Melittobia acasta a breeder's nightmare
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What you will learn here
- About the parasite Melitt obia acasta in bumblebee hives
- How to recognize it
- How to prevent prevention
- How to deal with an attack
- Lots of unique photos
Last updated: 30/6/2021
CONTENTS
Introduction – Killer wasp Melittobia acasta in bumblebee farming
Prevention
Elements of hive (bumblebee) protection
How to recognize an infestation of a bumblebee nest by the parasitic wasp Melittobia
Black cotton wasp (Scatopse notata)
How to intervene in the event of an infestation – step number one in any case
In the event of an infestation of the hive, consider the following steps
Total destruction of the infested nest
Evacuation of bumblebees
Nest treatment and restart
Nest after intervention
What happens if you do not intervene?
Conclusion
More videos about Melitobia acasta
Introduction – Killer wasp Melittobia acasta in bumblebee farming
In the chapter Killer wasp Melitobia acasta and bumblebees, we learned about what the wasp looks like and how it affects a bumblebee nest.
Recognizing wasps is important. Many keepers are unaware that their nest has been attacked. Some keepers confuse wasps with harmless cotton bollworms. Detection and diagnosis are very important
Until recently, not much was written about this parasite. It was well known in bumblebee farms. There are known cases where an infection with this parasite destroyed the results of an entire year's work.
In this chapter we will learn something about how to deal with such situations in bumblebee breeding.
Thanks
Thank you for the insights and the basis of the article written for us by experienced beekeeper Jakub Černý.
Coincidentally, colonies of this parasite appeared in his garden at home, and so Jakub gained valuable knowledge. Thanks to them, he improved his hives and came up with a methodology for saving bumblebee nests.
CM+
Melittobia_acasta – Female < br /> Photo www naturspaziergang de
Melittobia_acasta – Female
Photo www naturspaziergang de
Melittobia acasta – Female and male – comparison
Photo www galeria insecta org
Melittobia acasta
Photo by Dr Paul Westrich
Melittobia acasta
Photo by Gerald S Wegner
Melittobia acasta – Female
Source Internet
Prevention
The basis of prevention against Melittobia acasta is a quality bumblebee hive. It must be sufficiently tight. Its construction must not have gaps larger than 0.25 mm . The female wasp can easily squeeze through larger gaps. This may be due to deformation of the roof and walls, or cracks in their construction.
Likewise, the ventilation hole must be secured with a mesh that has a smaller mesh size (for example, Uhelon 53S - be careful, the density designation is important ).
It is possible that Melittobia d can also bite through some types of seals. It can bite through to the capped larva of a solitary bee and so it seems that even the seal will not stop it if the smell of the nest . Most (even decent) bumblebee hives are not made with an accuracy of tenths of a millimeter, or are deformed by weather conditions. Some form of seal is therefore necessary, and not only because of Melittobia.
A seal with precisely fitting edges of solid materials is an option . Additional sealing of irregularities may or may not stop Melittobia. If it is low and the depth it has to penetrate is large, there is a chance that it will prevent it from penetrating the nest. However, there is no evidence that this wasp actually penetrates the seal and does not choose another way to penetrate the nest.
One way Melittobia can enter a nest is by opening the hive (removing the roof) during the day . Females search during daylight hours and if the keeper leaves the roof open , the scent of the nest will attract female Melittobia from the surrounding area if they are present.
correct detection and diagnosis are very important . The farmer must be able to recognize the symptoms of nest infestation. Likewise, he must not confuse Melittobia with the harmless cotton bollworm.
An important prevention measure is also to maintain safe distances between bumblebee hives and insect hotels – houses for solitary bees. These are the primary target of this parasite and if they are affected, they are a risk to hives with bumblebees.
A reasonable minimum distance is 20-30 meters. Combined hives for bumblebees with insect hotels are very unfortunate solutions.
The protective flap does not stop Melittobia, it overcomes it quite easily with the help of passing workers.
Elements of hive (bumblebee) protection
The path inside the hive can be made more difficult for Melittobia by using a set of protective elements on the hive. We describe them on our website www.cmelaciplus.cz Most of them are universal - they serve as protection against multiple parasites .
We already know that the female wasp is literally “trapped” by the smell of the nest . Once she lands on or near a bumblebee, she has to get inside or she will starve to death. So she will do everything she can to get into the hive . She is guided by the smell of the bumblebee nest.
