Honey bees are experiencing population decline globally, which is being caused by disease, environmental degradation, and climate change. This article will look into the specific issues causing Honey Bee health problems, and what beekeepers can do to help their bees.
Parasites, pests, and pathogens are some of the areas that are causing significant honey bee health problems. There’s a wide variety of these afflictions, and each problem needs specialized treatment. This section will dive into each of the issues and what their common solutions are.
Varroa mites are the most common and destructive parasite that honey bees face. These tiny red pests latch onto the adult bee's body and feed on their fat bodies, causing deformities and weakened immune systems. Mites also feed on the developing pupae where the mite reproduces. These weakened bees are more susceptible to bacteria and viruses. Learn everything you need to know about Varroa mites in our guide here.
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Wax moths attack honey bee hives and destroy the comb, leading to a weakened bee colony. These pests lay their eggs in the wax, and their larvae feed on the wax and honey, creating tunnels that weaken the comb's structural integrity and render the comb unusable. Beekeepers should maintain a clean and dry hive, use moth traps, store equipment properly, and replace old, damaged comb regularly to manage wax moth infestations.
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Small hive beetles are another common pest that can cause significant harm to honey bee hives. These beetles lay their eggs in the hive's cracks and crevices, and their larvae eat the brood and honey. Beekeepers can monitor their hive for small hive beetle activity by using beetle traps and keeping the hive clean and well-maintained.
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Nosema is a fungal disease that affects honey bees' digestive systems and prevents them from absorbing nutrients properly. This disease can weaken the immune system, leading to other health problems such as shortened life span and can contribute to colony collapse disorder. Beekeepers should monitor their hives for Nosema by by testing regularly and using medication to treat infected colonies.
American foulbrood is a bacterial disease that is highly infectious and can quickly kill an entire bee colony. This disease attacks the bee larvae, which eventually kills the pupa. The infected pupae turn into a brown, foul-smelling liquid, which can easily spread to other healthy bees. Beekeepers should regularly inspect their hives for signs of American foulbrood, such as sunken cappings, ropiness of pupae, foul-smelling brood, and spotty brood patterns, and immediately remove and destroy infected hives.
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Chalkbrood disease is caused by the fungus Ascosphaera apis and is known for mummifying the infected larvae. The infected larvae die with their heads turned upwards and their bodies shrivel into chalk-like masses. Poor ventilation and excess moisture in beehives facilitate disease growth. Routine equipment sanitation, use of hygienic breeding stock, replacing queens and reduction of hive moisture levels can prevent Chalkbrood.
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Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) refers to the phenomenon whereby worker bees leave the hive to die even with abundant food and an abundant and healthy brood-rearing population. CCD is often caused by uncontrolled Varroa mite infestations, pesticide exposure, herbicide usage around beehives, disease transmission, and inadequate nutrition levels. To prevent CCD, beekeepers should adopt an Integrated Pest Management strategy to reduce pests and diseases, use sustainable agricultural techniques that reduce pesticide and herbicide usage, as well as focus on honey bee nutrition.
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Deformed Wing Virus (DWV) is a highly contagious virus prevalent in honey bees' colonies. Its signs are evident in adult bees that display biting and itching behaviors and deformities in their wings, making them unable to fly. This virus is often, though not exclusively, transmitted through Varroa mites. Unfortunately, once a colony is infected with DWV, there is no cure for the virus. Therefore, the best measures are to prevent its spread. These measures include regularly monitoring your hive, managing Varroa mite infestations, and providing your honey bees with a well-balanced and nutritious diet.
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Acarapis woodi (Tracheal Mites) is a mite that lives in honey bee tracheae, negatively affecting their breathing ability. Infected honey bees exhibit heightened defensive behavior, twitching and crawling, which can weaken the colony. To prevent an Acarapis woodi (Tracheal Mites) infestation, beekeepers can minimize stress in their honey bee colonies through proper feeding and adequate shelter from environmental stressors like harsh weather or predators. Additionally, regular inspections can detect early mite infections, which can be treated before becoming full-blown infestations.
