Source: LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY submitted to NRP
MINIMIZING THE IMPACT OF VARROA MITES AND MITE-BORNE PATHOGENS ON MANAGED HONEY BEES
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
AFRI COMPETITIVE GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1011931
Grant No.
2017-69004-26515
Cumulative Award Amt.
$934,489.00
Proposal No.
2016-07964
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jun 1, 2017
Project End Date
May 31, 2020
Grant Year
2017
Program Code
[A5170]- New Frontiers in Pollinator Health: From Research to Application
Recipient Organization
LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
202 HIMES HALL
BATON ROUGE,LA 70803-0100
Performing Department
Entomology
Non Technical Summary
The goal of this project is to address Section IV of the Pollinator Research Action Plan, by evaluating the long term impacts of pathogens and pests to pollinators. In particular, we are addressing specific priorities within the RFP, including development and evaluation of strategies to reduce declines of pollinators using longitudinal studies, development of innovative decision tools and models to predict key events in pollinators, and development of improved best management practices for pollinators. The long-term goal of this project is to promote beekeeping sustainability by scientifically validating the link between honey bee (Apis mellifera) health outcomes and risk factors encountered in typical migratory U.S. beekeeping operations while establishing tools that help mitigate these risks. The comprehensive list of risk factors being considered are pests and pathogens, nutritional deficiencies, exposure to pesticides and beekeeping management choices. Mitigation tools include bee stocks resistant to varroa mites (Varroa destructor), improved understanding of the epidemiology and action thresholds for Deformed wing virus, and better ways to disseminate knowledge to beekeepers. Evaluation of these risk factors and tools will be accomplished through longitudinal studies, development and testing of decision threshold models, and evaluation of extension based dissemination techniques through hive performance. This proposal is being submitted in response to the New Frontiers in Pollinator Health: From Research to Applications.
Animal Health Component
40%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
60%
Applied
40%
Developmental
0%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
1363010113040%
1363010117030%
1363010110130%
Knowledge Area
136 - Conservation of Biological Diversity;

Subject Of Investigation
3010 - Honey bees;

Field Of Science
1101 - Virology; 1130 - Entomology and acarology; 1170 - Epidemiology;
Goals / Objectives
The long-term goal of this project is to promote beekeeping sustainability by scientifically validating the link between honey bee (Apis mellifera) health outcomes and risk factors encountered in typical migratory U.S. beekeeping operations while establishing tools that help mitigate these risks. This will be accomplished through the following objectives.Objective 1: To scientifically link risk factors during migratory beekeeping to honey bee health outcomes. This will be accomplished by evaluating different cohort groups (beekeeping management factors) and exposure variables (pathogens/parasites, pesticides and nutritional income) during 2 years of longitudinal observations. Objective 2: To test they hypothesis that novel honey bee stocks will mitigate colony losses from pathogens. This will be accomplished by comparing virus dynamics in honey bees of 3 different stocks, and predicting threats from viruses early enough in a season to trigger mite control strategies that can effectively prevent losses. Objective 3: To determine the most effective strategy of educating beekeepers and stakeholder groups to have the greatest impact at minimizing losses from V. destructor and mite-borne viruses. This will be accomplished by evaluating 4 different extension methodologies (none, paper based, computer based, tech transfer teams), using different metrics.
