The Buzz Newsletter

August 2007

 

 

Page 9

FAQ’s
Colony Collapse Disorder

( continued from page 8 )

What are the early signs of CCD? In cases where the colony appears to be actively collapsing:
• There is an insufficient workforce to maintain the brood that is present.
• The workforce seems to be made up of young adult bees.
• The queen is present, appears healthy and is usually still laying eggs.
• The cluster is reluctant to consume feed provided by the beekeeper, such as sugar syrup and protein supplement.
• Foraging populations are greatly reduced/non-existent.

What should a beekeeper do if he or she has CCD? See the CCD information on recommendation (separate document).

What can I do to reduce the likelihood of getting CCD?
• Keep colonies strong by practicing best management practices.
• Don’t stack dead or weak colonies on strong colonies.
Feed colonies fumigillin in the spring.

Is it safe to reuse the equipment from colonies that have been lost during the winter? If it can be determined that bees starved or died due to other reasons associated with typical winter loss, it does appear safe to reuse equipment, including honey stores and pollen, but caution is advised and equipment probably needs to be aired thoroughly. Also you should seriously consider replacing old comb with new foundation on a regular basis. However if your colonies died from what appears to be CCD (see description above), reusing equipment is not advised since we do not yet know the cause of this condition. Members of the CCD working group have initiated experiments that will look at various comb sterilization techniques for suggestions in the future.

Who is working on this problem? A group of researchers, apiculture extension specialists and government officials from a number of different institutions across the country have come together to work on this problem and share information with beekeeper and the public. This group is called the CCD Working Group. For a complete list of the institutions and individuals involved please visit the CCD page on the Website: MAAREC.org.

What has been eliminated as a potential cause of CCD? These results are based on in-depth interviews with beekeepers impacted by CCD and surveys of beekeepers responding to our request for information. While these items have been removed from our list of “causes” they may increase the risk of developing CCD. For instance, wearing wet clothes will not give you a cold, but it does increase your chances of catching a cold.
Feeding: The practice of feeding was common to most of the beekeepers interviewed and surveyed who experienced CCD. Some feed HFCS, others sucrose however, some did not feed. Most beekeepers interviewed did not feed protein but some used pre-made protein supplement.
Chemical use: While most used antibiotics, the type, frequency of application, and method varied. Most beekeepers had applied a miticide treatment during 2006. The products used and method of application varied.
Use of bees: Some beekeepers reported that their bees were used primarily for the production of honey, while others received most of their income from pollination contracts. Some produced honey and used their colonies for pollination.
Queen Source: All beekeepers purchased at least some queens throughout the year. Some beekeeper reared the majority of their own cells, but most bought either mated queens or queen cells. Queens were bought from at least 5 different states (Florida, California, Texas, Georgia, Hawaii) and 2 foreign countries (Canada and Australia).

What potential causes of CCD is the Working Group investigating? The current research priorities under investigation by various members of the CCD working group, as well as other cooperators include, but is not limited to:
• Chemical residue/contamination in the wax, food stores and bees
• Known and unknown pathogens in the bees and brood
• Parasite load in the bees and brood
• Nutritional fitness of the adult bees
• Level of stress in adult bees as indicated by stress induced proteins
Lack of genetic diversity and lineage of bees
For a more complete description of the research priorities, please visit CCD page found on the MAAREC.org website.

What are examples of topics that the CCD working group is not currently investigating? GMO crops: Some GMO crops, specifically Bt Corn have been suggested as a potential cause of CCD. While this possibility has not been ruled out, CCD symptoms do not fit what would be expected in Bt affected organisms. For this reason GMO crops are not a “top” priority at the moment.
Radiation transmitted by cell towers: The distribution of both affected and non-affected CCD apiaries does not make this a likely cause. Also cell phone service is not available in some areas where affected commercial apiaries are located in the west. For this reason, it is currently not a top priority.

What can beekeepers/beekeeper groups do to help with discovering the cause of CCD?
• Please fill out an online survey at: www.beesurvey.com_
Consider giving to one of the foundations collecting monies to help fund research in these activities.