Launching MAQS in the US: Response from Beekeepers and the Latest Research Rome, 30-March 2012
Sections of the Presentation 1. Fundamental principles of honey bee population dynamics. 2. Natural risks to the honey bees. 3. Varroatosis 4. What is MAQS? 5. Research overview: Benefits and Side effects of MAQS. 6. Response from the beekeepers. 7. Outlook for Italy
Honey Bee Colony Population Dynamics The honey bee is an insect that raises its young in a specialized environment that requires a large number of individual bees functioning in a complex co-dependent social structure.
Honey Bee Colony Population Dynamics It takes 3 weeks to raise a baby bee. A healthy worker bee typically lives 5 to 6 weeks during the active beekeeping season.
Pre-Varroa Population Dynamics For the colony population to grow the birth rate must exceed the death rate. Pre-varroa, the queen had to lay 30 eggs/day/1,000 bees to maintain colony populations. Example: To maintain a population of 40,000 bees, the queen has to lay 1,200 eggs/day.
Pre-Varroa Population Dynamics Considering a population of 40,000 bees, typically 1,200 bees a day will die from natural causes. Bees will generally die in the field, away from the hive. The beekeeper will generally only see a few dead bees.
Natural Risks to Colony Survivorship Colonies can die out from a variety of reasons: 1.Starvation 2.Queen issues 3.Predators 4.Brood diseases 5.Adult bee diseases 6.Winter stress
Varroatosis Definition: Weakening of individual honey bees, the brood, and the honey bee colony due to parasitization by Varroa destructor. Typically leads to the death of the colony.
Photos courtesy of Dr. Ethel Villalobos, University of Hawaii
Varroa Mites Reproduce Under the Brood Cap, preferring Drone Brood.
Varroatosis A varroa mite is a BIG parasite, relative to its host. Its only food is bee blood (hemolymph), which it gets by ripping open the skin of the larvae or by puncturing the exoskeleton of the adult bee.
Varroatosis A single foundress varroa mite has parasitized at least two bees: The larva she fed on growing up, and the adult bee s blood she feeds on each before going under the cap to reproduce. Then she will parasitize a third bee, the larva she raises her offspring on.
Varroatosis Typically a single varroa female will have 5 to 6 reproductive cycles, so will parasitize at least 10 bees. 2,000 varroa means at least 20,000 bees are being or are at risk of being directly parasitized. The number is likely much higher as varroa mites will move from bee to bee during the phoretic stage.
Varroatosis The activities of the varroa mites vector viruses of the honey bees, making them more virulent. Virus expression can be seen in the symptoms of deformities, unhealthy brood patterns, shortened individual bee life spans and ultimately the death of the colony. Combinations of the symptoms are sometime referred to as Parasitic Mite Syndrome.
Varroatosis At this time varroatosis is a chronic illness. All the beekeeper can do is treat the colonies to knock back the varroa populations. This will reduce the symptoms.
Varroatosis: The Challenge It is difficult to kill a bug on a bug without harming the host. All the easy conventional chemicals have run their courses. The beekeepers are turning more and more to nature s defensive tools such as essential oils and organic acids. The most effective of these natural active ingredients are thyme, oxalic acid and formic acid. Once a product is developed, the regulatory barriers to market entry can be overwhelming.
MAQS : A saccharide gel wrapped in a specially formulated Ecopaper (BASF technology) wick.
MAQS Technology It is an Acute effect only, 7-day treatment that targets the mites under the cap. Designed to work in vertically modular hive equipment. Does not turn the hive into a fumigation chamber. Treats the brood rearing zone in the hive. Most effective when brood is present and a honey super is on the hive. Harnesses the brood rearing functioning of the colony. Works with the bees, giving them a tool. Has a tonic effect on the colony health, seen after the first week.
Play video
Questions??
Cut across the end, pull up the seam, slit lengthwise
Hold the open pouch on its side, separate the strips.
Leave the paper wrap on the gel. Place the strips on the frames of lower Brood Chamber. Works best with supers on.
Common Questions Dose: Standard dose is two strips. Were lower and higher doses tested? Temperature: When can I treat? Ease of Use: gloves, opening the package, 2- strips per package, separating strips, placement in hive. Queen events triggered: Queen loss? Supersedure? What to do with colonies that may not go queen right?
The Double Dose Trial 2011 (Do not do this!) To Determine the Margin of Safety with MAQS: 1)Queen events 1)Hive configuration 1)Formic acid in Honey: where does it come from?
Bottom Board Styles
What is going on Inside the hive?
Standard Dose, 2 strips
Formic Acid Levels in Honey, Day+24 (ppm) Double Dose Low 717 Control Low 990 Standard Dose Low 1,291 Standard Dose Average 1,363 Standard Dose High 1,435 SD,3/8" rim n=1 1,722 Control High 1,808 Double Dose Average 2,147 Double Dose High 2,884
Queen Events DD Trial: Pre, During, & Post Treatment Q: What is normal queen-wise, the bees just managing their affairs? August 18, 23 colonies, Pre-Application exam (Day-4) 1)One is a drone layer 2)5 others have queen cells well underway 3)One of those has no eggs or young brood. Out of 23 colonies 6 have queen issues (26.1%) Before treatment.
