Bee Brothers Apiary
Silver Bay, New York
Bee Diseases & Pests: Tracheal Mites
Tracheal mites, Acarapis Woodi, are microscopic
organisms that live in the honeybee trachea. These
parasites clog the breathing tubes of the adult bees,
blocking oxygen flow and eventually killing them. Also
called Acarine disease, the reduced oxygen affects
the bee's ability to fly and often results in a large
number of crawling or dead bees outside the hive.
The tracheal mites spend their entire life cycle inside of the honeybee trachea, with the exception of when they are migrating between bees. In the trachea, the mites will pierce the wall with beak-like mouth parts in order to feed on the hemolymph (bee blood). The repeated piercings result in a breakdown of the trachea and provide an opportunity for bacterial infections. When an infected bee dies, the mites living in it will abandon their now deceased host.
The mites enter the trachea of a newly emerged bee one day of age or younger, and remain there as long as they and the unfortunate bee are both alive. A female tracheal mite will lay 5 to 7 eggs shortly after entering the trachea of a new host bee and she will continue throughout her life. The eggs will hatch in 3 to 4 days. As the number of tracheal mites increase, the mites clog the trachea, making it harder for the bee to breath. A young, newly mated female will emerge from the trachea in which she developed and climb to the tip of a body hair. As bees come in contact with one another, the mites attach themselves to the body hairs of a passing bee and enter the tracheae through the thoracic spiracles (tracheal opening). Younger bees (less than 9 days old) are the most susceptible.
The Tracheal mite is often difficult to identify due to its small size. The characteristics of the mite are that the body is oval, widest between the 2nd and 3rd pair of legs, whitish in color with a shining smooth cuticle. Also there are a few long, fine hairs present on the body and legs. The mite will also have a long, beak-like mouth part suitable for feeding on hosts. Honeybees with mite infestation will have brown blotches on their trachea, with scabs or crust-like lesions. The trachea may also appear completely black due to being obstructed by mites in several different stages of development. Feeding by the mites not only damages the trachea, but also affects the flight muscles in the bee's thorax causing them to become atrophied.
Although there is no real way to prevent tracheal mites, largely due to the social behavior of the honeybee, there are methods to suppress the mite population. In the United States, Menthol is officially registered for the use of control of tracheal mites in the over-wintering of honeybee colonies. The menthol comes in a crystal pellet form and is applied to the hive by placing a packet containing the menthol on the top of the top bars. Menthol is most effective when the outside temperature is approximately 70 degrees F and should be left in place for 4-6 weeks and removed before the wintering of the colony. Always make sure that any surplus honey for human consumption has been removed prior to applying menthol and treatment is done several weeks before a nectar flow.
Another popular option used by many to help control the mite, and doesn't require the use of chemicals, is the use of grease patties. One part vegetable shortening is blended with two parts sugar, formed into a half pound patty, and placed in the hive. The bees come in contact with the grease patty and become greasy themselves. The greasiness of the bees interferes with the transferring mites.
Tracheal mites, Acarapis Woodi, are microscopic
organisms that live in the honeybee trachea. These
parasites clog the breathing tubes of the adult bees,
blocking oxygen flow and eventually killing them. Also
called Acarine disease, the reduced oxygen affects
the bee's ability to fly and often results in a large
number of crawling or dead bees outside the hive.
The tracheal mites spend their entire life cycle inside of the honeybee trachea, with the exception of when they are migrating between bees. In the trachea, the mites will pierce the wall with beak-like mouth parts in order to feed on the hemolymph (bee blood). The repeated piercings result in a breakdown of the trachea and provide an opportunity for bacterial infections. When an infected bee dies, the mites living in it will abandon their now deceased host.
The mites enter the trachea of a newly emerged bee one day of age or younger, and remain there as long as they and the unfortunate bee are both alive. A female tracheal mite will lay 5 to 7 eggs shortly after entering the trachea of a new host bee and she will continue throughout her life. The eggs will hatch in 3 to 4 days. As the number of tracheal mites increase, the mites clog the trachea, making it harder for the bee to breath. A young, newly mated female will emerge from the trachea in which she developed and climb to the tip of a body hair. As bees come in contact with one another, the mites attach themselves to the body hairs of a passing bee and enter the tracheae through the thoracic spiracles (tracheal opening). Younger bees (less than 9 days old) are the most susceptible.
The Tracheal mite is often difficult to identify due to its small size. The characteristics of the mite are that the body is oval, widest between the 2nd and 3rd pair of legs, whitish in color with a shining smooth cuticle. Also there are a few long, fine hairs present on the body and legs. The mite will also have a long, beak-like mouth part suitable for feeding on hosts. Honeybees with mite infestation will have brown blotches on their trachea, with scabs or crust-like lesions. The trachea may also appear completely black due to being obstructed by mites in several different stages of development. Feeding by the mites not only damages the trachea, but also affects the flight muscles in the bee's thorax causing them to become atrophied.
Although there is no real way to prevent tracheal mites, largely due to the social behavior of the honeybee, there are methods to suppress the mite population. In the United States, Menthol is officially registered for the use of control of tracheal mites in the over-wintering of honeybee colonies. The menthol comes in a crystal pellet form and is applied to the hive by placing a packet containing the menthol on the top of the top bars. Menthol is most effective when the outside temperature is approximately 70 degrees F and should be left in place for 4-6 weeks and removed before the wintering of the colony. Always make sure that any surplus honey for human consumption has been removed prior to applying menthol and treatment is done several weeks before a nectar flow.
Another popular option used by many to help control the mite, and doesn't require the use of chemicals, is the use of grease patties. One part vegetable shortening is blended with two parts sugar, formed into a half pound patty, and placed in the hive. The bees come in contact with the grease patty and become greasy themselves. The greasiness of the bees interferes with the transferring mites.
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