Varroa Mites Are a Honeybee's 8-Legged Nightmare | Deep Look

[@snarblox]

These mites doomed many of my hives when I was beekeeping, such a shame

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Sorry to hear that!

[@TimesRyan]

Oh no! I'm sorry to hear that! :(

[@nonhotrovatounnomemigliore9221]

Let the mites live their lives. They are animals like any other and deserves to live

[@kevo300]

@@nonhotrovatounnomemigliore9221 nope get them out and protect our bees.

[@5kunk157h35h17]

Yes welcome the mites into your hive

[@brian8130]

Somehow bees have learned that they can use mycelium powder to shake off these mites. Paul Stamets talks about it, they will roll around in the powder and it either kills or shakes off the mites. Amazing how nature always provides a solution

[@lsixty30]

This is amazing

[@TasmanianWolves]

How would it get the powder?

[@BuddyLee23]

Any good sources to read on that? I see that he developed mycelium food products to help bees survive, but couldn’t find anything about them rolling around in it to remove mites. Maybe I just missed it?

[@TasmanianWolves]

An edible pesticide for 🐝?

[@KodibearIndigo]

​@@TasmanianWolvesby touching a mushroom...

[@TonyLeach-airguntech]

My bees descend from what was a wild colony that resided in a tree on school land, unfortunately the tree was felled and the mother hive lost now but their legacy continues. This mother hive could have been there for 50 years, it's been there for as long as anyone could remember. On to my bees, not treated my bees now for 3 years , the mother hive was never treated, never inspected , and yet it was huge and swarmed each year like clockwork. I actually feel the bees I keep have adapted to veroa, yes there are mites but the numbers are low and the bees look to keep it that way all by themselves. I only split healthy colonies off, weak colonies will get a booster Frame or 2 but if they fail, they fail....the goal is to only push on with hives that look after themselves. I believe Honey bees will overcome veroa, if given a chance.

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Thank you for sharing your story.

[@EspressoBreve]

are they fighting the mites though? Find any dead mites? I'm wondering what is keeping the mites from destroying the colony.

[@Vousie]

Exactly. We need to start focusing on helping the colonies get stronger genetics, not repeatedly dumping more chemicals on them in the hope that the chemicals will kill the problem faster than it will kill the bees.

[@TonyLeach-airguntech]

@@EspressoBreve I just inspect as normal, check for disease and issues and react to weak colonies as explained above. I don't go overboard, if they still fail, they fail, I just move on with the stronger hives.

[@Swarmstead]

I've never treated my bees in 14 years. Selection is the key, not "help".

[@timeimp]

Sadly, we got the varroa mite here in Australia. It has moved from the "contain-at-all-costs" stage to the "management" stage now :(

[@bari2883]

Thanks I was about to google if we have it here. I wish there was something ordinary people could do in their gardens to help the fight against these incest perpetrators. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@Zuconja]

It is sad, but the moment varroa came to Australia, it's over, any attempt to contain it is 100% futile. Probably you wasted a lot of money to have an outcome that was known from the beginning.

[@44thala49]

At least other countries have been fighting them long enough that there’s a lot of good information out there now on how to keep a handle on them.

[@jackvos8047]

Newcastle was ground zero for the Australian infection.

[@tonydoggett7627]

@@jackvos8047The busiest port in Australia

[@CallMeMimi27]

its mind blowing how selective breeding got so advanced. 3/4 into the video I was thinking "how the fuck are we going to help the bees" then you dropped them the "ah don't worry scientists with their science are (somehow) selectively breeding bees to chew the mites off" im like "how the fuck are they doing that!" and then you showed us. im completely mind blown at the whole process this is some shit not even science fiction predicted.

[@1495978707]

I mean it's not magic, it's just not easy. You have to watch bees and pick out the ones exhibiting the behavior you want to select for. They're probably using computer vision to help with this

[@inharmonywithearth9982]

Scientists didn't discover the mite biting nor breed it. The regular beekeepers noticed it and they are not very successful because the mites under the capping are still doing the damage and the bees only disfigure a very small population of the mites. I've got the Mite Mauler bees and Ankle Biter bees and they still die without treatments

[@CallMeMimi27]

@@inharmonywithearth9982Source?

