How to proceed to find an infected apiary or meliponary

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06 March

How to proceed to find an infected apiary or meliponary

PROTOCOL FOR CONTAMINATION CASES APIARIES OR MELIPONÁRIOS

(updated 17/09/2022)

Given the finding of the numerous and frequent occurrences of cases of mass death of bees in Latin America, especially in Brazil, the Bee or Not to Be NGO took the initiative to bring together a set of measures to be adopted by the beekeeper and meliponiculor affected by the problem. Like this, the topics below comprise guidance on how to proceed in cases of contamination in apiaries or meliponários.

You can meet all the topics or part of them. But don't stop acting.

The moment you check a death problem, intoxication or significant loss of bees contamination, which is expressed by the presence of many dead bees or dying inside and outside the hive, or the massive and sudden reduction of field bees, follow these guidelines:

1) Make a large log with photos and videos of the apiary / affected meliponary: photograph and film the hives on the outside and inside, seeking details of dead bees or dying, taking care to give the real dimension of the problem. Register also visited the blossoms, or environment and cultures coming years;

2) Collect samples still live bees, of dead bees (inside and outside the hive) This and pollen in the combs. This should be done quickly, up to a maximum of 48 hours after infection, From this time because the material begins to decompose phase, which impairs its analysis.

Etch the samples into a clean container, preferably in plastic bottles or glass. Freeze samples in the freezer of your refrigerator, so you can send to a lab you trust, for analysis.

Unfortunately there are very few laboratories prepared for this purpose.

Here are some labs:

  1. Agrosafety: www.agrosafety.com.br (Sta. Bárbara D'Oeste-SP)

2. Eurofins: www.eurofins.com.br (It – SP)

3. LARP (Laboratory of Analysis of Pesticides Residues – UFSM Chemistry Department: https://www.ufsm.br/laboratorios/larp/ (Santa Maria – SR)

4. EDLAB (Water and Environmental Analysis Laboratory): https://edlablaboratorio.com.br (Bragança Paulista – SP)

Usually the result of a contract award indicates the active principle found, not the commercial product itself. This obviously complicates the liability statement, since the same active ingredient is used in several products and different brands. But it can be a great indication of cause.

Na public sphere, very few are the Universities and Federal Agencies laboratories (for example Embrapa) prepared for this type of analysis. But it is important to seek the support of a university at the time of an occurrence, for specific guidelines in accordance with the context of each situation may be important. The APTA laboratories in Pindamonhangaba-SP http://www.biologico.agricultura.sp.gov.br/page/laboratorio-especializado-de-sanidade-apicola-–-lasa (from the state government of SP), UFERSA of Mossoro-RN, of UFSCAR in São Carlos-SP, and UNESP in Rio Claro-SP and UFRGS are some of those that have initiatives for scientific studies on bee contamination;

3) Immediately report the case to its Apicultural Association and also to the Federation and CBA (www.brasilapicola.com.br);

4) Make your event registration on the platform “BEE ALERT”, created to gather and document significant deaths and losses of bees in apiaries and meliponários.

Access can be made via the website www.semabelhasemalimento.com.br/beealert , or through the application “BEEALERT”, which can be downloaded for free on your smartphone, through stores and GooglePlay AppleStore. Your data will be kept confidential, and you can allow access or not information about the location of your apiary / contaminated meliponary. The data provided will be used for scientific purposes.

5) It is important that front the cases of mass death of bees, it is made a police report by the Environmental Police of your city, or by the Civil Police. Contamination cases may be considered environmental crimes, entitled to compensation. Meet some laws of interest, and seek specific legal advice:

6) Make also the record of this occurrence with public agencies of animal protection / vegetable of your city or state: Agriculture Defense Department (SDA/MAPA); IBAMA; Environmental Police;

Phones and useful data:

7) “Another measure to be adopted is to conduct complaint in the Federal Public Ministry, through the site: www.mpf.mp.br . Complaints can also be made to the State Public Ministries. The prosecutor leads the State Forums to combat the impacts of Pesticides and has conducted investigations into the misuse of pesticides. The National Forum is following deaths of bees by aerial spraying.” (Source: Bees x Pesticides)

Meet the playbook of the important work of the initiative “Bees x Pesticides” which brings together diverse information and guidance on documentation and registration of apiaries, and complaints of bee death occurrences with the Attorney General and Combat Forums to Pesticides: https://issuu.com/wilsongussoni/docs/vers__o_final_da_cartilha_abelhas_x

8) Communicate immediately to farmers in the region where the contamination on mortality of bees, as a warning to prevent recurrence. Raising awareness is the best way to protect, and it is important that farmers are aware of the Good Practices to Protect Pollinators: http://www.semabelhasemalimento.com.br/boas-praticas-polinizacao-no-campo-2/

9) When appropriate, engage the media outlets in your area (radio, newspaper, TV, internet), occurred to cover; also use social networks for the same purpose (there are many relevant groups on the Internet related to the topic of beekeeping and beekeeping);

10) Take care to take preventive measures, to prevent recurrence.

  • When placing hives off your property, inform the owners or responsible for the area for the location of your apiary / meliponary; make sure what is allowed and safe to place the bees on this site;
  • The beekeeping in APP areas (Permanent Protection Areas) require obtaining a Federal Technical Registry, issued by IBAMA. Search this certification to regularize their apiary / meliponary.
  • Regularly update your contacts with rural producers close to their apiary, as well as its association of beekeepers; keep them informed about the location and change your apiary;

Obs: A Joint Normative Instruction MAPA In. 01 (04/01/13) It states that the farmer should notify the beekeeper, a 6km radius and 48 hours in advance, on aerial application of pesticides activities; have a direct channel of communication with farmers and associations is essential to minimize contamination risks.

Bee or not to be Bee Alert

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