Summary of June 8, 2007 Meeting

Meeting to Discuss Varroa mite situation on Oahu

Date:  June 8, 2007

Place:  Plant Quarantine Branch, Honolulu, Oahu

Time:  9:00am -12:00pm

Summary of Meeting

The meeting was held to update beekeepers and farmers throughout the State on the actions that have been taken by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) to address the infestation of varroa mite on Oahu.  The intent was also for HDOA to present its draft plan of action for discussion and to open up the discussion for any other plans.  What follows are bullet points from that discussion.

• HDOA has conducted surveys for varroa, tracheal, and Tropilaelaps mites on Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui, and Hawaii.  No tracheal or Tropilaelaps mites have been found.  Varroa destructor has only been found on Oahu.
• These surveys are continuing on all islands, including Lanai, with emphasis on all islands except for Oahu to ensure that Varroa will be detected early if it shows up on islands other than Oahu.
• Varroa was found widely distributed in managed hives throughout the island of Oahu.
• HDOA has recommended to beekeepers that they destroy hives that are heavily infested with varroa mite and that lightly infested hives can be treated with Apistan.
• Varroa has been detected in feral colonies of bees on Oahu from areas throughout the island indicating that it is widespread throughout Oahu in wild bees.
• Based on the wide distribution of the mite throughout Oahu, it’s presence in feral bees, and its level of infestation, the mite most likely has been present on Oahu for more than a year.
• A plan for dealing with varroa in Hawaii was handed out by Hawaiian Queen Co., Inc.  (see attached: Hawaiian Queen Proposal June07.pdf)
• Neil Reimer (HDOA) verbally presented the HDOA draft plan.  It consisted of both a short term and long term plan (see attached: Draft HDOA Plan 6-8-07.doc).  The four points of the short term plan were read and the 5 programs for the long term plan were explained.  The long term plan will be funded by the $650,000 allocated by the Legislature.  This money will become available July 1, 2007.  Details on budget breakdown were not discussed in detail as this was still a draft and subject to later discussion.
• Concerns were brought up about the “interisland quarantine” component of the plan.  Postal authorities are returning damaged bee boxes to the Big Island.  Discussion followed on how to ensure that federal postal authorities do not ship bees from Oahu to other islands.  Darcy Oishi (HDOA/PQ) stated that boxes should include a letter that the bees should not be returned if damaged.  Gus Rouse stated that it makes economic sense for him to fly to Oahu to repair the box and have it shipped out.  There was also concern expressed by many participants that the emergency rule to quarantine Oahu for movement of bees off of the island was still not enacted.  HDOA stated that a draft rule had gone before the attorney general’s office but that it was returned to Plant Quarantine with questions for clarification on some details.  Those are currently being addressed by Plant Quarantine.
• When Neil Reimer discussed the “management program” of the plan, comments were made that beekeepers are currently using various chemicals to control the mites.  Reimer pointed out that only one chemical Apistan is registered and licensed for use in Hawaii.  Two other chemicals Mite-Away II, and Api Life are registered but not licensed.  HDOA is working on having those materials licensed as well.
• Resistance to these chemicals has developed on the mainland.  Not sure if the mites in Hawaii are resistant.
• Hawaii has the Korean strain of the mite.
• Michael Kliks stated that we need to determine good pest management practices between beekeepers.  Give reports with results to other beekeepers.
• Contamination of honey will be a problem unless beekeepers are trained on how to use the chemicals.
• There was much discussion on the best methods for detecting mites.  One suggestion was to not use alcohol and instead use a powdered sugar method in the field.  HDOA stated that they use the alcohol shake method because it is required to certify apiaries for shipments to US and Canada.  Also this method allows for the detection of tracheal mites and most accurate to determine rate of infestation.
• There was some discussion on the need for public outreach.  There has not been enough.  HDOA stated that this is one component of the long term plan.
• There was much discussion on the best management approach to take to address the mite infestation on Oahu.  Two basic proposals were discussed.  One was the eradication of all bees, including feral bees on Oahu.  The other was the control of mites in managed hives but not eradication of all bees.
• There were divided opinions in the discussion on the feasibility of the eradication of feral bees on Oahu.  Some felt that it could be accomplished with the use of poisoned baits.  Others felt that this would be too damaging to the environment, native insects (pollinators, predators, etc.), and would require an EIS to implement because all sweet-loving insects and other animals would feed on the bait.   It also would require the placement of poison bait in a one-mile square grid pattern across the island.  After much discussion the consensus appeared to be that eradication of all feral bees was not feasible and that a strategy to control mite infestation in managed hives would be a preferred approach.
• Discussion followed on whether all infested managed hives should be killed, only hives with 10% or greater infestation rates should be killed, or beekeepers should be allowed to control mite populations in their hives.  There was no decision made on this point.
• Most support appeared to be for the destruction of mite-infested managed hives.  It was felt that the mites should be hit as hard as possible on Oahu to knock the population down as far as possible.
• The suggestion was made that some hives appear to be resistant to varroa.  They have heavy infestations but still appear healthy.  These bees should not be destroyed.  Others felt that these colonies were in the early phases of the infestation and will begin to decline and be dead in 7 months based on what has been seen elsewhere.
• Discussion on the possibility for compensation for the loss of the bees and honey followed.  It was felt that money from the Legislature could be used to compensate beekeepers that needed to destroy a hive due to contamination with mites.
• Currently, no one on mite-free islands produces bees that could be shipped to Oahu to compensate the beekeeper by replacing the bees killed off.  The need to develop this capacity was recognized.
• HDOA mentioned that part of the strategy to knock down the mites on Oahu should also involve a bee-free zone around air and sea ports.  This may be possible with limited use of poison baits.  HDOA has been looking into the requirements needed to implement this.
• Discussion of why varroa was not detected earlier.  There is no regulation or certification of beekeepers in Hawaii.  The exception is for 4 queen bee producers on the Big Island who are certified by HDOA to meet Canadian requirements so they can export.  A statewide certification program should have detected the mite early before it became well established.  Discussion for the need for a State bee inspector was discussed.

•   Where to go from here?

Attendees: