During the last week all nine Latvian citizen scientists (CS) received Insignia tool box. They will be ready to start work for Insignia in mid of April.
Insignia tool box in Latvia is fully prepared for a whole season, except lacking ApiStrips which will be added during the sampling season by national coordinator (NatCo). Each tool box contains materials for two colonies.
By taking care of safety measures in Latvia Insignia tool boxes were delivered personally by NatCo to citizen scientists. That gave opportunity not only to deliver tool boxes to CS in time but also to explain sampling methodology of Insignia to CS by direct communication and establish good relationship between NatCo and CS.
Citizen scientists in Latvia are semi-professional beekeepers and well experienced. Three out of nine are certified organic beekeepers. Apiaries of CS are located in different regions of country and will cover both intense farming and wild areas.
All CS in Latvia reported good overwintering of colonies. Meaning that beekeepers will have wide spectrum of colonies to choose for Insignia in coming April. That gives us promising starting point for all Insignia apiaries in Latvia.
By Valters Brusbardis