Helping Honey Bees to Help Themselves Against Varroa Mites

Рет қаралды 10,288

Жыл бұрын

Support me on Patreon: / insidethehivetv
UBO video: • New way to help honey ...
Optera (UBO company): opterabees.com/
_______________________________________________________________
Join my email list for more: www.insidethehive.tv/Livestreams
_______________________________________________________________
In this video, we delve into the fascinating world of bees and explore the challenges faced by beekeepers in the US. The modern beekeeping industry is facing a crisis, and its two philosophies are in conflict. On one hand, there is a rising trend among beekeepers to let natural selection take its course in selecting honey bees that are resistant to Varroa mites, the biggest enemy of honey bees. On the other hand, the modern approach to beekeeping problems is to utilize all available resources to develop new solutions for each specific issue. This can take the form of new products and services.
Despite these efforts, beekeepers must invest a significant amount of time and money to ensure the survival of honey bees for pollination of our crops. However, there are no guarantees of success. It's a complicated subject, but it's encouraging to see scientists getting involved and bringing potential solutions to the table. Specifically, we discuss how science can help overcome these problems, through the potential benefits of UBO testing, a new assay developed to help beekeepers select honeybee genetic stocks with higher hygienic behavior, and the current field tests being carried out.
We also explore the importance of bees in our ecosystem and the potential consequences for our food supply chain if we don't act soon. Join us as we learn about the latest research in the field and discover the fascinating world of bees. Don't forget to leave your thoughts in the comments below and consider supporting us on Patreon at patreon.com/insidethehivetv
______________________________________________________________
Other videos you might enjoy:
Varroa videos - bit.ly/2VcsZUE
Beekeeping technologies - bit.ly/2Z03HKA
Beekeeping curiosities - bit.ly/37VmISn
________________________________________________________________
Reach out on social media.
www.insidethehive.tv/follow-us
_________________________________________________________________
I appreciate your time. Thanks for watching!
InsideTheHive.TV "The Show About Bees"
Product links here are affiliated links.
Photo by Arman
#beekeeping #honeybees #Varroa

Пікірлер: 53

@InsideTheHiveTV Жыл бұрын

What do you think: should we continue to help honeybees as much as we can, or should we step back and let them figure things out on their own?

@JamesCrouchX Жыл бұрын

Bats and White Nose Syndrome. Dirty equipment from the EU brought over the fungus. I knew this the first time I saw a report; the bats that don't die will pass on their traits. That is exactly what has happened.

@jetstreamers5661 Жыл бұрын

The only single trait beekeepers should covet is survival without intervention (specific to pest and viruses). This can be a painful and slow process but it is the only way to TRULY get the job done. TREAT your apiaries as if they are extensions of the local bee population. Save the bees from people by catching swarms and avoiding the biggest mite bombs of all - packages.

@nsfjojo Жыл бұрын

>suggest a billion dollar industry tied into a trillion dollar industry stops buying time for a real solution Boys, we got ourselves a winner. 😂 Grow up. The chems buy us time to find a real solution and you can buy varroa resistant queens. Or just use killer bees since they don't suffer the same problem as European bees.

@kplowman1911 Жыл бұрын

It’s my understanding that verroa mite evolved with Asian bees, has anyone looked into how those bees manage to live with the pest?

