1. Aizen, M. A., & Harder, L. D. (2009). The global stock of domesticated honey bees is growing slower than agricultural demand for pollination. Current Biology, 19(11), 915-918.2. Kulhanek, K., Steinhauer, N., Rennich, K., Caron, D. M.,... & vanEngelsdorp, D. (2017). A national survey of managed honey bee 2015–2016 annual colony losses in the USA. Journal of Apicultural Research, 56(4), 328-340.3. van der Zee, R., Pisa, L., Andonov, S., …., & Wilkins, S. (2012). Managed honey bee colony losses in Canada, China, Europe, Israel and Turkey, for the winters of 2008–9 and 2009–10. Journal of Apicultural Research, 51(1), 100-114.4. Neumann, P. & Carreck, N.L. (2010). Honey bee colony losses. Journal of Apicultural Research, 49, 1-6.5. van der Zee, R., Brodschneider, R., ……, & Gray, A. (2014). Results of international standardised beekeeper surveys of colony losses for winter 2012–2013: analysis of winter loss rates and mixed effects modelling of risk factors for winter loss. Journal of Apicultural Research 53(1), 19-34. 6. Al-Ghamdi, A. & Nuru, A. (2013). Beekeeping in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia past and present practices. Bee World 90(2), 26-29.7. Alqarni, A. S., Hannan, M. A., Owayss, A. A., & Engel, M. S. (2011). The indigenous honey bees of Saudi Arabia (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Apis mellifera jemenitica Ruttner): their natural history and role in beekeeping. ZooKeys, 134, 83.8. Al-Ghamdi, A., & Nuru, A. (2013). Beekeeping in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia opportunities and challenges. Bee World, 90(3), 54-57.9. Abou-Shaara, H. F., Al-Ghamdi, A. A., & Mohamed, A. A. (2013). Honey bee colonies performance enhance by newly modified beehives. Journal of Apicultural Science, 57(2), 45.

Beekeeping and colony losses in Saudi ArabiaAbdulmajeed Albarrak1, MS and Alison Gray1, PhD

1Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow

The global population of managed honey bee hives has

increased steadily during the last half century (Figure A) 1

However, managed honey bee colonies have declined in

the US and in Europe during the last few decades.2,3,4,5

RSS 2017 Conference

A number of pests, including the Varroa mite (Figure H)6

Harsh weather6,8

Low erratic rainfall

Long dry period

High temperature and low humidity

Little knowledge of CCD, but there is some study of losses

generally.

Introduction

Factors related to colony loss in Saudi Arabia

References

Factors responsible for colony loss in Europe

Underlying causes are poorly understood, but believed to

be the results of multiple factors, including:5

Harsh winter

Varroa mite

Queen problems

Treatment of Varroa

Pesticides used on crops

Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD).

Beekeeping in Saudi Arabia

Beekeeping in Saudi Arabia is a growing industry6

Estimated 4000 beekeepers and 700,000 bee hives7

Produce 3500 tons of honey per year7

Main (indigenous) honey bee race is Apis mellifera

jemenitica (Figure C) 7,8

Imported honey bee race is Apis mellifera carnica (Figure

D)

Indigenous race is more tolerant and well adapted to the

environmental conditions of Saudi Arabia7

Beekeepers often migrate from one area to another to

adjust environmental conditions and to improve foraging

capacity (Figure E). 6,8

Suitable beehive type (insulated cover box,

thermoregulatory beehive, etc.) can save honey bees in

the hot season (Figures F, G).6,7,9

Aim of this work

Gap in knowledge about beekeeping and losses in Saudi Arabia

Factors responsible for colony loss in the US

Though harsh weather has not been identified as a

factor for colony loss in the US, there are some common

factors in Europe and the US (Figure B).2

Work so far

Figure A: Estimated number of bee hives 1960-20101

Figure B: Estimated number of colonies lost due to each commonly self-reported colony health risk factor in the US2

Figure E: Migratory beekeeping in Saudi Arabia8

Figure D: Apis mellifera carnica Figure H: Varroa mites on a honey bee

Studying background to beekeeping in Saudi Arabia and

colony loss generally

Familiarisation with questionnaire programs

Establishing contacts with

Local beekeepers and

Beekeeping associations in Saudi Arabia

Translating the COLOSS questionnaire into Arabic

Carrying out some small scale pilot work to gather

information for use in planning

The next steps will involve planning and implementation

of a first survey in Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with

COLOSS colleagues in nearby hot countries.

