Bees for Development Journal
VARROA MITES CONTINUE TO SPREAD
72
Varroa destructor in Botswana Khaliso Phokedi, Principal Beekeeping Officer Ministry of Agriculture The mite Varroa destructor is present in Botswana. Botswana was expecting to be invaded by Varroa mite after warnings from the University of Pretoria: South Africa has had Varroa for five years and it had been anticipated that it would enter Botswana, especially near the South African border along the Limpopo River.
The Botswana Beekeeping Section took 92 samples of bees from around the country and sent them to the University of Pretoria for analysis. Out of the 92 samples, 41 had mites while 36 were negative. The mite was detected in all bees except those from the West and North West regions of the country, ie areas near the border with Namibia and Zambia. More tests will be run for these two regions as some of the samples were too small to identify the mites.
A Workshop
was held in October
2003 for Beekeeping
~ Understand the origin, spread and effects of Varroa mite in honeybee — —
-
colonies;
Identify Varroa mites in colonies; Know the factors which are important for mite reproduction; Understand the management practices used to control its
spread; Identify symptoms of Varroa associated disease in their colonies; — Be able to measure the infestation levels in their colonies; — Understand and know how to treat bees using chemicals. Information about the different chemicals used to control the mites and warnings of the side effects of such chemicals were provided. Participants were advised that mites develop resistance over time, and that the chemicals are strong and potent to human life if they are not used properly. It was resolved that we should not panic but learn to live with the —
mites.
Extension Officers and other stakeholders to equip them with skills to deal with Varroa mites in their colonies. The consultant was Dr Per Kryger from the University of Pretoria who also assisted in analysing the samples.
Several recommendations were made including: — Proper husbandry and close monitoring of colonies; — Restrict the movement of colonies from one locality to another
Objective At the end of the Workshop, the participants were expected to:
— —
following flowering; Avoid interchanging combs and used bee equipment; Stop the importation of honeybees.
LOOK AHEAD
CUBA
ARGENTINA
7-9 September 2004, Habana Further details eeapi@ceniai.inf.cu
World Symposium on Beekeepers’ Cooperatives and Associations 2-5 September 2004, Mendoza Further details santacruz@redapicolachile.cl
AUSTRALIA 8th Asian Apicultural Association Conference
20-24 March 2006,
Perth
Further details kfewster@iinet.net.au
BRAZIL 8th International Conference on Tropical Apiculture 6th Brazilian Bee Research Meeting 6-10 September 2004, Ribeirdo Preto Further details
www.rge.fmrp.usp.br/abelhudo/ XVI Congresso Brasileiro de Apicultura (XVI Brazilian Apiculture Congress) May 2006 Further details www.se.sebrae.com.br
BULGARIA Apiculture - Pleven 2005 4-6 February 2005, Pleven Further details partnersexpo@abv.bg
COLOMBIA XI Encuentro Colombiano de Apicultura
Colombian Beekeeping Meeting 7-9 November 2004, Kbague (Tolima) Further details gsalaman@ut.edu.co
XI
1st Latinoamerican Beekeeping Meeting 1st Cuban Beekeeping Congress
DENMARK 6th Sicamm International Conference: Conservation of Apis mellifera mellifera 10-12 September 2004, Leese Further details dbf@biavl.dk IRELAND
APIMONDIA International Apicultural Congress 21-26 August 2005, Dublin Further details see pages 1] and 16
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO Ath Caribbean Beekeeping Congress Trinidad Further details to be announced
UK National Honey Show 21-23 October 2004, RAF Hendon, London Further details see page 16
VIETNAM APIMONDIA SYMPOSIUM Issues concerning developing countrie international trade in honey 23-28 November 2004, Hanoi Further details see page 11
ITALY European Conference of Apidology EurBee Pollination and the Pollinator Imperative 19-23 September 2004, Udine Further detailswww.uniud.it/eurbee/
PARAGUAY VII Congreso Iberolatinoamericano y |
Congreso Paraguayo de Apicultura
(VII Iberianlatinamerican and
LEARN AHEAD GERMANY Apitherapy Congress, Expo and Course 1-6 April 2005, Passau Further details www.apitherapy.com
UK/TANZANIA
Paraguayan Beekeeping Congress) 23-26 September 2004, Asuncién Further details www.7conapi.com
Beekeeping in Rural Development Training Course Further details Bees for Development
SPAIN International Symposium: beekeeping in the Mediterranean area 5 - 7 November 2004, Granada Further details apinevada@teleline.es
want notice of your conference, workshop or meeting to be included here send details to Bees for Development, Troy, Monmouth, NP25 4AB, UK E-mail info@beesfordevelopment.org
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