COMBATING VARROA
Field experiment on efficient mite control for honey bees
COMBATING VARROA
Field experiment on efficient mite control for honey bees
If young bees have deformed wings and larval bees die in the cells before hatching, one thing is certain: The honey bee colony is in great danger. Varroa mites and Varroa-transmitted viruses are usually the cause of this disaster. A study in the German Main-Kinzig district, carried out by the Frankfurt University Bee Research Institute, shows how this parasite can be efficiently kept in check.
AT A GLANCE
// The Varroa mite is one of the biggest challenges beekeepers face in Europe and North America.
// Beekeepers participating in a five-year-long field study, only had overwintering losses of less than 10 percent
// To prevent resistance mechanisms, beekeepers need to alternate active components.
The eight-legged Varroa mite is only 1.6 mm in size but looks threatening under the electron microscope.
Additional information
Another strategy to combat reinfestation of hives by the Varroa mite in autumn is the Varroa Gate
More about the bee research institute in Oberursel, Germany
Detailed information about the deadly Varroa mite by the University of Florida.