Thesis
Integrated management of Varroa destructor Anderson & Trueman (Acari: Varroidae) in honey bees, Apis mellifera l. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), in western Washington State, USA
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2008
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/106923
Abstract
The ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor (Anderson & Trueman) continues to threaten honey bee colonies worldwide. Emerging resistance in mite populations to available chemical acaricides coupled with fears of chemical contamination of hive products has illuminated the need to explore alternative options to control the mite. Formic acid is one of several "soft" alternatives being explored to replace synthetic acaricides. Five treatments for the management of V. destructor were tested to determine the efficacy and optimal timing of formic acid as an acaricide in western Washington State, USA. Treatment with formic acid led to no significant effects on bee population size, adult bee weight, or brood area. Mite levels were significantly diminished after August treatment, but rebounded by the following April. No significant differences in bee and mite population data were found between treatment groups during the following spring, but colonies treated with formic acid had higher survivorship than those untreated. The efficacy of the sticky board, which measures natural mite death in the colony, as an accurate predictor of total mite infestation was also examined. This study compared counts from 48hr sticky boards with total mite populations estimated from infestations of adult bee and capped brood samples. A strong linear relationship between the two methods was found using regression analysis and a mathematical model for estimating total infestation from 48hr sticky board counts is reported. This model may have utility in integrated management programs.
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Details
- Title
- Integrated management of Varroa destructor Anderson & Trueman (Acari: Varroidae) in honey bees, Apis mellifera l. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), in western Washington State, USA
- Creators
- Samuel David Hapke
- Contributors
- Walter S. Sheppard (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Entomology, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525115101842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis