduced efficacy occurs and what beekeepers can do to prevent
it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The event wrapped up with a panel discussion moderated by
the NBBA President, Chris Lockhart. The panel consisted of Dr. Andrew Byers
(ATTTA), Roland Michaud (NBBA board member), Boyd Hicks (commercial beekeeper),
and Karen Thurlow (Chief Apiary Inspector). The panel discussed some of the
implications of climate change on beekeeping, pests and diseases,
advantages/disadvantages of technology in beekeeping, and the
advantages/disadvantages of running singles versus doubles in an operation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Thank you to all members of the NB Beekeepers’ Association
who helped organize this great event, especially NBBA executives Chris Lockhart
and Brian Pond, and to those who work to support the beekeeping industry of New
Brunswick.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><h1><span style="font-family: arial;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Connecting with ATTTA Specialists</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk150951177"><span style="font-family: arial;">visit our website at </span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/</span></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 17.12px;">Email </span><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue; line-height: 17.12px;">abyers@perennia.ca</span></a></span></p></span></h1>ATTTAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13903323201676869896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426411337563166016.post-65395760504364509042024-02-29T09:08:00.000-04:002024-02-29T09:07:20.807-04:00Review of NS Beekeepers’ Association AGM 2024<p><span style="font-family: arial;">This past weekend the <a name="_Hlk159927998">Nova Scotia
Beekeepers’ Association held their annual general meeting </a>in Truro, Nova Scotia.
The Atlantic Tech Transfer Team for Apiculture was pleased to attend and
present at this year’s meeting. Read this week’s blog to learn about the
highlights of the event, and to find out what is happening in the Nova Scotia
beekeeping industry.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h1 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Review of
NS Beekeepers’ Association AGM 2024</span></span></b></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Another successful annual general meeting of the NS
Beekeepers’ Association occurred on February 24th in Truro, NS, where
approximately 90 beekeepers and/or industry representatives were in attendance.
The event included a commercial beekeeper meeting, several tradeshow exhibits,
and multiple guest speakers including the Atlantic Tech Transfer Team for
Apiculture. During the AGM, the NSBA also held their annual business meeting.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWOtgJZW8UGH2gjx3tTnPhAmOPssjZXThTcpTs4mnqcRoAnYCEvg-3W8vRK7cF0Cp1R8aACxi-do-XpSNX9qD5Bwf2J7ELSKKytunFZ2INoJXp2p7hZ3u_nn4iVHSIzmjOEwnUwlEdrXvBs88Zg3V536CKxA_U9Tk_CBYGkhAKcvsuVlwU6SPJUlKX96l/s640/IMG_0365.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWOtgJZW8UGH2gjx3tTnPhAmOPssjZXThTcpTs4mnqcRoAnYCEvg-3W8vRK7cF0Cp1R8aACxi-do-XpSNX9qD5Bwf2J7ELSKKytunFZ2INoJXp2p7hZ3u_nn4iVHSIzmjOEwnUwlEdrXvBs88Zg3V536CKxA_U9Tk_CBYGkhAKcvsuVlwU6SPJUlKX96l/w387-h291/IMG_0365.jpg" width="387" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Past and present team members of the
Atlantic Tech Transfer Team for Apiculture at the Nova Scotia Beekeepers’
Association annual general meeting 2024 (Left to right: Jillian Shaw, Rebecca
Campbell, Kayla Gaudet, Andrew Byers, Jonathan Wort, John MacDonald, and Greg
Dugas).</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Jason Sproule, the provincial apiculturist of Nova Scotia,
gave an update on the Nova Scotia beekeeping industry for 2023. As of 2023,
Nova Scotia has 912 beekeepers (of which approximately 200 are newly registered
beekeepers), and over 27 thousand active honey bee colonies spread across over 1000
apiaries. There are 41 beekeepers contributing to queen production, and an
impressive 416 beekeepers contributing to honey production. The average honey
crop for Nova Scotia this past year was 21 kg per hive. The Nova Scotia honey
bee winter loss average continues to be below the national average, with a
provincial loss of 15.6% in the winter of 2022-2023. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The average pollination rental price was $161.56, but when
removing outliers the average is closer to $185. There is a continued need for
pollination units in Nova Scotia, but blueberry growers who made pollination
arrangements early in the season say their pollination needs were met. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">This past year there were 153 apiary inspections across Nova
Scotia. Of these inspections American Foulbrood was detected in one operation,
and the department was quick to respond by managing any disease transmission
risks. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The province is currently working to improve vet-client relationships for the administration of antimicrobials to honey bee colonies, such as oxytetracycline. Information has been provided to NS veterinarians through their professional association on how they can access information and training to better support the province’s beekeepers.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">During the provincial report, there was a reminder of the
importance of properly managing swarms. When beekeeping, it is important to try
to prevent swarms by splitting colonies, if possible try to recapture swarms,
consider setting up swarm traps and lures to make recapturing easier, and, if
experienced, volunteer to collect swarms in your area. All of the mentioned
tasks will help prevent colony loss of production, prevent property damage, and
help maintain a positive public opinion of honey bees. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Mathew Boland, of the Saint Mary’s School of Commerce, gave
an overview of the NSBA Cost of Production Tool. The tool is designed to help
Nova Scotia beekeepers determine the economic feasibility and profitability of
entering the industry or business expansion. The tool can be downloaded from
the NSBA website.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Rodney Reid, the Atlantic representative for the Canadian
Honey Council, gave a brief overview of the work being done by the CHC.
Currently, CHC is focused on stock issues, such as the associated risks of the
importation of queens and packages into Canada. They are also focused on
preventing honey fraud in Canada.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">During the morning session attendees also heard from the
Minister of Agriculture, Greg Morrow, who spoke about the work the Department
of Agriculture is doing to support the beekeeping industry, such as the
implementation of the Apiculture Sustainability Growth and Health Program,
which will continue next fiscal year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The keynote address of the meeting was from Doug McRory who
spoke about building a sustainable apiary. Doug explained the various tasks
involved in his beekeeping operation, with a specific focus on his strategy to
make nucleus colonies and queens, and how he manages various pests and diseases
of honey bees. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Neil Erb gave an update on behalf of the Wild Blueberry Producers Association of Nova Scotia. Overall, the wild blueberry industry is struggling with continued decreased margins of profit. The selling price of wild blueberries is not increasing at the same rate as input costs of production. He suggested that wild blueberries should get a premium price over highbush blueberries and European blueberries. This would help stabilize the farmgate price of wild blueberries in Nova Scotia.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The final presentation of the day was from John Murray who
spoke about the business of beekeeping. John gave a great presentation where he
explained some of the economics of growing a beekeeping operation, and he
highlighted how useful the NSBA Cost of Production Model Tool can be when
beekeepers are trying to make decisions about economic feasibility. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The event wrapped up with the NSBA Honorary Lifetime
Membership Award, which was presented to Tom Cosmon and Mary Anne Whidden. This
award is presented to those who have made significant contributions to the
association and the beekeeping industry. Congratulations to Tom and Mary Anne
for receiving this well-deserved award.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Thank you to all members of the NS Beekeepers’ Association who
helped organize this great event, especially the NSBA president Duncan Wetzel, and
to those who work to support the beekeeping industry of Nova Scotia. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><h1><span style="font-family: arial;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Connecting with ATTTA Specialists</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk150951177"><span style="font-family: arial;">visit our website at </span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/</span></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 17.12px;">Email </span><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue; line-height: 17.12px;">abyers@perennia.ca</span></a></span></p></span></h1></span></div></div><p></p>ATTTAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13903323201676869896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426411337563166016.post-30095594654269042842024-02-22T10:21:00.007-04:002024-02-22T10:25:47.967-04:00Treating Wax Moth with Larvicides<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #303030;">Wax moths (</span><i>Galleria mellonella </i>and <i><span style="color: #303030;">Achroia grisella</span></i><span style="color: #303030;">) are
a pest of honey bees that causes significant damage to honey bee colonies by
feeding on beeswax, pollen, and remains of honey bee larvae. The larvae of wax
moths typically tunnel within the comb while leaving webbing and frass
throughout the hive. Most often this pest is an issue with stored beekeeping
equipment but can also be a problem with weaker active colonies. Last year all
Canadian provinces were invited to participate in an emergency use registration
for a larvicide, with the commercial name “Certan”, that we will be discussing
in this week’s blog.</span></span></p>
<h1 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Treating
Wax Moth with Larvicides</span></span></b></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Wax moths <span style="color: #303030; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(greater wax moth, </span><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Galleria
mellonella </span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and lesser wax moth, <i><span style="color: #303030;">Achroia
grisella</span></i><span style="color: #303030;">) </span></span>are long
existing pests of honey bees. The larvae of these pests cause serious damage by
destroying the comb, as they tunnel through the hive leaving webbing, frass,
and even galleries in the wood<sup>1</sup>. Most often wax moths cause issues
in stored beekeeping equipment. However, they can also cause damage in weaker
active colonies<sup>1</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Last year all provinces were invited to participate in an emergency
use registration for a larvicide, known as Certan. Certan is a biological
control for the prevention of wax moths on stored drawn frames. Certan uses <i>Bacillus
thuringiensis</i> (Bt), which is a bacterium that occurs naturally in soil<sup>2</sup>.
The active ingredient in this pesticide product (Bta ABTS 1857) controls wax
moth infestations by producing a crystallized protein that is toxic to wax moth
larvae<sup>2</sup>. This micro-organism is harmless to humans and honey bees,
leaves no residue in wax or honey, and does not alter the taste of honey<sup>2</sup>.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkCRlAcb1-bN8XcWEQRUzF4uuTEff8weLdcy0WXEzxmAbq0KtCmRVFAyGxpBBlhqsgm4xl6sF612O6ZOayw0SpWE84_YgvOP4IEGz4koo6UJhiJL5lAWauteaBgKOAfeffeZ_ZYYNIkEeu-WscyZmChHOJEhj6SRMDSmJvltZA7nLzOYR2XVhRfgbm67gG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="336" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkCRlAcb1-bN8XcWEQRUzF4uuTEff8weLdcy0WXEzxmAbq0KtCmRVFAyGxpBBlhqsgm4xl6sF612O6ZOayw0SpWE84_YgvOP4IEGz4koo6UJhiJL5lAWauteaBgKOAfeffeZ_ZYYNIkEeu-WscyZmChHOJEhj6SRMDSmJvltZA7nLzOYR2XVhRfgbm67gG" width="240" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">©Dancing Bee Equipment</span></span></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The product is intended to be used after the honey harvest
when the frames are stored, and it will kill young wax moth larvae. Therefore,
the product is intended to be used prior to wax moth infestations<sup>2</sup>.
A single application of the product will provide very high efficacy against wax
moth until the following season.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Last year only Manitoba and Nova Scotia asked to participate
in the emergency use registration of the product, which is only viable until
May 2024. Currently the product is still available to both provinces through
Dancing Bee Equipment Manitoba, but it is unknown if it will be available by
summer 2024. Whether or not the product is available this summer will depend on
if the provinces, and or Country, pursue a full registration with Health Canada’s
Pest Management Regulatory Agency. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background: white;"><span style="color: #303030;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Larvicides are not the only solution to controlling
these pests. Preventing wax moths can be done by maintaining strong colonies of
bees. Healthy colonies with large populations can naturally remove wax moth
larvae themselves<sup>1</sup>. By keeping the colony robust, beekeepers can
potentially avoid infestation. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #303030; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Additionally, all life-cycle
stages of wax moth can be killed by freezing at -6.7C for 4.5hours, -12.2C for
3 hours or -15C for 2 hours<sup>1</sup>. Freezing frames can be an effective
method for managing wax moths. After freezing, frames should be stored in a
moth proof environment to prevent re-infestation. Sealed garbage bags provide a
good insect-proof storage environment. Also, the use of cool rooms to store
combs and protect them from wax moths has become increasingly popular<sup>1</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #212529; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;">While wax moths can be a serious issue
for beekeepers, good beekeeping practices is one beneficial tool to manage the
pests. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">References</span></b></p><div style="text-align: left;"><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Department
of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (2023) </span><i style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Wax moth a beekeeping pest</i><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">,
</span><i style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Agriculture Victoria</i><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">. Available at: https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/biosecurity/pest-insects-and-mites/priority-pest-insects-and-mites/wax-moth-a-beekeeping-pest#h2-0</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><i style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Certan: Wax moth treatment: 5 oz</i><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">. <i>Dancing Bee
Equipment Manitoba</i>. Available at:
https://dancingbeemanitoba.com/products/certan-wax-moth-treatment</span></span></li></ol><div style="text-indent: -24px;"><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"></span></h1><h1 style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Connecting with ATTTA Specialists</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk150951177"><span style="font-family: arial;">visit our website at </span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/</span></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 17.12px;">Email </span><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue; line-height: 17.12px;">abyers@perennia.ca</span></a></span></p></span></h1></div><div style="text-align: center; text-indent: -24px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div></div><p></p>ATTTAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13903323201676869896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426411337563166016.post-90090192632613048352024-02-15T10:15:00.001-04:002024-02-15T10:25:29.622-04:00Review of Bee Tech 2024<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Last week beekeepers and industry representatives across the country
had the pleasure of attending Bee Tech – a national beekeeping convention and
tradeshow presented by the Canadian Honey Council (CHC) and the Canadian
Association of Professional Apiculturists (CAPA). This joint meeting between
CHC and CAPA was the first of its kind, and during the two-day event there were
over 50 speakers and panelists discussing a wide range of topics relevant to
the Canadian beekeeping industry.</span></p>
<h1 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Review of
Bee Tech 2024</span></span></b></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Preceding the Bee Tech convention, both CHC and CAPA held their annual
general meetings. These were closed meetings only to be attended by CHC and
CAPA members. As members of CAPA, ATTTA attended their annual general meeting
to learn about the current work being done by the association. During the
meeting the final results of the CAPA honey bee winter loss survey 2022-2023
were discussed in detail. All members of the beekeeping industry are encouraged
to read the results of the survey on the CAPA website. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih38Hsp1GCrecLc8ZXaYUF4zy2BF2cNdCfs32OHx2sHyhqc9M07D27qFrV61f_fV6uAa0lFdrfc2fvuJeEGGKiMEcudpK_atIh0cjcD-FaA1Uh6IIl8FC1ni_Sx8FL6VD8b9Lyh-b03MpuTI7D7upAanYSIOApU_MLW4y2bd4bZSO5Ei9aSrwGsmD9xSi2/s4032/Bee%20Tech.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih38Hsp1GCrecLc8ZXaYUF4zy2BF2cNdCfs32OHx2sHyhqc9M07D27qFrV61f_fV6uAa0lFdrfc2fvuJeEGGKiMEcudpK_atIh0cjcD-FaA1Uh6IIl8FC1ni_Sx8FL6VD8b9Lyh-b03MpuTI7D7upAanYSIOApU_MLW4y2bd4bZSO5Ei9aSrwGsmD9xSi2/s320/Bee%20Tech.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bee Tech 2024</span></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The official Bee Tech convention kicked off the morning of Friday
February 9<sup>th</sup>. Attendees heard from Dr. Jeff Pettis (Research Scientist and Consultant, Pettis and Associates LLC) on how climate
change is impacting the beekeeping industry. For example, a study from Chile
shows that weather changes, such as excessive rain, are directly impacting
honey production. Climate impacts on honey production are being seen in Canada
as well. Additionally, higher carbon dioxide levels are impacting pollen
quality. Several studies have been done demonstrating higher carbon dioxide
levels are resulting in a reduction of protein concentration in pollen.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Maggie Gill (DEFRA -UK) gave a very informative session on
Tropilaelaps mites. These mites are from Asia and are more damaging than Varroa
mites by vectoring more viruses, quicker movement, faster reproduction, smaller
and harder to detect, and more aggressive than Varroa. Although not detected in
North America yet, the industry must be vigilant in educating and monitoring
for Tropilaelaps mites. A team of inspectors from United States and Canada are
investigating detection methods for these damaging mites. One of the biggest challenges
the team is facing is that these mites are much smaller than Varroa mites,
which makes them difficult to detect with current monitoring techniques. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"><span style="color: #050505; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The first panel discussion of the conference was on regional beekeeping
issues. Atlantic Canada was represented by Chris Lockhart (New Brunswick
Beekeepers Association president). Chris highlighted that one of the biggest
issues facing Atlantic Canada (especially NB and PEI) is the growing demand for
pollination units. New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island cannot meet their own
pollination needs and must rely on importing bees from other provinces.
