Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Strategies for Parasitic Bee Mites The Pennsylvania State University Department of Entomology University Park, PA College of Agricultural Sciences 11/30/2018 PSU Dept. Entomology

IPM Pyramid 11/30/2018 PSU Dept. Entomology

IPM Defined Decision-making process based on understanding pest and host interactions Based on Thresholds Uses multiple Tactics Should be safe, profitable and environmentally friendly 11/30/2018 PSU Dept. Entomology

IPM Rules Identify Problem Determine Threshold Assess Options Select and Apply Controls Evaluate Success and Record Results 11/30/2018 PSU Dept. Entomology

Drawbacks of IPM Can be Labor-Intensive No simple answers May not work consistently 11/30/2018 PSU Dept. Entomology

Why IPM? Mites becoming resistant Comb contamination Pesticide Misuse Diseases associated with mites difficult to treat 11/30/2018 PSU Dept. Entomology

IPM Criteria Know the life cycles and seasonal rhythms of the pest(s). Determine when the pests are most susceptible to treatment. 11/30/2018 PSU Dept. Entomology

IPM Criteria Measure economic threshold Number of mites counted before you have to treat What number do you use? 11/30/2018 PSU Dept. Entomology

Monitoring Mite Levels Ether or Sugar Roll Use ether to kill bees/mites Use sugar for live counts Cappings Scratcher Pull up 25-50 drone cells Count mites 11/30/2018 PSU Dept. Entomology

Monitoring Mites: Sticky Board Three day natural mite drop Smoke drop (tobacco) Miticide strip drop 11/30/2018 PSU Dept. Entomology

IPM Tactics Natural enemies (Biological) Host resistance / tolerance (Cultural) Modify environment (Physical) Impair the pest's reproductive capacity (Genetic) Pesticides (Chemical) 11/30/2018 PSU Dept. Entomology

Cultural Control Tactics Interrupt Mite Cycle Restrict queen Fall Requeening/forager collection Use Special Frames or Cell Sizes Use Mite Reducing Queens Various strains 11/30/2018 PSU Dept. Entomology

Mite Reducing Queens Hygienic queens: commercially available USDA Bee Breeding & Genetics Lab, Baton Rouge, LA Russian stock  Suppression queens (SMR) Other Lines? Natural resistance in AZ 11/30/2018 PSU Dept. Entomology

Other Mite Reducing Behaviors Grooming behavior Bees groom more (both mites) e.g. Buckfast Length of post-capping stage Bees pupate in fewer days (less than 12) (Varroa) Immature mite survival Foundress mites laying fewer eggs? Other mechanisms? 11/30/2018 PSU Dept. Entomology

Physical Control Tactics Knock off mites onto sticky boards smoke, essential oils, powdered sugar Use screened bottom boards Trap and remove mites in drone brood Heat and other treatments 11/30/2018 PSU Dept. Entomology

Screen Inserts 11/30/2018 PSU Dept. Entomology

Genetic Goals: Mites Mite Behavior Less virulent mites Brood attractiveness Low mite fecundity Shorter length of phoretic period Less virulent mites Non-reproductive mites 11/30/2018 PSU Dept. Entomology

Chemical Controls Essential oils for mite knockdown Organic Acids Bay, Origanum, Cajeput and others White Thyme or a Thymol mixture Organic Acids Formic, lactic, oxalic Sucrose Octoanate Other novel chemicals 11/30/2018 PSU Dept. Entomology

Future Research Needed Bio-rational controls needed Hormonal imbalance Life cycle disruptions: Attractants? Deterrents? Desiccation agents Diatomaceous earth 11/30/2018 PSU Dept. Entomology

The Pennsylvania State University Department of Entomology How to Contact us: Office Phone: (814) 865 1895 Fax: (814) 865 3048 http://www.ento.psu.edu/personnel/newfolder2/frame.htm http://MAAREC.cas.psu.edu College of Agricultural Sciences The Pennsylvania State University Department of Entomology 501 ASI Building University Park, PA 11/30/2018 PSU Dept. Entomology