From Ronald Syiem
NONGSTOIN: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has confirmed that the mysterious death of the honey bees in West Khasi Hills, which hinted at apprehensions that the cause could be an unknown disease, was due to poor nutrition.
Around a month ago, the director of Horticulture had sent samples of the dead bees and the beehives to the ICAR for necessary testing.
ICAR scientists — DM Firake and S Patra — unearthed the reason behind the mysterious death of a large number of the bees. They said that poor nutrition led to the colony collapse in Umthied Iawkohsoin village, Myriaw under Mawthadraishan Block.
The report showed that external examination of the bees and honeycomb samples did not reveal any type of common diseases nor parasitic infections such as mites, except common bacterial contaminants, which are usually associated with handling. No other pathogenic bacteria and fungus growth was found in the samples.
The scientists also provided advisories to the farmers interested in apiculture and those in Umthied Iawkohsoin, who lost half of their hives, to follow the instructions during lean season and honey flow season.
During the honey flow season, farmers have been advised to keep the colony in sufficient strength.
Before the honey flow season, queen excluder sheets are to be placed in between brood and super chamber to confine the queen to brood chamber.
Beekeepers should examine the colony once in a week and frames full of honey should be removed.
The frames, which are three-fourth filled with honey or pollen and one-fourth with sealed brood, should be taken out of the brood chamber and in its place empty combs or frames with foundation are to be added. The combs, which are completely sealed or two-third capped, may be taken out for extraction of honey and returned to supers after honey extraction.
The scientists also advised that beekeepers should keep the colonies away from the reach of cattle and other animals, busy roads and street lights. Chemical sprays, especially insecticides, are to be strictly avoided in the vicinity of apiary.
‘No threat to crops’
With regard to wild grasshoppers — which reportedly damaged the broomsticks, banana and thatch grass at Nongthymmai in Tynghor, the report from ICAR, Umroi, and from Central Integrated Pest Management Centre (CIPMC) — shows that the particular species belongs to the grasshoppers’ family known as “Coffee Grasshoppers”.
W Marbaniang, District Horticulture Officer (DHO), told The Shillong Times that according to the report there is no threat from coffee grasshoppers.
He said that as per findings, these insects pose no threat to the crops and other plants.
Marbaniang said that the department will have to monitor everything about the incident which happened in Nongthymmai, Tynghor.
Marbaniang said that it so happens that the coffee grasshoppers lay eggs in an area and it becomes its nest.
According to the report, the insects were in their nymphal stage as they had no wings. Even though they will develop and spread to other places, they cannot be treated as a threat to crops. However, Marbaniang said that the department is very alert about the incident.
The department, while refraining from using insecticides on the grasshoppers, said it is ready to spray the neem-based bio-pesticides, in case of a large-scale infestation.
The District Agriculture Officer (DAO), PN Wahlang and District Horticulture Officer (DHO), W Marbaniang, have carried out investigation to monitor the situation.