management of tracheal mites:

  1. Requeen the hive and/or purchase more resistant be stocks. Bees that groom themselves and/or other bees are more resistant to tracheal mite infestations (Danka and Villa 1998).
  2. Make grease patties consisting of 1 part vegetable shortening to about 3 parts sugar. Place a patty in the hive near the brood chamber. The patties mask the smell of young bees, making it difficult for mites to find new hosts. The oil also decreases the chance of the mites transferring to other bees.
  3. Use menthol crystals for chemical control of tracheal mites. This insecticide is applied when the temperature is between 20 and 60circF. As it warms, the menthol vaporizes, and the fumes kill the mites when the bee respires. The menthol must be removed 4 weeks before the nectar flow (Hood 2000).

Fig. 4. Honey bee exhibiting K-wing, a symptom of tracheal mite infestation. Honey Bee Research and Education Laboratory (honeybee@ifas.ufl.edu), University of Florida

historical and practical aspects. Bee World, 49(1), pp.6-18.

Danka, R.G. and Villa, J.D., 1998. Evidence of autogrooming as a mechanism of honey bee resistance to tracheal mite infestation. J. Apic. Res, 37(1), pp.39-46.

Delfinado-Baker, M. 1984. Acarapis woodi in the United States. American Bee Journal. 124:805-806

García Figueroa, C. and Arechavaleta-Velasco, M.E., 2018. Prevalence of honeybee tracheal mite disease and infestation levels of Acarapis woodi in honeybee colonies of Morelos, Mexico. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Pecu., 9(3), pp.567-575.

Harrison, J.F., Camazine, S., Marden, J.H., Kirkton, S.D., Rozo, A. and Yang, X., 2001. Mite not make it home: tracheal mites reduce the safety margin for oxygen delivery of flying honeybees. J. Exp. Biol., 204(4), 805-814.

Hood, W. 2000. Honey Bee Tracheal Mite. Clemson University Cooperative Extension. Accessed May 2, 2022. https://www.clemson.edu/extension/beekeepers/fact-sheets-publications/tracheal-mite-honey-bee.html

Maeda, T., and Sakamoto, Y., 2020. Range expansion of the tracheal mite Acarapis woodi (Acari: Tarsonemidae) among Japanese honey bee, Apis cerana japonica, in Japan. Exp. Appl. Acarol. 80, 477–490. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-020-00482-6

Conclusion

Little research is currently being done on tracheal mites in the United States. However, researchers and beekeepers ought to remain vigilant. Management options are relatively simple, but populations should be monitored so levels do not increase above recommended thresholds.

References

Adam, B., 1968. "Isle of Wight" or acarine disease: its

McMullan, J. B., and Brown, M. J., 2009. A qualitative model of mortality in honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies infested with tracheal mites (Acarapis woodi). Exp. Appl. Acarol. 47(3), 225-234.

Moore, P.A., Wilson, M.E. and Skinner, J.A., 2015. Honey bee tracheal mites: gone? But not for good. https://bee-health.extension.org/honey-bee-tracheal-mites-gone-but-not-for-good/

  • Rennie J., 1921. Isle of Wight disease in hive bees - Acarine disease: The organism associated with the disease Tarsonemus woodi, n. sp. Trans. R. Soc. Edinburgh 52: 768-779.

Sammataro, D., 2006. An easy dissection technique

Fig. Image