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QUARANTINE AREA IN THE PEACE RIVER REGION ESTABLISHED FOR SMALL HIVE BEETLE

Posted: July 20th, 2017, 2:47 pm
by Allen Dick
QUARANTINE AREA IN THE PEACE RIVER REGION ESTABLISHED FOR SMALL
HIVE BEETLE FOUND IN HONEY BEE COLONIES

Medhat Nasr, PhD.
Provincial Apiculturist
Crop Diversification Centre North
17507 Fort Rd, NW
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5Y 6H3
Office Phone: 780-415-2314, Cell Phone: 780-554-1566
email: medhat.nasr@gov.ab.ca.

On July 19, 2017, Alberta has established a quarantine area in the Peace River region where small hive
beetle was detected in a beekeeping operation during an inspection. The pest has been linked to honey
colonies that were imported from Ontario without the required permit.

The quarantined area in northern Alberta includes northern Big Lakes County, the southern area of
Northern Sunrise County, and the eastern parts of the Municipal District of Smoky River and the
Municipal District of Greenview. For details, please check Appendix 1 and 2.

This quarantine has been put in place as a proactive measure to help prevent the spread of the beetle
while an Agriculture and Forestry inspection team investigates to determine the level of infestation
and actions are taken to deal with the detected pests including using traps to remove beetle from
affected hives.

A total of 15 beekeeping operations within the 15 km flight radius of this pest are located within the
quarantined area. While these beekeepers will not be able to move or sell honey bee colonies, bee
nuclei and package bees out of the quarantine area for the duration of the quarantine, they can continue
with their day-to-day operations and can continue sell honey as usual. Any bee colonies moved into
the quarantine area during this period will be subject to the same restrictions

The quarantine will initially be in place for 45 days, and could be lifted if two consecutive inspections
of bees in the quarantine area show that hives are free of small hive beetle. The quarantine period
could also be extended if necessary.

The small hive beetle is a predator and scavenger of honey bees and their colonies. In significant
quantities, the beetle can cause problems in bee colonies and honey extraction by damaging combs and
wax capping, which can spoil honey. The beetle can spread through the movement of honey bee
colonies and equipment.

As an emerging pest, the small hive beetle is an immediately notifiable pest under the Federal Animal
Health Act, and as a listed pest under the Alberta Bee Act and Regulations. To date, the beetle has not
been found in Alberta since 2006 when an accidental introduction from imported package bees from
Australia was reported. Agriculture and Forestry was able to eradicate it by the following spring.

Agriculture and Forestry staff will continue to work with affected beekeepers, the beekeeping industry
and other stakeholders to manage this pest. The current risk remains low for most Alberta beekeepers
if they are following the provincial regulations and best management practices.

This incident is a good reminder for all beekeepers to be vigilant to prevent the establishment and
spread of this pest in Alberta. Best management practices include:
 Importing or moving bees through the proper channels and with appropriate health
certification and permits from the Provincial Apiculturist.
 Understanding details of the small hive beetle’s lifecycle and recognizing larvae and adult
beetles.
 Being vigilant and looking out for the small hive beetle whenever examining bee colonies as a
part of routine management. Early detection means beekeepers are more likely to be
successful in controlling the pest.
 Good apiary management practices including maintaining strong colonies, good hygiene
practices, and changing extraction and honey handling procedures to protect honey from
fermentation and becoming rotten.
 Any suspected findings of the small hive beetle must be reported immediately to the
Provincial Apiculturist.

Any questions related to small hive beetle and its management in Alberta can be directed to Medhat
Nasr, PhD., Provincial Apiculturist: Office Phone: 780-415-2314, Cell Phone: 780-554-1566, email:
medhat.nasr@gov.ab.ca.

Links and resources:
Alberta Apiculture Home Page
Recommendations for Management of Honey Bee Diseases and Pests in Alberta
Canadian Honey Bee Producer Guide to the National Bee Farm-level Biosecurity Standard
The small hive beetle (a UK National Bee Unit Publication)

Appendix 1. Map of townships of the "Quarantine Area" where confirmed finding of the Small
Hive Beetle (SHB) and the surrounding area at high risk of spreading SHB in Alberta. Map of
the “Quarantine Area” boundaries. The boundaries are: (a) South East corner Township 73-10-
W5, (b) North East corner Township 81-10-W5, (c) South West corner Township 73-20-W5,
and (5) North West corner Township 81-20-W5.

Appendix 2. Alberta map of the "Quarantine Area" where confirmed finding of the Small Hive Beetle (SHB) and the surrounding area at high risk of spreading SHB in Alberta.

See attached file:

Re: QUARANTINE AREA IN THE PEACE RIVER REGION ESTABLISHED FOR SMALL HIVE BEETLE

Posted: July 20th, 2017, 3:25 pm
by BDT123
So, one more thing to deal with in our northern bee keeping adventure.
Any thoughts that a tough winter will do them in?

Re: QUARANTINE AREA IN THE PEACE RIVER REGION ESTABLISHED FOR SMALL HIVE BEETLE

Posted: July 20th, 2017, 3:31 pm
by Allen Dick
I've always thought they would be a minor nuisance, but I have been wrong before.
My friend in New York State with milder winters and longer summers has little problem, even when being sloppy.

I did see some grubs there on a recent visit, but he has not had them in storage boxes or cappings AFAIK.

