Things are looking pretty good for Maine bees so far this year, according to state apiarist Jennifer Lund. Keeping them that way takes vigilance from individual beekeepers.
Honeybees, key pollinators in the food system, have been dying from diseases, pests and now extreme climate conditions. Home beekeepers can help preserve their hives with careful monitoring throughout the season.
About 1,300 hives are registered in Maine, and Lund estimates another 200-300 are unregistered. From 40 to 60 new beekeepers join the field each year.
Many of their bees will face varroa mites, parasitic mites that carry deadly viruses. Numbers are low so far this year, but will probably increase as the season progresses and peak in August as bee populations swell, Lund said.
The mites and their viruses are the largest killers of honeybees in Maine and nationally. The state has focused education efforts on the mites over the past five years and is now seeing a downward trend in lost hives, though numbers still fluctuate in a loss range of 30-40 percent each year.
A strong hive — healthy enough to survive the winter — may end up with more mite problems, because the mites die when bees do. If the bees don’t die, mites multiply, according to Lund.
“We find that those monitoring and treating, when they need to, have the lowest losses,” she said. “We know it works.”
She recommends checking hives every three to four weeks with an alcohol wash test. It will kill about 300 bees, but it’s either 300 now or 30,000 later, Lund said. The bees are placed in a jar, covered with alcohol and swirled for one minute to dislodge any mites on them, then poured over mesh to separate the bees from the mites.
The mites can be managed with commercial products or oxalic acid.
Maine bees also face challenges from two bacterial diseases. Peter Cowin, a beekeeper and educator in Hampden, said he sees American Foulbrood and European Foulbrood most often after varroa mites.
American Foulbrood, a contagious and deadly bacterial disease, was common in the 1970s. It’s rare now but the spores can stay active for up to 80 years. To avoid it, have an inspection from the state apiarist before using any pre-owned equipment or reusing old equipment of your own.
Lund also recommends against reusing old comb.
Cases are rare in Maine at three or fewer each year, and typically are just identified in equipment without affecting any hives. If it is confirmed, state law requires the hive be destroyed, equipment burned and the ashes buried.
European Foulbrood, another bacterial bee disease that is much more common, is often seen in hives facing food shortages or other stressors. Signs include curled, deflated or melting yellow or brown larvae, a bad smell or a spotty brooding pattern.
It is easier to treat, and not always fatal. Provide more food, like honey or sugar candy, and keep things clean and it’ll likely clear up on its own. As a last resort, a veterinarian can prescribe antibiotics.
If you lose bees and need to buy more for your hive, they are legally required to be inspected and have a health certificate. By the time bees arrive in Maine from other states, they have probably been inspected two or three times, Lund said.
Bees are available from in-state hives as well. Sellers are listed on the Maine State Beekeepers Association website.
