Mysterious plague of bees in Serbia

Drastic losses of bees in Serbia occurred in the second half of March and the beginning of April, according to the Association of Beekeeping Organizations of Serbia, adding that in some regions the death rate is up to 100 percent.

"We believed that bee losses would end by mid-March and that the colonies that survived the winter, although weakened, would continue to develop on fruit and dandelion pastures. However, that did not happen. On the contrary, beekeepers from all parts of Serbia report that bee losses continue and increase drastically. Reports of the death of bee colonies equally arrive from almost all parts of Serbia, primarily from Vojvodina, then from western Serbia, Pomoravlje and Sumadije", it is stated in the announcement of the Association of Beekeeping Organizations of Serbia.

In Toplički and Jablanički districts, bee deaths in this period are around 30 percent, in Mačva they go from 40 to 50 percent, in Kolubar district they are 60 percent, in Moravički 86 percent, and in Vojvodina up to 90 percent.

"Stražilovo: 33 beehives 100 percent, and in the other case three out of 50 colonies survived, on Fruška Gora six out of 365 colonies remained, then Odžaci municipality more than 50 percent, from Novi Sad and the surrounding area the same sad news", they state from the Association of Beekeeping Organizations of Serbia, adding that there are cases in which beekeepers with decades of beekeeping experience for the first time encounter bee losses of more than 30 percent.

What's happening?

Most beekeepers describe the situation in the hive by saying that in the last 15 days, the hives have suddenly been left without bees and if there is little closed and even less open brood with solid wreaths of honey and pollen supplies. There are no dead bees in the hive or in front of it. Only a few beekeepers reported visible signs of nosema, the statement said.

They add that the deaths of societies with young and older queens are equal, as well as societies that have been successfully treated against varroa.

"There are beekeepers who very precisely control the level of remaining varroa in the hive, they successfully suppressed it, but the deaths are there. A higher percentage of deaths of swarms formed last year compared to standard colonies was registered. Mass deaths are equally reported by long-term and experienced beekeepers with a large number of hives, as well as beekeepers with a smaller number of hives", they state from SPOS and add that a higher percentage of deaths of swarms formed last year compared to standard colonies were registered.

As they say, societies that survived this period are 10 to 30 percent weaker than the usual strength of societies at this time of the year. A number of companies continue to weaken from review to review.

"According to reports from the field, from different altitudes, it can be concluded that apiaries fared better at higher altitudes, where the nights during July and August were fresher. This is supported by reports from the area of ​​Vlasotinac and Vlasina, where there were no mass losses. Sporadic cases of death were recorded in the period March - April, which are attributed to bad weather and conditions in nature. Spring development proceeds with a dynamic that is considered normal for this time of year. Medium and strong colonies by the end of March, they built at least one hourly foundation each", they state from this organization.

What are the possible causes of the death of bees?

The SPOS states that it is not possible to reliably conclude what the main cause of death is, but that the dominant number of beekeepers believe that the main cause of the varro's suffering is due to late summer treatment and its suppression with insufficiently effective means, which damaged the winter bees. It is further aggravated by the fact that a critical period has begun these weeks, i.e. the period of the replacement of winter bees with young bees from the spring brood, writes Danas.

"The weakened colonies of the society did not have the strength to raise a generation of spring bees, that is, the extinction of the colony bees occurred before they were able to raise the first quality generation of spring bees. Since there are clear reports that confirm that in some beekeepers there can be no reason for varroa, then their apiaries were probably dominated by poor pollen nutrition at the time of raising winter bees. Poor or insufficient nutrition helps the manifestation of viruses that lie dormant in the bees waiting for the decline of the bees' immunity, so that several causes definitely worked together, and which one was dominant must be determined for each individual apiary. Poor quality winter bees definitely ruled", according to the SPOS.

They add that this is a cross-section of the situation made on the basis of a synthesis of the reports of 15 beekeepers, who responded to submit a report on the death in their region.

Source: Today