Understanding the Oklahoma Honeybee Pest and Disease Landscape through Feral Colony Trapping

Commodities

Practices

Removing feral colonies from the environment is beneficial in three ways: 1) by removing potential honeybee and native bee pests, 2) removing unwanted competition for floral resources to managed honeybee and native bee species, and 3) obtaining free honeybee colonies that are well adapted to the local ecosystem and disease landscape. Catching feral colonies is an opportunity to investigate honey bee health without bringing more honeybees into the environment and to assist unmanaged colonies that might be destroyed by pests or human exterminators. 

Feral colonies usually come in 3 forms: 1) open swarms, which have landed and are in between a former hive and a new hive, 2) established colonies, which are residents of an unmanaged hive that have overwintered in that location, typically in a hollowed tree cavity, and 3) trapped swarms, which are new residents to a swarm trap. Swarm traps can be constructed from existing beekeeping equipment or be purchased from commercial retailers. Traps are usually set up with a scented lure and frame with drawn honeycomb that are attractive to swarming colonies. 

Homeowners and residents of urban areas are typically the most concerned with open and established swarms, since they find it undesirable to have a swarm take up residence in their home or tree, since children and pets are in such a close vicinity and there is a fear of getting stung. Removing honeybees from urban areas will proactively address the concerns of local residents that require help from the local beekeeping club members or other exterminator professionals. 

Throughout the 2025 seasons, feral honeybee colonies will be collected by means of catching open swarms, established colonies and swarm traps. Open swarms and established colonies will be identified through public calls to BeeLoved Trading and the NEOBA swarm line from April 1 to July 1. The goal will be to monitor 12 existing managed colonies and 12 feral colonies (4 open swarms, 4 trapped swarms, and 4 swarms from established colonies) at the local honey producing company Shadow Mountain Honey Company located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, totaling 24 colonies on the 150 acre property.  

Swarm traps will be constructed starting March 1, 2025 and will be placed strategically over the Tulsa region at private locations. 24 swarm traps will be made and 12 will be distributed so that the trap can be replaced when a full swarm trap is relocated to Shadow Mountain. In 2024, 13 swarms were caught through a combination of open swarms, swarm traps and established colonies from public calls, private traps, and beekeeper observations, and so 12 swarms in 2025 is a reasonable goal. 

When a swarm is collected the date, location and swarm type (open, trap, established) will be recorded. Any other insects in the hive will be noted and collected into alcohol vials for pinning and identification for three months: April, May, an June. Once the swarm is relocated to the farm, the weight will be measured and population size estimated. A mite count will be conducted via an alcohol wash and the sample of workers will be sent off for laboratory analysis. Colony health will be measured upon installation monthly until November 1. The colonies will be treated for Varroa and SHB upon installation, and fed 1:1 sugar water and pollen substitute as needed. 

The 12 overwintered managed honeybee colonies will serve as negative controls. Alcohol mite washes and worker bee laboratory analysis will be done May 1, 2025 on all of the managed colonies, which will coincide with the removal of the spring formic acid treatments for Varroa. For the managed colonies, the colony size and health will be noted monthly from March 1 until November 1. Honey will be harvested from managed colonies in July and the amount of honey will be recorded. All colonies will be fed with 1:1 sugar water and pollen substitute as needed. Appropriate SHB management will be applied as needed. 

Labor be will be mainly conducted by Hollie Dalenberg. Other labor on this project will be through trained volunteers and students in the recovery program. Installing swarm traps and managing existing colonies is within the typical scope of beekeeping work and is a reasonable amount of labor to complete over the beekeeping season. Collecting swarm pest samples, submitting samples, pinning insects, analyzing data, and distributing data will be additional labor above the normal beekeeping work in a season and so extra hours for this project are included in the budget request. The monthly field days have been scheduled, but funds for handouts, water to drink and pocket veils for the students would enhance the experience and reduce costs for participants.