(Varroa Mite) Fungus seems to work

[Alvin E. Toda]

Seems a recent study indicates a certain type of fungus
is effective seasonally (on the mainland) against the
Varroa mite. Under the same conditions pesticides
(miticides) were also tried. This is of interest to
farmers here on Oahu because of the infestation here on
Oahu. I guess fungi are spread world wide. I would
imagine we have this fungus here in Hawaii already (or
could bring it in without much harm to our
environment). The fungus is Metarhizium anisopliae.
Here's an excerpt from a Hawaii Beekeeper email
message...

"Miticide and the fungal treatments resulted in
successful control of mite populations at the end of
the 42 d period of the experiment. Peak mortality of
[the Varroa mite] occurred 3-4 d after the [fungus
spores] were applied, however, the mites were still
infected 42 d post-treatments. Optimum mite control was
achieved by the fungus when no brood is being produced,
or when brood production is low, such as in the early
spring or late fall."

BTW brood production doesn't have the seasonal
variation in Hawaii as it has on the mainland and
Europe.

[Maren at google]

On Mar 20, 5:45 am, "Alvin E. Toda" <a...@lava.net> wrote:
> Seems a recent study indicates a certain type of fungus
> is effective seasonally (on the mainland) against the
> Varroa mite. Under the same conditions pesticides
> (miticides) were also tried. This is of interest to
> farmers here on Oahu because of the infestation here on
> Oahu. I guess fungi are spread world wide. I would
> imagine we have this fungus here in Hawaii already (or
> could bring it in without much harm to our
> environment). The fungus is Metarhizium anisopliae.

As I keep telling ya: as long as we kill the mites without killing
the bees.
Not sure I like bringing in another think to kill things (think
mongoose), but if it really only kills mites ... (I'd like the
beekeepers
study this. It's in all our best interest, but the beekeepers
more than most.)

Maren

[Razzbar]

On Mar 27, 1:40 pm, Maren at google <m.pur...@jach.hawaii.edu> wrote:

> As I keep telling ya: as long as we kill the mites without killing
> the bees.
> Not sure I like bringing in another think to kill things (think
> mongoose), but if it really only kills mites ... (I'd like the
> beekeepers
> study this. It's in all our best interest, but the beekeepers
> more than most.)

I remember the banana skipper back in the 70's. It was a moth or
something that laid it eggs on banana leaves. The eggs would hatch and
these big white caterpillars would come out and roll up the banana
leaves and strip them. It was wrecking banana trees left and right.
THEN the state came along and released some kind of wasp that took on
the skippers, and brought them under control. You still see evidence
of the skipper, but not bad. The wasps never became a problem.

Bio controls and predator introductions are pretty scary, but
sometimes they work.