Thesis
Exploring biological and chemical control methods in an integrated pest management approach for Varroa destructor in honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
05/2021
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000004288
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/125208
Abstract
Honey bees suffer from parasitism from Varroa destructor, which spreads between colonies via several transmission routes. Mites infest the brood cells of developing bees, feeding on and transmitting pathogens to their hosts. When mites are inside capped brood cells, they are protected from beekeeper applied acaricides. In this study, I used indoor storage to halt brood production, with the goal of reducing the protective brood cells and force mites into a phoretic state to increase susceptibility to treatment. I tested the efficacy of a novel strain of an entomopathogenic Metarhizium fungus as a mite control method against oxalic acid (OA). I observed that indoor storage effectively reduced the quantity of capped brood. However, I did not observe a proportional associated increase in phoretic mite population. Metarhizium reduced Varroa populations at similar rates when compared with OA, but neither OA nor Metarhizium performed significantly better after indoor storage compared to outdoor storage. This research shows promise for novel tools to reduce mite infestations and combat pesticide resistance when treating V. destructor.
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Details
- Title
- Exploring biological and chemical control methods in an integrated pest management approach for Varroa destructor in honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies
- Creators
- Anna Cassidy Webb
- Contributors
- BRANDON KINGSLEY HOPKINS (Advisor) - Washington State University, Entomology, Department of
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Entomology, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Identifiers
- 99900896411901842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis