========================================= B-MAIL A monthly newsletter on issues and events in the bee world, provided by IBRA, the world information service for bee science and beekeeping. **February 1995** ========================================= CONTROLLING BEE MOVEMENTS TO LIMIT BEE DISEASES AND PESTS How useful are quarantines for bees? Do restrictions on bee movements help or hinder beekeeping industries coming to grips with the consequences of newly introduced parasites and diseases? This issue is in the news again in the UK as the 'line' for restricting hive movements to prevent the spread of varroa has been moved. What is called the 'autumn varroa search' has revealed the presence of the mite north and west of the 'statutory infected area' (SIA), an area out of which colony movements aren't permitted. Accordingly the boundaries of the SIA were moved from 1 January this year, to include much of the English midlands and Yorkshire where it is obvious varroa has been established for several years. However, the SIA has not been expanded to include Wales where a number of occurrences have been reported, meaning beekeepers in Wales are free to move their colonies to other 'non-infected' areas. Reactions to this move are mixed, with Scottish beekeepers keen to see a line giving them protection for as long as is feasible (though they are honest enough to say that any protection exists 'theoretically and legally, if not in reality': the line and Britain's 'borders' are not policed), and commercial bee farmers looking for a legislative response that is as pragmatic as possible. Events in the industry and in government control following the discovery of varroa in the UK in 1992 are reviewed well in Medwin Bew's chapter 'UK beekeeping in the age of varroa', in the book 'Living with varroa' (see below for details). The European experience is also salutary, and for a number of countries is discussed in the book 'New perspectives on varroa' (details, again, given later). Remember that in the 1960s and 1970s when some of these places were grappling with the mite there was nothing off the shelf that could be used for treatment. The response was often severe, with mass destruction of colonies. It is refreshing to see the honesty of some of the central and eastern Europeans as they look back at their actions. "I want to draw your attention to our first error", reports Vladimir Vesely in considering 15 years of organized varroa control in the Czech Republic, commenting later "and now I have to draw your attention to another mistake". Those early days were tough, and we can learn a lot from them about the effects of different approaches to bee disease control. In the same book I take a look at the effects of the impact of varroa infestation on beekeeping, and the benefits and disadvantages of movement controls. Certainly I am critical of the mass destruction of colonies that was often the flip side of these controls; wiping out colonies with varroa (or tracheal mite in the US) when the parasite was known to be endemic in the country concerned. In the October issue of 'Bee Culture', Mark Winston discusses import controls in his excellent monthly column. Looking particularly at the closure of the US-Canadian border to bee movements, he says that the moves taken were appropriate and have been successful, but that the action has been misunderstood by many in the US industry. First of all, he says, quarantines are designed to protect the majority interest (in a country) from the economic impact of pests and diseases, but not necessarily to keep them out for ever. Often, and in this case according to Winston, the aim is to delay the introduction and subsequent spread of a species for as long as possible "or at least as long as the quarantine is economically preferable to the damage the pest may cause". The economic advantage came from two factors: delaying the widespread occurrence of varroa and tracheal mite in Canada until effective and efficient means of control were available (a bureaucratic problem to do with licensing laws rather than a technical one), and to give beekeepers hurt by low honey prices as long as possible before the added expense of chemical treatment became necessary. The other point Mark makes is that the embargo on imports was initiated and sustained with broad support from Canadian beekeepers, and wasn't a result of regulators looking for a job or beekeepers wanting to protect a market. However, the article is honest enough to admit that there were benefits to the domestic market, at least for producers of queens, nucs and packages; and that US producers of these were hurt. I guess the thing with import bans and many other types of bee disease control and prevention measures, is that we usually don't know whether they're the right choice until it's too late (if we ever do find out). The beekeeping industry and government officials have to make the best judgement they can, but some principles are clear: Any quarantine must be scientifically justifiable: it has a good chance of working on technical grounds. And of course we must be clear about what 'working' means; is the programme designed to eradicate, contain or delay the pest? It must have economic advantages to the industry: with the net costs of the quarantine less than the costs of other courses of action. In an ideal world we should consider the global costs, not just the local costs; though politicians (and beekeeping association officers) are elected locally rather than globally. The actions taken must have the broad support of the industry they're designed to serve. We should also add that the quarantine, and reasons for its existence, must be reviewed constantly as circumstances change. PUBLICATIONS MENTIONED Living with varroa. IBRA, 58 pp, 1993. Price GBP15 in the UK; GBP16/USD25 worldwide including post and packing. Available from IBRA: [log in to unmask] New perspectives on varroa. IBRA, 164 pp, 1994. Same prices and availability. Bee culture. US monthly magazine, USD 16.50 in the USA, USD 24 overseas per year. Available from [log in to unmask] MEETINGS COMING UP SOON.... TROPICAL BEES AND THE ENVIRONMENT Don't forget the meeting on 'Tropical bees and the environment', 13-15 March 1995. Pre-conference expedition 11 March 1995. Contact Beenet Asia Secretariat, Plant Protection Department, Universiti Pertanian Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor DE, Malaysia. Fax (+60) 3-948- 3745 or 948-2507. Further information from Dr Mardan at this address, or makhdzir%upmvmesa.ccrisc.upm.my. SCIENTIFIC APICULTURE CONFERENCE The 32nd scientific apiculture conference is being held in Pulawy, Poland, from 14-15 March 1995. The organizers are the bee division at the Pulawy research institute and the Scientific Apiculture Society, and can be contacted at the Research Institute of Pomology and Floriculture, Bee Division, ul Kazimierska 2, PL-24 100 Pulawy, Poland. Fax (+48) 831- 4209. MEETINGS IN THE NOT-TOO-DISTANT FUTURE.... EAS 95, THE YEAR OF THE HIVE Every year the Eastern Apiculture Society meets in the US or Canada, and their events are well worth attending. Primarily for keen hobbyists, there's something for everyone; with short courses, workshops, a conference with a variety of speakers, competitions and practical sessions. This year EAS will be different, with 10-15 sites around the conference venue containing practical, hands-on displays of bees and hives from the US and other countries. EAS 95, Wooster, Ohio, USA, 31 July to 4 August. Info from Kim Flottum, 623 W Liberty Street, Medina, OH 44256, USA. Fax (+1) 216-725-5624; phone 216-725-6677. AND SOME FOR ADVANCE PLANNING.... IBRA DAY 1996 Next year IBRA is holding its annual day as part of the popular weekend conference organized by the Devon Beekeepers' Associaton, at Seale- Hayne from 12 to 14 July. Some of the sessions have speaking slots still available and, to be honest, we're looking to get some international speakers on the cheap. The Devon BKA budget won't stretch to jetting people in from around the globe, but if anyone is going to be in the country and would like to sing for their supper, please feel free to put your name and subject forward to the programme committee for consideration. Contact us at IBRA. Travel expenses within the UK, and accommodation, can be covered. We're mean, but not that mean. 6TH IBRA CONFERENCE ON TROPICAL BEES: MANAGEMENT AND DIVERSITY San Jose, Costa Rica, 12-17 August 1996. Look for the first announcement in next month's B.mail. 9TH INTERNATIONAL PALYNOLOGIC CONGRESS Houston, Texas, USA, 22-29 June 1996. Details from [log in to unmask] Andrew Matheson Director Return address: E.mail: [log in to unmask] Fax: (+44) 1222-665522 Telephone: (+44) 1222-372409 Snailmail: 18 North Road, Cardiff CF1 3DY, UK