Progress 07/01/07 to 06/30/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Experiments were conducted on the use of botanical smokes for control of phoretic varroa mites on adult honey bees. Red sumac seed heads (Rhus glabra), pixoy seed pods (Guacimo ulmifolia), grapefruit leaves (Citrus paradisi), sassafras root (Sassafras albidum) and shortleaf pine needles (Pinus echinata) were compared in the laboratory and in commercial and hobbyist honey bee colonies for effect on mite fall. Inert dusts were compared for their effect on varroa mite ability to adhere to bees. Commercial powdered sugar containing 0.03% cornstarch, pure cornstarch, and pure powdered cane sugar, were compared. Varroa mites were treated with these materials, then the mites were rinsed in distilled water, and their ability to hold onto adult bees determined. Nosema ceranae prevalence levels in hobbyist and feal bee colonnies in Arkansas was determined weekly for a year in Arkansas. Foraging workers were collected, dissected, and midguts examined macroscopically and microscopically for N. ceranae spores. Floral sources in Northwest Arkansas during the critical early spring period (January-March) were studied for their suitability as pollen and nectar sources for bees coming out of the overwintering lull in brood production. Each year for 10 years the number of bees visiting flowering plants during this period were quantified and the plants identified. The results of these studies were presented at seminars in the Department of Entomology at the University of Arkansas, at beekeeper meetings in Arkansas, and at the Entomological Society of America national and southeastern branch meetings. They were also published in a M.S. thesis at the University of Arkansas and in American Bee Journal articles. PARTICIPANTS: Don Steinkraus, PI, designed experiments on varroa control with botanical smokes, supervised graduate students, hourly workers, participated in research in the field and laboratory, assisted in writing and editing thesis, publications, and preparation of talks. Designed experiments on early spring floral sources and prevalence of Nosema in bee colonies in Arkansas. Jon Zawislak, graduate student, learned how to conduct research on bees and varroa mites, helped carry out experiments in laboratory and field. Richard Coy, professional beekeeper, made apiaries and colonies of bees available for research. Gabriele Boys, research assistant, helped with research. Geoff Gardner, research assistant, helped with research. Josh Hannam, graduate student, assisted with research. Lauren Flowers, research assistant, carried out experiments on Nosema prevalence. TARGET AUDIENCES: Hobbyist and commercial beekeepers of Arkansas and the United States Apicultural researchers worldwide PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Beekeepers in Arkansas and nationally were made aware of the fact that botanical smokes, at present, do not offer a satisfactory control of phoretic varroa mites in honey bee colonines. This information is important because ineffective methods for controlling varroa mites should be avoided. Beekeepers nationally were made aware of plants that can benefit bees in the critical period just after overwintering (January through March) when queens begin to lay eggs again and brood are being raised. Good pollen sources, near to hives, are essential during this time and beekeepers were given recommendations of which plant species are helpful and which are not. This information is important because beekeepers can improve the vigor and health of their honey bee colonies by planting excellent pollen sources that bloom during this January-March period in Arkansas and other midsouthern states.
Publications
- Zawislak, J. 2008. Alternative control of the Varroa mite on honey bees using botanical smokes. Thesis (M.S.) University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, 125 pp.
- Steinkraus, D. 2010. Early spring flowers in Northwest Arkansas: the excellent, the good, and the poor. 2010. American Bee Journal 150: 351-354.
- Steinkraus, D. 2009. Steinkraus, D. C. 2009. A summer tanager eats my honey bees. American Bee Journal 149: 957-959.
|
Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Surveys were made for prevalence and severity of Nosema ceranae in managed honey bee colonies and feral bee colonies in Northwest Arkansas. Bees were collected weekly, dissected, and infection levels determined. The impact of Nosema under a no-treatment regimen is being determined. This work in ongoing. Late winter pollen sources are important in survival and development of honey bee colonies coming out of the winter period. Plants blooming during the period January 1 through March 31 in Northwest Arkansas were identified and attractiveness to honey bees determined. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Donald Steinkraus, investigator, designed experiments, wrote manuscripts, supervised hourly employees. Lauren Flowers, hourly employee, dissected honey bees. TARGET AUDIENCES: Beekeepers in Arkansas and nationally are the target audience, and scientists studying causes of bee declines. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The results of the Nosema survey are being evaluated to determine whether N. ceranae prevalences in untreated hives is a serious factor in putative colony collapse disorder. This could impact the need to treat colonies with fumagillin and help us understand the importance of Nosema in apiculture. Floral sources important in the late winter period will be recommended for planting in beekeeper yards and beekeeper meetings.
Publications
- Steinkraus, D. C. 2009. A summer tanager eats my honey bees. American Bee Journal 149: 957-959.
|
Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Methods were developed for collecting and handling live varroa mites and honey bees from infested hives for laboratory tests of the effects of botanical smokes on varroa mites. Inert dusts were tested for ability to dislodge mites from bees. The effects of cage types and bee caste on the ability of mites to attach after dislodgment were tested. All three dusts tested effectively dislodged varroa mites from honey bees. However, pure ground cane sugar was most effective for removing mites without harming their ability to attach to bees compared to pure cornstarch or commercial powdered confectioners sugar. Cages with cardboard sides were more effective for our experiments than wire mesh cages. Four field experiments were performed to evaluate the effect of botanical smokes on varroa mite dislodgment from honey bees in colonies. Materials tested were: red sumac seed heads, dried pixoy seed pods, grapefruit leaves, sassafras root, shortleaf pine needles, and an experimental botanical mixture. Hives were smoked with these materials, mites were collected by both the powdered sugar method from a subsample of brood comb nurse bees and on sticky boards. None of the materials, except the experimental botanical mixture, caused significant mite dislodgment compared to the controls. PARTICIPANTS: Jon Zawislak, M.S. graduate student, carried out most of the lab and field studies. Don Steinkraus, project director, helped with field experiments, design, funding, supplies and expenses and supplied colonies. Geoff Gardner, lab assistant, helped with experiments. Richard Coy, commercial beekeeper supplied colonies. Gabriele Boys, research assistant, helped with laboratory work. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience for this work is hobbyist beekeepers who want to control varroa mites naturally without synthetic chemicals. The results have been reported at the national meeting of the Entomological Society of America, the Southeastern Branch of the Entomological Society of America, the Arkansas Beekeeper's Association, the Arkansas Entomological Society, and other meetings. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
There have been many published papers in bee journals suggesting that botanical smokes were an effective control for reducing varroa mites in colonies. Most of these papers were based on very preliminary data with weak or no controls or other experimental design problems. It was important to test these largely anecdotal claims for their veracity. Otherwise beekeepers will use these techniques, thinking they are useful, when in fact they had little efficacy. The outcome or impact of this work is that beekeepers will not waste time on useless IPM tactics.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Steinkraus, D. C. 2007. Honey bee nutrition: food for thought. Invited one-hour keynote presentation at Arkansas Beekeeper's Association, Annual Meeting, Mountain View, Oct. 12-13, 2007. This talk discussed the role of bee nutrition in colony collapse disorder. Steinkraus, D. C. 2007. "Manejo integegrado de plagas en la produccion de miel de abeja. El servicio National De Sanidad Agropecuaria, Santisima Trinidad, Bolivia. This talk discussed beekeeping problems in the United States and compared U.S. problems with those in Bolivia. Steinkraus, D. C. 2007. Probable causes of Colony Collapse Disorder in the United States. Santa Cruz, Bolivia, August 4, 2007. Discussed colony collapse disorder with Bolivian beekeepers. Zawislak, J. and D. C. Steinkraus. 2007. Evaluating botanical smokes for Varroa mite control. Arkansas State Beekeeper's Association, Annual Meeting, Mountain View, AR, Oct. 12, 2007. We discussed our research on use of botanical smokes to control the number one
pest of honey bees, the varroa mite. Eight other talks on honey bees, bee conservation, and related topics were given in 2007. The total estimated audience for all these talks was about 1,000 beekeepers, gardeners, and entomologists.
PARTICIPANTS: Don Steinkraus: project manager and major professor. Jon Zawislak: graduate student in entomology who helped to carry out experiments. Geoff Gardner: assisted in field research. Ricky Corder: assisted in laboratory research. Richard Coy: largest commercial beekeeper in Arkansas, provided colonies for research. Steve Crowder: assisted in laboratory work. Josh Hamman: helped with field research. Scott Zona: supplied botanical materials. Mario Lanza: supplied botanical materials.
TARGET AUDIENCES: Beekeepers of Arkansas Beekeepers of United States Beekeepers of the world Apicultural scientists Extension apiculturalists
Impacts
Our research on botanical smokes for control of varroa mites on honey bees resulted in several novel methods of applying smokes to bee hives. It also was a test of botanical materials that were considered to be useful for mite control based on anecdotal accounts in the literature and aurally. We tested sassafras root, pine needles, grapefruit leaves, pixoy fruit, and red sumac on commercial hives for mite control. This research indicated that botanical smokes have little efficacy in reducing mite numbers compared to no control. This benefits beekeepers because they will avoid counting on an inefficacious method of controlling mites in their hives that could result in colony death. Our talks educated beekeepers and scientists about this research and also about the importance of bee nutrition in health of colonies. We also began work on prevalence of Nosema apis and N. ceranae spores in midguts of bees in Arkansas, as well as the prevalence of Malpighamoebae in
Malpighian tubules of honey bees.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
|