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MINERAL OIL AS AN ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT FOR HONEY BEE MITES

Part II

METHODS OF APPLICATION AND TEST RESULTS.

By Dr. Pedro P. Rodriguez
Dr. Veterinary Medicine, U. P. 1962
Retired GS-13 United States Department of Agriculture
Retired United States Army Colonel

and Mike and Linda Campbell

Part I

Abstract

Honey bee mites are responsible not only for destruction of a high number of colonies yearly but also losses due to decreased production, added cost of treatment, labor and research. As new avenues of treatment are explored and new products are tested and introduced in apiculture, hopes of containment, if not eradication, continue. As in past years, investigation with food grade mineral oil, FGMO, has continued in search for a cost effective, honey bee and environmentally friendly treatment for bee mites.

Keywords

Honey bee mites, food grade mineral oil, FGMO, FGMO/sugar emulsion, Burgess Propane Insect Fogger, Welt upholstery cord.

Introduction

Although hampered by limited economic resources, severe drought, aerial pesticide spraying and the stress of rigorous test conditions, our test colonies (thirty-seven) thrived producing excellent honey yields.

Test sites

1. Ten colonies in the Great Neck area of Virginia Beach, VA (four colonies from previous years and six colonies developed from swarms). All colonies were arranged in linear display and labeled 1 -10.
2. Twenty-nine colonies in partnership with Mike and Linda Campbell in Suffolk, VA. Test colonies included colonies from the previous year study, package bees and swarms. The Suffolk colonies were displayed in a square frying pan figure.

Testing

As in previous years, testing began on the second week of April and continued through November 1999. Monthly treatments were applied by means of FGMO spray applied with the Burgess Propane Insect Fogger and by Welt Upholstery cords soaked in FGMO/sugar emulsion.

Procedure

1. FGMO sprayed with the Burgess Propane Insect Fogger
   
   FGMO was applied in spray form once a month by blowing a steady stream of FGMO spray through the hive entrance. The amount of spray applied and length of time varied according to the size of the colony, generally lasting 4 - 5 seconds per colony.
   
2. FGMO/sugar emulsion
   
   Treatment was performed applying two sections (40 inches long each) Welt upholstery cord previously soaked in FGMO/sugar emulsion. FGMO/sugar emulsion, provided by Penreco Technology Center laboratories in gallon metal containers, resembles Crisco vegetable fat in consistency and appearance. Because of its solid consistency, the emulsion required heating, (a propane burner at my home in Virginia Beach and the Campbell's kitchen stove in Suffolk). The Welt upholstery cord was cut in forty-inch sections, dipped in the melted FGMO/sugar emulsion which congealed on the cords as soon as it cooled. Two cord sections were removed from the dip vat and placed on all the top bars of the incubation chambers and on some supers in the colonies with multiple supers. The Welt upholstery cords were replaced approximately every thirty days, at which time the bees had chewed and removed most of them.

Test results

Mite counts performed by opening larval cells revealed findings averaging between one and ten mites per hundred cells examined. Tests were conducted on days of treatment to minimize workload and harassment of the colonies. The last treatment in preparation for wintering was performed on October 24, 1999.

Table No. 1 Uncapped Cells Mites Count/10 Square Cms.(Suffolk, Virginia)

Table No. 2 Uncapped Cells Mites Count/10 Square Cms.(Virginia Beach)

	Colony Number	Number of Mites
	1	1
	2	2
	3	(died)
	4	3
	5	0
	6	2
	7	4
	8	2
	9	(died)
	10	1

Discussion

Observation of control colonies during past four years revealed the following data:

1. All untreated colonies died the same year
2. Population of control colonies diminished progressively by attrition, disease or fighting in defense of what remained of their colony
3. Almost invariably, all control colonies developed Nosema in the autumn
4. Adjacent test colony bees invaded and robbed control colonies by autum's end
5. When pilferage started in control colonies, randomly selected bees were colored-tagged on the wings. Colored-tagged bees were subsequently observed within other test colonies
6. Once the population decreased, control colonies abandoned house keeping.

Previous tests with FGMO in various forms proved to be successful, however the methods employed appeared, as time consuming hence considered not cost-effective. Application of FGMO in the form of emulsion was developed in the early years of FGMO testing, however various forms of application tried were unsuccessful due to mechanical problems. This year, use of Welt upholstery cord was adopted taking two factors into consideration: the physical characteristics of the emulsion and the housekeeping habits of honey bees. The Welt upholstery cord was easily coated with emulsified FGMO and the cords readily applied on the top bars with minimum effort. Honey bees were observed to initiate removal of the cord as soon as it was placed on top of the frames, thus becoming exposed to the mineral oil and its effect on the mites. Cords were chewed and shred within thirty days. (See attached photographs). Monthly combined applications of FGMO with the Burgess Portable Propane Insect Fogger and FGMO/sugar emulsion on 37 colonies greatly reduced labor and medication costs and kept the mite population at low levels (totally absent in some colonies), (See attached capped larval cell count charts). Past and present history of the behavior of honey bee mites tend to indicate that their existence within our honey bee colonies will be noticeable for years to come in spite of the combined efforts by those of us who toil to keep them in check. In light of these findings, addition to treatment, our work is being aimed at promoting the use of techniques to control their presence. We consider of special importance development of strains of bees that show tendency to resist mites. Hence our practice to utilize the housekeeping abilities of the bees in connection with removal of the Welt upholstery cord soaked with FGMO/sugar emulsion. In our FGMO treatment program we have several colonies that are four years old that not only have tolerated the presence of mites but that have thrived and produced high honey yields.

Conclusions

Four consecutive years of research with FGMO clearly indicate that untreated (control) colonies die within the same year. Conversely, colonies in the same group treated with FGMO have survived for four years. No adverse effects by Pernreco's

Drakeol, FGMO, have been observed on test colonies to queens, larvae or adult bee population during the past four years of testing. Test results indicate that FGMO is an effective acaricide that can be utilized by small as well as commercial beekeepers for the treatment of honey bee mites in a cost effective manner.

References

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	Pugh_PJA, King_PE, Fordy-MR NA., The respiratory system of the Varroa jacobsoni Oudemans. Its Adaptations to a Range of Environmental Conditions, JN:Experimental and Applied Acarology, 15(2): 123-129 (1992).
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	Spivak, Marla et Gilliam, Martha, Hygenic Behavior of Honey Bees and its Application for control of brood diseases and varroa.. Bee World 79(3): 124-134 (1998).
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See also (in French):

Utilisation d’huiles végétales ou minérales : un outil potentiel dans la lutte contre Varroa jacobsoni

by Yves Le Conte, Marc Édouard Colin, Michaël Treilles, Didier Crauser et Alain Paris
INRA, Unité de Zoologie et Apidologie, Domaine Saint-Paul, Site Agroparc, 84149 Avignon Cedex 9

©.1999.Dr. Pedro P. Rodriguez - All Rights Reserved. dronebee@norfolk.infi.net Reproduction for personal and non-profit use only.