Research Unit of Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Applied to Veterinary Sciences (UREAR-ULiège), Fundamental and Applied Research for Animal and Health (FARAH) Center, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Quartier Vallée 2, Avenue de Cureghem 7A, B42, 4000 Liège (Sart-Tilman), Belgium.
Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
Sci Total Environ. 2021 Dec 10;799:149381. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149381. Epub 2021 Jul 31.
Explaining the reasons for the high honey bee (Apis mellifera) colony loss rate in recent years has become a top global research priority in apicultural and agricultural sciences. Although there are indications of the role played by beekeeping management practices on honey bee health, very little information is currently available. Our study aimed to characterize the beekeeping management practices carried out in Belgium, and to determine the relationship between beekeeping management practices and colony losses. Variables obtained from face-to-face questioning of a representative randomized and stratified sample of Belgian beekeepers (n = 186) were integrated into a logistic regression model (univariate and multivariate) and correlated to the declared colony loss rates to identify risk and protective indicators. We used a classification tree analysis to validate the results. We present evidence of a relationship between poor beekeeping management practices and colony losses. The main factors protecting honey bee colonies are the aptitude of the beekeeper to change his management practices, the hive type, the equipment origin and hygiene, wintering in proper conditions (the use of divider boards, i.e. board blocks or space fillers off part of the hive body), the colony strength estimation before wintering, winter monitoring, and last but not least, appropriate integrated pest management. Proper estimation of the Varroa infestation level should be performed prior to treatment. The consequences of poor beekeeping practices on honey bee health can be addressed by proper training of beekeepers. An online tool was developed and published for beekeepers allowing them to evaluate the effect of their management practices on colony health.
近年来，解释导致蜜蜂（Apis mellifera）蜂群死亡率高的原因已成为养蜂学和农业科学的全球首要研究重点。尽管有迹象表明养蜂管理实践对蜜蜂健康起着作用，但目前可用的信息却很少。我们的研究旨在描述在比利时实施的养蜂管理实践，并确定养蜂管理实践与蜂群损失之间的关系。从对具有代表性的随机分层的比利时养蜂人（n = 186）进行面对面询问获得的变量被整合到逻辑回归模型（单变量和多变量）中，并与宣布的蜂群损失率相关联，以确定风险和保护指标。我们使用分类树分析来验证结果。我们提供了有关不良养蜂管理实践与蜂群损失之间存在关系的证据。保护蜜蜂蜂群的主要因素是养蜂人改变其管理实践的能力、蜂箱类型、设备来源和卫生条件、在适当条件下越冬（使用隔王板，即从蜂箱主体部分隔开部分的木板条或空间填充物）、在越冬前估计蜂群的实力、冬季监测，最后但并非最不重要的是，适当的病虫害综合治理。在治疗之前，应正确估计瓦螨的感染程度。通过对养蜂人的适当培训，可以解决养蜂不善对蜜蜂健康的影响。我们开发并发布了一个在线工具，供养蜂人使用，以评估其管理实践对蜂群健康的影响。
