In Atlantic Canada, there are multiple pests that threaten the safety of honey bee colonies. One major pest that beekeepers often stress about is bears, which will destroy equipment and eat honey and bees. An electric fence around an apiary is the most effective way to prevent a bear attack. Read this week’s blog to learn some key considerations for electric fencing.

What Beekeepers Should Consider about Electric Fencing

Bears present a significant threat to honey bee colonies across Atlantic Canada, with the exception of Prince Edward Island, which lacks a bear population. To safeguard apiaries from bear attacks, beekeepers often rely on electric fencing as a primary defense measure.

Ensuring the effectiveness of an electric fence requires proper installation and regular maintenance. Adequate grounding is crucial, particularly in environments like blueberry fields where the soil is typically sandy. To function properly, the ground must contain sufficient moisture to conduct electricity. Grounding rods should be buried at least 3 feet deep to ensure optimal performance. Otherwise, during drought conditions, beekeepers might need to moisten the area around the electric fencing to sustain conductivity.

ATTTA©2022

Unlike humans, bears are not instinctively aware of the danger posed by electric fences. Therefore, it is essential to bait new fences to train bears to avoid them. Baiting methods such as bacon strips or cans of tuna attached to wires can effectively teach bears to steer clear of the charged fence.

Another key consideration is that when hives are rented for pollination, the grower and the beekeeper need to determine who is to be responsible for installing and maintaining the fence. Addressing colony protection in pollination contracts ensures that both parties are aware of their obligations.

For new beekeepers, there is a cost-benefit analysis that should be considered before purchasing an electric fence. A new beekeeper should weigh both the cost of installing an electric fence and the current value of their colonies. If the cost of purchasing a fence is significantly higher than the value of their colonies, it may not make economic sense to invest in a fence. However, if the beekeeper anticipates expanding their operation in the near future, then buying a fence is likely a good investment. Conversely, if a beekeeper's colonies are valued higher than the cost of a fence, it would be unwise to put their operation at risk by not protecting their colonies, especially in an area with a high bear population.

Finally, when selecting a charger for an electric fence, it is essential to consider various options. The key factor to prioritize is the power output of the charger. For optimal bear deterrence, the charger should output a minimum of 1 joule. Other factors come into play when choosing a charger. Solar-powered chargers, while more expensive, require less frequent checks. On the other hand, battery-powered chargers are more budget-friendly, but it is essential for beekeepers or growers to ensure that the batteries are consistently fully charged. Opting for a 12-volt (2 joules stored) solar-powered charger is advisable, as it maintains a reliable charge and delivers sufficient shock to discourage bears from returning. Alternatively, a 9-volt (less than 1 joule stored) D cell battery-powered charger is a common choice, but it may not provide the necessary shock to deter bears, and the batteries need regular replacement. A third option is a fencer that can be plugged into a home power grid. This option is only possible if the apiary is located near a home or farm building to which the beekeeper has power access. Finally, a good fence tester is a helpful tool to determine the fence is working properly during each apiary visit.

For more information about electric fencing please reach out to ATTTA.

Connecting with ATTTA Specialists

If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:

visit our website at https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/

Email abyers@perennia.ca

Beekeeper Calendar Series: Winter

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.

Beekeeper’s Calendar Series: Winter

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.

ATTTA©2022

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Connecting with ATTTA Specialists

If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:

visit our website at https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/

Email abyers@perennia.ca

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.

Winter is Coming: Options for Winter Wrapping Hives

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.

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.  

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 (Sammataro and Avitabile, 2021). 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.

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 (Sammataro and Avitabile, 2021). 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.

Yard of winter wrapped hives (ATTTA©2023).

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.

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 et al. 2022). The study by St. Clair et al. 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.

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 et al. 2021).

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.

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 et al., 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 et al., 2011; Scaven and Rafferty, 2013). During the winter, ambient temperature influences the efficiency of maintaining internal hive temperature (Dainat et al. 2012).

A study done by Calovi et al. (2021) found that hot, dry summers reduced overwintering survival. This is likely due to reduced forage availability, which dramatically decreases colony weight gain (Flores et al. 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 et al., 2019). Thus, longer summers could result in high Varroa levels in the fall, which negatively affects winter survival (Calovi et al. 2021). 

References

Alburaki, M. and Corona, M. 2022. Polyurethane honey bee hives provide better winter insulation than wooden hives. Journal of Apicultural Research. 61(2): 190 – 196.

Bartomeus, I. et al. 2011. Climate-associated phenological advances in bee pollinators and bee-pollinated plants. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 108: 20645 – 20649.

Calovi, M., Grozinger, C.M., Miller, D.A. et al. 2021. Summer weather conditions influence winter survival of honey bees (Apis mellifera) in the northeastern United States. Sci Rep. 11: 1553.

Dainat, B., Evans, J. D., Chen, Y. P., Gauthier, L., and Neumanna, P. 2012. Dead or alive: Deformed wing virus and Varroa destructor reduce the life span of winter honeybees. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 78: 981 – 987.

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. AIP Conf. Proc. 2442 (1): 020001.

Flores, J. M. et al. 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. Sci. Total Environ. 653: 1111 – 1119.