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Tropilaelaps is a genus of parasitic mites that primarily infest the Asian honeybee, Apis cerana. This mite species is known for causing considerable damage to honeybee colonies. They can reproduce rapidly and infest colonies in large numbers, leading to weakened or dead colonies. The Tropilaelaps mite feeds on the blood of developing honeybees, leaving them weakened and vulnerable to other diseases and predators. See https://beeaware.org.au/archive-pest/tropilaelaps-2/#ad-image-0
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Climate change can have a severe impact on honey bee health. Warmer temperatures can cause honey bees to emerge earlier than usual, exposing them to increasing populations of pests and diseases. Additionally, changes in rainfall patterns can disrupt the availability of nectar and pollen, leading to malnutrition. Beekeepers should take into account the impact of climate change on their hives and adapt accordingly by providing adequate nutrition and implementing preventative measures.
One of the reasons why bees face nutrition problems is the unavailability of a regular and well-timed flow of nectar and pollen sources throughout the year. Natural sources of nectar are available for a limited time, and during the off-season period, bees do not have enough food to stay healthy. This results in malnutrition, weakened immunity, and susceptibility to diseases.
Beekeepers can remedy this issue by feeding their bees with nutritional supplements to make sure they’re getting all of their needs fulfilled.
Mono-culture agriculture, where farmers produce a single crop in large quantities, has contributed to the loss of diversity in bees' food sources. Bees require diverse pollen and nectar sources to obtain essential proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals that ensure their growth and development. With the lack of diversity of nutrients available in mono-culture crops, bees can't gather enough nutrients from a single source, leading to poor nutrition.
Sublethal exposure to pesticides refers to the unintended, non-lethal effects of pesticides on honey bees. While pesticides are designed to kill insects, they often don't kill bees directly. Instead, they have sublethal effects such as impairing their ability to forage, navigate, and communicate. Exposure can occur through direct contact with pesticides or through contaminated pollen or nectar. Some pesticides commonly implicated in honey bee declines include neonicotinoids, organophosphates, and pyrethroids.
The sublethal effects of pesticides and fungicides on honey bees can have devastating consequences for colony health and productivity. Studies have shown that exposure to pesticides can result in reduced lifespan, decreased immune function, impaired brood development, and a decline in colony size and productivity. Pesticides and fungicides can also have a synergistic effect, meaning that they can amplify the negative effects of other environmental stressors such as poor nutrition, parasites, and pathogens.
The genetic diversity in honey bees determines their ability to adapt to environmental changes, withstand diseases, and produce honey. Inbreeding and genetic bottlenecks reduce genetic diversity, causing significant implications for honey bee health. Limited genetic diversity causes populations to be vulnerable to stressors such as parasites, pathogens, and environmental change. By breeding for genetic diversity, beekeepers can improve the health and productivity of their honey bee colonies.
Cleanliness is crucial when working with bees, as residues can transfer disease or pests to your hives. Always clean your equipment, including your protective gear, before and after each use. Remove any honey, wax, or propolis buildup from your tools, extracting equipment, and honey containers. If you are purchasing bees or used equipment, only buy from a trustworthy beekeeper who regularly cleans and inspects their equipment.
While beeswax is a valuable resource, it can harbor pests and diseases if left unmanaged. Remove any damaged or old combs, as these can contain mites or diseases that can spread to your healthy bees. Clean up any honey spills or scraps of beeswax in and around your hives to prevent the spread of diseases.
Bees are sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity, which can lead to stress and weakened immune systems. Ensure that your hives are properly ventilated and insulated, especially during the winter months. Additionally, avoid keeping your hives in areas that receive too much direct sunlight or are exposed to harsh winds.
