Outcomes
Students will have gain an awareness of various strategies for managing varroa mites and the differing levels of efficacy associated with these strategies.
Key Takeaways
- There are 5 strategies for applying IPM: Prevention, Cultural, Mechanical, Biological, and Chemical.
- Prevention is all about decreasing the risk of contact with diseases which are rated by efficacy based on scientific studies at the University of Florida.
- Cultural includes brood interruption (moderate effectiveness), hygienic stock (significant effectiveness), and apiary separation (low efficacy)
- Mechanical Controls: Drone comb removal (moderate efficacy), Screened bottom boards (low efficacy), powdered sugar and hyperthermia (no known efficacy)
- Biological Controls: Using natural predators within the colony to manage varroa (not successful in the field…yet)
- Chemical Controls: organic acids and synthetic treatments (moderate and significant effectiveness)
Beekeepers across North America grapple with an enduring challenge – Varroa mites. To combat this threat, beekeepers turn to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies.
Varroa Mite Management Integrated Pest Management (IPM) rests on five pillars: Prevention, Cultural, Mechanical, Biological, and Chemical Controls.
1. Prevention: Measures to Minimize Mite Introduction and Spread
- Focusing on preventing initial mite infestations.
- Implementing hive hygiene and biosecurity practices.
- Quarantining new colonies or equipment before introduction.
- Monitoring and controlling migratory bee movements to avoid mite transfer.
2. Cultural Control: Utilizing Bee Behaviors and Natural Traits for Mite Management
- Harnessing bees’ innate behaviors to manage mite populations.
- Brood Interruption: Caging the queen or removing brood to disrupt mite reproduction.
- Hygienic Stock: Breeding and selecting resistant bee strains to reduce mite populations.
- Apiary Separation: Maintaining distance between apiaries to prevent mite spread.
3. Mechanical Control: Physically Reducing Mite Populations
- Employing mechanical methods to directly reduce mite numbers.
- Drone Brood Removal: Regularly removing drone brood to eliminate mites.
- Screen Bottom Boards: Allowing mites to fall through the hive’s bottom screen.
- Powdered Sugaring: Dusting adult bees with powdered sugar to dislodge mites.
- Hyperthermia: Applying controlled heat to the hive to kill mites.
4. Biological Control: Using Natural Enemies to Control Mite Populations
- Introducing natural predators or pathogens to control mite numbers.
- Entomopathogenic Fungi: Deploying fungi that infect and kill mites.
- Arthropod Predators: Utilizing predatory arthropods to consume mites.
5. Chemical Control: Using Chemicals to Manage Mite Populations
- Utilizing chemicals as a part of an integrated strategy.
- Organic Chemicals: Thymol, formic acid, oxalic acid for treatment, following label instructions.
- Synthetic Chemicals: Amitraz, coumaphos for targeted mite control, adhering to label guidelines.
- Acaricide Resistance Management: Rotating different treatments to prevent mite resistance.
By incorporating these five IPM categories into their beekeeping practices, beekeepers can take a multifaceted approach to Varroa mite management