Project Methods
OBJECTIVE 1 METHODS:We will work with a commercial beekeeping company that has well established migratory systems. Adee Honey Farms operates ~75,000 colonies and pollinates almonds in California, conducts spring management in Mississippi, produces honey in the upper Midwest (mostly South Dakota) and overwinters in the Central Valley of California.We will evaluate 240 colonies in this beekeeper's operation over a two-year period. This operation has agreed to move 120 colonies between just the south central and upper Midwest regions, and to move 120 colonies between all three locations. Each group of 120 colonies per migration route will be further divided into 60 colonies receiving the operation's usual mite control, and 60 colonies not receiving mite control. Those 60 colonies will then be further subdivided into 20 colonies of bees withVarroasensitive hygiene (VSH bees), 20 colonies of Russian stock of honey bee, or 20 colonies of Italian stock.The health of each colony will be evaluated at 6 critical time points through direct observation in the field and by laboratory analysis of disease and pesticide levels. In the field, we will measure the population of adult bees and the amount of stored pollen, determine the status of the queen, and record any signs of disease (e.g., American and European foulbrood, chalkbrood) and the adequacy of honey stores in each colony. We will also assess fresh pollen samples, the number of adult bees. Queen retention will be measured by observing if the original, paint-marked queen is present. We will compare data from colonies with superseded queens to those from colonies with original queen. The area (sq cm) of comb that contains stored pollen will be measured using a grid (2.5 X 2.5 cm) overlay. Each colony also will be sampled to enable evaluation of loads ofVarroa, pathogens and pesticides. Adult bees (~200) will be frozen for analyses of pathogens, vitellogenin level, and total lipid content. Given the high number of samples that will be collected, we will do retrospective sub-analyses for pesticides and pathogens. At the end of each year, we will select 9 colonies that died (3 per bee stock) and 9 colonies that were healthy (i.e., survived, had large populations and produced a good honey crop). Pathogens will be analyzed using the methodology described below. Pesticides will be submitted to the USDA AMS Pesticide Laboratory for full evaluation. Samples collected from these 18 colonies at different time points will be evaluated to get a clearer picture of pesticide and virus levels within these colonies through time.OBJECTIVE 2 METHODOLOGYIn objective 2, we will evaluate prevalence rates, pathogenicity, infection rates, dissemination rates, and transmission rates in honey bees infected with deformed wing virus. We will calculate prevalence rates in colonies of three stocks of bee, at 4 time points throughout the season (spring, summer, winter, fall) throughout the first year of this study. Our goal is to determine the total number of bees infected in a single hive at different time points throughout a season, and to correlate that value to other indicators (such as mite levels or pesticide exposure). From these data, we will determine how prevalence rate within a colony changes over time, and if these rates differ by stock of bee. From these data, we can accurately determine how many bees per colony need to be sampled at different times of the year to calculate out a colony level prevalence rate.While determining prevalence rates within the colony of newly emerged bees, researchers will be inspecting each individual bee for symptoms of viruses (ie. deformed wings). For each of the 500 bees tested, we will be able to determine (1) virus presence or absence, and (2) symptom of disease. We can then calculate out a simple pathogenicity value by dividing the number of symptomatic bees by the number infected.We propose evaluating infection rates, dissemination rates, and transmission rates in inoculated honey bees. Honey bee pupae will be inoculated with DWV of 4 different viral titers (103, 105, 107, and 109) via injection to simulate the vectoring of the virus through the feeding of Varroa during pupation. For each injection or mite treatment, we will then evaluate infection rates (# infected bodies/# tested), dissemination rates (# infected legs/# tested), and transmission rates (# infected glands/# tested), of 7 day old bees. We will then make comparisons of these rates between different stocks of bees (Italian, Russian, and VSH bees).Viral titers in the legs (Boncristiani et al. 2009) will also be measured from three adult bees per treatment on days 1, 2, 4, 7, 10, and 14 post-emergence to establish if titers change over time. This study will be adequately replicated using Italian, VSH, and Russian bees.All data from the above objective will be incorporated into a predictive model that will be tested throughout this study.OBJECTIVE 3 METHODOLOGYDuring the first year of this study, we will formalize our best management practice guidelines. Guidelines will be developed into different formats, including traditional fact sheet materials, websites, eXtension materials, cell phone based decision tools, and materials for use with tech transfer teams. During years 2 and 3 of this study, we will evaluate our extension program by disseminating tools to 200 local beekeepers throughout the state of Louisiana. This methodology is similar to our longitudinal study in that we will divide beekeepers into 4 separate cohort groups that will be evaluated over time. The cohorts include (1) no information, (2) paper based fact sheets only, (3) computer, eXtension, and phone based materials only, and (4) tech transfer teams. For the 50 tech transfer teams, beekeepers will be visited once annually, and the teams will also remain in contact with the beekeepers through phone and email. During the second and third years of this study, we will sample participating beekeeper hives, and evaluate prevalence of virus, in addition to mite levels. We will also survey beekeepers (before and after dissemination of information) on increased knowledge, as well as management practices that were utilized in the study. We hypothesize that better transfer of knowledge will increase the health of managed colonies in this study.

