Alberta Loses Between 30% and 40% Of Overwintering Beehives - Up 10% From 2008 - Edmonton Journal

EDMONTON - Alberta's honeybees suffered another bad winter with hive losses hitting in the mid-30-per-cent range, said the local industry's president. "Overall, I'd say we're at least 10 per cent higher in our losses this year then we were last year," said Terry Greidanus, president of Alberta Beekeepers.

Last year, Alberta Agriculture estimated losses were at about 25 per cent in overwintered colonies across the province, with the worst areas being the Peace and Northwest regions. This is now the third year in a row of elevated losses.

Alberta Agriculture determined last year that Colony Collapse Disorder, the mysterious ailment said to be plaguing hives around the world, was not the problem here. Rather, an infestation of varroa mites, which suck a bee's fluids, ravaged the province's hives.

The Pest Management Regulatory Agency approved an emergency registration of a pesticide called Apivar last year to knock back the mites. "It came in the nick of time for me," said Greidanus, "but generally speaking, it was too late."

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