Overall, in Atlantic Canada we have a growing need for commercial beekeepers.
Additionally, the Maritimes needs to maintain the efficacy of Varroa
treatments, and the country as a whole needs to help Newfoundland remain Varroa
free.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #050505; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The next panel discussion was on
domestic bee production. Some of the major issues impacting domestic bee
production include seasonality (late spring and short beekeeping season), long
winters, and labour shortages. Although many Canadian beekeepers want to only
use local stock, one of the biggest issues our industry faces is having queens
early in the season. One possible solution to this problem is overwintering
both nucleus colonies and queen banks.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #050505; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Dr. Erika Plettner </span>(Simmon Fraser University) <span style="color: #050505; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">gave a presentation on a new
acaracide, which is the compound 1-allyloxy-4-propoxybenzene. She described
some of the current research being done to understand the compound’s mode of
action on phoretic mites. Robert Lu (University of Alberta) also gave a
presentation on a different novel compound to control Varroa mites, which is
3c(3, 6). This novel compound shows high efficacy compared to some other
products. However, there is still a large amount of work to be done before this
product is ready for the market.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #050505; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Phyllis MacCallum (Senior Program Manager AgriLMI)</span> <span style="color: #050505; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">gave an update on the
labour market for the Canadian apiary sector. The take home message is that the
Canadian apiary sector is experiencing a severe shortage of labour. In 2022,
31% of apiary employers were unable to find the workers they needed. This labour
shortage is expected to grow exponentially over the next few years, with an
expected rise of more than 15% by 2030.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #050505; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;">On day two of Bee Tech, there was a
panel discussion on the relationship between the Canadian and United States
beekeeping industries. The panel discussed their opinions on if the border
should be open for importation of packages to Canada from United States. Some
industry representatives are concerned about new pests and diseases that could
come with the importation of packages, and how this may impact the Canadian
beekeeping industry. Some industry representatives think it will be beneficial
to have options when acquiring bees, and that opening the boarder to packages
will help the industry increase honey bee stock. The discussion that occurred
was respectful of all opinions and made those in attendance think critically
about the topic. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #050505; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Thank you to everyone who participated
and organized Bee Tech 2024. Rod Scarlett, president of the Canadian Honey
Council, did a fantastic job at leading the organization and facilitation of
the conference. The Atlantic Tech Transfer Team for Apiculture was please to
attend Bee Tech and looks forward to similar events in the near future.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #050505; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><h1><span style="font-family: arial;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Connecting with ATTTA Specialists</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk150951177"><span style="font-family: arial;">visit our website at </span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/</span></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 17.12px;">Email </span><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue; line-height: 17.12px;">abyers@perennia.ca</span></a></span></p></span></h1>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%; text-align: center;"><br /></p>ATTTAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13903323201676869896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426411337563166016.post-68560104276880018802024-02-08T11:00:00.015-04:002024-02-15T09:58:31.360-04:00Do You Want to be a Beekeeper?<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Those with years of experience in
beekeeping can reflect on their journey and contemplate the valuable insights
they wish they had known earlier in their careers. As beekeepers, we learn from
our experiences, but there is definitely some key pieces of information any new
beekeeper should understand prior to starting their beekeeping journey. In this
week’s blog we will explore what aspiring beekeepers ought to know before they
purchase any bees.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><h1><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Do You Want to be a Beekeeper?</span></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To begin, an aspiring beekeeper needs to experience handling
honey bees. While one might believe they love honey bees, and that they have a
passion for beekeeping, the truth is that cannot be known until they gain
first-hand experience. An aspiring beekeeper should get strung several times to
determine if they are allergic, and if they can handle the discomfort of being
stung. Additionally, they should thoroughly evaluate their capacity to engage
in extended periods of physical labor, particularly in hot weather. Aspiring
beekeepers must understand that beekeeping is demanding work, and having a
genuine passion for it is crucial<sup>1</sup>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Potential beekeepers need to have some understanding of the
beekeeping industry in Canada. More specially they should learn about the
industry within their own province, and municipality in which they plan to keep
bees. Atlantic Canada has an established beekeeping industry, where colonies
are used for both pollination services and honey production<sup>1</sup>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">In Atlantic Canada, honey bees significantly support
pollination of wild blueberries and cranberries. In fact, the need for
pollination services exceeds the supply of pollination units<sup>1</sup>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Each Atlantic province is known for producing high quality
honey that can be sold directly to consumers or in bulk. Beyond honey
production, beekeepers can explore additional avenues for profit, such as
selling or utilizing wax, and engaging in the sale of bees, including nucleus
colonies or queens<sup>1</sup>. There is a growing need for commercial
beekeepers in Atlantic Canada, and the industry provides multiple opportunities
for profitability<sup>1</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">That being said, new beekeepers must be prepared to embrace
the economic struggles of starting a new business. In terms of building new
customers and markets, as well as sourcing bee yards and equipment, new
beekeepers are starting from scratch<sup>1</sup>. Whether starting a new business
or purchasing an existing one, new beekeepers often succeed when they have an
entrepreneurial spirit. Key characteristics associated with entrepreneurs are
resiliency, motivation, flexibility, vision, and self-belief<sup>2,3</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Aspiring beekeepers need an understanding of provincial
beekeeping rules and regulations. In Atlantic Canada, there are four
legislative acts that govern our daily beekeeping activities. To learn about
the provincial rules and regulations read ATTTA’s past blog “The Rules for
Successful Beekeeping”. Beekeepers must also follow municipal bylaws, which outline
where bees are allowed to be kept if they are permitted within the
municipality. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Potential beekeepers should familiarize themselves with where
to buy bees and equipment, along with their associated costs. This involves
understanding the various options available for acquiring bees, and learning
about the essential equipment for beekeeping, including protective clothing,
tools, and hive equipment.</span><b><span style="font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><h1><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbQ36-qmhEe26QIefF03VUSFiNkT5wfkLERnqC_TfYQV-XMzwnbm4KcJPHkByB2kSGgUVOasoHRWbnJYA9wdRJu_bdFy8KkOfDkZNQhoI1dzqwRq6qnPlHdvZInrTac-qWnpsJbvQI7Q-WD9onX0aI98ZL4bHOTADXCJWGMf4IMYIXi1yZa0R1FyvuSRC/s6000/double%20and%20single%20hives.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbQ36-qmhEe26QIefF03VUSFiNkT5wfkLERnqC_TfYQV-XMzwnbm4KcJPHkByB2kSGgUVOasoHRWbnJYA9wdRJu_bdFy8KkOfDkZNQhoI1dzqwRq6qnPlHdvZInrTac-qWnpsJbvQI7Q-WD9onX0aI98ZL4bHOTADXCJWGMf4IMYIXi1yZa0R1FyvuSRC/s320/double%20and%20single%20hives.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">ATTTA©2021</span></span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: 400; text-align: left;">Finally, aspiring beekeepers should learn about the beekeeping season. This does not mean they need knowledge of every task corresponding to each of the four seasons but rather a solid understanding of when beekeepers experience peak activity and are busiest throughout the year. To learn more about what beekeepers do each season of the year read ATTTA’s blog series “A Beekeepers Calendar”.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: 400; text-align: left;">There are a variety of challenges and opportunities when
entering the beekeeping industry. Some challenges facing the industry include
an aging beekeeper demographic, which is why it is important to promote
beekeeping to the younger generation; a consistent need for diversity in the
beekeeping community; fluctuating markets; changes in regulations; bee health
and biosecurity concerns; sourcing queen bees; and climate change<sup>1</sup>. There
are also opportunities facing the industry including increased consumer demand
for local honey in many regions; a growing demand for pollination services; and
a demand for local queens<sup>1</sup>. New beekeepers should consider these
limitations and demands in their region and determine how they may fill a gap. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: 400; text-align: left;">Having a good understanding of what types of activities
beekeeping involves, knowledge of the industry, awareness of the rules and
regulations, an understanding of the associated costs of starting beekeeping,
and a general overview of a beekeeper's annual responsibilities, allows
aspiring beekeepers to make informed decisions about taking the next step in
their beekeeping journey.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: 400;">It is important to understand that the next step may not
necessarily be purchasing bees. There are multiple other tasks that new beekeepers
need to complete, such as joining their provincial beekeeping association,
finding a beekeeping mentor, and signing up for a credible beekeeping course. Getting
the necessary training is crucial for new beekeepers. A past study found that
when new beekeepers receive training and education they significantly improve
honey bee colony survival<sup>4</sup>.</p></span></span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">References</span></div></span></h1><h1><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p></h1><h1><span style="font-family: arial;"><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; margin-left: 0.25in;"></p><ol><li style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a name="_Hlk157670526">McCallum, R., 2020. Chasing the Buzz: Attracting New Beekeepers to the Hive. American Entomologist, 66(2), pp.20-23.</a></span></li><li style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><a name="_Hlk157670526"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rampton, J., 2014. 5 personality traits of an entrepreneur. Forbes, 14. </span></a></li><li style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><a name="_Hlk157670526"><p class="MsoNormal" style="display: inline;"><span lang="FR" style="font-size: x-small;">Revzin, S. and V. Revzin., 2028. How entrepreneurship can be learned by anyone. Forbes, 18. </span></p></a></li><li style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><a name="_Hlk157670526"><p class="MsoNormal" style="display: inline;"><span lang="FR" style="font-size: x-small;">Jacques, A., Laurent, M., Epilobee Consortium, Ribière-Chabert, M., Saussac, M., Bougeard, S., Budge, G.E., Hendrikx, P. and Chauzat, M.P., 2017. A pan-European epidemiological study reveals honey bee colony survival depends on beekeeper education and disease control. PLoS one, 12(3), p.e0172591.</span></p></a></li></ol><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400; margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Connecting with ATTTA Specialists</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk150951177"><span style="font-family: arial;">visit our website at </span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/</span></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 17.12px;">Email </span><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue; line-height: 17.12px;">abyers@perennia.ca</span></a></span></p></span></h1>ATTTAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13903323201676869896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426411337563166016.post-77788549382347857442024-02-01T14:24:00.006-04:002024-02-01T14:36:07.767-04:00Bee a Good Mentor<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">One of the most valuable tools a beekeeper can have is a good mentor they can rely on throughout their beekeeping journey. Even seasoned beekeepers know the importance of having a network of fellow beekeepers to learn from. Having one or more beekeeping mentors is crucial to running a successful operation, especially in the early stages of your career. Read this week’s blog to further understand the importance of beekeeping mentorship, what makes an exceptional mentor, and, if you are new to beekeeping, find out how you can acquire a mentor.</span></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Bee a Good Mentor</span></h1><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Having a beekeeping mentor is an important asset for both
new and experienced beekeepers<sup>1</sup>. A beekeeping mentor offers valuable
insights, practical knowledge, and a supportive presence throughout one’s
beekeeping journey. There are various jobs of a mentor, including providing
hands-on training in the apiary, sharing expertise on honey bee management, and
offering solutions to common challenges<sup>2</sup>. Additionally, a good
mentor encourages open communication, allowing their mentee to ask a variety of
questions, shares their own successes and failures, and empowers their mentee
to become an independent beekeeper<sup>2</sup>. Transparency is key, and
mentors should not hesitate to show signs of pests and diseases, or other
issues within their colonies, as practical exposure is essential for the mentee
to recognize and address these problems.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">A beekeeping mentor can be any beekeeper with more
experience than the mentee. Ideally, a mentor should have successfully
navigated at least two complete beekeeping seasons, as this amount of time is
typically needed to grasp the basics of beekeeping. Beyond this initial stage,
beekeepers of all levels should consistently seek mentors with additional
experience. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Every mentor is slightly different in their style of
beekeeping and teaching, and it is important that the mentor and mentee connect
well with one another<sup>1</sup>. That being said, there are some key
qualities that make an exceptional mentor including patience, effective
communication, a passion for beekeeping, and a commitment to the overall
well-being of the beekeeping industry<sup>1,2</sup>. It is important to
remember that mentors have a responsibility to shape responsible and skilled
beekeepers to contribute to a sustainable beekeeping industry. Additionally, existing beekeepers and
industry stakeholders have a responsibility to help develop the next generation
of beekeepers. How the industry welcomes newcomers and ensures that they have
the education and experience to succeed must be integrated into our beekeeping
conversations<sup>1</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">A mentor should have a good understanding of their mentee’s existing
knowledge and experience. This allows them to tailor their training to an
appropriate level. This is why it is important to discuss what the mentee wants
to gain from the mentorship<sup>2</sup>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">While a mentor cannot cover every aspect of beekeeping
comprehensively, it is recommended that new beekeepers supplement their
learning by taking a credible beekeeping course, specifically tailored to their
geographic region<sup>1</sup>. Beekeeping, like other fields of agriculture,
requires a mixture of education and experience<sup>1</sup>. A past Canadian
survey found that nearly 20% of farmers have a university degree, and overall
education levels continue to increase in agriculture<sup>3</sup>. Research
suggests that access to beekeeping training can be an important mechanism influencing
beekeeping success and profitability<sup>4-8</sup>. Beekeepers should also join
their provincial beekeeping association and take advantage of beekeeping
workshops and networking events throughout their career<sup>1</sup>.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><h1 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSi04fRDKjY3_bYHpOJ0jxJ4CEQnv_Znb66vGJ5Xbk_C98u2axWTDn2ZRfoO2zUpx7cytCDh-ywin4xz38vj54594cpQhrH_5OeTwvULom0dzm4QlmP4LNGKZj-2bPMMWMWif1BOkpmB4tiYRYoRRMZA2zFUGghZHvSMIGJkc2dywlJPSyaWurEZv-QyB/s6000/teaching%20pic.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSi04fRDKjY3_bYHpOJ0jxJ4CEQnv_Znb66vGJ5Xbk_C98u2axWTDn2ZRfoO2zUpx7cytCDh-ywin4xz38vj54594cpQhrH_5OeTwvULom0dzm4QlmP4LNGKZj-2bPMMWMWif1BOkpmB4tiYRYoRRMZA2zFUGghZHvSMIGJkc2dywlJPSyaWurEZv-QyB/w389-h259/teaching%20pic.JPG" width="389" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">ATTTA©2021</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">If someone is new to beekeeping
and looking for a mentor their first point of contact should be their
provincial beekeeping association<sup>1</sup>. The associations are dedicated
to helping new beekeepers find a mentor. For example, the New Brunswick
Beekeeping Association has a mentorship program where they take all the names
of people that want a mentor and aim to match them up with someone that is
geographically close. Not all of the provincial associations have a designated
mentorship program, but joining the association is a great way to meet other
beekeepers, who could potentially provide mentorship, and the executives of
each Atlantic association are very helpful when it comes to supporting new
beekeepers.</p></span></span></div></h1><h1 style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">References</span><o:p></o:p></p></h1><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><a name="_Hlk157670526">McCallum,
R., 2020. Chasing the Buzz: Attracting New Beekeepers to the Hive. American
Entomologist, 66(2), pp.20-23.</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Gabritsch, D. 2019. The importance
of mentor programs. American Bee Journal, 159: 1047–1049.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Statistics Canada. 2016. Census of
agriculture.
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/170510/dq170510a-eng.htm.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Aksoy, A., Demir, N. and Bilgiç,
A., 2018. A study on identifying the effectiveness of the beekeeping grants
provided by IPARD program: examples of Erzurum, Kars and Agri provinces. Costs
and Agriculture Online, 14(3), pp.269-283.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Duah, H.K., Segbefia, A.Y.,
Adjaloo, M.K. and Fokuo, D., 2017. Income sustainability and poverty reduction
among beekeeping value chain actors in the Berekum Municipality, Ghana.
