LA Master Beekeeper Advisory Group

Dennis Ring

Entomologist, Specialist, Professor;

Member, LA Master Beekeeper Advisory Group

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HEALTHY BROODHEALTHY BROODC shaped, pearly whiteC shaped, pearly white

HEALTHY LARVAHEALTHY LARVASee segmentsSee segments

HEALTHY PUPAHEALTHY PUPA

HEALTHY COVERSHEALTHY COVERSDry, slightly convexDry, slightly convexWhite to brownWhite to brown

AMERICAN FOUL BROOD INFECTED LARVAAMERICAN FOUL BROOD INFECTED LARVAA BACTERIUMA BACTERIUM

INFECTED PUPA PROBOCIS ATTACHED TO INFECTED PUPA PROBOCIS ATTACHED TO ROOF OF CELLROOF OF CELL

END OF CELL VIEWEND OF CELL VIEW

WHEN STUCK THE BACTERIUMWHEN STUCK THE BACTERIUM WILL STRING OUTWILL STRING OUT

DRY SCALE ON BOTTOM OF CELL WITH DRY SCALE ON BOTTOM OF CELL WITH MOUTHPART ATTACHED TO ROOF OF CELLMOUTHPART ATTACHED TO ROOF OF CELL

CAPPING BROKEN,CAPPING BROKEN,SUNKEN, MOIST, GREASY AND DISCOLOREDSUNKEN, MOIST, GREASY AND DISCOLORED

GOOD LARVA AND INFECTED LARVA GOOD LARVA AND INFECTED LARVA WITH EUROPEAN FOUL BROODWITH EUROPEAN FOUL BROODLARVA CURLED UNNATURALLARVA CURLED UNNATURALPOSITIONS, DISCOLOREDPOSITIONS, DISCOLOREDYELLOWISHYELLOWISH

LARVA DARKEN AND APPEAR TO MELT LARVA DARKEN AND APPEAR TO MELT DOWN, EASILY REMOVED, BEES USUALLY DOWN, EASILY REMOVED, BEES USUALLY DISCARD BEFORE DRYING OUTDISCARD BEFORE DRYING OUT

SAC BROOD, LARVA WITH HEAD AND END SAC BROOD, LARVA WITH HEAD AND END OF ABDOMEN POINTED TO ROOF OF CELLOF ABDOMEN POINTED TO ROOF OF CELLAND DARKENED, A VIRUSAND DARKENED, A VIRUS

APPEARANCE FROM END OF CELLAPPEARANCE FROM END OF CELL

LARVA EASILY REMOVED WHOLE LARVA EASILY REMOVED WHOLE FROM CELLSFROM CELLS

CHALK BROOD A FUNGUSCHALK BROOD A FUNGUS

Nosema

Nosema caused by a single-celled microsporidian Nosema apis which exists in two stages – a long-lived spore and a replicating vegetative stage. If an adult bee ingests spores they germinate into the vegetative stage which penetrates the cells lining the bee’s gut. Nosema does not always kill a bee outright, but may trigger associated morbidities, including reduced lifespan, reduced output of brood food.

Nosema

In the case of queens, increased supersedure rates. These symptoms may also be associated with tracheal mites. The collective result is colonies with low numbers and sluggish spring buildup. The disease is regarded as more damaging in cold climates or under conditions that promote a protracted period of confinement in the hive.

Second Nosema species, Nosema ceranae

Nosema

There are no IPM approaches specifically targeted against Nosema disease, and its management centers on the maintenance of robust colonies and biennial application of the antibiotic Fumagilin® B. The medication is mixed in sugar syrup according to manufacturer’s recommendations and fed to bees in spring and fall. As with any medication, it is applied in the off-season when there is no chance it will contaminate marketable honey.

PESTICIDES

PARALYSIS-BLACK HAIRLESS DISEASE-VIRUSPARALYSIS-BLACK HAIRLESS DISEASE-VIRUS

Acute bee paralysis

Bees tremble uncontrollably, unable to fly. Lose the hair from their bodies and have a dark, shiny, or greasy appearance. Large numbers of afflicted bees can be found at the colony entrance, crawling up the sides of the hive and blades of grass, and tumbling to the ground. Healthy bees tug at infected bees, try to drive them away.

