Milwaukee WI, December 2020 — Strong Microbials, the original creators of the first probiotic for honeybees, have improved the already successful, SuperDFM®-Honeybee™ est. in 2014; based on exciting scientific research that shows Pediococcus acidilactici (P801) helps rescue honeybees who have suffered pesticide exposure. That’s why Strong Microbials researched and developed SuperDFM®+P801™ for commercial pollination.
According to a USDA survey1, 98% of honeybee comb and foundation in North America were contaminated with an average of 6 different pesticides. Exposure to sublethal concentrations of pesticides can significantly shorten honeybee lifespan, weaken immunity, decrease colony population, and cause precocious foraging. There is an accumulation of evidence supporting probiotic bacteria’s benefits, specifically, lactic acid bacteria’s ability to strengthen and stimulate the immune system while aiding optimal nutrient absorption. The bacterial composition of SuperDFM®+P801™ is a massive breakthrough in combating the “4 Ps” that are harming honey bees: parasites, pesticides, poor nutrition, and pathogens. A new study2 published in February 2020 found that Pediococcus acidilactici can rescue honeybees from pesticides’ adverse effects. Honeybees exposed to boscalid + thiamethoxam, a few of the pesticides formulated into products such as Cruiser® and Pristine®, resulted in a 41% mortality rate. In comparison, honeybees exposed to these pesticides and treated with Pediococcus only saw a 15% mortality rate.
“We’ve been testing this strain of Pediococcus acidilactici since 2017. This publication was important because it emphasized the connections between pesticides and pathogens,” said Slava Strogolov, the CEO of Strong Microbials. In March 2020, the University of Florida conducted a field trial with Strong Microbials’ SuperDFM®+P801™. This study followed sixty hives for two months. In the end, it showed that hives treated with SuperDFM®+P801™ showed a significant improvement in hive weight and a tendency towards better survivorship. Twice as many colonies in the control group died compared to the hives supplemented with SuperDFM®+P801™.
EAS Master Beekeeper Carol Hoffman said that “The fungicide use in the California Central Valley increased in recent years, affecting bee health. Beekeepers need to find new approaches to keeping healthy bees.” SuperDFM®+P801™ is now available for pre-order through the website StongMicrobails.com/superdfm-p801. Shipments will begin in early January 2021, with delivery to California in time for almond pollination. For additional information, please reach out to info@strongmicrobials.com
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0009754&type=printable -> USDA Survey
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048357519304894?via%3Dihub -> New Study Published in Feb
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