International Journal of Development and Sustainability, 6(8), pp.667-684.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Gemeda, T.K., 2014. Integrating
improved beekeeping as economic incentive to community watershed management:
the case of Sasiga and Sagure Districts in Oromiya Region, Ethiopia.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 3(1), pp.52-57.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Okpokiri, C.I., Nwachukwu, I.N.
and Onwusiribe, C.N., 2015. Determinants and profitability of honey production
in ikwuano local government area, Abia State, Nigeria. Scientific Papers Series
Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and Rural Development, 15(3),
pp.211-216.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Tijani, B.A., Ala, A.L.,
Maikasuwa, M.A. and Ganawa, N., 2011. Economic analysis of beekeeping in Chibok
local government area of Borno State, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Basic and
Applied Sciences, 19(2).</span></li></ol><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Connecting with ATTTA Specialists</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk150951177"><span style="font-family: arial;">visit our website at </span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 16.96px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a name="_Hlk150951177" style="text-align: center;"></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">Email </span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue; line-height: 17.12px;">abyers@perennia.ca</span></a></span></span></p><p></p>ATTTAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13903323201676869896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426411337563166016.post-69618928077772467082024-01-25T09:00:00.001-04:002024-01-25T09:00:00.162-04:00Review of PEI Beekeepers Association AGM 2024<p><span style="font-family: arial;">This
past weekend the Prince Edward Island Beekeeping Association held there annual
general meeting in Charlottetown. The Atlantic Tech Transfer Team for
Apiculture was pleased to attend and present at this year’s meeting. Read this
week’s blog to learn about the highlights of the event, and to find out what is
happening in the PEI beekeeping industry.</span></p><p></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Review of PEI
Beekeepers Association AGM 2024</span></b></h1><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pLosEEZuXFL6HqDu-VIuluw81VeoL9i-nD3_QoJ8Q54MXeNCgoZlvztR3TkeL1qrIHEGs2Zo0hIqpsHy13bpDAdZFWnbdtzIxR6jTdbWPemWHgU4koEXex0bt5yC4SRs9OQ49HH-l3kgrYdXKSlZ9F7E9S02LA61K9Ha-mirgqeIhJgXIx7EfJAtOtCU/s509/TF%20PE%20AGM%202023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pLosEEZuXFL6HqDu-VIuluw81VeoL9i-nD3_QoJ8Q54MXeNCgoZlvztR3TkeL1qrIHEGs2Zo0hIqpsHy13bpDAdZFWnbdtzIxR6jTdbWPemWHgU4koEXex0bt5yC4SRs9OQ49HH-l3kgrYdXKSlZ9F7E9S02LA61K9Ha-mirgqeIhJgXIx7EfJAtOtCU/s320/TF%20PE%20AGM%202023.jpg" width="302" /></a></div></b></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">President of PEI Beekeepers
Association, Troy Fraser (2024)</span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Another
successful annual general meeting of the PEI Beekeepers Association occurred on
January 20<sup>th</sup> in Charlottetown, PEI, where approximately 40
beekeepers and/or industry representatives were in attendance. Throughout the
event there were four guest speakers, including the provincial apiarist Cameron
Menzies. Cameron provided an annual report on the PEI beekeeping industry. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As
of 2023, there are 25 commercial beekeepers in PEI, and approximately 5 500
commercial hives. Additionally, PEI had an increase in the number of hobbyist
beekeepers over the past few years. Overall, the pollination demand in PEI
continues to exceed the supply of pollination units, and this past year the
average cost per pollination unit in PEI was $225.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Last
winter, PEI had a provincial winter loss of 46.7%. Since 2007, PEI continues to
remain on par with the national winter loss, with the exception of a couple of
hard winters for beekeeping in PEI. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Just
like the rest of Atlantic Canada, the flying conditions for honey bees in PEI this
past summer were not optimal. Because of excessive rainfall, there were very
few flying days for honey bees, which impacted pollination and honey
production. In 2023, there was 19.6 million lbs. of blueberries produced on the
island, which is down from the 5-year average of 20.3 million lbs. The wet
growing season added a lot of fungal pressure to wild blueberries. As for honey
production, in 2023, there was an average of 25lbs of honey per hive, which was
down from the 10-year average of 42lbs per hive. There were a total of 3,400
honey producing colonies in PEI in 2023, and the average price of honey was
$3/lb. (bulk) or $5/lb. (retail).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">PEI
continues to be vigilant with their hive inspections for importations providing
pollination services. In 2023, a total of 668 hives had a full brood
inspection, and 324 hives had a top bar inspection. One load of honey bees was
prevented from entering the province due to the presence of small hive beetle.
Within the province, there was no American foulbrood or small hive beetle
found.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Following
Cameron’s provincial report, Ian Steppler gave a presentation on transitioning
a small-scale beekeeping operation to a large-scale commercial operation. Ian
is well known for his YouTube channel “A Canadian’s Beekeeper Blog”, which has
over 80 thousand subscribers, and highlights his 20 years of beekeeping
experience. Ian runs a third-generation family farm in Miami, Manitoba, and
manages an apiary of 1 500 hives. During his presentation, Ian described how he
effectively manages people, incorporates various pieces of equipment into his
operation, and manages his time, so that his large-scale commercial beekeeping
operation runs as efficiently as possible. To learn about Ian’s success in
beekeeping check out his YouTube videos at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/aCanadianBeekeeper%E2%80%99sBlog">https://www.youtube.com/c/aCanadianBeekeeper%E2%80%99sBlog</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">ATTTA
was the third guest speaker of the event. The team gave a research update on
our 2023 projects, which you can read all about in our past blog “Summary of
ATTTA 2023 Summer Projects”. The team also discussed our training and extension
work, such as our beekeeping course “The Fundamentals of Beekeeping”, and
various workshops. We also discussed our new best management guide “Protecting
pollinators from pesticides”, which can be found at <a href="https://www.perennia.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Protecting-Pollinators-from-Pesticides.pdf">https://www.perennia.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Protecting-Pollinators-from-Pesticides.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The final guest speaker of the day was Fletcher Colpitts,
who has been a beekeeper for 40 years and is a past honey bee inspector for New
Brunswick and PEI. Fletcher gave an informative presentation on queen rearing
without grafting. For years now, Fletcher has been making use of how queens are
naturally reared to develop a system in his own operation to rear large numbers
of queens. Fletcher shared many helpful tips for how he’s been successful
rearing queens. One of the biggest take-aways from the presentation is that timing
is everything when rearing queens, and in order to produce good queens the
timeline must be followed precisely. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Thank you to all members of the PEI Beekeepers
Association who helped organize this great event, and to those who work to
support the beekeeping industry of PEI.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Connecting with ATTTA Specialists</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk150951177"><span style="font-family: arial;">visit our website at </span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 16.96px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a name="_Hlk150951177" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: center;"></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">Email </span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue; line-height: 17.12px;">abyers@perennia.ca</span></a></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>ATTTAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13903323201676869896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426411337563166016.post-85651755169147101202024-01-18T15:48:00.000-04:002024-01-18T15:48:43.367-04:00Product for American Foulbrood Protection Approved for Canada's Honey Bees<p><span style="font-family: arial;">American Foulbrood (AFB) is a highly contagious bacterial
brood disease in honey bees. The disease is caused by the bacterium <i>Paenibacillus
larvae</i> which produce spores that are viable in the environment for decades.
Protecting honey bees from AFB is extremely important and recently a new
product has been developed that demonstrates providing some degree of immunity
to the disease. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has conditionally
licensed the product, under veterinary supervision, and it is expected to be
distributed on a limited basis to commercial beekeepers in Canada starting this
Spring. To learn more about AFB, and the potential benefits this new product could
provide, read this week’s blog.</span></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Product for American Foulbrood Protection Approved for
Canada's Honey Bees</span></b></h1><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">American foulbrood (AFB) is caused by the <i>Paenibacillus
larvae</i> bacterium which produce spores that are viable in the environment
for decades. Worker bees can transport the spores and spread the disease, but
it is the larval stage that shows clinical symptoms of infection. Infected
brood usually die at the pre-pupal or pupal stage, severely weakening the
colony and eventually killing it. Because of its virulent nature and
detrimental effects on honey bee colonies, AFB is classified as a notifiable
disease worldwide. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Antibiotics, such as Oxytetracycline, are largely
ineffective at eradicating the disease as they are only effective against the
vegetative state of the bacteria, which is when bacteria can grow and
reproduce. Once a hive shows the clinical symptoms of the disease, the only
effective way to eradicate it and prevent the spread of the disease is by
burning the equipment, and the colony.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Therefore, it is extremely important to protect honey bees
from AFB, and there is now a new product that could help. This product is being
called a vaccine in the media and throughout published research. In an original
study done by Dickel <i>et al</i>. (2022) the group of researchers demonstrated
that the oral administration of an inactivated AFB bacterin to the queen bee is
safe and induces some level of protection in the next generation of larvae
against AFB infection in a hybrid lab and field study. The suggested delivery
of this new product is that the inactive bacteria is mixed into powered sugar
and glucose syrup for the worker bees to eat, and their secretions are fed to
the queen. Then the next generation of developing bees, produced from the
queen, have increased immunity to AFB. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The research trails, funded by Dalan Animal Health, showed
between 30% to 50% decrease in AFB infection among colonies that received the
product compared to colonies that received the placebo product in the hybrid
lab and field study. The researchers fed the queens the product for 8 days
in queen cages in the lab, and those queens were released into nucleus hives. Then,
18 days post-queen placement, frames of brood were collected and fed food with
a known concentration of AFB spores and assessed for mortality over time in the
lab.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">It is known that this is an antibody-free immunological
response since insects lack antibodies. It is proposed that information about
the disease agent is transferred to the next generation with the help of the
egg yolk protein Vitellogenin carrying immune elicitors, such as pieces of
bacteria. Another proposed mechanism of action is a transfer of mRNA and
proteins as well as epigenetic factors. Further research is needed to determine
this product’s mechanism of action.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7KI2JDuL3yBIfJzeZNjL4OAn2sBsVdV_T5akljNEh_KC58em71LRqJ1IMvFJHsqURKDcmg1fq8f-h4-spCRnziigimqG5Yb361dPdxVwFYzFynmST1sND7EG1PM7nAchS7VwTsjQ2KtCtKMnsvVXDcxPcapV1S5xiBZ3cEhcFbYje1sfm4_cRE-CGjqH/s740/Picture1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="740" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7KI2JDuL3yBIfJzeZNjL4OAn2sBsVdV_T5akljNEh_KC58em71LRqJ1IMvFJHsqURKDcmg1fq8f-h4-spCRnziigimqG5Yb361dPdxVwFYzFynmST1sND7EG1PM7nAchS7VwTsjQ2KtCtKMnsvVXDcxPcapV1S5xiBZ3cEhcFbYje1sfm4_cRE-CGjqH/w365-h247/Picture1.png" width="365" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">©Dalan Animal Health</span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">This product could be beneficial in protecting honey bees
from AFB and decrease the economic impact of the disease. That being said, the
efficacy of the product is still largely unproven both from a multitude of
research trials, and through beekeeping practices. In Fall 2023, the Canadian
Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) conditionally licensed the product, under
veterinary supervision, and it is expected to be distributed on a limited basis
to commercial beekeepers in Canada starting this Spring. The United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA) conditionally licensed the product by Dalan
Animal Health back in January 2023. Some key differences exist between having a
product licensed by CFIA versus USDA, including the level of efficacy a product
must demonstrate. Since there is differences in the standard a product must
meet, it is typical that CFIA will license a product after USDA. Both CFIA and
USDA only license products that have been proven to be safe for livestock and
humans, when following manufacturer instructions.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Although this product could provide multiple benefits to the
Canadian honey bee industry, it is important to recognize that beekeepers must
still remain vigilant in detecting potential AFB infections. Beekeepers should
examine brood for discolored larvae; dead larvae; brood that appears greasy,
sunken, or punctured; and poor brood pattern. Additionally, beekeepers should
perform the rope test regularly, and especially on any abnormal looking larvae.
Finally, if a beekeepers does have reason to suspect an AFB infection this must
be reported to the provincial apiculturist immediately. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">References<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Dickel, F., Bos, N.M.P., Hughes,
H., Martín-Hernández, R., Higes, M., Kleiser, A. and Freitak, D., 2022. The
oral vaccination with <i>Paenibacillus larvae</i> bacterin can decrease
susceptibility to American Foulbrood infection in honey bees—A safety and
efficacy study. <i>Frontiers in Veterinary Science</i>, <i>9</i>.</span></span><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Connecting with ATTTA Specialists</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk150951177"><span style="font-family: arial;">visit our website at </span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 16.96px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a name="_Hlk150951177" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: center;"></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">Email </span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue; line-height: 17.12px;">abyers@perennia.ca</span></a></span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>ATTTAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13903323201676869896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426411337563166016.post-30647919370032179282024-01-11T09:00:00.001-04:002024-01-11T09:00:00.144-04:00Beekeeper Calendar Series: Winter<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Have you ever wondered what beekeepers do during the winter
months? Most often there is very little to be done within the hive once winter
starts. That being said, beekeepers spend a significant amount of time planning
and preparing for the upcoming spring. Beekeepers also know they must respect
the natural rhythms of their colonies during the colder months. Read this
week’s blog, along with those that will follow in this series, to learn more
about a beekeeper’s calendar during each season.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h1 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">Beekeeper’s
Calendar Series: Winter</span></span></span></b></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The onset of the winter beekeeping season starts after hives
have been wrapped and insulated. If all preparation was done well, beekeepers
have very little practical hive management to do during the winter months. It
is good practice to occasionally check hives, especially after severe weather
events to address any potential damage. Other than that, beekeepers should not
disturb the winter cluster by opening the hive. This practice acknowledges the
importance of allowing the bees to maintain their tightly knit cluster, which
serves as a crucial mechanism for conserving warmth and energy during the
colder months. Bees will remain clustered throughout the winter but will leave
the hive for cleansing flights on warmer days.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5Fcz2viXYESDGIeeVe0tL2u3Za8N18y3k648-1vySYL53FdOVI29qcbvecRJggeXVAto0eoB_dA6L4fshl5Cw99Sht2aPV0AIOUFIZNW3z6zTCrwSYrW77sul0YuH4pty8eaxyVRAuoKBN5Ej-Ap-3Sswu0ZmU_gr1SnUYBuO5zdkFnrycnRMTxT4V8N/s624/Picture1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="351" data-original-width="624" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5Fcz2viXYESDGIeeVe0tL2u3Za8N18y3k648-1vySYL53FdOVI29qcbvecRJggeXVAto0eoB_dA6L4fshl5Cw99Sht2aPV0AIOUFIZNW3z6zTCrwSYrW77sul0YuH4pty8eaxyVRAuoKBN5Ej-Ap-3Sswu0ZmU_gr1SnUYBuO5zdkFnrycnRMTxT4V8N/w414-h233/Picture1.png" width="414" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">ATTTA©2022</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">There is often a question of whether snow should be removed
from hives throughout the winter. Overall, snow removal is deemed unnecessary
as snow will provide additional insulation, contributing to the hive’s thermal
regulation. It is important that the top entrance remains unobstructed by snow,
thereby facilitating proper airflow, but the use of a telescoping cover should address
this concern.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">One other thing beekeepers should periodically check for is
damage caused by skunks and raccoons. Skunks and raccoons start breeding in
late winter. They may start ripping
plastic and pulling out entrance reducers. Beekeepers should check hives and
fix if necessary.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So, what are beekeepers busy doing during the winter months?
Mostly, winter is when beekeepers plan for the upcoming spring. Now is the time
to build and repair beekeeping equipment. Also, to be ready for spring,
beekeepers should order any wooden ware or bees they will need. Ordering these
items during winter ensures that beekeepers have everything they need on hand
when the spring season commences. Overall, winter serves as a crucial planning
and preparation period, allowing beekeepers to potentially grow their operation
in the upcoming season.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The other important thing beekeepers will spend their
offseason doing is attending meetings, taking various beekeeping courses, and
reading new research. All of these things help keep beekeepers educated on what
is happening in the industry, as well as knowledgeable about the latest
advancements in beekeeping and integrate new, evidence-based, approaches into
their own practices. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Beekeepers should attend provincial beekeeping associations
annual general meetings. Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick
all have annual general meetings during the months of January to March. Atlantic
beekeepers should consider attending ATTTA’s virtual winter workshop series.
All Canadian beekeepers can attend the BeeTech conference presented by the Canadian
Honey Council and the Canadian Association for Professional Apiculturists this February.
