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Control of bee mites in Irian Jaya
Project ID
AS2/1994/017
Project Country
Commissioned Organisation
CSIRO Entomology, Australia
Project Leader
Dr Denis Anderson
Denis.Anderson@csiro.au
Phone:
02 6246 4148
Fax:
02 6246 4173
Project Budget
$366,117.00
Start Date
01/07/1995
Finish Date
30/06/1998
Extension Start Date
01/07/1998
Extension Finish Date
30/06/1999
ACIAR Research Program Manager
Dr Denis Hoffmann
Overview Objectives
The introduction of the parasitic bee mite Tropilaelaps clareae to Irian Jaya with the European honey bee (Apis mellifera) in the 1980s devastated the local beekeeping industry. Domestic honey bee colonies dropped from about 4000 to 200, and honey yields dropped significantly. Another parasitic mite, Varroa jacobsoni, was introduced a few years earlier with the Asian hive bee (Apis cerana).
This project, aims initially to gain a clearer picture of the occurrence and effects of bees and bee mites in Irian Jaya. If the results indicate that eradication of T. clareae is possible, a trial eradication program will be conducted.
Project Background and Objectives
Although V. jacobsoni could be readily spread to honey bee colonies by the Asian hive bee, it was not a threat as it could not reproduce on the bee brood. It was also discovered that the Asian bee was not carrying T. clareae, and therefore, could not invade or reproduce in Asian hive bee colonies. However, research has shown that while T. clareae was restricted to Highland regions and spread by the European honey bee, it killed every honey bee colony that it invaded.
Researchers concluded that T. clareae would eventually destroy the feral honey bee population in PNG. It would then only be found in domesticated colonies where the bees were protected by chemical controls. Eradication of the mite from PNG was possible, provided eradication was also implemented in Irian Jaya.
In Irian Jaya, the mite had already destroyed the feral honey bee population.
Location
There are no project locations defined for this project.