If she can choose, she logically goes to the strongest source . This could be a leak in the hive wall, ventilation or a flap “knocked off” by the bumblebees.
Leaks in the hive , such as cracks, deformation of joints, etc., are something that the beekeeper must address before the start of the season and which we draw attention to in the chapter describing preparation for the season . Operative interventions and sealing with sealant can also be done during the season , but this is only an emergency solution.
for ventilation . The basic element is to protect the ventilation with a fine mesh made of Uhelon 53S . This mesh will not allow the parasitic wasp to enter the hive and we believe that it will remain behind the mesh for so long that it will starve to death .
Sticky traps in the ventilation hole are suitable and recommended . The ventilation is an intense source of odor next to the flap and can be the first thing that attracts the female Melittobia. If she gets stuck in the trap while trying to get in, she will not get a second chance to get in through the flap.
Learn more about ventilation protection HERE
It is also possible to direct the nest odor away from the flap , for example by using a 1-2 meter long ventilation pipe extension , additionally protecting the opening with a sticky trap at the end. The remote ventilation outlet will attract the female Melittobia, which is looking for the nest odor .
Either they stick to the trap they won't find it for the rest of their lives . But most importantly, it will distract her attention from the entrance hole. This will always be the most vulnerable part of the hive.
Examples of possible solutions can be found HERE
about the flap . Melittobia attacks during the day and takes advantage of the bumblebee's inattention at the entrance hole. Then, like other much larger flies, it enters the nest through this route.
Read about the protective flap HERE
It is also necessary not to neglect hive inspections. Hives can be attacked, especially in the last phase of their life.
You can read more about hive inspections HERE and further in this chapter.
When Melittobias are detected, it is necessary to act quickly and intervene to prevent them from spreading further into the surrounding area. very often attack the last cocoons of closing nests , so it is good to check the remaining cocoons in good time after leaving the nest .
Protecting the ventilation of a bumblebee hive is one of the key elements of protecting the nest in a hive (bumblebee colony).
Learn more about sticky trap ventilation HERE
Hive ventilation protection – 3D printed cover
Photo O. Hercog (5/2021)
Sticky trap in ventilation after the season
Photo O. Hercog 2018
Melittobia acasta – Females caught in a sticky trap
Photo O. Hercog 6/2019
How to recognize an infestation of a bumblebee nest with the parasitic wasp Melittobia
Melittobia is thermophilic and is therefore more often encountered in the summer . However, if the spring is warmer, the hive may be attacked as early as May .
It is practically impossible to recognize an infestation in its early stages . You will not recognize a successful penetration into the hive. Even a thorough inspection of the inside of a bumblebee nest will not reveal anything. The infection is hidden inside the cocoons , which at first glance look healthy from the outside .
A warning sign may be the observation of cocoons from which nothing hatches within 14 days (but this may also have other causes).
Likewise, an infected cocoon can be detected by the fact that it is "different " from the others . If it is infected, its contents change to a milky liquid , in which (after opening the cocoon) white dots are visible - gradually growing larvae. An infected cocoon is soft. At a certain stage, it literally collapses and loses its egg-shaped shape .
To make it difficult, the growing Melittoboia larvae often fill the cocoon , so such detection cannot be used. Moreover, the first infested cocoon may be one of many cocoons in the entire nest , so the initial stage of infestation can easily be overlooked.
It is often a coincidence that a keeper finds such a cocoon when inspecting the nest. However, observing suspicious cocoons is a way to detect it.
Melittobia acasta individuals in a bumblebee hive
Photo J. Černý 2019
Melittobia acasta individuals in a bumblebee hive
Photo J. Černý 2019
Melittobia acasta – Infested bumblebee cocoons
The arrow on the left shows traces of gnawed wasps
The arrow on the right shows a suspicious collapsed cocoon
Photo O. Hercog 6/2019
Melittobia acasta – Infested bumblebee cocoons
Arrow at the top points to a suspicious cocoon
Arrow at the bottom points to a cocoon with Melittobia larvae
Photo O. Hercog 6/2019
Cocoon infested with Melittioba Acasta
Photo O. Hercog 6/2019
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Cocoon infested with Melittioba Acasta
Photo O. Hercog 6/2019
The behavior of the bumblebee colony is important . Externally, the infestation manifests itself in the fact that the bumblebee colony stops growing , new individuals are not born , activity and flight are initially the same, but young mothers do not appear .
