Text Transcript with Description of Visuals
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| [Music] Welcome to video two and module three of ABEJAS. | ABEJAS Logo in front of yellow jacket eating bee larvae on hive frame Title: Module 3.2 Other Parasites, Pests, and Predators |
| Parasites, pests and predators that attack honey bee colonies are wide ranging. | Yellow jacket eating bee larvae on hive frame Up close view of honey bee |
| While we just covered one of the most detrimental parasites, Varroa, there are other parasites that can detrimentally impact honey bee colonies. | Beekeeper in an apiary talking to camera |
| This module will be an overview of other parasites, pests, and predators that honey bees encounter. | Honey bees flying into hive entrance |
| [Music] | ABEJAS Logo in front of red background. Text on screen: Pests inside the hive: Tracheal mites |
| Tracheal mites came to the US from Europe. These mites were a major problem for beekeepers in the US in the 80s. Through diagnostic work that the WSU Bee program and other labs have done, | Beekeeper in an apiary talking to camera. Image of microscopic mite appears [Credited image: Pavel Klimov, USDA-APHIS] Text on screen: Tracheal mite |
| the observance of tracheal mites has been relatively rare, and mites are passively managed by application of miticides targeted for Varroa control. | Beekeeper placing a miticide into a hive. Text on screen: Some miticides that control Varroa mites can also control tracheal mites |
| Tracheal mites enter respiratory holes called spiracles on an adult bees body. Close bee to bee proximity encourages transmission and a severe infection in a bee’s breathing tubes called trachea are full of microscopic mites, and the bees can’t breathe well. Consequently, the bee doesn’t get oxygen to its muscles and can’t fly, hence the name crawling disease. | Beekeeper in an apiary talking to camera Image of bee appears. Red lines connect across body to designate respiratory system. Text on screen: The spiracles can be found on the thorax and abdomen of adult bees Image of decapitated bee with two exposed trachea appears. Red arrows point to trachea. [Credited image: Z.Huang] Text on screen: A healthy trachea (left) and a trachea infected with mites (right) Image of bee trachea with several mites inside microscopic scale. [Credited image: USDA] Text on screen: A microscopic view of tracheal mites in a honey bee |
| Although the occurrence of tracheal mites is relatively infrequent now, if you see many bees crawling around the entrance of a hive or on the bottom board, it could be due to tracheal mite infestation. | Bee crawling on grass. Text on screen: This bee cannot fly, she is crawling through the grass trying to reach the entrance of the beehive |
| [Music] | ABEJAS Logo in front of red background. Text on screen: Pests inside the hive: Small hive beetles |
| Small hive beetles have been a common honey bee pest in the US since the early 2000s. These beetles consume honey, pollen, wax, developing bees, dead bees, and can even trick the bees into feeding them directly. | Hive frame full of small crawling larvae and slime. Beetles crawling on wax comb that is slimy. Text on screen: Small hive beetles in the hive |
| The larvae of these beetles carries a yeast that causes honey to ferment, which can lead to bees absconding the hive and the beekeeper losing their honey crop. Colonies kept in regions with warm, humid climates are more prone to hive beetle issues. | Larva crawling across honey comb, honey stored in cells appears glossy and messy. Larva and beetles crawling on slimy frame. Text on screen: Honey ruined by small hive beetle larvae |
| The best defense against small hive beetles is maintaining strong colonies and clean apiaries. | Beekeeper in an apiary talking to camera |
| You can prevent infestation by removing dead outs or unprotected boxes of extra comb with honey and pollen in your apiary. | Beekeeper moving hive boxes to a pile of other hive boxes. Text on screen: Remove deadouts and unprotected boxes of extra combs with pollen and honey |
| Avoid tossing burr comb around hives. | Beekeeper picking up excess wax removed from hive during inspections (burr comb) from hive lids and placing it in a trash bag. Text on screen: Avoid leaving burr comb around hives |
| Place hives in partial or full sun, since adult beetles prefer shady locations. | Ten honey bee hives in the sun, bees flying. Text on screen: Place colonies in areas with full or partial sun |
