The major worldwide problem in maintaining healthy honey bee colonies is the parasitic mite, Varroa jacobsini. When left untreated this parasite results in death of the colony. Numerous chemical compounds have been used in controlling Varroa but resistance to these chemicals is on the increase. There is a dire need to develop and test more integrated mite control measures. The need to protect the purity of the honey and the increasing prevalence of resistance by the mite to various acaracides, provides adequate impetus for research into integrated control efforts. The proposed research will demonstrate the effects of combining two non-chemical control measures in reducing Varroa levels in honey bee colonies. One method is "drone trapping" which involves the removal of mite-infested immature drones from the colony. The second method involves preventing Varroa mites that naturally fall to the hive floor from re-entering the colony by means of a mechanical exclusion device recently developed by USDA-ARS. The use of "drone trapping" in conjunction with a mechanical exclusion device will be tested in controlling Varroa in the absence of chemical treatments. If proven feasible, this integrated approach to mite control should reduce or eliminate the need for pesticide treatments within bee colonies.
Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications of Research: An integrated non-chemical means of controlling Varroa would be used within the U.S. and worldwide. The proposed techniques are inexpensive and easy to adapt, however, they have not been widely used, in part due to the difficulties in obtaining drone comb. The proposed plastic foundation would provide an easy to use method of drone trapping that could be coupled with the mechanical exclusion device to control mites. The use of these techniques would save U.S. beekeepers million of dollars in pesticide treatments. More importantly, the reduction in pesticide use within beehives would insure the purity of honey and beeswax.
