Transcript Mite controls - University of Delaware

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Strategies
for Parasitic Bee Mites
The Pennsylvania State University
Department of Entomology
University Park, PA
College of Agricultural Sciences
7/18/2015
PSU Dept. Entomology
IPM Pyramid
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PSU Dept. Entomology
IPM Defined

Decision-making process based on
understanding pest and host interactions
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Based on Thresholds
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Uses multiple Tactics
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Should be safe, profitable and
environmentally friendly
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PSU Dept. Entomology
IPM Rules
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Identify Problem
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Determine Threshold
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Assess Options
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Select and Apply Controls
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Evaluate Success and Record Results
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PSU Dept. Entomology
Drawbacks of IPM
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Can be Labor-Intensive
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No simple answers
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May not work consistently
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PSU Dept. Entomology
Why IPM?
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Mites becoming resistant
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Comb contamination
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Pesticide Misuse
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Diseases associated with mites
difficult to treat
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PSU Dept. Entomology
IPM Criteria
 Know
the life cycles and seasonal
rhythms of the pest(s).
 Determine
when the pests are most
susceptible to treatment.
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PSU Dept. Entomology
IPM Criteria
 Measure
economic threshold
Number of mites counted before you
have to treat
What number do you use?
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PSU Dept. Entomology
Monitoring Mite Levels

Ether or Sugar Roll
Use ether to kill
bees/mites
Use sugar for live counts

Cappings Scratcher
Pull up 25-50 drone cells
Count mites
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PSU Dept. Entomology
Monitoring Mites: Sticky Board

Sticky board
Three day natural mite drop
Smoke drop (tobacco)
Miticide strip drop
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PSU Dept. Entomology
IPM Tactics
Natural enemies (Biological)
 Host resistance / tolerance (Cultural)
 Modify environment (Physical)
 Impair the pest's reproductive
capacity (Genetic)
 Pesticides (Chemical)

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PSU Dept. Entomology
Cultural Control Tactics
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Interrupt Mite Cycle

Restrict queen

Fall Requeening/forager collection
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Use Special Frames or Cell Sizes
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Use Mite Reducing Queens

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PSU Dept. Entomology
Various strains
Mite Reducing Queens
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Hygienic queens: commercially available
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USDA Bee Breeding & Genetics Lab,
Baton Rouge, LA
Russian stock
 Suppression queens (SMR)

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Other Lines? Natural resistance in AZ
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PSU Dept. Entomology
Other Mite Reducing Behaviors
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Grooming behavior
 Bees groom more (both mites) e.g. Buckfast
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Length of post-capping stage
 Bees pupate in fewer days (less than 12)
(Varroa)
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Immature mite survival
 Foundress mites laying fewer eggs?
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Other mechanisms?
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PSU Dept. Entomology
Physical Control Tactics

Knock off mites onto sticky boards
smoke, essential oils, powdered sugar
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Use screened bottom boards
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Trap and remove mites in drone brood
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Heat and other treatments
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PSU Dept. Entomology
Screen Inserts
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PSU Dept. Entomology
Genetic Goals: Mites

Mite Behavior
Brood attractiveness
Low mite fecundity
Shorter length of phoretic period
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Less virulent mites
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Non-reproductive mites
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PSU Dept. Entomology
Chemical Controls
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Essential oils for mite knockdown
Bay, Origanum, Cajeput and others
White Thyme or a Thymol mixture
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Organic Acids
Formic, lactic, oxalic
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PSU Dept. Entomology
Sucrose Octoanate
Other novel chemicals
Future Research Needed
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Bio-rational controls needed
Hormonal imbalance
Life cycle disruptions:

Attractants? Deterrents?
Desiccation agents

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PSU Dept. Entomology
Diatomaceous earth
How to Contact us:
Office Phone: (814) 865 1895
Fax: (814) 865 3048
http://www.ento.psu.edu/personnel/newfolder2/frame.htm
http://MAAREC.cas.psu.edu
College of Agricultural Sciences
7/18/2015
PSU Dept. Entomology
The Pennsylvania State University
Department of Entomology
501 ASI Building
University Park, PA