JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2016
Almond Facts
27
We do know that beekeepers must manage their mites. Dr.
Dennis vanEngelsdorp recommends that beekeepers sample
at least 5 percent of their operation four times per year.
For treatments, beekeepers have available to them several
conventional and several somewhat alternative compounds
to treat mites. The “alternative” compounds are becoming
more mainstream as conventional treatments such as
fluvalinate (Apistan®) and coumaphos (Checkmite +™) show
resistance or have negative consequences in the hive. Bees
are becoming highly resistant to fluvalinate, and coumaphos
has been associated with queen failures and is readily
absorbed by beeswax and therefore persists in the hive.
Amitraz (Apivar®) has long been the go-to product for mite
treatment and is relatively inexpensive. However, the long-
term and overuse of this product is not conducive to a proper
IPM program and leaves the industry at great risk.
Oxalic acid, formic acid (Mite-Away Quick Strips™),
thymol (Apiguard® and ApiLife Var®) and a beta-hops
product (Hopguard II™) are alternative mite treatments
now becoming more mainstream and providing beekeepers
greater ability to properly rotate mite treatments. Project
Apis m. is funding research to improve the delivery and
efficacy period of the organic acids - oxalic and formic.
When Varroa mites first became a problem in the U.S.
25 to 30 years ago, beekeeper counts of 15-20 mites per
100 bees were necessary to take down a colony. Today,
Dr. vanEngelsdorp says three mites per 100 bees will be
troublesome to a colony and five mites per 100 bees will kill
a colony if the mites are not treated. Why the change? Here
we have an answer – mites vector viruses, and the Varroa/
virus complex has evolved to have deadlier consequences for
Almond flowers are excellent pollen sources for honey bees. Honey bees build strength during almond
pollination provided they are not harmed by agricultural sprays and have a supply of clean water.
