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A number of people have mentioned varroa mites and the problems they cause for domestic and wild bee populations. For those interested mycologist Paul Stamets h
by mceoin 8y ago
A number of people have mentioned varroa mites and the problems they cause for domestic and wild bee populations. For those interested mycologist Paul Stamets has been trialing the addition of polypore extract to bee food (water / sugar water) to boost their immune system. Results on smaller sample set (~100 hives) was near total eradication of the mites (I think broken wing disorder was diminished too). Next trial is on sample size of 10k+ hives.
Since domestic and wild bees comingle this should reduce transmission from domestic to wild bee populations, and hopefully give wild bees a chance to recover.
For those interested you’ll be able to find Stamets talking about this on YouTube in his talk “Into The Mycoverse”, and elsewhere, I’m sure.
- kurthr 8y agoThe first article I found discussed fungus extracts for virus treatment... I didn't see anything about mite eradication, but that would be a really big deal! https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-32194-8#ref-CR20 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-32194-8#ref-CR20
- jandrese 8y agoThis may be a case where the mites are more of a symptom than a cause. Once the hive is healthy they may be able to deal with the mites on their own.
- lostlogin 8y agoGenetics will play a massive part in this. In New Zealand mites are relatively new and bees die fast without treatment, however strong they are. Everyone who wants live hives treats 2x a year minimum and some are doing it up to 7x. If anyone is interested in new approaches, check out the (very long) thread on a local site that covers a novel way of applying oxalic acid. It is excellent and the guy driving has done masses of development in his rural shed. Broadly, it’s multiple layers of paper jointing tape (usually for use on plaster board joints) that are sewn together and soaked in a glycerine and oxalic acid mix. They are very cheap and seem very effective. https://www.nzbees.net/forums/topic/13073-integrated-pest-management-2019/ https://www.nzbees.net/forums/topic/13073-integrated-pest-ma... https://www.nzbees.net/forums/topic/10061-oxalic-and-glycerine/page/113/ https://www.nzbees.net/forums/topic/10061-oxalic-and-glyceri...
- ac29 8y agoHa, I could have sworn this was a carefully worded joke -- Paul Stamets is the name of the mycologist on the new Star Trek series. Coincidence?
- tutuca 8y agoNot coincidence but a homage, and not the first one in the series. Hi, Dr. Spock.
- scrumbledober 8y agoCalling the Star Trek Stamets a mycologist is almost an understatement.
- mceoin 8y agoAstromycologist. Speaking of which: http://journalofastrobiology.com/Mars5.html?fbclid=IwAR0YOONxWeybQ65SehF_-mBJh52rIsppc2n1roqGpKV6G4VwA8xtk-IRzmQ http://journalofastrobiology.com/Mars5.html?fbclid=IwAR0YOON...
- powerset 8y agoNot a coincidence, the Star Trek character is named after the real life Paul.
- r00fus 8y agoIn this case art imitates life, not the other way around. I heard of Paul Stamets through Michael Pollen's book "how to change your mind" - Paul gave Michael his first psilocybin trip.