Articles

Bees are more than cute, busy little honey-makers. If honeybees become rare or extinct, no longer having honey will be the least of our problems – more than a third of our food crops rely on bee pollination, so our diets would be significantly reduced. In 2006 and 2007, record losses of bee colonies struck fear into the hearts of farmers and environmentalists. It was a low point for the worldwide bee population, and it triggered a closer look at the reasons for bee decline. Although there are a number of reasons for dwindling bee populations, pesticide usage is a major factor. Many commercial pesticides have an impact on bee health, and some are particularly harmful. When individual bees die or lifespans are reduced, the colony can weaken and eventually fail. In New Zealand, the Environmental Protection Agency sets strict rules around pesticide use to minimise harm to bees – and our bee population is relatively robust as a result. Protecting bees takes constant work from farmers, protection agencies, beekeepers, and even gardeners – but it’s worth the effort.

American foulbrood disease (AFB) is a disease of honey bee larvae and pupae caused by the bacterium Paenibacillus larvae.

​A new study has found that insecticides could soon be developed that can target pests without harming beneficial insects such as bees and bumble bees.

The Ecrotek team talks you through everything you need to know about Varroa mites in New Zealand, and how to check for them.

Don’t forget, honey can pose risks to our health. Here’s why you should test it – and how to make it simpler with Ecrotek’s Humm.

How to prevent invasion and treat infestation

Varroa is rife in New Zealand. Ecrotek shows how to manage the disease in your hives using organic treatments.

Whether you’re a gardener, a beekeeper, or just love the outdoors, wasps in the garden are less than ideal. Painful stings are the most obvious downside, but wasps can also pose a significant threat to bees and hives.