Progress 06/01/17 to 05/31/20

Outputs
Target Audience:Our target audience are commercial beekeepers, hobbyist beekeepers, and individuals and institutions that conduct research on honey bees (Apis mellifera). At the inception of this project, we began close work with a large commecial beekeeper, Adee Honey Farms, which maintains tens of thousands of hives for honey and pollination services. We utilized a small subset of their colonies for our longitudinal studies, and were frequently in communication with them as we discovered new things with this project. We also frequently interacted with local beekeepers in Louisiana, at the Capitol Area Beekeepers Association, the USDA annual honey bee field day, and at the Louisiana Beekeepers association meeting. At these meetings we have discussed the project and ways in which we hoped to work with beekeepers for additional outreach and extension activities. In 2018 and 2019, we recruited local beekeepers for an a extension component of this research. We were able to conduct detailed surveys of the knowledge and behavior of local beekeepers, especially as it relates to mite management strategies. Surveys were conducted at the annual USDA Honey bee field day (October 2018), and the Louisiana Beekeepers Association annual meeting (December 2018). Beekeepers were all provided with a free mite testing kit. In addition, the beekeepers were divided up into different educational groups, and were provided with either a fact sheet on how to test for mites, a video and fact sheet, or were educated in person regarding how to test for mites (tech transfer). Findings of the survey were reported at several annual beekeeper meetings. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?In 2018, we recieved IRB approval to conduct surveys of local beekeepers, and evaluate how extension strategies affect beekeeper knowledge and behavior towards mite management. Throughout 2018 at several beekeeper events (USDA annual honey bee field day, and the Louisiana Beekeeper association annual conference), we disseminated approximately 200 mite testing kits to beekeepers in the state. Kits consisted of white tubs, mason jars with screened lids, measuring scoops, powdered sugar, water squirt bottles, and instructions on how to use the kit. We also developed a video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZheLlafdmWE) on how to use the kit. Beekeepers were provided different forms of training (factsheet, video, or tech transfer). In addition to field day extension presentations at the event, all 200 beekeepers taking our survey were provided kits, whether they agreed to participate in future studies or not. Of those taking our survey, we had 79 addiitional beekeepers that agreed to participate in further studies comparing extension strategies. Of those participating, 39beekeepers recieved just the fact sheet, while an additional 40 were also provided with a training video that aided in instruction. We also held several training events to entice those beekeepers to learn hands on how to use the kits. The first training event had only 5 participants, while the second only an additional 3. These extension presentations were held in two different parts of the state (northern and central) to accomodate beekeepers from different geographic areas. Overall, our study has shown the importance of varroa mites in colony health and survival. As we continue to evaluate our data, we have been able to further understand thresholds of varroa mites that impact colony health. It is our goal to continue to train beekeepers locally through field days, conferences, and extension events to better improve mite management. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated at the following events: American Beekeeping Federation Annual Convention (2017, 2018, 2020) American Honey Producers Association (2017) Central Victorian Apiarists Association Annual Conference (2018) Maryborough, Victoria, Australia Mississippi State Beekeepers Association Annual Meeting (2018) California Master Beekeeper Program (August, 2018) Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Annual Meeting (2017) Mid-Ohio Valley Beekeepers and the West Virginia Queen Producers (2017) Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics and Physiology Research Unit Field Day (2017, 2018, 2019) Capital Area Beekeepers Association (2018) Louisiana Beekeepers Association's Spring Field day (2019) Washington Parish Beekeepers Meeting, Franklinton, LA. (2018) American Association of Professional Apiculturists: American Bee Research Conference (2019, 2020) Louisiana Beekeepers Association annual meeting (2018) What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? OBJECTIVE 1: A two year longitudinal study was conducted in collaboration with Adee honey farms. Over 2 years, we utilized 720 of their colonies, as they migrated hives through Mississippi (MS), South Dakota (SD), and California during almond pollination (CA). Colonies were divided into several different cohort groups, in order to evaluate the impacts of different variables and stressors on colony health. Cohorts consisted of Pol-line bees (those bred with varroa sensitive hygiene) and Commercial bees (Italian stock). Cohorts were further divided into those recieving mite treatment, and those that were not. We also had divided groups into different migration routes (MS-SD-CA, MS-SD, or MS only). Every other month, we did full colony inspections, and took measurements of brood, adult bees, queen presence, queen supersedure, food reserves, frames, symptomology, and