Finally, Atlantic beekeepers should consider enrolling in the Fundamentals of
Beekeeping course presented by ATTTA and Dalhousie Extended Learning, which will
start this March. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The winter months may appear quiet within the hives, but for
beekeepers, these months are still a crucial part in the beekeeper calendar.
This time is needed to plan for the upcoming season, and, even during the
coldest months of the year, beekeepers still need to check that the hives look
good externally. Additionally, winter is a season for education and growth for
beekeepers. Engaging in meetings, enrolling in courses, and reading academic
research, helps keep beekeepers educated and engaged with their industry. Stay
tuned for more insights into a beekeeper's calendar throughout each season in
future blogs from ATTTA.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Connecting with ATTTA Specialists</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk150951177"><span style="font-family: arial;">visit our website at </span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 16.96px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a name="_Hlk150951177" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: center;"></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">Email </span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue; line-height: 17.12px;">abyers@perennia.ca</span></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>ATTTAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13903323201676869896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426411337563166016.post-25947939389805992792024-01-04T10:00:00.001-04:002024-01-04T10:00:00.166-04:00Wishing Everyone a Happy New Year!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq67PqUWxR1RjOr_21NcnEt2cn5P9p2HAe0_8mAYwH1MT_DFqJkf5m4s9o3uKJsYZ1Tf6KFVgIsGnb9VsKDWnHmVGbKVwLujeFPGMoYjNf2oL8UlUPZgjyycTBHL6ZgXK_4Qrs-K4bm1zmm14RXS0LrW9brnIhqlZ59dWBjlm955pkG40Cx1jz5IJzkOZE/s2005/week%20Dec%2026%20happy%20holidays!.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2005" data-original-width="1696" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq67PqUWxR1RjOr_21NcnEt2cn5P9p2HAe0_8mAYwH1MT_DFqJkf5m4s9o3uKJsYZ1Tf6KFVgIsGnb9VsKDWnHmVGbKVwLujeFPGMoYjNf2oL8UlUPZgjyycTBHL6ZgXK_4Qrs-K4bm1zmm14RXS0LrW9brnIhqlZ59dWBjlm955pkG40Cx1jz5IJzkOZE/w337-h398/week%20Dec%2026%20happy%20holidays!.png" width="337" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Connecting with ATTTA Specialists</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a name="_Hlk150951177"><span style="font-family: arial;">visit our website at </span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 16.96px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a name="_Hlk150951177" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: center;"></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">Email </span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue; line-height: 17.12px;">abyers@perennia.ca</span></a></span></span></p></div><p></p>ATTTAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13903323201676869896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426411337563166016.post-22414633091591200702023-12-28T10:00:00.032-04:002023-12-28T10:00:00.345-04:00Wishing Everyone a Joyful Holiday Season!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue; line-height: 17.12px;"></span></a></span></span></p><br /><p></p></div><p></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: arial;"><b><i>From everyone at the Atlantic Tech Transfer Team for Apiculture</i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: arial;"><b><i>Have a peaceful and safe Christmas!</i></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_ctfQPT0t4UgeiW80zHnKfktS3qo8eO4Ibo_RAMljxj8-MQ_CundgQm1owf5rZdJZ5KEYyGuvyuqovLuLO4z9lLT9_Qa8osUatdlAlBVvPFObMvWG8J5zk71BhRQXNtihvF_Rh1N5pYCn7zI-whVdyS2w_0MrXN3fh__GxOiymZsH986Q2uw6raaHKr1/s720/Xmas%20Message.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="638" height="451" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_ctfQPT0t4UgeiW80zHnKfktS3qo8eO4Ibo_RAMljxj8-MQ_CundgQm1owf5rZdJZ5KEYyGuvyuqovLuLO4z9lLT9_Qa8osUatdlAlBVvPFObMvWG8J5zk71BhRQXNtihvF_Rh1N5pYCn7zI-whVdyS2w_0MrXN3fh__GxOiymZsH986Q2uw6raaHKr1/w400-h451/Xmas%20Message.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: arial;">Connecting with ATTTA Specialists</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk150951177"><span style="font-family: arial;">visit our website at </span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 16.96px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a name="_Hlk150951177" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: center;"></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">Email </span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue; line-height: 17.12px;">abyers@perennia.ca</span></a></span></span></p></div>ATTTAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13903323201676869896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426411337563166016.post-44337371116525838412023-12-21T18:00:00.001-04:002023-12-21T18:00:00.140-04:00Cooking with Blueberries and Honey!<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">For this week’s blog, ATTTA would like to share a recipe
where you can use local honey and wild blueberries to make a sweet treat for
your family and friends over the holidays. Try making this “Blueberry-Honey
Upside Down Cake” from Southern Living for a holiday desert featuring local
products.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">Blueberry-Honey
Upside Down Cake</span></b> </span></h1><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_zawwuUNXklKqJZAwaT1I6Xy9BT6hbCN9ceXN0NQaoGevneUBbXnJcMglikA_P_JJJxBfKG-a63okhRS9THKzVEjAppfQHqQTexGzMs0KrmvvOnpGUMKTIyKrErrCK_iERhgFduqC9Xf7d6uwxXXSfFYIfG2bWfO2NFwuyUeE_0sMPKTY6rtuiDcxzeXS/s382/Blueberry%20Honey%20Upside%20Down%20Cake.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="382" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_zawwuUNXklKqJZAwaT1I6Xy9BT6hbCN9ceXN0NQaoGevneUBbXnJcMglikA_P_JJJxBfKG-a63okhRS9THKzVEjAppfQHqQTexGzMs0KrmvvOnpGUMKTIyKrErrCK_iERhgFduqC9Xf7d6uwxXXSfFYIfG2bWfO2NFwuyUeE_0sMPKTY6rtuiDcxzeXS/s320/Blueberry%20Honey%20Upside%20Down%20Cake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">©Southern
Living</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ingredients</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">3/4 cup butter (softened)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">1/2 cup honey</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">2 cups fresh blueberries </span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">2/3 cup granulated sugar</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">2/3 cup light brown sugar (packed)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">1/4 tsp. almond extract</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">1/2 tsp. vanilla extract</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">3/4 cup all-purpose flour</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">1/4 cup yellow cornmeal</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">1 tsp. baking powder</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">1 tsp. kosher salt</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">1/2 tsp. baking soda</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">3/4 cup whole buttermilk</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">3 large eggs</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">1 cup heavy whipping cream</span></li></ul><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 9-inch square baking pan
(at least 2-inches deep) with 2 tablespoons of butter. Pour honey into pan,
tilting pan to spread evenly. Top evenly with blueberries.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Beat granulated sugar, brown sugar, and remaining ¾ cup
butter with a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium speed until
light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Beat in almond extract and 1 teaspoon of
vanilla.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Whisk together flour, cornmeal, baking powder, kosher salt,
and baking soda in a medium bowl. Wisk together buttermilk and eggs in a small
bowl.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Add flour mixture to sugar-butter mixture alternately with
buttermilk mixture, beginning and ending with flour fixture, beating on
medium-low speed until just blended after each addition. Spoon batter on top of
blueberries: spread in an even layer with a small offset spatula.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Bake in preheated oven until a wooden pick inserted in
center comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes, shielding with aluminum foil after 40
minutes to prevent excessive browning, if necessary. Cool in a pan on a wire
rack for 10 minutes. Gently run a sharp knife around edges of pan, and invert
cake onto a serving platter.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Beat heavy cream and remaining ½ teaspoon vanilla with a
stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment on medium-high speed until stuff peaks
form, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve cake with whipped cream.</span></li></ol><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Wishing a very merry holiday to everyone from the Atlantic Tech
Transfer Team for Apiculture! Bon appetite!</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Connecting with ATTTA Specialists</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk150951177"><span style="font-family: arial;">visit our website at </span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 16.96px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a name="_Hlk150951177" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: center;"></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">Email </span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue; line-height: 17.12px;">abyers@perennia.ca</span></a></span></span></p><!--[if !supportLists]--><o:p></o:p><p></p>
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<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></div>ATTTAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13903323201676869896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426411337563166016.post-60341414881828942612023-12-14T09:00:00.001-04:002023-12-14T09:00:00.152-04:00The Impressive Benefits of Honey for Human Health<p><span style="font-family: arial;">It is no secret that honey reportedly has a multitude
of benefits for human health. The use of honey for traditional medicine can be
traced back more than 8000 years<sup>1</sup>. In addition to the important role
of honey in traditional medicine, during the past few decades, honey has been
subjected to laboratory and clinical investigations by several research groups
and it has found a place in modern medicine. This week’s blog will discuss the
benefits of honey for human health, with a particular focus on a recent article
in the Canadian Honey Council Fall 2023 HiveLights written by Mike
McInnes (author of recently published book “Honey Sapiens”).</span></p>
<h1 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The
Impressive Benefits of Honey for Human Health</span></span></b></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">There have been numerous studies in the last 20 years
indicating the metabolic benefits of honey. These studies have been appearing
regularly in peer-reviewed journals. Recently, a book published by Mike McInnes
titled “Honey Sapiens” highlights numerous studies on the benefits of honey for
human health. Overall, the book discusses how honey has the potential to
protect the human brain and heart.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfgnLw0EIJwqkuXlmVqZz9FF8tQHv3HtUgiirM1wvcczgzgwHZZwEktaM9v5mfNP58h0gGvH7GP6JYQz4Duw_cpM9oDAxVnVEPLG_miXUDwlnn90-um4CMmHCUXJngqD6Hl1Dq6xDsg0atl2lk76v-SFKJX-hDLei3-DEpVW1m-mll6p3_9U8hbFkw4GU4/s379/honey.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="198" data-original-width="379" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfgnLw0EIJwqkuXlmVqZz9FF8tQHv3HtUgiirM1wvcczgzgwHZZwEktaM9v5mfNP58h0gGvH7GP6JYQz4Duw_cpM9oDAxVnVEPLG_miXUDwlnn90-um4CMmHCUXJngqD6Hl1Dq6xDsg0atl2lk76v-SFKJX-hDLei3-DEpVW1m-mll6p3_9U8hbFkw4GU4/w396-h207/honey.png" width="396" /></a></div><p></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">ATTTA©2022</span></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">A team of Canadian researchers<sup>2</sup> investigated how
honey can reduce numerous biomarkers of heart ill-health, including fasting
glucose, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting
triglycerides and alanine aminotransferase. Additionally, the team demonstrated
that honey may increase positive indicators of heart health, such as
high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The results of this study are impressive,
where it was shown that consuming 40 grams of honey daily for a period of 8
weeks may have all the forementioned impacts on the human heart. Multiple
mechanisms could explain the results of the mentioned study. The main suggestion
being that honey has a complex composition of organic acids, minerals,
vitamins, enzymes, proteins, amino acids, and bioactive substances, all of
which can mediate an effect on cardiometabolic outcomes<sup>3</sup>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Honey also has multiple benefits for the human brain. By
substituting refined sugars with honey, the essential enzyme glutamine
synthetase may be protected from degradation<sup>4</sup>. This enzyme is needed
to provide the brain with energy, but it is overwhelmed when too much refined
sugar is consumed by the human body. In this sense honey can be
neuroprotective. Additionally, in a recent review<sup>5</sup>, other possible
benefits of honey for brain health were identified including those related to
memory, neuroprotective effects, anti-stress, and anti-nociceptive potentials.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Furthermore, isomaltulose, a rare sugar present in honey,
has been shown to act as a prebiotic by promoting the growth of <i>Lactobacillus
acidophillus</i>, <i>Lactococcus lactis</i>, and <i>Saccharomyces cerevisae</i>,
which are bacteria associated with a healthy gut microbiome, thus contributing
to the benefits of honey<sup>6</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Mike Innes claims in his book, “Honey Sapiens”, that if
refined sugar in our diet was replaced with honey several metabolic diseases
could be prevented, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and the neurodegenerative
conditions Alzheimer’s and autism spectrum disorder. As the body of evidence,
supported by credible science, grows, it is yet to be determined if these
claims will be fully substantiated, but the current consensus is that honey is
a healthy part of a balanced diet. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">References</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Eteraf-Oskouei,
T. and Najafi, M. 2013. Traditional and modern uses of natural honey in human
diseases: a review. <i>Iranian journal of basic medical sciences</i>, <i>16</i>(6),
p.731.</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ahmed, A.,
Tul-Noor, Z., Lee, D., Bajwah, S., Ahmed, Z., Zafar, S., Syeda, M., Jamil, F.,
Qureshi, F., Zia, F. and Baig, R. 2022. Effect of honey on cardiometabolic risk
factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. <i>Nutrition Reviews</i>.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><span lang="ES">Machado De-Melo, A.A., Almeida-Muradian, L.B.D., Sancho, M.T. and
Pascual-Maté, A. 2018. </span>Composition and
properties of <i>Apis mellifera</i> honey: A review. <i>Journal of apicultural
research</i>, 57(1), pp.5-37.</span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: arial;">McInnes,
M. 2023. Honey Sapiens: Human Cognition and Sugars - The Ugly, the Bad and the
Good. <i>Hammersmith Books Limited</i>. pgs.360.</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Zamri,
N.A., Ghani, N., Ismail, C.A.N., Zakaria, R. and Shafin, N., 2023. Honey on
brain health: A promising brain booster. <i>Frontiers in aging
neuroscience</i>, <i>14</i>, p.1092596.</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Shyam, S.,
Ramadas, A. and Chang, S.K. 2018. Isomaltulose: Recent evidence for health
benefits. <i>Journal of Functional Foods</i>, <i>48</i>, pp.173-178.</span></span></li></ol><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Connecting with ATTTA Specialists</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk150951177"><span style="font-family: arial;">visit our website at </span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 16.96px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a name="_Hlk150951177" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: center;"></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">Email </span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue; line-height: 17.12px;">abyers@perennia.ca</span></a></span></span></p></div><o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
ATTTAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13903323201676869896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426411337563166016.post-75310177011131730032023-12-07T09:00:00.002-04:002023-12-07T09:00:00.249-04:00Summary of ATTTA 2023 Summer Projects<p><span style="font-family: arial;">The<b> </b>Atlantic Tech Transfer Team for Apiculture has
been busy this past year, and now that 2023 is coming to an end it is time to
reflect on this year’s projects. This year we largely focused on three projects
which aimed to support the Atlantic Canada beekeeping and pollination industry.
Read this week’s blog for a brief summary of our major projects, and to learn
what our team aims to continue in 2024.</span></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Summary of ATTTA 2023 Summer Projects</span></span></h1>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Efficacy
Testing of Amitraz for <i>Varroa destructor</i> Treatment</span></b></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: left;"></p><p><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Since
2017, ATTTA has tested the efficacy of Apivar® against Varroa mites in the
Maritimes through field-based studies. Although testing the efficacy of
miticide products is important, it is also crucial to test the efficacy of
active ingredients through lab-based studies. Lab experiments offer controlled
environments where specific variables can be manipulated, and more detailed
investigations into the efficacy of active ingredients like Amitraz can be
carried out. This past summer, ATTTA tested the efficacy of Amitraz against
populations of mites in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to obtain baseline data.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Varroa mites were
collected from 5 different beekeepers, and the efficacy of Amitraz against
these mites was assessed using six different concentrations of the active
ingredient. </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The goal was to
establish the lethal concentration (or the LC50) that results in a 50%
mortality rate among the mite population within a 24-hour period.</span></span></p><p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The results of our study demonstrated that
mite mortality is dependent on the concentration of Amitraz, and that with
increasing concentration mortality increases. ATTTA demonstrated that this
lab-based study is an effective way to measure the efficacy of Amitraz.
