Field protocols - Atypical worker behaviour
An essential task of Work Package 1 is to optimize and standardize data collection methods for identifying and monitoring the health status of honeybee colonies. We strive for all actions to be harmonized, and that differences due to the manipulator and/or the procedure are brought to a minimum.
For this purpose, we developed protocols for field observations and data management. These protocols are selected by reference work and key scientific publications and contribute to the operationalization of the Health Status Index (HSI). They are continuously evaluated by end-users, give adequate insights of the (health) status of a colony, refrain from disturbance of the bees and are user friendly. Protocols that are found to be sufficient will be made publicly available to end-users at the end of the project.
The ‘Atypical worker behaiour’ protocol aims at identifying atypical behaviour in colonies. Atypical behaviour by workers is one of the first signals of diminished health within the colony as it may indicate e.g., presence of diseases or starvation. This measurement is done by visual inspections of worker bees. It assumes a basic level of normal typical behaviour of honeybees. Some examples of atypical behaviours include running quickly over the comb for long periods, trembling (aside from the trembling dance) or shaking.
For more information about this, please visit: www.b-good-project.eu/
Giving Beekeeping Guidance by cOmputatiOnal-assisted Decision making (B-GOOD)
Ongoing | 2019-2023
- Main funding source
- Horizon 2020 (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
- Geographical location
- Belgium