CARPENTER ANT DAMAGECARPENTER ANT DAMAGE

Carpenter antsRemove brush, rotten wood and cut grass in the apiary

Place all colonies on hive stands and put axle grease in containers

Leave the inner cover hole open and keep the hive clean of wax and propolis

Bait nesting sites, fipronil (maxforce), abamectin (advance) baits

Replace damaged parts

TRACHEAL TRACHEAL MITESMITES

LIFE CYCLELIFE CYCLE

Tracheal mitesLive in the tracheal tubes of adult honey bees, only move outside the host to infest other bees. Disperse to adult worker honey bees younger than three days of age, female mites primarily disperse at night. Short-lived summer bees only one generation/host; in winter multiple generations/bee. Associated with death of colonies in the winter if > 30% of bees infested.

Tracheal mitesNot cause acute disease, bee life shortened a few days. Mites puncture tracheal wall feed in the haemolymph, not appear to transmit diseases. Infested queens can live for many years. Morse (1978) estimated a five percent reduction in the population of a colony of infested bees. Honey production and pollen collecting are also reduced. Severe infestations usually developed in late summer, die late winter.

VARROA MITES

Varroa mite

Varroa

Varroa complex multiple species, V. destructor responsible for vast majority of damage. Until 2000, believed that V. jacobsoni mite responsible for widespread honey bee colony losses. However, taxonomic work indicated that varroa (V. destructor) was responsible for the damage, while V. jacobsoni was shown to be only moderately harmful to western honey bees.

Varroa

Feed on hemolymph of immature and adult honey bees. Apis mellifera, not the mite's natural host. Mite native to Asia, parasitizes A. cerana. Apis cerana believed to have some natural defenses, rarely affected. Colonies of A. mellifera brought to Asia. Varroa's host shift not occur instantly, maybe 50-100 years. Since then, spread around the world and has become nearly-cosmopolitan.

Varroa

Adults: Female mites reddish-brown to dark brown, oval, measuring 1.00 to 1.77 mm long and 1.50 to 1.99 mm wide. Their curved bodies fit into the abdominal folds of the adult bee and are held there by the shape and arrangement of ventral setae. This protects them from the bee's normal cleaning habits. Males are yellowish with lightly tanned legs and spherical body shape measuring 0.75 to 0.98 mm long and 0.70 to 0.88 wide.

VarroaEggs: Oval and white, laid singly on a cell wall. Approximately 0.30 mm long and 0.23 mm wide, generally cannot be seen by unaided eye. Nymphs: Male and female protonymphs are undistinguishable without dissection. Protonymphs have eight legs, pointed mouthparts, transparent white. Body appears circular, not develop oval shape until deuteronymph stage. After protonymph molts, mite becomes a deuteronymph, resembles adults with reduction in setae. The mite will once again molt into adult stage.

Varroa

Adult female varroa mites found on adult or immature bees. Must reproduce on brood (larvae or pupae). Immature varroa found only on capped brood, male varroa mites never leave brood cells. Adult females undergo two phases in their life cycle, the phoretic and reproductive phases. During the phoretic phase, female varroa passed from bee to bee as bees walk past one another. During phoresy, the female varroa mites found between abdominal segments of bees.

Varroa

Phoretic varroa mites also passed between colonies when infested bees drift to another colony. Occurs in managed situations where colonies located within meters of each other. Common for bees in this situation return to wrong colony. Bees from colonies heavily infested with varroa drift more than bees from uninfested colonies.

Varroa

Add bees or brood to weak colony from a healthier colony helps spreads the mite. Transport colonies from one area to another. Colonies may swarm.

Colonies rob from one another.

Mites pass easily from bee to bee in these instances. All of these methods have contributed to varroa's global distribution as a honey bee pest.

Varroa

Varroa mite females must enter brood cell before sealed. Enter a worker or drone cell, more attracted to drone brood. Crawl down the wall of the cell to larva at the bottom of the cell. Only larvae ready to be capped are attractive. Crawl under larva and submerge itself in the brood food, remain there until the cell is capped by other worker bees.

Varroa

Bee larva consumes remaining brood food, freeing the mite. Freed mite climbs onto the larva and begins feeding. Shortly thereafter, the mite lays its first egg on the surface of the cell wall. The egg is unfertilized and will develop into a male mite. Subsequent fertilized eggs are oviposited by the female mite toward the back of the cell approximately every 25 to 30 hours. Female mites hatch from these eggs.

