Smarter beehive management may stop bee decline - scientists

Photo / Bay of Plenty Times

Smart management of beehives may be one way for New Zealand agriculture to counter a downturn in bee populations threatened by disease, parasites and colony collapse, say scientists.

Plant & Food Research scientists say they are working with growers to assess and understand pollination of various crops and how they can best be managed to "ensure the continued success of the New Zealand industry".

Possible pollination tools include understanding the pollination requirements and conditions for maximisation of crop yield or quality, controlling the number and makeup of bee colonies, and the timing of introduction and placement of colonies.

Colonies can also be managed to increase pollen or nectar foraging depending on which are more important for the crop.

"Decimation of the bee population, both feral hives and managed colonies, can lead to major issues for the agricultural industry," says apiculturalist Mark Goodwin.

Only feijoas, pollinated by birds, and grapes, which are wind pollinated, are not reliant on bees for pollination in New Zealand.

The deadly varroa bee mite, which can kill bee hives and feral populations, is spreading further south in New Zealand and European research suggested some insecticides can kill bees even when they were used only to treat seeds before planting.

Massive bee deaths in Germany after maize-sowing in the spring of 2008 raised concerns over systemic neonicotinoid insecticides such as Clothianidin and Imidacloprid, which are registered in New Zealand.

Beekeepers in Britain have argued there is now a mounting body of evidence that the insecticides damage the neurological and immune systems of honey bees.

The Environmental Risk Management Authority has asked to review the research of Italian professor, Vincenzo Girolami of the University of Padova, who has shown neonicotinoids insecticides in maize can kill bees via water droplets, despite the maize being wind-pollinated.

Agriculture Minister David Carter yesterday rejected a Green Party call for a ban on pesticides that kill bees, saying it would be "totally impractical".

Mr Carter last night launched Bee Week at Parliament, a promotion to highlight the value of bees and honey to the economy, and to protect them.

Beekeepers' Association chief executive Jim Edwards told NZPA local beekeepers were concerned about the reports from Europe, but had no evidence of damage being done in New Zealand.

Dr Edwards said beekeepers were already urging orchardists and other horticulturists to take care with agricultural sprays.

- NZPA