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Apiarists’ Awareness and Responses to Honey Bee Colony Parasite and Pathogen Infections in Kenya

Received: 20 July 2018     Accepted: 9 August 2018     Published: 6 September 2018
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Abstract

Globally, honey bee (Apis mellifera L. ) is the most domesticated bee species due to their ability to produce honey of commercial value, wax, pollen, royal jelly and propolis. They also facilitate pollination processes of flowering plants. However, there has been an increase in reported incidences of hive and colony infection by honey bee parasites and pathogens, contributing to colony collapse disorder. This study explored the beekeeper’s approaches to hive infestation by bee parasites and pathogens in Kenya. Using a questionnaire, 78 individual beekeepers and 15 beekeeping groups in eleven different Counties in Kenya were surveyed between 2012 and 2013, and their ability to identify and manage honey bee pathogens and parasites was determined. Majority of the farmers (95%) said they experienced challenges with pests. Ants were the pests mostly mentioned by the apiarists (90%), followed by small hive beetles (32%), wax moths (28%) and pirate wasps (18%). Only one respondent mentioned Varroa mites and no respondent mentioned any of the pathogens transmitted by these parasites. Most (90%) management practices apiarists mentioned targeted controlling ants. Farmers had no idea of how to control other pest and/or parasites, in spite of their presence as was confirmed by this study that all colonies inspected in all sites were infested with Varroa mites. Majority (93%) of the apiarist harvested honey at night when visibility is poor and hence could not see other pests and/or pathogens. Apiarist’ need education on bee husbandry in order to contain honey bee parasites and pathogens to improve their awareness on the same and to manage colony collapse disorders. They need to embrace colony inspection and honey harvesting during the day when sufficient lighting is available for detection of parasites and pathogens.

Published in International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management (Volume 3, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20180304.11
Page(s) 46-52
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2018. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Apis Mellifera, Bee Parasites, Pathogens, Beekeeping Practices

References
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Cite This Article
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    Onyango Irene Awino, Shadrack Muya, Samuel Kabochi, Hellen Kutima, Muo Kasina. (2018). Apiarists’ Awareness and Responses to Honey Bee Colony Parasite and Pathogen Infections in Kenya. International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, 3(4), 46-52. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20180304.11

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    ACS Style

    Onyango Irene Awino; Shadrack Muya; Samuel Kabochi; Hellen Kutima; Muo Kasina. Apiarists’ Awareness and Responses to Honey Bee Colony Parasite and Pathogen Infections in Kenya. Int. J. Nat. Resour. Ecol. Manag. 2018, 3(4), 46-52. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20180304.11

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    AMA Style

    Onyango Irene Awino, Shadrack Muya, Samuel Kabochi, Hellen Kutima, Muo Kasina. Apiarists’ Awareness and Responses to Honey Bee Colony Parasite and Pathogen Infections in Kenya. Int J Nat Resour Ecol Manag. 2018;3(4):46-52. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20180304.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijnrem.20180304.11,
      author = {Onyango Irene Awino and Shadrack Muya and Samuel Kabochi and Hellen Kutima and Muo Kasina},
      title = {Apiarists’ Awareness and Responses to Honey Bee Colony Parasite and Pathogen Infections in Kenya},
      journal = {International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management},
      volume = {3},
      number = {4},
      pages = {46-52},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijnrem.20180304.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20180304.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijnrem.20180304.11},
      abstract = {Globally, honey bee (Apis mellifera L. ) is the most domesticated bee species due to their ability to produce honey of commercial value, wax, pollen, royal jelly and propolis. They also facilitate pollination processes of flowering plants. However, there has been an increase in reported incidences of hive and colony infection by honey bee parasites and pathogens, contributing to colony collapse disorder. This study explored the beekeeper’s approaches to hive infestation by bee parasites and pathogens in Kenya. Using a questionnaire, 78 individual beekeepers and 15 beekeeping groups in eleven different Counties in Kenya were surveyed between 2012 and 2013, and their ability to identify and manage honey bee pathogens and parasites was determined. Majority of the farmers (95%) said they experienced challenges with pests. Ants were the pests mostly mentioned by the apiarists (90%), followed by small hive beetles (32%), wax moths (28%) and pirate wasps (18%). Only one respondent mentioned Varroa mites and no respondent mentioned any of the pathogens transmitted by these parasites. Most (90%) management practices apiarists mentioned targeted controlling ants. Farmers had no idea of how to control other pest and/or parasites, in spite of their presence as was confirmed by this study that all colonies inspected in all sites were infested with Varroa mites. Majority (93%) of the apiarist harvested honey at night when visibility is poor and hence could not see other pests and/or pathogens. Apiarist’ need education on bee husbandry in order to contain honey bee parasites and pathogens to improve their awareness on the same and to manage colony collapse disorders. They need to embrace colony inspection and honey harvesting during the day when sufficient lighting is available for detection of parasites and pathogens.},
     year = {2018}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Apiarists’ Awareness and Responses to Honey Bee Colony Parasite and Pathogen Infections in Kenya
    AU  - Onyango Irene Awino
    AU  - Shadrack Muya
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    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20180304.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20180304.11
    T2  - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
    JF  - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
    JO  - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
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    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-3061
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20180304.11
    AB  - Globally, honey bee (Apis mellifera L. ) is the most domesticated bee species due to their ability to produce honey of commercial value, wax, pollen, royal jelly and propolis. They also facilitate pollination processes of flowering plants. However, there has been an increase in reported incidences of hive and colony infection by honey bee parasites and pathogens, contributing to colony collapse disorder. This study explored the beekeeper’s approaches to hive infestation by bee parasites and pathogens in Kenya. Using a questionnaire, 78 individual beekeepers and 15 beekeeping groups in eleven different Counties in Kenya were surveyed between 2012 and 2013, and their ability to identify and manage honey bee pathogens and parasites was determined. Majority of the farmers (95%) said they experienced challenges with pests. Ants were the pests mostly mentioned by the apiarists (90%), followed by small hive beetles (32%), wax moths (28%) and pirate wasps (18%). Only one respondent mentioned Varroa mites and no respondent mentioned any of the pathogens transmitted by these parasites. Most (90%) management practices apiarists mentioned targeted controlling ants. Farmers had no idea of how to control other pest and/or parasites, in spite of their presence as was confirmed by this study that all colonies inspected in all sites were infested with Varroa mites. Majority (93%) of the apiarist harvested honey at night when visibility is poor and hence could not see other pests and/or pathogens. Apiarist’ need education on bee husbandry in order to contain honey bee parasites and pathogens to improve their awareness on the same and to manage colony collapse disorders. They need to embrace colony inspection and honey harvesting during the day when sufficient lighting is available for detection of parasites and pathogens.
    VL  - 3
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Livestock, Directorate of Veterinary Services, Kabete Veterinary Laboratories, Nairobi, Kenya

  • Zoology Department, School of Biological Sciences, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya

  • Department of Livestock, Directorate of Veterinary Services, Kabete Veterinary Laboratories, Nairobi, Kenya

  • Zoology Department, School of Biological Sciences, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya

  • National Sericulture Research Centre, Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, Thika, Kenya

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