Transcript of Parasitic mites and the honeybee
- 1. Parasitic Mites and the Honey Bee
- 2. First detected in North Carolina in 1984. Scars the lining
of the trachea and the bee usually ends up malnourished or starves
to death. This parasite is also in the mite family. This mite is
too small to be seen with the human eye. Tracheal Mites
- 3. Tracheal Mite Symptoms Loss of colony in late winter/early
spring when hive has plenty of food. Slow buildup in spring. Sudden
colony death when you can eliminate most other causes. A colony may
be infected for years with no symptoms. Requires a microscopic
dissection of the bee to make an accurate diagnosis.
- 4. Tracheal Mites IPM Tracheal Mite Resistant Bees Some bees
have a natural resistance Grease patties: A mix of vegetable
shortening and sugar (2:1). Shown to have a moderate effect.
- 5. Menthol Crystals A common element in candy, shaving cream,
and other commercial product. Dont use during a honey flow. Will
not get rid of mites but will drop the levels down.
- 6. Chemical Treatments Apiguard, Api Life VAR, and Mite Away II
These are also varroa treatments.
- 7. Tracheal Mite Treatments No real need for miticide
treatments. Current thinking is bees have built up a resistance. If
treatment needed, use grease patties. Next step would be
menthol.
- 8. Varroa Mites Member of the tick family Invaded the US in the
mid 1980s Most of the world's honey bee population is infected
(except for a few remote islands). Biggest economic impact of all
bee parasites.Varroa Destructor
- 9. Varroa Mites The female mite will attach itself to an adult
bee. Prefers drones cells. Sucks the hemolymph fluid (blood) from
the bee. Leads to other diseases by transferring RNA viruses such
as the deformed wing virus.
- 10. Deformed Wing Virus is spread by varroa
- 11. Varroa Lifecycle
- 12. Checking Varroa Infestation Levels Visual observation of
the hive - Do you see deformed bees/wings? - Do you see a lot of
dead bees? - Do you see varroa mites on any bees?
- 13. Sticky board method Need a screened bottom board. Requires
you buy/make a sticky pad to do count. Gets you an easy estimate.
The general goal is to keep under 10 mite/drop per day. Checking
Varroa Infestation Levels
- 14. Checking Varroa Infestation Levels Sugar Shake Method
Requires you to make a shake container You start with a set amount
of bees (about 300 is a good number)- avoid including the queen
Better accuracy in varroa count
- 15. 1qt wide mouth canning jar with a #8 screen in the lid
band, 10X sugar, 1/2 cup measuring cup, spray bottle, white paper
plate and pen. All the components fit in a Rubbermaid tub that is
perfect for shaking the sample into. Sugar Shake Method
- 16. Checking Varroa Infestation Levels Take a 1/2 cup of nurse
bees from a frame in the center of the brood nest. The frame should
contain capped and uncapped brood. Be careful not to take the
queen.
- 17. Add sample to a 1qt wide mouth Ball jar containing 2Tbsp
powdered sugar. The lid band has a circle of #8 hardware cloth
pressed in it.
- 18. Shake, shake, shake. Spray plate with water to dissolve
sugar and reveal mites. Count mites.
- 19. The sample bees are returned to their hive, a little dusty
but none the worse for wear. Their sisters will clean them up good
as new.
- 20. Understanding Mite Count: Sugar Shake Method Before
supering April/May Treat when levels are 2-3 mites/sample Mid flow
(optional) June/July Remove crop and treat when 10 or more
mites/sample Post honey flow before final fall brood rearing
Aug/Sept Treat when levels are 10-12 mites/sample These thresholds
assume normal size colonies with brood
- 21. Checking Varroa Infestation Levels Alcohol Wash - Uses the
same technique as the sugar shake but it kills the bees - It is
essential that the queen not be included in the sample - It
requires that a shaker vessel be made - It is easier to count the
mites
- 22. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Youll hear this term a lot
This is your program to control pests and diseases IPM can be
either chemical or non-chemical Calendar sensitive Encompasses
queen traits
- 23. Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
- 24. Treatment of Varroa Mites Aim is to have the minimum Varroa
population by winter Screened Bottom Boards - Easy to use. - May be
left on year-round. - Does not effect the honey in the hive. -
Combats other pests, not just varroa. - NOT effective against
varroa by itselfmostly for monitoring level of varroa
infestation.
- 25. Treatment of Varroa Mites Sugar Shake or Dusting - Pouring
powdered sugar through the hive. - Mites will release and fall off
bees. - Moderate effectiveness; use with a screened bottom. - Use
in the spring every 5-7 days for at least a month - More time
intensive. - Shouldnt be used during a honey flow? - Less effective
when bees are clustered
- 26. Powdered Sugar Dusting
- 27. Chemical Treatments Checkmite + (*) Apiguard Apistan strips
(*) Api Life VAR Mite Away II And many others * No longer effective
against varroa mites
- 28. Chemical Treatments Apiguard Api Life VAR Mite Away II Over
time mites grow resistant to Chemical treatments
- 29. Chemical Treatments Things to Consider Come up with a plan.
Research the product. Dont use during a honey flow. Most treatments
are temperature sensitive. Check to see if mites have become
tolerant!!!! Checkout the treatment cycle. Most are time and season
dependent.
- 30. Naturally occurring chemicals -Essential oils, especially
lemon, mint, and thyme oil -Oxalic acid applied as a vapor or
trickling method -Formic acid as vapor or pads
- 31. Oxalic Acid - Sold in hardware stores as a wood bleach -
Oxalic acid applied as a vapor or trickling method
- 32. Mite Away Quick Strips (MAQS) Uses formic acid which
naturally occurs in honey. Can be used with honey supers on. Kills
95% of mites that are capped. Only one treatment required.
- 33. HopGuard This is generally recognized as a safe food
additive. Hopguard is an extract from the Hop plant. Cardboard
strips impregnated with the extract are hung between frames using
two strips per 10 frames. Up to three applications can be applied
per year..
- 34. Controlling mites using vaporized mineral oil:
- 35. Local Survivor Stock Local bees from: Swarms Bees raised by
local beekeepers
- 36. Behavioral Methods Bee race selection - Minnesota
Hygienic--Varroa resistant Italians - Russians are 1/3 to less
susceptible to mite reproduction. VSHVarroa Sensitive Hygienic
behavior
- 37. IMPORTANT! Never put chemical treatments on a hive when
there are honey supers on-- (unless the packaging specifically says
it is safe to do so).
- 38. http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/PDFs/AGRS116.pdf