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Bee Pest . Hugh A. Smith ( MSc . BSc .) Senior Plant Protection Officer Apiculture Unit March 2012. Healthy Frame. Stored Honey. Honey or Brood ?. Healthy Brood. Brood frame. Honey. Drone cells. Good Brood Pattern. Healthy Frame. Honey. Supersedure queen Cell. Varroa Mite.
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Bee Pest Hugh A. Smith (MSc. BSc.) Senior Plant Protection Officer Apiculture Unit March 2012
Brood frame Honey Drone cells
Healthy Frame Honey
Varroa destructor • Varroa destructor is an external parasitic mite • It was until recently mislabeled as Varroa jacobsoni. • It can only replicate in a honeybee colony. • It attaches at the body of the bee and weakens the bee by sucking haemolymph. In this process the mite may also spread RNA viral agents and bacteria to the bee.
Varroa destructor vs Varroa jacobsoni • Varroa destructor was until recently thought to be a closely related mite species called Varroa jacobsoni. • Both species parasitize the Asian honey bee, Apis cerana. • The mite species originally described as V. jacobsoni by Oudemans in 1904 is part of the same species complex, but not the same species that made the jump to Apis mellifera. • That jump probably first took place in the Philippines in the early 1960’s. • This late identification in 2000 by Anderson and Trueman led to some confusion and mislabeling in the scientific literature.
Life Cycle of Varroa • Synchronized with that of its honey bee host; • The female lays eggs in bee brood cells. • Developing mites feed on developing honey bee larvae. • Males and females copulate in the cell. • The male dies, but pregnant females emerge from the cell along with their bee host and seek another cell to repeat the cycle. • It is thought the length of the post capping period in honey bees is an important indicator of eventual infestation.
Control of Varroa • Chemical • Apistan™ • Apiguard™ • Others • Non –Chemical • Traps / hive designs • Brood Management • Stock Selection
Management of Varroa • Resistance • Determine a colony's infestation level • Monitor effectiveness of the treatment. • Integrated Pest Management
Adult Small Hive Beetle • Reddish Brown to Black in colour; • Measures 5mm in length; • 1/3 honey bees size • Very hard shell; and • May live up to 6mths.
Small Hive Beetle Larvae • Cream to off-white in colour; • Measures: • Length 1.1cm; • Diameter 0.16 cm • Resemble the wax moth larvae but have spines; • Pupate between 10 -16dys
Damages cause by SHB • Larvae attacks and feeds on honey and pollen; • Consume honeybee eggs and larvae of all stages; • Dripping of honey in the hive; • Honey usually ferments and produces an unpleasant odour;and • Odour repels the honeybee.
Control Measures • Mechanical control traps (PVC) • Bottom Board trap with honey attached • Bait traps • In hive treatment • Outside hive treatment • Soil treatment
Red ants • Black ants • Termites