Is it myth or fact "the truth or spin regarding colony losses in certain
locations in the US"?
I believe it is a fact. Beekeepers are loosing bees for mites more than
they would have expected. This fact could be overplayed by reporters, but
the story is true.  This year beekeepers have reported more than usual
colony kill. Mite resistance to Apistan " Maverick", Coumaphos "Coral",
and Amitraz "Amitraz" have been reported. Effects on Almond pollination
has also been reported.  Statistics supports the colony decline from 4.6
Mil in early 1980's to 2.8 Mil in 2004 in the USA. You can put several
reasons to explain why and how, but all will come to the same conclusion
"a dead colony is dead!!!!!!".

In fact if you follow the literature, Coumaphos resistant mites were found
in Maine and Florida in fall 2001, then in NJ in spring 2002. What
happened this spring (2005) is expected. These early reports  about
resistance have been largely ignored or not taken seriously. Resistance
have continued to spread around because of the continuation of the
reliance on the same miticides and the interstate movement of bees.

It seems clear that we are witnessing a failing system for pest control. A
similar situation occurred in the 1960's and 1970's to farmers and the
environment.  (Read Silent Spring by Rachel Carson). This pattern for crop
protection is well known. In the case of honey bees, after exploitation
phase of using what ever under the sun to save the bees, the crisis phase
follows. More applications needed for effective control.   Mites become
tolerant to pesticides. Another pesticide is needed. Then, the system move
into the next phase "Disaster phase".  In the disaster phase the cost of
production increases due to replacing dead colonies and residues can be
found everywhere. Welcome to the disaster phase  "The collapse of the
control system". Currently, we are experiencing this phase.

Where to go? It is interesting to see beekeepers' response. They have
taken the issue of mite control in their hand. It seems that it is a
personal fight between beekeepers vs mites. It is understandable.  We hear
that beekeepers have started to resort to the use of formic acid, oxalic
acid, thymol and Apilife Var. Now, they are accepting control measures
that are less optimal in comparison to hard core chemicals. This change of
heart is a remarkable change in the beekeeping management system. This is
the new phase "The integrated control phase". Currently, beekeepers are
focusing again on one aspect of IPM  that is the use of soft chemicals to
save the bees. Unless we learn from the mistakes of others and adopt sound
pest management concepts, the control system will almost certainly fail.
Pesticides are needed and consideration of use of alternatives is as
important for bee protection. What do beekeepers need to do? They need to
focus on a systems approach and use multitactics to control pests.

Every spring I look forward to hear more of the same news. What a way to
start the spring season!


medhat



Medhat Nasr, Ph. D.
Provincial Apiculturist
Crop Diversification Centre North

17507 Fort Road
Edmonton, AB, Canada T5Y 6H3
Tel: (780) 415-2314    Fax: (780) 422-6096
Mailto:[log in to unmask]

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