Varroa

Newly-emerged protonymphs join their mother on the ventral side of the developing bee pupa around the bee's 5th abdominal segment. The developing protonymphs molt into deutonymphs and then into adult mites. The entire process from egg to adult mite takes six to seven days for both sexes of the mite.

Varroa

The average foundress mite produces about one offspring per worker cell, about two offspring per drone cell. Drones take longer to develop, more mites produced. Average temperate climate, mites increase 12-fold in colonies having brood half of the year and 800-fold in colonies having brood year-round. This makes the mite very difficult to control, especially in warmer climates.

Small hive beetle

Small hive beetle

Small hive beetle

Adults: Newly emerged small hive beetles light brown, progressively darker. Color changes may occur in the pupal cell before the adult emerges. Adult female (5.7 ± 0.02 mm) small hive beetles longer than males (5.5 ± 0.01 mm), both are nearly identical in width (about 3.2 mm). Adult females (14.2 ± 0.2 mg) heavier than males (12.3 ± 0.2 mg), occur in greater numbers. Can vary greatly in size, possibly depending on diet, climate, other environmental factors.

Eggs: 1.4 x 0.26 mm (l x w) and pearly white.

Larvae: Newly emerged relatively large heads, numerous protuberances covering bodies. Mature larvae length (9.5 mm), width (1.6 mm).

Pupae: Mature beetle larvae drop from the hive, burrow into the soil, pupate. Early-stage pupae pearly white, projections on the thorax and abdomen. Later-stage pupae darken.

Small hive beetleIn the U.S. a characteristic pattern: adult invasion into colonies

build-up of numbers of small hive beetles

reproduction of small hive beetles

significant damage to brood, pollen, and honey stores by feeding small hive beetle larvae

mass exodus of larvae from the colony

pupation in the soil, emergence as adults, re-infestation of colonies.

Small hive beetle

There is fermentation of hive products (particularly honey) associated with feeding larvae. This likely occurs due to specific yeasts associated with the small hive beetle. Honey damaged by small hive beetles is rendered foul and unfit for human consumption. Colonies heavily infested with adult small hive beetles may leave the nest, although the number of adults needed to elicit this behavior often must be >1000 small hive beetle adults/colony).

DRAGONFLIESDRAGONFLIESCan prey on Can prey on Bees, not Bees, not commoncommon

ASSASSIN OR ASSASSIN OR WHEEL BUGWHEEL BUG

PREYING PREYING MANTISMANTIS

Can prey Can prey on beeson bees

INDIAN MEAL MOTHINDIAN MEAL MOTH

LESSER WAX MOTHLESSER WAX MOTH

GRATER WAX MOTHGRATER WAX MOTH

DAMAGE GWMDAMAGE GWM

Greater wax moth

Nocturnal, more active during the night than day. Life cycle depends on two factors:

temperature and adequate food. Adult moths

highly attracted to old brood combs. Larva growth rate greater on old brood combs. Growth rate Wax moth reared on old brood combs 20 % faster, bigger, have a higher egg-laying capacity and live longer.

Greater wax moth

Number of eggs laid vary from 300 to more than 1000. Larvae hatch in 5 to 35 days.

Larval stage 20 days if food and temperature ideal, five months under cooler conditions. Eat comb, larvae leave behind webbing,

classic sign of wax moth presence in combs.

Greater wax moth

Pupae develop and adults emerge in eight

days during warm conditions, two

months in cooler conditions. In the process of spinning a cocoon, the larvae often chew into the wood of bee boxes and frames, causing damage.

Life span of adult moths three weeks, and females can start laying after 4–5 days.

Male emits mating pheromone, unusual.

Greater wax moth

Below 41°F larvae dormant. Larvae not hatch below 64.5°F or above 100.4°F.

At 100.4°F, number of egg-laying females reduced, and the number of eggs laid per female is 30, compared to 875 at 82.4°F. Maximum egg laying rates, growth rates and general activity of all stages of development appear to occur between 82.4°F and 86°F.

