Honeybees
Honeybees are essential for the functioning of ecosystems and the sustainability of agricultural systems. The state of honeybees is currently at stake due to Varroa destructor, an invasive mite that feeds on honeybees which is the greatest threat to honeybee populations worldwide.
The Problem:
Honeybees worldwide are currently engaged in a battle against a formidable parasite. Bearing the fitting name Varroa destructor, these tiny mites can devastate entire beehives. Introduced to the United States in the 1980s, Varroa mites have proliferated rapidly, leading to the collapse of beehives across the country. Honeybees play a vital role in the pollination of plants, supporting natural ecosystems as well as human agriculture. Varroa destructor poses a significant threat to the ecological processes we all depend on.
Global
Currently, Varroa mites infest beehives worldwide, with the exception of Australia. The European honey bee, Apis mellifera, which has naturalized on all continents except Antarctica, faces the greatest risk, as this species did not evolve alongside varroa. In Asia, where Varroa are native, Apis cerana, or the Asian honey bee, has evolved defenses against the parasite and therefore is not affected in the same manner as its European counterparts.
National
In the United States, Varroa mites have spread to every corner of the country, devastating bee colonies. In response, many universities, government agencies, private corporations, and NGOs have invested significant time and money to combat Varroa infestations and save bee populations.
Local
The Sustainable Agriculture Project here at GVSU maintains 8 hives, some of which have been impacted by Varroa infestations. Unfortunately, only one hive survived the winter season. The lost hives succumbed to either the Varroa destructor mite, inadequate hive size, a lack of honey, insufficient ventilation, or a combination of all four. A proper spring investigation is yet to take place.
Background Research: Varroa Mites
Varroa mites are an ectoparasite that lives and feeds on pupal and adult honey bees. They are reddish brown in color, and adult female varroa can be as large as a pinhead. While there are four distinct species, Varroa destructor is the species of focus, as they are infesting the European honey bee, the species we rely on the most worldwide. Varroa are a phoretic parasite, meaning they live and interact with the environment via their host. Only the adult females live on adult honey bees, while male varroa mites only live and feed on larvae and pupae honey bees.
These parasites cause numerous problems for honey bees around the world, ranging from physical to psychological issues. During a bee pupae’s development, Varroa mites can cause the loss of hemolymph, which is similar to blood in vertebrates. Adult bees infected can exhibit symptoms such as decreased capability of non-associated learning, prolonged absences from the colony, and lower return rates to the colony from foraging. Varroa can transmit diseases such as Deformed Wing Virus, Parasitic Mite Syndrome (PMS), and Acute Bee Paralysis Virus (ABPV), all of which can be fatal for the bees.
Managing Varroa mites has become an important part of beekeeping. Traditionally, chemical application has been the most popular tool for management, but other alternatives exist now. The recommended framework has become the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) system, which utilizes both chemical and non-chemical methods to manage the mites. Beekeepers are encouraged to rotate chemicals and change methods, preventing Varroa mites from developing resistances.
Implementation Plan:
Timeline
This monthly timeline represents an implementation plan for managing the Varroa mites at the local Sustainable Agricultural Project.
Budget
This budget represents the estimated cost for our monthly implementation plan. Cost estimates will vary depending on the species of mite resistant honey bees imported, and the abundance of them.
Triple Bottom Line Analysis
Economic
Honey bees contribute an estimated $15 billion dollars into the US economy through pollination. Globally, the value is $210 billion. It's difficult to quantify how varroa mites may have impacted economic gains already, there could be devastating effects on both agricultural and honey production should they be left to infest beehives unchecked.
Social
Varroa mites have a direct impact on the agriculture & food sectors, leaving concerns for food security.
This is especially true for farmers whose crops are dependent upon the pollination services provided by bees. Bees provide food, spices, beverages, medicines, and fibers through pollination, which amounts to about 1/3 of the worlds food supply.
Environmental
Honey bees are crucial to the planets health as they enhance stability and resilience within ecosystems, and mites are devastating colonies. They have not yet found a removal technique that is effective, safe, and non-persistent within an ecosystem. There has been an average honey bee decline of 30% each winter.
References
Bush, G. (2023). How You Can Keep Bees from Becoming Endangered: Bee Population Decline. Ohio State University. www.osu.edu/impact/research-and-innovation/bee-population.
Warner, S., Pokhrel, L., Akula, S., Ubah, C., Richards, S., Jensen, H., Kearney, G. (2024). A scoping review on the effects of Varroa mite on global honey bee decline. Science of The Total Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167492.
(2024). Exotic Pests. Bee Aware. beeaware.org.au/archive-pest/varroa-mites/#ad-image-0.
(2024). Fact Sheet: The Economic Challenge Posed by Declining Pollinator Populations. National Archives and Records Administration. obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/06/20/fact-sheet-economic-challenge-posed-declining-pollinator-populations.
(2024). Issues Advisory on Pesticides Used to Control Varroa Mites in Beehives: Including Coordinated Efforts to Support the Beekeeping Community. Environmental Protection Agency. www.epa.gov/pesticides/epa-issues-advisory-pesticides-used-control-varroa-mites-beehives-including-coordinated. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.
(2024). Queen Bees for Sale: Queen Honeybees for Sale. The B Farm. thebfarm.com/collections/queens.
(2024). Texas Apiary Inspection Service. Texas Apiary Inspection Service. txbeeinspection.tamu.edu/varroa-mites/.
(2024). Varroa: Short Story. Apis Information Resource Center. beekeep.info/a-treatise-on-modern-honey-bee- management/managing-diseases-and-pests/varroa-short-history/#:~:text=It%20was%20first%20detected%20in,in%20a%20number%20of%20formats.
(2021). USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension. A Sustainable Approach to Controlling honey bee Diseases and varroa mites. https://www.sare.org/resources/a-sustainable-approach-to-controlling-honey-bee-diseases-and-varroa-mites/
