Last week the Atlantic Tech Transfer Team for Apiculture attended the PEI Beekeepers’ Association Annual General Meeting. The event occurred in Charlottetown, PE on February 28^th and was attended by more than 70 beekeepers and industry representatives from across the Maritime region. The meeting provided a great opportunity for beekeepers to network, learn about the island beekeeping industry and consisted of multiple great speakers on a wide range of informative topics. Some of the highlights of the event are presented below.

Review of the PEI Beekeepers' Association Annual General Meeting 2026

The past Saturday marks the largest attendance of the PEI Beekeepers’ Association (PEIBA) annual general meeting to date, with over 70 beekeepers and industry representatives in attendance. The meeting not only had good island representation, but beekeepers from across the Maritimes were in attendance, and there were virtual presentations from industry experts both nationally and internationally.

To start the day, Troy Fraser (PEIBA president) conducted the annual business meeting. Currently, the PEIBA has 95 members which consists of beekeepers, supporters of the industry and students. Their membership has had steady growth over the past few years, which was reflected by the high meeting attendance.

Karen Thurlow (past Chief Apiary Inspector of New Brunswick) gave two talks during the meeting. The first talk was on examining dead hives. Investigating why a colony dies, at any time in the year, is important to help beekeepers understand how they potentially could have prevented colony loss and aim to prevent similar mistakes in the future. Colony loss can occur from a variety of reasons such as pests and diseases, poor queens, weather events, pesticide exposure, starvation, weak colonies and synergistic effects. Many reasons that colonies die can be prevented with proper beekeeper management, but to identify the reason for colony loss beekeepers must examine dead colonies. Later in the day, Karen gave a second presentation discussing a wide variety of tips, tricks and advice for managing honey bee colonies in the Maritimes.

Cameron Menzies (PEI provincial apiarist) gave an update on the island beekeeping industry. In 2025 there was approximately 30 commercial beekeepers managing over 5000 colonies. The number of PEI hives provided for pollination was an estimated 4675. Additionally, the province imported 3472 colonies for pollination from Ontario and British Columbia. The average rental price for a PEI colony for pollination in 2025 was $228. For honey production, there was an estimated 4000 honey producing hives with an average of 30lbs per hive this past season. During provincial inspections there was no detected American foulbrood or Small Hive Beetle in the province, and detected Varroa mite levels were low (less than 1%). Last winter (2024-2025) the island had a sustainable winter loss of 23% of colonies, and beekeepers are optimistic that winter loss for 2025-2026 will continue a trend of low winter loss.

Pascal Michaud (AgroGene Solutions – Moncton, NB) discussed the results of the various testing being offered by the Agrogene Solutions lab. Pascale provided insight to the various honey bee pathogens that are detected within the Maritime region’s colonies including viruses, bacteria, mites and fungi. To learn more about the various testing offered by Agrogene Solutions visit their website: https://www.agrogenesolutions.com/.

Geoff Wilson (Saskatchewan provincial apiculturist) discussed the biology of the Tropilaelaps mite, and the threat the pest presents to the Canadian beekeeping industry. Geoff is one of few Canadian beekeepers who has had first-hand experience learning about Tropilaelaps mites in both Thailand and the country of Georgia where the mite is prevalent in honey bee colonies. Geoff discussed some of the biological aspects of the Tropilaelaps mite that have the potential to make the pest more damaging than Varroa mites to honey bees, such as their short reproduction cycle, and differences in feeding mechanisms. One interesting aspect of the Tropilaelaps mite lifecycle, that is different from Varroa mites, is that the Tropilaelaps mite only spends 1-2 days each reproductive cycle on adult bees, and, generally, the mite is not thought to survive in a broodless colony for an extended period of time. Given that in Northern climates colonies have a broodless period of a couple months or more each winter this mite may not establish well in Canadian climates. Geoff also discussed potential routes of introduction of the Tropilaelaps mite to North America, potential monitoring methods and potential treatment methods. Overall, there is still a lot of unknowns around the risk and management of Tropilaelaps mites to the North American beekeeping industry. To learn about the Tropilaelaps mite there will be a session occurring on March 13^th during the New Brunswick Beekeepers’ Association Annual General Meeting, which beekeepers are welcome to attend in-person or virtually (Zoom link will be provided through the Maritime provincial beekeeping associations next week). Visit https://nbba.ca/ for more information on the event.

One of the final presentations of the day was from Paulo Mielgo (Vita Bee Health – Argentina) who discussed the product VarroxSan^TM which has recently been approved by the Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency to manage Varroa mites (see past blog “New Varroa Mite Treatment Product: VarroxSan^TM” published on November 13, 2025 for details of the PMRA label). Paulo discussed the efficacy of the product which was tested in multiple independent laboratories and apiaries, and it was demonstrated that when properly administered to a colony the product has an average efficacy of greater than 95% mite mortality. Overall, VarroxSan^TM provides the industry with another Varroa mite treatment option, and it is one of few that is allowed to be used with honey supers on.

