HDOA Varroa Mite Plan (Draft)

HDOA Varroa Mite Plan – DRAFT
June 8, 2007

Comments on the draft plan should be e-mailed as soon as possible to:  neil.j.reimer@hawaii.gov

Background:

The mite, Varroa destructor, was previously not known to occur in Hawaii until it was first found in the State on Oahu on April 5, 2007.  The Department of Agriculture (DOA) responded immediately to this discovery by sending staff to sample the hive to verify the find.  After the presence of the mite was confirmed, the next objective was to discover the extent of the infestation in the State.  If the infestation was limited, it may have been possible to eradicate the mite from Hawaii.  After destroying the infested hive, DOA staff conducted extensive surveys of commercial, backyard, and feral hives throughout Oahu.  These island-wide surveys indicated that the mite was already widely distributed throughout Oahu.  The wide distribution in feral colonies eliminated the possibility for eradication of the mite from the island of Oahu.  DOA is continuing to sample hives throughout the State to determine the density of mite infestations and possibly the origin of the initial infestation.  The sampling by DOA is not limited to Varroa mite but also includes sampling for two other mites not known to occur in the State.

Surveys for the mites have also been conducted on Kauai, Maui, Molokai, and Hawaii.  The surveys on the other islands are not completed but to date have all been negative for the mites.  All four of Hawaii's queen bee exporters, which are in the Kona area, are free of the mites.  Based on the preliminary results, it is assumed that the Varroa mite is currently restricted to Oahu.

Short Term Plan:

1)   Contain the Varroa mite on Oahu by preventing its spread to other islands.  Based on data we have to date, DOA is in the process of implementing an interim rule that will establish an inter-island quarantine to prevent the movement of honey bees and bee equipment off of Oahu.  This quarantine should contain the mite infestation to Oahu as it is unlikely that infested bees could fly to another island.  The interim rule will be effective for one year and will be followed with a permanent rule as detailed in the long-term plan;

2)   Complete surveys on all islands.  The purpose of these surveys is to:

a) ensure that the other islands are free of Varroa destructor and if not assess the potential for eradication for the island;

b) ensure that all islands, including Oahu, are free of other mites and other honeybee pests that are not known to occur in the State;

c) determine infestation rates and distribution of Varroa destructor on Oahu.

3)  Determine which pesticides are legally available in the State and to secure licenses for their use in Hawaii to control mite infestations

4)  Work with University of Hawaii extension and honey bee keepers in the State to educate them  

     on current tools available to manage mite infestations

Long Term Plan:

Based on DOA’s experience with honeybees and conversations with researchers in Canada, US, and New Zealand who have worked with honeybees and Varroa mite, it is believed that the mite cannot be eradicated from Oahu at this point but can be contained on the island.  Beekeepers on Oahu will need to manage their hives to keep the mites at low densities so that they can economically produce honey and pollinate crops.  

DOA’s long term plan is to quarantine Oahu by implementing and enforcing an inter-island quarantine that would prevent the movement of honeybees and used bee equipment from Oahu to other islands.  We also plan to develop a honeybee pest and disease survey and monitoring program, a bee pest management program, a colony recovery program, and a public awareness program.  We plan to create an Advisory Panel composed of HDOA personnel and commercial bee keepers to discuss and collaborate on the refinement and implementation of this plan.

These programs will be funded by this appropriation from the Legislature and supplemental federal funding.  To date, all survey and control efforts have been funded with federal grant money that was received specifically for this purpose.

The $650,000 appropriated by the Legislature will be used by the Department of Agriculture for:

1) Detection and monitoring survey program - $350,000

2) Pest Management Program - $140,000

3) Colony Recovery Program - $125,000

4) Inter-island Quarantine Program - $5,000

5) Public Awareness Campaign - $30,000

These can be broken down as follows:

1) Detection and Monitoring Survey Program - $350,000

This program will involve the continuation of the ongoing efforts at detection and monitoring for the mite pests of honey bees on all islands.   We would like to expand this to include the detection and monitoring for other pests and diseases of honeybees which could have as devastating or an even greater effect on the bee industry as the Varroa mite does.  This program will require money for inter-island travel for surveys, mainland travel for training of Department of Agriculture staff and University of Hawaii extension agents at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) bee research lab in Maryland, to learn to identify different pests and diseases and hive management and pest control techniques which can be passed on to local bee keepers by HDOA staff and extension agents.  The training will also include a program that will certify HDOA as apiary inspectors.  We currently certify Kona beekeepers which export queens but do not have any staff that is officially certified by USDA for apiary inspections.  The training will be a week-long course conducted by USDA bee lab trainers on the mainland and is estimated to cost $6,000 for 12 individuals, including airfare, per diem, and other training expenses. Equipment and supplies for lab and field work will be required to carry out the detection and monitoring.

Costs:              

Interisland travel:              $38,000

Equipment:                      $90,000

Supplies:                       $150,000

Training:                          $72,000

2) Pest Management Program - $140,000

    This program will be based on discoveries from the survey activities.  Infested hives will need

    to be either treated, pests managed or hives destroyed.  This money will be used for the

    purchase of chemicals, supplies, equipment used to help the bee keepers, and     

    registration/licensing of new chemicals.  Currently only one product is licensed for use in    

     Hawaii.

3) Colony Recovery Program - $125,000

    This program will be set up to aid the beekeeper in the recovery of destroyed hives. 

    Replacement of a queen and workers costs about $50.  Replacement of 2,500 hives will cost

    approximately $125,000.

4) Inter-island Quarantine Program - $5,000

    The establishment of an inter-island quarantine will be accomplished by establishing a

     permanent rule.  This will need to go through a public hearing process which typically costs

     $5,000-$8,000.  Costs over $5,000 will be covered by other funding sources within the Plant

     Quarantine Branch.

5) Public & Industry Awareness Campaign - $30,000

    The effectiveness of quarantine will be dependent on the awareness of the public and the bee

     keepers about the requirements of the quarantine and the knowledge that bees should not be

     moved from one island to another. DOA and the HBA will work closely on this campaign as its success

     will directly affect the success of the other programs.