02-28-2011, 07:49 PM
Carol,
Unfortunately, they are probably only mite free (if they are) because they have not yet been infested. The local feral bees on the mainland were largely eliminated by mites, once they were infested.
My colleague just came back from working with a UH colleague around Hilo on small hive beetles. She said the beekeeper they worked with was having a really bad problem. On Oahu a couple beekeepers showed her some frames from strong colonies with insect larvae that they were afraid were small hive beetle larvae. They were relieved to hear that they were NOT beetle larvae, they were fruit fly larvae! That was a surprise. The simple way to recognize fly larvae is that they have a very pointed end. On careful examination, small hive beetle larvae also have spines. Life is getting a lot more complicated for Hawaii beekeepers.
Allen
Baton Rouge, LA & HPP
Unfortunately, they are probably only mite free (if they are) because they have not yet been infested. The local feral bees on the mainland were largely eliminated by mites, once they were infested.
My colleague just came back from working with a UH colleague around Hilo on small hive beetles. She said the beekeeper they worked with was having a really bad problem. On Oahu a couple beekeepers showed her some frames from strong colonies with insect larvae that they were afraid were small hive beetle larvae. They were relieved to hear that they were NOT beetle larvae, they were fruit fly larvae! That was a surprise. The simple way to recognize fly larvae is that they have a very pointed end. On careful examination, small hive beetle larvae also have spines. Life is getting a lot more complicated for Hawaii beekeepers.
Allen
Baton Rouge, LA & HPP
Allen
Finally in HPP
Finally in HPP