Army spectometry finds new DNA virus, high correlation with CCD

[winginit]

Interesting new research shows co-incidence of fungus and virus highly correlated with CCD. Fungus is Nosema, virus is the newly reported (in bees?) DNA invertebrate iridescent virus (IIV). According to the article, previous research has focused exclusively on RNA viruses.

NYT summary: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/07/science/07bees.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Research article (scroll down for full article): http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0013181

[greenbtree]

O.K. I'm confused, I thought Nosema was bacterial.

JC

[tecumseh]

greenbtree writes:
I thought Nosema was bacterial.

tecumseh:
the gene folks have reclassified a lot of organisms in recent times.

[winginit]

O.K. I'm confused, I thought Nosema was bacterial.

Lol, I thought it was a virus. It's microsporidia, which is helpful to know. The spores survive freezing, so its a fairly robust. I've finally finished a quick read of the research paper. Interesting that two queens coexisted in a collapsed hive, ostensibly to increase population more quickly. But then it collapsed again.

Also, a control group from Northwestern Montana was used, where they have never had CCD and hives are not migratory. Anyone know anything about these hives? Walter T. Kelley newletter also references beekeepers with 100% survival (not from Montana).

[AllenF]

The army found it?    This just goes to prove to all the CCD freaks out there that the aliens had nothing to do with it.   It was the government the whole time. 

[tecumseh]

winginit writes:
Walter T. Kelley newletter also references beekeepers with 100% survival (not from Montana).

tecumseh:
certainly location should have something to do with the survival rate, as might who was documenting the numbers.  I am shaking my head a bit at the 100% number wondering if it is real or not?

the winters here are relatively mild and I have had years where I have losses as little as 1 to 2%.  losing none is another thing and I suspect most old time beekeepers would find a bit much to believe.   

[winginit]

1-2% sounds great. What is the worst year you've had, and what is your average?

[tecumseh]

in recent times (and in more recent time after noticing certain clues related to nosema) about 1.5 % (average).  some years a bit less than 1%.  last year I reared a bunch of small fall nucs and the failure rate of this class of hive was closer to 4%.  most time the failure of a hive (for me) come spring time is directly relate to a queen coming out of the winter month as a drone layer.   

[winginit]

Wow! I didn't think that was possible. What approaches do you employ that allow such a high success rate (foundation vs. foundationless, pesticides vs IPM, top vs. bottom entrance, etc)?

What average losses do other beeks here see?

[thebalvenie]

good article too
the U of Montana

http://missoulian.com/news/local/article_145a34ee-d1a7-11df-a3b1-001cc4c03286.html

[Scadsobees]

Very interesting.  We're finding out tons and tons about bees and their pathogens, but we still don't appear to be any nearer to figuring out CCD!!

[annette]

I read a similar article that said keep your hives in hot, dry weather is best. Well I've got it made then!!

We shall see where this all goes.

[tecumseh]

a side bar only useful to conspiracy theorist and aliens..

http://money.cnn.com/2010/10/08/news/honey_bees_ny_times.fortune/index.htm

way to interest to be made up correct?

[winginit]

fyi, the CNN Money/Fortune article has been largely debunked.

[deknow]

fyi, the CNN Money/Fortune article has been largely debunked.

well, jerry refutes the claims of that article...i'm not sure it follows that it has been "largely debunked".  i'm waiting to see actual evidence on each side of the issue, thus far, all i've seen is claims.

deknow