The development of the nest can be weakened for many other reasons, but this is definitely a reason to check the nest more often .
A pretty good indication, albeit late, is a sudden drop in nest activity . Bumblebees disappear (no new ones are born) and suddenly become apathetic . This is a reaction to the fact that their work is being used to feed the larvae, which are consumed by the Melittobia offspring.
The breeder usually discovers a Melittobia infestation only when the second generation of their females begins to be born. After mating, they try to quickly leave the hive and find a new host. At this stage, the infestation can also be detected by a thorough inspection , small holes appear on the infested cocoons and tiny flies climb out of them.
Suddenly, you notice cocoons that are not cleaned of wax and somehow forgotten. We also find suspicious black dots in the nesting area . These are traces of a fight - bumblebee workers often bite off .
As the infestation of the hive intensifies individuals begin to appear on the surface of the lining , and they then begin to accumulate in the hive space , especially in the inner part of the ventilation hole and under the roof. Young females also begin to appear on the flap, through which they climb out. As soon as you open the hive, they try to fly out into the surroundings. There can be hundreds of them from each cocoon . This is evidence that there is no longer any food in the nest and the evil deed is done. New wasp mothers migrate further.
It may seem like a scare, and that we are scaring you. But if you see similar signals , it is good to understand what is happening and detect the problem correctly . Fortunately, Melittobia does not occur often. Where it has occurred , the beekeeper should be attentive in the next season, and even more so monitor and control .
Be careful, do not confuse Melittobia acasta with the Black Cottontail (Scatopse notata)!
Nest infested with Melittobia acasta
Photo J, Majáková 9/2018
Melittobia acasta individuals caught in a sticky trap for hive ventilation
Photo J. Majáková 09/2018
Melittobia acasta on a hive
Photo by K. Turpiš 2018
Melittobia acasta under the flap
Photo P. Krčová 2020
Melittobia acasta on cocoons
Photo L. Wettermanvá 07/2020
Melittobia acasta on cocoons
Photo L. Wettermanvá 07/2020
Melittobia acasta
Photo L. Wettermanvá 07/2020
Melittobia acasta in a bumblebee nest
Photo K. Hromková 6/2021
Melittobia acasta in a bumblebee nest
Photo K. Hromková 6/2021
Melittobia acasta on a bumblebee hive
Photo K. Hromková 6/2021
Black scatopse (Scatopse notata) – do not confuse them with Melittobia
This representative of the Diptera order belongs to a separate order of cotton-winged insects.
Unlike Melittiobia acasta, which is very small, cotton bollworm is 3-4mm in size.
Very abundant, often on the flowers of marigold plants, on leaves and on windows and toilet walls.
The larvae live in decaying organic matter . They are often found in bumblebee hives, where they act as commensals - they do not harm the nest, they just clean up organic debris and dirt.
So if you find "little black flies" in a bumblebee nest, there's no need to panic, they could be cotton bollworms.
Note :
Commensalism is a type of biological interaction between two organisms where one benefits from the relationship while the other is unaffected.
Black scaly scaly (Scatopse notata)
Source BioLib cz
Black scaly scaly (Scatopse notata)
Source BioLib cz
How to intervene in the event of an attack – step number one
The first step in an infestation is to always seal the hive, regardless of the bumblebees. The goal is to ensure that the female Melittobia cannot get out . Remember that wasps are small , difficult to see in flight, and fly during the day .
a ground cork plug is suitable , or the inlet opening is thoroughly taped with high-quality adhesive tape . At the same time, it is necessary to tape the ventilation hole and the gaps between the roof and the hive body.
Consider next steps in case of a hive infestation
The next steps depend on several factors , there are several options and which option to choose depends on the circumstances and possibilities of the breeder. As well as on the risks that the breeder is willing to take (breeder with multiple hives in one location or nearby).
Solution options:
- Complete destruction of the entire nest
- Saving at least part of the bumblebee family
- The third is to treat the nest so that the rescued bumblebees can continue working.
To choose the right procedure, we need to answer a few questions .
a) How big is the risk of infesting other hives (bumblebees)?
