A Canadian researcher said studies of Bermuda’s bee population could help to support the insects internationally.

Nichol Piniak, an independent honeybee researcher based in Calgary, said in the most recent edition of the Envirotalk Newsletter that the island’s bees were coping well despite high levels of varroa mites that had undermined colony health worldwide.

Ms Piniak said that while Africanised DNA had helped to make populations elsewhere more resilient, Bermuda’s bees appeared to be able to manage the pests themselves.

“Bees are coexisting with parasites, and Bermuda beekeepers do not even rely on chemical controls,” she said.

“Coral islands like Bermuda and Fernando de Noronha, Brazil, are sedimentary archipelagos, with naturally alkaline compositions. There are other similar locations too.

“These islands have honeybee populations containing reproducing varroa mites, but a common theme suggests the bees are less impacted by diseases carried by the mites.”

Ms Piniak said that pH may play a role in controlling viral pathogens passed on by the mites, which would explain why Bermuda’s bees can survive high mite populations while managing associated illnesses.

“By using apple cider vinegar to adjust the pH in sugar feed, researchers witnessed that, although the viruses and mites were still present, in alkaline conditions the viral capsid opened prematurely, disarming its ability to spread most infections,” she said.

She proposed that lime-based masonry and stone on the island may help the local population, creating an alkaline shield for hives.

“I was drawn to the honeybee colonies in Bermuda that live free in rock crevices and caves,” Ms Piniak said. “These cavities are somewhat like the stone and brick columns that honeybees in my home region of southern Alberta are attracted to.

“What is even more amazing is this natural choice towards stone structures despite the drastic difference in climates.”

She said that modern beekeeping practices often led to increased acidity, which provided ideal conditions for viruses and varroa mites to reproduce.

“Sugar syrup feed, mould and decomposition within the hive structure all lead to increased acid, working against human effort to support bees in their recovery process,” she said.

“These issues are serious in climates where there are no options but to carry on the way things are, compounded with growing concern for future crop pollination.”

Ms Piniak said that humidity may also be a factor in protecting bees from the negative affects of the varroa mites.

“A lab located in the United States was exploring humidity, evaluating the survivable threshold of varroa mite reproduction,” she said.

“A postdoctoral assistant incorrectly set an incubator, increasing the relative humidity to 75 per cent. While this was accidental, the researchers discovered it heavily impeded the ability for varroa mites to reproduce.

“They further hypothesised that if there was a way to artificially increase relative humidity to 80 per cent, then varroa mites would never increase to damaging levels at all.”

She said that in the wake of her visit to the island last year, she set out to design a new hive incorporating a sedimentary rock called tufa found in the region.

“Although we have a cold, dry climate, I am still hopeful,” Ms Piniak said.

“I believe one must never forget that honeybees are tropical insects, needing high humidity, which they use to regulate cooling and heating, in addition to floral diversity and mineral sources.

“Honeybees are masters at adapting, when given access to the correct tools to do so. I feel it’s up to honeybee advocates and research alike, to hand over a little trust to the bees. Perhaps function as co-pilots rather than trying to force an outcome through genetics.”