hive mortality. We took samples of bees for assessing varroa mite levels, pathogens, pesticides, and oxidative stress. We also took samples of pollen for further pesticide analysis. Additional variables included land use in the vicinity of hives, and total honey production.After the first year, we had 184 variables that we were able to statistically determine if they were potential "risk factors" for hive mortality, overall hive health, and queen supersedure. Of those variables, we were able to narrow down to 14 potential factors for supersedure, 25 for colony death by February, and 19 for large cohorts of bees in February. Many of these variables overlapped with variables in the other outcomes. Of the 184 variables evaluated, we were suprised that varroa mites were important indicators of colony health, survival, and supersedure. Further analyses using both year 1 and year 2 data, continue to indicate that varroa mites are an important predictorof bee outcomes. While we had anticipated that deformed wing virus (and other mite borne pathogens) were going to play a major role in colony health, they did not show as significant of an impact in the longitudinal studies. We also saw noticeable differences in colony health and survival between stocks of bees (pol-line versus commercial). The pol-line (which are bred for mite hygeine), had far better survival, and far fewer mite levels throughout the study. And while we did not find any significant impacts of pesticides, we did find correlations between the lack of miticides detected, and negative outcomes. This indicates that varroa mites continue to play a major role in colony health. We are currently writing up our findings for peer review publication, including extensive models on factors influencing colony health. OBJECTIVE 2: Much of the work in objective 2 focused on laboratory based studies comparing how different stocks of bees were impacted by deformed wing virus. In the lab, we were able to make comparisons among several stocks of bees, including Carniolan, Italian, Pol-line, Russian, and Saskatraz honey bees. In one study, we intrathoracically injected DWV-A or DWV-B in honey bee pupae of different stocks. We compared the dissemination rates to different tissues over time within the different treatments. Our goal was to determine if different tissues continue to have high titers longer, and if titers vary among stocks of bees. As hypothesized, the titers gradually increase in the glands of the different stocks of bees over time. However, those in the leg stayed relatively consistent. We also found that titer levels and symptomology werevery similar across all stocks of bees, indicating that they are all equally susceptible to the virus. This stresses the importace of varroa mite management, as varroa based transmission is an important component to deformed wing virus prevalence. In another study, we compared the mode of transmission of deformed wing virus to queen health. We compared intrathoracic transmission, oral transmission, and insemination based transmission through infected semen. We compared these transmission routes with different titres of virus, and found that oral and insemination based transmission did not have a significant impact on queen health and performance in our study.We are currently writing up our findings for peer review publications. OBJECTIVE 3: In objective 3, we wanted to determine current mite management practices by local beekeepers, and evaluate if education/extension improved colony health and performance. In 2018, we obtained IRB approval to conduct surveys of beekeepers in the state. Utilizing events at the USDA annual honey bee field day, and at the Louisiana annual beekeeper convention, we were able to target 200 beekeepers for our survey. We built 200 mite sampling kits, and provided a free kit to every participant taking our survey. Of the 175 beekeeepers that took the survey, we were able to provide kits, and divide those individuals into different cohort groups. Our educational/extension methodologies were (1) fact sheet, (2) training video, and (3) in person training on how to test for varroa mites. With the aid of the LSU AgCenter, we developed a training video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZheLlafdmWE), which was disseminated to those participants in the study. All persons recieved a minimum fact sheet on how to use the kit. Lastly, a smaller subset of our participants were willing to recieve in person training (to simulate a tech transfer team approach). Of the 175 participants in this survey, we found that 70% were not testing for mites prior to our study. However, 43% of those saying they did not test for varroa mites, were willing to recieve further training on mite testing and management techniques. Our survey also indicated that there were some people that weren't testing for mites because they didn't realize they had to. We also discovered that 40% of our survey takers had never even treated for varroa mites. Given the importance of varroa mite in our studies, we found these data to be quite concerning. In 2019/2020 we conducted some follow up studies with beekeepers to determine if their mite management strategies had changed as a result of recieving our kits and training. We found that participants were willing to test for varroa mites in their hives using their provided kits. However, beekeepers didn't always know what was considered "high levels of varroa mites", and so testing for varroa mites didn't always translate into treating for varroa mites.

