Pest and Disease Surveillance & Management of Honey Bee Colony and Effect of RF-Electromagnetic Radiation on Honey bee Growth and Development

Dhaka

At present, more than 60,000 Apis mellifera bee colonies are present in Bangladesh. Most of the bee colonies are not in good health due to poor management, pests, diseases and injudicious use of insecticide application in the crop field and climate change and, therefore, the colonies are getting vulnerable for pests and diseases attack.

Total 10,807 hives of 143 apiaries from 8 regions of Bangladesh were surveyed and 8 FGD were done. Total 28 number of bee colonies were used to manage varroa mite: treatments i) Synthetic chemical-Varroa strip, ii) Essential oil-menthol, iii) Soft Acid-Oxalic acid, iv) non-chemical-powdered sugar, v) Non-Chemical-Drone removal, vi) Non-Chemical-Screen bottom board and vii) Untreated-Control Total 20 number of bee colonies were used to manage small hive beetle: treatments i) Control-Hive kept in soil touched condition-beekeepers practice, ii) Hand picking method, iii) Hive kept without soil touching condition, iv) Trap method and v) Soil drenching method

Seventeen number (17) of pests and diseases were identified. These are classified into categories such as vertebrate pests, invertebrate pests, viral diseases, bacterial diseases, protozoan diseases, and fungal diseases. Among the pest and diseases recorded in Bangladesh, four vertebrate pests are found which are birds, frog, squirrel and human activities- pesticide application. Invertebrate pests are also found in different regions of Bangladesh which are small hive beetle, ant, asian giant hornet, wax beetle, wax moth, varroa mite, Tropilaelaps mite and tracheal mite. Beside these, two viral diseases i.e., deformed wing virus and black queen cell virus., one bacterial disease i.e. European foul brood one protozoan disease i.e., nosema and one fungal disease i.e., chalkbrood were also found in different regions of Bangladesh. Among all the pests and diseases small hive beetle and varroa infestation were found very destructive to bee colonies in Bangladesh.

A diverse group of pests and diseases that impact honey bee populations in different areas of Bangladesh were identified with their infestation level. Seventeen number of pests and diseases are identified. These are vertebrate pests, invertebrate pests, viral diseases, bacterial diseases, protozoan diseases, and fungal diseases. This study demonstrates the wide array of risks to the well-being of honey bees in Bangladesh, underscoring the necessity of implementing efficient solutions to safeguard honey bee.

Beekeepers are able to diagnose different pests and diseases in their hive. Beekeepers are linked with Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).

This project has facilitated beekeepers to develop entrepreneurship on honey business and different beekeeping accessories i.e. varroa tester, bee feeder, small hive beetle trap and queen catcher