- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
The Deep Look crew filmed the footage of the varroa mites with the assistance of Niño and Joseph Tauzer, manager of the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility, Bee Biology Road. Other segments of the production were filmed elsewhere.
The video was publicly released Oct. 24.
"They really did a great job, just like with the one on bee bread also done in my lab a few years back (2019)," said Niño, who also is the founder and director of the California Master Beekeeper Program. (See "Honey Bees Make Honey...and Bread?")
Varroa mites (Varroa destructor), natives of Asia, are external parasitic mites that feed on and weaken honey bees. They can spread such viruses as the deformed wing virus.
Beekeepers typically describe varroa mites as "Public Enemy No. 1" or as "A Beekeeper's Worst Enemy." In the Deep Look video, host Laura Klivans comments: "Every year, up to half the managed honeybee hives in the United States die from hazards like pesticide exposure, lack of flowers to forage on year-round, and varroa mites...varroa mites are great at sneaking into hives, hiding, and reproducing like mad."
Varroa mites reproduce only in a bee colony. The mites are small--measuring about 1–1.8 mm long and 1.5–2 mm wide--but they are huge to a bee. "It's as if you were carrying around a tick the size of a dinner plate," Klivans says.
Scientists first detected varroa mites in the United States in the 1980s. "They evolved on eastern honeybees, in Asia," Klivans notes. "That's why the western honeybees in the Americas and Europe aren't yet good at defending against them."
Research is underway to breed bees that will better target the mites. "The U.S. Department of Agriculture and private companies are breeding bees that can sniff out varroa mites," according to Deep Look. "When the bees find some, they uncap the cells and interrupt reproduction."
The video also focuses on "the sugar shake," a procedure used to monitor and estimate the number of varroa mites in a bee colony. It involves adding a half of a cup of bees (about 300) from the brood comb to a jar with a mesh lid, dropping in two tablespoons of confectioners' sugar, shaking the jar for 30 seconds to dislodge the mites, and emptying the contents on a tray. The beekeepers then count the number of varroa mites, estimate the severity of infestation, and decide what needs to be done.
Deep Look humorously describes the sugar-coated mites as "frosted varroa mites."
"The U.S. Department of Agriculture and private companies are breeding bees that can sniff out varroa mites," Klivans tells viewers. "When the bees find some, they uncap the cells and interrupt reproduction." Through queen bee insemination, scientists at Purdue and Central State universities are breeding honeybees known as “mite-biters." (See news story)
In addition to Niño and Tauzer, researchers consulted included Adam Finkelstein, VP Queen Bees; Krispn Given, Purdue Universities; Cameron Jack, University of Florida; Jeff Harris, Mississippi State University; Hongmei Li-Byarlay, Central State University; Samuel Ramsey, University of Colorado, Boulder; and Frank Rinkevich, USDA.
Credits include Deep Look producer/writer Gabriela Quirós; cinematographer Josh Cassidy; narrator/writer Laura Klivans; original music Seth Samuel; and editors/motion graphics Gabriela Quirós and Kia Simon.
In 2007, Deep Look filmed bee breeder-geneticist Susan Cobey (now of Washington State University) inseminating bee queens in the Laidlaw lab. At the time, Cobey managed the Laidlaw facility. Also in the video, the late Eric Mussen (1944-2022), Extension apiculturist and member of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology faculty, discusses colony collapse disorder.
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
His seminar, "Disarming the Defenses of Resistant Pests: Rational Design of Inhibitors for ABC Transporter Proteins in the Varroa Mite," is set for 4:10 p.m. in Room 122 of Briggs Hall.
The seminar also will be on Zoom. The link:
https://ucdavis.zoom.us/j/95882 849672
"Varroa mites pose a significant global menace to honey bee colonies, causing colony losses, ecological imbalances, and food scarcity," says Nicklish, an assistant professor, UC Davis Department of Environmental Toxicology, in his abstract. "Escalating pesticide resistance in thee mites necessitates innovative strategies to bolster acaricide effectiveness. "Small molecule synergists that heighten mite susceptibility to acaricides offer a promising solution by amplifying chemical treatment efficacy, thus reducing overall pesticide demand."
"Present synergist development strategies primarily target metabolic enzyme inhibition to restore insect sensitivity to pesticides," he related. "Our research focuses on ABC efflux transporters, pivotal in cellular xenobiotic handling, as a new approach. We aim to establish a toxicokinetic pipeline to uncover novel synergists and validate their ability to increase Varroa mite vulnerability to existing miticides. By capitalizing on synergistic interactions between sensitizing agents and acaricides, we aim to equip beekeepers and regulators with a sustainable toolbox to combat Varroa resistance, ultimately fostering long-term honey bee well-being."
