Abstract
The US National Honey Bee Disease Survey sampled colony pests and diseases from 2009 to 2014. We verified the absence of Tropilaelaps spp., the Asian honey bee (Apis cerana), and slow bee paralysis virus. Endemic health threats were quantified, including Varroa destructor, Nosema spp., and eight honey bee viruses. Varroa loads varied across years, with annual fall peaks; Nosema peaked January to April. Migratory beekeepers had significantly lower Varroa prevalence (84.9 vs. 97.0 %) and loads (3.65 ± 0.28 vs. 5.99 ± 0.22) than stationary operations, while Nosema was more prevalent (59.9 vs. 46.7 %) in migratory colonies. Since 2010, chronic bee paralysis virus prevalence doubled annually. We detected strong positive relationships between V. destructor and Varroa-transmitted viruses, between Nosema and Lake Sinai virus 2, and a positive relationship across several viral pathogens of bees. The results provide a disease baseline to help identify drivers of poor bee health.
Highlights
Honey bees, Apis mellifera, are the third most economically important agricultural livestock globally after cattle and pork (Tautz 2008)
The National Honey Bee Disease Survey (NHBDS) allowed for the establishment of a baseline of honey bee diseases, the annual cycles of honey bee parasites, and the pervasiveness of honey bee viruses in the USA
Participation rates remained high throughout the duration of the survey, though successful respondent rate fell somewhat in the survey year when apiary inspectors who collected the samples were no longer reimbursed for their time (Table II)
Summary
Apis mellifera , are the third most economically important agricultural livestock globally after cattle and pork (Tautz 2008). In the aftermath of colony collapse disorder (CCD) (vanEngelsdorp et al 2007), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) initiated the National Honey Bee Disease Survey (NHBDS) in the USA and territories to monitor honey bee health and confirm the absence of exotic honey bee pests. This survey is essential to meet import and/or export requirements for international trade outlined by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE 2014). Even with increased focus on improving honey bee health, winter colony losses have averaged ∼30 % over the last 8 years (Lee et al 2015; Spleen et al 2013; Steinhauer et al 2014; vanEngelsdorp et al 2012; vanEngelsdorp et al 2008) and annual hive mortality approached 50 % for commercial beekeepers (Lee et al 2015; Steinhauer et al 2014)
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