How to prevent bee diseases in spring beekeeping? A detailed explanation of comprehensive measures
In beekeeping practice, it has been found that the occurrence of bee diseases is directly related to feeding and management techniques. Especially in northern China, where the temperature difference between early and late spring is large and nectar and pollen sources are scarce, bee colonies are most prone to bee diseases. Once a disease breaks out, it will inevitably cause losses and affect colony multiplication and economic returns. Therefore, in spring, the measure of "prevention first, treatment supplementary" should be used to control the occurrence of bee diseases. The specific measures are as follows:
1. Selection and treatment of the bee site
The most basic conditions for beekeepers when choosing a site should be shelter from the wind, facing the sun, and dry terrain. In spring, choose low mountain areas or cut-over sites with more willow species and mainly Aceraceae plants. Only by ensuring sufficient nectar and pollen sources can strong colonies be bred and @#@255@#@ disease resistance be enhanced. In beekeeping practice, to reduce labor intensity, beekeepers are accustomed to using sites where bee colonies were kept the previous year again. To prevent cross-infection of various diseases among bee colonies (especially chalkbrood), 15-20 days before placing the colonies, spray the site with a 1%-3% caustic soda aqueous solution, and 5-7 days later scatter some quicklime for disinfection and sterilization. It is best, during the non-fire-prevention period, to seize the opportunity to burn the site with fire for high-temperature sterilization. After the colonies are placed at the site, dig drainage ditches to ensure smooth water flow on rainy days. Otherwise, the bee yard will become damp and induce bee diseases. In addition, the straight-line distance between bee yards should be more than 10-15 km to avoid colony crowding, cross-infection of bee diseases, and severe colony losses.
2. Adjustment of colonies when removing them from overwintering
In the north, after bee colonies have gone through an overwintering period as long as 120-140 days, choose weather with a temperature above 7°C and a light breeze or no wind, and carry out the overwintered colonies to prompt excretion. On that day, clean out all dead bees in the hive, replace damp bee boxes, and merge queenless colonies and weak colonies. According to the needs of beekeeping production, choose a strong colony of 6 frames of bees as the drone-producing colony to rear drones, and balance the other colonies. For migratory colonies, bees should be slightly more than combs; for stationary colonies, bees and combs in equal numbers are sufficient, and enough feed should be left in the colony. Within 3-5 days after colony excretion, treat bee mites intensively 1-2 times to reduce the harm of bee mites to the colonies and allow the bees to grow healthily. Also, according to whether excretion occurs early or late, cage the queen and control flight as appropriate. Feeding observations have found that when colonies reproduce early, under conditions of no external nectar or pollen sources and relatively low temperatures, bees nurse large numbers of larvae. Once the weather changes continuously and the bees have no chance to excrete, they develop indigestion or crawling bee disease. Especially during early reproduction, when relying on sugar water, pollen, or pollen substitutes, newly emerged bees have poor physique, and the colonies are prone to bee diseases. Therefore, early reproduction of bee colonies is not advocated in northern China.
3. Create a suitable reproduction environment
In spring, adding pollen combs to bee colonies marks the beginning of spring reproduction. To prevent bee diseases and promote healthy colony reproduction, first carry out insulation according to the colony strength of colonies taken out of the cellar. Weak colonies should be insulated inside and outside, and some quicklime should be scattered on the external insulation material. Through years of observation, it has been found that the occurrence of bee diseases is directly related to the long-term use of straw mats as insulation material. The disadvantages of straw mats are: when supplementary sugar water is fed, the water excreted by the bees is absorbed by the straw mats and cannot be discharged directly, and bees become diseased under damp conditions. Second, straw carries residual pesticides used to control crop diseases and insect pests, which often causes slight pesticide poisoning in bees and affects colony reproduction. To prevent bee diseases, it is best to put weeds cut from the field into woven bags to make mats for insulation inside the colony, and on good weather days often air the insulation material to keep the inside of the bee box dry. When inspecting colonies, cut out non-breeding drones, because drones have high nutritional demands, and in spring when external nectar and pollen sources are slightly poor, drone larvae are prone to disease during development. During spring reproduction, if snowy weather occurs, control colony flight. However, do not close the entrance, as this easily causes the colony to overheat and results in "scattered brood combs." When temperatures are low, try not to open the box to inspect colonies, to prevent freezing bee larvae.
4. Timely cull inferior queens
As is well known, a high-quality queen is a key measure for breeding strong colonies, while an inferior queen not only fails to build up colony strength but is also a hidden danger that induces bee diseases. Especially in spring, colony strength, external climate, and nectar and pollen sources do not yet meet the conditions for queen rearing. When inspecting colonies, if a queen with abnormal egg laying is found, one is always reluctant to cull her and replaces her only after a new queen has been bred, and because of this the colony becomes diseased. If control measures are not effective, the disease spreads through the entire bee yard. Therefore, bee yards not mainly engaged in breeding should keep as few inbred lines, artificially inseminated queens, and old queens over 3 years of age as possible. Keep more naturally mated hybrid queens with strong disease resistance, promptly cull inferior queens and merge colony strength, and control bee diseases induced by queen factors.
In colony feeding and management, preventing bee diseases is a long-term task, and no step can be neglected. Always do a good job in preventing bee diseases so that colonies can reproduce and grow healthily, and only then can high-quality bee products be produced and beekeeping income be increased.