Shelli Quattlebaum, Apiary Specialist for the Colorado Department of Agriculture
(Contracted for the 2024 season)
Towards the end of August I interviewed for a contract position with the Colorado Department of Agriculture to survey Colorado apiaries for The National Honey Bee Disease Survey (NHBS).
This is a federally funded, nation-wide honey bee survey that is a joint effort by US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and the University of Maryland Honey Bee Research Lab.
This survey has been conducted since 2009 and participation is voluntary.
Approximately 40 states participate each year.
The survey aims to monitor the US bee population for:
Invasive pests and pathogens
Varroa, Nosema, viral, and bacterial diseases
Pesticide residues in wax
This survey is primarily geared at establishing the absence of Apis Cerana and the parasitic mite Tropilaelaps in the US. To maximize the information gained from this survey effort, samples will be analyzed for other diseases and parasites known to be present in the US.
Each state participating in the survey will take 24 samples.
Requirements: Beekeepers must have 10 hives in one location so that if 2 of the 10 hives are not populated enough, there are backup hives to sample from.
Eight hives will be selected for sampling within each apiary. We are looking for a diverse group of beekeepers from stationary backyard hobbyists to large, migratory commercial operations.
Once all the samples from an apiary are collected, they are packed up and shipped off to the University of Maryland (UMD) Honey Bee Research lab in College Park, Maryland for analysis.
For more information: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-pests-diseases/honey-bee-surveys
After receiving formal credentials through the state in late August, I started reaching out to previous participants of the Animal Health Plant Inspection Services and the National Honey Bee Survey. I had minimal returned emails, so I started contacting local and state bee clubs and associations to gain access to more beekeepers that met the requirements for the study.
I went to great lengths to explain how the sampling process would be performed and what benefits they may receive from the information gleaned.
Once I started receiving responses (both verbal and written), I realized I needed a way to field the beekeepers' apiary information. I created a Google Form to gather the necessary information for me to fill out the data inspection sheet (DIS).
For this survey, I needed GPS coordinates for the exact hive location for longitudinal surveying and 10 hives per apiary. Once I knew they met the requirements, I would start the scheduling process.
The beekeepers were then sent the APHIS National Honey Bee Disease Pre-Sample Survey to fill out beforehand.
After my scheduled sampling and surveying day, which consisted of taking 16 samples per apiary including live bees, alcohol wash, wax, pollen, and Tropi bump, I would go to the post office and drop off live bee sample boxes, then return home to put alcohol samples in the freezer. I would then contact
the project coordinator at the Honey Bee Lab at the University of Maryland, to let her know live bees were coming her way. Then, I would complete the Data Inspection Sheet notes and scan a copy into a shared folder for the lab, along with a scan of the shipping receipt for tracking.
Post survey, I would clean and sanitize all equipment used that day so as not to spread anything from apiary to apiary.
In a short amount of time, I have had to comprehend MUD laboratory protocols, as well as set up contact information and communicate with hundreds of beekeepers, clubs and associations.
I have performed 15 surveys since September 3, 2024.
On average, the NHBS would like 24 samples in a surveying season April - October, which means I completed half of the study in less than 30 working days.
In early October I confirmed American Foulbrood, first upon smelling it, then visual.
I performed a mechanical test “rope test” and finally a Vita Bee Health AFB test, confirming my findings.
After talking to my lab supervisor at University of Maryland. She recommended I reach out to The Beltsville Maryland, USDA lab. Their lab specializes in AFB and EFB testing and resistant's to treatments.
I returned to the apiary with the beekeeper on October 11th, 2024 to take secondary samples to send to
Two weeks later the lab confirmed my findings, they also confirmed that this AFB can be treated with antibiotics. All information was passed along to the beekeeper, along with who to contact for a Veterinarian Feed directive to get the antibiotics.
I also gave information from the CDA about RULES AND REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE BEE AND BEE PRODUCTS ACT.
Colorado does not have American foulbrood listed as an reportable disease. The state is currently trying to add this to their infectious disease list.
My hope in doing this survey of Colorado apiaries, is that we will get a real glimpse of what is going on at the apiary level with our bees. We will be able to see pesticide loads in the wax, and possible vectors for diseases that are effecting our hives health.
Beekeeping in Colorado feels like the wild west no bee act in place.
My goal is to have American Foulbrood added to the reportable diseases list in Colorado.
Next would be to get Tropilaelaps M. added to the invasive species list like the USDA.
Overall hive health and a strong community of beekeepers supporting one another would be the best outcome! If you would like more information on American Foulbrood head over to this blog post.
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