Methods of mineral engineering in a fight aganinst varrosa infestation

<p>Maciej Pawlikowski</p>

Methods of mineral engineering in a fight aganinst varrosa infestation

Maciej Pawlikowski

AGH-University of Science and Technology, Poland

: Expert Opin Environ Biol

Abstract

The purpose of previous study centered on introducing minerals into bee colonies was to observe the Varrosa destructor mites-repelling effect of minerals (“Pszczelarstwo” 6/2016). The results of research published so far confirmed the purpose of using minerals in the fight against Varrosa infestation. This publication presents partial results of the next stage of research. The purpose of presented research was to observe both the bees’ and the Varrosa destructor mites’ reaction to minerals. A method of introducing the minerals into the foundation was used, to achieve direct influence of minerals on bee larvae and female Varrosa destructor mites entering the bee cells to lay eggs. The foundation was made using 10% mineral and 90% wax in weight ratios. Using foundation enriched with studied minerals in right proportions leads to diminishing the number of Varrosa destructor parasites in bee colonies. It may also contribute to increase in the amount of honey obtained from bees. Foundations with minerals were in most cases correctly filled with larvae, and the new generation of bees didn’t show any morphometric or physical-motor aberrations. The effect of minerals in the foundation weakens with time, which requires adequate reaction from the beekeeper. The study showed no negative effect of mineral suspensions added directly to royal jelly of larvae in the swarm cells and worker cells on the development of bees. Additional research was carried out in August and September and led to surprising observations, which are still too early to report. It obliges us to carry out further, extended subject research on a large number of bee colonies in 2017.