Is CCD in Canada?

> The symptoms by which CCD is being characterized in the U.S. have not been routinely diagnosed by professional apiculturists in Canada. Though Canadian bees do not seem to be experiencing classic CCD-like symptoms, it is important to emphasize than higher levels of wintering and spring mortality in Canada may be related to the same casual factors as CCD losses in the U.S. Because longer winter conditions preclude the active brooding and flying of colonies found in early-season pollination areas of the U.S., colonies in Canada may not exhibit similar colony-level symptoms. Instead, it is conceivable that Canadian producers may simply see these effects as higher numbers of dead colonies following winter or those described as dwindling during early spring.

> Most scientists in the U.S. and Canada would agree that what is being described as CCD in the U.S. and the high winter losses seen in Canada are likely being caused by several common interacting stress factors acting on honey bee colonies.

Some interesting statistics from Canadian beekeepers:

Did you treat for Varroa in the fall?
Yes 93.6%
No 6.4%

If 'Yes', which product did you use:
Apistan 9.4%
CheckMite+ 3.3%
Apivar 20.2%
Formic Acid 31.7%
Oxalic Acid 29.1%
MiteAwayII 6.3%

Did you monitor for Nosema disease?
Yes 21.3%
No 78.7%

If 'Yes', what method of monitoring did you use?
Spore Count 75.9%
Gut Colour Diagnostic 13.8%
Other 10.3%

Did you treat for Nosema disease in the fall?
Yes 47.9%
No 52.1%

CAPA Statement on Honey Bees Losses in Canada (2010)

> Over the winter of 2009-10, losses in Canadian beekeeping were twenty-one percent of the number of colonies that were wintered. Though this represents 1.4x the long-term winter loss rate for Canada, this is a substantial improvement over the previous three-year period during which losses averaged 32.6%.

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