EM Probiotic for Bees

Like many other creatures on our planet, bees have their own microorganisms on and inside them. These microorganisms help bees withstand the turbulent changes happening in their environment. We must think of microorganisms and bees not as separate entities but as a superorganism. Bees have their own natural mechanisms for combating pests and diseases, but currently, their environment is changing faster than they can adapt. Pesticides, climate change, and air pollution are making bees' lives shorter and harder than ever. Modern beekeeping is also very demanding. We use as many bee products as possible, neglecting the real needs of our bees.

Propolis, apitoxin, hygienic behavior, and other protective mechanisms of bees are not sufficient under these conditions, and we must help bees. EM PROBIOTIC FOR BEES makes the survival of "bad" microbes almost impossible, not only in the environment but also inside the bees. The mechanisms EM uses to achieve these goals are:

• Direct action mode – a competitive mechanism in which various bioactive molecules affect pathogens;
• Indirect action mode by strengthening the bees' immunity, resistance, and overall energy state.

EM also helps bees process various nutrients and toxins. EM helps bees' enzymes digest and ferment nutrients. EM metabolites improve the cellular functions of bees at multiple levels, from the digestive system to the immune system.

Safety First

EM PROBIOTIC FOR BEES is completely safe for bees, thanks to its natural organic ingredients. Different concentrations from 100% to 1% have shown no side effects, and you can safely use EM concentrate or any dilution with water. The recommended concentrations for practical use are calculated to be cost-effective.

Product Usage

We recommend using EM Probiotic for Bees:

• By spraying;
• In drinking water;
• In syrup;
• In candy boards;
• For tool hygiene.

Instead of smoking to calm your bees, it is better to spray with EM PROBIOTIC FOR BEES solution every time you work in your apiary. This way, you achieve two goals simultaneously:

1. Calm the bees naturally, without side effects;
2. Spread good microbes in the hives.

The working solution for spraying should be 5% EM PROBIOTIC FOR BEES in water (*the water should be chlorine-free; if using tap water, leave it in an open container for at least 24 hours). If necessary, you can apply a higher concentration of EM; this is especially useful during the first treatment when disease appears. Spray the entire hive interior, freely spraying on the bees. When spraying on open brood, please spray from more than 30 cm away and adjust the spray to the smallest possible droplets, as the brood temperature must remain constant.

First, spray the hive's flight board, as it is the area with the most "intense traffic." If you practice stationary beekeeping, it is best to spray the entire apiary with EM PROBIOTIC FOR BEES at least twice a year, once at the beginning and once at the end of the season.

Regardless of the type of feeder you use, add 2-3% EM PROBIOTIC FOR BEES to the water throughout the season. This ensures good water quality for your bees.

Add 2.5% EM PROBIOTIC FOR BEES to syrup. This way, the pH of the syrup is very close to the pH of honey. It is stimulating and tasty at the same time. In case of disease, increase to 5%. Over 5% may change the taste of the syrup, and bees may stop eating it. EM will help bees digest sugar syrup with less energy consumption and protect the bees' enzymatic system. EM will also reduce oxidative stress that occurs when feeding on a sugar-rich diet. EM can be used in both regular and inverted sugar syrup.

USAGE METHOD: 25 ml/1L of syrup.

Add 2.5% EM PROBIOTIC FOR BEES to candy boards. This will improve the quality of the candy boards and enhance the health of the bees.

*Regarding points 3 and 4, please maintain the temperature below 38°C (preferably around 30°C) when adding EM PROBIOTIC FOR BEES. Higher temperatures can significantly reduce the effectiveness of EM PROBIOTIC.

Hygiene during hive work is very important. Use a 10% EM PROBIOTIC FOR BEES solution (soaking or spraying) to sanitize your tools after working with each hive. This will significantly reduce the risk of disease transfer from one hive to another.

*Important

The product should be stored between 2 and 28°C, away from direct sunlight. The diluted product should be used within 2-3 days. Syrup and candy boards with EM PROBIOTIC FOR BEES are more stable and can last longer than without EM.

Benefits

AFTER MANY EXPERIMENTS, YEARS OF SCIENTIFIC WORK, AND PRACTICE WITH EM PROBIOTIC FOR BEES, we can confidently say that it provides a complete solution to most problems in an apiary.

It influences:

• Health status;
• Immunity;
• The microbial environment inside the hive and the bees' digestive system;
• Bee productivity and the quality of bee products.

Ascosphaerosis

Chalkbrood is a fungal disease specific to honeybee larvae of the species Apis mellifera, as well as wild, solitary bees, causing their death within the first two days of the capped brood stage. The disease is caused by the fungus Ascosphaera apis, which is ubiquitous and can also be found in the intestines of healthy adult bees. The spores germinate in the bees' intestines and ultimately cause the larvae to starve to death.

From our experience, if the api-technical protocol is followed, ascosphaerosis does not appear in hives treated with EM. Spraying with EM will produce a high percentage of protection against this fungal disease.

If the disease appears, the treatment protocol is:

Use 5% sugar syrup and 5% water solution (5 treatments in 2 weeks). Add 500 ml of sugar syrup to the feeder every 2-3 days. Spray at the same time (when spraying for the first time, you can use higher concentrations of EM PROBIOTIC FOR BEES depending on the intensity of clinical signs). The first spraying should be done by spraying each frame, while the other 4 can be done by thoroughly spraying the intervals. Add 2-3 tablespoons of sugar to the spray solution.

