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Varroa destructor, the leading cause of beekeeper angst.
This relatively large mite parasitizes honeybees from adults to larvae. Crab-like aren't they? Specimen provided by Krisztina Christmon from the University of Maryland where she studies the life history of these tricky beings. Oh, that is the tip of an insect pin you see in the picture.
Researchers at the University of Sydney have found that the relationship between the tissue-sucking Varroa mite and virulence of a virus of honey bees, has most likely been misunderstood.
Researchers at the University of Sydney have found that the relationship between the tissue-sucking Varroa mite and virulence of a virus of honey bees, has most likely been misunderstood.
The study challenges the long-held belief that the parasitic Varroa mite—a mite that sucks the tissue of honey bees—transmits the Deformed Wing Virus of honeybees and in doing so changes the virus to make it more virulent and deadly.
Research published today in Proceedings of The Royal Society B: Biological Sciences concludes that this belief is incorrect.
"The prevailing wisdom is that the mite selects for very virulent strains of the virus," said Professor Madeleine Beekman from the School of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Sydney.
"For that reason, the virus is now known as a very dangerous virus and the Australian beekeepers are adamant this virus should not get into the country. In fact, there is legislation that prevents the import of any bee products that could contain the virus. But our work shows that the virus is more likely to be an innocent bystander."
Australia is the only country in the world to remain free of the Varroa mite. This makes Australian honey and wax valuable because it is free of chemical residues used to eliminate the parasite.
"Australia is the last country on the planet to produce completely pure honey," says Professor Beekman. "But the mite is highly likely to arrive in Australia on shipping containers so we need to understand how the mite and the virus interact."
Professor Beekman and her team in the Behaviour and Genetics of Social Insects Lab injected honey bee pupae with high levels of Deformed Wing Virus which is carried by the mite to test if the virus was highly virulent due to changes in the transmission route that occurred via the Varroa mite.
Experts scrambling to understand losses in hives across the country are finally identifying the culprits. And the damage to farmed bees is a
…farmed bees is a sign of trouble for wild bees too Bret Adee is one of the largest beekeepers in the US, with 2 billion bees across 55,000 hives. The business has been in his family since the 1930s, and sends truckloads of bees across the country from South Dakota, pollinating crops such as almonds, onions, watermelons and cucumbers. Last December, his bees were wintering in California when the weather turned cold. Bees grouped on top of hives trying to keep warm. “Every time I went out to the beehive there were less and less,” says Adee. “Then a week later, there’d be more dead ones to pick up … every week there is attrition, just continually going down.” Adee went on to lose 75% of his bees. “It’s almost depressingly sad,” he says. “If we have a similar situation this year – I sure hope we don’t – then we’re in a death spiral.” It developed into the largest US honeybee die-off on record, with beekeepers losing on average 60% of their colonies, at a cost of $600m (£440m). Scientists have been scrambling to discover what happened; now the culprits are emerging. A research paper published by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), though not yet peer-reviewed, has found nearly all colonies had contracted a bee virus spread by parasitic mites that appear to have developed resistance to the main chemicals used to control them. Varroa mites – equivalent in size to a dinner plate on a human body – crawl and jump between worker bees. If there are no infections present, they do not typically damage the bee. But if diseases are present, they quickly spread them.
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Producers and apiarists remain concerned about future almond harvest and potential for mites to carry deformed wing virus
Beekeepers within 50 kilometres of the port are being told not to move or tamper with their hives as a pest that saw hived bees in the US dr
Varroa mite detection at Port of Newcastle threatens Australia's bee industry
Varroa - Part 2 : Controlling Varroa Mites
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Varroa - Part 2 : Controlling Varroa Mites
Papua New Guinean beekeepers have suffered from the same species of varroa 10 years longer than Fijians, so we can learn from the PNG experience.
Anecdotal evidence from PNG suggests substantial negative impacts on honey production. In the early years, untreated in PNG, it caused bee colony deaths estimated at 60% – 90% in some areas.
One study reported disease consistent with parasitic mite syndrome. However, many bee colonies survived and show some tolerance to the mites.
Integrated pest management (IPM) approach
Most varroa mite experts advise beekeepers to adopt an integrated pest management (IPM) approach to controlling varroa.
An IPM approach uses several methods to reduce the adverse effects of mites.
The different methods of controlling mites have serious trade-offs on effectiveness, cost and labor requirements.
Here are a few ways:
Method 1 of Controlling Varroa Mites: Mechanical And Cultural (Non-Chemical) Control
Removing drone brood is probably the most practical non-chemical varroa mite control method for Fiji, as it only takes a minute to cut drone brood out of frames in the top box of a hive during regular monthly inspections. It can be effective because varroa reproduces primarily on drone pupae.