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2018 Citation: M. Simone-Finstrom. Differential responses to DWV infection in honey bees: A case of tolerance or resistance? (January, 2018). American Bee Research Conference. Reno, NV.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2018 Citation: M. Simone-Finstrom. Understanding mechanisms of differential tolerance to deformed wing infection in honey bees. (November, 2018) Entomological Society of America. Vancouver. Invited speaker
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2019 Citation: M. Simone-Finstrom, H. Penn, K. Healy, Susceptibility to viral infection in honey bees driven by genotypic differences in tolerance and resistance, (November 2019) Entomological Society of America. St. Louis. Invited speaker
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Invited Extension presentation on the NIFA project. Mike Simone-Finstrom. American Beekeeping Federation Annual Convention. 2017
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2018 Citation: Invited Extension presentation on the NIFA project. Mike Simone-Finstrom. American Beekeeping Federation Annual Convention. 2018
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2020 Citation: Invited Extension presentation on the NIFA project. Mike Simone-Finstrom. American Beekeeping Federation Annual Convention. 2020
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2018 Citation: Invited Extension presentation on the NIFA project. Mike Simone-Finstrom. Central Victorian Apiarists Association Annual Conference (2018) Maryborough, Victoria, Australia
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2018 Citation: Invited Extension presentation on the NIFA project. Mike Simone-Finstrom. Mississippi State Beekeepers Association Annual Meeting (2018)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2018 Citation: Invited Extension presentation on the NIFA project. Mike Simone-Finstrom. California Master Beekeeper Program (August, 2018)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Invited Extension presentation on the NIFA project. Mike Simone-Finstrom. Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Annual Meeting (2017)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Invited Extension presentation on the NIFA project. Mike Simone-Finstrom. Mid-Ohio Valley Beekeepers and the West Virginia Queen Producers (2017)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Invited Extension presentation on the NIFA project. Mike Simone-Finstrom. Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics and Physiology Research Unit Field Day. 2017
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2018 Citation: Invited Extension presentation on the NIFA project. Mike Simone-Finstrom. Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics and Physiology Research Unit Field Day. 2018
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Danka, Bob. National Beekeeping Conference in 2017 in Galveston. This was a joint conference of the American Beekeeping Federation and the American Honey Producers Association.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2020 Citation: Penn, HJ, M Simone-Finstrom, S Lang & K Healy. In prep. DWV over time in honey bee glands by genetic stock.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Factsheet.2018  How to test honeybees for Varroa mites. LSU AgCenter MISC-249
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2018 Citation: Penn, HJ & K Healy. 2018. Do reasons for keeping bees dictate Varroa management by hobbyist beekeepers? EntSoc, Vancouver, B.C., Canada.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2019 Citation: Penn, HJ. 2019. Honey bee lines and DWV. Capital Area Beekeepers Association, Baton Rouge, LA.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2018 Citation: Penn, HJ. 2018. Varroa mite infestation and control. Washington Parish Beekeepers Meeting, Franklinton, LA.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2020 Citation: Christopher Fellows*, Troy D. Anderson, Daniel R Swale. Characterization of the functional interplay between potassium ion channels and antiviral immunity in the honey bee, Apis mellifera. In Review: Nature Communications
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Christopher Fellows* and Daniel R Swale. 2019. Performing an alcohol wash to determine Varroa mite populations in honey bee colonies. LSU AgCenter Technical Bulletin. Publication No. 3698
