Plenty of buzz surrounding Maherg’s visit
Raising bees is a national pastime for many. However, the intrusion of varroa mites has devastated the bee population, killing off nearly 63.5% of the bee population in the United States this past year.
Holmes County apiary inspector Larry Maherg paid a visit to Holmes County Commissioners on Monday, June 2 to discuss the state of the county’s bee population.
Maherg, who has been an apiary specialist for decades, centered the discussion around a current potentially dangerous intruder to the world of bees, that being varroa mites, which have been instrumental in killing off nearly 63.5% of the bee population in the United States this past year.
According to Maherg, that would include between 1.1 and 1.65 million bees.
The varroa mite is the most serious pest of honeybee colonies worldwide. This parasite was first detected in North Carolina in 1990, having been introduced to the United States just three years earlier. Virtually all feral honeybee colonies have all but been wiped out by these mites, and beekeepers continue to struggle with varroa infestations in their hives.
“I had one beekeeper who had 40 hives last year, and when I inspected, he had lost all but three,” Maherg said. “I’ve had other beekeepers who have 50 hives who only lost one or two.”
Upon inspection Maherg said the varroa mite was a major contributor to the loss.
“There are different types of mites, but I believe the varroa mite is our biggest nemesis,” Maherg said.
These reddish-brown, tiny mites attach themselves to a bee and feed off the bee’s lipids, shortening the bee’s life span.
Maherg said he inspected 1,004 hives in Holmes County last year for 118 different apiaries, and of those hives, 637 were diagnosed with varroa mite issues. He said because these mites are so small, every hive probably has some type of infection.
According to Maherg, there are 16 different miticides currently on the market that are approved by the EPA, and the best time to treat for these mites is late July to early August.
“The fellow that lost his bees waited until mid-September to treat them, and that was too late,” Maherg said.
He said summer bees only live six weeks, and there are special bees called “fat bees” that live through winter and carry on the hive.
Maherg said other causes of disease in beehives now are small hive beetles and European Foulbrood, the latter of which he has seen an increase.
Maherg inspects more than 118 acres of beekeepers in Holmes County, and that is only those raising bees who have registered.
He said overall Holmes County’s bee population is in good shape, and most beekeepers are well-informed and knowledgeable.
While apiary inspectors focus on inspecting for disease and enforcing laws, many put effort into education to help beekeepers better understand the industry, especially in dealing with varroa mites.
According to Maherg, a healthy bee population is critical to the production of fruits, vegetables and flowers, and any type of drop-off in the population will adversely affect the output of crops.
He said out of all creatures that pollinate, honeybees are considered to be the best pollinators because they are the insect that pollinates the same type of pollens.
“Floral sources in Holmes County are really strong for bee production,” Maherg said.
The county apiary inspector also touched on several other keys including providing sugar blocks for the bees over winter months to keep them from starving and the process of providing queen certificates for those who raise and sell queen bees.
Commissioner Dave Hall asked Maherg what his biggest challenges are for the coming year, and Maherg said continuing to educate the process in treating mites is critical.
He also said every couple of years new varieties of mites change the face of caring for bees.
“Beekeeping is going to get tougher and tougher as time goes by,” Maherg said.
He also said maintaining quality habitat and foliage for the bees to collect pollen continues to be a challenge as more habitat is being wiped away, noting yellow clover and white clover, two wild plants that were once heavily pollinated by bees, have disappeared almost completely.
He said mowing along county and township roads is one process that has cut back on potential pollinating grounds for bees, stating that is a lot of potential acreage.
The apiary business continues to be a supplemental income for those investing in the hobby, but Maherg said the challenges continue to be many.
Finally, Maherg said anyone wishing to become involved in the apiary world should join a bee club like Tri-County Beekeepers, as well as find a mentor to help walk them through the process and provide guidance through those first couple of critical years.