6 replies to this topic

[T.C.]

Don't think alot of you guys will be big into this, but found this article quite interesting. The mite, Varroa destructor has a huge negative impact on Honey bees globally. However they believe that lithium chloride could rid them of these mites, bringing no harm to the bees. You can read about it here.

[Ant Broski]

Don't think alot of you guys will be big into this, but found this article quite interesting. The mite, Varroa destructor has a huge negative impact on Honey bees globally. However they believe that lithium chloride could rid them of these mites, bringing no harm to the bees. You can read about it here.

Cool

[drtrmiller]

Fewer treatment options are typically available for ants versus bees due to the greatly reduced difference in size between ants and their mites (the typical worker bee weighs about 100 mg, whereas even larger ants weigh a fraction of this amount). Lithium salts have a relatively low median lethal dose (LD₅₀), which is to say that it doesn't take much to become toxic, a fact which is especially relevant for small insects.

Upon reading, however, it appears that this may be a longshot treatment for ant colonies affected with parasitic mites which feed on the host. It probably would not be effective against most mite infestations that antkeepers observe, which are not parasitic mites, but are instead phoretic detritivores, only latching onto the host for transport, and not for feeding.

Nevertheless, I'll be looking into this further.

Edited by drtrmiller, January 26 2018 - 2:25 AM.

[Antking117]

 

Fewer treatment options are typically available for ants versus bees due to the greatly reduced difference in size between ants and their mites (the typical worker bee weighs about 100 mg, whereas even larger ants weigh a fraction of this amount).  Lithium salts have a relatively low median lethal dose (LD₅₀), which is to say that it doesn't take much to become toxic, a fact which is especially relevant for small insects.

 

Upon reading, however, it appears that this may be a longshot treatment for ant colonies affected with parasitic mites which feed on the host.  It probably would not be effective against most mite infestations that antkeepers observe, which are not parasitic mites, but are instead phoretic, only latching onto the host for transport, and not for feeding.

 

Nevertheless, I'll be looking into this further.

 

IF most mites are just phoretic then why do people care if their ants have mites?

[drtrmiller]

Firstly, it's often difficult to tell the difference. Secondly, even mites just hitching a ride on ants can cause problems, such as, but not limited to inhibiting feeding through trophallaxis, decreasing the effectiveness of cleaning or grooming behaviors, decreased movement ability, and in some cases possibly damaging eggs and brood.

In any case, the treatment described in the article only works if it is ingested. And so in theory, only mites that feed on the ants' hemolymph would be affected.

Edited by drtrmiller, January 25 2018 - 9:52 PM.

[Antking117]

Firstly, it's often difficult to tell the difference.  Secondly, even mites just hitching a ride on ants can cause problems, such as, but not limited to inhibiting feeding through trophallaxis, decreased movement ability, and in some cases possibly damaging eggs and brood.

 

In any case, the treatment described in the article only works if it is ingested.  And so in theory, only mites that feed on the ants' hemolymph would be affected.

Aha, Thanks!

[Hunter]

i don't think i have ever had mites with my bees, hmmmmmmm interesting