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Why Every Beekeeper Should Read This: Tackling Bee Viruses Without Magic Bullets

  • Writer: Frank Jeanplong
    Frank Jeanplong
  • 4 days ago
  • 2 min read

A new 2025 scientific review by Ivana Tlak Gajger and colleagues, “Strategies to Mitigate the Adverse Impacts of Viral Infections on Honey Bee Colonies,” lays out what we actually know — and don’t know — about protecting colonies from bee viruses. It’s one of the clearest, most practical overviews yet on this fast-moving topic.


The Problem

Honey bees face at least 18 known viruses that can weaken colonies, deform wings, shorten lifespans, and quietly contribute to winter losses. These viruses spread year-round through brood, adults, hive products, and even flowers — and Varroa mites remain the main driver. Yet there are still no approved antiviral treatments for bees.


The Good News

The paper highlights several approaches that work together to lower viral pressure rather than cure infection — a reality check for every beekeeper who’s wondered if there’s a quick fix.


1. Control Varroa properly. Keeping mite levels below threshold remains the foundation of virus control. Regular monitoring, timely treatments, and integrated pest management cut viral loads dramatically.

2. Keep good queens. Requeening with young, healthy stock reduces vertical virus transmission and strengthens colonies genetically and behaviorally.

3. Feed well. Diverse pollen and quality supplements improve bee immunity. Poor nutrition weakens resistance to viruses, even when mites are under control.

4. Choose the right site. Apiary crowding and poor forage can raise virus pressure. Selecting locations with diverse flora and lower hive density pays off.

5. Select resistant bees. Lines showing hygienic or grooming traits (VSH behaviour) can indirectly suppress virus spread. Breeding from locally resilient colonies is key.

6. Consider new tools. Hyperthermia (controlled hive heating) can lower both mite numbers and viral loads, though it must be done carefully. RNA interference (RNAi) — feeding bees double-stranded RNA to trigger antiviral defence — is still experimental but promising for the future.

7. Maintain biosecurity. Clean tools, irradiated combs, and fresh wax sheets reduce virus carry-over between seasons.


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Why You Should Read It

This review connects the dots between practical apiary management and cutting-edge bee science. It explains why each measure matters and what’s realistic right now. For New Zealand beekeepers facing ongoing Varroa pressure and unpredictable seasons, it’s an invaluable guide to protecting hive health through integrated management, not single cures.


If you only read one scientific article on bee viruses this year, make it this one — it’s open access, practical, and directly relevant to every beekeeper aiming to keep colonies strong and productive. Tlak Gajger I., Abou-Shaara H.F., Smodiš Škerl M.I. (2025). Strategies to Mitigate the Adverse Impacts of Viral Infections on Honey Bee Colonies. Insects, 16(5), 509. Open Access Article

 
 
 

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