However, due to the limited number of mites collected this summer, it would be
premature to make a conclusion about the resistance ratio of mite populations
in Atlantic Canada to Amitraz.</span></span></p><p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: arial;">ATTTA plans to continue this study to assess how the efficacy of Amitraz
changes year to year, and the goal is to test a larger number of mites from
more Maritime beekeepers. </span></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Bumble Bee Collection, Captive Breeding and Overwintering<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The team
worked to gain more experience and knowledge of bumble bees as a reflection of ATTTA’s
broader mandate to support the increasing use of non-Apis pollinators. Some small
steps have been taken to learn about how bumble bees can be managed and
overwintered. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">ATTTA
collected bumble bee queens around blueberry fields in Nova Scotia, which
provided information about what species are already foraging on wild lowbush
blueberries. Four different species of bumble bees were found around Nova
Scotia blueberry fields. This included the common eastern bumble bee,
tricolored bumble bee, two-spotted bumble bee and the cuckoo bee. The collected
bees were then brought back from the fields and were managed by ATTTA. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAazlgoxgEhaFTa6A9zV7lh_8kH1HICjk7KcEQgfRNq1GxYDs7xj57g4mljLEspBnvNOiNEQhRM_2I7spiN7Nsg8nosRSLlah-ixQ1OykhiiSUJf_QNmWAPkESTpBOO__ThjE8QWVcY8_DUVeOnMhUwAqkMN-WAHyL5BxR1ND1LCs_tqR2IegQlXSn1CJm" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="330" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAazlgoxgEhaFTa6A9zV7lh_8kH1HICjk7KcEQgfRNq1GxYDs7xj57g4mljLEspBnvNOiNEQhRM_2I7spiN7Nsg8nosRSLlah-ixQ1OykhiiSUJf_QNmWAPkESTpBOO__ThjE8QWVcY8_DUVeOnMhUwAqkMN-WAHyL5BxR1ND1LCs_tqR2IegQlXSn1CJm" width="251" /></a></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bombus ternarius</span></span></i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> (ATTTA©2023)</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Additionally, the team artificially mated bumble bee queens
that we collected from quad boxes by placing them in a box with drones from a
different colony. A total of 30 <i>Bombus impatiens</i> queens were
artificially mated. Following that, queens were put into diapause by being
placed in a low temperature environment.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This
project allowed the team to gain a deeper insight into these important
pollinators and allow us to better support producers relying on insect
pollination.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Assessing Wild Lowbush Blueberry Bloom</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">ATTTA
has a continued goal of supporting the wild blueberry pollination industry.
This year ATTTA had two projects that focused on assessing wild lowbush
blueberry bloom.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The
first project involved assessing wild blueberry bloom during the months of May
and June. Fieldwork was started before any blueberry flowers were open, and data
was collected for closed flowers, open flowers, and pedal dropped flowers,
until all flowers were dropped. The aim of this project is the creation of a
predictive bloom model, based on plant phenology, for the timing of pollination
units. This work is being done to improve the growing degree day model
developed by Dr. Scott White and his team in 2012. This year ATTTA started some
preliminary data collection to design methodology for this ongoing project.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinZGrZohVIMfKhIzvt53EYJ0vLUnJbTsnM4X4QUlK1Xi7syZFmhvEptH7K-X6tupRP6jcz-4540UIuRi9TIVoxY37a5Na6GxTl633Se_YFnbCYdwm-wDR3DwJ8A21H7xvGif_TwEuOKV4TPybWPSlA9ZBOJxTs30tEQCVyh9TmlJl9U3LR5CUHf9rWwt6l" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="282" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinZGrZohVIMfKhIzvt53EYJ0vLUnJbTsnM4X4QUlK1Xi7syZFmhvEptH7K-X6tupRP6jcz-4540UIuRi9TIVoxY37a5Na6GxTl633Se_YFnbCYdwm-wDR3DwJ8A21H7xvGif_TwEuOKV4TPybWPSlA9ZBOJxTs30tEQCVyh9TmlJl9U3LR5CUHf9rWwt6l=w230-h307" width="230" /></a><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">ATTTA seasonal apiculturist John
MacDonald counting blueberry flowers (2023)</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></p><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The
second project involved assessments, including bud count, of a number of sprout
year fields as a potential predictor of the subsequent year’s bloom. The goal
of the project is to assess how early in the year can floral versus leaf buds
be distinguished, and how early can accurate bud count be achieved. This will help to identify the need for
pollination units during the following crop year. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: left;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Both of
these projects are intended to work towards predictive models which will ensure
efficient and optimal pollination of wild blueberries. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Connecting with ATTTA Specialists</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a name="_Hlk150951177"><span style="font-family: arial;">visit our website at </span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 16.96px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a name="_Hlk150951177" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: center;"></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">Email </span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue; line-height: 17.12px;">abyers@perennia.ca</span></a></span></span></p></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
ATTTAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13903323201676869896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426411337563166016.post-90218177738442841122023-11-30T10:00:00.002-04:002023-11-30T10:27:43.770-04:00Poisonous Plants and their Impact on Bees and Honey<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Canada has few toxic plant species with nectar, pollen,
honeydew, or sap harmful to bees or humans. However, during droughts or when
food options are scarce, these plants may be visited more frequently by bees.
Read this week’s blog to learn more about poisonous plants in Canada, and their
impact on bees and honey.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h1 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Poisonous
Plants and their Impact on Bees and Honey</span></span></b></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Toxic plants are characterized by the presence of harmful
substances in their nectar, pollen, honeydew, or sap, which can negatively
impact animals. The prevalence of toxic plants in Canada is relatively low, and
issues related to bee health are infrequent<sup>1,2</sup>. The majority of
these poisonous plants exhibit characteristics that make them less attractive
to bees, such as having limited quantities of nectar or pollen compared to
non-toxic species. However, in situations of drought or when alternative food
sources are scarce, these less appealing toxic plants may experience increased
visitation by bees<sup>1,2</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bees exposed to poisonous nectar and pollen may exhibit
symptoms such as loss of coordination, weakness, or impaired flight ability. Poisonous
nectar may also kill brood and newly emerged bees. In severe cases, queens may
stop laying, lay only drone brood, or eventually be superseded<sup>1</sup>. The
symptoms of poisonous nectar will last until the bloom period has ceased. On
the other hand, the impact of poisonous pollen may persist as long as the
stored pollen remains in the colony<sup>1</sup>. Distinguishing plant poisoning
from pesticide poisoning can be challenging. However, plant poisoning tends to
progress more gradually and may recur in the same location and time each year<sup>1</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A couple of examples of plants toxic to honey bees include
certain ornamental rhododendrons and timber milkvetch<sup>1,2</sup>. While
rhododendrons contain grayanotoxins that can adversely affect honey bees. Poisoning from these plants is rare, as they are more attractive to bumble
bees, and the concentration of grayanotoxins varies<sup>1</sup>. The nectar of
rhododendrons is not considered a risk to human health, as worker bees often
die before a substantial amount of honey can be produced<sup>1</sup>. Timber
milkvetch, found in Alberta and British Columbia, contains miserotoxins with
lethal effects for honey bees<sup>1</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Some plants pose a potential threat to human health when
present in high concentrations in honey. Plants within the Eriacae family
produce grayanotoxins, which are harmful to humans. Honey from Eriacae family
members, such as sheep laurel found across Canada, can induce numbness or even
loss of consciousness if the concentration is high<sup>1,2</sup>.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_qRU61SUD_ORA2gzPd-kcGzm9BfE5W0kaX0LiC-mrN2S2eMXw5a-UD1sOuLbMJd4OqHSwfgF8I0i5P03dj8na_HjcJzxrEayq89wke4wdZiwP26VSykg-xQ3RHGOEQG776ANF19HyhTlJynjKSl1-K3mugy5zpPi7TPktl1Y2olNsIniWJ91cWaMhMk8T" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="945" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_qRU61SUD_ORA2gzPd-kcGzm9BfE5W0kaX0LiC-mrN2S2eMXw5a-UD1sOuLbMJd4OqHSwfgF8I0i5P03dj8na_HjcJzxrEayq89wke4wdZiwP26VSykg-xQ3RHGOEQG776ANF19HyhTlJynjKSl1-K3mugy5zpPi7TPktl1Y2olNsIniWJ91cWaMhMk8T" width="295" /></a></span></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Sheep laurel (<i><span style="background: white;">Kalmia
angustifolia</span></i><span style="background: white;">) (</span></span><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">Thiffault <i>et al</i>.©2015)<sup>3</sup></span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Plants containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids may also be of
concern for human health. If consumed at high concentrations, these compounds
can cause acute poisoning and delayed effects such as hepatic cirrhosis<sup>1,2</sup>.
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are found in borage, which has a distribution across
Canada. Overall, poisoning from honey is highly unlikely, given that little
honey is produced from poisonous plants, and any toxins present will be diluted by
the larger volume of nectar gathered from other sources<sup>1,2</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">While toxic plants in Canada exhibit a relatively low prevalence,
their potential impact on the health of bees and humans needs to be considered.
The characteristics of these poisonous plants, such as limited nectar or pollen
quantities, make them less attractive to bees. However, the dynamics may shift
during periods of drought or scarcity of alternative food sources. It is
important to understand the interplay between environmental conditions and bee
foraging behavior to mitigate potential risks to bee populations and human
health. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">References</span></b></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Pernal, S. F.,
and Clay, H., 2013. Honey bee diseases and pests, 3<sup>rd</sup> Edition.
Canadian Association Professional Apiculturists, Beaverlodge, AB, Canada 68 pp.</span></li><li><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Yan, S., Wang, K., Al Naggar, Y., Vander Heyden, Y., Zhao,
L., Wu, L. and Xue, X., 2022. Natural plant toxins in honey: An ignored threat
to human health. <i>Journal of Hazardous Materials</i>, <i>424</i>, p.127682.</span></span></li><li><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Thiffault, N., Grondin, P., Noël, J. and Poirier, V., 2015.
Ecological gradients driving the distribution of four Ericaceae in boreal
Quebec, Canada. <i>Ecology and evolution</i>, 5(9), pp.1837-1853.</span></span></li></ol><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Connecting with ATTTA Specialists</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk150951177"><span style="font-family: arial;">visit our website at </span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 16.96px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a name="_Hlk150951177" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: center;"></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">Email </span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue; line-height: 17.12px;">abyers@perennia.ca</span></a></span></span></p></div><p></p>
<span style="font-family: arial;"></span><p></p>ATTTAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13903323201676869896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426411337563166016.post-11657000561809703862023-11-23T11:45:00.000-04:002023-11-23T11:45:18.882-04:00Summary of the 2023 Wild Blueberry Producers Association of Nova Scotia Annual General Meeting<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Last week ATTTA was pleased to attend the Nova Scotia Wild
Blueberry Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Wild Blueberry Producers
Association of Nova Scotia (WBPANS). The event is held annually for those
involved in the Nova Scotia wild blueberry industry and provides an opportunity
for networking and education. This year’s event was held in Truro, NS on
November 16<sup>th</sup> and 17<sup>th</sup>. In this week’s blog, we will
share some of the highlights from the event.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h1 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Summary
of the 2023 Wild Blueberry Producers Association of Nova Scotia Annual General
Meeting</span></span></b></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The event occurred on November 16<sup>th</sup> and 17<sup>th</sup>,
where over 200 representatives from the wild blueberry industry were in
attendance, including blueberry growers, beekeepers, pesticide and agriculture
equipment suppliers/manufacturers, Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture
representatives, and university researchers. Throughout both days, people had
the opportunity to visit various exhibits at the tradeshow. Perennia and ATTTA
had a joint exhibit, where our team enjoyed speaking with blueberry growers,
and other representatives of the industry.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1uBtci1T7BtbHoZ4cn8wNYpoblh5wi8sVvlFhaaA-KFjr384iptgmzzSsMUlAXtOBtjuBP-JRvFBjsgcgB952jGJJ0ZNfYSEO7NMLGsJMi_1XG2GP6r3YCfa9g-_12mVQk0RFYg9nR-YqH8TidlzB0WcCmirdO4FfP3ufTQrLKqxIL0kwChLdcfD4C7A/s4032/IMG_0892%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1uBtci1T7BtbHoZ4cn8wNYpoblh5wi8sVvlFhaaA-KFjr384iptgmzzSsMUlAXtOBtjuBP-JRvFBjsgcgB952jGJJ0ZNfYSEO7NMLGsJMi_1XG2GP6r3YCfa9g-_12mVQk0RFYg9nR-YqH8TidlzB0WcCmirdO4FfP3ufTQrLKqxIL0kwChLdcfD4C7A/s320/IMG_0892%20(1).jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">ATTTA©2023</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">During the morning of the WBPANS annual general meeting, the
group heard from the WBPANS president David Harrison. Following the opening
remarks from the WBPANS president, the group had presentations on the “Wild
Blueberry Market”, a “Wild Blueberry Extension Report” from Hugh Lyu (Perennia Wild
Blueberry Specialist), and a presentation on “Wild Blueberry Health Research”.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">During the afternoon of November 16<sup>th</sup>, the WBPANS
held their annual business meeting. Multiple presentations occurred during the
2023 business meeting, including an industry update from the Minister of
Agriculture, the Honorable Greg Morrow, WBPANS Executive Directors Report from
Peter Burgess, and a report from the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture
(NSFA). Day one of the conference concluded with a banquet, which was attended
by 74 industry representatives.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Day two of the conference highlighted various research being
done to support the wild blueberry industry. ATTTA was fortunate to give a
research update about our 2023 projects. We will be discussing the results of
our 2023 projects in an upcoming blog for those interested in learning more
about the research ATTTA does. Additionally, ATTTA launched our new best
management practice guide “Protecting pollinators from pesticides” which will
be available online soon!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">There were multiple presentations from Dalhousie University
representatives, including Dr. Scott White, Dr. Travis Esau, Dr. Chris Cutler,
and Dr. David Percival. These presentations covered a wide variety of new
research, including weed management, optimizing blueberry harvest efficiency,
updates on blueberry pest species, and blueberry disease management.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">After a challenging growing season, this event was an
opportunity for all members of the wild blueberry association, and for those
who work to support the industry, to share their experiences from this past
season. The 2023 season presented difficult growing challenges not seen in
recent memory. Due to extreme weather conditions, there was reduced yields for
growers, and, unfortunately, there was a rapid decrease in market prices. As
many people said throughout the conference, a combination of weather and economic
events made farming difficult. However, the biggest take away from this event
is that the wild blueberry industry is resilient, and it works to produce a quality
product for which there is an ongoing demand. Therefore, the industry remains
optimistic for a more profitable 2024 season.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Thank you to all members of WBPANS who helped organize this
great event. Also, thank you to all the sponsors of the event, and to those who
work to support the wild blueberry industry of Nova Scotia.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Connecting with ATTTA Specialists</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a name="_Hlk150951177"><span style="font-family: arial;">visit our website at </span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 16.96px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: arial;"><a name="_Hlk150951177" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: center;"></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">Email </span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue; line-height: 17.12px;">abyers@perennia.ca</span></a></span></span></p>ATTTAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13903323201676869896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426411337563166016.post-87799598137115792202023-11-16T09:00:00.001-04:002023-11-16T09:00:00.135-04:00A Review of “Locomotion behavioural responses of Varroa destructor exposed to western honey bee (Apis mellifera) semiochemicals”<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Varroa mites (<i>Varroa destructor</i>) are a severe pest of
honey bees (<i>Apis mellifera</i>), feeding on their bodily fluids and
transmitting various pathogens. The management of Varroa mites relies heavily
on chemical treatments despite an increasing concern for miticide efficacy.
