On Saturday May 23^rd, 2026 the Atlantic Tech Transfer Team for Apiculture had the pleasure of joining the New Brunswick Beekeeper’s Association for a hands-on spring workshop in Memramcook. Workshops like this bring new and experienced beekeepers together to learn from each other, ask questions and make new connections.

Review of the NBBA Spring Workshop

The workshop was hosted by Anouk Utzdschneider at her farm, where participants split into small groups and rotated through different stations. Anouk took one group through her operation, showing beekeeping equipment and the supplies used for honey extraction. She highlighted the tools she values as a small-scale beekeeper, which was a great chance for newer beekeepers to see what a well-organized, practical, small scale setup looks like!

Marie-Pier Jones, NBBA board member, walked participants through a hive assessment, explaining what to look for when evaluating a colony. She discussed brood patterns, population dynamics, food stores and signs of a healthy queen. Her demonstration helped beekeepers understand what to look for in their own colonies and what kind of questions to ask a mentor.

Figure 1: Participants Watching a Live Demonstration of Creating a Split (ATTTA ©, 2026)

Andrew Byers, ATTTA, also went through a hive and discussed different ways to monitor for Varroa destructor. He demonstrated how to perform an ether roll and walked through how to do an alcohol wash; both are effective techniques for monitoring varroa levels. He highlighted why regular mite checks are essential, how to collect proper samples, how to interpret the results and the different monitoring methods available to beekeepers.

To wrap up the workshop, the group had the opportunity to learn how to make a split from an exceptionally strong colony with lots of brood and food stores. Participants learned how to choose frames, balance resources and set the new colony up for success, a valuable skill for new and experienced beekeepers!

Figure 2: Attendees of the NBBA Spring Workshop (ATTTA ©, 2026)

This workshop highlighted the importance of a mentor, someone who can guide you, answer questions, and help you navigate challenges that arise in beekeeping. Having an experienced beekeeper to lean on can make a significant difference in anyone’s beekeeping journey!

A big thank you to the NBBA for hosting such a valuable and welcoming workshop, and to board members for sharing their experiences and knowledge!

Written by Kaitlyn Newton, ATTTA Seasonal Apiculturist

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

Ticks Safety in the Apiary

Ticks are an increasing concern for people in Atlantic Canada, and beekeepers are particularly at high risk with long hours spent in fields, wooded areas, and tall grass, which are all habitats for ticks. Understanding tick risks, and associated disease prevention strategies, is essential for beekeeper’s health.

Tick Safety in the Apiary

The Maritimes are home to many types of ticks, but the black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis) is the only one currently known to transmit disease to humans. These include Lyme disease, caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, as well as anaplasmosis, babesiosis and Powassan virus disease ¹. Both Lyme disease and anaplasmosis are now considered endemic diseases in Nova Scotia ¹. Other ticks found in the Maritimes include the American Dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) and the groundhog tick (Ixodes cookei). While these species can carry pathogens, they are not known to transmit diseases to humans in the Maritimes ².

Figure 1: Most Commonly Found Ticks in the Maritimes Showing (Left to right) the Black-legged Tick, Groundhog Tick and Dog Tick (Government of Nova Scotia ©, 2026) (Retrieved May 20, 2026)

Ticks in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are active when the temperature is consistently above freezing and can be found in woods, shrubs, leaf litter, long grass and gardens ¹. With a warming climate, black-legged ticks have expanded their range, meaning even beekeepers who have not encountered ticks in previous seasons should be aware of the risks ².

Ticks develop through four life stages: egg, larva, nymph and adult ³. Black-legged ticks feed on many hosts, including dogs, deer, rodents, birds and humans, allowing disease-causing bacteria to spread ³. Both nymphs and adults feed on animals and can spread diseases to humans.

Beekeepers can reduce the risk by taking precautions such as dressing appropriately, using repellents, managing the landscape of the apiary, managing tick hosts and doing thorough tick checks. When working in an apiary, an effective strategy is wearing correct clothing such as closed-toed shoes, long pants, long sleeves, and light-colored clothing to make ticks easier to spot, and tucking pants into socks or wearing tall boots to create physical barriers. Many of these practices also overlap with sting-prevention, making them easy to integrate into routine beekeeping strategies.

Repellents are another important step, but you must be careful that they will not disturb the bees ⁴. Using products that contain DEET or icaridin (picaridin) can be applied to exposed skin and clothing, and permethrin can be used on clothing to repel ticks on contact.  Make sure to follow label instructions when using these products. After spending time outdoors, beekeepers should perform tick checks, especially checking warm places on the body, as well as showering or bathing, and drying outdoor clothes on high heat to kill any ticks that may be attached.

Figure 2: Vegetation Management in an Apiary to Minimize Tick Habitat (Perennia ©, 2024)

Managing the environment of the apiary can also help reduce the risk of tick encounters. Keeping grass mowed, maintaining clear pathways to colonies, and placing hives on pallets or stands can make these areas less attractive to ticks ⁴. Some beekeepers also use gravel in the apiary to reduce vegetation around the hives and make the area less suitable for ticks. Reducing tick hosts, such as deer, small mammals and rodents, by using fencing or reducing rodent habitats around the apiary can lower the number of ticks around the bee yard. Together these prevention strategies create a safer work environment and can help beekeepers remain healthy.

 Written by Kaitlyn Newton, ATTTA Seasonal Apiculturist

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

References:
1.    Government of Nova Scotia. (n.d.). Tick safety. Available at https://novascotia.ca/ticksafety/  (Accessed: 19/05/2026)
2.    Nova Scotia Zoonotic Diseases Technical Working Group. (2026). Tick-borne Diseases Response Plan. Available at https://novascotia.ca/dhw/cdpc/documents/Tick-Borne-Disease-Response-Plan.pdf (Accessed: 19/05/2026)
3.    Ogden, N.H., Koffi, J.K., Pelcat, Y. and Lindsay, L.R., 2014. Environmental risk from Lyme disease in central and eastern Canada: a summary of recent surveillance information. Canada Communicable Disease Report, 40(5), p.74.
4.    Kopco, J., Struckhoff, E. and Underwood, R. (2025). Tick Prevention for Beekeepers. PennState Extension. Available at https://extension.psu.edu/tick-prevention-for-beekeepers (Accessed: 19/05/2026)