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Enemies of the Hive First Lessons in Beekeeping by Keith S. Delaplane
Chapter 8 Honey Bee Disorders, Parasites, Predators and Nest Invaders
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Honey Bee Disorders Diseases Parasites Nest Invaders Predators Pesticides Incompetent Beekeeper
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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.
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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
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American Foulbrood European Foulbrood Chalkbrood Sacbrood
Diseases of Brood American Foulbrood European Foulbrood Chalkbrood Sacbrood
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Nosema apis Nosema ceranae Viruses
Adult Diseases Nosema apis Nosema ceranae Viruses
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Varroa destructor Tracheal Acarapis woodi
Parasitic Mites Varroa destructor Tracheal Acarapis woodi
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Scavengers Wax Moth Small Hive Beetle
(Know how to distinguish between larva)
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Predators Bears Skunks Ants Hornets Birds Mice
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American Foulbrood Spore forming Bacterium Paenibacillus
Highly infectious Highly destructive AFB spores almost indestructible No economic threshold Zero tolerance
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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
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American Foulbrood Best way to distinguish AFB from EFB - ropy dead larva
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American Foulbrood Irregular brood pattern
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European Foulbrood Bacterium Melissococcus plutonius
Symptoms similar to AFB Less virulent
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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
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Sacbrood Relatively minor and rare disease Caused by virus
No remedial medication Dead larvae are flaccid, watery Look like a Chinese slipper
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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
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Nosema apis Treatment - antibotic Fumagilin B Nosema ceranae
More of a recent problem in Europe
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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
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Parasitic Mites Varroa destructor
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Tracheal Acarapis woodi
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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
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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
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Detection of Varroa Mites
Sticky Sheet Powdered Sugar Shake
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Treatment of Varroa Mite
Apistan (fluvinate) – Check Mite (coumoflous) Api-life var (thymol) Formic Acid Integrated Pest Management Screened bottom boards Hygenic Queen
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Nest Scavengers Wax Moth Small Hive Beetle
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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
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Damage by Wax Moth
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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
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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
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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
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Wax Moth Larva Compared with SHB Larva
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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
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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
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Small Hive Beetle Treatment threshold is 300 beetles according to Delaplane Personally, I think it is much less!
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Treatment of Small Hive Beetle
Integrated Pest Management Hygenic Bees SHB traps Hive tool smash
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Predators Bear Skunk Ants Hornets Birds Pesticides Mice
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Non-infectious Disorders
Queenlessness Robbing Agricultural Pesticides Incompetent Beekeeper
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Good, Disease Free Brood Pattern
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Thought of an old beekeeper
“We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid.” Benjamin Franklin
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