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2020 Citation: Daniel R. Swale. 2020. Targeting K+ ion channels to enhance honey bee immune health. American Bee Research Conference. Chicago, IL, USA. Invited by: Dr. Michael Simone-Finstrom
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2019 Citation: Penn, HJ. 2019. Varroa mite sugar role demonstration. LBA Spring Field Day, Monroe, LA.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2018 Citation: Penn, HJ. 2018. Honeybee line susceptibility to deformed wing virus and public opinions on honeybees. USDA and LBA Annual Field Day, Baton Rouge, LA.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2019 Citation: Christopher Fellows*, Troy D. Anderson and Daniel R. Swale. 2019. Role of potassium ion channels in the regulation of reactive oxygen species during viral infection in honey bees. Entomological Society of America, St. Louis, MO, USA.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2019 Citation: Christopher Fellows*, Troy D. Anderson and Daniel R. Swale. 2019. Toxicological relevance of potassium ion channels to honey bee immune health. American Chemical Society, Division of Agrochemicals, National Meeting. San Diego, CA, US
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2018 Citation: Christopher Fellows* and Daniel R. Swale. 2018. The Role of ATP-Sensitive inward rectifier potassium channels in regulation of oxidative stress in the Western Honey Bee, Apis mellifera (L.) Louisiana Beekeepers Association. 57th Annual Meeting, Sulfur, Louisiana.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2018 Citation: Thomas O'Shea Wheller. USDA-ARS, Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics, and Physiology Laboratory: Field Day, Colony Losses, Baton Rouge, 2018
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2018 Citation: Thomas O'Shea Wheller. BASF Ecotoxicology Department: Pollinator Seminar, Honey Bee Health and Disease, Honey Bee Losses in Migratory Beekeeping, remote, 2018
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2019 Citation: Thomas O'Shea Wheller. USDA-ARS, Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics, and Physiology Laboratory: Field Day, Honeybee Health Landscape, Baton Rouge, 2019
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2019 Citation: Thomas O'Shea Wheller. American Association of Professional Apiculturists: American Bee Research Conference, Migratory Beekeeping: A Longitudinal Study of the Principle Factors Leading to Colony Losses, Phoenix, 2019
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2019 Citation: Thomas O'Shea Wheller. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting: P-IE Section Symposium, How to Speak for the Pollinators: Using Big Data to Manage and Conserve Pollinator Communities, A Longitudinal Study of the Principle Factors Leading to Colony Losses in Migratory Beekeeping, St. Louis, 2019
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2019 Citation: Thomas O'Shea Wheller. US EPA: Environmental Fate and Effects Division, A Longitudinal Study of the Principle Factors Leading to Colony Losses in Migratory Beekeeping, remote, 2019
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2019 Citation: Thomas O'Shea Wheller. Louisiana Mosquito Control Association Annual Meeting: Non-Target Organisms, Honeybees, Deformed Wing Virus, and Varroa, Baton Rouge, 2019
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2020 Citation: Thomas O'Shea Wheller. American Association of Professional Apiculturists: American Bee Research Conference, Migratory Beekeeping: A Longitudinal Study of the Principle Factors Leading to Colony Losses, (updated with year two data and models), Schaumburg, 2020
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2020 Citation: Thomas O'Shea Wheller. Honey Bee Health Coalition: Hive Management Working Group, A Longitudinal Study of the Principle Factors Leading to Colony Losses in Migratory Beekeeping: An Applied Overview, Remote, 2020
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2020 Citation: Thomas O'Shea Wheller, et al. Disentangling the Influences of Varroa and Viruses on Honey Bee Colony Losses, in preparation, 2020
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2020 Citation: Thomas O'Shea Wheller, et al. A Large-Scale Empirical Model of the Principle Factors Influencing Honey Bee Colony Losses, (working title), in preparation, 2020
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2020 Citation: Frank Rinkevich et al. Evaluating the pesticide exposures in a 2 year longitudinal study of bees.