Queen Events DD Trial Summary 1) Of the 5 colonies that had queen events underway pre-application of MAQS, 3 successfully completed supersedure. 2) Out of the 22 that were put into the trial, 2 were not queen-right at the end (9.1%). 1) In the standard dose group no colonies had queen events triggered by the treatment. 1) In the double dose group 2 colonies lost queens due to treatment, but not all eggs/young larva were lost. They successfully superseded the queens.
Queen Events DD Trial Summary continued 5) The colonies that were not viable were still full of frames with pollen and feed and were not drone layers. They were united onto a queen-right colony, ready for spring splits.
Queen Events DD Trial Summary Continued 6) The colonies fed well from an open source feed drum. They have good size clusters going into winter. 100% winter survival is expected, with strong colonies to work with in the spring.
Queen Events Double Dose Trial Conclusions 1) MAQS, working with the bees, effectively delivers formic acid vapor over several days at a level that is known to kill mites. 1) The queens and the colony can function under elevated levels formic acid vapor for an extended period of time. 1) Adequate access to fresh air is important. 1) MAQS is only effective for the first 24 hours with open-screen bottom boards.
Using MAQS : Key Points MAQS is an Acute effect only, 7-day treatment. Colony Size: covering a minimum of 6 brood frames (approximately 10,000 bees). Feeding: Colonies should have good food reserves at time of treatment and should not be fed during treatment. The treatment period is 7 days. Temperatures: Outside daytime temperature highs should be between 10 30ºC on day of application. Excessive temperatures (> 92ºF) during the first three days of treatment may cause excessive brood mortality, supersedure or queen loss.
Using MAQS : Key Points Some bee mortality may be observed around the entrance. It will be much less than the natural mortality rate. Some brood loss may occur in the first 3 days of treatment. Overall colony health is not expected to be affected, with brood rearing returning to normal by the end of treatment.
Using MAQS : Key Points Ventilation: Colonies require adequate access to fresh air during treatment. An entrance must be provided that is the full width of the hive, typically the bottom board entrance. The bottom hive entrance needs to be fully open for the entire duration of treatment. Any restriction on the hive entrance (less than 1/2 inch high rim on the bottom board, or reduced in width, or mouse guard) must be increased to at least to the minimum ½ inch, or removed to prevent excessive damage to the colonies.
Using MAQS : Key Points For hives with two brood chambers place the strips as described above on the frame top bars of the lower hive body, so the strips are in-between the brood chambers. Colonies are expected to expand the cluster as part of controlling vapour concentration during the first 3 days of treatment. Put on honey super(s) if required to provide adequate space for strong colonies to expand or if a honey flow is anticipated. It is acceptable to have queen excluders in place.
Using MAQS : Key Points Do not disturb the colony for 7 days. Spent strips need not be removed after treatment. If they are removed, dispose of by composting.
Hot Weather Trial, June 2011 Pre-treatment 35ºC (95ºF) 1Hour later 2 days after, 26ºC (78ºF)
June trial, 2 days after MAQS Application Colony Strength, October 5th Honey Harvest
MAQS imizing Economic Return MAQS is an Acute effect only, 7-day treatment. Full benefits are realized only after a full brood cycle of healthy bees are raised. For Honey: Maximize healthy colony populations by treating with MAQS 4 to 6 weeks before honey flow. Have a super on. For Overwintering: Treat at end of the honey flow, preferably while the last super is still on. Before Splitting: Treat 2 to 4 weeks before. Temperature: Under 33ºC (92ºF) for the first 3 days Ventilation: Full width of Hive, minimum 1.3 cm. Always Follow the Label
Responses from Beekeepers: Learning Curve MAQS is a powerful new tool to treat colonies suffering with varroatosis. MAQS needs to be placed in the brood rearing area? Why not place on top? We are providing the bees with a tool, not just doing something to them. Adequate ventilation is important so the bees can control the concentration of formic vapours in the hive. Beekeepers like that formic acid is naturally occurring in honey. It has a cleansing effect in the hive, the egg laying pattern improves after use.
Responses from Beekeepers Dearth Period & High Temperatures: There were reports of elevated risk of queen loss, supersedure, or delayed egg laying during dearth periods, when ambient temperatures are above 30ºC. Some thought that treatment should be postponed until temperatures drop or nectar flow resumes. Note: The research does not support this conclusion, but several beekeepers reported experiencing this. When we checked back with the beekeepers a month later the beekeepers mostly reported that the colonies were doing fine.
Responses from Beekeepers There were concerns around some colonies bearding for the first day or so after application. Prefer to apply with daytime highs <30ºC Increase in monitoring queen health. One strip will provide ~ 70% control, so some beekeepers are applying one strip, then a second strip 1 week to 2 months later. The spent strip is like a hard candy so it takes a long time for the bees to remove. Most beekeepers remove the strips the next time they are in the hives.
Outlook for Italy Italy has long experience with Varroa mites. Many good people, experienced, educated and dedicated, are working on finding solutions. NOD and BASF are working with the researchers and the regulatory structure so that MAQS can be available to the beekeepers of Italy as quickly as possible. Grazie, Questions?
Mille Grazie a l apicoltores et Dr. Giovanni Formato Responsabile U.O. di Apicoltura IZS Lazio e Toscana Via Appia Nuova, 1411-00178 Roma +39.06.79099328 (uff.) - +39.06.79340724 (fax) +39.349.5330816 (cell.) http://www.izslt.it/izslt/apicoltura/index.html
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