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Varroa destructor on the head of bee pupa. Varroa sensitive hygiene (VSH) is a behavioral trait of honey bees (Apis mellifera) in which bees detect and remove bee pupae that are infested by the parasitic mite Varroa destructor. V. destructor is considered to be the most dangerous pest problem for honey bees worldwide. VSH activity results in ...
Varroa destructor, the Varroa mite, is an external parasitic mite that attacks and feeds on honey bees and is one of the most damaging honey bee pests in the world. [2] [3] A significant mite infestation leads to the death of a honey bee colony, usually in the late autumn through early spring.
Varroa mites were first discovered in Java about 1904, [8] but are now present in all honey bee populations except the Isle of Man and Isle of Colonsay. Because of the lack of varroa in Isle of Man, on February 16, 2015, the EU made a decision that allowed the Isle of Man to block the importation of all bee-related supplies. [9]
It is known that thymol, a compound produced by thyme, naturally occurring in thyme honey, is a treatment for Varroa, though it may cause bee mortality at high concentrations. [2] Provisioning active colonies with crops of thyme may provide the colony with a non-interventional chemical defense against Varroa .
Counting damaged mites is a method to measure the trait of mite-biting behavior in honey bee colonies. Procedures for mite counts included 1) collecting mites, 2) placing mites on microscope slides, 3) counting the number of mites, 4) observing mites for any damage under a microscope, and 5) summarizing the data for each colony.
And our research with the USDA bee lab continues to emphasize that there are more important stressors to honey bee health. … We are constantly educating mosquito control workers to follow these ...
Varroa jacobsoni is a species of mite that parasitises Apis cerana (Asian honey bees). The more damaging Varroa destructor was previously included under the name V. jacobsoni, but the two species can be separated on the basis of the DNA sequence of the cytochrome oxidase I gene in the mitochondrial DNA.
A combined application of THYMOVAR with an oxalic acid treatment in the broodless time (November - December) has proved very efficient against the Varroa. Through volatilisation, thymol vapour concentrations build up in the hive. These are highly toxic to the varroa mites, but do not harm the bees.