[@koharumi1]

Fun fact: the mite has finally arrived in Australia. One of the last major holdouts that were able to keep the pest away for years until recently.

[@dianalacson238]

You call that “fun”

[@DG-iw3yw]

@dianalacson238 Its dry humour, americans dont understand that unfortunately.

[@Silverizael]

Likely Australia will start seeing increased events of colony collapse disorder, since the spread of that seems to correlate directly to varroa mite spread and infestations.

[@JohnYow1]

only australia is dry enough@@DG-iw3yw

[@mariuszmoraw3571]

Thankfully we finally have methods to fight it.

[@BeezelBork]

I've been watching your videos for years! 🎉 These videos helped me go from fearing bugs to adoring them! I now take photographs of any insects I find thrpughout my days and study and research them! I've now helped others to also be less afraid. Thank youuuu for these incredible macro shots and information! ❤ 🎉 Your videos are the best!! ❤❤

[@KQEDDeepLook]

That is awesome! #inspo

[@moos5221]

For me it's the opposite, I was never afrad of bugs but now my whole body is itching. xD Just kidding, great to hear that KZbin has a therapeutic function for you.

[@MaxOakland]

That’s so cool!

[@samarkand1585]

Hopefully the leg-eaters defeat the liver-eaters

[@someoneorsomething7591]

5:45 Mite: It is my deepest hope that you, let me finish my job! Bees: nice speech, say goodbye to your LEGS!

[@RealProtonPrompt]

Nice reference

[@Zeed_316]

Even though it's an insect, seeing those varroa mites crawl all over those bees made me cringe on their behalf.

[@RumBrave]

Deep Look has a deep place in my heart. I am always sad when an episode ends because they never fail to be so compelling and so well executed! I just want more learning!!! Thank you for all your hard work. ❤

[@idk9273]

I have been watching these videos for a while 4+ years and this is already one of my favorites

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Wonderful! We love making videos about bees.

[@NewMessage]

Even if they wiped out the entire cast of Bee Movie, I still wouldn't like 'em.

[@KQEDDeepLook]

🙃

[@BEN_DOVERCERTIFIED]

لا 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@madrigo]

I've got a big grin on my face after seeing that bees were cutting the mites' legs off. Way to go bees, keep fighting back!

[@jayarajtyson298]

Keep up the good work guys ❤

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Thank you! Will do!

[@blakebuchanan1420]

For clarification if anybody’s interested. The treatment for Verona mites in a hive is technically a pesticide, but it’s formic acid which is naturally occurring in the bees so you fill the hive with high quantities of formic acid which come in the form of strips the mites can’t handle it, it’s uncomfortable to humans but The bees can handle it just fine. So, even though it is a pesticide, it’s not what most people would consider pesticide.

[@Someone-sq8im]

Yep. Natural pesticides are cool too

[@kennnnnn1015]

I might have missed it, but how does the eastern bees defend themselves against these mites?

[@gildedbear5355]

I believe that it is the same way that people are breeding western honeybees to fight them. Uncap infected cells, chew the legs off the mites, and then kill the larva (mostly just because bees don't have the behaviors to recap a brood cell). Also, grooming each other to remove mites.

[@gabrielaquiros1966]

Hi @kennnnnn1015, I produced this episode of Deep Look. Thank you for watching and for your question. Eastern honeybees (Apis cerana) groom the mites off each other. In addition, in eastern honeybee hives varroa mites only are able to reproduce inside cells where male bees, known as drones, are developing. These bees remove mites from cells where workers are growing. And when a mite makes it into a worker bee cell, the larva dies in response, leaving the mite without a food source. "There’s this self-sacrificing thing that happens where the bee larva just dies and that seals the mite inside of the cell with them," said entomologist Samuel Ramsey, at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Cheers, Gabriela

[@misersmakeup-nguoihatien2316]

​@@gabrielaquiros1966thank you so much!!! This kind of addressing follow up questions by the very people producing the content is why I ADORE Deep Look ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@alveolate]

seems these european honeybees are kinda vulnerable to so many things... they also get murked by the asian giant hornet, or "murder hornet", which japanese honeybees have adapted to do this death ball manouvre and defeat individual hornets; but european ones just go 1v1 and lose. is europe just a really chill place or something?