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: C. J. Fellows. The Role of ATP-Sensitive inward rectifier potassium channels in regulation of oxidative stress in the Western Honey Bee, Apis mellifera (L.). 2019
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Sarah Lang. The effects of oral and venereal transmission of deformed wing virus on honey bee (apis mellifera) queen and colony health. 2020
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2019 Citation: Kristen Healy. Evaluating the impact of stressors on honey bee health. American Mosquito Control Association Annual meeting. 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2018 Citation: Kristen Healy. Evaluating the impact of stressors on honey bee health. Louisiana Mosquito Control Association Annual meeting. 2018.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2020 Citation: Kristen Healy. Evaluating the impact of stressors on honey bee health. Indiana Vector Control Annual meeting. 2020


Progress 06/01/18 to 05/31/19

Outputs
Target Audience:Our target audience are commercial beekeepers, hobbyist beekeepers, and individuals and instutions that conduct research on honey bees (Apis mellifera). At the inception of this project, we began close work with a large commecial beekeeper, Adee Honey Farms, which maintains tens of thousands of hives for honey and pollination services. We are utilizing a small subset of their colonies for our longitudinal studies, and are frequently in communication with them as we discover new things with this project. We have also frequently interacted with local beekeepers in Louisiana, at the Capitol Area Beekeepers Association, the USDA annual honey bee field day, and at the Louisiana Beekeepers association meeting. At these meetings we have discussed the project and ways in which we hope to work with beekeepers for additional outreach and extension activities. In addition, we have been developing extension components, where we will be recruiting a minimum of 200 local beekeepers to evaluate our mite evaluation tools. We developed a how-to video on mite testing, provided free mite testing kits to over 200 beekepers, and plan on educating a select number using a type of tech-transfer team. Changes/Problems:Here are some of our major challenges: - Difficulty in recruiting volunteers for the extension component. In year 1, we had planned to begin the extension piece of this project. However, we had at the time only been able to recruit 10 indiviudals. However, in year 2 we put in a greater effort, and finally have a better working number of volunteers. While our work on this part of the project was initially delayed, we are still progressing forward as proposed. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Much of our focus on training has been to teach beekeepers the importance of mite testing and management. Varroa mites have been found in our longitudinal studies to be one of the most significant predictors of honey bee health and mortality. Our data currently shows that we may be able to predict winter losses and mortality using June varroa mite levels. Therefore, we have been aiming to help teach local beekeepers how to test for mite levels in their hives. We have given presentations at our annual honey bee field day, and disseminated over 200 mite testing kits. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?In 2018, we began presenting much of our initial findings at local and national beekeeping conferences. We have attended and presented at the USDA annual honey bee field day, the Louisiana Beekeepers Association annual meeting, the Entomological Society of America's annual meeting, and the American Bee Research annual conference. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?our main focus before the next reporting period is to continue to analyze the data, develop a model to predict honey bee health outcomes, and test that model using additional data collected in this study. We also plan on finishing the extension component of this project.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1: To scientifically link risk factors during migratory beekeeping to honey bee health outcomes.This will be accomplished by evaluating different cohort groups (beekeeping management factors) and exposure variables (pathogens/parasites, pesticides and nutritional income) during 2 years of longitudinal observations. For this objective, we have successfully conducted two full years of longitudinal studies. We have been correlating over 300 variables in a dataset to adverse health outdomes. These include different pathogen levels, varroa levels, pesticide levels, and other colony health metrics. We have begun evaluating the data using multiple analyses, including discriminant analysis and structural equation modelling. Objective 2: To test they hypothesis that novel honey bee stocks will mitigate colony losses from pathogens.This will be accomplished by comparing virus dynamics in honey bees of 3 different stocks, and predicting threats from viruses early enough in a season to trigger mite control strategies that can effectively prevent losses. In the laboratory, we injected viruses of different titers in bees of different stocks. This has enabled us to determine if stock and genetics influences susceptibility of viruses. Interestingly, we are finding that the different stocks seem to be equally susceptible to viruses of similar titers. However, the influence of varroa mites seem to strongly impact health of colonies. Objective 3: To determine the most effective strategy of educating beekeepers and stakeholder groups to have the greatest impact at minimizing losses fromV. destructorand mite-borne viruses.This will be accomplished by evaluating 4 different extension methodologies (none, paper based, computer based, tech transfer teams), using different metrics. We have conducted some preliminary surveys of beekeepers knowledge and practicies. We utilized several local beekeeper events to conduct surveys, disseminate mite testing kits, and recruit voluneteers for the extension component of the project. This summer, we will be able to determine if extension methodology impacts colony health.

