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- Title
EVALUATION OF COLONY LOSSES IN ISRAEL 2008-2011.
- Authors
Soroker, Victoria; Chejanovsky, Nor; Kamer, Joseph; Zeidman, Ilya; Kelogin, Aksana; Rene, Saadia; Rivkin, Hadassah; Litovsky, Anna; Avni, Dorit; Hezron, Amotz; Yakobson, Boris; Voet, Hillary; Slabezki, Yossi; Efrat, Haim
- Abstract
Since 2008 we implement two approaches to evaluate the local levels of the colony losses in order to characterize the potential causal factors that include: 1. A survey, among beekeepers and, 2. Regular monitoring of specific hives during the year. Detailed questionnaires were distributed among the beekeepers in 2008, 2009 and in 2010 and are planned for 2011. In 2010 two questionnaires were handed, one dedicated to evaluate winter losses using a level 1 questionnaire developed by COLOSS working group 1, and a detailed questionnaire to evaluate annual losses. In addition, hive monitoring was conducted in 2009 and 2010 and included about 110 hive seach. While, in 2010, theem phasis was on theim pact of Varroa infestation on the out break of diseases and colony collapse, in 2011 it is on the impact of Nosema evaluating 6 sites with 250 hives in total. Over the years, our survey data, represented 34-50% of total colonies but only 9-15% of the beekeepers and indicated that the over all level of colony losses was below 20%. It appears that the high levels of losses (above 40%) ocur among small beekeepers (with operation size below 100 hives) and are not associated with migration or pollination services. In the 2011 survey we plan to use improved questionnaires (for winter and annual loss evaluation) based on the conclusions of working group 1. Hive-monitoring in 2010 indicated that increase in Varroa levels was accompanied by higher virus incidence, in particular Deformed wing virus and Varroa destructor virus-1, followed by brood and adult disease and subsequent collapse of the hives. Another important factor observed was infection with Nosema that developed towards autumn. We hope that this year experiments will clarify the role of this pathogen in colony losses.
- Subjects
ISRAEL; COLONY collapse disorder of honeybees; BEEKEEPERS; BEEHIVES; POLLINATION by bees
- Publication
Mellifera, 2011, Vol 11, Issue 21/22, p36
- ISSN
1302-5821
- Publication type
Article