[@jant3566]

@@gabrielaquiros1966very cool. Do they avoid eating the mite due to the virus it can potentially carry?

[@willcookmakeup]

While I know human this mindset is, but it's baffaling how small things can get. A small mite on a bee is so tiny. Getting down to molecule size is something I really cant even comprehend

[@AlteraLin]

How does the beekeeper just grab a handful of bees and not get stung?

[@silenttakuza]

Usually they smoke them, I think they are docile at the moment.

[@viniciuslima9430]

Right?!?!?! I get sting just by thinking about them😅😅😅😅😅😅😅

[@NativeVsColonial]

They have been domesticated

[@tomarmadiyer2698]

Definitely look into historical beekeeping techniques. Pretty cool stuff. Mostly, just stay chill and they stay chill.

[@rainworldfan7757]

the answer is Love.

[@stevens9625]

The bug finally breached quarantine in NSW and Victoria, Australia last year. So many hives were destroyed as a fire break to prevent further spread but it's still popping up here and there. 😔

[@sandspar]

Thank you for leaving us with a look at the resolution of this crippling parasite. Was worried they " mite " kill all the bees. 🐝

[@KQEDDeepLook]

I see what you did there

[@crimsonfirelily]

This was awesome but a little creepy too! I love Bees but the Varoa Mites made me want to itch! 😆 Thank you Deep Look for another great upload! 💜✌

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@lideadhead]

5:30 absolutely was not expecting to see this.

[@pumpkxnz_11]

"If you ever feel useless, just remember that Varroa Mites exist just to make a honey bee's life a worst life."

[@natalyazav1842]

Wow very informative. Glad researchers are finding ways to eliminate the mites. Never in my life did i expect to watch a bee be inseminated. Lol but still very interesting

[@theinvestorsperspective6142]

The US government shouldn't be credited for anything. The laws and practices they made in the name of research was what brought the mites over and independent breeders are doing more effective work in bringing about hygienic bees

[@blueberry_borb]

Fascinating. Those poor bees, some of this video was a bit hard to watch. I'm glad to hear there are strategies for fighting back!! Bees really are so, incredibly important.

[@maxximus6418]

I love how she sounds disgusted when she says “with each other…” lol Who wouldn’t be really?

[@Mr.Pallanza]

Now THIS is The Bee Movie Sequel we need to see. Pretty insightful! Bee's are such fascinating bugs, and knowing that they too got parasote problems make me care for the little guys even more!

[@hilariousskullnamedcatzo647]

The way varroa mites skitter on a bee makes me scream in disgust! It just makes me want to shrink down and yoink off the bee

[@koralreef8607]

I love these Deep Look videos and so do my young students. I show one of these every now and then and it sparkles so much awe and interest in the students and that leads to so many interesting class discussions. They love it. Many thanks.

[@lucasmendoza7576]

I wonder how certain animals like these mites avoid the dangers of inbreeding when mating with their siblings.

[@P47WarHawk]

Thank you for making these educational videos!

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Our pleasure!

[@didiez8678]

There’s no words to describe how much I love your content !!! It really brings me joy as much as it fascinates me ! Thank you for your hard work !

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Wow, thank you! #inspo

[@braxeld4551]

I love it, honey Bess are my favorite type of insect. So protecting them is a must.

[@fuzzy_little_duckling]

Thank you for this!! ☺ I was actually wondering what those things were. One time, I saved a bee from drowning and I picked a varroa mite off. I didn't know if it was beneficial or harmful to the bee.

[@mariuszmoraw3571]

Well, any parasite attached to animal is always harmful. Be it to human or insect...

[@fuzzy_little_duckling]

@@mariuszmoraw3571 Correct. At the time, I knew it was a mite but I didn't know it was a parasite. I know there's certain mites that are actually helpful to their host / have a symbiotic relationship (for example, millipedes and roaches)

[@Gaawwdd777]

This is such a good video, I'm always enthralled by your shots and how easy to understand you make them but this one takes the cake. Great work!

