Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications » Publications at this Location
Title: Multiyear survey targeting disease incidence in US honey bees

Author
item TRAYNOR, KIRSTEN - University Of Maryland
item RENNICH, KAREN - University Of Maryland
item FORSGREN, EVA - Swedish University Of Agricultural Sciences
item ROSE, ROBYN - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
item Pettis, Jeffery
item KUNKEL, GRACE - University Of Maryland
item MADELLA, SHAYNE - University Of Maryland
item Evans, Jay
item Lopez, Dawn
item VANENGELSDORP, DENNIS - University Of Maryland

Submitted to: Apidologie
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/1/2016
Publication Date: 11/1/2016
Citation: Traynor, K.S., Rennich, K., Forsgren, E., Rose, R., Pettis, J.S., Kunkel, G., Madella, S., Evans, J.D., Lopez, D.L., Vanengelsdorp, D. 2016. Multiyear survey targeting disease incidence in US honey bees. Apidologie. 47:325-347.

Interpretive Summary: Pollinator declines and high mortality rates of honey bee colonies are a major concern, both in the USA and globally. To examine factors affecting honey bees, the USDA-APHIS funded a US National Honey Bee Disease Survey that sampled colony pests and diseases from 2009 to 2014. The survey verified the absence of Tropilaelaps spp., the Asian honey bee (Apis cerana), and slow bee paralysis virus. Endemic health threats were quantified, including Varroa destructor, Nosema spp., and eight honey bee viruses. Since 2010, chronic bee paralysis virus prevalence doubled annually. We detected strong positive relationships between V. destructor and Varroa-transmitted viruses, between Nosema and Lake Sinai virus 2, and a positive relationship across several viral pathogens of bees. The results provide a disease baseline to help identify drivers of poor bee health.

Technical Abstract: The US National Honey Bee Disease Survey sampled colony pests and diseases from 2009 to 2014. We verified the absence of Tropilaelaps spp., the Asian honey bee (Apis cerana), and slow bee paralysis virus. Endemic health threats were quantified, including Varroa destructor, Nosema spp., and eight honey bee viruses. Varroa loads varied across years, with annual fall peaks; Nosema peaked January to April. Migratory beekeepers had significantly lower Varroa prevalence (84.9 vs. 97.0 %) and loads (3.65'±'0.28 vs. 5.99'±'0.22) than stationary operations, while Nosema was more prevalent (59.9 vs. 46.7 %) in migratory colonies. Since 2010, chronic bee paralysis virus prevalence doubled annually. We detected strong positive relationships between V. destructor and Varroa-transmitted viruses, between Nosema and Lake Sinai virus 2, and a positive relationship across several viral pathogens of bees. The results provide a disease baseline to help identify drivers of poor bee health.