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Date: | Thu, 14 Jan 2021 13:39:40 -0500 |
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> I've heard musings from a few "older" beekeepers who think tracheal mites are maybe becoming a problem here again.
In Connecticut, last year our bee inspector indicated that he was finding some bees with tracheal mites. That's the first time I heard that in ten years. I wouldn't say they are rebounding to epidemic levels but the comment concerned me.
My rationale for their past absence is the unsupported belief that our efforts to kill varroa were somehow also killing tracheal mites. The other unsupported belief, I've heard, is that their large pro-thoracic spiracle has evolved becoming smaller, and now impedes entry. All nice thoughts but no science.
As far as testing, I remove the tracheal collar also because the examination is much easier. I'm fortunate to have a dissecting scope that comes in real handy but a good 10X loop on a bright day works just fine.
Bill Hesbach
Cheshire CT
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