Varroosis – the Ongoing Crisis in Bee Keeping

Abstract

Varroosis is the most destructive disease of honey bees worldwide, inflicting much greater damage and higher economic costs than all other known apicultural diseases. The disease pattern of Varroosis is not uniform, as both the rate of infestation and secondary infections determine the clinical symptoms. Brood and adults bees are impaired. The mite injures the bee through repeated intake of hemolymph with her chelicerae while the host is in the larval, pupal and adult stage. The loss of hemolymph negatively effects the organ development of the bee. Colonies infested by V. destructor develop the parasitic mite syndrome and ultimately collapse if left untreated. Favourable reproduction conditions in the new host A. mellifera, the increasing impact of secondary infections (viruses) and the lack of coordinated and comprehensive treatment strategies and control methods that are often implemented too late or unsuccessfully by the beekeeper result in reappearing wide spread colony losses. A viral infection vectored by V. destructor obviously increases its impact on colony collapses with the cause of this ongoing crisis. Varroa control should be a natural part of a beekeeper’s operation and flow into a system of Varroa control. The residues from Varroacide applications which are detectable today are all below the permitted maximum values. Although these minor detectable residues pose no threat to the consumer, they must be avoided in bee products, as honey possesses a very positive image in the mind of consumers.