To conclude the event Troy Fraser presented the Golden Smoker Award to Jonathan and Jennifer Gillis. The Golden Smoker Award recognizes new beekeepers who have started beekeeping within the last 5 years and have expanded their operation on a yearly basis providing pollination for Island fruit crops.  

Jennifer and Jonathan Gillis receiving the Golden Smoker award, presented by the PEIBA president, Troy Fraser, at the PEIBA annual general meeting 2026.

Thank you to all the organizers of this great event, and to all of the presenters for their knowledge and expertise they bring to the industry.

Connecting with ATTTA Specialists

If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:

visit our website at https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/

Email attta@perennia.ca

As the 2026 beekeeping season approaches, Canadian beekeepers are continuing to learn what Varroa mite treatment products and applications are approved for use in Canada. So far, this past fall and winter, the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has approved of Apivar 2.0®, Amiflex®, and VarroxSan^TM which will provide beekeepers with a few new options to select from in the near future. Adding to the list, the PMRA has recently approved of a new application method for oxalic acid, which is the use of glycerin strips. To learn more about the glycerin strip method, and how this may benefit beekeepers to manage Varroa mites, read this week’s blog.

New Application of Oxalic Acid: The Glycerin Strip Method

Previously, in Canada, the only approved application methods for oxalic acid were the solution method, also known as the dribble method, and the use of vaporizers. Beekeepers can continue using either of the mentioned methods, but now there is a third option available known as the glycerin strip method. It is important that beekeepers understand that all three methods deliver the same product and have the same active ingredient, however, beekeepers can select the application method that works best within their operation.

Oxalic acid dihydrate

The glycerin strip method requires some effort and work to prepare the product for application. Beekeepers must be willing to devote the time to properly preparing the product if choosing this method. According to the label instructions, the product should be prepared with 99.7% food-grade vegetable glycerin and oxalic acid dihydrate at a 1:1 ratio. The solution should slowly be heated until the oxalic acid dissolves within the glycerin and the solution becomes transparent. When heating the solution the temperature should remain between 45°C and 70°C. Then beekeepers can saturate absorbent strips (e.g. cellulose or other natural fibres) and place them in an open container. Strips should be used within one month of preparation.

Each hive should be treated with 40g of oxalic acid. In order to determine how many strips are required to achieve 40g, beekeepers must weight a strip before it is saturated with solution, and again once it is saturated, and determine how much solution has been absorbed. For example, if one strip absorbs 20g of solution, then half of that would be oxalic acid (10g) and, therefore, 4 strips would be needed to achieve the 40g dosage. Beekeepers can trim strips to achieve the required dosage. Strips can be placed on the top bars of frames or allowed to hang down between frames. Strips must remain in the hive for 42 days.

A main advantage to using this application method is that treatment can occur with honey super on hives, which differs from application using a vaporizer or the dribble method. Another advantage to this treatment method is that oxalic acid is relatively inexpensive, and both the dribble method and glycerin strips do not require an expensive applicator (i.e. vaporizer).

There are a couple of disadvantages to preparing these chemical strips at home compared to purchasing a commercially prepared product. In addition to the time and effort required to prepare the strips, there are also associated risks if the product is not prepared safely and correctly. To start, beekeepers must be diligent when measuring the vegetable glycerin and oxalic acid to get a precise 1:1 ratio, and they must weigh each strip to ensure the correct dosage will be administered to each hive. Providing too much or too little of the active ingredient can be harmful to the bees, will impact the efficacy of treatment and potentially contribute to future reduced efficacy. Furthermore, when heating the solution, it must remain between 45°C and 70°C. Underheating the solution will prevent oxalic acid crystals from dissolving, and overheating the solution will degrade the oxalic acid, both of which will reduce the efficacy of the treatment.

Another thing to be mindful of when preparing these strips at home is your own safety. Oxalic acid dihydrate is a hazardous chemical that can cause acute dermal toxicity and has the potential to cause serious eye damage and/or irritation. Oxalic acid dihydrate has multiple health hazards if the chemical is inhaled or ingested. Therefore, proper personal protective equipment (e.g. gloves, protective eyewear, and a properly fitting organic acid respirator) should be worn while preparing the solution. Ideally, the solution should either be prepared in a fume hood or a well-ventilated area, and extra caution should be taken to prevent contamination of any area, or equipment, food is prepared or consumed in.

It is important to recognize that this treatment does not target mites under capped brood cells. Therefore, the best time for beekeepers to use this treatment is when there is a low amount of brood present (e.g. after a queenless split, early season, or late season).

As with all Varroa mite products and application methods, it is essential that beekeepers follow the precise instructions provided by the PMRA regarding dosage, treatment period, frequency of application and application methodology. Not following the instructions can be harmful to bees, impact the efficacy of treatment and could contribute to future reduced efficacy of products. If you have questions regarding oxalic acid glycerin strips, or other Varroa mite products and applications,  reach out to the ATTTA team.

Connecting with ATTTA Specialists

If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:

visit our website at https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/

Email attta@perennia.ca