Veterinary Care for Honey Bees: Emerging Challenges and Opportunities

As threats to honey bee colonies increase, veterinarians are becoming essential for hive health. However, high costs, limited training, and a shortage of bee specialists hinder the growth of this field. (Photo by David Cappaert, Bugwood.org) By Claire Green Claire Green Veterinary medicine has historically included insects, but recent years have seen a shift towards actively treating them. The first recorded instance of insect disease treatment dates back to 1890, when U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers linked cattle fever to ticks and suggested controlling tick populations. Since then, veterinary entomology has focused on pest management to alleviate disease in domesticated animals. With pollinator populations declining globally, immediate intervention is now critical. Factors such as parasites, pathogens, and habitat loss have contributed to these declines. Although managed pollinators like honey bees have not faced the same drastic reductions, they are experiencing significant increases in colony loss rates due to various stressors that compromise hive health. Researchers are urgently seeking solutions to combat bee parasites and pathogens or enhance overall hive health.