SHB arrives in France?

[The Poot in Somerset]

By taking bees to Asia, how was this the cause of varroa being introduced to the UK, did they fly back?
Even though there is speculation on the way varroa came to the UK, I don’t believe there is a confirmed route. Frankly, although a bloody nuisance, I don’t find varroa a major problem, just have to aware of its presence and treat accordingly
S

Stiffy - colonies were moved back from Asia to Europe, taking with them the varroa. How they got to the UK I don't know. Perhaps it was on imported stock from France and perhaps shb could get here the same way IF the Argentinian queens were infested as reported. My point is that moving stocks of bees/animals/fish around the globe has had some negative unforeseen consequences. There are lots of examples I could quote. Sometimes the benefits aren't as great as the negatives in my opinion.

 

[Kenson]

Hang on a mo....

SHB does not "live on bees" in the way that Varroa does. It lives, in the adult, phase "in the hive". Runs around the hive eating stuff.

In the egg/larval/pupal phases it lives in the ground, and has to move back to the hive as an adult beetle.

They can fly a bit, but have limited range and do not seem to like flying in enclosed spaces. (Limited flying skills).

This is why the defence works (Never Wet), this defence seems to be completely effective because they only try to walk into the hives, not fly about in them.

K

 

[Fusion_power]

I do not see a way for hive beetle eggs to get into queen cages presuming the queens and cages are handled properly.

 

[B+.]

Hang on a mo....

SHB does not "live on bees" in the way that Varroa does. It lives, in the adult, phase "in the hive". Runs around the hive eating stuff.

In the egg/larval/pupal phases it lives in the ground, and has to move back to the hive as an adult beetle.

They can fly a bit, but have limited range and do not seem to like flying in enclosed spaces. (Limited flying skills).

This is why the defence works (Never Wet), this defence seems to be completely effective because they only try to walk into the hives, not fly about in them.

K

Like this: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bijenonderzoek/27495672705/ and https://www.flickr.com/photos/bijenonderzoek/27461308016/ and https://www.flickr.com/photos/bijenonderzoek/21701184294/

 

[foghornleghorn]

I do not see a way for hive beetle eggs to get into queen cages presuming the queens and cages are handled properly.

Queen banks, they will go through all the cages and lay eggs in them.

 

[B+.]

Queen banks, they will go through all the cages and lay eggs in them.

SHB prefers to lay its eggs in cracks/small crevices where they are protected (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bijenonderzoek/23979320611/).
Many years ago, I was fortunate enough to be taken to the NBU research facility where they kept them between slide coverplates inside pots the size of 35mm film canisters. The security was very tight

 

[Beefriendly]

Nope, but the imported bee it hitched a lift on to get here did.

Varroa managed to wrangle it's way into Ireland despite them having a bee import ban....presumably an illegal import, which is almost impossible to control.
SHB has many routes of entry, not all involve imported bees. I don't think it a coincidence that in Australia (twice) and recently in Italy the initial outbreaks occurred near major ports. The USA invasion was too far advanced when discovered to know where it had come from.

 

[For want of a better word]

Varroa managed to wrangle it's way into Ireland despite them having a bee import ban....presumably an illegal import, which is almost impossible to control.
SHB has many routes of entry, not all involve imported bees. I don't think it a coincidence that in Australia (twice) and recently in Italy the initial outbreaks occurred near major ports. The USA invasion was too far advanced when discovered to know where it had come from.

You may presume.... but probability is in a huge consignment of honey bees being imported a few mites were missed by an overwhelmed and underfunded inspectorate.
The worry is the silent killers... the pathogenic virus creeping through our colonies... the Danish Pastry Virus being one of them.. slowly killing 10% of worker brood and going un~recognised by most beekeepers..... probably came in with imported queens... legally or illegally.

Perhaps APHA should take a closer look at some of these importers / breeders and see just what they have got... full DNA sequence testing of their stock will show up what they have and even the silent killer viruses they are spreading.



Yeghes da

 

[B+.]

