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May 2, 2011 12:36 PM CST
Name: Margaret
Delta KY
I'm A Charley's Girl For Sure
Forum moderator I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Beekeeper
Seed Starter Permaculture Region: Kentucky Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Garden Ideas: Master Level
In addition to disease honey bees have pests that make life harzardous.

Skunks
Scratch at the hive entrance to lure bees out so they can grab them and eat them. Guard bees who fly out and sting them do little good because skunks are almost completely immune to their stings.
Best defense is to place your hive on a hive stand 2' to 3' off the ground.

Raccons
Are attracted to hives when wax or propolis is carelessly discarded near the hive. They remove the top and inner cover and pull a frame out. They drag the frame a few feet away and the guard bees and any bees on the frame fly back to the hive, leaving the raccoon to eat the honey and brood in peace.
Best defense is to dispose of wax and propollis away from the hive and place a brick on top of the hive to prevent the raccoon from opening it.

Opossums
Wait for the opportunity to catch a bee for a snack.
Placing the hive up high as for skunks helps prevent them from getting their snack.

Wax Moths
Lay eggs in the hive box and when the moth larvae hatch out they go through the hive eating the wax, honey, pollen, larvae and pupae.
Honey bees normally take care of these pests on their own in a strong, healthy hive. Frames and supers can be put in the freezer to kill all stages of the moths. Storing unused hive bodies where light and fresh air can circulate around them will also kill them.

Small Hive Beetles
Hide out in dark places where the honey bees can't go.
Traps containing oil are used to trap and drown them. Honey bees will build prisions around them if they can find them.

Tracheal Mites
Affects all stages of the honey bee. They enter the breathing tube of the honey bee and feed on the blood produced when they pierce the tube to feed.
Chemical products or grease patties made with shortening, sugar, honey and peppermint are used to kill them. . Some breeds of honey bees are resistant or tolerant of them.

Varroa Mites
Affects drone pupae. Like tracheal mites they feed on blood but outside the honey bees body. Some strains of honey bees are resistant to them.
To control them screened boards, powdered sugar and using drone brood traps is effective.

Bears
Bears love honey and brood. Best defense is an electric fence around your bee yard.

Birds
Insect eating birds may eat honey bees while they are foraging or mating in the air.

Humans
Humans are reponsible for the use of pesticdes which are toxic to honey bees.
Some people kill them because they sting or they are allergic to them.
Some people will destroy a bee yard out of spite.
Humans are also reponsible for the diminishing food supply of honey bees.
Last edited by Mindy03 Jul 11, 2011 12:33 PM Icon for preview

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