Project Overview

S24-053

Project Type: IPM Centers Grant

Funds awarded in 2024: $39,420.00

Grant Recipient: Auburn University

Region: Southern

State: Alabama

Cooperating States: Alabama

Project Coordinator:

Geoffrey Williams

Auburn University

Establishing a collaborative working group to address varroa mite management for beekeepers in the southeastern region

Reports

Commodities

Animals: bees

Pollinators: honey bees

Target Pests

Target Pests: varroa mite

Practices

Pest Management: chemical control, cultural control, monitoring/scouting

Crop Production: beekeeping/honey

Proposal abstract:

The primary purpose of this work is to establish a working group of researchers and extension specialists focused on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) of Varroa destructor, an important parasitic mite of honey bees, which the SERA3 IPM group recognizes as an established issue and an IPM priority for the Southern region. Key activities of the working group will be to optimize Varroa treatments (e.g., for oxalic acid through capped winter brood monitoring) and to disseminate information on optimal treatment timing to beekeepers in the region, as well as to perform a needs assessment to identify priorities for future Varroa IPM research. By gathering regional research and extension professionals in online meetings and one in-person meeting, we will enhance the dissemination of research results that beekeepers can use to improve their management, and promote the planning of future collaborative research and extension efforts by synthesizing a list of regional research priorities. In the short and medium term, these efforts are expected to increase Southern beekeepers’ knowledge of opportunities for IPM against Varroa, increase the number of beekeepers who use these opportunities for IPM, and increase regional researchers’ knowledge of regional research priorities. In the future, we hope this leads to better management of Varroa in the region and an increase in collaborative research projects to address Varroa mites, a serious stressor of honey bee colonies in the region.

Project objectives from proposal:

Objective 1: To identify Varroa IPM priorities for Southern Beekeepers.

Objective 2: To identify optimal Southern winter Varroa treatment timing.

Planned Outputs	Anticipated Outcomes	Problem or Priority Targeted
Conduct beekeeper needs assessment (Obj 1)	Increase awareness of Varroa IPM research and extension priorities for Southern beekeepers. Determine practical ways these can be addressed through collaborative research.	Ascertain research and extension areas are of prime concern to Southern beekeepers, and establish which concerns should be addressed first.
Host virtual meeting and in-person workshops (Obj 1 & 2)	Gain a better understanding of the working group’s skills and experiences while discussing current and future collaborations. Jointly making extension materials will enable different units to perform extension on these results, leading to broader and more effective dissemination of results and subsequent adoption of optimized treatment by beekeepers.	Provide an opportunity for two-way discussion on research targeting Varroa IPM for Southern beekeepers between extension specialists and researchers not currently available at the national level.
Publication on Varroa IPM priorities for Southern beekeeping (Obj 1)	Increase understanding of Southern beekeeping Varroa IPM needs and disseminate that for researchers and extension specialists to use to drive future collaborations and funding proposals.	Disconnect between researchers and Southern beekeepers on what research they desire.
Presentation template on Varroa IPM priorities for Southern beekeeping (Obj 1)	Increase understanding of Southern beekeeping Varroa IPM needs and disseminate that for researchers and extension specialists to use to drive future funding proposals.	Disconnect between researchers and extension specialists, and Southern beekeepers, on the latters needs.
Monitor winter honey bee brood (Obj 2)	Understand when low points of capped brood occur in Southern states to optimize alternative Varroa treatments.	Low points in capped brood in Southern states can be sporadic, resulting in missing treatment windows. This causes higher mite infestation and increased reliance on synthetic acaricides.
Presentation template on optimal Southern winter Varroa treatment timing (Obj 2)	Southern beekeepers gain a better understanding of when low points of capped brood occur through extension presentations. Varroa treatments are optimized to increase efficacy.	Lack of beekeeper knowledge concerning when brood points are low to optimize Varroa treatments.
Produce informational signage (Obj 2)	Southern beekeepers gain a better understanding of when low points of capped brood occur. Varroa treatments are optimized to increase efficacy.	Lack of beekeeper knowledge concerning when brood points are low to optimize Varroa treatments.
Websites communicating abundance of Southern winter honey bee brood. (Obj 2)	Southern beekeepers, researchers and extension specialists gain a better understanding of when low points of capped brood occur. Varroa treatments are optimized to increase efficacy.	Lack of organizational knowledge concerning when brood points are low to optimize Varroa treatments.