That balance is now under threat because of a deadly disease spreading through Scottish bee hives. Discovered in June, the European Foul Brood (EFB) has the power to devastate the economic and health benefits of honey production.
European Foul Brood Infection (EBF)
EBF is a notifiable disease under the Bee Diseases and Pest Control (Scotland) Order 2007. A bacterial gut infection of the honeybees’ larvae, the infection spreads from hive to hive through contaminated tools and the transfer of honey combs. The bees themselves might transfer the disease by stealing honey from another hive, or when swarming.
Sugar Solution for Honeybees
The Scottish government, however, has come up with a solution they hope will halt the disease. The honeybees are being fed icing sugar that is laced with antibiotics. “We are taking action to ensure the survival of this key species,” promised Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, in the news release from the government.
Although the scheme will be voluntary for bee keepers and farmers, the Scottish government is providing complete funding. Small quantities of antibiotic powder will be mixed with icing sugar and introduced to the bee hives. When bees use this sugar solution to feed the larvae, the antibiotics should clear the gut infection and allow the young to thrive into healthy adults.
Training for Farmers and Staff
Scottish government officials and staff from the Scottish Agricultural College held a training day to show farmers and their staff how to administer the sugar-coated antibiotics. The College itself will make up and dispense the treatment to bee farmers and will offer ongoing advice.
It is hoped that when the programme begins this September it will lessen the risk to the honey produced next year and will minimise any possibility of antibiotic residue.
From the 2,466 hives, in 235 apiaries, inspected since July, 232 hives have shown signs of EBF. American Foul Brood (AFB) can also be a problem, which is controllable only by complete destruction of hives and equipment. In Scotland, 110 hives have shown signs of AFB.
Lifecycle of the Honeybee
There is normally only one queen bee in the hive and if another appears they will fight to the death. With a lifespan of three to five years, the queen bee can lay more than 2000 eggs a day, if there is plenty of food.
Worker bees live for around two to three months and are responsible for feeding the larvae with honey, pollen and royal jelly. The larvae which are fed extra royal jelly then become queens and make their own hives. It takes about twenty one days for the larvae to become adult bees.
Importance of the Honeybee
The world will be a poorer place if the honeybee continues to disappear. Many plants and fruits need bees to pollinate them and will cease to exist without the transfer of pollen. Honey is a natural alternative to sugar and lays claim to a wide variety of medicinal uses, while beeswax is used in cosmetics, candles and furniture polish.
The disappearance of bees in various parts of the world has been in the news for some years. At least this new EFB disease in Scottish hives has been identified and is being addressed by the Scottish government. It is to be hoped that the use of the icing sugar-coated antibiotics will indeed provide a sweet solution to saving many more honeybee colonies from destruction.
Rosemary Gemmell - Professional freelance writer of published short stories and articles in the UK, US and online. Author of historical romance and ...
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