Overview
Module 7 - Biological control method against the Varroa mite
Responsibility
Dr. rer. nat. Peter Rosenkranz
peter.rosenkranz@uni-hohenheim.de
Topic
Development of a biological control method against the Varroa mite based on sex pheromones
Abstract
The objective of this module is to develop a method (using the female sex pheromones of the Varroa mite, that were identified by us and will be patented soon) in order to disturb the mating of the parasite inside the bee host's brood cell. Thus, an unregulated population growth of the mites within the bee colony during the season would be prevented and the Varroa infestation would even remain below the injury threshold during the bee breeding season.
To combat the Varroa mite as permanent ‘stressor’ of bee colonies is a crucial prerequisite for a vital bee colony. Furthermore, the Varroa infestation is a decisive factor for the high losses during winter that occur periodically (this awareness has been recently confirmed by long-term researches). Our project will expand the opportunities of Varroa control in a way that the parasite population may even decrease (by using a biological control) to a state at which a critical level for the health of the bee colony until the treatment in autumn or winter will not be reached.