Therefore, there is a need to develop more treatment options so that an
integrated pest management approach can be continued. An improved understanding
of the chemical ecology between Varroa mites and honey bees may be the first
step in reducing the reliance on miticides. In this week’s blog, we will
discuss a study done by a team at Acadia University in the labs of Dr. Kirk
Hillier, Dr. Dave Shutler, and Dr. Nicoletta Faraone, which investigated how
volatiles of honey bees elicit various behavioural responses.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">A Review of “Locomotion behavioural responses of <i>Varroa
destructor </i>exposed to western honey bee (<i>Apis mellifera</i>) semiochemicals”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It is important to study the chemical ecology between honey
bees and their pests, especially that of Varroa mites which pose a severe
threat to the honey bee industry. Unlike honey bees, Varroa mites do not have
eyes, and depend on touch and smell to seek out a host. Their ability to detect
honey bee colony volatiles is very important in their success at completing
their life cycle. Michael Light, first author and part of the research team for
this recent study, describes “With increasing reports of mite resistance to
current chemical treatments used in apiculture, beekeepers need to find
additional tools to manage mite infestations. Varroa mites are highly tuned to
volatile chemicals that are released by adult and larval honey bees in
colonies. With a better understanding of the chemical ecology of Varroa mites,
we can work towards new methods to interrupt mite life cycles.” </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBZEleXxRmfW6XQtyWi3RgMSR3ZjfhgrMUxUYwZjr7v3D9URt8yLJTnfdcYqvijyyWb3KDwQzY4S2q8Cwxi-wxGxT6-chlPC5CDw9rcM3-DBhqLnpgiY3laU9Ak92TIgkF9r3n0dMOpJe6ha0SDlz6wfQzoqa3-L6J2mWp1edMO5ZjwwOofBXz9VJAnGdm" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="435" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBZEleXxRmfW6XQtyWi3RgMSR3ZjfhgrMUxUYwZjr7v3D9URt8yLJTnfdcYqvijyyWb3KDwQzY4S2q8Cwxi-wxGxT6-chlPC5CDw9rcM3-DBhqLnpgiY3laU9Ak92TIgkF9r3n0dMOpJe6ha0SDlz6wfQzoqa3-L6J2mWp1edMO5ZjwwOofBXz9VJAnGdm" width="278" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Varroa destructor</span></span></i><span style="line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"> on <i>Apis mellifera</i>
(ATTTA©2023)</span></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The study (Light <i>et al</i>., 2023) required mature Varroa
mites collected from honey bees. They used honey bee colonies with high Varroa
mite infestations and used the queen-trapping technique to remove mites from a
colony for testing. The queen-trapping technique involves using a drone brood
frame and frame cages to trap a queen for 2-weeks, so she exclusively lays drone
brood, and creates a gap in the honey bee brood cycle. This ensures that Varroa
mites infest these drone brood in sufficient numbers. Once drone brood had been
mostly capped, the drone brood frame was removed and kept in an environmental
chamber to rear to adulthood. Then adult drones were transferred to cages and
Varroa mites were collected using a paintbrush and an aspirator.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This study aimed to test volatile compounds and mixtures
that were previously detected in honey bee colonies and their effects on
behaviour of Varroa mites in a controlled arena. As described by Michael Light,
“Honey bee colonies can contain an enormous variety of volatiles that vary from
one colony to the next. There are several approaches to collecting volatiles
from honey bee colonies. One approach to collect volatiles involves trapping
these compounds using a closed-loop system which involves enclosing a part of a
honey bee colony (e.g., a brood frame) so that air can be pumped over it and
then trapped using a special type of polymer adsorbent cartridge. Trapped
volatiles can then be released from these adsorbent cartridges for analysis.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The researchers observed and described the movement of
Varroa mites in response to honey bee colony volatiles. “These behavioural
tests were done in an environmentally controlled chamber under low light
conditions so as to mimic a honey bee colony environment. We placed single live Varroa mites each in
their own enclosure, which contained filter paper treated with a known amount
of a honey bee-related volatile and filmed their behaviour with a camcorder.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The results of the study suggest that Varroa mites have
different levels of behavioural responses to different volatiles at different
concentrations. Michael Light states that “Varroa mites responded significantly
to some of these compounds at the lowest concentration, suggesting that they
may be important to the mite life cycle.” Additionally, “the synthetic Varroa
sex pheromone mixture may be important to adult Varroa mites when presented in
this particular assay design, </span><a name="_Hlk150951096" style="font-family: arial;">and this is important as
it was never previously tested against adult mites to our knowledge</a><span style="font-family: arial;">.”
Finally, “mite behaviour towards synthetic brood pheromone and Varroa sex
pheromone mixtures suggests that single volatile compounds are equally
important as their respective synthetic mixture.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This team of researchers has benefited the honey bee
industry by improving our understanding of the chemical ecology between Varroa
mites and honey bees. Additionally, </span><a name="_Hlk150951177"><span style="font-family: arial;">they have created a
baseline for future research, including the potential to identify repellent
compounds of Varroa mites using this assay, and, overall, working towards
improving mite management.</span><o:p></o:p></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><a name="_Hlk150951177"></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><a name="_Hlk150951177"><b><span style="line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">References<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></a></p><a name="_Hlk150951177">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Light, M.,
Shutler, D., Faraone, N., Cutler, G.C. and Hillier, N.K., 2023. Locomotion
behavioural responses of <i>Varroa destructor</i> exposed to western honey bee
(<i>Apis mellifera</i>) semiochemicals. Journal of Pest Science, pp.1-10.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Light, M.
2023. Interview by Kayla Gaudet.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Connecting with ATTTA Specialists</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:<o:p></o:p></span></p></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a name="_Hlk150951177"><span style="font-family: arial;">visit our website at </span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 106%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">Email </span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue; line-height: 17.12px;">abyers@perennia.ca</span></a></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><p></p></span></div>ATTTAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13903323201676869896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426411337563166016.post-1879478058681949362023-11-09T13:40:00.002-04:002023-11-09T13:40:30.396-04:00Beekeepers' Vital Role: Reporting Honey Bee Pests and Diseases in Canada<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Honey bee pests and diseases present a significant threat to
the beekeeping industry in Canada. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA),
provincial agriculture departments, and beekeepers, all have an important role
in maintaining the health of honey bee populations. Beekeepers are on the front
lines, responsible for the early detection and prompt reporting of honey bee
pests and diseases. On the other hand, the CFIA and provincial agriculture
departments collaborate to establish and enforce pest and disease regulations. Read
this week’s blog to learn more about the responsibility of Canadian beekeepers
to report honey bee pests and diseases, as determined by the CFIA and
provincial agriculture departments.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h1 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Beekeepers' Vital Role: Reporting Honey Bee Pests and
Diseases in Canada</span></b></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">In Canada, the management and control of reportable honey
bee pests and diseases is governed by the CFIA and provincial agricultural
departments. The CFIA establishes and enforces national standards for
reportable honey bee pests and diseases. These standards include identification,
prevention, and control measures for reportable pests and diseases to ensure
uniformity in managing honey bees across the country<sup>1</sup>. Additionally,
the CFIA regulates the importation of bees and bee-related products at the
Canadian border. On the other hand, provincial agriculture departments are
responsible for implementing additional regulations to meet the needs of their
province and for enforcement at the provincial level. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The reportable pests and diseases of honey bees vary between
each Canadian province. A notable variation occurs in Newfoundland and
Labrador, which is the only province that has <i>Varroa destructor</i> as a
reportable pest since the province is Varroa free<sup>2</sup>. However, other
provinces may require Varroa mite populations resistant to synthetic acaricides
to be reported<sup>3</sup>. Other pests and diseases which are reportable in
several Canadian provinces include American foulbrood, Asian mite, tracheal
mite, and the small hive beetle<sup>4,5</sup>. It is essential that beekeepers
are informed about reportable pests and diseases in their own province in order
to be compliant with provincial and national regulations.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Beekeepers who suspect the presence of a reportable pest or
disease are obligated to notify their respective provincial apiarist. When
contacting the provincial apiarist, beekeepers must provide information on the
probable type of reportable pest/disease found, when and where the pest/disease
was found, and any action taken by the beekeeper to address the situation. The
provincial apiarist, in turn, will coordinate with the CFIA to confirm and
address the threat. In some cases, government inspectors may visit the affected
apiary to perform an inspection, and, depending on the pest or disease, collect
samples for laboratory testing.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQV_H2MQbEQ0ZiYY0adBobhl1ZARRdtwPDLT34dutnumgFVpW4siX-1HBPN3X59Ttmc0_CfvoGBUKgOCILXa8hrHTqBqPZzjosIZnwSqkN68aFIUB7Rs-lrdKuSinTB4fcue9qFvYEu7jG1nwyC9EA4Eu_lbwK0s5aI-U3PhquJiHS5mkR-mjyoDvwQ7K/s420/Picture1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQV_H2MQbEQ0ZiYY0adBobhl1ZARRdtwPDLT34dutnumgFVpW4siX-1HBPN3X59Ttmc0_CfvoGBUKgOCILXa8hrHTqBqPZzjosIZnwSqkN68aFIUB7Rs-lrdKuSinTB4fcue9qFvYEu7jG1nwyC9EA4Eu_lbwK0s5aI-U3PhquJiHS5mkR-mjyoDvwQ7K/s320/Picture1.png" width="240" /></a></span></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Beekeeper performing a regular hive
inspection (ATTTA©2021).</span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The management of reportable honey bee pests and diseases in
Canada involves a collaborative effort between beekeepers, the CFIA, and
provincial agriculture departments. Together, they coordinate efforts to ensure
early detection, containment, and control of these pests and diseases to
protect the Canadian beekeeping industry.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><b>References</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><ol start="1" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: start;"><li style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Bee Health Management. Honey Bee Producer Guide to the National Bee Farm-level Biosecurity Standard. 2022. https://inspection.canada.ca/animal-health/terrestrial-animals/biosecurity/standards-and-principles/honey-bee-producer-guide/eng/1378390483360/1378390541968 </span></span></li><li style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Animal Health and Protection Act. 2012. https://www.assembly.nl.ca/Legislation/sr/Regulations/rc120033.htm#7_ </span></span></li><li style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bee Industry Act. Bee Industry Regulations.</span><span style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> 2017. </span></span>https://novascotia.ca/just/regulations/regs/beeindustry.htm </span></li><li style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Bee Act, SNB. 2023. https://laws.gnb.ca/en/pdf/cs/2021-c.30.pdf?_gl=1*3q5kb2*_ga*NzE0MDc0MTg2LjE2OTk1NDkwMzU.*_ga_F531P4D0XX*MTY5OTU0OTAzNC4xLjAuMTY5OTU0OTAzNC4wLjAuMA.. </span></span></li><li style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Animal Health Act. Bee Health Regulations. 2019. https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/sites/default/files/legislation/a11-1-2-animal_health_act_bee_health_regulations.pdf </span></span></li></ol></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Connecting with ATTTA Specialists</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">visit our website at <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">Email </span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue; line-height: 17.12px;">abyers@perennia.ca</span></a></span></span></p>ATTTAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13903323201676869896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426411337563166016.post-41049896696460300192023-11-02T09:00:00.001-03:002023-11-02T09:00:00.151-03:00The Rules for Successful Beekeeping<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">In Atlantic Canada, there are four legislative acts that
govern our daily beekeeping activities. Each Atlantic province has their own
act in place, and the rules and regulations between acts have several
similarities and differences. We are fortunate to have these acts to protect
the beekeeping industry. These acts have
been meticulously written with their primary focus on preventing and managing pests
and diseases so that our industry can continue to be successful. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h1 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The Rules for Successful Beekeeping</span></b></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">In Atlantic Canada, beekeeping is governed by four distinct
legislative acts, each tailored to the unique needs of their respective
provinces. The Bee Industry Act<sup>1</sup> in Nova Scotia mandates annual
registration for beekeepers. It also has strict guidelines for the sale of bees
and used beekeeping equipment, and requires permits for the importation of bees
and used equipment. New Brunswick's Bee Act<sup>2</sup> is closely aligned with
Nova Scotia (Table 1). On the other hand, Prince Edward Island's Animal Health
Act<sup>3</sup> is less stringent, with no registration or renewal requirements
but gives the Provincial Apiarist authority to regulate honey bee genetic
material sales. Newfoundland and Labrador's Animal Health and Protection Act<sup>4</sup>
takes a hands-off approach, with no registration, renewal, or specific
regulations for buying and selling, but a firm requirement for permits to
import bees and used equipment into the province. <span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Table 1.
Comparison of the 4 Atlantic Canada honey bee legislative acts.</span></span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"></span></span><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-table-layout-alt: fixed; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 62.75pt;" valign="top" width="84">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><a name="_Hlk149051602"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">Province<o:p></o:p></span></b></a></p>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="114">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #202122;">Legislative
Act</span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.75in;" valign="top" width="72">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">Required Beekeeping Registration<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 67.5pt;" valign="top" width="90">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">Registration Renewal Period<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.3pt;" valign="top" width="143">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">Rules and Regulations for Buying and
Selling<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 84.9pt;" valign="top" width="113">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">Importation of Bees and Used Beekeeping
Equipment<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 62.75pt;" valign="top" width="84">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">Nova Scotia<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="114">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">Bee Industry Act (2005)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.75in;" valign="top" width="72">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">Yes<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 67.5pt;" valign="top" width="90">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">Must occur by November 1<sup>st</sup>
each year.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.3pt;" valign="top" width="143">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">The beekeeper must have the bees or
used equipment inspected.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 84.9pt;" valign="top" width="113">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">Not allowed without a permit from the
Minister. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 62.75pt;" valign="top" width="84">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">New Brunswick<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="114">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">Bee Act (2023)</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">Replaced the Apiary Inspection Act</span></i></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.75in;" valign="top" width="72">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">Yes<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 67.5pt;" valign="top" width="90">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">Must occur between May 15th and June 29<sup>th</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.3pt;" valign="top" width="143">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">The beekeeper must have the bees or
used equipment inspected.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 84.9pt;" valign="top" width="113">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">Not allowed without a permit from the
Provincial Apiculturist.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 62.75pt;" valign="top" width="84">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">Prince Edward Island<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="114">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">Animal Health Act (2019)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.75in;" valign="top" width="72">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">N/A<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 67.5pt;" valign="top" width="90">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">N/A<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.3pt;" valign="top" width="143">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">The Provincial Apiarist can prohibit
the beekeeper from selling genetic material of honey bees.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 84.9pt;" valign="top" width="113">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">Not allowed without a Genetic Material
Health Certificate from the Provincial Apiarist.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 62.75pt;" valign="top" width="84">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">Newfoundland and Labrador<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="114">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">Animal Health and Protection Act (2012)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.75in;" valign="top" width="72">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">N/A<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 67.5pt;" valign="top" width="90">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">N/A<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 107.3pt;" valign="top" width="143">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk149051602;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">There are no specified restrictions for
buying and selling honey bees and used equipment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 84.9pt;" valign="top" width="113">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Not allowed without a permit from the
Minister.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"> </span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">An example of the benefits to having mandatory registration
is occurring in Australia. Australia's proactive approach to beekeeping
regulations has proven instrumental in effectively tracking and mitigating the
spread of Varroa mites. With a continent-wide registration system, Australian
authorities can monitor the movement of hives, their owners, and the locations
of apiaries. This detailed data has allowed for rapid implementation of
quarantine zones and inspection protocols in affected areas, preventing the
mite from establishing a stronghold. Another example occurred in New Brunswick
when the Small Hive Beetle (SHB) was detected in 2017, and mandatory
registration was proven to be a vital asset in tracking and monitoring SHB for
the province. Provinces without
legislated registration may leave their beekeepers vulnerable to emerging pests
or disease. The registration of
beekeepers may be particularly important to maintaining Newfoundland’s Varroa
free status.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island are actively moving
towards implementing a mandatory registration system. By introducing mandatory
registration, both provinces aim to establish comprehensive databases of
beekeepers and apiaries to provide authorities with vital information to
respond to disease outbreaks. This proactive approach will align these
provinces with the best regulatory practices in other provinces. Although, even with the support of industry,
these changes are often slow due to the complexity of creating and enacting new
legislation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Beekeeping is not done in isolation. All beekeeping
practices extend past the boundaries of hives or apiaries. Therefore, it is
crucial to have good beekeeping practices, rather than merely what is legally
mandated. There are many things beekeepers should do, including voluntarily registering
bees, even if that is not a legal requirement for a given province. This also
extends to only buying and selling bees to/from registered, inspected
beekeepers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Understanding the beekeeping regulations in your province is
essential for a successful and compliant beekeeping operation. It is also
important to recognize that not only do beekeepers need to follow provincial
laws, but also municipal bylaws were bees will often fall under the category of
livestock. By adhering to these regulations, beekeepers can help the industry while
preserving the well-being of their honey bee colonies.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">References<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Bee Industry Act. Bee Industry
Regulations. 2017.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Bee Act, SNB. 2023.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Animal Health Act. Bee Health
Regulations. 2019.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Animal Health and Protection Act.
