A
large feral beehive was found today
by Hawai`i Department of Agriculture
(HDOA) staff and about 60 varroa mites
were collected from a sample of 5,400
bees from that hive. The feral hive
is located in the airport area in an
old quarry. Last week, one varroa mite
was detected on Wednesday (11/14) and
14 mites were detected on Thursday (11/13)
in bait traps located about a few hundred
yards away from the infested hive.
“The close proximity of the feral hives
to the varroa mite detections last week
render it likely that the hive was the
source of the mites,” said Neil Reimer,
manager of the Plant Pest Control Branch.
“Crews are now working on treating the
hive.”
Personnel from HDOA have been continuously
trapping, monitoring and testing bees
since the varroa mites were first discovered
on the island in August. Forty-three
bait stations and about 200 swarm traps
have been deployed in the Hilo area
to trap feral bees. More than 100 feral
hives have been treated and destroyed.
Since the first detection of varroa
mites on Hawai`i Island in August 2008,
HDOA personnel have found five hives
and two swarms infested with mites from
a total of about 150 hives sampled.
All of the detections have been within
about a one-mile radius, which indicates
that the varroa mites may not have traveled
from where they were first detected.
Varroa mites have not been detected
in any hives managed by beekeepers on
Hawai`i Island.
Hilo residents are asked to report wild
beehives and bee swarms to the State’s
toll-free Pest Hotline at 643-PEST (7378).
HDOA is also asking beekeepers and the
public not to transport bees or beekeeping
equipment in or out of a 15-mile radius
of Hilo Bay.
A
large feral beehive was found today
by Hawai`i Department of Agriculture
(HDOA) staff and about 60 varroa mites
were collected from a sample of 5,400
bees from that hive. The feral hive
is located in the airport area in an
old quarry. Last week, one varroa mite
was detected on Wednesday (11/14) and
14 mites were detected on Thursday (11/13)
in bait traps located about a few hundred
yards away from the infested hive. 