@CrazyIvan865 Жыл бұрын

K Plowman I have... I swear the secret is that their methods of "beekeeping" are as non-invasive as you can get. The build a metal base with a gap that's too small for the giant hornets to get in; because Apis Cerana are smaller than Apis Mellifera, and part of this may behave been an adaptation to living with the larger hornets and wasps. Anyway, they put these bases out in the woods or forest somewhere, they make boxes our of 2×10 that are about 12-14" square, they maybe put a couple wires wedged in every sexond or 3rd box to provide support to the comb... a couple times a year they jack it up, put 2 or 3 boxes on the bottom, cut 2 or 3 boxes off the time, put the lid back on. Very similar to a Warré hive. But you can't do that here in the states. The money makes the laws. Seriously. Watch some videos on "Pile Hives"... they don't even SEE the brood comb. And by the time they cut the top boxes off, the boxes are so cram packed full of honey and comb, that all the pheromones and fumes from the nectar and all that isn't venting right into atmosphere. It stays with the hive. Most of the videos I've seen, they don't even use a smoker most of the time, because their methods are so Unobtrusive... who needs it? There is also the fact that some sources claim the Apis Cerana were first exposed to varroa mites almost 300 years ago and reached a symbiotic homeostasis, ass well as having superior hygienic behaviors.

@jerry4256 Жыл бұрын

I often wonder how "wild" bees survive the mite problem. Seems to me that they would've became more resistant through the generations of having no treatments.

@tonyfox5422 Жыл бұрын

I am living uk. I have felt for sometime that varroa resistance exists in the wild in my area. Having got my 40 colonies down to very low varroa count and under control using oxalic in the main, only one sighting of DWV last year and then not a second. So this year ,2023 starting in May we have requeened many colonies from a queen selected for VR varroa resistance, strong through winter and early strong startup. It is easy to spot uncapping, then I check for cannibalisation, and now begin monitoring varroa boards for cannibalised body parts. I am no longer responsible for my bees being varroa free, but I am here to support. I can and will treat, maybe a half dose just to help them get back on top of there game, but not yet been necessary. But we will see in September. All my hives are 3 or 4 metres apart to reduce drifting. I have not witnessed bees cleaning each other but it is expected. All hives have underfloor entrances that thwart robbers. I continue to keep 40 plus colonies and this year expect to have a VR nuc apiary of 12 to 16 6 frame nucs to produce brood and new queens. I cannot imagine what it’s like to be prejudiced against by race or sex but telling people you have VR colonies, brings the worst in people. Yet scientists in UK believe that excluding commercial beekeepers then maybe 25 % of beekeepers are Working with VR colonies. In US a number of beekeepers via KZfaq channels have reported that they believe varroa resistance is in the wild. Those same scientists I just mentioned headed by Professor Stephan Martin, at Manchester university believe that bees are now adapting to fight varroa. As a beekeeper I believe we just need to look for uncapping. One last point. I certainly believe varroa is a colony issue not and apiary issue. I have noticed considerable uncapping even in colonies with new queens, clusters of uncapping as the worker bee (may not be more than one or 2 with the uncapping task and then only for short time as the bee moves onwards towards being a forager) searches just for the varroa infested cell. I am not a scientist, just a beekeeper , well researched and following a path but pragmatically. Hope this in some way helps and encourages.

@mfernandes6907 Жыл бұрын

Amazing research. How we can improve the bees immune systems naturally would also be another area. Well done Dr Laura Wagoner!

@628DirtRooster Жыл бұрын

Great video!

@floridacoder Жыл бұрын

Great video. It's a very complex problem, and I think we must do both. Fight the mites using chemicals short term while also introducing mite and disease resistant genetics, so that long term we can reduce human intervention. But let's be real. Honey bees today are a man-made construct designed to produce higher yields of honey than native bees, because of selective breeding over many generations of humans. I think the focus of environmentalists should be protecting native bees. The industry can focus on solving their own problems, like varoa mites.

@NevadaBeeMan-nq3po 9 ай бұрын

When Mike stuck his tongue out I lost it

@dcsblessedbees Жыл бұрын

The new test can be a very useful tool for beekeepers.👍Every beekeeper should keep their bees how they choose.😁Ty for some good information.

