Central Beekeepers Alliance

The beekeepers of New Brunswick have suffered the worse losses of any province in Canada, this past winter. We had suspected this — but now the numbers are in to prove it.

Our Provincial Apiarist reports that the average 2006-2007 winter losses across the province are 62 percent (80% losses of colonies overwintered outdoors; 30% losses of colonies overwintered indoors).

The number of colonies dead in 2006-2007 is 5,230 — not 5,100 as given in the recent Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists (CAPA) Statement on Colony Collapse Disorder. This is by far the highest percentage loss of any province in Canada.

The national average, normally more like 15% over the long term, was almost twice that level in 2006-2007 with 29% loss of overwintering colonies, according to the CAPA report:

Average wintering losses in certain areas such as the Province of New Brunswick (62%) (representing only 3% of the country’s colonies) and the Niagra region of Ontario (60-70%) were very high in 2006-07.

Though high losses for individual producers may occur in any given year, high regional losses are of much greater concern. Across the country any unusually high losses have been investigated by provincial apicultural specialists. Initial indications suggest that high wintering losses may be attributed to some identifiable causes:

1. Ineffective control for the parasitic mite Varroa destructor. In many regions, this mite has now developed multiple pesticide resistance. This is making it increasingly complex for producers to monitor and treat these pest populations effectively.

2. Unusual fall and winter weather. Some regions of the country experienced warm fall and winter weather. These conditions contributed to build-up of higher than normal parasitic mite loads. In some areas, prolonged nectar availability until late into the fall also delayed the window in which mite controls could be applied. In other regions, inadequate nectar flows during fall months prevented sufficient bee population build-up prior to winter. The deviations in normal seasonality may also have affected the natural production of “winter bees” physiologically adapted to survive winter conditions.

3. A late wet spring in most areas prolonging winter conditions for bees and their access to suitable spring forage.

The full Statement on Colony Collapse Disorder is available at www.capabees.ca.

The Canadian Honey Council, with the cooperation of CAPA, will hold a national meeting of invited industry stakeholders on June 18-19 in Winnipeg to discuss strategies for maintaining the long-term viability of Canada’s honey bees.