A strategy for using powdered sugar to reduce varroa populations in honey bee colonies

Abstract

SUMMARYWe developed a technique to remove varroa (Varroa destructor) from adult honey bees (Apis mellifera) using powdered sugar. Our technique requires isolating a colony's adult bee population in a detachable box prior to powdered sugar application. We designed a detachable ‘bee box’ that connects to the colony's entrance and is capable of holding the adult bee population. By applying a bee repellent, Bee Goreg, to a colony, we forced adult bees into the bee box where they were subsequently dusted with 225 g of powdered sugar. Adult honey bee populations treated in this manner dropped 76.7 ± 3.6% (n = 28) of their mites.