Enemies of the Hive
• First Lessons in Beekeeping by Keith S. Delaplane• Chapter 8
Honey Bee Disorders, Parasites, Predators and Nest Invaders
Integrated Pest Management
• The use of a variety of pest treatments such as genetic host resistance, cultural practices, beneficial organisms, and a minimum of toxic chemicals. As long as pest
levels stay below the treatment or economic threshold, it is not necessary to use toxic pesticides.
Treatment Threshold
• For a given pest or crop system, the treatment threshold is the specific number, - a pest number, density or level of damage – that is acceptable p 106
American Foulbrood
• Spore forming Bacterium Paenibacillus
• Highly infectious• Highly destructive• AFB spores almost indestructible• No economic threshold• Zero tolerance
American FoulbroodTreatment
• Burning the hive and bees is most common remedy
• NC has fumigation chamber• See your area bee inspector• Treatment – Terramycin• Only suppresses growth of spores, • no cure - There is no cure
Chalkbrood• Pathogenic fungus Asocophaera
apis
• Dead white, chalky “Mummies”• No treatment except IPM• Keep hive dry and well ventilated• Prevented through good management• Hygenic Queens
Sacbrood
• Relatively minor and rare disease• Caused by virus• No remedial medication• Dead larvae are flaccid, watery• Look like a Chinese slipper
Adult Diseases• Nosema apis – most serious• Single celled protozoan Nosema apis• Rarely kills but triggers morbities• Reduced lifespan• Reduce productivity• Increased queen supercedure• Low population• Sluggish Spring buildup
Nosema apis
• Treatment - antibotic Fumagilin B
• Nosema ceranae• More of a recent problem in Europe
Viruses
• Kasmir bee virus• Deformed wing virus• Symptoms - bees lose body hair, • Movement is disorganized• Trembling• No known treatment• Cull damaged brood comb• Requeen• Control varroa will reduce potential infection
Varroa Mites
• Most damaging pest of US honey bee• Introduced in US in 1987– First found in NC in 1990
• Visible to human eye• Cycle begins with female mite in open
brood cell, preferably drone• She lays eggs – one male, several
daughters• They mate, emerge
Varroa Mites
• Effected bees suffer physical injury• Reduced blood volume• Reduced longevity• Reduced productivity• Typical infection occurs in late season (Fall)Hive weakened by varroa succumbs to
other pests
Treatment of Varroa Mite
• Apistan (fluvinate) –• Check Mite (coumoflous)• Api-life var (thymol)• Formic Acid • Integrated Pest Management Screened bottom boards Hygenic Queen
Tracheal Mite Acarapis woodi
• Long history of troubling the honey bee
• Has been around for more than a century
• First detected in NC in 1980• Honey bee Act of 1922, a response closed importation for 83 years
Characteristics of Tracheal Mite
• Lives and reproduces in breathing tube
• Young bees are preferred• Microscopic• Infestation occurs in late winter• Or early spring• 25% infestation is very damaging
Symptoms of Tracheal Mites
• Bees will crawl in grass near hive entrance
• Cannot form an effective winter cluster
• Most common symptom is an empty hive
• K-wing syndrome
Treatment of Tracheal Mite
• Menthol crystals• Mite – Away II, an absorbent pad with
formic acid - • Extender patty - vegetable oil and
powders sugar – disrupts mite and is harmless to environment, or bee keeper
Wax Moth Galleria mellonella
• An old foe• And strangely, a friend, too• Cleans out abandoned nests, spores
rendering them clean for future use• Problem occurs when wax moths take over weak hive and destroy it
Wax Moth
• Female enters hive, usually at night• Lays eggs• Larvae emerge, eat protein litter• Seeks a protected spot• Chews cavity in wood• Spins silken cocoon and pupates
Characteristics of Wax Moth
• Moth activity in living colonies• Moth activity in stored equipment• Moths are secondary problem, not a
primary problem• Moth Problem usually traced to
queenless colony or varroa mites
Treatment for Moths
• Paradichlorobenzene in stored equip.• Stack stored hives cross ways to
allow light and ventilation (see p 128)
• Requeen• Control Varroa mites• Use 9 frames in supers rather than
10
Small Hive Beetle
• Most recent pest• Scavenger• Not a major threat to strong colony• Can quickly wipe out a weak colony• Has become a major problem in SE
US• First found in NC in 1998
Small Hive Beetle
• Adult female lays• eggs in cavity• Larvae emerge to eat• honey, brood, protein litter and grow
• Larval is most damaging stage
• Frames become slimy• Larvae exits hive to pupate in soil
Small Hive Beetle
• Treatment threshold is 300 beetles according to Delaplane
• Personally, I think it is much less!
Treatment of Small Hive Beetle
• Integrated Pest Management• Hygenic Bees• SHB traps• Hive tool smash