RECOMMENDATIONS FROM N.C. STATE UNIVERSITY AND THE N.C. COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE ON THE CONTROL OF MITE & BEETLE PESTS OF HONEY BEES

In the last 15 years the managed honey bee colonies and honey bees living in the wild (feral bees) have been under constant attack by a host of introduced pests. These pests include the tracheal mite, Acarapis woodi, (first found in NC in 1984), the varroa mite, Varroa jacobsoni, (first found in N.C. in 1990), and the small hive beetle, Aethina tumida, (first found in NC in 1998).

The combined impact of these introduced pests has been to eliminate approx. 1/3 of the managed honey bee colonies in N.C. and almost all of the feral honey bee colonies, with the varroa mite being the most serious of the pests at this time. These conditions are not unique to North Carolina, the mites are established throughout the U.S. and the small hive beetle is established in the southeastern U.S. and may move into other sections of the country. All of these pests are serious problems and may result in colony death if infestations are not treated. The varroa mite is the most widespread of the pests and bee colonies infested with this pest will usually die within one to two years if not "chemically" treated.

There are a number of non-chemical and chemical (pesticide) treatments available to treat the bee pests. Unfortunately, the beekeeper can not rely on any one or any current combination of the non-chemical treatments (ie. pollen traps, modified bottom boards, resistant queens etc) to control the pests. This finding is based on several research studies at NCSU. Chemical (pesticide) treatments are the only realistic controls at this time.

Based on considerable research and experience the following recommendations are made to N.C. beekeepers for the control of varroa mites, tracheal mites, and small hive beetles. These recommendations are based on the assumption that the varroa mites are in most of the bee colonies of the state and the other pests are less generally distributed.

Spring of Each Year (late winter/early spring)

Treat all bee colonies with Apistan which is the trade name for the product fluvalinate
Controls varroa mites

Fall of Each Year (late summer summer/early fall)

Treat all bee colonies with Apicure which is the trade name for formic acid
Controls varroa and tracheal mites

Special Control of the Small Hive Beetle
Contact the area bee inspector of the NCDA, your county Cooperative Ext. Service, or the the Extension Apiculturist at NCSU for confirmation of the pest and treatment options.

The mentioned chemical products (Apistan and Apicure) are available from most of the major bee supply companies. For more complete information on the three pests, refer to the following Bee Notes published by the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service at NCSU:
Tracheal Mites Bee Note
Varroa Mites Bee Note
Small Hive Beetles Bee Note