Varroa Mite 2014 Report
BIO CONTROL FOR VARROA MITE
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JULY 9, 2013 UPDATE ON THE VARROA MITE
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This is the 4th year of investigation into Ss as a control for varroa mite damage to honey bees
Varroa inspection frequency: 15 times Mar to Oct 2014
Control hive: formic treated as per Provincial standards for chem hives Miteaway strips serve as our chemical choice for this work. At cool temperatures Miteaway is an effective product.
Bio control based on IPM ( Integrated Pest Management ) identification based pest control
Stratiolaelaps scimitus, predatory mite = Ss
Investigation partners:
NIC , technical support, delivery of Ss predatory mite.entomologist
Applied Bionomics Ltd. ,Brian Spencer Ss genetics and supply. teck support
Niagara Beeway, field operations, apiary maintenance, field data collection
There remain questions of dosage, timing and frequency in this work with Ss
These questions are currently undergoing structured investigation. Peer review and fellow beekeeper observations are welcome.
Spring treatment 200 ml / hive Ss Bionomics
Fall treatment 200ml / hive Ss Bionomics
IPM treatment triggered by 12 drop in 24 hr test strip
from 10 march 2014 to 6 Oct 2014 fifteen inspections
Significant observations:
Varroa population appeared to be under control throughout the season. Honey harvest was strongest in July. This was the first year for two harvests of honey.
Temperatures were cool throughout the summer with three notable +30 C days in Sept, These 30 degree days in Sept drove varroa populations above the detection level limits, calling for the fall inoculation of 200 ml Ss.
As our sticky boards were installed covering 11 more ( 9 MORE THAN 2013 ) days of varroa activity, we captured an interesting event. Within 10 days of the fall inoculation, over 300 varroa were captured on the sticky boards. This type of count or varroa fall onto the sticky boards is typical for a formic acid or chemical kill of varroa. It appears the varroa were exiting the hive above and we captured their movement on or sticky boards. For days later the varroa count was very low or non existent.
Varroa inspection frequency: 15 times Mar to Oct 2014
Control hive: formic treated as per Provincial standards for chem hives Miteaway strips serve as our chemical choice for this work. At cool temperatures Miteaway is an effective product.
Bio control based on IPM ( Integrated Pest Management ) identification based pest control
Stratiolaelaps scimitus, predatory mite = Ss
Investigation partners:
NIC , technical support, delivery of Ss predatory mite.entomologist
Applied Bionomics Ltd. ,Brian Spencer Ss genetics and supply. teck support
Niagara Beeway, field operations, apiary maintenance, field data collection
There remain questions of dosage, timing and frequency in this work with Ss
These questions are currently undergoing structured investigation. Peer review and fellow beekeeper observations are welcome.
Spring treatment 200 ml / hive Ss Bionomics
Fall treatment 200ml / hive Ss Bionomics
IPM treatment triggered by 12 drop in 24 hr test strip
from 10 march 2014 to 6 Oct 2014 fifteen inspections
Significant observations:
Varroa population appeared to be under control throughout the season. Honey harvest was strongest in July. This was the first year for two harvests of honey.
Temperatures were cool throughout the summer with three notable +30 C days in Sept, These 30 degree days in Sept drove varroa populations above the detection level limits, calling for the fall inoculation of 200 ml Ss.
As our sticky boards were installed covering 11 more ( 9 MORE THAN 2013 ) days of varroa activity, we captured an interesting event. Within 10 days of the fall inoculation, over 300 varroa were captured on the sticky boards. This type of count or varroa fall onto the sticky boards is typical for a formic acid or chemical kill of varroa. It appears the varroa were exiting the hive above and we captured their movement on or sticky boards. For days later the varroa count was very low or non existent.
From the graph below you can see as the predation and the generation of shells climbed to peak in late August. This triggered an exodus of varroa from the hive.
Graph 1: 2014 Varroa Activity
Our speculation is the harassment of the varroa is as serious as black flies on a camping trip. The bees appear to be better at knocking varroa off when they are being harassed by the Ss. At any rate something good is happening for the bees and maybe not so good for the varroa.
Varroa shells were monitored throughout the term When eaten by Ss the varroa leaves behind the hard outer shell. We counted shells as compared to live varroa on the sticky boards. Shells appear approximately 10 days after the introduction of Ss. The highest concentrations of shells compared to live varroa was noted just before the exodus of the +300.
Upon microscopic investigation very little evidence of predation was noted on the varroa in the 300 drop Five days later only 6 varroa and 11 shells were counted.
Microscopic investigation on the underside of the varroa in the last drop showed serious damage to the underside of the varroa indicating predation by Ss. All varroa appeared to be leaking fluid from there lower abdomen.
A speculation is the feeding of the Ss is a perpetual problem for the varroa. Ss population overwhelm or lag on varroa natural population expansions. The Ss overwhelm at inoculation time Ss breed in the hive as noted clearly in our investigations last year. Ss are breeding up to the level of food and varroa is the food.. .
Varroa appear to breed and travel at an amazing speed. Setting colonies of Ss at maximum populations when varroa are most vulnerable is information we hope to collect in the years ahead.
So far our preliminary look at this bio technology is very promising. The varroa behave similarly in chemically treated hives and rebound quickly. Understanding dosage, frequency and timing will help us to zero in on an effective predation to the number one enemy of honey bees today.
We highly recommend other beekeepers test Ss and communicate with us.We anticipate small hive beetle information late in this year from a US beekeeper replicating our trials with Ss..
Varroa shells were monitored throughout the term When eaten by Ss the varroa leaves behind the hard outer shell. We counted shells as compared to live varroa on the sticky boards. Shells appear approximately 10 days after the introduction of Ss. The highest concentrations of shells compared to live varroa was noted just before the exodus of the +300.
Upon microscopic investigation very little evidence of predation was noted on the varroa in the 300 drop Five days later only 6 varroa and 11 shells were counted.
Microscopic investigation on the underside of the varroa in the last drop showed serious damage to the underside of the varroa indicating predation by Ss. All varroa appeared to be leaking fluid from there lower abdomen.
A speculation is the feeding of the Ss is a perpetual problem for the varroa. Ss population overwhelm or lag on varroa natural population expansions. The Ss overwhelm at inoculation time Ss breed in the hive as noted clearly in our investigations last year. Ss are breeding up to the level of food and varroa is the food.. .
Varroa appear to breed and travel at an amazing speed. Setting colonies of Ss at maximum populations when varroa are most vulnerable is information we hope to collect in the years ahead.
So far our preliminary look at this bio technology is very promising. The varroa behave similarly in chemically treated hives and rebound quickly. Understanding dosage, frequency and timing will help us to zero in on an effective predation to the number one enemy of honey bees today.
We highly recommend other beekeepers test Ss and communicate with us.We anticipate small hive beetle information late in this year from a US beekeeper replicating our trials with Ss..