Re: QUARANTINE AREA IN THE PEACE RIVER REGION ESTABLISHED FOR SMALL HIVE BEETLE

Posted: July 28th, 2017, 3:36 am
by eltalia
Just a quick note on this, as feedback, seeing as how the darn pest came from here - "Down Under".
In retiring I relocated to a whole new environment in North Queensland. Surprise surprise, the 'starter' colony I transferred - a "pet" colony of the former 'empire' went down in weeks of moving... with hive beetle.
Never seen before, and now well isolated from former BK contacts, I turned to the Internet for historical experience in adapting.
Finding many opinions in advice I used an amalgam of methods to now be hive beetle free some six months now. That said we have yet to have our Wet Season , reputedly the worst of the worst in beetle attraction.
Two important variances worth noting?
There is not a managed colony within miles of me, and that guy says he has never seen beetle.
There exist any number of wild colonies in surrounding bushlands.
My main thrust is "colony rescue", and so I have had more than a dozen nuclei and small colonies through the yard in recent months.
None of these had beetle or were invaded whilst here.
Mind you I was very alert in checking at all times as it was always in the back of my mind, despite taking the measures I ended up adopting as a mantra.

1. Reduce all colonies to the absolute minimum hive space for the colony.
2. Add ventilation to the top box in a colony.
3. Maintain a full sun aspect for the whole day.
4. Seal all joints internally with painters chaulk.
5. Only use solid bottom boards and modified migratory lids which only have beespace.
6. Treat the earth around the hive body with Confidor (tm)

So far so good.

Now, the chalkbrood - another new one on me - that, that I am still working on.

Cheers.

Bill

Re: QUARANTINE AREA IN THE PEACE RIVER REGION ESTABLISHED FOR SMALL HIVE BEETLE

Posted: September 20th, 2017, 7:26 pm
by BDT123
There has been an update from Medhat on the situation. Any further news? What's the scuttlebutt?

Re: QUARANTINE AREA IN THE PEACE RIVER REGION ESTABLISHED FOR SMALL HIVE BEETLE

Posted: September 21st, 2017, 9:39 am
by Allen Dick
I wrote Medhat just now to see if he has a report in the works.

Re: QUARANTINE AREA IN THE PEACE RIVER REGION ESTABLISHED FOR SMALL HIVE BEETLE

Posted: September 21st, 2017, 10:11 am
by Allen Dick
Last report dated August 24 at http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$Department ... antine.pdf

Says...
The order of establishing the quarantine zone was communicated to all beekeepers affected by
the quarantine, Ag. fieldmen, First Nation settlements, and local municipalities in the region.

A second inspection of bee colonies imported from Ontario to the Peace Region of Alberta began
on Monday July 24th, 2017. After the inspection of 3 apiaries, one larva (suspected SHB) was
found. The larva was sent the National Identification Service (Entomology), Agriculture and
Agri-Food Canada for confirmation.

Inspections were suspended on Tuesday July 25th, due to inclement weather, operational conflicts during honey flow at the affected apiaries, and issues with accommodation. Inspections are scheduled to resume during the 4th week of August.

On Friday August 12th, 2017 a potential case of SHB infestation was reported in apiaries in
Beaverlodge, Alberta. The Bee Diagnostic Centre initially identified these beetles as SHB.
However, further identification by the National Identification Service (Entomology), Agriculture
and Agri-Food Canada confirmed that the specimen is not small hive beetle. What good news!!!
There is more...

Re: QUARANTINE AREA IN THE PEACE RIVER REGION ESTABLISHED FOR SMALL HIVE BEETLE

Posted: October 21st, 2017, 9:04 pm
by BDT123
Has there been any word out of Alberta Apiculture on an update? WTH, we would like to know if we have to start buying traps and nematodes and permethrin, or is it all cool?
Not happy with the free-flow of information.
I hope Allen has some 'sources' that most of us don't have.
Best regards,
Brian

Re: QUARANTINE AREA IN THE PEACE RIVER REGION ESTABLISHED FOR SMALL HIVE BEETLE

Posted: October 21st, 2017, 9:17 pm
by Allen Dick
I asked Medhat and he referred me to his last release which was a month old at the time and did not answer my question. I guess we could look there again.

I did. Still old news.

http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department ... l/prm13239

Re: QUARANTINE AREA IN THE PEACE RIVER REGION ESTABLISHED FOR SMALL HIVE BEETLE

Posted: October 21st, 2017, 9:47 pm
by BDT123
Yeah, same as I saw.
I'll email him again too. Thanks
Brian

Re: QUARANTINE AREA IN THE PEACE RIVER REGION ESTABLISHED FOR SMALL HIVE BEETLE

Posted: October 22nd, 2017, 7:14 pm
by Countryboy
we would like to know if we have to start buying traps and nematodes and permethrin, or is it all cool?
Sounds like you have bought into a lot of hype and propaganda, and are going way overboard. Take a deep breath and relax.

I don't know of anyone who bought traps and nematodes and Permethrin for SHB. Maybe one thing at a time if necessary, but not all 3. To be honest, I do know people who have bought traps, but don't know of anyone who bought nematodes or Permethrin.

I'm in Ohio. When I started beekeeping, we didn't have SHB. Now we do have SHB.
So far, I have seen one change in beekeeping practices due to SHB. You can't pull your honey and let it sit in the honeyhouse for 2 weeks before extracting now. You'll start running into issues with SHB larvae in the honey supers.

Other than that, SHB really is a non-issue. Yes, I will see a few in hives, typically clustered at the top of the hives where the bees have pushed them.
They aren't an issue in weak hives or deadouts. Yes, wax moths are an issue, but not SHB.
The only issue I know of anyone in Ohio having with SHB is in the extracting room when stacks of supers are left for a couple weeks.

I have a few yards which are shaded more, and I see more SHB there, but the SHB still have never been an issue.

All topsoil in Ohio is medium loam.

My yards are in USDA growing zones 5b and 6a. (Most are in 5b.) 5b normally doesn't get colder than -15F (-26C) in winter.