2012.</span></li></ol><!--[if !supportLists]--><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Connecting with ATTTA Specialists</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">visit our website at <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">Email </span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue; line-height: 17.12px;">abyers@perennia.ca</span></a></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>ATTTAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13903323201676869896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426411337563166016.post-59297795649777976662023-10-26T09:00:00.001-03:002023-10-26T09:00:00.162-03:00Winter is Coming: Options for Winter Wrapping Hives<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In Canada, most honey bee colonies are overwintered outside
(CAPA, 2022). Given Canada’s cold winter climate, there is a need to protect
colonies during the winter by wrapping or covering hives. There are multiple
options to choose from when deciding how to best protect colonies from chilling
winds. Depending on the choice, wrapping hives will prevent drafts and help
with thermoregulation. This week’s blog will discuss common winter wrapping
options in Canada, provide insight to help beekeepers get ready for winter,
present alternatives to winter wrapping, and discuss the impact of climate
change on overwintering.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Winter is Coming: Options for Winter Wrapping Hives</b></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Winter wrapping is an important component to beekeeping in
Atlantic Canada. Wrapping hives for the winter will protect bees from chilling
winds and help colonies retain heat. There are multiple pre-made covers
available for purchase that range from materials such as corrugated plastic,
treated paper, or foam. Examples of commercially made covers include the Bee
Cozy and the Easy on Cover, which are designed to fit Langstroth hives. <span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Despite the availability of commercial covers, many
beekeepers develop their own way of wrapping hives with various materials, or
even make their own covers that can be used for multiple years. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The type of material is the most important consideration for
winter wrapping. Different materials have different purposes for protecting
hives in the winter. Black material is commonly used to promote heat absorption
from the sun <span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">(</span>Sammataro
and Avitabile, 2021<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">)</span>.
Some beekeepers choose to use tar paper or roofing paper, as the black color
absorbs sunlight to passively warm colonies on sunny days. One issue with black
paper is that moisture does not pass through easily, and water can build up in
the colony. Generally, black paper is a good option for the winter temperatures
found in Atlantic Canada, but not the best for extreme cold such as in the
Prairies. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Some materials will provide insulation to the hive. These
types of materials help colonies retain heat when ambient temperatures are low.
Insulating wrap, such as plastic bubble wrap, helps retain heat generated by
the bees, but heat from the sun cannot be absorbed as easily <span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">(</span>Sammataro and Avitabile, 2021<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">)</span>. Like tar and roof paper,
insulating wrap may also trap moisture inside the hive. A popular option in
Atlantic Canada, is to combine black plastic wrap and insulating wrap to
provide both heat absorption and insulation. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2COzE5JlfypKeJu9c71C7X-wIg7kzhmrrJkn2Wwe4lNt16FVpaEz_sgHMXmEODd6pM1vDshaS_ZrBHYxP3x2isKnpwkCioPDRXkBsRmxtSIRJSJearpfdrRM2LE91Q0Wo9EpIbFhDvyP7KbF6o2N-caMXvKO7AFOTZhJW8e7_VTCfsiiKjd8d2ABCjpiX/s466/yard%20of%20wrapped%20hives.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2COzE5JlfypKeJu9c71C7X-wIg7kzhmrrJkn2Wwe4lNt16FVpaEz_sgHMXmEODd6pM1vDshaS_ZrBHYxP3x2isKnpwkCioPDRXkBsRmxtSIRJSJearpfdrRM2LE91Q0Wo9EpIbFhDvyP7KbF6o2N-caMXvKO7AFOTZhJW8e7_VTCfsiiKjd8d2ABCjpiX/s320/yard%20of%20wrapped%20hives.png" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Yard of winter wrapped hives
(ATTTA©2023).</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In addition to wrapping hives, beekeepers may put insulating
and/or absorbent materials in a quilt box over the inner cover and under the
lid to absorb moisture. This helps prevent condensation from dripping into the
hive (Sammataro
and Avitabile, 2021).
Common materials used to insulate and/or absorb moisture include wood shavings,
straw, and Styrofoam.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Current research demonstrates that traditional methods of
winter-proofing hives are effective for decreasing food consumption and
overwintering survival compared to identically managed hives without winter
protection (St. Clair <i>et al</i>. 2022). The study by St. Clair <i>et al</i>.
covered honey bee hives with corrugated polypropylene board and topped them
with foam insulation. Overall, the study provided updated evidence for the
efficacy of these types of hive coverings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Instead of wrapping hives, some newer hive materials, such as
polyurethane, provides more insulation than traditional wooden hives. A study
done by Alburaki and Corona (2022) demonstrated that polyurethane hives
maintained a significantly higher overall temperature than wooden hives with a
significantly more optimal relative humidity compared to the wooden hives.
Improvements to modern hives, including hive material, have great potential to
reduce honey bee overwintering loss. Additionally, polyurethane hives will
maintain structural integrity for many years, they do not rot or mold because
of their good moisture resistance, they help maintain optimal temperature in
the winter and summer, and they are easy to assemble and disassemble (Eldarov <i>et
al</i>. 2021).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Remember to check what other local beekeepers advise for
winter wrapping. There are multiple options to choose from, and it can be a
challenge to know what will work best. If trying a new wrapping option, it may
be wise to experiment with a few colonies first before transitioning an entire
apiary or operation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In addition to winter wrapping, changes in climate can
impact overwintering success. Seasonal weather conditions affect both forage
availability and thermoregulatory success, and thereby directly and indirectly
influence honey bee health (Schweiger <i>et al</i>., 2010). During
the growing season, weather conditions can affect the onset and decline of
specific foraging resources, change the duration in which resources are
available, change the quality of these resources, and alter the span during
which bees can actively forage (Bartomeus <i>et al</i>., 2011; Scaven and
Rafferty, 2013). During the winter, ambient temperature influences the
efficiency of maintaining internal hive temperature (Dainat <i>et al</i>. 2012). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A study done by Calovi <i>et al</i>. (2021) found that hot,
dry summers reduced overwintering survival. This is likely due to reduced
forage availability, which dramatically decreases colony weight gain (Flores <i>et
al</i>. 2019). Additionally, altered colony behavior as a result of
environmental conditions (such as longer brood rearing) can result in increased
disease levels (such as higher Varroa levels) (Nürnberger <i>et al</i>., 2019).
Thus, longer summers could result in high Varroa levels in the fall, which negatively
affects winter survival (Calovi <i>et al</i>. 2021). </span><o:p></o:p></p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">References<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span class="authorname"><span style="background: white;">Alburaki, M. and Corona, M.</span></span><span style="background: white;"> <span class="Date1">2022.</span> <span class="arttitle">Polyurethane honey bee hives provide better winter insulation
than wooden hives.</span> <span class="serialtitle"><i>Journal of
Apicultural Research</i>. </span><span class="volumeissue">61(2): </span><span class="pagerange">190 – 196.</span></span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Bartomeus,
I. <i>et al</i>. 2011. Climate-associated phenological advances in bee
pollinators and bee-pollinated plants. <i>Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A</i>.
108: 20645 – 20649.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Calovi,
M., Grozinger, C.M., Miller, D.A. <i>et al</i>. 2021. Summer weather conditions
influence winter survival of honey bees (<i>Apis mellifera</i>) in the
northeastern United States. <i>Sci Rep</i>. 11: 1553.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Dainat,
B., Evans, J. D., Chen, Y. P., Gauthier, L., and Neumanna, P. 2012. Dead or
alive: Deformed wing virus and <i>Varroa destructor</i> reduce the life span of
winter honeybees. <i>Appl. Environ. Microbiol</i>. 78: 981 – 987.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Eldarov,
B. A., Mutieva, H.M, Eldarov, I.B. 2021. Assessment of wintering of the
Caucasian bee in polypeneurethane and wood hives from a comparative
perspective. <i>AIP Conf. Proc</i>. 2442 (1): 020001.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Flores,
J. M. <i>et al</i>. 2019. Effect of the climate change on honey bee colonies in
a temperate Mediterranean zone assessed through remote hive weight monitoring
system in conjunction with exhaustive colonies assessment. <i>Sci. Total
Environ</i>. 653: 1111 – 1119.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Nürnberger,
F., Härtel, S., and Steffan-Dewenter, I. 2019. Seasonal timing in honey bee
colonies: Phenology shifts affect honey stores and varroa infestation levels. <i>Oecologia</i>.
189: 1121 – 1131. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Sammataro,
D., and Avitabile, A. 2021. A beekeeper’s handbook: fifth edition. Cornell
University Press.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Scaven,
V. L., and Rafferty, N. E. 2013. Physiological effects of climate warming on
flowering plants and insect pollinators and potential consequences for their
interactions. <i>Curr. Zool</i>. 59: 418 – 426. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Schweiger,
O. <i>et al</i>. 2010. Multiple stressors on biotic interactions: How climate
change and alien species interact to affect pollination. <i>Biol. Rev.</i> 85:
777 – 795.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">St.
Clair, A.L., Beach, N.J., and Dolezal, A.G. 2022. Honey bee hive covers reduce
food consumption and colony mortality during overwintering. <i>PLoS ONE</i>.
17(4): e0266219. </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Connecting with ATTTA
Specialists</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you’d like to connect
with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">visit our website at <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Email </span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue; line-height: 107%;">abyers@perennia.ca</span></a></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p>ATTTAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13903323201676869896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426411337563166016.post-22145900508413995562023-10-19T09:00:00.001-03:002023-10-19T09:00:00.155-03:00Bees are Thieves: What to Know About Robbing Behaviour<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Now that we are well into the fall season, there are
fewer flowers for honey bees to forage on. This makes colonies a little more
desperate for food and increases the likelihood of robbing behaviour. If the
weather is suitable for flight, honey bees will be snooping around to see if
they can find honey from other colonies and beekeeping equipment. This week’s
blog will discuss robbing behaviour, how to recognize it, and how to help
prevent it.</span></p>
<h1 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Bees are Thieves: What to Know About
Robbing Behaviour</span></span></b></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">Robbing behaviour most often occurs in the early spring
and fall, when there is limited nectar available for bees, but temperatures are
often warm enough for flight. During this time, bees are foraging hard, and
trying to find any food source possible. If a bee detects the odor of nectar or
honey from another colony, or from stored beekeeping equipment, they will make
every effort to enter the target and remove its stores (</span><span style="line-height: 107%;">Sammataro and Avitabile, 2021</span><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">). Stealing honey from another colony is a high risk,
high reward, foraging strategy that bees usually only engage in when there is
limited nectar and honey available in the hive and in nature (Napier <i>et al</i>.
2023).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">It is easy to recognize robbing behaviour by the presence
of bees flying in a zigzag pattern in front of an entrance to a hive or a
storage location. This back-and-forth flying pattern is noticeably different
from how returning foragers fly directing into the hive. The zigzag pattern is
known </span><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">as a
“Robbing Flight” (</span><span style="line-height: 107%;">Sammataro and
Avitabile, 2021<span style="color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">). Once a hive
has been invaded, other robbers are recruited to this activity when robbers
return to their home and perform a dance to inform the food location. If a hive
is being robbed, bees may be seen fighting bees at the entrance, or an
accumulation of dead bees (</span>Sammataro and Avitabile, 2021<span style="color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">). </span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">Weak, small, colonies are the most susceptible to being
robbed. Robbing behaviour can even result in a colony’s death if too much energy
is being exerted towards fighting off bees. It is important to be aware of the
weaker colonies in an apiary, and if a colony is too weak the entrance should
be reduced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This helps the colony
adequately guard the entrance </span><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">(</span><span style="line-height: 107%;">Sammataro and Avitabile,
2021<span style="color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">)</span></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">. Keeping strong healthy colonies is the best way to
prevent robbing. Also, if possible, avoid working bees during dearth periods.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Robbing
behavior can escalate quickly from just a few bees to a massive frenzy of bees
(Downs and </span><span style="background: white; color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 107%;">Ratnieks,
2000</span><span style="line-height: 107%;">). Once a robbing
frenzy starts in a yard it is very difficult to stop. Robbing can occur for
weeks, and the weaker colonies will struggle to prevent robbers from entering
the hive. To protect weak colonies during a robbing frenzy it may be needed to
move them more than three miles away from the site. However, the best approach
to this problem is to be proactive. If there is a dearth period, robbing
screens can be placed on colonies. Robbing screens block off the normal
entrance to the hive but allow bees to enter perpendicularly </span><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;">(</span><span style="line-height: 107%;">Sammataro and Avitabile, 2021<span style="color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">)</span></span></span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVyLAn-RruZs3NDQVkWJyiSa_0rFswxhCV_Zh5zk8LcU_x0JmoSqqoxcpRdc1d5bble79dxoRgEa-LqUXzTZPMHuKdxsV5BOYE74QFhcIpAIPrfuz_TxfTzc9XqFtkQWeAs5wgUqMyndS3dGM2Gp6LMchTgqt381PE-YxtDRO50gE7vMJvynaRsGBKuhDp/s818/Robbing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="818" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVyLAn-RruZs3NDQVkWJyiSa_0rFswxhCV_Zh5zk8LcU_x0JmoSqqoxcpRdc1d5bble79dxoRgEa-LqUXzTZPMHuKdxsV5BOYE74QFhcIpAIPrfuz_TxfTzc9XqFtkQWeAs5wgUqMyndS3dGM2Gp6LMchTgqt381PE-YxtDRO50gE7vMJvynaRsGBKuhDp/s320/Robbing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 107%;">Robbing screen (Kiwimana Beekeeping
Supplies©2017)</span></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Storage of
beekeeping equipment is important to think about when preventing robbing. It is
good practice to store equipment cleaned, and where no bees can access it.
Honey supers should be removed, cleaned, and stored. It is not recommended to
leave honey supers in the open for bees to clean, as this could attract
unwanted pests, and it can allow pests and disease to spread. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Biosecurity
is a concern when discussing robbing behaviour. Robbing bees can spread pests
and diseases between colonies, apiaries, and operations. Beekeepers have a
responsibility to keep colonies strong and healthy, and keep used equipment
stored properly, to help reduce robbing and the associated spread of pests and
diseases.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">References<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background: white; color: #2a2a2a;">Downs, S.G., Ratnieks, F.L.W. 2000. Adaptive
shifts in honey bee (<em><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Apis mellifera</span></em> L.) guarding behavior support
predictions of the acceptance threshold model. <em><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Behavioral Ecology</span></em>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>11(3): 326 – 333.</span><span style="background: rgb(252, 252, 252);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background: rgb(252, 252, 252); color: black;">Napier, T.C.,
Westwick, R.R., Kane, C.W. <i>et al.</i> 2023. Evaluating the cues
that coordinate a shift towards the robbing foraging tactic in the honey bee (<i>Apis
mellifera</i>). <i>Behav Ecol Sociobiol</i>. 77(46).</span><span style="background: rgb(252, 252, 252);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Sammataro,
D., and Avitabile, A. 2021. A beekeeper’s handbook: fifth edition. Cornell
University Press.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: black;">Connecting with ATTTA
Specialists</span></b><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: black;">If you’d like to connect
with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: black;">visit our website at </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/</span></a><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: black;">Email </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/6407768091610455864"><span style="color: blue;">abyers@perennia.ca</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><p></p></div>ATTTAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13903323201676869896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426411337563166016.post-64077680916104558642023-10-12T14:38:00.004-03:002023-10-12T14:48:37.862-03:00An IPM Series: How Reduced Pesticide Efficacy Occurs<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Chemical treatments have an important role in integrated
pest management (IPM) for treating various pests and diseases of honey bees. In
Atlantic Canada, beekeepers need chemical treatments to manage Varroa mites,
Nosema (Vairimorpha) and brood diseases. However, there is an ongoing reliance
on synthetic treatments, such as Apivar®, when managing these pests. This
week’s blog will explain the impact of misusing synthetic treatments, and the
benefits of an IPM approach to treatment.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h1 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">An IPM
Series: How Reduced Pesticide Efficacy Occurs</span></span></b></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Apivar® (3.3% amitraz) is a synthetic miticide widely used
to manage Varroa mites. Currently, Apivar® is the only recommended synthetic
miticide for Varroa mites in Atlantic Canada. There were other products
available with active ingredients fluvalinate (Apistan®) and coumaphos
(Checkmite+®), but, due to extensive and exclusive use of these products, widespread
reduced efficacy occurred (Rinkevich, 2020). That is why it is essential to
maintain the efficacy of Apivar® by only using the treatment when the
population level is above the economic threshold, and alternating treatment of
Apivar® with other non-synthetic treatments. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-family: arial;">Reduced pesticide efficacy is a phenomenon by which
organisms can survive higher doses or concentrations of a toxic substance which
previously resulted in high levels of mortality (Van Leeuwen and Dermauw, 2016;
Whalon </span><i style="font-family: arial;">et al</i><span style="font-family: arial;">. 2008). There are various mechanisms of reduced efficacy,
including: enhanced detoxification (Field </span><i style="font-family: arial;">et al</i><span style="font-family: arial;">. 2001), target-site
insensitivity (Rinkevich </span><i style="font-family: arial;">et al</i><span style="font-family: arial;">. 2013; Fournier, 2005; González-Cabrera </span><i style="font-family: arial;">et
al</i><span style="font-family: arial;">. 2013), and reduced cuticular penetration (Balabanidou </span><i style="font-family: arial;">et al</i><span style="font-family: arial;">. 2018).
