Unit 1 - Bees Flashcards
True or False: VFDs are required for medications that go into honeybee feed.
True
What is the worst pathogen for the honeybee population?
The varroa mite - Varroa destructans
What does the varroa mite feed on?
fat body
What is fat body (in the bee)?
It is analogous to liver tissue that is dispersed in various locations around the bee
In addition to the varroa mite feeding on the fat body, why else is it bad for bees?
It also transmits several bee viruses
What synthetic chemicals can be used to control varroa mites?
Pyrethroid insecticides, organophoshphate insecticides, and Manley’s thymol crystal
What naturally occuring chemicals can be used to control varroa mites?
Formic acid, essential oils, sugar esters, oxalic acid, mineral oil, and natural hops compounds
How are varroa mites controlled?
By breeding mite resistant bees or using mite screens raised slightly off of the bottom of the hive
What is the honeybee tracheal mite?
Acarapis woodi
What is the life cycle of the honeybee tracheal mite?
The females mate and leave their host bee to look for a young bee to infest
What do honey bee tracheal mites feed on?
Bee hemolymph
Where are honeybee tracheal mites more common?
In cooler climates because it allows for bettwe spread
True or False: Once honeybee tracheal mites have infested a hive, the colony will remain infested
True
How do you control honeybee tracheal mites?
Genetically resistant strains of bees can be purchased, oil extender patties, and thymol gel or formic acid
What causes American Foulbrood?
Paenibacillus larvae a sporeforming gram positive bacillus
What does American Foulbrood infect?
The larvae of workers, queens, and drones
How are American Foulbrood infections treated?
Tylocin and Lincomycin
True or False: A VFD is NOT needed for American Foulbrood treatment?
False
What causes European Foulbrood?
Melissococcus pluton (does not form spores)
What type of disease is European Foulbrood considered?
A stress disease
Where does European Foulbrood multiply?
In the larval gut
How is European Foulbrood treated?
Tylocin and Lincomycin
What causes Chalkbrood?
Ascophaera apis (a fungus)
What weather is chalkbrood worse in?
cooler weather
How is chalkbrood spread?
Spores are ingested by larvae and then germinate in the hind gut
What is the pathogenesis of chalkbrood?
When larvae are 6-7 days old and sealed in their cells the mycelia break through the gut wall and the entire larva is overgrown within 2-3 days
True or False: Adult bees can detect chalkbrood infected larvae.
True
What causes Nosema?
Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae which are sporeforming protozoans
Where does nosema invate?
The digestive tract of adult honeybees
Where does nosema multiply?
In the lining of the midgut
Where is nosema shed?
In the feces - spores
How is nosema treated?
with fumagillin in sugar syrup
How is nosema prevented?
Maintain good hive nutrition
