Economic Viability of a Varroa IPM System Keith S. Delaplane, James D. Ellis University of Georgia

Concluded Colonies with resistant queens and screen bottoms tend to: Have fewer mites, especially at seasons when mite depredation is most severe, Have delayed onset of economic threshold.

... and detected Favorable compensatory interactions: Between resistant queens and screens, Between queens and screens and non-isolated apiaries.

Design

2 years

Design 2 years 6 beekeeper collaborators

Design 2 years 6 beekeeper collaborators colonies each

Design 2 years 6 beekeeper collaborators colonies each 3 treatments within apiary

Design 2 years 6 beekeeper collaborators colonies each 3 treatments within apiary –chemical: Feb and Aug chemical

Design 2 years 6 beekeeper collaborators colonies each 3 treatments within apiary –chemical: Feb and Aug chemical –IPM: bottom screen + Russian 

Design 2 years 6 beekeeper collaborators colonies each 3 treatments within apiary –chemical: Feb and Aug chemical –IPM: bottom screen + Russian  –Control: no chemical or IPM, non-selected 

Design Monitored: –Mite fall –Onset of threshold –Honey yield –Time spent working colonies –Queen loss (replaced as found)

Excluding colonies  treatment threshold

screens 31.5 Colony work

Conclusions Compared to control colonies or chemical colonies, IPM colonies:

Compared favorably for average mite levels,

Conclusions Compared to control colonies or chemical colonies, IPM colonies: Compared favorably for average mite levels, Compared favorably for onset of threshold,

Conclusions Compared to control colonies or chemical colonies, IPM colonies: Had highest honey production,

Conclusions Compared to control colonies or chemical colonies, IPM colonies: Had highest honey production, Had highest total work hours,

Conclusions Compared to control colonies or chemical colonies, IPM colonies: Had highest honey production, Had highest total work hours, Fewest colony deaths, and

Conclusions Compared to control colonies or chemical colonies, IPM colonies: Lowest queen replacement rate.