Regrettably, our partner, the Bee Informed Partnership, has ceased operations, and its website is no longer available. The information presented below may be of continuing interest to people/
The Bee Informed Partnership (BIP) operated a US wide Sentinel Apiary program (SAP). The program involves monthly (May-October) testing for Varroa and Nosema. MEBW is proud to help bring and expand the program within Maine.
Maine 2021 Sentinel Apiaries
The Bee Informed Partnership (BIP) operated a US wide Sentinel Apiary program (SAP). The program involves monthly (May-October) testing for Varroa and Nosema. MEBW is proud to help bring and expand the program within Maine.
MEBW’s BIP/SAP program for 2020 had six Maine beekeepers collect samples from each of 4 labeled colonies in their apiary. The samples were then sent to BIP for analysis. MEBW paid participating Citizen Scientists a stipend AND their BIP registration fee. Results are below:
Maine 2020 Sentinel Apiaries
Analysis by The Bee Informed Partnership. Funding (except where noted), by Maine Bee Wellness.
Varroa Mites (per 100 bees) - Nosema (millions of spores per bee)
SBBO - Androscoggin County
Hive # May June July Aug Sept Oct
SBBO-1 Varroa 0.8 0.3 2.8 3.4 11.9
Nosema 0.6 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1
SBBO-2 Varroa 1.1 NS NS NS NS
Nosema 0.3 NS NS NS NS
SBBO-3 Varroa 1.5 0.0 0.4 4.3 10.6
Nosema 0.0 0.1 0.6 0.0 0.0
SBBO-4 Varroa 0.0 0.0 0.0 27.2 13.0
Nosema 1.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1
SBBQ - Aroostook County
Hive # May June July Aug Sept Oct
SBBQ-1 Varroa 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.0 1.3
Nosema 6.2 0.8 2.4 2.5 0.1
SBBQ-2 Varroa 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.1
Nosema 3.9 0.5 1.1 0.9 0.1
SBBQ-3 Varroa 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.9 1.2
Nosema 1.2 0.1 0.8 0.4 0.0
SBBQ-4 Varroa 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 1.0
Nosema 2.5 1.4 0.5 1.1 0.1
SAZX - Hancock County
Hive # May June July Aug Sept Oct
SAZX-1 Varroa 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.6 12.4 NS (No samples taken in October
Nosema 6.0 0.1 0.8 0.1 0.3 NS due to cold weather)
SAZX-2 Varroa 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 10.3 NS
Nosema 6.2 0.4 0.5 0.1 0.3 NS
SAZX-3 Varroa 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.7 5.2 NS
Nosema 5.2 0.1 0.1 0.9 0.4 NS
SAZX-4 Varroa 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.7 NS
Nosema 5.7 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.3 NS
SAYJ - Lincoln County
Hive # May June July Aug Sept Oct
SAYJ-1 Varroa 0.7 1.6 2.6 2.4 3.1 NS
Nosema 2.1 0.0 0.6 0.9 0.8 NS
SAYJ-2 Varroa 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.9 7.2 6.3
Nosema 3.2 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.7 0.1
SAYJ-3 Varroa 0.0 0.7 1.5 1.7 8.2 6.1
Nosema 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0
SAYJ-4 Varroa 0.5 2.1 10.2 4.9 5.1 0.7
Nosema 2.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1
SBBA- Lincoln County
Hive # May June July Aug Sept Oct
SBBA-1 Varroa NS 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.7
Nosema NS 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0
SBBA-2 Varroa NS 0.6 0.0 0.4 4.5 0.5
Nosema NS 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.1 0.0
SBBA-3 Varroa NS 0.0 0.0 0.3 1.5 1.1
Nosema NS 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0
SBBA-4 Varroa NS 0.0 0.0 0.5 2.1 8.3
Nosema NS 0.1 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0
SAYZ - Washington County
(partially funded by The American Beekeeping Federation)
Hive # May June July Aug Sept Oct
SAYZ-1 Varroa 0.7 0.6 5.4 4.3 NS NS (combined into SAYZ-5)
Nosema 6.2 0.1 0.4 3.4 NS NS (No samples taken in October
SAYZ-2 Varroa 0.8 1.1 1.9 0.0 5.2 NS due to cold weather)
Nosema 2.7 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.0 NS
SAYZ-3 Varroa 0.8 1.8 4.5 0.0 0.3 NS
Nosema 3.8 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.0 NS
SAYZ-4 Varroa 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.3 NS
Nosema 2.9 1.3 2.3 0.3 0.1 NS
SAYZ-5 Varroa 2.1 NS
Nosema 0.3 NS
SAZY - Waldo County
Hive # May June July Aug Sept Oct
SAZY-1 Varroa 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 3.0
Nosema 10.7 4.5 1.0 0.3 0.0 0.1
SAZY-2 Varroa NS NS 0.0 NS NS NS
Nosema NS NS 8.8 NS NS NS
SAZY-3 Varroa NS 0.5 0.8 4.0 11.5 12.3
Nosema NS 1.4 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0
SAZY-4 Varroa NS 0.4 1.1 5.2 11.8 8.0
Nosema NS 1.3 0.8 0.0 0.0 0.0
NS = No Sample
Maine 2019 Sentinel Apiaries
Jonesboro, Washington County
Bee Informed Apiary # SARC
Varroa Mites (per 100 bees) - Nosema (millions of spores per bee)
Hive # May June July Aug Sept Oct Notes: Sept. report received 10/17.
SARC-1 Varroa 2.2 2.0 0.0 2.2 6.2 6.4 new from package, last treated for Varroa: 8/10, Apiguard
Nosema 0.3 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.0 last treated for Nosema: Never
SARC-2 Varroa 0.0 0.0 1.3 0.0 0.9 1.2 over wintered 2018/2019, last treated for Varroa: 8/10, Formic Pro, 2 Strips
Nosema 0.1 0.8 0.1 0.3 0.0 0.0 last treated for Nosema: Never
SARC-3 Varroa 0.0 0.3 0.5 0.0 0.3 0.7 over wintered 2018/2019, last treated for Varroa: 8/10, Formic Pro, 2 Strips
Nosema 0.5 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.0 last treated for Nosema: Never
SARC-4 Varroa 1.1 2.9 5.1 0.3 3.1 4.1 new from nucleus, last treated 8/10, Formic Pro, 2 Strips
Nosema 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 last treated for Nosema: Never