Greater wax moth

During warm weather (77° to 95°F), remove supers of combs from hives that are not being covered by bees. The presence of adult bees will, in most cases, prevent any damage from wax moths. If a colony does decline in numbers, it is not uncommon during hot weather for wax moth larvae to very quickly destroy all of the unoccupied combs.

Lesser wax moth

Smaller than the greater wax moth, Adults silver-grey, with yellow head.

Body lengths of adult female and male are about 13 and 10 mm respectively.

Life-span of the adult female is about seven days, during which she can lay 250 to 300 eggs.

Lesser wax moth

Infestation usually in weak colonies. The larvae prefer to feed on dark comb, with pollen or brood cells. They are often found on the bottom board among the wax debris. Larvae prefer to form small canals between the bottoms of the brood cells, the brood is lifted. The bees continue constructing cells heading upward leading to the typical scratched comb surface.

Indian meal moth

Indian meal moth feed on bee-collected pollen. Considered minor pests.

AMERICAN COCKROACH, scavenges waste,AMERICAN COCKROACH, scavenges waste,Not hamfulNot hamful

BEE LOUSE

Bee louse

The bee louse is a wingless fly that lives as a commensalist in western honey bee, Apis mellifera Linnaeus, colonies. The fly is presumed to be harmless to its host, debatable, some countries bee louse control is recommended. Because no true economic damage can be attributed to the fly, it probably poses a minimal threat.

CCD

NOT identified a single cause of CCD. pesticides, parasites, beekeeping practices, pathogens, and to a lesser extent, other pests.

Pesticides: synergistic effect of 2 pesticides in 2 studies, sub-lethal effects of fluvalinate and coumaphos

Beekeeping practices: inadequate diet, stressful transportation linked to poor bee health.

CCD

Supplemental protein feeding increases colony strength, offset impacts of varroa mites.

Natural pollen, containing quercetin increases tolerance to pesticide exposure.

Harmful substance (hydroxymethylfurfural) in high fructose corn syrup (high temperatures in truck tanks). Proper storage of HFCS. Transportation over long distances increase brood mortality, maybe increase pathogens.

CCD

Transportation of colonies over long distances increase brood mortality, and studies are now investigating links between transportation and pathogen abundance. If suspected linkages are confirmed in these studies, recommendations will be developed for beekeepers to reduce losses directly or indirectly related to colony transportation.

CCD

Honey bee tracheal mite, small hive beetle not been demonstrated to play a role in CCD. Many pathogens may be involved in CCD.

IAPV, which was the best predictor of CCD in one initial survey.

CCD detection

3 levels

What factors present or absent

More important: present at what level?

What does that level mean? What impact?

NOT well understood

Pesticides?

Diseases?

Bee Health?

Snapshot CCD

23 states 2007, 2008

Pesticides, parasites, new parasites, bee health

Wax, pollen stores, bees

887 samples

Look for 200 pesticides

Found 121 pesticides, very few no detect, 2%

PPB, avg 6 per sample

Snapshot CCD

If 2 pesticides, fluvalinate, coumaphos common

If 3 pesticides, these 2 and other

Miticides (fluvalinate, coumaphos) highest in wax, moderate pollen, least bees

Agricultural pesticides highest in pollen, then wax, bees least

LD50 PPM fluvialinate 15, coumaphos 47, amitraz 100

Snapshot CCD

Fluvinate, coumaphos found much higher in wax than the LD50, NOT mean kill bee in contact with wax

Combination of 2 miticides: treat F 1 hr later treat C; treat C 1 hr later treat F; wait 24 hrs:

Lowered LD50 Fluv from 5 to 1, coum from 20 to 5

Sublethal effects

Pests, Parasites

Varroa, Nosema, tracheal, AFB, EFB, old and new viruses

Analysis pest, parasite, bee health

2007 Israeli acute paralysis virus

2008 Lower coumaphos residue

2010 insect iridovirus and more Nosema

2011 iridovirus NOT a player

Confused!

Summary

Longitudinal studies – parasites most important to health

Meta analysis – very complex

Simplify: #1 for bee health Varroa, then Nosema, next Small hive beetle

Small players: tracheal, foulbrood, chalkbrood, viruses

DYSENTARYDYSENTARY

MICEMICEOPOSSUMOPOSSUMSKUNKSSKUNKS

PSOCIDSPSOCIDS

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