Colony Strength Analysis Topic of Bee Research

Oregon State University researchers plan to post information on how to analyze bee colony strength on the Extension website sometime this fall. According to pollinator health Extension Specialist Andony Melathopoulos, the analysis technique, which came out of a research project funded in part by the Oregon Blueberry Commission, could benefit growers and beekeepers.

Andony Melathopoulos, OSU

“Our hope is this will create a better market for beekeepers who are going the extra mile and consistently delivering good, strong colonies,” Melathopoulos said.

Research in 2019 and 2020 showed a yield increase when higher strength colonies are employed in a blueberry field, he said. “If you had four colonies per acre that were on the weaker end and four colonies per acre that were strong, there was a yield increase,” he said.

Melathopoulos said measuring colony strength is common in hybrid canola seed production in Alberta, Canada, where he studied pollinator health as part of his postdoctoral work at the University of Calgary. And, he said, it is typical for canola production companies to pay extra for good, strong colonies.

“They know that there is value in a stronger colony,” Melathopoulos said.

One benefit in knowing colony strength is it can help growers and beekeepers come to better prices for colony rentals.

“It will help the market adjust,” he said. “Currently, many blueberry growers are paying $60 per colony regardless of colony quality. It would help correct the market if beekeepers providing consistent quality were given a bonus.”

The new OSU tool will enable growers to estimate colony strength from the seat of their pickup by counting how many bees return to a colony. Return rates of 40 or more bees, according to research conducted by Kennedy Grant in Melathopoulos’ lab, represents a strong colony.

“I think a person from the cab of their truck can figure this out,” he said. “You don’t need anything fancy. You don’t need an app.”

Melathopoulos added that as part of the OSU flight webpage, growers can test their ability to spot strong or weak colonies using actual videos recorded in the field.

For more information, go to https://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/pollinators.