News and Specials

What is wrong with the bees?

2/6/2009

The bees were extraordinarily busy this summer! The honey yield was huge. A dry summer aided in producing a bumper crop. Emphasis was placed on keeping the bees healthy this year with early feeding of nutritious bee food and control of the mite population.

Honey bees have been having a hard time surviving all across the United States since mites were first introduced in the 1980’s. The higher the level of mite infestation the less resistant the bees are to endemic (normally tolerated) viral and bacterial diseases. What we are experiencing here in Minnesota is likely a version of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). CCD seems to be in part due to the spread of endemic viruses in immune suppressed (mite infested) bees.

The best way to raise healthy bees is to breed the queens right here in Minnesota. That way they are genetically programmed to survive local conditions. Unfortunately, this has not occurred due to low demand and difficulty raising queens in areas with a short summer. Although this year’s queens were from California their kids were loyal citizens of Minnesota!

• What is wrong with the bees?