[@rtheremore4710]

I learn something new every time I watch. From bat flies to bee mites and beyond. I'm learning while feeling itchy. 😅

[@samueltorres4967]

It's so fun to see bees as a liquid 😂

[@BEN_DOVERCERTIFIED]

ayo?

[@fern5865]

So awesome! I knew about mites because I used to keep bees, but had no idea such progress was being made to breed bees that fight back. If I ever start beekeeping again I'll really want those genetics!

[@joncooke158]

Using hanging frames lets the bees adjust the size of the cells. They will do this to make a generation of smaller bees that are better able to preen off the mites.

[@normal2222]

Im intrested why did the bees that interrupted the bee larve with the mite. Why can't the varroa-mite resistant bees just kill the mite and leave the larva be?

[@Zaxares]

Probably because of the potential for viral infection that the video also mentioned. Once the larval bee has been compromised, the hive doesn't want to run the risk of the infection spreading.

[@normal2222]

​@@Zaxaresmakes sense. Still sad tho..

[@footfault1941]

Excellent as usual. Counterattack with the latest tech is a nice tip. Good & relief to see it, given the relative sizes of them, the damage & suffering caused by mite should predictably devastating! Agile locomotor capacity of mite is surprising, as well as its unique reproductive strategy, male first, but one. What does that mean in terms of evolution? On top of a quality content, the best part of this footage is an opening! Much better than any movie trailers. Fabulous!

[@energeticwhirlpool8666]

The more I learn about insect's parasites, the more I realize they get way more annoyed by things smaller than them than we do. Fleas have a similar predicament to bees.

[@mariuszmoraw3571]

They got it worse than us. Insect are usually pre-programmed with set of certain reactions, we humans are way more adaptable to situation. Within the same generation we humans can adapt to new parasite while bees... well... they need to adapt behavior to even react. As you can see in video, this mites are visible to bees, yet they not actively chasing them off...

[@Kahsimiah]

4:24 my neighbours are beekeepers. Their bees (yes, western bees) can handle the mites themselves by picking each other clean. My neighbours say that they keep them under much less stress than in the industry, so they can actually do what a hive is supposed to do. Yes, they're keeping less honey, but at least their bees have a more normal life and the hive can protect itself.

[@44thala49]

Oxalic acid is another good way to treat for mites. It’s organic and doesn’t bother the bees. The only weak point is it will not kill the mites that are on the brood under the cappings, but there are ways to deal with that as well.

[@gregorymalchuk272]

What are the ways of dealing with the varroa in the capped brood?

[@isocarboxazid]

@@gregorymalchuk272 they are allergic to mcdonald's

[@abstract1dea]

@@gregorymalchuk272 A brood break stops reproduction and a treatment kills the rest. Trapping the queen to a particular frame and disposing of that frame when they are about to emerge allows them mites on the bees to be treated successfully. Mostly. Another way of dealing with it is to have a drone frame. Drones take longer to mature to an adult and mites are naturally drawn to them. Remove the drone frame and feed it to the chickens. They love them. Varroa cannot live without a host. Bees also combat mites by swarming and that creates a brood break and no larva means no additional mites. Unhealthy bees will sacrifice themselves to save the hive. And infested bees don't have the stamina to fly with the swarm. Oxalic acid is present in many plants and Formic acid is what fire ants use to defend them selves. By far, the best way is to have the bees develop a method to take care of them themselves. By selective breeding, some strains are very good at grooming themselves and snatching them out of the cells when they find them. Perhaps all bees will be able to do that at some point. Small hive beetles are rather nasty too. But that's another story.

[@peterwilson6959]

I always drop everything to watch a new deep look video, always worth it.

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Thank you! We love making these videos.

[@allykins1767]

That was unironically disturbing.

[@koharumi1]

Please do a episode on about how East Asian honey bees deal with the Varroa mite.

[@jake9854]

but girls r not interested in episode like this tho

[@starstorm1267]

@@jake9854 What?

[@id2609]

You know the problem is serious when they name a species 'destructor'.

[@DylanDkoh]

I always read about how mites were going to be the extinction of bee glad to see it getting solved

[@Adabulldoya]

5 minutes is all I could take. I’m not afraid of any bugs but I was just reminded how bad mites are

[@gilgandantomega2796]

Dude eww. Since when did bee’s go through this?! They didn’t talk about this in the Bee movie

[@k-yan5134]

Man I did not think I was going to see a bee bust a quick one today

[@garikm24]

5:15 That one mite on the pupae being around genetically modified Bee just really said "Ah piss..."

