[WorkingClassFilth]

This is the great problem world wide. Tracheal mites, Varroa mites and several others have wreaked holy hell with European strains of honeybees for nearly two decades in the US alone.

Current widespread practices include the timed use of synthetic parathyroids and now, more commonly, an organophosphate. Formic acid has been used and laws vary regarding its use.

Essential oil (including camphor and menthol) preparations have been used with varying degrees of success and nothing approaching the short term effectiveness of the miticides. Various smoker fuels and fogging preparations have been used combined with a specially prepared bottom board to relieve and hold mites as they drop off host bees.

Longer term approaches with the greatest promise include IPM tactics and several breeding programs aimed at producing bees with genetic traits that target the mite at various weak points in their biological sequence.

Other measures have included drone trapping (drones larvae often hold breeding mite reservoirs in the colony), cell size manipulation, herbal sprays and manipulation of conditions inside the colony.

So far, the best defense has been good IPM practice including rigorous schedules with miticides when needed and frequent mite population surveys. Effective continuous use of sticky bottom boards and grease patties have beens shown to be of help by confusing mite host selection and aiding in mite removal as they drop during hive disturbances.

We ain't out of the forest yet, but we're coping. Over 60% of the commercial beekeepers that were in the business 15 years ago are gone. According to the USDA, pollination for critical crops in this country is now in the hands of hobbyists.

[FairOpinion]

WOW!

Thanks for the details. I had no idea a mites are such horrendous problem and that it's so difficult to get rid of them.

I hope they'll be able to eradicate them.

Bees are one of the most useful creatures on earth.

Since you are so knowledgeable, do you know, how this started and became so wide spread?

[WorkingClassFilth]

"synthetic parathyroids" should read: 'synthetic pyrethroids.'

Damn spell checker.

[WorkingClassFilth]

"specially prepared bottom board to relieve and hold mites" should read: 'specially prepared bottom board to recieve and hold mites'

I swear, that spell checker does more harm than good.