Diseases/Pests Fact Sheets
PDF fact sheets are a free download from MAAREC. Important pests and diseases of honey bees are discussed, including tracheal mite, varroa mite, wax moth, hive beetle, and bears.
- Chemicals and Drugs Approved for Legal Use in Honey Bee Colonies
- These chemicals are for the control of parasites and pests of honey bees. All pesticides listed here are registered for use in honey bee colonies as of January 2000.
- Tracheal Mites
- These mites live in the tracheal tubes (breathing airways) of all three honey bee castes. Heavy mite populations result in sick bees that don’t work as hard or live as long as healthy bees.
- Pests of Honey Bees
- This leaflet describes the pests a beekeeper is likely to encounter and gives recommendations for their control.
- Stinging Insect Control
- This leaflet describes the different stinging insects (bumble bees, carpenter bees, wasps, yellowjackets, hornets, paper wasps) and their control.
- Wax moth
- Wax moths recycle combs of colonies that die in the wild as well as the beeswax combs of the beekeeper. They are seen by beekeepers as a pest.
- Small Hive Beetle
- The adult beetle is small (about one-third the size of a bee), reddish brown or black in color, and covered with fine hair. The larvae consume pollen and wax but will also eat bee eggs and larvae.
- Varroa Mites
- The varroa mite, Varroa jacobsoni, is considered by many to be the most serious malady of honey bees.
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for Beekeepers
- IPM is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that utilizes a combination of commonsense practices.
- Bee Diseases and Their Control
- This leaflet describes important symptoms, the transmission and control of the three major brood diseases and the one important adult disease of honey bees.
- Bears and Bees
- Bears can do a great deal of damage to hives and equipment in a short period of time.
