The mite that kills honeybees – Varroa destructor.
by Chris, 22 February, 2019, 0 comments
The woodland’s blog has repeatedly reported on the state of honeybee populations and the phenomenon of colony collapse disorder / syndrome. Three principal factors have been held responsible for the decline in honey bee numbers :
Pesticides - notably the neonicotinoids
Poor nutrition
Parasites.
Amongst the parasites, various viruses have been associated with decline - such as deformed wing virus (DWV), sacbrood virus (SBV) and black queen cell virus (BQCV). These viruses are spread within the colonies (hives) by the activity of mites, specifically the varroa mite. It has generally been assumed that whilst the mite feeds off of a honeybee (by hitching a ride on the bee), it did no great harm. However, recent work by Samuel Ramsey et al (formerly at the University of Maryland) suggest that it is the mites’ feeding activities that are ultimately responsible for the death of the bees. Read more...
