help control the tracheal mites.

Tracheal mites are found throughout all honey-producing regions of the world, except Australia and New Zealand. They were not discovered in Japan until 2010, and a survey in 2018 survey revealed that 40% of hives were infested (Maeda and Sakamoto 2020). A similar survey in Morelos, Mexico, determined that 7% of colonies in that state are infested (Figueroa 2018). In Tennessee in 2019, researchers found a very low incidence of tracheal mites, with only 20 infected hives in 40,000 colonies surveyed (Studer, M, Personal Communication 2022). It is believed that there are merely low levels of mites across the United States, but the exact percentage of infestations is unknown (Moore et al. 2015).

The lifecycle of the tracheal mite begins when a female mite enters a young bee’s trachea via the thoracic spiracle. Once inside, she will lay up to seven eggs in about four days. A female can lay up to ten eggs during her lifetime. The eggs hatch in three to four days. Males will develop through the stages of larva, nymph, and adult in approximately 12 days. Females complete development in about 15 days. The males and females mate in the trachea. Newly mated females leave the trachea to search for a new (Hood 2000). proximity of the bees clustering allows the mites to easily spread to a new host (Moore et al. 2015).

Tracheal mite populations usually build up in cooler months because the bees cluster in the colony. The Tracheal mites are difficult to diagnose because they are only about 150 μm (1/200 of an inch) long. Diagnosis requires dissection of the bee's tracheal tubes under a microscope (Moore et al. 2015). There are a few common symptoms of trachea mites, but they are not diagnostic or unique. These symptoms include fecal spots on the front of the hive, a distended abdomen, and crawling bees (Moore et al. 2015). K-wings are also a symptom and occur when the wings no longer clip together, causing the rear wings to rest separate from the forewing (Fig. 4). When viewing bees from the top, the wings are shaped like a K.

proximity of the bees clustering allows the mites to easily spread to a new host (Moore et al. 2015).

Tracheal mites are difficult to diagnose because they are only about 150 μm (1/200 of an inch) long. Diagnosis requires dissection of the bee's tracheal tubes under a microscope (Moore et al. 2015). There are a few common symptoms of trachea mites, but they are not diagnostic or unique. These symptoms include fecal spots on the front of the hive, a distended abdomen, and crawling bees (Moore et al. 2015). K-wings are also a symptom and occur when the wings no longer clip together, causing the rear wings to rest separate from the forewing (Fig. 4). When viewing bees from the top, the wings are shaped like a K.

To sample, collect at least 50 live bees to dissect from each colony. It is best to dissect freshly killed bees since tissues darken when stored in alcohol, making it difficult to distinguish the mites in the trachea. Methods for dissecting can be found from Sammataro (2006) or on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e83shxkObNA. The treatment threshold for tracheal mites is > 20% infection (Sammataro et al. 2016)

There are several options for the control and