Varroa Control by Means of a Hyperthermic Device

Porporato, Marco; Manino, Aulo; Cuttini, Davide; Lorenzon, Simone; Ciaudano, Silvia; Parodi, Valerio

doi:10.3390/app12168138

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…However, it can be noted here that there are several heat shock proteins involved in proteostasis, and our study did not measure the capacity of bees to handle heat stress. Bees are known to have a slightly higher tolerance to high temperatures compared to Varroa mites, but it is also likely that this small beneficial impact could become minimal over an extended time as the parasite adapts to changing environmental conditions [ 68 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Poor Air Quality Is Linked to Stress in Honeybees and Can Be Compounded by the Presence of Disease

Mayack,

Cook,

Niño

et al. 2023

Insects

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Climate change-related extreme weather events have manifested in the western United States as warmer and drier conditions with an increased risk of wildfires. Honeybees, essential for crop pollination in California, are at the center of these extreme weather events. We associated the maximum daily temperature and air quality index values with the performance of colonies placed in wildfire-prone areas and determined the impact of these abiotic stressors on gene expression and histopathology. Our results indicate that poor air quality was associated with higher maximum daily temperatures and a lower gene expression level of Prophenoloxidase (ProPO), which is tied to immune system strength; however, a higher gene expression level of Vitellogenin (Vg) is tied to oxidative stress. There was a positive relationship between Varroa mites and N. ceranae pathogen loads, and a negative correlation between Varroa mites and Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70) gene expression, suggesting the limited ability of mite-infested colonies to buffer against extreme temperatures. Histological analyses did not reveal overt signs of interaction between pathology and abiotic stressors, but N. ceranae infections were evident. Our study provides insights into interactions between abiotic stressors, their relation to common biotic stressors, and the expression of genes related to immunity and oxidative stress in bees.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Poor Air Quality Is Linked to Stress in Honeybees and Can Be Compounded by the Presence of Disease

Mayack,

Cook,

Niño

et al. 2023

Insects

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“…Cournoyer et al [11] demonstrated that continued and severe exposure to varroa leads to increased viral charges and decreased sugar concentrations in haemolymphs, with possible alterations in immunity, metabolism, and reserve mobilization. Porporato et al [12] developed the Bee Ethic system to apply hyperthermia in order to control V. destructor, using an integrated pest management (IPM) approach without chemicals. Smodiš Škerl et al [13] recorded the efficacy of VarroMed ® against V. destructor in different climatic conditions, ranging from 71.2 to 89.3% in the summer/autumn and from 71.8 to 95.6% in the winter.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Special Issue: “Frontier Research in Apiculture (Diagnosis and Control of Bee Diseases, Bee Products, Environmental Monitoring)”

Mutinelli

2023

Applied Sciences

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Efficacy and trade-offs of an innovative hyperthermia device to control Varroa destructor in honeybee colonies

Sandrock,

Wohlfahrt,

Brunner

et al. 2023

J Pest Sci

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For decades, the honeybee, Apis mellifera, has suffered from severe colony losses due to the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor. Various strategies based on chemicals fail to adequately control varroa mite populations, and often comprise side-effects on the host, parasite resistance and residues in hive products. Reduced temperature tolerance of V. destructor compared to its host has long been recognised and accordingly, the potential of hyperthermia to disrupt mite reproduction within honeybee brood cells or even kill adult parasites. Yet, earlier studies on hyperthermia remain largely anecdotal, and readily implementable solutions have so far been lacking. This study investigates autonomously controlled interval heating from within brood combs throughout the season compared to control colonies maintained according to good apicultural practice. We documented treatment-dependent colony growth dynamics and honey production at three apiaries, complemented by regular monitoring of varroa mite levels and comprehensive digital assessments of brood development over time. Our one-year field trial suggests the evaluated hyperthermia device efficiently suppresses mite populations below critical thresholds until autumn. Whilst a general winter reference-curing revealed similar mite infestations of colonies previously treated with hyperthermia versus formic acid (control), only the latter imposed substantial overwintering burdens indirectly through frequent late-season queen supersedure. However, relative to targeted pupae, increased mortality particularly of heat-treated non-target brood stages (eggs and larvae) appeared to trigger compensatory colony-level responses, translating into temporarily decreased numbers of adult workers coupled with increased pollen foraging and overall lower honey harvests. Valuable insights into previously unrecognised side-effects of hyperthermia and mitigation thereof may ultimately permit successful routine applications of this chemical-free approach to combat the major threat to honeybees worldwide.

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Varroa Control by Means of a Hyperthermic Device

Cited by 5 publications

References 19 publications

Poor Air Quality Is Linked to Stress in Honeybees and Can Be Compounded by the Presence of Disease

Poor Air Quality Is Linked to Stress in Honeybees and Can Be Compounded by the Presence of Disease

Special Issue: “Frontier Research in Apiculture (Diagnosis and Control of Bee Diseases, Bee Products, Environmental Monitoring)”

Efficacy and trade-offs of an innovative hyperthermia device to control Varroa destructor in honeybee colonies

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