Review of Bee Health

Quem matou o polinizador? [Who killed the pollinator?]

January 27, 2017

Editor’s Note: Translated from the Portuguese via Google Translate.

From: Successful Farming [Brazil]

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1 – Varroa mite

The biggest threat is the Varroa mite. Its scientific name is Varroa destructor and it can eliminate a hive in 18 to 24 months. The Varroa mite is an external parasite that attacks adults and their developing litter. It feeds on the bee’s blood, weakens it and also transmits bacteria and viruses. It’s like having a five-pound weight on your back, sucking your blood. “If I had a magic wand and could end a plague, this would be the Varroa mite,” says Reed Johnson, an assistant professor in the entomology department at Ohio State University.

Beekeepers are trying to avoid strong acaricides and adopt smarter alternatives to mite control, which are natural and relatively harmless to bees, says Joseph. “We do not have a perfect way to deal with it. There is no really good solution for this. Beekeepers are surviving and finding ways to control it, but it’s a constant battle, “says Johnson.

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