Friday, March 29, 2024

Winter colony loss rates climb

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Beehive losses over winter have continued to show an insidious lift in numbers as the industry seeks out more answers on what is afflicting queen bee populations.
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Latest survey data has found winter colony loss rates in New Zealand have lifted 10% on last year to afflict 11% of hives, in a continuing upward trend. The losses have crept upwards over the past few years with 2015 losses reported at 8%.

But Apiculture New Zealand Science and Research Focus Group chair Barry Foster says the rate remains comfortably below that of countries like the United States with a winter loss rate of 22%, and an international average loss rate across participating countries of 17%.

“It is hard to draw a real conclusion as to what the exact cause is, but the hard data is that it is largely due to problems with queen bees, along with varroa mite,” Foster said,

The risk of varroa mites’ effects are likely to only increase as resistance to synthetic controls develops. But Foster says NZ beekeepers have done a good job adapting early to organic controls available.

The colony loss survey produced by Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research is part of an international monitoring effort involving over 35 countries.

Winter colony losses have plagued beekeepers in Europe and the United States in recent years.

Between April 2019 and April 2020 US beekeepers lost a whopping 44% of their managed honey hives. This year they reported lower winter losses, but abnormally high summer losses.

Foster says the issue of queen bee problems is a complex one requiring more research to better understand it both here and internationally.

Wasps have also played a part in damaging hive performance. 

Common and German wasps will kill bees and larvae for protein, and rob hives of honey.

Estimates are that wasps are costing NZ beekeepers about $8 million a year. 

Steps to control wasps can include reducing the size of hive entrances to ensure bees have a smaller area to defend against wasp intrusion, but some beekeepers have reported hive losses as high as 10% due to wasps.

The survey results also revealed beekeepers were struggling making money in the current market conditions.

ApiNZ chief executive Karin Kos says the findings supported anecdotal reports from beekeepers.

“It is a difficult time to be a commercial beekeeper, especially for those not involved in mānuka production,” Kos said.

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