@MarekArawn Жыл бұрын

A little late to the party, but.. I think minimum treatment using naturally occurring molecules and survivor stock would be a good option. I live in Quebec. Our agri system is highly treatment oriented. If you even suggest not treating, you get the hairy eyeball. I (and others) have been going the minimal treatment road. In my case, no artificial chemicals. I use oxalic acid, mostly. I was horrified by the effect tymol-based treatments had on bees and brood. (1 new nuc swarmed after I placed the treatment in the hive!) However, as we now have more access to VSH lines of bees, and other lineages that are "northern adapted", I can keep treatments down to a minimum. I'm aiming to have multiple VSH and Northern lineages in my apiary (which is on my family farm in the boondocks) as to, hopefully, get next generation queens that have better hygienic traits. I may be playing Dr. Frankenstein or Dr. Morreau here, but I think if we rely on chemicals too much, we'll cause a de-generation in honey bees and more treatment resistance in varroa.

@TheBaconWizard Жыл бұрын

I watched the interview with her, it's fascinating research and hope it will speed-up the breeding of hygenic bees from local stocks accross the world. On a personal note, I've become very interested in the role of octanoic on preventing varroa-mites from breeding in queen cells and wonder if this fatty acid which is virtually harmless to bees might be useful in battling varroa (for example by including it in pollen substitute or with an emulsifier such a lecithin in syrup)

@InsideTheHiveTV Жыл бұрын

That is interesting subject for videos. Thanks

@thomaswilliams6155 Жыл бұрын

Let the bees figure it out and breed them for helping themselves. No chemical treatment is best

@flamespirit9087 Жыл бұрын

Hi Humberto my humble request to u pls make a detail video on Africanization of bees How it happened nd wht its effect on environment today and tomorrow

@dcsblessedbees Жыл бұрын

I have watched videos on how the genetics of the non Africans are actually beginning to calm them down, over time they are becoming less aggressive. We have to remember where and why they developed those aggressive traits in the first place and for what reasons.

@InsideTheHiveTV Жыл бұрын

It is coming. I am also working on an online course about Africanized bees. Stay tunned.

@flamespirit9087 Жыл бұрын

@@InsideTheHiveTV Thanks keep doing ur work nd we r waiting for it:)

@nsfjojo Жыл бұрын

Lmao africanized honey bees are the future of bees. You can't stop them, they are mite resistant, they don't suffer from any diseases European honey bees suffer from. Why? Because they just dgaf. They are the honey Badgers of the bee world.

@Rickfyoutube Жыл бұрын

FormicPro and associated treatments "work". A light treatment and I had many queens leave. All hives weakened and some never recovered. I want good hygienic traits and talk to your local farmers about what pesticides they are using. Pesticides will weaken the hive and then grooming will become less of a priority and the hive will ultimately die trying to survive... Varroa mite. My opinion.

@sonhuanson Жыл бұрын

Chemicals against varroa is a good trainning for varroas to became strong. Survivals become resistent to many poisons. Like bacteria become resistent to antibiotics. Clairly long term need other aproches. A restart maybee,... is risky.

@montymontgomery2471 Жыл бұрын

I have been keeping bees for many years and I am also a local bee control officer, which means in the event of problems I go and control hives and test for illnesses. I have always come back to my own thoughts on raising bees. Locally raised bees are stronger and better adapted to their locality and in my opinion better able to fight illnesses and protect the hive. Bee colonies that are introduced from other regions, in my opinion are not adapted and take longer to adjust and are therefore prone to problems. The most important thing for me is to keep the hive strong, big colonies with healthy queens that have been raises from your own stock. I have never lost a hive to Varroa using these methods. Rather than genetically raising bees to fight varroa we should be doing more research into Varroa mite and how we can make them sterile.

@nunocascais5054 Жыл бұрын

Is very difficult to make an opinion about that. I think that Varroa is a big treat to beekeepers but even bigger to Bees, and for that I think all research is welcome!

@johnoliver9885 Жыл бұрын

I have given up being a back yard beekeeper after three year’s experience simple because I had to move to a city and beekeeping with neighbour six feet away is unlikely. It really bothers me because I was a natural beekeeper.

@schulerimkereiobsflotwedel35 Жыл бұрын

I think we need both. Ofcourse I will help my bees, if it is necessary. But in the heather each queen has to prove her worth. Only queens which resist varroa till late autum, I will breed with next season.

