An integrated IPM program using non-chemical controls to manage parasites in honey bee, Apis mellifera, colonies

In recent years there has been an abrupt decline in honey bee populations throughout the country and research has shown the Varroa mite, Varroa destructor, to play a pivotal role in this decline. Treatments are available to manage Varroa populations but few have yielded long term success and there is a need to explore more sustainable beekeeping management strategies. The focus of this research project is to combine current cultural, physical, and mechanical management strategies into an integrated pest management (IPM) practice for Varroa mite control, while reducing the amount of time and costs beekeepers must spend on Varroa control treatments and alleviate the reliance on chemical control tactics. The IPM mechanical techniques, selective breeding programs and cultural techniques all independently reduce Varroa populations for short periods of time, but combing multiple management techniques into one IPM program could have long term effects on reducing Varroa populations. The IPM protocol will be testing the efficacy that the splitting of colonies in conjunction with drone brood removal, screen bottom boards and commercialized stock of hygienic bees has on reducing mite populations and Varroa vectored viruses thereby leading to an increase in overall colony survivorship.