Page 24 - Vol.36-No.6 issue

BEES

HOW TO PREVENT COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER

You’ve probably heard about how important it is to save the bees. Like all pollinators, honey bees play a vital role in our
environment. They help flowers grow and crops flourish, which is why their health and well-being is so important. What ex-
actly are we supposed to save them from, though? Honey bees face a lot of dangers, including mites and parasites, pesticides
on crops, and diseases such as foulbrood or nosema. One such danger is a strange phenomenon known as Colony Collapse
Disorder, otherwise known as CCD. Scientists aren’t sure what causes CCD, which makes it difficult for beekeepers to prevent
or treat the problem. Fortunately, you don’t have to be a beekeeper to help protect your local honey bee population. Whether
you’re an expert or a new-bee, there are a few things you can do to keep your local honey bees safe and healthy. Here’s our
guide on how to prevent Colony Collapse Disorder in your local hives.
What Is Colony Collapse help scientists and beekeepers better
Disorder? understand and prevent Colony Col-
lapse Disorder. When you advocate for
these things in your local and national
While occurrences similar to CCD governments, you help push your com-
have occurred throughout beekeep- munity toward useful and productive
ing’s history, the disorder as we know it change.
came about in the winter of 2006-2007.
Beekeepers reported abnormally high Create a Safe Home for
losses of beehives to symptoms that Your Bees
didn’t match up with common honey
bee diseases or issues. Instead, bee-
keepers would find a majority of their If you keep your own honey bee
colony’s population had suddenly dis- hives, there are plenty of other ways
appeared, leaving behind honey re- you can help prevent Colony Collapse
serves, some brood, and occasionally and can easily spread from treated Disorder. Do your best to provide a sta-
the queen. Beekeepers would also find fields or through farm equipment that ble, stress-free home for your honey
very few dead honey bees around the has come into contact with treated bee colonies. This means making sure
hive, which means there was no indi- plants. This means that even if a farmer your hives have proper ventilation and
cator as to what might have caused the or gardener is careful when applying insulation, feeding your honey bees
disappearance. While the number of neonicotinoids or other chemical treat- when pollen and nectar are scarce, and
CCD cases has declined over the last ments, they can still cause harm to local preventing other common diseases.
few years, scientists have yet to pin- honey bees. Instead, try to use natural, Perform regular inspections so you can
point what causes this disorder. bee-friendly pest control solutions and catch varroa mite infestations or other
steer away from chemicals in your field complications early. This will help you
How to Prevent Colony or garden. correct the problem, preventing it from
Collapse Disorder Start a Bee-Friendly Garden weakening your hive and making them
susceptible to other diseases. When
you use beekeeping best practices to
Even without a clear explanation of care for your hives, you create strong,
A strong, healthy hive is better
the factors behind CCD, there are a few equipped to fight off diseases, infesta- stable colonies that have a better
prevailing theories as to what might be tions, and other issues that might cause chance of withstanding CCD and other
causing these colonies to die out. This Colony Collapse Disorder. One way to complications.
means that there are several ways to sustain a strong and healthy honey bee
help prevent Colony Collapse Disor- population is to provide them with an Keep Equipment Clean
der. Some of the best ways to protect a abundance of safe, natural resources.
honey bee colony from CCD is to keep You can create a bee-friendly garden Another way for beekeepers to pro-
a healthy hive, provide a stable natural or sanctuary in your own backyard to tect their hives from Colony Collapse
environment, and advocate for further lend a hand to any visiting honey bees. Disorder is to take care of their equip-
honey bee research and protections. Plant flowers that are rich in pollen and ment. You should always sanitize hive
Whether you’re a beekeeper yourself nectar. Try to grow a variety of plants tools, protective gear, and other bee-
or simply a concerned citizen, here are that will bloom during different parts keeping equipment in between hive in-
a few ways to help prevent CCD in your of the season, so honey bees have a spections, especially when symptoms
local bee colonies. of CCD and other diseases show up in
place to forage throughout all of spring
Avoid Using Pesticides and summer. You can also set up a shal- your area. You should also replace old
low water dish for passing honey bees comb with a new foundation every cou-
to visit. ple of years. This will help prevent any
Many bee experts theorize that pes- residual chemicals or other contami-
ticides and other chemicals play a role Bee Political nants from building up in the wax and
in Colony Collapse Disorder. When harming your colony.
farmers and gardeners use chemical No one can save the honey bees by
treatments on their plants, those chem- themselves. As with any important is- While the true source of Colony
icals can harm the honey bees that sue, you can gain a lot of progress by Collapse Disorder remains a mystery,
land on said plants in search of pollen getting your government involved. these tips and techniques are still a
and nectar. A category of insecticides Call or write to your government of- priority for keeping honey bee pop-
known as neonicotinoids is particu- ficials and petition for the banning of ulations healthy and thriving. Here at
larly dangerous to honey bees. Neon- neonicotinoids and other harmful pes- Kelley Beekeeping, we provide the
icotinoids treat the seeds themselves, ticides. You can also seek out organiza- tools and resources you need to keep
which means they contaminate the en- tions that are fighting for change within a safe, healthy colony. No matter what
tire plant, from the roots in the ground your own community. More funding, re- issues arise with your hives, we’re here
to the nectar within its flowers. These search, and protective regulations can to help you handle it.
insecticides are also hard to contain Circle 28 on enquiry card
22 Vol. 36 No. 6