[@samhaines8228]

Bees are endlessly fascinating, always more to learn it seems! I take it as a personal affront when something threatens the bees health, such as these filthy mites, the virus they can carry or the menace of Asian giant hornets! >shudder< Of course the pesticides and monoculture farming also pose existential threats. We need to bee careful!

[@JUAN1TOTELO]

I love the final phrase 😂 "Hi sugar! what's shaking?"

[@plamentsonev3837]

my observation on varroa mite last year. Make me conclude that because beekeeper put meny hives close. Help varroa to transfer easy between bee families.

[@alpacaofthemountain8760]

Man it must be a nightmare to be a beekeeper right now

[@abstract1dea]

Even worse to be a bee.

[@Velkhana_The_Myth]

Bloodsucking bee mites aside, 5:30 looks very.... Painful although insects do not have nerves. Is the drone alive?!

[@parks310]

Drones pass after mating, both in this human controlled setting and in nature. also insects do have nerves

[@jtch6668]

Of course insects have nerves

[@Sentarry]

Here's a new idea for a movie sequel: "Bee Movie: The Fight Against Mites" You're welcome Jerry Seinfeld

[@osmosisjones4912]

Still don't explain how the mates stop become invisible to the bees

[@EleyReiHer]

Wow. The bee was finally engineered to ear those mite's leg. Pretty ingenious

[@I.____.....__...__]

I'm confused, are you saying that biting off the legs of the mites a _genetic_ behavior, that it makes sense to breed bees that do this to create offspring to instinctually do it even if they've never seen it being done by other bees? 🤔

[@thirteen13ees]

some are more aggressive than others.

[@christyherring5982]

This is amazing footage. Thank you for making it all so clear.

[@KQEDDeepLook]

You're very welcome!

[@carlitaroberts33]

All the bees:SURGAR MMMM mites:AAAH MY HANDS HURT SO MUCH

[@Silent-N]

5:30 Ohhhhh... So THAT'S how they manage to crossbreed two different types of bees who'd normally not mate outside their own kind... Kinda interesting...but also kinda disturbing. 0_o' (I honestly don't know what else I was expecting, though. haha)

[@AtillaTheFun1337]

Those mites move a lot faster than most other mites I see!

[@Alernategem]

I’m glad we’re taking sides in the bug wars

[@641mamaluigi]

This was a Mite-y good episode XD Seriously though those mites are a huge problem but I didn’t know people bred bees to hunt down the mites, that’s some cool stuff ^^

[@johnnyonthespot4375]

When a video has me watching with my mouth wide open - Y'all have done a spectacular job. Thank you ~

[@Necroman98]

To think that they have relations with their own siblings on a pile of feces underneath their unfortunate host is gross.

[@highcotton63664]

These vids are so good, I'm lost in the content till the end.

[@dukeh.1746]

What a great story to tell us about how the breed of honeybees is known as “mite-biters.” fighting back to kill the Varroa mites! First I was shocked to see how the mites invade a bee lave cell. Then I was so happy and relief to love this last part of this story: "5:40 Both the queen and the male come from colonies that are particularly 5:44 good at killing mites by chewing off their legs. 5:51 It’s a grisly end for these tormentors and - just maybe - a fair shake for the honeybees." THANK YOU! 💝💝💝

[@Rantsack]

I think they're more like Bedbugs, then ticks. I'm just SO HAPPY I NEVER HAD BEDBUGS!

[@aneeshsaarathi.5630]

Imagine dinner plate sized mites hiding on human hives(apartment flats)😅

[@noname-wo9yy]

Shotgun noises ensure

[@tashibalampkin8555]

5:16 "Yea. They're eating it." Love the nonchalant tone. 😂

[@imnotnice5186]

Why parasites are so good at making themselves immune to things that work against them?

