Strategies for Treating Varroa Destructor Infestation

Ross Conrad authored an excellent book titled Natural Beekeeping. Conrad is a beekeeper with hands on experience dealing with issues discussed in his book. One of the most prominent problems facing beekeepers is colony collapse disorder- a phenomenon that has led to the demise of many beehives. A high profile suspect in this whodunnit mystery is a species of mites known as Varroa destructor, more commonly known as varroa mites or simply varroa. These parasitic mites have been the bane of many a beehive. Keeping varroa from overwhelming their hives has been a challenge to apiculturists.

Not surprisingly treating the varroa problem has included the use of chemicals intended to kill off or weaken varroa. But this has some major drawbacks which include cost of chemicals, acquisition of resistence to chemicals by the mites, undesireable deleterious side affects on the bees themselves and contamination of honey subsequently purchased and eaten. In pointing to treatment alternatives Conrad has emphasized the importance of an alternative organic approach.

One approach to the varroa problem has been to make splits of existing hives to enhance winter survival rates. The idea is to reduce the mite count which a split would clearly do based on the mechanical nature of it alone. However, there is a more subtle fact that splits may be exploiting. The splits may disrupt the reproduction cycle of the mites when bee colonies must raise up a new queen. Slowing the growth rate of varroa can make the difference between a future colony collapse and a colony that survives and becomes a productive source of honey.1



References:

1. Natural Beekeeping; authored by Ross Conrad; Chelsea Green Publishing; Copyrite 2007; Chapter 4; Page 70.