Project Overview

S25-065

Project Type: IPM Centers Grant

Funds awarded in 2025: $39,831.00

Grant Recipient: Auburn University

Region: Southern

State: Alabama

Cooperating States: Alabama

Project Coordinator:

Geoffrey Williams

Auburn University

Refining a collaborative working group to address varroa mite IPM for beekeepers in the Southern United States

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 refine the efforts of a newly created working group of researchers and extension specialists, supported by a previous SIPMC IPM Working Group grant, that are focused on developing and promoting IPM of Varroa destructor, a major parasitic mite of honey bees. Varroa has been recognized by the SERA3 IPM group as an established issue and an IPM priority for the Southern region. Identified as priorities by the working group at its inaugural team-building activity, the objectives of the project will be to 1.) Identify optimal Southern winter varroa treatment timing, and 2.) Deliver science-based honey bee & varroa monitoring trainings. These will be achieved by performing output-based research the investigates presence of honey bee brood during winter (obj. 1), and by delivering honey bee and varroa monitoring education via in-person and virtual events and activities to beekeepers (obj. 2). 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 employ these opportunities for IPM, such as appropriate monitoring tools and use of organic treatments, as well as increase regional researchers’ knowledge of research priorities and collaborative activities. Ultimately, the working group believes this project will lead to better management of varroa in the Southern region and an increase in collaborative research projects to address varroa mites, the premiere biotic threat to honey bees.

Project objectives from proposal:

Objective 1: To identify optimal Southern winter varroa treatment timing.

Objective 2: To deliver science-based honey bee & varroa monitoring trainings.

Planned Outputs	Anticipated Outcomes	Problem or Priority Targeted
Host virtual meeting and in-person workshop for working group members (Obj 1 & 2)	Gain an improved understanding of the working group’s skills and experiences, especially of new members, while discussing current and future collaborations. A particular focus of our primary team-building activity – the workshop – will be to discuss the inclusion of beekeepers to our output-based research project to optimize varroa treatment timing during winter, as well as to develop educational materials concerning effective honey bee and varroa monitoring tools and techniques. These joint, collaborative efforts will present a unified front to beekeepers, and should lead to subsequent adoption by beekeepers.	Provide an opportunity for two-way discussions on research (our primary output-based activity) and extension targeting varroa IPM for Southern beekeepers between extension specialists and researchers. Given our first team-building activity was to introduce the working group and to identify joint varroa IPM priorities, this follow-up team-building activity will be to develop and deploy our proposed activities that will contribute to the identification of optimal winter treatment timings and delivering of varroa monitoring education to beekeepers.
Monitor winter honey bee brood (Obj 1)	Understand when low points of capped brood occur in Southern states to optimize alternative Varroa treatments.	Low points in honey bee capped brood in Southern states can be sporadic, resulting in missing treatment windows. This causes higher mite infestation and increased reliance on synthetic acaricides.
Monitor timing and type of winter varroa treatments (Obj 1)	Understand when and how beekeepers apply treatments for varroa during winter, and identify if this aligns (synergizes) with when honey bee brood is low or non-existent, as this will further improve efficacy of most treatments.	Low points in honey bee capped brood are opportune times for beekeepers to apply an organic miticide, such as oxalic acid, as a varroa treatment. Our needs assessments demonstrate that the majority of beekeepers do not know when this is for their location.
Refined presentation template on optimal Southern winter varroa treatment timing & techniques (Obj. 1).	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.
Presentation template on optimal honey bee and varroa monitoring techniques and timings for Southern beekeepers (Obj 2)	Increased awareness of monitoring techniques and timings for effective varroa IPM by Southern beekeepers.	Lack of beekeeper knowledge concerning when and how varroa monitoring should be performed.
Produce informational signage (Obj 1 & 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 and social media communicating abundance of Southern winter honey bee brood. (Obj 1 & 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.