Common bee pests and diseases in Oklahoma

Common bee pests and diseases in Oklahoma

This is not an exhaustive list, and any pest or disease that affects bees anywhere can affect bees in Oklahoma, but these are the more commonly occurring pests in this area.

Varroa Destructor

Varroa destructor is a mite that invades beehives, laying eggs alongside bee larvae in the open cells of the brood chamber. These hatch and develop with the pupating bees once the cells are capped, and by the time the adult bees emerge, the mites have attached themselves to the bees and are feeding off of the their fat body. The fat body is a vital organ of bees, to which more than a quarter of their body mass is devoted, which should suggest the importance of this organ to a flying insect. Recent research by Samuel Ramsey, PhD at the University of Maryland found that varroa mites destroy the bee's fat body and consume it, reaching this vital organ through a thin membrane under the protective covering on the underside of the bee's abdomen. The significance of this to the hobbyist beekeeper is that varroa mites are very deadly to bees from early on in their life cycle, and that varroa mites are extremely unlikely to be detected by a visual inspection of the hive. The most reliable ways to detect varroa mites are through a sugar roll or an alcohol wash, so it is important to conduct these tests at least twice a year and treat for varroa mites accordingly. Treatment options include formic acid, oxalic acid vapor, wintergreen grease patties, drone brood removal, and commercially available treatments. In a final note, varroa infestations also weaken bees' immune systems, making them more prone to other problems such as deformed wing virus or chalk brood, so these may also be indirect indicators of a varroa infestation. As a member of the Central Oklahoma Beekeepers Association once told me, “If you have bees, outside of Australia, you have varroa mites. The question is how many.”

American Foulbrood

American Foulbrood (AFB) is a deadly bee disease caused by the Paenibacillus larvae bacteria, which affects the development of bee larvae. This infectious disease is spread through bacterial spores, so it can be spread through contaminated equipment, movement of infected honeycombs, mating and robbing behaviors, and drifting. AFB is the reason beekeepers in the US are required to inspect their hives. Infected hives are often reported to have an odor of rotting meat, and an infected bee larva, when lanced with a toothpick, will have roping that clings to the toothpick, unlike a normal larva which will leave the toothpick clean. Infected brood usually die in the larval or pupal stage. There is no curative treatment, and the bacterial spores can survive both freezing and extreme heat and may live on for decades. Infected hives, including the bees and all the contaminated woodware, must be sealed, burned and buried to prevent spreading.

Small Hive Beetles

Small Hive Beetles (SHB) are not particularly deadly to the bees, but they reproduce in the bees' honeycomb and compete for resources inside the hive. SHB larvae look like maggots, and their excrement contains a yeast which produces a foul “slime” inside the hive, ruining the honey. Beekeepers continue to innovate effective ways to trap SHBs, but many also recommend moving your hives into all-day full sun to reduce SHB infestations.

Wax Moths

Two species of wax moths, Galleria mellonella and Achroia grisella, infest beehives, feeding on beeswax, pollen deposits and other resources inside the hive, often tunneling through the hobeycomb, leaving leaving raised trails like a mole, along with a mess of cocoon silk. These most commonly affect abandoned or dying hives, so a wax moth infestation may signal dire underlying conditions for the health of your colony. The best deterrence is a healthy and hygienic colony. A dusting of powdered sugar often stimulates hygienic behaviors in a hive.

DWM 5/27/21