Breeding survivors bees in organic and nordic canadian condition.québec/canada Anicet Desrochers Queen Breeder / Producer
Introduction Api-Culture Hautes- Laurentides Inc. 1,000 hives : production of certified organic honey: Average honey production / hive : 130 lbs (60kg) 1500 mating nucs : production : 7,000 queens / year
Geographic Situation: Introduction 250 km away from others commercials beekeepers Isolated breeding area. Isolated land for certified organic honey.
Survivors/Tolerant bees in Québec,Canada Our primary objective is to maintain survivable, productive and gentle lines of bees that can thrive into organic beekeeping. (No Chemical Treatment) develop a bee that could survive multiple pest and environmental pressures without the aid of chemicals while producing superior honey crops. Important aspects characterize our breeding program: Genetic diversity and their potential, Standard procedures, - Evaluations to identify the best combinations of survival and production.
Survivors/Tolerant bees in Québec,Canada Selection program main criteria: natural selection Our work consist of selecting the survival bees that have been expose to extremely high pest and desease pressure. survivor = best genetic combination
Survivors/Tolerant bees in Québec,Canada Isolated mating stations: Isolated zone: 250KM; Isolated mating stations to control specific cross. queen production: open mated with drone mothers of every selected lines.
Breeding program: gene pool Primorsky/Russian bees Historic of Primorsky introduction 2000 : Introduction of the russian bees in Canada. 2002 : Introduction of the first 3 lines in our apiarie (White, Blue, New Blue 01). 2002 : Beginning of our selection program (hybride F1)
Breeding program: gene pool Primorsky observation Greatly prolificity; Overwinter outdoor: superior adaptability than other stock (-40celcius) Less food consumption; Tolerance/resistance to varroa, tracheal mites, and brood diseases; Queen stop laying earlier in the fall High swarming tendency.
Breeding program: gene pool SMR/VHS (2007) Dr. Harbo and Dr. Harris proved the effectiveness of the VSH (varroa sensitive hygiene and/or sensitive hygienic behavior) The behavior where adult bees remove pupae that have reproductive mites. Minessota Hygienic Italian (2008) Dr. Marla Spivak. Queens of the Minnesota Hygienic line demonstrate good resistance to American foulbrood and chalkbrood, and some resistance to Varroa. They are gentle and excellent honey producers
Breeding program: objectives Continue selection for mite tolerance. Testing in order to improve desirable traits. Production of queens both open and close mated for distribution to Canada and USA. Eliminating as much as possible all organic treatments (formic and oxalic).
Breeding program: selection 2 stage selection: pre-selection and final test Pre-selection: 1. Winter ability/ spring cluster size, spring weight size, spring build up; 2. Swarming tendency; 3. Honey production; 4. Gentleness; 5. Quietness on the combs 6. Brood viability. Final test: 1.Hygienic behavior test; 2.No treatment.
Nordic organic beekeeping Québec Canada
Apiculture Cycles in North Québec, Canada Spring Buildup : Mid-March to mid-may Honeyflow : June to August Fall and overwintering : September to March
Spring management
Spring management
Honeyflow season
Fall and overwintering Preparation of the hives for over-wintering
Fall and overwintering Integrated Pest Management : 1. Tolerant bees : Bee showing tolerance/resistance to diseases: Bees can survive through high level of infestation from varroa destructor and other bee pests and diseases.
Fall and overwintering Integrated Pest Management : 2. Formic Acid : Flash Rapid volatilization of formic acid at high concentration. The dosage should be used between 10-24 degree Celcius in a rate of 2ml/frames of bees with a maximum of 20ml even for double brood chambers. 3. Oxalic acid: Drippling 4. Working method causing minimum stress: manipulations, smoke, travelling,etc.
Fall and overwintering Feeding with sugar syrup. 20-35 kg / colony (in barrels)
Fall and overwintering Method of over-wintering : inside vs. outside VS
Fall and overwintering Sites for over-wintering An open-air site (good for summer honey production) Protected site (good for winter)
Fall and overwintering The wrapping of colonies : Material used Thermafoil (plastic bubble air paper) Polystyrene (styro-foam)