Project Number: 6615-22430-002-07
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Jan 31, 2006
End Date: Dec 31, 2007

Objective:
To develop pesticide free methods for control of the varroa mite.

Approach:
Chemicals that induce honey bees to de-cap cells containing brood that are infected with varroa mites will be identified using chemical analysis of volatiles released by mite infested and non-infested bee brood coupled with de-capping bioassays. The chemicals will be used to train adult bees to find varroa infestations. Semiochemicals that attract varroa mites to each other and to brood cells will be identified using chemical analysis coupled with bioassays and used to develop attractants that can be used in traps to remove mites from hives.