Beekeepers: Get your free copy of new Tools for Varroa Management Guide now
The free guide explains practical, effective methods beekeepers can use to measure varroa infestations and select appropriate controls.
The Honey Bee Health Coalition (HBHC) today released the ninth edition of its popular Tools for Varroa Management Guide, according to a press release from the coalition.
The guide provides information on the latest tools and options for beekeepers in the United States and Canada to keep bees healthy and manage varroa mites, which spread disease within and among honey bee colonies.
“[The guide] has been completely updated and includes what you need to know in one concise package,” said Dewey Caron, emeritus professor of entomology & wildlife ecology, and a principal author of the guide. “It is dedicated to helping improve overwintering success by providing information to flatten the varroa growth curve and reduce bee colony viral epidemics.”
An expert team of beekeepers, entomologists, extension agents, apiary inspectors and federal regulators collaborated to bring the guide up to date with the latest in best practices and treatment options.
HBHC says varroa mites represent one of the greatest threats to honey bee health, honey production and pollination services. Untreated or ineffectively treated colonies can fail, causing economic losses to beekeepers and potentially impacting agricultural food production. Colonies infested with varroa are also a potential source of mites and diseases that can spread to other colonies and apiaries.
Effective varroa control will reduce colony losses and avoid the potential spread of infectious disease among honey bee colonies. The Tools for Varroa Management Guide explains practical, effective methods that beekeepers can employ to measure varroa infestations in their hives and select the most appropriate control methods for their operation.
The full guide is available free of charge at the Honey Bee Health Coalition’s website.