A first-generation college graduate, Nicklisch received his master's degree in biological sciences in 2005 from the University of Cologne, Germany, and his doctorate in protein biochemistry at the University of Cologne in 2008. He postdotoral fellowships at the University o Osnabruek, Germany, and at UC Santa Barbara.
Nicklisch said he "was drawn to teach at UC Davis because of its reputation for research in environmental and human toxicology. I feel like this area of science has barely had its surface scratched and I am excited to pioneer further developments in the field. My research interests focus on understanding why industrial chemicals and other toxicants enter and accumulate in humans and other animals and plants."
"Our main research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying chemical uptake and distribution in humans and other organisms," he writes on his website. "The Nicklisch Lab is interested in determining levels of drugs and environmental chemicals in different types of foods and to biochemically characterize their interactions with protective drug transporters, including P-glycoprotein, MRP1 and BCRP. Current efforts in the lab focus on investigating possible drug-pollutant and pollutant-pollutant interactions with P-glycoprotein other drug transporters on a molecular and organismal level."
"The Nicklisch Lab," he relates, "has demonstrated expertise in a broad range of traditional lab techniques to determine structure and conformation of proteins, including NMR and EPR spectroscopy and Circular Dichroism spectrometry. In addition, we have a proven track record of developing and optimizing new biochemical assays and analytical tools to determine enzyme and transporter function and kinetics. Our lab has pioneered the field of toxicokinetic interactions of environmental chemicals with drug transporters as novel targets for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying chemical bioaccumulation."
Seminar coordinator is Brian Johnson, associate professor, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology. For Zoom technical issues, he may be reached at brnjohnson@ucdavis.edu. The list of seminars is posted here.
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
Bohls, a first-year doctoral student in the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, received a $1000 prize. The two-day symposium took place April 7-8 in the UC Davis Conference Center.
Bohls began her presentation, “Efficacy of Several Biopesticides Against Varroa Mites,” with a brief overview of honey bees, discussed their importance and why they are dying, and then turned to her research on mite infestation. She studies with state Extension apiculturist Elina Niño of the department's Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility.
Bohls' abstract: "Varroa destructor is an ectoparasitic mite on Apis mellifera; it feeds on hemolymph and vectors several pathogens. The purpose of this efficacy and safety trial was to determine the level of Varroa mite control provided by several biopesticides in a systems approach and to determine the safety to bees and honey yield variables. These experiments were conducted at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility. Five groups of eight to ten established colonies with infestations of Varroa mites were selected for the experiments. All colonies were contained within the same apiary and began with 2 percent mite levels. Each of the five groups of honey bee colonies were randomly assigned a treatment: positive control, Product A (low and high dose), Product B, untreated control. The level of Varroa mite infestation was determined with an alcohol wash prior to the treatment, three times during, and at the end of the treatment. Effects on colony strength were measured by counting the number of frames of adult bees, brood, honey, and pollen before, during, and after the treatment."
A native of Macedonia, Ohio, Bohls joined the UC Davis doctoral program last fall. She is involved with public outreach and extension in the Niño lab, assisting with beekeeping workshops and short courses. She recently delivered a presentation to the American Honey Producers' Association convention.
Bohls received her bachelor's degree from Hiram (Ohio) College in May 2015, double-majoring in neuroscience and environmental studies and minoring in biology. In independent studies at Hiram, she conducted a wasp survey at the James H. Barrow Field Station, comparing wasp diversity in newer vs. older growth forests. She also served as a research assistant with Thomas Koehnle at the field station where she studied eastern gray squirrels with a variety of population sampling procedures, including home range studies, time area counts, and transects. She conducted an anti-predator behavior study on the eastern gray squirrel, extensively comparing the behavior of the two color morphs of the eastern gray squirrel.
In addition, Bohls developed a citizen science butterfly program at the field station. As a research assistant, Bohls worked on a butterfly population study at the field station's Monarch Waystation, comparing the population and species differences of butterflies in a field before and after a controlled burn.
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
He will discuss "Plant-Feeding Phytoseiids: Cheliceral Morphology, Feeding Mechanism and Host Plant Interactions" from 12:10 to 1 p.m. He will be hosted and introduced by Michael Parrella, professor and chair, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology.
