This week the Nova Scotia Beekeepers Association, along with ATTTA, hosted an afternoon beekeeping event in Parrsboro. Fourteen attendees joined the session, creating an engaged group with lots of discussion and questions! Events like these are so important, helping beekeepers learn from one another and connecting with people in similar areas. Field events give everyone a chance to ask questions, share experiences and see how others manage their own operations.

Review of the NSBA Technical Session in Parrsboro

This event started with introductions by Dr. Andrew Byers apart of the Atlantic Tech Transfer Team for Apiculture, followed by Zoshia Fraser, who represented the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture. Jennifer and David Harrison then welcomed everyone and introduced themselves, sharing the history of their beekeeping operation, how they got started and the work they do today. We were grateful for them opening their operation and welcoming beekeepers into their apiary for the afternoon.

Figure 1: Attendees in Jennifer Harrison’s Apiary (ATTTA ©, 2026)

After introductions, everyone suited up and headed into the hives. Jennifer began by showing the tools and equipment she likes to keep on hand in her operation. She explained her record keeping system, based on the year colour of the queens, to mark her hives and label tasks that need to be done.  This highlighted the importance of implementing an efficient way to keep track of the hives in her apiary. She also demonstrated her queen marking tools, her Cloake board setup, and her grafting frames. One highlight was her mating nucs, which were a standard deep box divided into three sections, each with its own entrance. 

Figure 2: Jennifer Harrison showing equipment she uses in her operation (ATTTA ©, 2026)

The group then split into two, one group with Jennifer, where she walked through assessing hive strength. Students learned when to split based on resources in the hive and the strength of the colony. She shared examples from her own operation, giving attendees knowledge on how she manages colony growth. The second group joined Andrew, who demonstrated how to inspect a captured swarm. He explained what to look for, how to monitor for varroa, and how to test mite levels using both an alcohol wash and an ether roll. He also discussed what steps to take after catching a swarm to ensure the colony is healthy. 

Figure 3: Jennifer Harrison performing an alcohol wash (Left) and Dr. Andrew Byers conducting an ether roll (Right) (ATTTA ©, 2026)

The afternoon was filled with enthusiasm, questions and great conversation. With 14 participants, the event offered hands-on learning and important discussions. Thank you so much to the Nova Scotia Beekeepers Association for supporting such a valuable session. A special thank you as well to Jennifer and David Harrison for being such welcoming and generous hosts. Their willingness to share their operation made this event a success and highlighted the value of learning from others! 

 Written by Kaitlyn Newton, ATTTA Seasonal Apiculturist

Connecting with ATTTA Specialists

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

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

Email attta@perennia.ca

 

As the beekeeping season progresses, the Atlantic Tech Transfer Team for Apiculture has been continuing to survey regional varroa mite levels. Our team has now completed the second trial of the season which assesses mite levels mid-season following wild blueberry pollination. Continue reading this week’s blog to learn more about mid-season trends in varroa mite populations across our Maritime region, and for insight to how this year’s mite levels compare to 2024.

Mid-Season Varroa Mite Trends in the Maritime Region

For the second season, ATTTA is conducting a regional varroa mite survey to assess temporal trends in mite levels and to assess the efficacy of amitraz (active ingredient in Apivar® - a synthetic miticide). The second trial of the survey consisted of 23 beekeepers (9 in Nova Scotia, 7 in New Brunswick and 7 on Prince Edward Island). Our team aims to include as many commercial beekeepers representing the 3 Maritime provinces as possible, and we often reach out to more beekeepers than reflected by those who are able to participate. The second trial took place between July 3 and August 6, 2025 following wild blueberry pollinations, and consisted samples from 76 colonies. These colonies are all from commercial beekeepers who provide pollination services.

Overall, the average mite load for trial 2 was 0.16% infestation rate per sample, 76% of samples had 0 mites, and 5% of samples had a mite load greater than 1% (Figure 1). The average number of bees per sample for trial 2 is 291, with a target sample size of 300. In comparison, in 2024, the average mite load per sample for trial 2 (July 3, 2024 – August 22, 2024) was 0.3%, 73% of samples had 0% mite load, and 7% samples had a mite load greater than 1% (Figure 1). More data is needed to help establish a baseline for mite levels mid-season across our region. Although there is a decrease in the percentage of colonies with detectable varroa, and the percentage of colonies with mites levels above 1%, between 2024 and 2025 (Figure 1), additional data is needed to support a downward trend, or assess if levels are potentially increasing or remaining stable from year to year. The slight difference across beekeeping seasons, as determined from the survey over the past 2 years, may reflect the normal range of mite levels across our region, and a main priority of the survey is to establish a baseline of the region’s mite levels.

Figure 1. Comparison of mid-season varroa mite loads in the Maritime region between 2024 and 2025.

It is important to understand that the population of varroa mites increases throughout the beekeeping season, which is reflected by the increase in mites sampled between May/June (trial 1) and July/August (trial 2). The results of this survey support the fact that the population of mites increases as the beekeeping season progresses (Figure 1). This makes early spring monitoring and treatment for varroa mites crucial, because the population can quickly get beyond the economic threshold if waiting until the fall to treat colonies again.

Beekeepers need to be vigilant with monitoring for mites each month to ensure that colonies will be strong and healthy by the time winter preparations occur as varroa mites continue to be a top reason for colony winter loss. If a beekeeper is seeing mites during the early part of the beekeeping season, then they should be prepared to provide treatment by fall. There is also the potential that the number of mites will exceed the economic threshold prior to the fall if colonies are not treated in the spring, in which case a mid-season knock down treatment may be indicated to keep the mite population under control until fall treatments can occur. Through a range of management practices, beekeepers should manage their mite levels to be below 1% all throughout the beekeeping season, and intervene with treatment when levels reach or surpass 1% (1 mite per 100 bees). Beekeepers should also start late-summer/early-fall mite treatments as soon as possible when levels are at or exceeding 1% to help ensure healthy winter bees with low virus loads.

Figure 2. Sampling for ATTTA Varroa Mite Survey 2025 (ATTTA©2025).

It is important that beekeepers understand that 0% mite load, as determined by an alcohol wash, does not mean that no mites are present within the colony. There is always a background population of varroa mites within a single colony and, without frequent and representative monitoring, undetected population increases will quickly increase to beyond treatment thresholds.

Beekeepers must remain vigilant when monitoring for mites, and practice integrated pest management in all aspects of their mite management. There was good opportunity for growing bee populations this beekeeping season, which also provided the opportunity for mite populations to increase. Late summer to early fall will be a crucial time frame for monitoring mite levels and starting any required treatments as soon as possible. For questions regarding mite management and treatment please reach out to the ATTTA team. We would like to thank all beekeepers who participated in trial 2 of our survey. We will be reporting on the complete survey following trial 3 which will take place in September.

Connecting with ATTTA Specialists

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

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

Email attta@perennia.ca