Abstract
Received: 2015-07-22 | Accepted: 2015-11-10 | Available online: 2016-03-24 dx.doi.org/10.15414/afz.2016.19.01.22-24 Between the seasons 2009/2010 and 2014/2015 was evaluated 1305 questionnaires in total, received from Slovak beekeepers. Standard questionnaires of COST working group COLOSS were used with sets of questions related to overwintering of bee colonies and possible reasons of its losses. In season 2009/2010 winter losses in Slovakia reached 7,10%, subsequently in 2010/2011 - 5,96%, 2011/2012 - 9,70%, 2012/2013 - 9,50%, 2013/2014 - 8,84%, 2014/2015 - 10,00%. Expected causes of winter mortality (starvation, poor queen´s quality, parasitism, robbery) were evaluated in the study to detect the presence of depopulation syndrome of bee colonies – CCD (colony collapse disorder) reported from some North American and European areas. As acceptable level of winter losses is generally considered level 10%, which was not exceeded in any season, thereby Slovakia ranks among countries with the lowest winter mortality of bee colonies worldwide. Possible reason of this situation is most probably multiple Varroa treatment throughout the year, but other reasons are discussed as well in the study. Keywords : bee colony losses, honey bee, beekeeping References JOHNSON. R. (2007) Recent honey bee colony declines. CRS Report for Congress RL33938. KAPLAN, K. (2008) Colony Collapse Disorder: A Complex Buzz. Agric. Res. Magazine, vol. 6, no.5, pp. 8-11. MARTIN-HERNANDEZ, R. et al. (2007) Outcome of Colonization of Apis mellifera by Nosema ceranae . Appl. Environ. Microbiol., vol. 73, no. 20, pp. 6311-6338. Neumann. P. (2008) An introduction to honeybee colony losses. In: Proceedings of the 3rd Europan Conference of Apidology , Belfast . NEUMANN, P. and CARRECK, N. L. (2010) Honey bee colony losses. Journal of Apicultural Research, vol. 49, no.1, pp. 1-6. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3896/IBRA.1.49.1.01 VAN DER ZEE, R. et al. (2012) Managed honey bee colony losses in Canada, China, Europe, Israel and Turkey, for the winters of 2008–2009 and 2009–2010. Journal of Apicultural Research, vol. 51, no.1, pp. 100-114. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3896/IBRA.1.51.1.12 VAN DER ZEE, R. et al. (2013) Standard survey methods for estimating colony losses and explanatory risk factors in Apis mellifera . Journal of Apicultural Research , vol. 52, no.4. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3896/IBRA.1.52.4.18 VAN DER ZEE, R. et al. (2014) Results of international standardised beekeeper surveys of colony losses for winter 2012-2013: analysis of winter loss rates and mixed effects modelling of risk factors for winter loss. Journal of Apicultural Research , vol. 53, no.1, pp. 19-34. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3896/IBRA.1.53.1.02
Highlights
The phenomenon of heavy losses of bee colonies is documented in the history of beekeeping
Beekeepers in the United States attributed the mysterious collapse to the new syndrome named Colony Collapse Disorder – CCD, which is characteristic by sudden disappearing of bees from the hive when only a few young bees with a queen can be find within the bee colony (Kaplan; 2008)
High honey bee colony losses have been observed in recent years in many countries (Van der Zee et al, 2012, 2014)
Summary
The phenomenon of heavy losses of bee colonies is documented in the history of beekeeping. In most of European countries is as a main reason of bee colonies mortality considered parasitic mite Varroa destructor and Nosema spp (Martin-Hernandez et al, 2007, Neumann, 2008). High honey bee colony losses have been observed in recent years in many countries (Van der Zee et al, 2012, 2014). This has led to intensive co-operation between honey bee experts to investigate this problem from different perspectives, including epidemiology and experimental approaches. A milestone in this co-operation was the formation in 2008 of the honey bee research network COLOSS (Prevention of honey bee COlony LOSSes), intended to intensify contacts and research collaboration between honey bee experts (Neumann and Carreck, 2010). This study provide basic statistical data on bee colony losses in Slovakia in 5 subsequent seasons from 2009/2010 to 2014/2015
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