The National Bee Unit Tropilaelaps parasitic mites of honey bees ii Pollination PollinationChapter title Pollinating insects provide almost incalculable economic and ecological benefits to humans, flowering plants and wildlife. Pollination by bees and other insects is the first step in the flowering/ fruiting process resulting in the production of vegetables and fruits. This essential nutrition comprises approximately 35% of the human diet. The production of 84% of crop species cultivated in Europe depends directly on pollinators. 70% of the 124 main crops used directly for human consumption in the world are dependent on pollinators. Honey bee foraging on Hazel The National Bee Unit National Agri-Food Innovation Campus Sand Hutton York YO41 1LZ Telephone +44 0300 3030094 Fax +44 (0)1904 462 111 Email [email protected] Website www.gov.uk/apha © Crown copyright 2017 Copyright in the typographical arrangement and design rests with the Crown. This publication (excluding the logo) may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium provided that it is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading context. The material must be acknowledged as Crown copyright with the title and source of the publication specified. This document is also available on BeeBase (National Bee Unit) website, www.nationalbeeunit.com Published by The Animal and Plant Health Agency. Printed in the UK, 2017, on material containing 80% post-consumer waste and 20% Elemental Chlorine Free pulp. About this leaflet iii ChapterAbout this title leaflet Tropilaelaps: parasitic mites of honey bees This leaflet describes the Asian bee mites Tropilaelaps spp., (Tropilaelaps clareae, Tropilaelaps mercedesae, Tropilaelaps koenigerum and Tropilaelaps thaii), two of which are potential threats to UK beekeeping. The mites are native to Asia and have spread from their original host the giant honey bee, Apis dorsata, to the European honey bee A. mellifera. There is a serious risk of their accidental introduction into the UK. Tropilaelaps mites are notifiable pests under European Community legislation. All beekeepers should be aware of the details of the life cycle and how the mites can be recognised and controlled. Acronyms APHA Animal and Plant Health Agency BBKA British Beekeepers’ Association BDI Bee Diseases Insurance Ltd Defra Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs EFSA European Food Safety Authority EPS Exotic Pest Surveillance EU European Union GIS Geographical Information Systems IBRA International Bee Research Association IPI Insect Pollinators Initiative IPM Integrated pest management ISO International Organisation for Standardisation NBI National Bee Inspector NBU National Bee Unit OIE World Organisation for Animal Health RBI Regional Bee Inspector SA Sentinel apiary SASA Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture SBI Seasonal Bee Inspector SHB Small hive beetle SIA Statutory Infected Area UK United Kingdom VMD Veterinary Medicines Directorate WBKA Welsh Beekeepers’ Association WG Welsh Government 1 Contents Contents About this leaflet iii Contents 1 Help and advice 2 The National Bee Unit 2 BeeBase 2 Why is it so important to register on BeeBase? 3 How to sign up to BeeBase 3 How do I know that my details will be secure? 3 Beekeeping Associations 3 Introduction to the Tropilaelaps mite problem 4 What are Tropilaelaps mites? 4 Geographic distribution 4 Host species 4 Potential impact on UK beekeeping 5 Could Tropilaelaps reach the UK? 5 Limiting factors 5 Could Tropilaelaps survive in the UK? 5 Do I have to report Tropilaelaps if I find it in my colonies? 5 Tropilaelaps biology 6 Summary details 6 The mites 6 Lifecycle 7 Means of spread 8 The harmful effects of Tropilaelaps infestation 8 How to detect and control Tropilaelaps 9 How to check colonies for Tropilaelaps 9 Methods of detection 10 Control methods for Tropilaelaps 11 Acaricides 11 Biotechnical Methods 11 National Surveillance for Tropilaelaps 12 National Bee Unit apiary surveillance for exotic threats 12 Sentinel Apiaries 12 Keeping an eye out for Tropilaelaps 13 Contingency Planning 13 What should you do? 13 Your responsibilities as a beekeeper 14 Sending suspect mite samples to the NBU 14 Tropilaelaps and the law 14 Useful addresses 15 References and Acknowledgements 16 Notes 17 Help and advice 2 Help and advice The National Bee Unit (http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/public/ Contacts/contacts.cfm). The National Bee Unit (NBU) provides an integrated statutory and advisory service to The NBU has broad research and development beekeepers in England and Wales. It provides interests (current list outlined on BeeBase http:// diagnostic, consultancy and research services www.nationalbeeunit.com/index.cfm?section to Defra, Welsh Government, the Scottish id=48). Our portfolio covers varroacide Government, commerce and beekeepers. development, EU-wide colony loss surveillance, The NBU is a recognised centre of excellence risk assessment and novel control methods in the provision of advice and research in for exotic pest threats (e.g. Tropilaelaps, bee health. The Unit’s