Varroa Mites: Samples and Controls (Varroa destructor or jacobsoni) -discovered S.E. Asia 1904; U.S. 1987

Transcription

1 Varroa Mites: Samples and Controls (Varroa destructor or jacobsoni) -discovered S.E. Asia 1904; U.S Tammy Horn Potter, KY State Apiarist KY Dept of AGR Many thanks to Dr. Ray McDonnell for assistance with this presentation

2 SPREAD OF Varroa destructor Robbing (bees pick up mites ) Drifting (drones accepted in other colonies Absconding from colonies collapsing (robbers pick up mites) Swarming (swarms bring mites with them) Beekeepers (transferring affected bees)

3 Varroa Mites--Overview Varroa destructor has no free living stage. It is totally dependent on its honey bee host. Obligate parasite The mite is blind and needs to feed frequently on bee tissue Female mites have two distinct phases in the life cycle: 1. phoretic phasemite rides on an adult bee and will transfer this way 2. reproductive phase in sealed drone or worker brood cells

4 Varroa Mite Reproductive Biology A female mite drops in shortly before capping stage and hides in worker bee food Once cell is capped, the female mite climbs on the (bee) prepupa and within 60 hours, she produces her first egg, which is a male. After an additional 30 hours, she produces 1-2 fertile female eggs, which hatch into daughters. When mite eggs hatch, they are called protonymphs, then molt into deutonymphs and in turn molt into adults.

5 Varroa Mites: Hypodermic needles The adult varroa mite pierces the exoskeleton of the (bee) prepupa so she and her daughters can feed on the blood of the host. Drone bees offer more time for the female mite rear two-three daughters because of the longer capped cell time. A male mite mates with 1-2 sisters and then dies inside cell

6 The adult honey bee emerges with original female mite and one or two fully-developed daughter-mites. These daughters attach to a passing adult bee

7 Viruses Deformed Wing Virus Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus

8 USDA CAPS Honey Bee Health 24 volunteer beekeepers across the KYCommonwealth 5 commercial beekeepers Send live and dead samples to USDA Bee Lab in Beltsville MD $12,000 9 States States is in process Assessment Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey

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10 150 honey bees are placed in a ventilated box 150 bees are placed in a bottle containing alcohol or soapy water MacKenzie Jones, 2016

11 Honey Stores for Winter On Sept 1 st, hives need to have 8+ frames and healthy brood with covering nurse bees, weigh at least lbs and have low mite counts. All light hives (< 40 lbs total in hive bodies) need to be fed 2:1 syrup NOW and with a gallon or more on NOW Feed steadily through mid-october for any hope of building honey stores.

12 Mite Treatments Seasonal, mitepopulation-dependent, and always read the labels 1. Spring and Summer: Mite-Away Quick Strips (formic acid) when you have honey supers on 2. Fall Apiguard (thymol), especially before September when the queen starts laying her winter bees 3. Winter and/or swarms (when no brood is in the hive) Oxalic acid that is labeled as miticide

13 Now is the ideal time to treat with oxalic acid dihydrate

14 Nitrile gloves Ventilated respirator Vaporizer Oxalic acid labeled as a miticide (Brushy Mt. is only place with EPA certification to sell as miticide) Water to cool the vaporizer Deep-cycle marine battery

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16 Note the difference in efficacy, dependent upon how much brood is present. See Randy Oliver s Scientific Beekeeping.com website

17 Mite Away Quick Strips (MAQS) Formic acid Hints May be used with honey supers Can penetrate the wax cappings to impact mites Be mindful of temperature can be hard on queens Use protective gear

18 Apiguard thymol Essential oil Hints Should not apply when bees are bringing nectar into hive You need to apply twice, 14 days apart Wear protection gloves, eyewear, etc. Be mindful of temperatures: too hot, the brood will fry, too cold, the gel is ineffective

19 Apivar Amitraz Hints Slow release strips (need to count on 42 days) Do not use when honey supers are present If used according to label, very few residuals in the hive. Should be rotated with other treatments to prevent mite resistance

20 Honey Bee Health Coalition Tools for Varroa Mite Management 12 brief Videos showing sampling, treating for mites, available on the KY State Beekeepers Association website and Honey Bee Health Coalition website

21 Other Options Consider breeding honey bees from queens that show Varroa Sensitive Hygienic behavior ( mite-biting honey bees that Purdue University is distributing) Consider breeding honey bees that exhibit varroa tolerance (Russian stock) Create Brood breaks by caging queens or making splits, etc.

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23 Overview of controls of Varroa destructor CHEMICALS (Miticides) SYNTHETIC Pyrethroid Strips (Apistan) Mites have shown resistance since 2009 Organophosphate Strips (Checkmite+) this will cause the drone bees to become sterile, toxic to you too. NATURALLY OCCURRING Formic Acid vapors (Mite-Away Quick Strips) can be effective during a honey flow if applied according to label and timely sampling Powdered Sugar sprinkled on bees only 15% effective Essential Oils (Thymol, Apiguard) can be 80% effective if applied according to label and timely sampling Oxalic Acid trickle/vapor 90% effective if applied according to label and timely sampling Hops compounds in strips (Hopguard) can be used during honey flow, but most effective when no brood in the hive. Can be messy to use

24 Resources honeybeehealthcoalition.org htm

25 Thank You! Photo: Ray Tucker, Jr. Tammy Horn Potter KY State Apiarist KY Dept of AGR 109 Corporate Drive Complex Frankfort, KY