about bee disease…

Probably the biggest killer of honey bees is the varroa mite. But the mite is only part of the issue. The bigger issue with the mite is that it’s a vector for viruses. Varroa mites are oval, reddish brown parasites that live on bees and reproduce under capped brood. The mites feed on hemolymph (bee blood). So the goal of all beekeepers is to keep the mite load to an acceptable level such that the hive can cope with the parasite. The percentage infestation acceptable has changed over the years and the standards most people adhere to is keeping mites under 3% in the hives. Actually, it gets more complex based on the time of year, but for now just know the lower the better.

So how do you treat for mites? There are many ways. We do not use any synthetic miticides as these can lead to pest tolerance and also these synthetic chemicals end up in the wax. Our techniques are to use mite-resistant strains of queens that show varroa sensitive hygiene such as Saskatraz, Buckfast, and Carniolan queens. Another thing we do is use integrated pest management techniques which target behaviors and tendencies of the mites. We also create hives that the varroa mite can’t reproduce in due to the hive being broodless. Finally, we use organic acids, naturally found in the foods we eat, to treat the hives.

What other diseases are there? There are also tracheal mites, nosema, American and European foulbrood, chalkbrood, about 15 viruses, and dysentery.