Reducing Pesticide Use in Honey Bee Colonies through Sound Sampling and Treatment Procedures

2007 Annual Report for LNC05-264

Project Type: Research and Education
Funds awarded in 2005: $150,000.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2008
Region: North Central
State: Minnesota
Project Coordinator:
Marla Spivak
University of Minnesota

Reducing Pesticide Use in Honey Bee Colonies through Sound Sampling and Treatment Procedures

Summary

Preliminary analysis showed that a sample of 300 bees adult bees per colony from 14 colonies per apiary provided the best precision level (0.25) to determine the mite (Varroa destructor) load of the apiary and to make management decisions. Guidelines will be developed to help beekeepers make educated treatment decisions based on the sampling plan. Our line of bees bred for both Hygienic Behavior and Suppression of Mite Reproduction had significantly lower mite levels compared to an unselected line of bees demonstrating that this line can reduce mite loads and thus the frequency of pesticide application.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Objective 1. Develop a simple and standardized sampling plan for commercial beekeepers to help them determine the economic treatment level for Varroa destructor mites (short-term outcome).

Objective 2. Compare mite levels between our line of bees bred for both Hygienic Behavior (HYG) and Suppression of Mite Reproduction (SMR) with an unselected, commercial line of bees (short-term outcome), to demonstrate that the use of resistant bees can reduce mite loads and thus, the frequency of pesticide application (intermediate-term outcome).

Objective 3. Develop published guidelines for migratory beekeepers on making educated treatment decisions for the mite based on the sampling plan (intermediate- to long-term outcome).

Accomplishments/Milestones

Objective 1: It is relatively common for growers to sample insect pest populations in a field crop to help them make an educated treatment decision. Our goal is to encourage beekeepers to sample their bee colonies for mite pest populations in a standardized way to help them make wise treatment decisions. Such a sampling plan for a mite pest in an insect colony has never been attempted. Based on sampling statistics developed by Dr. Bill Hutchison, we estimate that we need to sample bees from 30 apiaries (24-55 colonies/apiary) to obtain sufficient data to develop the sampling plan. In June and September 2005, Katie Lee, graduate student funded on this project, sampled colonies of bees for mite infestation on adult bees in 12 apiaries in MN and ND. In 2006, she sampled 10 apiaries in CA, MN and ND. In 2007, she sampled 8 apiaries in TX, MN and ND, bringing the total to 30 apiaries. She has processed the samples in the lab and is presently working on analyzing the data. A nested analysis of variance based all 30 apiaries revealed that the main source of variation among mite data within an apiary occurred at the colony level explaining approximately 25% of the variation among samples. The mite dispersal pattern was determined to be at the colony level using of the 10 out of the 30 apiaries in Taylor’s power law (one of the parameters Hutchison’s sampling statistics model) and indicated an aggregated distribution (b-value > 1) for all sample units tested, reconfirming the results from the nested analysis of variance. The remaining 20 apiaries were used in Green’s Plan (another parameter of the model) that determined a sample unit size of 300 bees provided the best precision level with the smallest sample size unit providing an average precision level of 0.25 (acceptable for pest management) over an average sample size of 14 colonies in an apiary. Thus far it appears a single sample of adult bees can be taken from a colony to determine the mite load. The mite load can then be determined for multiple colonies in an apiary to make management decisions for an apiary. Further analysis will look at whether the mites are aggregated within a colony and how the number of mites in the brood (pupae) relates to the number of mites on adult bees. The results from the analyses will be used to create a standard sampling device. The device will be used by beekeepers to help them determine their apiary infestations, make educated treatment decisions, and be able to communicate their apiary infestation levels with other beekeepers worldwide.

Objective 2. We compared colonies selectively bred for both hygienic behavior and Suppression of Mite Reproduction (HYG/SMR) with colonies bred solely for hygienic behavior (HYG) and unselected control colonies. Colonies were evaluated for strength, brood viability, removal of freeze-killed brood, honey production, mite loads on adult bees and within worker brood, and mite reproductive success on worker brood for two years in two locations (MN and ND). By autumn in both years, the HYG/SMR colonies had significantly fewer mites on adult bees and in worker brood compared to the control colonies and the HYG colonies had intermediate mite populations. Contrary to expectation, there were no differences among the lines in mite reproductive success. Further studies are required to determine if the genes and neural mechanisms that regulate the SMR trait are the same or different from those regulating hygienic behavior.

We have just published a paper on these results:
Ibrahim, A., Reuter, GS, Spivak, M. 2007. Field trial of honey bee colonies bred for mechanisms of resistance against Varroa destructor. Apidologie 38: 67-76

Objective 3. When we have completed all the sampling and analysis for Objective 1, we will be able to develop published guidelines for migratory beekeepers on making educated treatment decisions for the mite based on the sampling plan. Also, at every beekeeping association meeting Spivak and Reuter attend, we talk to beekeepers about the importance of sampling plans and how they will improve the profit margins of their operations by not having to treat as often or extensively. We have received very favorable feedback and many say they are anxiously anticipating our results.

Katie Lee has presented her preliminary findings to the MN Honey Producers Association annual meeting (Walker, MN, July 2007), the Entomological Society of America annual meeting (San Diego, Ca, December 2007), and the American Bee Research Conferences (Sacramento, CA, January, 2008).

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

The North Central region of the US, particularly MN, ND and SD are the top honey producing states based on yield per colony, together producing over 30% of the total honey production for the nation. The reduction in pesticide use by beekeepers will increase the profitability of beekeeping, which is based on small and moderate-scale owner-operated farms, improve the quality of honey, a wholesome food product, and improve environmental quality by promoting honey bees, vital pollinators of our agro- and natural ecosystem.

Collaborators:

William Klett

Beekeeper
Klett Apiaries
ND
Gary Reuter

reute001@umn.edu
Scientitst
University of Minnesota - Entomology
1980 Folwell Ave
219 Hodson Hall
St Paul, MN 55108
Office Phone: 6126246740
Website: www.extension.umn.edu/honeybees/
Darrel Rufer

Beekeeper
Rufer Apiaries
MN