Bee pests, parasites and enemies.

Title : Bee pests, Parasites and Enemies

         Honey bees are attached by large number of enemies called bee pests. Everything possible should be done to keep them out of the country because they may wipe out the Indian beekeeping industry.

1)Wax Moths - Several moths are hazardous to honey Comb and honey bees. They can be grouped into two types viz. First are robbers and second are breeders. Most danger robber is the "Death's head hawk moth"- Acherontia styx (Fabr). This is the minor pest commonly called Lesser wax-moth. This moth enters the hives at night and drinks up the honey. 

       The breeders are the greater wax-moth - Galleria mellonella L. and the lesser wax moth - Achroia grisella L. Galleria mellonella is more Common and more damaging. The adults are brownish grey in colour, measures 10 to 18 mm in length and wing expanse is 25 to 40 mm from side to side. The males are smaller than the females.

         The larvae spin a tough cocoon from which emerges adults. Bees keep these pests under control, they catch and throw out the larvae as soon as they emerge and clean up the combs if that are slightly infested. The use of fumigant - paradichloro-benzene in stored combs for Protection.

2)Wax Beetles (Tenebrionidae) - Among the beetles two species are noticed as enemies of honey bees. The first Indian beetle (platybolium alvearium) enter the bee hive to steal honey and second the African beetle, Aethina tunmida enter in the hive for breeding purpose.

         The female beetle lays egg in crevices of the hive. After 4-5 days of incubation period they hatch out into larvae which last for 103-120 days then transform into pupae. The pupal period is 6-7 days after this period adults emerge. The total life cycle is completed in 113 to 132 days. The wax beetles are responsible for unhygienic conditions in the hive. paradichlorobenzene (PDB) is protective for combs in storage.

3)Wasps - Many species of Vespa (V. orientalis, V. auraria, V. magnifera, etc). are found on the plains and hilly regions. The wasps are predaceous in nature on the bees. They catch bees from blossoms or even at the entrance of the hive. The wasp macerate the bees and feed their young ones on a paste-like material. The method to protect the bees from wasps is to destroy their nests by burning them or spraying insecticides like 5% benzene hexachloride (BHC) emulsion or by blowing 10% DDT dust in underground nests.

4)Ants - Many species of ants [carpenter ant (fabr), small red household ant (shuk) and others (morell)] 

a)Control measures involved, destruction of ant nests in the vicinity of the beehives by fumigant Carbon-di- Sulphide or by the use of insecticide - 0.2%BHC suspension.

5)Lizards, Toads and frogs - All these animals are being insectivorous feed upon bees. They often devour bees from hive entrances as well as when foragers are visiting blossoms this results in the reduction of colony strength. Protection against these animals may be keeping hives on stands and being watchfulness.

6)Birds - Certain species of birds visit apiaries during particular season. The king crows - Dicrurus macrocercus (Vielillot) and D. ater visit apiaries on cloudy days and prey upon bees. The bee eater -Merops orientalis and M. superciliosus (L.) sits on trees on telegraph wires near an apiary and picks the bees on wings.

          Since, both these birds do much harm and help in keeping down insect population of a locality. No large scale measures against them can be recommended. Since, shooting them with 0.22 bore rifle is advised to beekeepers.

7)Mammals - Some bears, badgers and offcourse man also come in the category of bee enemies. The bears and badgers break open the hives and eat bees brood, honey, pollen and destroy the whole colony. Man steal the honey from hives during night. Protection can be provided against the first two, who can prevent the third from depredation of the bee colonies both for honey and wax.