What can beekeepers do to avoid CCD?
(Modified from recommendations made by the CCD Working Group http://maarec.cas.psu.edu/index.html • Do not combine collapsing colonies with otherwise healthy ones – the cause of CCD has not been identified so it is possible that combining a sick colony with a healthy one will “contaminate” or “infect” the healthy colony. • If you find abandoned hive equipment and the cause of bee death is suspicious, store the equipment in a manner that prohibits other bees from accessing it. Do not let neighboring colonies rob out equipment that has hived collapsed colonies. Do not reuse the equipment if the colony displayed symptoms of CCD. Such equipment should be stored securely until CCD is understood better. • Use an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach for varroa control in honey bee colonies. This approach can minimize the need for chemical use in bee colonies, lessening bee exposure to potentially-toxic chemicals. If varroa are a problem, use approved miticides rather than off-label home
