As honeybees navigate their essential role in the global food chain, beekeepers can support the internal health of these vital pollinators.
Strong Microbials out of Belgium, Wisconsin, provides specialized probiotics designed to strengthen the honeybee’s natural defenses.
Classified as livestock, bees play a critical role in pollinating everything from California almonds to Midwestern cranberries. To help them thrive in various environments, the company developed a lactobacillus-based supplement that reinforces the bee’s digestive system.
“This recreates and reboosts the barrier around a gut stomach so that the pesticides don’t get in and attack what they need to survive,” explains Director of Crop and Animal Health Renee Kusilek.
She says the supplement works alongside the bee’s natural biology to maintain health. The application process is designed for ease of use, regardless of the size of the operation. The solution is a simple, sugar-based powder that is “dusted” over the hive. Both a hobbyist with a backyard hive or a commercial keeper managing 50,000 colonies can benefit from the product.
“A bee’s gut is the one that activates the lactobacillus bacteria,” Kusilek continues, noting that the dry application ensures the beneficial bacteria go to work exactly when the bee needs them most.
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