National level colony loss data is limited

There is a lack of standardized survey methods to

estimate colony loss and study associated risk factors in

Saudi Arabia.

Review beekeeping in Saudi Arabia

Adapt COLOSS ( www.coloss.org ) questionnaire to

estimate national level colony loss in Saudi Arabia and

field test it

Plan and implement a beekeeper survey

Analyse data and identify factors contributing to colony

loss.

Figure G: Box hives in permanent apiaries6

The dominant bee plant species of Saudi Arabia include several acacia species (Acacia albida, Acacia asak, Acacia ehrenbergiana, Acacia etbaica, Acacia johnwoodii, Acacia oerfota, Acacia tortilis), Ziziphus mummularia, Ziziphus spina christi, Phoenix dactylifera, Heliotropium arabainense, Zilla spinosa, Lavandula dentata, and many others. Ziziphus and acacia are the most important and special honey source trees in the country (Fig. 2). Challenges of Beekeeping in Saudi Arabia Despite the great potential and multiple opportunities for beekeeping in Saudi Arabia, there are also many challenges confronting the industry. Some of these challenges are summarised below. Honey Bee Diseases and Parasites The occurrence and distribution of honey bee diseases in the country were extensively assessed by Al-Ghamdi (2010). According to this study, Nosema, Amoeba, chalkbrood, American Foul Brood, European Foul Brood, Bacillus alvei, black queen-cell, acute paralysis, chronic paralysis, Varroa destructor and Braula coeca were reported to exist in different parts of the country at different rates of infestation (1-30%) in sampled colonies. Among these, V. destructor has important negative economic consequences in Saudi Arabia in terms of both its distribution and the levels of infestation. The occurrence and broad

56 ǀ World Beekeeping

distribution of many honey bee diseases in the country are associated with the annual large-scale importation of package bees from other countries (Fig. 4) and the extensive migratory beekeeping practices.

Honey bee pests and predators According Al-Ghamdi (2010), a wide range of honey bee pests and predators are found in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Many species of wasps, hornets, wax moths, ants, beetles, reptiles and different bee-eater birds are major pests and predators of honey bees. According to this report, bee-eater birds, wasps and wax moths were the most serious threats to the beekeeping industry of the country, both in degree of damage and area of coverage. Importation of different honey bee races Indigenous honey bee colonies are too scarce and productivity per hive is too low to satisfy the increasing demand for honey in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, the price of a local A. m. yemenitica colony (Figs. 5 and 6) is relatively high at USD 100-120 per colony. Because of these factors, the country annually imports around 100,000 A. m. carnica and A. m. lingustica bee colonies from Egypt and Australia. These races yield more honey per colony and are also relatively easy to handle. The average price of imported package bees is USD 30-40 per colony. However, every year, more than 70% of

the imported colonies perish soon after honey harvest, which may be due to their inability to withstand the long, dry, hot seasonal conditions in the area. As a result beekeepers must start from new package bees every year.

Genetic dilution The imported honey bees are endangering the genetic resources of the local honey bee populations through the uncontrolled mating of imported drones with local

Fig. 4. a Package bees arrive from air cargo in containers of 18 colonies. b the travelling mesh is removed. c, d, e and f, the packages are transferred and established in standard Langstroth hives, April, 2012

Fig. 5. Apis mellifera yemenitica - the local bee.

Fig. 6. Local bee on acacia

4a 4b 4c

4d 4e 4f

Figure C: Apis mellifera jemenitica8

Figure F: Traditional beekeeping in Saudi Arabia7

http://www.coloss.org/