What does Varroa destructor do?

What does Varroa destructor do?

Varroa mite (Varroa destructor and Varroa jacobsoni) is a parasite of adult honey bees and honey bee brood. It weakens and kills honey bee colonies and can also transmit honey bee viruses. Varroa does not occur in Australia.

Where did Varroa destructor originate?

Varroa mites originally only occurred in Asia, on the Asian honeybee, Apis cerana, but this species has been introduced to many other countries on several continents, resulting in disastrous infestations of European honeybees. As of mid-2012, Australia is thought to be free of the mite.

How do I get rid of Varroa destructor?

Chemical control of varroa mites can be achieved through the use of various acaricides/miticides. Synthetic miticides are generally effective, killing up to 95% of the mite population.

Is Varroa destructor invasive?

The Beekeepers’ Nightmare. Invasive species can new cause havoc to the new environment that they happen to fall into. None more so than the movement of a small maroon coloured mite called Varroa destructor on to the western Honeybee, Apis mellifera. There are many mites that infest bees but only a few are pathogenic.

What is the best treatment for varroa mites?

Oxalic acid is one of the best ways to manage your varroa populations in your hive. Oxalic acid kills 90-99% of the phoretic mites in your beehive. To reach these levels of effectiveness, however, the colony must be broodless.

How does Varroa affect bees?

The Varroa mite weakens bees, shortens their lives, or causes death from viral infections that otherwise would cause little harm. Heavy Varroa mite infestation causes crippled and crawling bees, a reduction in the honey bee population and ultimate colony breakdown and death of the hive.

What causes varroa mites?

Varroa mites are transported from colony to colony by drifting or robbing bees. Varroa destructor (Fig. 3) is a natural parasite of Apis cerana, the Asian honey bee on which it causes only minor damage. These mites were accidentally introduced into the United States in the mid 1980s.

Where do Varroa mites live?

Varroa mites are phoretic, living on and moving around their environment via their host, the honey bee. They are spread within a colony when bees come into contact with one another. Mites are also spread between colonies and apiaries via robbing, drifting, swarming, and absconding.

Do Varroa mites bite humans?

Mites that bite humans may not survive long without a host. They can be picked up off of surfaces or through contact. Some common biting mites include: Varroa mites on honeybees.

Are varroa mites harmful to humans?

Hosts: The Varroa mite is an external parasite of honey bees that attacks adult bees and their developing larvae, or brood. The mite can spread quickly to other bee colonies by traveling with swarms or migrating drones, and by the movement of infested equipment. It is not harmful to humans or livestock.

How did the Varroa mite spread?

The varroa mite can be spread to other areas in various ways: By hitchhiking on infested honey bees and contacting uninfested bees. By honey bees from stronger uninfested hives “robbing” honey from weaker mite-infested hives. By the movement of infested managed hives or recently used beekeeping equipment to other areas.

How do you control varroa mites naturally?

The most common, natural approach to treating bees with varroa mites is to dust them with powdered sugar. After the sugar is applied, the bees will immediately start grooming themselves and each other in an effort to remove the sugar from their bodies. In doing this, they knock off the mites.