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