You may presume.... but probability is in a huge consignment of honey bees being imported a few mites were missed by an overwhelmed and underfunded inspectorate.
The worry is the silent killers... the pathogenic virus creeping through our colonies... the Danish Pastry Virus being one of them.. slowly killing 10% of worker brood and going un~recognised by most beekeepers..... probably came in with imported queens... legally or illegally.

Perhaps APHA should take a closer look at some of these importers / breeders and see just what they have got... full DNA sequence testing of their stock will show up what they have and even the silent killer viruses they are spreading.



Yeghes da

Something only you seemed aware of
https://beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=37387

"Probably" and "perhaps" is not evidence, but, what does that matter if it suits your purpose?

 

[maddydog]

Something only you seemed aware of
https://beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=37387

"Probably" and "perhaps" is not evidence, but, what does that matter if it suits your purpose?

Looks like local bees are susceptible and imported bees not? Shirley a case for more imports before we run out of bees.....

 

[madasafish]

Looks like local bees are susceptible and imported bees not? Shirley a case for more imports before we run out of bees.....

 

[SDM]

Another UK bred virus, certainly not the first.
Given the findings of the COLOSS study that found non native bees lived fractionally shorter lives because they are intolerant of local viral mutation. It would seem almost certain that it's the diseased Cornish bees that are infecting your immigrants since the bees familiar with the virus would surely have some resistance. Surely a far more rational explanation than your typical knee jerk anti import stance. Thank god the rest of the world is safe since nobody is interested in importing our black stock.

 

[madasafish]

Another UK bred virus, certainly not the first.
Given the findings of the COLOSS study that found non native bees lived fractionally shorter lives because they are intolerant of local viral mutation. It would seem almost certain that it's the diseased Cornish bees that are infecting your immigrants since the bees familiar with the virus would surely have some resistance. Surely a far more rational explanation than your typical knee jerk anti import stance. Thank god the rest of the world is safe since nobody is interested in importing our black stock.

British beekeeping has a fine tradition of wiping out local beekeeping stocks.. see Isle of Wight disease.. whatever it was. To then blame imports as the cause of our problems seems utterly perverse and illogical..

 

[SDM]

To then blame imports as the cause of our problems seems utterly perverse and illogical..

Since when has that bothered the likes of CHEERS/ICANHOPPIT ?
I do hope someone can find the source of the original SHB misinformation. There will be a cracking libel case from the Argentinian importers against the author.

 

[Quis Custodiet]

Varroa managed to wrangle it's way into Ireland despite them having a bee import ban....presumably an illegal import, which is almost impossible to control.............................

Varroa was in Southern Ireland long before; "varroa has been found in Ireland" became official. Someone was found that could be blamed and then someone else was discovered who was more vulnerable, but completely innocent( an irrelevant legal technicality)and the blame was transferred on to him. The behaviour of beekeepers and government employees at the time feel far short of what one would reasonably expect.

 

[Swarm]

British beekeeping has a fine tradition of wiping out local beekeeping stocks.. see Isle of Wight disease.. whatever it was. To then blame imports as the cause of our problems seems utterly perverse and illogical..

I remember you posting about your association buying in queens from Colonsay? That would fit in nicely with your description, bringing varroa free stock into contact with them, very clever that.

 

[justsmith]

If your goal is to have the strongest chance to prevent SHB from happening then you need to think about banning importing of plants/soil and banning the import of fruit.

 

[madasafish]

If your goal is to have the strongest chance to prevent SHB from happening then you need to think about banning importing of plants/soil and banning the import of fruit.

No more bananas, grapes, grapefruit lettuce out of season.... will not happen.

 

[Beefriendly]

You may presume.... but probability is in a huge consignment of honey bees being imported a few mites were missed by an overwhelmed and underfunded inspectorate.

Hoppy, imports of bees into Ireland had been banned. The only huge consignments of imported varroa infested honey bees into Ireland/Eire are in your imagination.

 

[Uncle Betty]

Varroa was in Southern Ireland long before; "varroa has been found in Ireland" became official. Someone was found that could be blamed and then someone else was discovered who was more vulnerable, but completely innocent( an irrelevant legal technicality)and the blame was transferred on to him. The behaviour of beekeepers and government employees at the time feel far short of what one would reasonably expect.

Evidence ?