EX11 - Managing Varroa: The Honey Bees Most Destructive Parasite

Sunday, February 19, 2023

2:00 PM – 2:50 PM

Location: Jasmine E, Level 3

Earn 1 CE Hours

Presenter(s)

Britteny Kyle, DVM, MSc (she/her/hers)

PhD Student, Epidemiology with Collaborative Specialization in One Health
Scotland, ON, Canada

Handouts

Moderator(s)

Gerald Flottmann, DVM

Flottmann Enterprises Inc
Conroe, TX, United States

Beekeepers in the United States have been dealing with Varroa since the 1980s. Despite decades of experience with this parasite, varroa remains the single greatest threat to colony health. Treatment can be challenging due to the ubiquitous nature of the parasite and limitations of the available management options. Veterinarians are not currently required to make management decisions regarding varroa, however, there is tremendous opportunity for veterinarians to work in this space.

Learning Objectives:

Understand the significance of Varroa destructor parasitism to honey bee colonies and the beekeeping industry
List the different treatment options and common reasons for selecting one over the other
Discuss current research initiatives for Varroa management
Discuss the veterinarians current and potential future role in Varroa management