Bee Science, Pests and Diseases
The Deformed Wing Virus (DWV) is the most serious pathogenic virus affecting the health and sustainability of managed honey bees. The virus, which likely has been on Earth for tens of millions of years [1], appears in many arthropods without significant impact on their populations. However, the varroa destructor mite has become the ideal vector... Continue Reading →
On June 22, 2022, during a routine biosecurity inspection in New South Wales, Australia, the Varroa mite was detected in sentinel hives at the port of Newcastle. As a result, the government implemented rigorous eradication measures, including quarantine, feral colony poisoning, and the burning of several thousand hives. The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI)... Continue Reading →
In recent years, some forms of alternative beekeeping have been revitalized, such as treatment free, biodynamic and "natural" beekeeping. These practices exploded in popularity when world-renowned Professor Tom Seeley publicized his experiments in 2017 and introduced the name "Darwinian Beekeeping". Seeley's argues that the concept of evolution through natural selection is rarely used in beekeeping. By imitating... Continue Reading →
Amitraz is a substance widely used to treat Varroa mite infestations in bees. It is popular because it is effective and has low residues in hive products. The emergence of Varroa mite infestations in recent decades has put beekeeping at risk, and beekeepers have increasingly relied on the use of synthetic acaricides. Varroa quickly developed... Continue Reading →
Scientists published a paper in 2019 which describes a genetic trait that confers resistance to varroasis in two honey bee populations, one in Toulouse (France) and one on the island of Gotland (Sweden) 1. Both populations, although separated, happen to have the same resistant mechanism. How does this mechanism work? Varroa does not have the ability... Continue Reading →
The Beekeeping Lab 