Trial #1 – BeeVIGOR Marine
Preparing hives for pollination of pip fruit, stone fruit and netted blueberries. Co-operator Arataki Honey Limited.
Number of Hives: 424.
Location: Tarawera Ranges.
Treatment: 4ml / litre of sugar syrup diluted 10% with water to lower the BRIX to be more like nectar, to induce brood development. 1-2 litres of the mixture per hive.
Number of Treatments: Three. 1st treatment followed 3 weeks later by a 2nd treatment, followed 2 weeks later by a 3rd treatment.
Note 1: Large brood numbers attributed to the use of BeeVIGOR Marine
Unusually large brood numbers during the treatment period, required some brood to be removed from some hives and the treatment was stopped to avoid swarming.
Results Observed
85 % of the 424 treated hives were strong enough to be used for pollination. In previous years using best practise, between 50-60% of hives were strong enough for pollination.
BeeVIGOR Marine increased the number of hives strong enough for use in pollination by at least 42% more than previously experienced.
Trial #2 – BeeVIGOR Marine
Nutrition supplement for honey bees during pollination of netted blueberries. Co-operator Arataki Honey Limited.
Number of hives: 1200 hives.
Location: Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand.
Treatments: 1 litre of a mixture containing 4ml BeeVIGOR Marine + sugar syrup + 10% water + 150g (1/2 a pattie) of the pollen supplement MegaBee.
Number of treatments: 2 at a 7 day interval.
Note: Honey bees restrained by the netting are unable to forage for a wide diet. Blueberry pollen is not considered to be a nutritious food for honey bees.
Results:
Post-pollination all hives were considered “in good condition” especially as the majority were strong enough to be immediately reused for pollination of apples and kiwifruit, which in the past could not be done.
In the past without the use of BeeVIGOR Marine, significant colony strength decline has been up to 90% without extensive feeding, whilst with extensive feeding including MegaBee, colony decline has been 10-35%.
This positive result from the use of BeeVIGOR Marine during netted pollination is considered outstanding, which reflects the positive result in the previous season replicated field trial #91119.