BCHPA E-News - March 2025

Author

BC Honey Producers' Association
February 28, 2025

Welcome to our E-News, a mostly-monthly newsletter from BC Honey Producers’ Association. You are receiving this email from our subscription list. This letter is created and compiled for the purpose of communication, entertainment and general interest and it is not an endorsement or reflects the opinion of our association. Submissions are welcome but we reserve the right of content selection. enews@bchoneyproducers.ca

LAST CHANCE Early-Bird Pricing!

If you need one more nudge to register for the upcoming Semi-Annual Meeting, I’ll give you two. 1. Just Added: Friday Afternoon - Buy BC Presentation will help you connect with BC’s Province-wide marketing campaign to expand your customer base and maybe help offset the tariff issues. 2. Early Bird Pricing held over for the weekend until March 2nd. Just can’t attend in-person, then join us online. See you in the Kootenay’s!

 Register HERE

Photo of the Month

Photo by Kylie Holstein of Silver Creek, BC

To submit a photo of the month, please email your submission to enews@bchoneyproducers.ca

Bee Research Updates

Survey Reveals Over 1.1 Million Honey Bee Colonies Lost, Raising Alarm for Pollination and Agriculture

Initial survey results from Project Apis M. with respect to the high colony losses being reported in the US.

static1.squarespace.com/static/650342507631075013d25a2c/t/67b7739b905caa630271a5da/1740075932864/Colony+Loss+Survey_PR+%2802%29.pdf

Regional patterns and climatic predictors of viruses in honey bee colonies over time

Although climatic effects were often inconsistent among individual viruses, we show that climatic variables can be better predictors of virus intensity and occurrence than Varroa mite abundance, at least when infestation rates are low. This is Canadian research 🇨🇦.

www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-79675-7#Sec12

Honeybees use creative dance moves to help others find food

These findings highlight how unique individual styles benefit the colony. Far from undermining communication, variation in waggle dance expression may improve group outcomes.

www.newsbreak.com/earth-com-2402525/3829352761312-honeybees-use-creative-dance-moves-to-help-others-find-food

To Boost Bee Immune Systems, Researchers Strap In Honeybees For Live Test Flights

Viruses spread through honeybee hives like the flu virus in a crowded waiting room. Looking to boost bee immune systems, researchers are examining the…

cowboystatedaily.com/2025/02/22/montana-researchers-strap-in-honeybees-for-live-test-flights

Poor air quality raises mortality in honey bees, a concern for all pollinators

Increased ozone concentration and air quality health index increases the probability of honey bee mortality across Canada and the USA.

www.nature.com/articles/s43247-025-02082-x

Bees in the News

‘Murder Hornet’ Eradication is Relief to US Honeybees | News Center

Five years after the headline-grabbing “murder hornet” (Vespa mandarinia, renamed the northern giant hornet in 2022) was first spotted in Washington state, the U.S. has declared the invasive species eradicated.

news.gatech.edu/news/2024/12/19/murder-hornet-eradication-relief-us-honeybees

From the BC TTP

Just for Fun

Classified Ads

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE: New deep or medium boxes, assembled, 7/8" sides, painted, dovetailed corners. Assembled frames and foundation, inner covers, bottom boards and top covers. Also, full starter kits: including 2 deeps with 20 complete frames, bottom board, inner cover and top. Contact Peter @ 250-499-5893 or 519-525-8557, Keremeos.

Just a reminder that we have a CLASSIFIED AD section on both our website and in our quarterly magazine, BeesCene. You can purchase an ad that runs for 3 months for only $22.00. Contact Heather at BeesCene@bchoneyproducers.ca

Submissions Welcome!

If you come across a piece of current research or mention of honeybees in the news, please forward it to us at enews@bchoneyproducers.ca for inclusion in this monthly newsletter.