Biological Control of Honey Bee Pests

Abstract

Biological control of bee pests is a small but growing field as beekeepers and bee researchers seek ways to reduce pesticide use. Of the arthropod pests of honey bees, those that have been targets of biological control on at least the laboratory level are the Wax Moths Galleria mellonella and Achroia grisella, the Varroa mite Varroa destructor, and the Small Hive Beetle Aethina tumida. Several organisms have been proposed as biological control agents against wax moth, including naturally-occurring parasitoids, and one, Bacillus thuringiensis, has been commercialized. Biological control of V. destructor has involved application of entomopathogenic fungi, and while some results have been encouraging, more work is clearly needed with respect to isolate selection, formulation, and application method. Fungal agents have likewise been used against A. tumida and elevated mortality has been observed, but no field tests have been reported thus far. The interaction of biological control agents, bees, and target pests needs further research.