*It is recommended that beekeepers keep hives at least 50 cm above the ground and ensure the ground underneath is free of grass or the grass is well-trimmed.

Nosema

Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae are sporozoans that localize and exert their pathological action in the epithelial cells of the midgut. They cause nosemosis, which is the most common and widespread disease of adult bees. The spore is the resistant form and can persist for over 2 years in feces left on frames and more than 1 year in honey and combs. From our experience, nosemosis can be prevented in over 85% of cases by adding EM PROBIOTIC FOR BEES to sugar syrup and through spraying, especially at the end of summer (in continental climates, with the change of season). There is a link between the occurrence of nosemosis and the intensive use of sugar in the diet. By adding EM to syrup and candy boards, this problem can be kept at a low level. If nosemosis appears at the end of winter/early spring, bees should be carefully sprayed with syrup containing approximately 20% EM, but only on a sunny, warm day. The severity of the disease is due to the virulence of the parasite, which acts mechanically, inflammatorily, and irritatively on the midgut epithelium, as well as its toxic action. EM improves the functioning of the midgut by supporting the formation of the peritrophic membrane, which is of utmost importance for the integrity of the midgut.

American and European Foulbrood

AMERICAN FOULBROOD (AFB) is a severe infectious disease caused by a spore-forming bacillus, Paenibacillus larvae, which exclusively affects bee brood, with death typically occurring after capping. The disease has an enzootic character, with high spreadability in contaminated apiaries, evolving seasonally, from April to August, with a peak in July and August. From our experience, EM is very effective in preventing AFB. We have several cases of AFB appearing in nearby apiaries but not in those treated with EM, even though sometimes the distance between apiaries was less than 100 meters. Experiences from Argentina and many other countries show that when AFB is treated with concentrated EM with solutions above 50%, at least 3 times (every 1-2 days), the signs of the disease stop, and AFB is kept under control as long as EM is applied regularly (during each inspection and work in the apiary).

EUROPEAN FOULBROOD (EFB) is an infectious disease caused mainly by a streptococcus, Melissococcus plutonius, and an associated bacterial flora consisting of: Paenibacillus alvei, Enterococcus faecalis, and Bacterium eurydice. For example, in Switzerland and the UK, EFB has caused significant problems due to the failure of applied sanitary measures, leading to the need to address the spread of Melissococcus plutonius. EFB is much less fatal than AFB. Bee colonies treated with EM are almost completely protected from EFB, and in our experience, the occurrence of EFB can be easily prevented and treated. Not only due to microbial interaction but also because EFB is largely sustained by different stress factors, proving that EM PROBIOTIC reduces the effect of stressors.

Varroa Mite – VARROOSIS

Varroa destructor is an ectoparasite that affects the entire population of the colony – brood, adult bees, the queen, and drones. Varroosis evolves throughout the year. In the first 2-3 years, the disease usually goes unnoticed. In subsequent years, however, the number of parasites increases rapidly, and when they exceed 30% of the number of bees, the colony drastically depopulates and dies. Along with bee-associated viruses, the mite is one of the main causes of winter colony losses and is possibly the greatest direct threat to beekeeping.

From our experience, EM PROBIOTIC FOR BEES is an excellent addition to standard Varroa treatment with commercial products. After a period of two years, colonies treated with EM show a 40-50% reduction in Varroa infestation.

Currently, the impact of EM on Varroa is not at a significantly satisfactory level. However, we expect to develop EM products that will have a strong effect against Varroa. Our conclusion is that EM helps bees infected with Varroa/Virus survive by supporting fat body formation, thereby aiding immunity and the functioning of the bees' immune system.

Clean is Healthy!

In our experience, EM improves the hygienic behavior of bees in general. Colonies treated with EM are more active in cleaning the brood (for example, in cases of ascosphaerosis). This is also very important in cases of Varroa.

Colony activity is strongly correlated with queen activity. According to one of the largest queen producers, queens treated with EM lay 20-25% more eggs in the same period. This results in bee colonies that grow faster and are better prepared for a good harvest.

It is best to use the EM PROBIOTIC FOR BEES solution for spraying bees every time you work in the apiary, thereby fully supporting the bees' microbiome and the good microbes in the hive. At least twice a year, in spring and at the end of summer, you should spray the apiary soil with a 2.5-5% EM solution. Distribute 2.5% EM PROBIOTIC FOR BEES in syrup, at least 2-3 times 500 ml per colony, in spring and at the end of summer (in continental climates). Any suspicion of disease or the appearance of clinical signs is a time when EM PROBIOTIC FOR BEES MUST BE APPLIED. Every time you move bees to a new pasture for foraging, you should reduce stress by giving EM in syrup. This way, you not only reduce stress but also stimulate the bees to maximize the use of the forage. A small amount of EM syrup should be administered whenever pesticide presence in the collected nectar or pollen is suspected. In continental climates, EM application is very important during the preparation of bees for wintering. Each new season begins in spring, and good wintering is the foundation of an excellent season. EM helps in fat body formation and reduces oxidative stress, thereby helping bees survive the winter in good health.