Tropilaelaps Management: Learning from Thai Beekeepers

Part four of this documentary series, Tropilaelaps Management: Learning from Thai Beekeepers, serves as a crucial case study on living with the Tropilaelaps mite, a looming threat to Western honey bee health in North America. By learning from the experiences of Thai commercial beekeepers who manage for Tropilaelaps regularly, we gain valuable insights into effective management practices used in Thailand to combat Tropilaelaps including chemical and cultural controls, and monitoring. This episode highlights the importance of early awareness and preparation to protect honey bee colonies from this emerging threat.

Project Apis m.’s Tropilaelaps Training 2024 documentary series is shared in four parts:
1. Tropilaelaps Frontlines: Fighting this Emerging Honey Bee Threat
2. Tropilaelaps Identification: A Practical Guide for Beekeepers
3. Tropilaelaps Biology: What Beekeepers Should Know
4. Tropilaelaps Management: Learning from Thai Beekeepers

Special thanks to our contributors: Auburn University, Chiang Mai University, and the Apiary Inspectors of America (AIA), as well as our generous funders—the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, National Honey Board, Healthy Hives, and Wonderstone Films—whose support made this project possible. Project Apis m. is thrilled to present this series educating US & CAN beekeepers on Tropilaelaps mites.

Chapters:
0:00 First Reaction to Tropilaelaps Mites and Potential Impact in the USA
1:33 Pollinators in Thailand
2:22 Visiting Thai Commercial Beekeepers: Tropilaelaps Mite Management Practices
3:28 Flora Bee: Commercial Mite Management Strategies
5:04 Annual Mite Treatment Schedule: Flora Bee Operation
7:47 Supha Bee Farm: Commercial Mite Management Strategies
8:11 Annual Mite Treatment Schedule: Supha Bee Farm Operation
10:38 Interview with Mr. Don Yunto: Independant Thai Beekeeper
14:53 Key Insights from Thai Beekeepers for U.S. Beekeeping