Four of her eight legs can be seen.
Dr. James E. Tew
David J. Heilman
Varroa mites (Varroa jacobsoni) were first recorded in the United States in 1987. By 1992 - 1993 , varroa mites had become widely established in Ohio and have continued to cause extensive bee colony deaths. The varroa mite is a reddish-brown, external honey bee parasite about the size of the head of a pin. Varroa mites attach to adults and developing brood, where they feed on their blood. If left untreated, varroa mites can deform bees and eventually kill the colony.
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| Front view of a female varroa mite. Four of her eight legs can be seen. |
Varroa mite symptoms include:
(1) Disfigured adult bees (deformed legs and or wings),Some beekeepers describe varroa infestations as being similar to foulbrood but without the smell (See American Foulbrood Fact Sheet).
A second comparison of a Varroa kill is to that of an insecticide kill. Colonies can die so fast from high Varroa infestations that thousands of dead bees will pile in front of the hive - a symptom usually reserved for pesticide kills. Most problems with varroa mites occur in the fall. They need either immature or adults bees to survive. Without bees, they will die within a few days. Therefore, combs, frames, and equipment are safe to reuse. Wait approximately 7 days before reusing.
To inspect for varroa mites, check pupae for reddish-brown spots (adult Varroa). It is best to open capped drone brood for this inspection though capped worker brood can also be used.
A second method for surveying for mites is to collect about 50-100 worker bees in a canning jar and spray them with a 2-second burst of automobile starting fluid (ether). Most auto-parts stores have starting fluid sprays. The spray will kill test bees and any attached mites, causing them to fall from the bees. Shake the treated bees vigourously for 10-30 seconds. This will cause dislodged mites to stick to the side of the jar where they can be counted. If there has been no previous treatment program and even if ONE mite is found, begin Apistan strip treatment as instructed below, and then maintain a regular treatment cycle.
Apistan (fluvalinate) is the only legal, EPA-registered chemical for treating honey bee colonies for varroa mites at this time. Apistan, with specific instructions for use, is available through all major bee suppliers. Generally, the Apistan label instructs that fluvalinate-impregnated strips should be hung with two frames of the edge at the bee cluster for at least 42-56 days. During treatment with any drug or pesticide, all honey supers for human consumption MUST be removed.
Important:
(1) No other chemical compounds other than those listed in this leaflet are approved for use in bee hives.
(2) Always follow label instructions for handling and applying any chemical in the bee hive. Dispose of waste chemicals as directed on the label instructions.
(3) Never have any type of disease or pest treatment program underway while surplus honey supers are on the hives.
Rate:
Use one strip for each 5 deep combs of adult bees in all deep brood chambers. Strips should never be in supers.
For Survey--leave strips in the hive for 7 days (to see if Varroa is present).
For Treatment--Install strips 8 weeks prior to the beginning of the spring flow. (See Comments and Suggestions below)
Treatment Period: 42 - 56 days (6 - 8 weeks)
In a single deep hive having 10 frames of bees, place one strip between frames 3 & 4 and between frames 7 & 8. Attach strips with staple or thumb tack. Strips also have a tab that can be used to support itself between frames.
(1) Strips MUST be in contact with brood nest bees at all times for them to be effective.
(2) Though Apistan is safe, wear gloves when handling strips.
(3) Though the treatment cost is twice as great, beekeepers have reported greatly improved results if the entire treatment procedure is repeated as soon as the spring honey crop is removed.
NOTE: Disclaimer - This publication may contain pesticide recommendations that are subject to change at any time. These recommendations are provided only as a guide. It is always the pesticide applicator's responsibility, by law, to read and follow all current label directions for the specific pesticide being used. Due to constantly changing labels and product registrations, some of the recommendations given in this writing may no longer be legal by the time you read them. If any information in these recommendations disagrees with the label, the recommendation must be disregarded. No endorsement is intended for products mentioned, nor is criticism meant for products not mentioned. The author and Ohio State University Extension assume no liability resulting from the use of these recommendations.
All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status.
Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Ag. Adm. and Director, OSU Extension.
TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868