Regrettably, our partner, the Bee Informed Partnership, has ceased operations, and its website is no longer available. The information presented below may be of continuing interest to people:

The Bee Informed Partnership (BIP) operated a US wide Sentinel Apiary program (SAP). The program involves monthly (May-October) testing for Varroa and Nosema. MEBW is proud to help bring and expand the program within Maine.

Maine 2021 Sentinel Apiaries

For your convenience, a PDF of the data can be downloaded here.

The Bee Informed Partnership (BIP) operated a US wide Sentinel Apiary program (SAP). The program involves monthly (May-October) testing for Varroa and Nosema. MEBW is proud to help bring and expand the program within Maine.

MEBW’s BIP/SAP program for 2020 had six Maine beekeepers collect samples from each of 4 labeled colonies in their apiary. The samples were then sent to BIP for analysis. MEBW paid participating Citizen Scientists a stipend AND their BIP registration fee. Results are below:

Maine 2020 Sentinel Apiaries

Analysis by The Bee Informed Partnership. Funding (except where noted), by Maine Bee Wellness.

Varroa Mites (per 100 bees) - Nosema (millions of spores per bee)

SBBO - Androscoggin County

Hive #                May     June    July    Aug     Sept    Oct 
SBBO-1     Varroa     0.8      0.3     2.8    3.4     11.9
           Nosema     0.6      0.1     0.1    0.0      0.1
SBBO-2     Varroa     1.1       NS      NS     NS       NS
           Nosema     0.3       NS      NS     NS       NS
SBBO-3     Varroa     1.5      0.0     0.4    4.3     10.6
           Nosema     0.0      0.1     0.6    0.0      0.0
SBBO-4     Varroa     0.0      0.0     0.0   27.2     13.0
           Nosema     1.1      0.1     0.0    0.0      0.1

SBBQ - Aroostook County

Hive #                May     June    July    Aug     Sept    Oct 
SBBQ-1     Varroa     0.0      0.0     0.4    0.0      1.3
           Nosema     6.2      0.8     2.4    2.5      0.1
SBBQ-2     Varroa     0.0      0.0     0.0    0.0      3.1
           Nosema     3.9      0.5     1.1    0.9      0.1
SBBQ-3     Varroa     0.0      0.0     0.0    0.9      1.2
           Nosema     1.2      0.1     0.8    0.4      0.0
SBBQ-4     Varroa     0.0      0.0     0.0    0.4      1.0
           Nosema     2.5      1.4     0.5    1.1      0.1

SAZX - Hancock County

Hive #                May     June    July    Aug     Sept    Oct 
SAZX-1     Varroa     0.0      0.0     0.0    2.6     12.4     NS   (No samples taken in October
           Nosema     6.0      0.1     0.8    0.1      0.3     NS    due to cold weather)
SAZX-2     Varroa     0.0      0.0     0.0    1.0     10.3     NS
           Nosema     6.2      0.4     0.5    0.1      0.3     NS
SAZX-3     Varroa     0.0      0.0     0.2    0.7      5.2     NS
           Nosema     5.2      0.1     0.1    0.9      0.4     NS
SAZX-4     Varroa     0.0      0.0     0.0    0.0      1.7     NS
           Nosema     5.7      0.0     0.3    0.3      0.3     NS

SAYJ - Lincoln County

Hive #                May     June    July    Aug     Sept    Oct 
SAYJ-1     Varroa     0.7      1.6     2.6    2.4      3.1     NS
           Nosema     2.1      0.0     0.6    0.9      0.8     NS
SAYJ-2     Varroa     0.0      0.0     0.3    0.9      7.2    6.3
           Nosema     3.2      0.0     0.0    0.3      0.7    0.1
SAYJ-3     Varroa     0.0      0.7     1.5    1.7      8.2    6.1
           Nosema     0.6      0.0     0.0    0.0      0.3    0.0
SAYJ-4     Varroa     0.5      2.1    10.2    4.9      5.1    0.7
           Nosema     2.0      0.0     0.1    0.0      0.1    0.1

SBBA- Lincoln County

Hive #                May     June    July    Aug     Sept    Oct 
SBBA-1     Varroa     NS       0.0     0.0    0.0      0.0    0.7
           Nosema     NS       0.3     0.0    0.0      0.1    0.0
SBBA-2     Varroa     NS       0.6     0.0    0.4      4.5    0.5
           Nosema     NS       0.1     0.2    0.0      0.1    0.0
SBBA-3     Varroa     NS       0.0     0.0    0.3      1.5    1.1
           Nosema     NS       0.0     0.0    0.0      0.1    0.0
SBBA-4     Varroa     NS       0.0     0.0    0.5      2.1    8.3
           Nosema     NS       0.1     0.0    0.3      0.0    0.0

SAYZ - Washington County

(partially funded by The American Beekeeping Federation)

Hive #                May     June    July    Aug     Sept    Oct 
SAYZ-1     Varroa     0.7      0.6     5.4    4.3       NS      NS   (combined into SAYZ-5)
           Nosema     6.2      0.1     0.4    3.4       NS      NS   (No samples taken in October
SAYZ-2     Varroa     0.8      1.1     1.9    0.0      5.2      NS    due to cold weather)
           Nosema     2.7      0.1     0.2    0.0      0.0      NS
SAYZ-3     Varroa     0.8      1.8     4.5    0.0      0.3      NS
           Nosema     3.8      0.4     0.3    0.1      0.0      NS
SAYZ-4     Varroa     0.0      0.0     1.0    0.0      0.3      NS
           Nosema     2.9      1.3     2.3    0.3      0.1      NS
SAYZ-5     Varroa                                      2.1      NS
           Nosema                                      0.3      NS

SAZY - Waldo County

Hive #                May     June    July    Aug     Sept    Oct 
SAZY-1     Varroa     0.0      0.0     0.0    0.0      1.0    3.0
           Nosema    10.7      4.5     1.0    0.3      0.0    0.1
SAZY-2     Varroa      NS       NS     0.0     NS       NS     NS
           Nosema      NS       NS     8.8     NS       NS     NS
SAZY-3     Varroa      NS      0.5     0.8    4.0     11.5   12.3
           Nosema      NS      1.4     0.1    0.1      0.0    0.0
SAZY-4     Varroa      NS      0.4     1.1    5.2     11.8    8.0
           Nosema      NS      1.3     0.8    0.0      0.0    0.0

NS = No Sample


 Maine 2019 Sentinel Apiaries

Jonesboro, Washington County

Bee Informed Apiary # SARC

Varroa Mites (per 100 bees) - Nosema (millions of spores per bee)

Hive # May June July Aug Sept Oct Notes: Sept. report received 10/17.

SARC-1 Varroa 2.2 2.0 0.0 2.2 6.2 6.4 new from package, last treated for Varroa: 8/10, Apiguard

Nosema 0.3 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.0 last treated for Nosema: Never

SARC-2 Varroa 0.0 0.0 1.3 0.0 0.9 1.2 over wintered 2018/2019, last treated for Varroa: 8/10, Formic Pro, 2 Strips

Nosema 0.1 0.8 0.1 0.3 0.0 0.0 last treated for Nosema: Never

SARC-3 Varroa 0.0 0.3 0.5 0.0 0.3 0.7 over wintered 2018/2019, last treated for Varroa: 8/10, Formic Pro, 2 Strips

Nosema 0.5 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.0 last treated for Nosema: Never

SARC-4 Varroa 1.1 2.9 5.1 0.3 3.1 4.1 new from nucleus, last treated 8/10, Formic Pro, 2 Strips

Nosema 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 last treated for Nosema: Never