laboratories are fully Small hive beetle and Asian hornet), and the compliant with ISO 9001 quality schemes to economics and biology of pollination. The NBU ensure a high professional standard, and use as is a contributor within the Insect Pollinators a base, the Office Internationaldes Epizooties Initiative (IPI) (www.bbsrc.ac.uk/pollinators), (OIE) Manuals of Standard diagnostic tests leading research into systems that model the for laboratory diagnosis. Most staff are trained epidemiology of disease to enable improved practical beekeepers as well as scientists and management in the future. We are also using are supported by teams of specialists across advanced molecular techniques to identify The APHA and Fera Science Limited. specific bacterial strain types, which will add to our understanding of the spread of serious The Unit has modern facilities, including brood diseases. The NBU works in partnership laboratories with computer support through with many Universities and Organisations both BeeBase (see next section), as well as 150 in the UK and overseas to achieve these shared colonies and the apiary buildings to support research goals. them. The NBU has a bee health inspection and advisory service operating in England and Wales, comprising a regional network of Inspectors. The head of field inspection services BeeBase is the NBU’s award winning website. is the National Bee Inspector (NBI). Regional BeeBase contains all the apicultural information Bee Inspectors (RBIs) reporting to the NBI relating to the statutory bee health programme manage teams of Seasonal Bee Inspectors in England and Wales. In June 2010, the (SBIs) throughout England and Wales. As information for the Scottish inspections well as the statutory inspections and apiary programme was also incorporated into surveillance programme, Bee Inspectors provide BeeBase. BeeBase contains a wide range of free advice and assistance to beekeepers on beekeeping information, such as the activities of a range of bee health issues and run training the NBU, the bee related legislation, pests and courses for beekeepers on disease recognition, diseases information including their recognition disease control and good husbandry, often in and control, interactive maps, current research conjunction with local Beekeeping Associations. areas, publications, advisory leaflets (including The NBU team delivers around 500 training this one) and key contacts. To access this events every year. Bee Inspectors also assist information visit the NBU website (www. with field trials within the NBU’s Research and nationalbeeunit.com). Many beekeepers find this Development programmes. website to be a very useful source of information For further information contact the NBU, and advice. In addition to the public pages of the who will put you in touch with the appropriate BeeBase website, registered users (see below) Bee Inspector for your area, or visit the NBU’s can view their own apiary records, diagnostic BeeBase website key contacts pages histories and details. 3 Help and advice Why is it so important to visits. Your SBI, RBI, NBI and NBU staff will have access to your records, but no Inspector register on BeeBase? or NBU staff member will ever disclose to others As well as containing useful information on that you have been inspected or any details beekeeping, BeeBase is a vital tool in the about your bees or beekeeping without your control of bee disease and pests. Where consent. Although BeeBase includes public statutory pests or diseases (for example, pages containing information such as disease, foulbrood) are confirmed, the NBU can use colony losses, leaflets, useful links and much BeeBase to identify apiaries at risk in the local more general information, the public has no area and, as a result, target control measures access to your or other beekeepers’ details. effectively. By knowing where colonies are, we can help you manage disease risks in your apiaries. Risks include the incursion of serious Beekeeping Associations exotic pest threats such as Tropilaelaps mites In many areas, Beekeeping Associations (and also the Small hive beetle). The more operate disease training schemes and provide beekeepers who are registered, the more practical advice and advisory leaflets to rigorous our bee health surveillance can be and, members on bee disease recognition and crucially, the better our chances of eliminating management. Contact your local Beekeeping pests and diseases. Association or bee health advisor for details (England - www.bbka.org.uk; Wales - www.wbka.com and the Bee Farmers How to sign up to BeeBase Association – http://beefarmers.co.uk/). If you are not yet registered please visit the public pages of BeeBase where you can sign up Figure 1: Fera Science Limited laboratory, Sand online at: www.nationalbeeunit.com. Otherwise Hutton, York you can get in touch with the NBU office team who will be happy to help. You can email us at: [email protected] or contact us by telephone on: 03003030094. By telling us who you are, you will be playing a very important part in helping to maintain and sustain honey bees for the future.