The mechanism of reduced efficacy to pyrethroids (Apistan®) in </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Varroa destructor</i><span style="font-family: arial;">
is well known. It is associated with mutations at the residue L925 of the major
target site for pyrethroids—the voltage-gated sodium channel (</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-shading-themecolor: background1;">González-Cabrera <i>et al</i>. 2018; González-Cabrera <i>et al</i>.
2016; Hubert <i>et al</i>. 2014</span><span style="font-family: arial;">). On the other hand, the precise mechanisms
causing the reduced efficacy to coumaphos, and potentially amitraz, in </span><i style="font-family: arial;">V.
destructor</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> are still unknown (Maggi </span><i style="font-family: arial;">et al</i><span style="font-family: arial;">. 2009; Maggi </span><i style="font-family: arial;">et al</i><span style="font-family: arial;">.
2011). Overall, it is possible that reduced efficacy can develop because
synthetic products persist at high concentrations in wax and represent a
constant exposure (Traynor </span><i style="font-family: arial;">et al</i><span style="font-family: arial;">. 2016).</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Amitraz has been used to control Varroa mite populations for
more than 20 years in the USA. Since that time there have been many reported
incidents of reduced efficacy of amitraz (Elzen, 2000; Maggi, 2010; Kamler,
2016). However, Varroa has largely maintained susceptibility to amitraz despite
a long and extensive use history (Rinkevich, 2020). Since amitraz is currently
the only synthetic active ingredient still viable to treat Varroa mites, it is important
to continually test the efficacy of amitraz against mite populations worldwide.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Since 2017, the ATTTA team has tested the efficacy of
Apivar® against Varroa mites in the Maritimes through field-based studies. Although
testing the efficacy of miticide products is important, it is also crucial to
test the efficacy of active ingredients through lab-based studies. This past
summer, ATTTA tested the efficacy of amitraz against populations of mites in
Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. ATTTA previously had no baseline data on the
efficacy of amitraz in Atlantic Canada by use of these methods, which made this
research even more important. Mites were collected by using drone frame, where
for each apiary, 1 drone frame was placed in 3 different hives. A total of 6
beekeepers were included in the study, and data was collected from 206 mites in
total. The amitraz bioassay was adapted from a study done by Rinkevich (2020).
This bioassay tested the efficacy of amitraz at 5 different concentrations to
determine the lethal concentration of 50% of the mites. Mites were exposed to
the treatment for 24hrs, and then mortality was assessed. After calculating the
LC<sub>50</sub>, a resistance ratio was calculated by comparing the Maritime
population to an amitraz-sensitive USDA Lab population. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMqonMvLhqAHiL9Lhh7v4D7_xnMFaAtXlEfhlNLG6r8i06TUzG97nLX07beXutGZMoqQPpxF9h0SrVwsjfuBCs-iMLH12RwD5mtgJx2TvtVo5EZx1l0HJPaZhgu98jDpxwJUdPcynbARrVrDJDWw9_AAulMN-egeEPDwB4TUy1Am1mqzcNZvsiLHgS7mb/s653/Amitraz.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="549" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMqonMvLhqAHiL9Lhh7v4D7_xnMFaAtXlEfhlNLG6r8i06TUzG97nLX07beXutGZMoqQPpxF9h0SrVwsjfuBCs-iMLH12RwD5mtgJx2TvtVo5EZx1l0HJPaZhgu98jDpxwJUdPcynbARrVrDJDWw9_AAulMN-egeEPDwB4TUy1Am1mqzcNZvsiLHgS7mb/w304-h362/Amitraz.jpg" width="304" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Setting up amitraz bioassay
(ATTTA©2023).</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">The results of the baseline 2023 data indicate that there is
a reduced efficacy of amitraz for the small number of mites tested (n = 206; RR
= 35.4). However, this was the first year for this study, and multiple factors
could impact the results. Overall, the study was conducted on a small number of
mites, from only 6 beekeepers, and there was not a consistent sample size for
each concentration of amitraz tested. ATTTA plans to continue to assess how the
efficacy of amitraz changes year to year, and the goal is to test a larger
number of mites from more Maritime beekeepers. All the Tech Transfer Teams in
Canada, supported by the Canadian Association for Professional Apiculturists,
are working towards a standardized approach to assessing reduced efficacy of
amitraz and Apivar®.<o:p></o:p></p>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><p style="text-align: left;">It is critically important to extend the
effectiveness of amitraz-based products to control Varroa mites by practicing
IPM. Past use of synthetic products has demonstrated that extensive and
exclusive use of synthetic products results in reduced efficacy. There are also
many reported incidents of reduced efficacy of amitraz in the global beekeeping
industry. Therefore, it is the job of all beekeepers to manage Varroa mites
using an IPM plan. This includes testing for Varroa mites at least monthly
(pre- and post-treatment), and only treating when levels are above the economic
threshold. Beekeepers should also implement cultural and physical controls to
reduce the need for chemical treatment. Finally, when chemical treatment is
warranted, beekeepers should alternate between synthetic and non-synthetic
products.</p></span></span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><b>References</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="ES">Balabanidou, V.,
Grigoraki, L., and Vontas, J. 2018. </span>Insect
cuticle: a critical determinant of insecticide resistance. Current opinion in
insect science. 27: 68 – 74. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Elzen, P.J., Baxter, J.R., Spivak, M., and Wilson,
W.T. 2000. Control of <i>Varroa jacobsoni</i> Oud. resistant to fluvalinate and
amitraz using coumaphos. Apidologie. 31(3): 437 – 441. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Field, L.M., Blackman, R.L., and Devoshire, A.L. 2001.
Evolution of amplified Esterase genes as a mode of insecticide resistance in
aphids. In: Biochemical sites of insecticide action and resistance. 209 – 219.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Fournier, D. 2005. Mutations of acetylcholinesterase
which confer insecticide resistance in insect populations. Chemico-Biol
Inteact. 157: 257 – 261.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Hubert, J., Nesvorna, M., Kamler, M., Kopecky, J.,
Tyl, J., Titera, D., and Stara, J. 2014. Point mutations in the sodium channel
gene conferring tau-fluvalinate resistance in <i>Varroa destructor</i>. Pest
Manag. Sci. 70: 889 – 894.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">González-Cabrera, J., Davies, T.G.E., Field, L.M.,
Kennedy, P.J., and Williamson, M.S. 2013. An amino acid substitution (L925V)
associated with resistance to pyrethroids in <i>Varroa destructor</i>. PLoS
One. 8(12): e82941.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">González-Cabrera, J., Rodriguez-Vargas, S., Davies,
T.E., Field, L.M., Schmehl, D., Ellis, J.D., Krieger, K., and Williamson, M.S.
2016. Novel mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel of
pyrethroid-resistant <i>Varroa destructor</i> populations from the Southeastern
USA. PLoS ONE. 11: e0155332. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">González-Cabrera, J., Bumann, H., Rodríguez-Vargas,
S., Kennedy, P.J., Krieger, K., Altreuther, G., Hertel, A., Hertlein, G.,
Nauen, R., and Williamson, M.S. 2018. A single mutation is driving resistance
to pyrethroids in European populations of the parasitic mite, <i>Varroa destructor</i>.
J. Pest Sci. 91: 1137 – 1144.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Kamler, M., Nesvorna, M., Stara, J., Erban, T., and
Hubert, J. 2016. Comparison of tau-fluvalinate, acrinathrin, and amitraz
effects on susceptible and resistant populations of <i>Varroa destructor</i> in
a vial test. Experimental and applied acarology. 69(1): 1 – 9. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Maggi, M.D., Ruffinengo, S.R., Damiani, N., Sardella,
N.H., and Eguaras, M.J. 2009. First detection of <i>Varroa destructor</i>
resistance to coumaphos in Argentina. Exp. Appl. Acarol. 47: 317 – 320.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Maggi, M.D., Ruffinengo, S.R., Negri, P., and Eguaras,
M.J. 2010. Resistance phenomena to amitraz from populations of the
ectoparasitic mite <i>Varroa destructor</i> of Argentina. Parasitology
research. 107(5): 1189 – 1192. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Maggi, M.D., Ruffinengo, S.R., Mendoza, Y., Ojeda, P.,
Ramallo, G., Floris, I., and Eguaras, M.J. 2011. Susceptibility of <i>Varroa
destructor</i> (Acari: Varroidae) to synthetic acaricides in Uruguay: Varroa
mites’ potential to develop acaricide resistance. Parasitol. Res. 108: 815 –
821.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Rinkevich, F.D., Du, Y., and Dong, K. 2013. Diversity
and convergence of sodium channel mutations involved in resistance to
pyrethroids Pestic Biochem Physiol. 106: 93 – 100. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Rinkevich, F.D. 2020. Detection of amitraz resistance
and reduced treatment efficacy in the Varroa Mite, <i>Varroa destructor</i>,
within commercial beekeeping operations. PLoS ONE 15(1): e0227264.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Traynor K.S., Pettis J.S., Tarpy, D.R., Mullin, C.A.,
Frazier, J.L., and Frazier, M. 2016 In-hive pesticide exposome: Assessing risks
to migratory honey bees from in-hive pesticide contamination in the Eastern
United States. Scientific reports. 6: 33207. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Van Leeuwen, T., and Dermauw, W. 2016. The molecular
evolution of xenobiotic metabolism and resistance in chelicerate mites. Annual
Review of Entomology. 61: 475 – 98.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Whalon, M., Mota-Sanchez, D., and Hollingsworth, R.
2008. Global pesticide resistance in arthropods. Cambridge, MA: CABI. 166.</span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Connecting with ATTTA Special</b><b>ists</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">visit our website at <a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/0/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/8400867267775263698"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/</span></a></span></p><p style="line-height: 16.96px;"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Email <a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/0/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/8400867267775263698"><span style="color: blue;">abyers@perennia.ca</span></a></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"></div>ATTTAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13903323201676869896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426411337563166016.post-54649840704684470872023-10-05T13:18:00.000-03:002023-10-05T13:18:06.489-03:00An IPM Series: The Challenges of Integrated Pest Management<p><span style="font-family: arial;">In last week’s blog, we discussed how
integrated pest management (IPM) is the best practice for beekeepers. Using a
variety of strategies to manage pests, as well as limiting the frequency of
chemical treatments, is all part of IPM. Although these practices are effective
and will provide the best short and long-term results for managing pests and
diseases, IPM does come with several challenges that often hinder beekeepers
from always taking an IPM approach. In this week’s blog, we will discuss some of
these challenges, with a particular focus on Varroa and Nosema management. We
will also explain why, despite these challenges, an IPM approach is still the
best option.</span></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>An IPM Series: </span>The Challenges of Integrated Pest Management</span></h1><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: arial;">An obstacle for beekeepers when
implementing IPM is the perception that following known best practices requires
additional resources. For example, one component of IPM is determining if the
pest or disease burden exceeds the economic threshold for treatment. The required travel and sampling time to
assess colonies for parasites and pathogens, such as Varroa mites and Nosema
(Vairimorpha), has a cost. However, these costs need to be balanced against
factors such as maintaining the efficacy of chemical treatments and overall reducing
winter losses. Additionally, there may
be actual savings if the testing indicates treatment is unnecessary. It also must be kept in mind that, in larger
yards, a sample of colonies is all that needs to be tested. The follow up testing, as recommended by IPM
practices, to determine the efficacy post treatment will demonstrate the
economic value of the application. Additionally, if there are changes in the
expected efficacy, the beekeeper needs to be aware and respond appropriately to
prevent losses. So, although the process
of testing for pests and diseases is time-consuming, the benefits for both the
beekeeper and the industry outweigh these costs.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">It is well recognized that in the
Maritimes, managing Varroa mites is essential, but one goal of IPM is to limit
the frequency of synthetic acaricides to prolong the efficacy of chemical
treatments. Blanket treatments with unconfirmed efficacy are not good practice.
This concept extends to Nosema treatment as well. The complexity and requirement for microscopy
in determining treatment levels using an economic threshold may be difficult for
some beekeepers. If individuals are reluctant
to commit to this, remember that ATTTA is willing to perform a Nosema test free
of charge for any beekeeper that provides samples. So, other than collecting
the sample, there is minimal time, effort and money required to test the
economic threshold of Nosema before and after treatment.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2d1YSC-1VniEsyuAFDLKiLOfrRP44rSl-Ry4Zy7K53EEtHlBm_zdKTnruRmTlJJdwGIZx2j7DWlyF9em0upihMoKmUYAlkf6vTupF4LUgQj65Wxp64cxNk1VpCoUj_25-SxgKT5CYPL4D2pncUIqZMubk8WZJHH80y7CIzyxWLtVbBxGtIg2Hv_uzTHon/s664/Picture1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="664" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2d1YSC-1VniEsyuAFDLKiLOfrRP44rSl-Ry4Zy7K53EEtHlBm_zdKTnruRmTlJJdwGIZx2j7DWlyF9em0upihMoKmUYAlkf6vTupF4LUgQj65Wxp64cxNk1VpCoUj_25-SxgKT5CYPL4D2pncUIqZMubk8WZJHH80y7CIzyxWLtVbBxGtIg2Hv_uzTHon/w405-h304/Picture1.jpg" width="405" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Nosema (Vairimorpha) spores as viewed
under a light microscope (400x magnification) during assessment to determine need
for treatment (ATTTA©2022).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The associated cost of implementing IPM cultural, physical, and chemical control measures for Varroa mites and Nosema
is also a consideration. In combination with regular monitoring for pests and
diseases, best management recommendations will include cultural practices. Examples
being a sheltered apiary site, replacing old brood comb, feeding bees during
dearth periods, providing winter protection, replacing old queens, and
performing biosecurity practices. All the mentioned cultural practices help
promote healthy colonies that are less likely to be susceptible to pests and
diseases. This concept applies to physical and chemical control measures.
Investing in physical control measures, for example fencing, screen bottom
board, cold storage for equipment, drone frames, has initial costs, but that
investment will quickly be recovered by preventing colony losses to pests.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">There are further factors for consideration when implementing IPM. This is particularly true for mite control measures. For
managing Varroa mites there is the option of synthetic (artificially made) or
non-synthetic treatment (naturally occurring chemicals such as organic acids
and essential oils). With IPM, it is recommended to alternate between a
synthetic treatment and a non-synthetic treatment. This practice must be used
along with monitoring mite levels. It
must be stated that to just choose an alternative treatment is not in itself
IPM. It would be irresponsible, for
example, to change from Apivar to oxalic acid without also monitoring post treatment
to ensure efficacy of the new mite control method! Also, beekeepers must familiarize themselves with
any new treatment and consider that some products are temperature
dependent or require more than one application. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Any immediate savings due to not using IPM
strategies is a false economy and long-term implications need to be considered. Despite challenges, IPM is still the best
approach for managing pests and diseases. Next week’s blog will explain the
importance of IPM in the context of chemical treatments, and why IPM will be
essential to our beekeeping industry going forward.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Connecting with ATTTA Special</b><b>ists</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">visit our website at <a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/0/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/8400867267775263698"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/</span></a></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 16.96px;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Email <a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/0/blog/post/edit/6426411337563166016/8400867267775263698"><span style="color: blue;">abyers@perennia.ca</span></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p></span></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>ATTTAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13903323201676869896noreply@blogger.com