Learning more about Varroa Destructor and its behaviour in the hive
Another new study about varroa has been published recently and it proves for fascinating reading. A team of researchers from Nottingham Trent University have uncovered lots of potential for the future of varroa control and monitoring.
Researchers looked to differentiate the signals that the varroa mites and the honey bees send out to identify if there are varroa present in the hive.
To do this they looked at the vibrational trace of the varroa mites’ gait as they walk around the hive.
Prior to this study it was discovered by Nottingham Trent University that varroa send vibrational pulses to navigate in the hive which highlighted undiscovered behaviour.
Nottingham Trent University physicist Dr Martin Bencsik said: “The Varroa mite yields tiny vibrations when it walks and jolts which, to our great surprise, we found we were capable of picking up with a sensor 20,000 times heavier than the mite. Being able to further analyse, and discriminate its gait amongst other invertebrates, is the most splendid outcome of our recent research endeavours. We are given a perception of the mite’s life more intimate than ever before possible, and this is just the beginning.”
The study conclusions pave the way for a more automated, non-invasive approach to monitor for varroa in the future. Being able to detect varroa with a sensor in the hive and treat hives according to level of infestation would be an excellent way to control the growth of population in the colony.
Discover more about this formidable #honeybee pest in this study here:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-36810-0
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https://andermattgarden.co.uk/collections/bee-health
- Dylan, Bee Health Specialist at Andermatt
