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10-Minute Presentation

Plant-Insect Ecosystems

10-min: P-IE, IPM - General 2

Revision of Varroa destructor economic injury levels and pathogens linked to honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colony mortality.

Sunday, November 10, 2024
9:24 AM – 9:36 AM MST
Location: Phoenix Convention Center, 221 C
Oral Presentation

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Nuria Morfin

    Lead of the BC Technology Transfer Program
    The University of British Columbia
    Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada

    • Co-Author(s)

  • LF

    Leonard J. Foster

    Principal Investigator
    The University of British Columbia
    Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

  • Ernesto Guzman-Novoa (he/him/his)

    Professor
    University of Guelph
    Guelph, Ontario, Canada

  • PV

    Paul Van Westendorp

    Provincial Apiculturist
    BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food
    Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada

  • RC

    Robert W. Currie

    Professor and Head, Department of Entomology
    University of Manitoba
    Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

  • HH

    Heather Higo

    The British Columbia Honey Producers Association
    Langley, British Columbia, Canada

The objective of this study was to revise Varroa destructor economic injury levels and examine pathogen presence and levels associated with honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) health parameters. Significant variations in varroa infestation levels, colony strength, and colony mortality were observed across five different regions of British Columbia, Canada. Moreover, the presence of varroa mites during autumn had a substantial impact on the likelihood of colony death during the following spring. Colonies that had a mite infestation of 1% or more in the fall experienced a significantly higher mortality rate compared to colonies with mite levels below 1%. In all regions, the levels of Deformed wing virus-B were eight times higher than those of the DWV-A variant. Transcripts of Malpighamoeba mellificae and Nosema (Vairimorpha) apis were detected, along with other viruses such as Apis filamentous virus, Lake Sinai virus, and Apis mellifera solinvivirus 1. Continuous monitoring of pathogens and regular reassessment of economic injury thresholds for V. destructor are necessary due to the ever-changing nature of host-pathogen interactions.