[@nikmohamed5906]

They have shorter lifecycle so they have so adaptation via selective pressure

[@ModernEphemera]

Their life literally depends on it. Ones that are bad at it die, ones that are good at it live, ones in between live or die. Natural selection

[@antoniobranderas]

Because they evolve into politicians

[@monkeyguy80]

Mites are small silent bloodsuckers on bees without noticing! This insect is talented! 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@jso6790]

This show is always a delight, an area I tend to know absolutely nothing about. It is also great that we are beginning to use more natural remedies, like defensive bee breeding rather than just chemical solutions, which tend to lead to more unintended consequences.

[@beadchimera6826]

Never knew parasitoids could be so... Creative with their reproduction.

[@thanhavictus]

Better idea: breed the mites so the attack yellow jacket colonies

[@caroljo420]

Every beekeeper should test for them.

[@casualrider6045]

I cant get enough of the knowledge from this channel. Love your work, guys n gals

[@gabrinetii5550]

I wonder if there is mite for each kind of social insects, like ants have theirs too

[@shroomyesc]

There seems to be a uniquely specialized macroparasite for almost every animal

[@tashibalampkin8555]

5:30 I'm an adult. But I couldn't help but laugh when I read the caption.

[@PeepStarsGo]

This is disgusting! Imagine us humans had actual parasitic mites with a bee-mite ratio logic applied on us existing, disgusting!

[@nicholasschoonbeck6866]

I recently learned about another, even smaller mites, that live inside bees, in the part of their body that's their version of lungs, & 100 can live inside of them.

[@whogivemethishand]

Years ago a friend said in Russia they would (freeze) the bees,well almost lower the temperature till the mite falls off they die first then warm them up slowly

[@ringoffire0]

Nice vid. Would be cool if there were more of them on other types of bees or endangered ones

[@njabulomdluli6582]

Super cool. And those macro shots 🙌

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Thank you 🙌 Hats off to Joshua Cassidy for the filming. #inspo

[@rickyspanish492]

I never knew they were invasive but it makes more sense to me now why they are unable to fight back. Usually animals develop strategies or relationships to deal with parasites, otherwise ecosystems wouldn't be in balance.

[@joany7475]

Why is it that all invasive species come from Asia? Carp, Mites, Kudzu, etc.

[@Bozebo]

I watched the whole video in the thumb preview thinking "wow this is really high quality", of course it involved PBS.

[@robertshorthill6836]

I got out of keeping bees about '82, before I had ever seen mites. I guess I was lucky for over 22 years. Never saw any AFB either.

[@keeanaborrowman9179]

I wish yall had mentioned that honeybees are just livestock for North America, native bees need all the rep they can get

[@gabrielaquiros1966]

Hi @keeanaborrowman9179, I produced this episode of Deep Look. I've produced episodes about native bees too. Here's one about bindweed bees and the flies that parasitize them: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nXurdKKGabykg8Usi=GdZqNaBaCRkXRNbl Enjoy!

[@krohme8005]

5:28 Ah there it is *The Beenis*

[@pumpkxnz_11]

"If you ever feel like your life is worse, just remember that Varroa Mites made a honeybee's life horrible." dont like this edit: oh cmon i didn't allow yall to like this💀

[@einname9986]

I don't know about the US, but in Europe we have stopped using pesticides against Varroa many years ago - There is a much better alternative: Organic acids like formic, oxalic and lactic acid. My bees usually get two treatments of formic acid, one in early August after the honey has been harvested and one in late September as well as a single treatment of oxalic acid in December or January. Although formic acid is a little bit more difficult to handle (use gloves and protective eyewear) this has benefits over using pesticides: -> Pesticides are lipophilic, so they accumulate in the bees wax. Organic acids are not, so not long after the treatment there are no traces left (You still cannot treat and then harvest honey in the same year). Better for the bees and for my customers :) -> Risk of developing resistance is low if you switch between formic and oxalic acids. There are also other, non-chemical methods that trap the mites in the brood, which is afterwards removed or heat treatment (mites survive less heat than bees), but these are a lot of work and in my opinion quite invasive.

[@insertfunnynamehere8984]

Perfect timing! I just started doing another binge of your vids today

[@KQEDDeepLook]

Perfect!

[@FelisBX7]

I need to find someone who trusts me as much as that lady trusts some well shaken bees