| Other practices include combining weak colonies together, keeping colonies queenright, providing smaller quantities of pollen patties in areas with hive beetle pressure, and not giving the bees more hive space than they need. | Beekeeper inspecting both sides of hive frame. Text on screen: Combine weak colonies Beekeeper placing a caged queen between two hive frames. Text on screen: Keep colonies queenright Small hive beetle larvae and beetles crawling on a large pollen patty. Beekeeper using hive tool to slice a new pollen patty in half. Text on screen: Provide smaller portions of pollen supplement Several hive frames stacked vertically against a hive box. Text on screen: Not giving the bees more hive space than they need |
| Inspect equipment for high beetle damage before moving it to other bee yards. | Forklift carrying pallets near a pile of stored equipment. Text on screen: Inspect equipment for small hive beetle damage before moving it |
| Various traps are available that capture small hive beetles, such as those that fit inside the hive or are placed around the apiary. These traps may help reduce beetle numbers. | Person putting a black trap in between two hive frames. Person holding a trap with liquid and dead beetles inside. Text on screen: A small hive beetle trap |
| There are specific insecticides registered for small hive beetles. They should be used cautiously and according to the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid harming bees or contaminating honey. | Dead beetles inside trap. Text on screen: Use insecticides with caution and always follow the label |
| [Music] | ABEJAS Logo in front of red background. Text on screen: Pests inside the hive: Wax moths |
| Wax moths can cause significant damage to honey bee hives and stored equipment. | Beekeeper in an apiary talking to camera |
| Wax moth larvae feed on beeswax, honey, and sometimes bee larvae. Their feeding destroys the comb structure, which is crucial for brood rearing and food storage. | Beekeeper lifting out stored hive frame that is full of white webbing. Text on screen: Wax moths |
| They produce silk webbing and create tunnels within the comb. This webbing can obstruct the hive and complicate the bee’s normal activities. | Close up of hive frame that is full of white webbing. Text on screen: Silk webbing created by wax moths |
| Signs of infestation include: the presence of silk webbing on combs or inside the hive, | Close up of hive frame that is full of white webbing with larvae crawling through wax. Red circle appears around larvae. Text on screen: Holes and tunnels in the comb |
| holes and tunnels in the comb where the larvae have been feeding, dark, granular feces on combs or in the hive, uncapped brood cells where the heads of pupae are exposed in a line, | Hive frame is flipped to show other side. Red circle appears around debris on frame. Text on screen: Granular feces on combs or in the hive |
| or fine powdery sawdust like material from the larvae chewing through the wax. | Webbing and debris near top of hive frame. Text on screen: Sawdust-like material and adult wax moths |
| Strong colonies are the best defense against the wax moths as the bees will defend their space. | Honey bees sitting at hive entrance |
| Throw away wax moth damaged combs and remove dead colonies from bee yards. | Person putting hive frames in black trash bag. Text on screen: Dispose of moth damaged combs |
| Frames with wax moth damage can be frozen for 24 to 48 hours to kill any moth eggs or larvae present. | Hive frame that has channels of white webbing. Text on screen: Frames with wax moth can be frozen for 24-48 hours to kill any moth eggs or larvae |
| Storing empty frames and combs in sealed containers or in a cold environment can prevent wax moths from infesting stored equipment. | Beekeeper in an apiary talking to camera |
| Para-Moth, dichlorobenzene, is a registered chemical moth deterrent that can be used to avoid moth infestation in stored comb. | Paramoth insecticide container. Beekeeper reading label on paramoth insecticide container. Beekeeper, wearing gloves and glasses, scooping out Paramoth product onto a paper plate and putting it under stored hive boxes. |
| If wax moth is already present in combs, fumigating with weevilcide aluminum phosphide will kill all larvae and adult moths. However, this restricted use pesticide must be used with great caution and always according to labeled instructions. | Weevil-cide aluminum phosphide pesticide container. Beekeeper locking door with “Danger, Under fumigation with phosphine” sign. |
| [Music] | ABEJAS Logo in front of red background. Text on screen: Pests outside the hive: Yellowjackets |
| Not all wasps threaten honey bee colonies, but some are carnivorous predators that can kill bees and rob honey. | Beekeeper in an apiary talking to camera |