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2018 Citation: Understanding mechanisms of differential tolerance to deformed wing infection in honey bees. Michael Simone-Finstrom. Entomological Society of America's annual conference.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2018 Citation: Michael Simone-Finstrom, Bob Danka, Thomas O'Shea-Wheller, USDA-ARS, Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics and Influence of honey bee stock on colony pathogen loads during migratory management Saturday, January 12 Hannah Penn, Frank Rinkevich, Daniel Swale, Kristen Healy. Physiology Laboratory, Baton Rouge, LA. American Bee Research Conference, 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2018 Citation: Thomas O'Shea-Wheller, Michael Simone-Finstrom, Bob Danka, Frank Rinkevich, Kristen Healy, Hannah Penn, Daniel Swale, Sarah Lang, C.J FellowsDepartment of Entomology,Louisiana State UniversityA Longitudinal Study of the Principle Factors Leading to Colony Losses in Migratory Beekeeping". American Bee Research Conference, 2019.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2018 Citation: Longitudinal study of risk factors that result in honey bee colony losses Frank Rinkevich1, Robert G. Danka1, Michael Simone-Finstrom1, Kristen Healy2 and Daniel Swale2, 1USDA - ARS, Baton Rouge, LA, 2Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA. Entomological Society of America's annual conference.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2018 Citation: Do reasons for keeping bees dictate Varroa management by hobbyist beekeepers? Hannah Penn and Kristen Healy, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA. Entomological Society of America's annual conference.


Progress 06/01/17 to 05/31/18

Outputs
Target Audience:Our target audience are commercial beekeepers, hobbyist beekeepers, and individuals and instutions that conduct research on honey bees (Apis mellifera). At the inception of this project, we began close work with a large commecial beekeeper, Adee Honey Farms, which maintains tens of thousands of hives for honey and pollination services. We are utilizing a small subset of their colonies for our longitudinal studies, and are frequently in communication with them as we discover new things with this project. We have also frequently interacted with local beekeepers in Louisiana, at the Capitol Area Beekeepers Association, the USDA annual honey bee field day, and at the Louisiana Beekeepers association meeting. At these meetings we have discussed the project and ways in which we hope to work with beekeepers for additional outreach and extension activities. In addition, we will be beginning our extension components in the next few months, where we will be recruiting a minimum of 200 local beekeepers to evaluate our mite evaluation tools. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Since this project has begun, we have been discussing our project goals and objectives with various stakeholder group. As of now, this has primarily been discussing our objectives at local beekeeper meetings and conferences. In May, we will begin the extension component, where we will actively be recruiting beekeepers, and training them on mite assessments and management. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?There is not much to report yet, except that we are in frequent communication with the commercial beekeeper that we are working with on this project. As we learn new things about the hives, we have communicated that information to them. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?By the next reporting period we should have the first complete year of the longitudinal study conducted, much of the objective 2 research conducted, and have begun working on the extension portion of the project.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1: We began the longitudinal portion of these studies in March of 2017. We divided over 300 hives into several cohort groups. This included cohorts for bee stock (Italian honey bees versus Pol-line honey bees), mite management (treated versus untreated), and colony migration route (stationary, through almond pollination, not through almond pollination). Whole hive colony assessments have been conducted in March, June, August, October, andDecember 2017, and February/March and currently here in May 2018. We have already begun to see noticeable differences in hive health and mite levels within the different cohort groups. The longitudinal study is planned for 2 years. Objective 2: Much of objective 2 focuses on factors influencing deformed wing virus infection in honey bees. In August 2017, 3 new graduate students were brought into the grant project. Each of these students have incorported the virus work as part of their Master's thesis. Students are currently learning the techniques in pathogen detection, and virus inoculation in honey bees. Objective 3: We are currently finishing up the development of materials, which will be disseminated to beekeepers next month. We approved IRB approval, developed surveys, developed mite ID kits, training videos, training flyers, and a how-to check for mite brochure. Next month, 200 beekeepers will be asked to participate in a survey, and they will be randomly divided into different educational cohorts. We will collect data on mite levels from the different cohort groups over the season, and then evaluate hives for deformed wing virus at the end.

Publications