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Enemies of the Hive

Enemies of the Hive. First Lessons in Beekeeping by Keith S. Delaplane Chapter 8 Honey Bee Disorders, Parasites, Predators and Nest Invaders. Honey Bee Disorders Diseases Parasites Nest Invaders Predators Pesticides Incompetent Beekeeper. Integrated Pest Management.

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Enemies of the Hive

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  1. Enemies of the Hive • First Lessons in Beekeeping by Keith S. Delaplane • Chapter 8 Honey Bee Disorders, Parasites, Predators and Nest Invaders

  2. Honey Bee DisordersDiseasesParasitesNest InvadersPredatorsPesticidesIncompetent Beekeeper

  3. 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.

  4. 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

  5. Diseases of Brood American Foulbrood European Foulbrood Chalkbrood Sacbrood

  6. Adult Diseases Nosemaapis Nosemaceranae Viruses

  7. Parasitic Mites Varroadestructor Tracheal Acarapiswoodi

  8. Scavengers • Wax Moth • Small Hive Beetle • (Know how to distinguish between larva)

  9. Predators • Bears • Skunks • Ants • Hornets • Birds • Mice

  10. American Foulbrood • Spore forming Bacterium Paenibacillus • Highly infectious • Highly destructive • AFB spores almost indestructible • No economic threshold • Zero tolerance

  11. 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

  12. American Foulbrood Best way to distinguish AFB from EFB - ropy dead larva

  13. American Foulbrood Irregular brood pattern

  14. European Foulbrood • Bacterium Melissococcusplutonius • Symptoms similar to AFB • Less virulent

  15. Chalkbrood • Pathogenic fungus Asocophaeraapis • Dead white, chalky “Mummies” • No treatment except IPM • Keep hive dry and well ventilated • Prevented through good management • Hygenic Queens

  16. Sacbrood • Relatively minor and rare disease • Caused by virus • No remedial medication • Dead larvae are flaccid, watery • Look like a Chinese slipper

  17. Adult Diseases • Nosemaapis – most serious • Single celled protozoan Nosemaapis • Rarely kills but triggers morbities • Reduced lifespan • Reduce productivity • Increased queen supercedure • Low population • Sluggish Spring buildup

  18. Nosemaapis • Treatment - antiboticFumagilin B • Nosemaceranae • More of a recent problem in Europe

  19. 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

  20. Parasitic Mites • Varroa destructor

  21. Tracheal Acarapiswoodi

  22. 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

  23. 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

  24. Detection of Varroa Mites • Sticky Sheet • Powdered Sugar Shake

  25. Treatment of Varroa Mite • Apistan(fluvinate) – • Check Mite (coumoflous) • Api-life var(thymol) • Formic Acid • Integrated Pest Management Screened bottom boards Hygenic Queen

  26. Tracheal Mite Acarapiswoodi • 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

  27. 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

  28. 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

  29. 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

  30. Nest Scavengers Wax Moth Small Hive Beetle

  31. 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

  32. Damage by Wax Moth

  33. 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

  34. 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

  35. 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

  36. Wax Moth LarvaCompared with SHB Larva Wax Moth Larva SHB Larva

  37. 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

  38. 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

  39. Small Hive Beetle • Treatment threshold is 300 beetles according to Delaplane • Personally, I think it is much less!

  40. Treatment of Small Hive Beetle • Integrated Pest Management • Hygenic Bees • SHB traps • Hive tool smash

  41. Predators • Bear • Skunk • Ants • Hornets • Birds • Pesticides • Mice

  42. Non-infectious Disorders • Queenlessness • Robbing • Agricultural Pesticides • Incompetent Beekeeper

  43. Good, Disease Free Brood Pattern

  44. Thought of an old beekeeper “We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid.” Benjamin Franklin

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