Protein is a vital nutrient required for brood rearing and to produce royal jelly. However, pollen sources are usually scarce in late winter and early spring, which can lead to protein deficiency. Protein deficiency can cause bees to cease brood rearing and reduce population growth. To prevent this, feed protein supplements to your bees like pollen patties. You can easily buy these from bee equipment suppliers, or you can make them yourself.
Carbohydrates are the primary energy source for bees, and it's important to ensure they get sufficient carbohydrates. One of the best sources of carbohydrates is nectar, but nectar availability can be scarce at times. To provide carbohydrates, you can offer sugar syrup or honey to the bees. It's essential to remember that bees require a specific ratio of sugar to water in their syrup and the concentration will depend on the season and honey production goals.
Mineral deficiencies can cause bee health problems, including poor immune system, malformed brood, and bee mortality. Therefore, it's important to provide a variety of minerals to the bees. One way to do this is by offering mineral licks. A mineral lick contains a mix of minerals that bees can consume when needed. Mineral supplements usually come with salt, calcium, and magnesium as part of the mix.
The best source of nutrition for bees is from natural sources such as flowers and plants. Planting pollinator-friendly crops like lavender, clover, and sunflowers can provide a reliable source of nectar and pollen. This will help improve bees' overall nutrition, and they will reward you with a higher honey yield. It's essential to avoid pesticide-treated crops as they can be harmful to bees.
Essential oils like lemongrass, thyme, and tea tree have shown antimicrobial properties against several bee diseases. Add a few drops to sugar syrup or sprinkle onto the hive's landing board, and it will help boost immunity and reduce diseases. Essential oils can also help bees repel pests like Varroa mites.
According to beeinformed.org, as well as the University of Maryland and Auburn University, bee populations have declined significantly over the last few years.
According to the study, “during the winter of 2022-2023, an estimated 37.4% of managed colonies in the United States were lost". The study goes on to say, "this winter loss rate is 13.2 percentage points higher than the previous winter loss rate of 24.2%". This makes it significantly higher losses than previous years, at "9.1 percentage points higher than the average winter loss rate of 28.2%". This makes the winter of 2022-2023 "the second highest year of winter lost on record, after the winter of 2018-2019.” (Information from https://beeinformed.org/2023/06/22/united-states-honey-bee-colony-losses-2022-23-preliminary-results-from-the-bee-informed-partnership)
These are significant losses, with 60% of beekeepers surveyed reporting winter losses over the acceptable threshold (information from https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/struggling-beekeepers-stabilize-u-s-honeybee-population-after-nearly-half-of-colonies-died-last-year).
Researchers are identifying this trend as a significant risk to bee health globally, with new adaptive management techniques required to be put into place to help beekeepers maintain their bee health.
The Economic impact of poor Honey Bee health reaches far and wide with over one-third of the world's food production depending on pollinators like honey bees. (Information from: https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/pollinators-help-one-third-of-world-s-crop-production-study-1.625267)
A recent study has shown that honey bees are responsible for $15 billion in added crop value in the U.S. alone. The study also revealed that the number of honey bees in the U.S. has dropped by approximately 50% over the last 50 years. This decline has led to higher prices for many of the fruits and vegetables we consume daily. Almonds, for example, are almost completely dependent on honey bees for pollination. The almond industry in California “makes use of almost three-quarters of all managed honey bee colonies in the United States, brought from all over the country during one short window of time in January and February each year.” (Information from https://www.ars.usda.gov/oc/br/ccd/index/)
If the number of honey bees continues to decline at the current rate, the almond industry could take a significant production hit, resulting in much higher prices for almond-based products.
