Abstract
Abstract Varroa mite (Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman) infestation of European honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies has been a growing cause of international concern among beekeepers throughout the last 50 yr. Varroa destructor spread from the Asian honey bee (Apis cerana Fabricius [Hymenoptera: Apidae]) to A. mellifera populations in Europe in the 1970s, and subsequently traveled to the Americas. In addition to causing damage through feeding upon lipids of larval and adult bees, V. destructor also facilitates the spread of several viruses, with deformed wing virus being most prevalent. Several sampling methods have been developed for estimating infestation levels of A. mellifera colonies, and acaricide treatments have been implemented. However, overuse of synthetic acaricides in the past has led to widespread acaricide resistant V. destructor populations. The application of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques is a more recent development in V. destructor control and is suggested to be more effective than only using pesticides, thereby posing fewer threats to A. mellifera colonies. When using IPM methods, informed management decisions are made based upon sampling, and cultural and mechanical controls are implemented prior to use of acaricide treatments. If acaricides are deemed necessary, they are rotated based on their mode of action, thus avoiding V. destructor resistance development.
Highlights
Sampling MethodsFour prominent V. destructor sampling methods have been developed for determining V. destructor population density
Varroa mite (Varroa destructor Anderson andTrueman) infestation of European honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies has been a growing cause of international concern among beekeepers throughout the last 50 yr
Over the past 50 yr, V. destructor has risen from an obscure pest of A. cerana to a near-global epidemic, causing billions of dollars in losses for apiculturists, and severely threatening A. mellifera colony survival (Fries et al 1994, Ahmad et al 2013)
Summary
Four prominent V. destructor sampling methods have been developed for determining V. destructor population density. Many essential oils have been tested for use in V. destructor control, thyme (thymol), marjoram, sage, wintergreen, clove, and turpentine (camphor) oil, are most commonly implemented, and have been somewhat successful (Imdorf et al 1999) These treatments may be administered as fumigants, sprays, powders, saturated absorbent materials, or gels (Mondet et al 2011). Some researchers have attempted to mix together various essential oils, vitamins, minerals, and herbs for treatments, while others have shifted focus entirely to evaluating heat, water, and ultrasound control techniques (Rosenkranz et al 2010, Gajger et al 2013) Biological methods, such as pseudoscorpions, entomopathogenic fungi, various bacteria and viruses, kairomones, and benign V. destructor haplotypes, as well as structural modifications to hives, such as brood comb modification, rotation, and wire use, are a few of the alternative methods complied and reviewed by Rosenkranz et al (2010). More recent evidence has suggested that colony size, which is heavily influenced by landscape nutrition, is the best predictor of colony survival (Döke et al 2019)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
