1. 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

2. IPM Pyramid
11/30/2018
PSU Dept. Entomology

3. 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

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

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

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

7. 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

8. 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

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

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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. Screen Inserts
11/30/2018
PSU Dept. Entomology

17. 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

18. 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

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

20. The Pennsylvania State University Department of Entomology
How to Contact us:
Office Phone: (814)
Fax: (814)
College of Agricultural Sciences
The Pennsylvania State University
Department of Entomology
501 ASI Building
University Park, PA
11/30/2018
PSU Dept. Entomology