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 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 European Foulbrood Chalkbrood Sacbrood Diseases of Brood American Foulbrood European Foulbrood Chalkbrood Sacbrood

Nosema apis Nosema ceranae Viruses Adult Diseases Nosema apis Nosema ceranae Viruses

Varroa destructor Tracheal Acarapis woodi Parasitic Mites Varroa destructor Tracheal Acarapis woodi

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

Predators Bears Skunks Ants Hornets Birds Mice

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

American Foulbrood Treatment 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

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

American Foulbrood Irregular brood pattern

European Foulbrood Bacterium Melissococcus plutonius Symptoms similar to AFB Less virulent

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

Parasitic Mites Varroa destructor

Tracheal Acarapis woodi

Varroa Mites First found in NC in 1990 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

Detection of Varroa Mites Sticky Sheet Powdered Sugar Shake

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

Nest Scavengers Wax Moth Small Hive Beetle

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

Damage by Wax Moth

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

Wax Moth Larva Compared with SHB Larva

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 Larval is most damaging stage 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

Predators Bear Skunk Ants Hornets Birds Pesticides Mice

Non-infectious Disorders Queenlessness Robbing Agricultural Pesticides Incompetent Beekeeper

Good, Disease Free Brood Pattern

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