Varroa mites show a strong preference for breeding in drone cells because they can raise more babies during the drone’s longer development period.
Carve drone brood out of specially designed frames
Some beekeepers overseas routinely carve drone brood out of specially designed frames for this purpose. It is also a good beekeeping practice to keep newer, good quality worker-sized comb in the bottom hive box, so drone pupae only needs to be removed from the top box.
I made some of these frames and plan to place two into the top box of each hive. The bees will build mostly drone-comb in the open bottom section.
A shallow frame in a full-depth box allows the bees to build comb on the bottom of the frame. Most of the cells the bees build will be drone-sized. BTW, the light patches on the comb are only caused by sunlight
Photos courtesy of John Caldeira
Causing a ‘break’ in bee brood-rearing
Causing a ‘break’ in bee brood-rearing is another control method, as it denies the mites a place to breed.
The easiest way to do this is to create walk-away splits each year as they are broodless for the first few weeks. Pinching old queens to let colonies raise a new one works in a similar way.
Caging queens for a couple of weeks to stop egg-laying also works, but that would be an enormous amount of labour for someone with many hives.
Hive bottoms with screens
Hive bottoms with screens that allow mites to fall through instead of solid wood is commonly believed to reduce mite loads by approximately 10%, as some mites naturally fall to the bottom and cannot return to the colony.
A screened bottom board allows mites and debris to fall through, reducing the mite load. Unfortunately, the right size mesh (approx 3mm holes) is nearly impossible to find in Fiji. Has anyone found a good substitute? Photos courtesy of John Caldeira
The screening must be large enough for the mites to fall through, but small enough to keep out robber bees and other pests.
The best screening to use has 3 mm holes, commonly referred to as “number 8 mesh” (8 wires to the inch) but it has been difficult to find this mesh in Fiji.
This same mesh is good for the lids on sugar-shake jars.
Arranging hives in an apiary so that hive entrances are not near each other will minimize the ‘drifting’ of forager bees that mistakenly enter the wrong hive, thus reducing the spread of varroa between hives.
Photos courtesy of John Caldeira.
Originally posted on Fiji Beekeepers Association Facebook Group by John Caldeira: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FijiBeekeepers/
Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF) Fact Sheet on Varroa Mite - November 2018
New Post has been published on https://www.beekeepingfiji.com/?p=3977
Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF) Fact Sheet on Varroa Mite - November 2018
The threat of varroa mite
Varroa mite, Varroa jacobsoni is a serious external parasite of honeybees. Varroa mite damages honeybees through feeding on the brood and adult bees and transmitting various diseases.
The Varroa mite infested colonies are significantly weakened and usually cannot survive for more than one or two years. Varroa mite poses a threat to the agricultural and forestry industries through the damaging effects it has on honeybees and pollination.
There is a potential risk of varroa mites invading all the areas with honeybees in Fiji if appropriate measures are not adopted by the beekeepers.
What is varroa mite?
Varroa jacobsoni is about 1.1 mm long, 1.5 mm wide and brownish in colour.
It is usually found inside the caped drone brood cells and worker brood cells, as well as on adult bees.
Varroa jacobsoni A. dorsal view, B. ventral view
Where you can find Varroa mites?
Varroa mites are widespread and found in Asia (including Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia), Africa, North, South and Central America, the Caribbean, Europe, Oceania.
In Papua New Guinea, a strain of Varroa jacobsoni has been found that has switched hosts and reproduces on European honeybees (Apis mellifera) .
Varroa jacobsoni is recorded from Australia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands ( http://www.pestnet.org ), Vanuatu ( PHAMA Technical Report 34 ) and Fiji.
How does varroa mite spread?
Short-distance spread of vorroa mites among colonies is mainly the result of swarming, drifting workers and/or drones and robbing of weak colonies.
The movement of beehives/nucs, tools and queen shipment are the key factors for the long-distance spread of varroa mites.
What should I do if I found varroa mites?
You can help us eradicate varroa mites. If you have seen it or suspect you have seen it, please contact Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF) via Hotline on 5997 (toll free).
November 2018
Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF) Fact Sheet on Varroa Mite – November 2018
For Further Information
Please Contact:
Biosecurity Authority of Fiji on 3312512
Short Code: Animal Disease Surveillance-5997
Email [email protected]
BAF website www.baf.com.fj
Download pdf of Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF) Fact Sheet on Varroa Mite – November 2018
Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF) Fact Sheet on Varroa Mite – November 2018 Download
