nov-dec-2020

From here, the next task was to tease apart the relative importance of all 82 management practices on colony loss rate reduction. Data were grouped by operation size (“small scale” operations owning less than 50 colonies versus “large scale” operations owning more than 50 colonies) and then further divided by geography, with “small scale” operations divided into north or south geographic locations and “large scale” operations divided based on whether they operated in a single state (likely stationary) or multiple states (likely migratory). What Management Matters Most Overall, there were three management categories where changes to these behaviors had the greatest impact on colony survival rate across all operation types: comb management, Varroa management (which was captured in multiple management criteria) and source of new colonies. This is particularly relevant for small-scale beekeepers, who use this method more often than large-scale operations, and because they often establish these new colonies on bare foundation, which requires additional time and resources for bees to draw new comb. Large-scale beekeepers had higher management index scores than small-scale beekeepers because their management practices more closely aligned with expert recommendations. There was also greater variation between large-scale operations in terms of the relative importance of management practice modifications on loss rates compared to small-scale operations. This highlights the importance for large-scale beekeeping operations to work with specialist consultants, such as BIP’s Field Health Specialists, to develop an individualized management plan tailored to the operation’s unique needs. Dr. Steinhauer and her colleagues have successfully developed a method for analyzing comprehensive management data and this is the first study to show an association between overall operational management practices and colony mortality risk. Management practices are not the only factors affecting honey bee colony losses, but unlike the weather, improving management practices is something that beekeepers can control, and this project helps identify where beekeepers can best direct their efforts. Ben Sallmann, BIP Field Specialist sampling honey bee colonies in Idaho (left) and Nelson Williams, BIP Field Specialists sampling honey bee colonies in North Dakota (right). Photo Credit: Anne Marie Fauvel Photos of honey combs, old comb on the left and newer comb on the right. Photo credit: The Bee Informed Partnership Jeri Parrent, The Bee Informed Partnership Grants Coordinator Replacement of old comb and implementation of a Varroa management plan increased colony survival rates, while new colonies started using packages was correlated with higher loss rates compared to those created by splitting existing colonies. 4 1 N O V E M B E R – D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 0