Another crop that could take a hit is the blueberry crop. Blueberries are one of the most nutritionally dense fruits available, and honey bees play a crucial role in their pollination. The United States is one of the largest blueberry producers in the world, and in 2019 the crop was valued at $1.6 billion. (information from: https://whatcom-news.com/wsda-washington-state-is-worlds-top-blueberry-producer_213876/). If the number of honey bees declines further, the blueberry industry may suffer, causing higher prices for blueberry-based products. (Information from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8323595/)
Taking a look at New York is another example, “Each year, thousands of bee colonies are used throughout the state to pollinate more than $300 million worth of agricultural crops such as apples, grapes, and pumpkins”. In order to make sure industry can reach pollination demands, “New York is home to more than 60,000 of the bee colonies used each year, while additional colonies are shipped in from other regions of the country to make up the remainder” (Information from https://agriculture.ny.gov/plant-industry/honey-bee-health). This shows that bees are a critical component of production, and a drop in bee population will cause a drop in production in New York State.
The impact of the honey bee decline extends well beyond the agricultural industry. The declining number of honey bees also impacts the pharmaceutical industry, as honey bees produce propolis and bee pollen, which both have medicinal properties. Propolis is a natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, with many benefits for the human body. Bee pollen is an excellent source of protein and contains all of the essential amino acids. The continued decline of honey bees may result in a shortage of these byproducts, leading to higher prices for pharmaceuticals.
1. Provide adequate food and water sources - Honey bees need access to nectar, pollen, and water to survive. Ensure that they have a variety of flowering plants to feed on and a water source near their hive.
2. Regular hive inspections - Regular hive inspections help to identify any potential issues or diseases and take corrective measures before they become severe.
3. Use organic and non-toxic pest control methods - Avoid using pesticides and insecticides that are toxic to bees. Try using more natural pest control methods such as essential oils, sticky traps, or screen bottom boards.
4. Provide enough space for your bees - Provide enough room for your bees to grow and expand their colonies. A cramped hive can lead to stress, aggression, and disease.
5. Soil and nutrition management - Use organic fertilizers and ensure that your soil and plants get enough nutrients. Healthy plants provide a healthier habitat for bees and better access to pollen and nectar.
Apart from taking care of your hives, you can participate in honey bee health initiatives.
1. Participate in honey bee research studies - Supporting honey bee research contributes to our better understanding of the plight of the bees, leads to better disease control methods, and enables overall better bee health.
2. Support local beekeeping - Support local beekeepers and buy local honey and bee products. This supports the beekeeping industry and contributes to better conservation efforts.
3. Plant pollinator-friendly vegetation - Planting gardens, meadows, and wildflowers can support honey bees and other pollinators by providing them with a healthy food source.
The government plays a key role in protecting bees and wildlife, and it starts with bees’ health. By notifying your local authorities of the health status of your bees, you are contributing to monitoring the overall health of the bee population. The government authorities, including the Department of Agriculture, rely on beekeepers’ data to track the health status of bees throughout the country. It helps them understand the issues impacting bees, and they can take appropriate actions to address them.
Most countries have regulations that beekeepers must follow to ensure the health of their bees. In the United States, for instance, beekeepers are required to register their hives with the State Department of Agriculture. In the UK, beekeepers are required to report any cases of foulbrood, a highly infectious bacterial disease that spreads through colonies, to the National Bee Unit. By adhering to these regulations and keeping the government informed, beekeepers can keep their hives disease-free and prevent the spread of any infections.
You can find the applicable rules and regulations for your province or state online.
One factor that may affect honey bee health is the stress caused by Beekeepers moving them across the country. The stress from transportation can weaken the bees' immune systems, making them more susceptible to infection and disease. When beekeepers move honey bees across the country to pollinate crops, they are unintentionally exposing them to other bee species and new pathogens. These changes in the environment can cause bees to develop new diseases and may lead to colony collapse.
To help combat these issues, beekeepers must implement some responsible beekeeping practices. One of the essential practices is inspecting each hive for signs of disease and ensuring that it is safe to move. Beekeepers should also provide clean and safe living conditions for bees in their hives, reducing the chance of disease transfer. Additionally, beekeepers should use preventative measures such as treatments and vaccinations to help keep their colonies healthy.
https://www.ars.usda.gov/oc/br/ccd/index/
https://agriculture.ny.gov/plant-industry/honey-bee-health
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