Pseudoscorpians

[Lburou]

Have you all seen this video?  Reintroducing this bug seems to be full of potential.  I heard that Texas A&M is looking into this (stratiolaelaps scimitus specifically).  I volunteered as a test site if they need one.

[Jen]

Oh Yaah! Take That You Miserable Little B_____d!

Okay, so how would this work for bees?

[Lburou]

Oh Yaah! Take That You Miserable Little B_____d!

Okay, so how would this work for bees?

I don't think they will eat the bees Jen.... ;-)

I'd like to see this work, but I'm not going to sell my vaporizer just yet.  There must have been something that protected the European bees from these varroa mites eons ago when they shared the terrain where the Middle East meets India and Apis Cerana -probably had something to do with how dry it is to the west.

[Jen]

You mean you can just turn it loose in a hive?

[Gypsi]

I think I've seen one out by Alvord around a pond. Been a few years.  Are they native to Texas?

[Lburou]

Yes Jen, loose in the hive.  Here is stratiolaelaps scimitus, the most likely bug to fight varroa in the hive:

[tbonekel]

Interesting. It said that beekeepers wiped them out by accident. I wonder how? If they are trying to bring them back, I'm in!

[brooksbeefarm]

I'll wait for more conformation, they may wipe out the varroa,but may end up being a bigger pest in other ways?? Jack

[Lburou]

I think I've seen one out by Alvord around a pond. Been a few years.  Are they native to Texas?

Don't know about the pseudoscorpion, but the stratiolaelaps scimitus is supposed to be both native and ubiquitous.

Tbonekel, Michael Bush has a list of bugs that were present in bee hives prior to all the insecticides, essential oils and acids we put in hives since the arrival of the varroa mites.  (Don't find that list right now though).

[DMLinton]

Stratiolaelaps Scimitus (formerly Hypoaspsis Miles) are predatory mites that happen to enjoy feasting on varroa and other pests.  Lots of research with respect to honey bees in the past few years.  Horticulturalists have been using them for a while.  No need to wait for another study, they are commercially available (just Google something like 'buy stratiolaelaps scimitus').  If I recall correctly, soil around the bee hives and the route between the ground and the hives has to be properly managed.

There are countless Youtube videos - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVQrA2VMOd4 is quite interesting.

[Jen]

Very Cool Vid!

[efmesch]

If you'll look carefully in the video link that DML has provided, at time 3:52, you can see what appears to be Stratiolaelaps scimitus mites crawling all over the open cells.  That could explain why this feral hive has managed to keep alive for the several years mentioned, without being destroyed by Varroa.
There is no doubt that the chemical treatments we have been using in our hives has changed the micro populations of the hives.  After Varroa came  and treatments began, "bee-lice" Braula ceaca, disappeared and so did the tracheal mites.  I'm sure that other species also disappeared.
Having done our damage to the beneficial species in the hives, it is now our duty to try and re-introduce them so as to reap the benefits of biological control.  The very least we could do is to try Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to get the best of both worlds and minimize the damages we cause with chemicals.

[DMLinton]

Thanks, efmesch.  I thought that that might be the critter at about the 4 minute mark but my eye sight close up is aweful.  Still cannot pick out queens unless they are already in a cage.

[efmesch]

I think I've seen one out by Alvord around a pond. Been a few years.  Are they native to Texas?

Pseudoscorpions are cosmopolitan, with different species being present all over the world.  On occasion I have seen them in my hives (usually between the inner cover and the telescoping roof) but had no idea that they were predators of mites.  Not knowing that, I never bothered with them, just let them crawl away.  So, in retrospect, it looks like I unknowingly did the right thing.
Incidentally, contrary to what the video would have you believe, though Varroa and pseudoscorpions are both Arachnidae, they are not of the same species---not even close.  Taxonomically, they split apart at the Sub-Class or Order level of taxonomic divisions.  At best, they can be called exceedingly distant "cousins".

[DMLinton]

[
....  At best, they can be called exceedingly distant "cousins".

Thanks for the correction, efmesch.. I had my wires crossed.

[efmesch]

DML, those weren't your wires, they were the wires of the "Bee Nature Project".  As a research group, they should have known better.

[LazyBkpr]

I have seen these before and read some about the testing being conducted..   The only real ear I might have is adaptation..  once they eat the mites, why wouldnt they eat larvae?  Maybe its not a possibility?  I just know that if I was about to starve, there wouldnt be much safe or sacred..

[DMLinton]

DML, those weren't your wires, they were the wires of the "Bee Nature Project".  As a research group, they should have known better.

Thanks for that, efmesh.