Common Diseases of Honeybees - Part 2

In 1922, the U.S. Honeybee Act prohibited the importation of all life stages of honey bees into the U.S. primarily to keep the Honey Bee Tracheal Mite (HBTM) out of the country. The HBTM was found in Mexico in 1980 Unfortunately, the HBTM did not work and the mites were found in Texas in 1984 and must have reached Southern Arizona as early as 1988 since several beekeepers in this area had unusually heavy over-winter losses the winter of 1989-90. Similar problems have been experienced all over the U.S. but in many locations, especially where winters are 3-4 months long (broodless periods for 1-2 months) the bees that have survived seem to have some genetic resistance. A process of natural selection or "survival of the fittest" has reduced the HBTM problem especially in somewhat isolated, non-migratory operations.

Local beekeepers who have been requeening from their best surviving colonies have had very little problem with HBTM the last few years, but those who have recently taken colonies out-of-state (California, the Dakotas) have had colonies with severe HBTM infestations.

Beekeeping in the current climate where the mites are endemic is requiring more and better management and frequent sampling to determine infestation levels. Where genetic resistance is not yet available, judicious, timely applications of known, effective, and legal chemicals are required.

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