Tag Archives: Varroa destructor

448-456 L. Tummeleht, T. Orro and A. Viltrop
Risk factors for honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) mortality in Estonian apiaries during 2012–2013
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Risk factors for honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) mortality in Estonian apiaries during 2012–2013

L. Tummeleht*, T. Orro and A. Viltrop

Estonian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwaldi 62, EE51006 Tartu, Estonia
*Correspondence: lea.tummeleht@emu.ee; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6478-7047

Abstract:

In light of the global increase in honey bee colony losses, risk factors regarding beekeeping management practices and honey bee diseases have been studied intensively during the last decade. Some risk factors have been outlined, but the correlation of evidence between relevant factors coinciding with honey bee mortality still needs to be clarified. The current study used the two-year data collected in frames of the European Commission EPILOBEE project. Previously, the data from Estonian apiaries were analysed together with the data from all 17 participating European countries in the consortium. In the current study, data from Estonian apiaries were targeted separately. In total, 196 apiaries containing 2,439 colonies all over Estonia were included in this dataset. The study aimed to clarify the risk factors that would predict colony losses in Estonia. The main factors increasing colony mortality after winter were the size of the apiary, Varroa destructor mite count, infestation with Paenibacillus larvae, and lack of farmlands around the apiary. No significant risk factors in relation to honey bee summer mortality were detected.

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345-350 K. Toomemaa, A.-J. Martin, M. Mänd, I. H. Williams
Using oxalic acid in water solution in control of Varroa mites and its influence on honey bees
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Using oxalic acid in water solution in control of Varroa mites and its influence on honey bees

K. Toomemaa, A.-J. Martin, M. Mänd, I. H. Williams

Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of LifeSciences, 1A Kreutzwaldi St, 51014 Tartu, Estonia; e-mail: ktoomemaa@gmail.com;ants.martin@emu.ee

Abstract:

We studied the toxicity of water solutions containing various concentrations of oxalic acid dihydrate to bees and Varroa mites (Varroa destructor) using by spraying honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies with no brood or little brood in beehive conditions in West-Viru County, Estonia. A water solution of 0.5% OA gave effective control of the mite and was not toxic to bees whereas higher concentrations of OA (1.0 and 1.5%) were highly toxic to bees. In autumn, spraying test colonies that had little capped brood once or twice with a 0.5% OA solution gave effective mite control (92.94 ± 0.01% and 91.84 ± 0.02%, respectively) with no noticeable toxicity to bees.

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