In today's episode, Jim is joined by Dr. David Peck, an expert in varroa mites, to delve into the critical issue of honey bee colony collapse linked to varroa infestation. This topic is different from Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), focusing instead on the impact of varroa mites and the diseases they introduce to both adult bees and larvae.

The episode addresses a common frustration among beekeepers: the collapse of their strongest and most productive summer colonies. These hives, characterized by their daily activity, young queens, and abundant honey production, fall victim to the escalating varroa mite population. As the bee population increases over the summer, so does the number of varroa mites. This problem intensifies late summer and into fall, as the queen reduces her activity and 'winter bees' emerge in smaller and weaker numbers due to the overwhelming presence of varroa and the diseases they carry. By winter, these colonies are often too weakened to survive even the first cold spell, despite having ample honey reserves.

Complicating matters, these varroa-weakened colonies become targets for robbing, which facilitates the spread of varroa mites to other hives. This episode sheds light on the dual challenge modern beekeepers face: managing both the honey bee and the varroa mite. Tune in as Jim and Dave explore this complex and pressing issue in beekeeping.

Websites and links mentioned in the episode:

• Betterbee's "Collapse of a High Mite Hive" video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgZzIJgR69g
• Cervo et al. (2014) demonstrate that high mite populations change varroa mites' preference for bees of different ages, in a what that could facilitate mite spread through robbing and/or drift: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Federico-Cappa/publication/265133875_High_Varroa_mite_abundance_influences_chemical_profiles_of_worker_bees_and_mite-host_preferences/links/5416b1080cf2bb7347db6904/High-Varroa-mite-abundance-influences-chemical-profiles-of-worker-bees-and-mite-host-preferences.pdf 

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Thanks to Betterbee for sponsoring today's episode. Betterbee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Heart & Soul by Gyom, All We Know by Midway Music; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; original guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

Cartoons by: John Martin (Beezwax Comics)

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