| Learn to identify physical differences between honey bees and wasps or hornets to spot issues. | A close up of a yellow jacket (top) and honey bee (bottom). Text on screen: Yellowjacket, honey bee |
| One of the most common predatory wasps are called yellowjackets. Yellowjackets are often mistaken for honey bees because of their size and coloring pattern, having yellow and black stripes. | Yellowjackets flying and landing on honey bee hive entrance. Yellowjacket on hive frame, red circle appears around yellowjacketText on screen: Yellowjackets |
| However, yellowjackets are more aggressive and brighter yellow. | Yellowjacket eating bee larvae on hive frame. Text on screen: A yellowjacket eating honey bee brood |
| During certain times of year when the yellowjackets are more prevalent, you will likely see them attacking and eating honey bees. | Yellowjacket eating bee on top of hive frame. Text on screen: A yellowjacket eating adult honey bee |
| Yellowjackets are carnivorous and feed on insects to provide protein for their larvae, but they also are attracted to carbohydrates like sugar syrup. | Yellowjackets eating remnants of dried sugar syrup off hive lid. Text on screen: Yellowjackets eating sugar |
| Yellowjackets usually nest underground. Only the queen overwinters when she picks a site for creating a nest. Then she produces workers in early summer. | Yellowjackets climbing out of hole in ground. Text on screen: A yellowjacket nest |
| Controlling the number of nests near an apiary can help lower the chances of heavy infestations. Placing yellowjacket traps out early in spring can kill a queen before she creates a prolific nest. | Beekeeper hanging yellow trap in a tree. Dead wasps in trap. Text on screen: Setting traps for yellowjackets can help control population levels |
| [Music] | ABEJAS Logo in front of red background. Text on screen: Pests outside the hive: Mammals |
| Mammals can cause direct or indirect damage to the bees in a honey bee colony, and the hive the bees live in. | Beekeeper in an apiary talking to camera |
| Small rodents like mice might invade hives to seek shelter or warmth, inadvertently causing stress to the bees or damaging the hive by chewing or soiling the frames. | Small wooden block being wedged into hive entrance. Text on screen: Entrance reducers can help keep small mammals out of the hive |
| Mammals may be inclined to snack on honey bees or honey. Bears are notorious for breaking into hives to feed on both honey and bee brood. | Bear digging in a field of dried grass. Image of bear climbing apparatus containing a honey bee hive. Text on screen: A very determined bear |
| They can cause significant damage to colonies and hives in their search for food. Some mammals, such as skunks, badgers, or raccoons, may raid bee hives for honey and bee brood, as well. | Pile of hive frames and hive boxes knocked over on their side. Text on screen: These yards have been damaged by bears |
| Skunks can be particularly troublesome because they often approach hives at night, and can use their strong claws to pry open hive boxes. Skunks will also sit outside a hive and scratch to draw out bees to consume. | Greyscale footage of skunk inspecting honey bee hive at night [Credited footage: Frederick Dunn] |
| Protecting bee hives from mammals often involves using barriers like electric fences, elevating hive boxes, or employing other deterrents to minimize the impact of these pests on honey bee colonies and equipment. | Beekeeper installing electric fencing and activating. |
| [Music] | Bee crawling on yellow flower |
| Managing pests is vital to maintaining healthy bee colonies, ensuring rich honey production, supporting economic viability, and preserving the ecological role of bees. Effective parasite, pest and predator management practices help beekeepers maintain strong productive colonies. | Beekeeper in an apiary talking to camera ABEJAS logo, list of two upcoming videos, and @wsubeeprogram YouTube Logo appears |
| [Music] | Honeybees crawling toward the hive entrance Overlay of the logos of the WSU Bee Program, Washington State University, Wonderstone Films, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Project Apism, Miller Honey Farms, and University of Minnesota Extension A scrolling list of people involved in the development of the videos appears |
| If you’ve enjoyed this video, please subscribe to the channel and leave us a comment below to let us know what additional topics you would like us to cover in future videos. | A beekeeper closing a clapperboard that says “WSU ABEJAS English” Beekeeper in an apiary talking to camera |