Palevsky's current research includes varroa mites, which can decimate honey bee colonies. While at UC Davis, he will meet with bee scientists, integrated pest management (IPM) specialists and ecologists.
Born in Montreal, Canada, Palevsky immigrated to Israel in 1974. He received his bachelor's degree in plant protection at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel (HUJI), Faculty of Agriculture in 1982, and his master's degree in IPM from HUJI in 1866. His thesis: "Studies to Improve Spray Strategy for the Codling Moth, Cydia pomonella, in Israel Using the Model PETE (Predictive Extension Time Estimator).
He then went on to receive his doctorate in IPM from HUJIin 1997, with a thesis titled "Development of a Program for Integrated Management of the European Red Mite, Panonychus ulmi, for the Main Apple Cultivars in Israel."
Palevsky held a postdoctoral position from 1997-1998r at Mid-Columbia Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Oregon State University, Hood River, Ore. where he studied "Improving IGR Resistance Monitoring Methods for Codling Moth." He then accepted a postdoctoral position at HUJI, researching "The Taxonomic Status of Spider Mites Attacking Palm Fruit in Israel." His career also includes a sabbatical leave to the Landcare Research, Auckland, New Zealand, where he researched "Functional Morphology of Phytoseiid Mouthparts."
Palevsky's ongoing projects include:
- Conservational biological control of the citrus rust mite Phyllocoptruta oleivora in citrus. Supported by: Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC-USAID).
- Novel methods for controlling the Varroa mite in honey bee hives in Israel. Supported by: chief scientist of the Ministry of Agriculture, Honey Bee Commission of Israel and ICA
- Identification and evaluation of soil borne predatory mites for the control of plant parasitic nematodes in organic cropping systems. Supported by: chief scientist of the Ministry of Agriculture.
- Reduction of Rhizoglyphus robini damage to onion and garlic by implementing compost for the suppression of Fusarium oxysporum. Supported by: chief scientist of the Ministry of Agriculture.
- Development and application of microbial control means against arthropod and nematode pests in agriculture and forestry. Supported by: chief scientist of the Ministry of Agriculture.
Among his recent publications:
- Adar, E. s, Inbar, M., S. Gal, S., L. Issman, L. and Palevsky, E. 2014. Plant cell piercing by a predatory mite: evidence and implications. Experimiental and Applied Acarology DOI: 10.1007/s10493-014-9860-5.
- Messelink, G.J., Bennison, J., Alomar, O., Ingegno, B.L., Tavella, L., Shipp, L., Palevsky, E., Wackers, F.L., 2014. Approaches to conserving natural enemy populations in greenhouse crops: current methods and future prospects. BioControl 59: 377-393.
- Maoz, Y., Gal, S., Argov, Y., Domeratzky, S., Melamed, E., Gan-Mor, S., Coll, M. and Palevsky, E. 2014. Efficacy of indigenous predatory mites (Acari:Phytoseiidae) against the citrus rust mite Phyllocoptruta oleivora (Acari:Eriophyidae): Augmentation and conservation biological control in Israeli citrus orchards. Experimiental and Applied Acarology 63: 295-312.
- Adar, E., Inbar, M., Gal, S., Gan-Mor, S. and Palevsky, E. 2014. Pollen On-Twine for food provisioning and oviposition of predatory mites in protected crops. BioControl 59: 307-317.
- Ofek, T., Gal, S., Inbar, M., Lebiush-Mordechai, S.,Tsror, L., and Palevsky, E. 2014. The role of onion associated fungi in bulb mite infestation and damage to onion seedlings. Experimiental and Applied Acarology 62: 437-448.
- Lebiush-Mordechai, S., Erlich, O., Maymon, M., Freeman, S., Ben-David, T., Ofek, T., Palevsky, E., Tsror (Lahkin), L. 2014.Bulb and root rot in lily (Lilium longiforum) and onion (Allium cepa) in Israel. Journal of Phytopathology 162: 466-471.
- Peña, J.E., Hoddle, M.S., Aluja, M., Palevsky, E., Renato Ripa, R.and Wysoki, M. 2013. Insect and Mite Pests. In: The Avocado Botany, Production and Uses. Ed Schaffer, B. CABI, Oxfordshire, UK.
- Palevsky, E., Gerson, U. and Zhang, Z.-Q. 2013. Can exotic phytoseiids be considered ‘benevolent invaders' in perennial cropping systems? Experimental and Applied Acarology 59: 11-26.
The seminar will be video-recorded for later posting on UCTV.
Related links:
Upcoming departmental seminars
Departmental seminars on UCTV