Nürnberger, F., Härtel, S., and Steffan-Dewenter, I. 2019. Seasonal timing in honey bee colonies: Phenology shifts affect honey stores and varroa infestation levels. Oecologia. 189: 1121 – 1131.

Sammataro, D., and Avitabile, A. 2021. A beekeeper’s handbook: fifth edition. Cornell University Press.

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. Curr. Zool. 59: 418 – 426.

Schweiger, O. et al. 2010. Multiple stressors on biotic interactions: How climate change and alien species interact to affect pollination. Biol. Rev. 85: 777 – 795.

St. Clair, A.L., Beach, N.J., and Dolezal, A.G. 2022. Honey bee hive covers reduce food consumption and colony mortality during overwintering. PLoS ONE. 17(4): e0266219.

 

 

Connecting with ATTTA Specialists

If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:

visit our website at https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/

Email abyers@perennia.ca

We all know that there are a variety of pests and diseases that impact honey bees. Often the first pest species that come to mind are varroa mites, or the devastating bear attacks. We often neglect to think about the small mammals that cause significant damage to honey bee colonies. Today’s blog will discuss why this group of small animals causes issues for beekeepers, and how they can be best managed.

Honey Bee Small Animal Pests: Mice, Skunks, Shrews, and Other Minor Pests

Mice inflict significant physical damage to honey bee hives. They do so by entering the hives in the fall and winter and cause extensive damage to comb and woodenware (Sammataro and Avitabile, 2021; Sarwar, 2016). Mice may feed on various components of the colony including bee bread, honey, brood, and adult bees. Additionally, the droppings and urine of mice can impact honey bee behavior (Sammataro and Avitabile, 2021; Sarwar, 2016). Mouse urine is particularly repellent, and it disrupts cluster behaviour. There are a few things to look for to know if you have mice in your colony, including: chewed comb and/or wood; mouse droppings on the bottom board; holes chewed through entrance reducers to allow mice to enter the hive; and nest material between frames (Sammataro and Avitabile, 2021; Sarwar, 2016). To minimize damage from mice, bees should be placed on stands, use entrance reducers, use metal mouse guards, and keep weeds down around the hives. It is important to note that bees placed near a forest or in fields of tall grasses are at a high risk for mouse damage (Sammataro and Avitabile, 2021; Sarwar, 2016).

Mouse nest in bee hive (Penn State Department of Entomology©)

Skunks are a serious pest of honey bees. They cause damage to both equipment and bees, and they dig up bee yards looking for food (Sammataro and Avitabile, 2021; Sarwar, 2016). Often these animals visit colonies at night, and they force bees out of hives by scratching at the entrances. If these animals repeatedly visit bee yards at night, there can be a significant decline in the adult population of honey bees. These mammals have been known to feed for an hour or more and this feeding activity causes bee colonies to become more defensive and aggressive (Sarwar, 2016). Some signs that skunks are visiting your bee yard include scratch marks and dirt on the hive front, outer covers off or skewed, and weak and/or defensive colonies (Sammataro and Avitabile, 2021; Sarwar, 2016). The best way to help manage this pest is to place bees on hive stands at least 18 inches high, which will keep bees out of reach of small predatory animals. Additionally, when hives are placed higher above the ground skunks must expose their bellies, and being stung on their underside deters them from the hive. Properly set up electric fencing will also protect against skunks.

Shrews are a major pest of honey bees in Atlantic Canada. There are seven species of shrew found in eastern Canada. When it comes to eating honey bees, the Common Shrew is the most likely culprit. Shrews have a very high metabolic rate and, unlike many small mammals, are not dormant or hibernating through the winter months. The result is that these insectivores will almost double their food intake to keep warm and active during winter. For these reasons, beehives must be protected against shrews while the bees are clustered and most vulnerable. It is required to protect honey bees in Atlantic Canada with the use of shrew guards in the winter months.

Other minor honey bee pests in Atlantic Canada include raccoons, squirrels, and rats. These animals cause similar issues to those mentioned above, and they can also be managed by using hive stands, entrance reducers, and electric fencing.

When attempting to manage small mammalian pests there are several things a beekeeper needs to consider. First, the beekeeper needs to be confident about what animal pest they are dealing with. This must be done by studying the signs left by the animal (Sarwar, 2016). Second, the beekeeper needs to consider how much damage might occur without any additional control and what are the benefits of control versus the cost of damage. Essentially a beekeeper needs to determine the economic threshold of the pest (Sarwar, 2016). Next, is the animal legally protected in a way that limits the action the beekeeper would otherwise take. Finally, will there be any impacts on non-target animals if a control program is implemented (Sarwar, 2016).

These small mammalian pests can be a serious concern for beekeepers. If not monitored and managed well, honey bees can be decimated by these pests. However, if honey bee colonies are kept strong and healthy, and you continually monitor and take the necessary steps to minimize damage, you can successfully manage these pest species in your apiary.

References

Sammataro, D., and Avitabile, A. 2021. A beekeeper’s handbook: fifth edition. Cornell University Press.

Sarwar, M. 2016. Predations on honey bees (Arthropoda) by vertebrate pests (Chordata) and control of nuisance. International Journal of Zoology Studies. 1(2): 12 – 17.

Connecting with ATTTA Specialists

If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:

visit our website at https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/

Email abyers@perennia.ca