@badassbees3680 Жыл бұрын

You can't be "Treatment Free" if you treat when varroa gets too high to continue your TF supposedly yard.

@CastleHives Жыл бұрын

I believe Cory Stevens is also testing with the UBeeO assay as well.

@dcsblessedbees Жыл бұрын

I think I remember seeing a video from him on it.

@InsideTheHiveTV Жыл бұрын

I believe so.

@curtcotner4054 Жыл бұрын

I currently use oxalic acid mixed with vegetable glycerin on sponges. It’s a pretty effortless assist to the bees. It seems to be highly effective. In a perfect world I’d like bees to help handle mites on their own, but I know some many of my beekeeping peers that do no treatments. They all lose 50 to 60% of their hives every year,.

@davecavana1031 Жыл бұрын

Sounds like bullshit

@robinmartin4464 Жыл бұрын

Select breeding for VSH is interesting and hopeful. There are many people looking into this aspect, seeing the problem from different perspectives. Science and Beekeepers will find a way through this.

@wrfarms9741 Жыл бұрын

Hi Humberto, it has been a long time since we spoke on the phone. Hope you are well. I think you would really like to talk to a fellow beekeeper who lives not far from me in Tennessee. He does not treat his bees. He sells nucleus colonies. I purchased 6 of them about 7 years ago and still have 2 of the orginal nucs that are strong hives now. If you prefer, I can call you or text you his contact information.

@deadpossum100 Жыл бұрын

Africanized Honey Bees AKA killer bees have zero problems with Varroa. I mean imagine a large dungeness crab hanging off of you eating your fat reserves. That's the scope of it but our honey bees have been bred to be so stOopid that they don't have the necessary aggression to clean the mite off of them.

@thuffman44 Жыл бұрын

Part of me feels using this type of method creates a false-positive in terms of selecting for 'inherit' traits. I enjoy the research and the tech towards the study, however I still favor the Harbo assay approach because it's a real-time look at what's occurring naturally without relying on derived intervention from enhanced chemicals made in a lab. Allowing environmental pressure to express the genetic attributes seems to be a much more worthwhile endeavor. Even if it takes a bit longer

@johnboec3 Жыл бұрын

I am afraid Thomas Seeley is way ahead of you as for as letting the bees do it on their own.

@lee22822 6 ай бұрын

I believe we should not be intervening in genetically altering any of god’s creations. I believe when profits outweighs practical and efficient practices we find ourselves at the root of the cause, usually! I used to buy and treat packages from other states that had different climate than mine but now I only catch wild native bees and hope and pray that their genetics will be capable to survive. I just try and keep them high and dry

@edwardclark5211 Жыл бұрын

Why do you mask the honey bee?

@InsideTheHiveTV Жыл бұрын

That is old animation that does not make sense anymore. I need to update my stuff.

@MarekArawn Жыл бұрын

I was wondering the same thing..

@Swarmstead Жыл бұрын

Came so close again , just to say these hyper-managing selectors would do better than actual selection for survival without inputs.

@InsideTheHiveTV Жыл бұрын

What would be ideal to you? Local selection without any special purpose behind it. Just measurring survival rates? Thanks

@Swarmstead Жыл бұрын

@@InsideTheHiveTV many have already done the selecting for decades by not treating. Propagate survivor stock from them. Allow selection to do its job. You're putting the pollination, honey, and treatment industry first and the bees last. Why do survival rates need to be measured? With what other animal do we measure survival rates?

@jetstreamers5661 Жыл бұрын

This is correct. The reason people are constantly over researching & interfering every step of the way is $$$. Human nature is suppose. I am amazed that the bees have managed to survive beekeepers these past 30 years!

@sergepajcin1255 Жыл бұрын

all about money bunch of beekeprs in usa have mite resistent bees like myself bewaer bees from txt etc no tratment needed against all kind of bees illines