Bumblebee Sector Guide To The National Bee Farm-level Biosecurity Standard
Appendix E: Bumblebee Biosecurity Checklist

Bumblebee Biosecurity Checklist

Section 1: Bee Health Management

1.1 Bumblebee Sources

• Box bees are purchased from inspected and certified suppliers and distributors
• Box new hives are appropriately transported with screens, in enclosed vehicles (suppliers)
• Box hives being sent to non-native regions have queen excluders and are not placed in field
• Box hives are placed appropriately, including hive entrances exposed to the morning sun
• Box records are created and maintained for every new hive

1.2 Prevention: Minimizing Susceptibility to Pests

• Box temperature, humidity, ventilation and carbon dioxide in the greenhouse are monitored
• Box hive boxes are kept in partial or full shade
• Box operational disturbance is minimized
• Box only recommended pesticides are used and applied with caution
• Box one-way entrance tubes keep bees inside hive and minimize pesticide exposure

1.3 Prevention: Minimizing Exposure

• Box hives are placed away from greenhouse entrances
• Box pollination stocking rate recommendations are followed
• Box where possible greenhouse doors and entrances are designed to reduce risk of bee escapes
• Box hives are placed near a tall object (landscape feature)

Recommended practices outside of Bombus impatiens native range include:

• Box hives are not placed in fields
• Box queen excluders are used during transport (suppliers)and for entire production cycle

1.4 Diagnosis and Monitoring

• Box pests are recognized early through monitoring of signs of pests and pollination activity
• Box monitoring records are created and maintained

1.5 Standard Response Plan

• Box if pests are suspected, protocols for hive removal and disposal are followed
• Box disposal begins with immediate bagging, followed by killing of the colony and appropriate disposal of entire hive
• Box records are kept and maintained

1.6 Elevated Response Plan

• Box communication occurs with staff, provincial apiarists and inspectors, suppliers, other growers
• Box management protocols are in place and are implemented if an elevated response is triggered (may include suspension of hive movement, restricted access, heightened monitoring and sampling)
• Box all requirements of a quarantine order or protocol are followed
• Box personal, equipment, and disposal biosecurity protocols are followed
• Box records are kept and maintained

Section 2: Operations Management

2.1 Obtaining Production Inputs

• Box supplies are obtained from certified, inspected and recognized suppliers (growers)
• Box feeding of bee products is avoided; if supplemental carbohydrate is required, it consists of sugar water or high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) (suppliers)

2.2 Handling and Disposal of Production Inputs (suppliers)

• Box appropriate feeders are used, cleaned and disinfected
• Box label instructions are followed for use and disposal of treatment products

2.3 Obtaining Bee Equipment (suppliers)

• Box only new hive boxes are purchased

2.4 Handling and Disposal of Bee Equipment (suppliers/growers)

• Box the entire hive is disposed of either at the end of the production cycle or earlier if pests are suspected

  The entire hive is bagged and disposed of by one of the recommended methods:

  • Box disposal by bee supplier/pollination service provider
  • Box freezing (contained and landfill)
  • Box carbon dioxide (contained and landfill)
  • Box drowning (contained and landfill)
  • Box burial at appropriate depth
  • Box burning of entire hive
• Box disposal records are kept and maintained

2.5 Personal Sanitation (suppliers)

• Box hands are washed after handling contaminated equipment or bee products
• Box hands are washed with water and soap, hand sanitizer or other appropriate solution
• Box disposable gloves are worn or reusable gloves are routinely washed and disinfected

2.6 Design of Facilities

• Box bumblebee suppliers adhere to facility design requirements and control access (suppliers)
• Box over-boxes for transport are clearly labelled with the required information
• Box where possible greenhouse entrances are designed to prevent escape
• Box greenhouse light, temperature, carbon dioxide, humidity and ventilation are monitored and controlled

2.7 Maintenance of Premises, Buildings, Vehicles and Other Equipment (suppliers)

• Box new sites are inspected before placing bees
• Box buildings and equipment are regularly cleaned and disinfected
• Box buildings are checked annually for protection from pests and risk of escape

2.8 Control of Weeds and Nuisance Pests (suppliers)

• Box facilities and hives are kept free of attractive environments for pests
• Box wasps are monitored and nests removed

2.9 Training and Education

• Box a biosecurity training/education program is implemented

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