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Best Management Practices for Pollen Substitute Application for
Pollination Colonies
Les Eccles
OBA Tech-Transfer Program
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Importance of Pollination to Ontario Beekeeping
Pollination in Eastern Can 14700 Colonies in 2011
17% increase from 2010
26000 Colonies in 2012 77% increase from 2011
24400 Colonies in 2013 New Brunswick
12-13 million pounds $7.2-7.8 million
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Added Opportunities = Added Challenge
Nutrient Deficiencies
Transportation
Pest and Disease
Population maintenance
Overwintering
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Causes of Protein Deficiency
Low or poor quality pollen
Increased activity over pollen requirements i.e. high nectar flow with poor pollen
Pollen too far away
Varroa effects protein storage Poor overwintering
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Effects of Protein Deficiency
Halt to brood rearing Consume eggs and larva Premature capping of pupa
Increased risk of EFB Lower or poor quality supercedure Decreased foraging behaviour Poor overwintering
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2012 Nutritional Study
Apply 3 quantities of pollen (Global Patties) 2 lbs. low 3 lbs. mid 5 lbs. high Study optimal amount
Upon return from pollination Colony Strength (Bees and brood) Disease profile Food stores (honey and pollen)
Cost Analysis
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Effect of Feeding on Bee Population July 2012
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Cell M
ean
Nill Two Three FiveCell
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Effect of feeding/Pollination on Varroa Infestation
0
.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
Cell M
ean
Fed Not FedCell
Interaction Bar Plot for % Varroa Su Effect: Fed Error Bars: 1 Standard Error(s)
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Effect of Feeding/Pollination on Nosema
0
200000
400000
600000
800000
1000000
1200000
1400000
Cell M
ean
Fed Not FedCell
8 cases were omitted due to missing values.
Interaction Bar Plot for Spores/bee Su Effect: Fed Split By: NosemaD Cell: Positive Error Bars: 1 Standard Error(s)
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Pollen Substitute Results
No difference 2, 3 and 5 lbs Brood Frames of Bees Food Stores
Colony Health Increase EFB Increase Nosema compared to non pollination Decreased Varroa compared to non pollination Missing eggs and larva
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What is going on??
Quantity of Pollen?
Quality of Pollen?
Disease build up in Comb?
Management of EFB
Recovery conditions before overwintering
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2013 Pollen Substitute Types
Bee Pro 15% $1.20
Global Patties 15% $1.20
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Home Made Substitute
Parts Quantity Ingredient Specs Price
8 100 lbs. Granulated Sugar $38.00
2 25 lbs. Brewers Yeast 48% protein $39.25
1 12 lbs. Dried Whole Egg 47-48% protein $26.40
5 litres Water
3 cups Veg Oil $01.75
3 cups Lemon Juice $01.25
Total 150 lbs. 11.2% $106.65
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2013 Project Set up and Evaluation
Application rate for each substitute type Control (no substitute) 3 lbs. 5 lbs.
Assessment 180 colonies Frame by frame
Honey, pollen, brood, bees Disease presence (chalkbrood, sacbrood etc)
Weight (food stores Varroa, nosema and tracheal mites
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00.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
C HM BP GL
Effect of substitute type on frames of bees after pollination
b
a
b
b
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00.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
HM BP GL
3lbs
5lbs
Effect of substitute amountson frames of bees
a
bb
b
ba
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00.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
0.35
0.4
0.45
0.5
C HM BP GL
Effect of substitute type on brood after pollination
ab
a
bb
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Effect of substitute application rate on stored Pollen
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
1.6
HM BP GL
3 lbs
5 lbs
aa
b
a
a
a
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01
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
C HM BP GL
Effect of Substitute type on Population Build up for Winter
aab bc c
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Home Made Substitute $0.71/lb
Parts Quantity Ingredient Specs Price
8 100 lbs. Granulated Sugar $38.00
2 25 lbs. Brewers Yeast 48% protein $39.25
1 12 lbs. Dried Whole Egg 47-48% protein $26.40
5 litres Water
3 cups Veg Oil $01.75
3 cups Lemon Juice $01.25
Total 150 lbs. 11.2% $106.65
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Benefits of Home Made Substitute
Higher immediate consumption
Improved brood and bee populations after pollination
Improved build up to winter time
Cost approx. $2.10 per colony compare to approx. $3.60 per colony (BP and GL)
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Pollination vs. Non-pollination
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500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
3,000,000
Spring Summer Fall
Average Nosema spores per bee
Pollination colonies
Non-pollination colonies
0.00
2.00
4.00
6.00
8.00
10.00
12.00
14.00
16.00
18.00
Spring Summer Fall
Average Varroa per 100 Bees
Nosema control may be an especially big concern for beekeepers who provide pollination services
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02
4
6
8
10
12
14
spring summer* fall*
Var
roa
mit
es/1
00 b
ees
2012 Varroa levels for 2013 live vs. dead colonies
live
dead
Virulence Winter mortality
A much stronger relationship exists between Varroa levels and winter mortality
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IPM for Pollination Service
Varroa Decreased reproduction rates in pollination Resulting in decreased winter mortality
Will this change if improved management increases brood production?
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Percentage of bees positive for Nosema infection by season in 2012 and 2013 in Southern Ontario.
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Sp12 Su12 Fa12 Sp13
Seasonality proportion of infected bees
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Frames of Bees
Frames of Brood
Frames of Honey
Low Nosema 10.11 4.38 7.84High Nosema 8.13 3.16 4.84Difference 1.98 1.22 3.00Value/frame $ 12.00 $ 18.00 $ 8.00 Lost value $ 23.72 $ 21.95 $ 23.97
Total $ 69.65
Virulence Economic cost
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Current Control
0
500000
1000000
1500000
2000000
2500000
spring* summer* fall
Nos
ema
spor
es/b
ee
Effect of spring Fumagillin treatment on Nosema levels in 2012
pollination colonies
not treated
treated
0
200000
400000
600000
800000
1000000
1200000
1400000
1600000
1800000
spring* summer fall
Nos
ema
spor
es/b
ee
Effect of spring fumagillin treatment on Nosema levels in 2013 pollination
colonies
not treated
treated
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IPM for Pollination Service
Nosema increased concern for pollination colonies
Significant economic impact
Treatments and application methods need to be improved
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Best Management For Pollination
Pollen substitutes should be tested in field just like pest control produces
Other stresses could greatly improve colony conditions Transportation Management will in pollination
Nosema requires improved management
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Acknowledgements
Dr Ernesto Guzmans lab:
Dr. Guzman, Paul Kelly, Mollah Md. Hamiduzzaman, Hailey Ashbee, Berna Emsen, Jessica Gu, Dan Borges, Esther Uribe
Tech Transfer Program:
Les Eccles, Devan Rawn, Melanie Kempers, Raquel Mijares,
Natalie Talbot, Sarah DAndrea, Kinnison Ma, Daniel Thurston
2012 Nutritional StudyHome Made SubstituteSlide Number 142013 Project Set up and EvaluationSlide Number 19Slide Number 20Effect of substitute application rate on stored PollenSlide Number 22Home Made Substitute $0.71/lbPollination vs. Non-pollinationCurrent Control
