Recapping behavior of Oahu's bees
Varroa resistance
The Varroa mite (Varroa destructor) and the associated Deformed Wing Virus are responsible for worldwide large-scale colony losses. To combat the mite, beekeepers have been adding pesticides to their hives for decades, which has resulted in treatment residues becoming a major pollutant in beehives. However, in recent years scientists and beekeepers have confirmed that when honeybees are given the opportunity, they can develop varroa-resistance naturally i.e., without human interference.
Recapping behavior
Honeybee behavior is the critical element in the development of resistance to Varroa. Hygienic behavior is a generalized behavior which helps honeybees keep their colonies clean and healthy. Honeybees respond to intruders, diseases, and even debris through hygienic behaviors. These behaviors include removal of pests, such as wax moth larva, and removal of diseased or dead brood, as in chalk brood infections. Honeybees are sensitive to odors in the brood and can learn to associate certain scents with disease. The smells emanating from a capped bee cell infested by Varroa are not native to honeybee colonies. These odors are recognized by special nurse bees, which then proceed to open the cells in the vicinity of the source of the odor.
The cells are then inspected and bee pupae may be removed or the cell is "recapped" and the bee continues its development.
Reduction in mite
and viral levels
Recent research conducted by the UH Honeybee Project
and UK collaborators has revealed that on Oahu colonies are exhibiting natural resistance to the Varroa mite. The researchers have documented an increased level of a hygienic behavior which has greatly reduced the need for mite treatments among the local beekeepers..
This resistance is based on bee behavior known as “re-capping” which helps reduce the levels of Varroa and the associated viruses in the hive. Colonies that “recap” are colonies that worker bees that can identify, by scent, the present of infected brood and can open and examine developing bees. The bees selectively remove sick bees while “recapping” the healthy ones so they can continue to grow. During the recapping process the female mite’s reproductive cycle gets interrupted and the mite infertility increases. This natural in-hive culling of infected brood and the subsequent mite infertility reduces the mite population levels and allows the colonies to prosper. This behavior is key to the quick adaptive response of the bees and has set Oahu apart from other mainland sites. is a Paragraph. Click on "Edit Text" or double click on the text box to start editing the content and make sure to add any relevant details or information that you want to share with your visitors.
