Sampling for the diagnosis of bee diseases was conducted in the Cruce a Dos Aguadas community, located in the municipality of San Andrés, Petén. The initiative benefited 13 producers who collectively manage 287 beehives.
A total of 83 samples from adult bees were collected to detect the presence of Varroa destructor (Varroa), Nosema apis (Nosema), and Acarapis woodi (tracheal acariosis).
According to officials, “the main benefit of this work is strengthening the technical skills of beekeepers, as it allows them to understand the incidence and infestation levels of diseases affecting their hives. In this way, improvements in bee colony health and productivity are promoted.”
The activities were carried out by staff from the Bee Health and Production Unit under the Vice Ministry for Petén Affairs (VIPETÉN), in coordination with the Vice Ministry of Agricultural Health and Regulations (VISAR) at the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA), as well as the Beekeeping Health Program (PROSAPI) and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).
Officials noted that monitoring helps with early detection of bee diseases, reducing economic losses and hive mortality. They added that “the objective of monitoring is to identify apiaries with higher infestation levels by Varroa destructor, a mite that acts as a vector for various viruses which weaken or can even kill honey bees.”
A follow-up round of monitoring will be conducted to determine rates of three significant bee viruses: deformed wing virus, acute paralysis virus, and sacbrood virus.
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