title: The efficacy of small cell foundation as a varroa mite (Varroa destructor) control.
abstract: Due to a continuing shift toward reducing/minimizing the use of chemicals in honey bee colonies, we explored the possibility of using small cell foundation as a varroa control. Based on the number of anecdotal reports supporting small cell as an efficacious varroa control tool, we hypothesized that bee colonies housed on combs constructed on small cell foundation would have lower varroa populations and higher adult bee populations and more cm(2) brood. To summarize our results, we found that the use of small cell foundation did not significantly affect cm(2) total brood, total mites per colony, mites per brood cell, or mites per adult bee, but did affect adult bee population for two sampling months. Varroa levels were similar in all colonies throughout the study. We found no evidence that small cell foundation was beneficial with regard to varroa control under the tested conditions in Florida.
authors.affiliation: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry, Bureau of Plant and Apiary Inspection, Apiary Inspection Section, 1911 SW 34th St., Gainesville, FL, 32614-7100, USA. ellisa@doacs.state.fl.us
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Ellis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000254:growth & development / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000502:physiology; D008925:Mites; D010571:Pest Control / Q000379:methods*; D011156:Population Density; D011157:Population Dynamics