If we have more hives, it is necessary to limit the risk of infecting other hives in the vicinity . It is necessary to consider how many other hives are still in the phase where the infection can cause damage .
For example, if young queens are already flying in other hives, even if Melittobia penetrates, it will not spread much further until about 2 weeks later. It is therefore highly likely that the queens will have already hatched and the damage to the male cocoons is not that significant.
It is therefore necessary to consider how many other hives are in the development phase or before the queens hatch . Of course, it is not advisable to let Melittobia reproduce, even if it is only male cocoons.
a rarer species in the attacked or other nests . In the case of a high risk of attack on other hives or rarer species, it is better to proceed with the total destruction of the attacked nest.
b) At what stage of development is the infested nest?
If the infestation occurs when a large number of queens have already hatched , total destruction would result in the destruction of these queens as well. In such a case, it is possible to consider at least evacuating the bumblebees from the hive and destroying the rest of the nest so that the queens have a chance to mate and fly away to winter . So when you consider the possibility of evacuation, keep point a) in mind.
c) Safe handling of an infested hive
Handling an infested nest is a risk, even if you do it in the dark. The escape of a Melittobia individual in the light is likely. It is also quite possible that during handling some female Melitoibia will remain on the bumblebees' fur and your efforts will be thwarted.
Handling an open and infected hive in the light is actually just spreading Mellitiobia
d) What are our options and experience in treating the nest?
In addition to total eradication, other interventions require the possibility of carrying out treatment in a closed, darkened room under red light , in which Melittobia do not fly.
It is also necessary to consider the determination to handle bumblebees and bumblebee nests. Experienced breeders, but also determined beginner breeders, can handle this, see the Bumblebee Quick Rota event.
Total destruction of the infested nest
The goal of completely destroying a nest infected with Melittobia is to prevent its spread, even at the cost of losing the bumblebee nest .
What you will need:
- means for closing the hive (cork plug, adhesive tape, etc.)
- red flashlight
- a dark and preferably cool room
- strong alcohol/ether
- plastic bag for nest disposal
- means for cleaning the hive after intervention
Procedure:
- Hermetically seal the hive with the infested nest (entrance, ventilation, roof)
- Take the hermetically sealed
- Carefully partially open the roof
- the contents of the hive with strong alcohol / ether and seal the roof again.
- Leave it for a few hours. Then repeat the spill to be sure
- Remove the contents of the hive, tie it in a plastic bag and burn it, or let it be burned .
- Clean the hive thoroughly, as you do at the end of the season.
- Cleaning must be thorough , as there may be Melittobia hiding in the hive.
Don't forget to treat the hive with a heat gun – don't burn it! - Even though the cleaning was thorough, it is better to leave the hive in the dark for a few days so that any remaining Melittobia individuals do not spread further.
Comment
- Instead of alcohol/ether, you can also use boiling water and pour it over the scar. However, this method is quite inhumane, damages the scar, and most importantly, may not be as effective.
- Breeder's tools can be found at ZD
Using a heat gun to sanitize hive walls
Photo O. Hercog 8/2019
Evacuation of bumblebees
The goal is to remove the bumblebees from the hive and destroy the rest of the nest .
If you remove the bumblebees and destroy the rest of the nest, the bumblebees will survive, but they will starve .
If you don't have the courage, time, and don't want to take the risks , this is also a solution.
What you will need:
- means for closing the hive (cork plug, adhesive tape, etc.)
- red flashlight
- a dark and preferably cool room
- strong alcohol/ether
- plastic bag for nest disposal
- trash can
- means for cleaning the hive after intervention
- a larger glass bottle (jar) with a capacity of at least 1 liter (a large 3-5 liter cucumber jar is best)
- a funnel made from the cut neck of a PET bottle, through which bumblebees fall in but cannot fly out
- beekeeping tool (alternatively, you can use long tweezers for roasting meat, or tweezers with rubber on the end, or a spoon, a wooden stick for "chinese" is also suitable)
- We recommend protective gloves, ideally beekeeping gloves
- mask or respirator over the mouth
- clean bumblebee with new lining
- sugar solution (fructose, regular white table sugar, water in a ratio of 2:1:2) in a PET cap with a ball of cotton wool, or in a bumblebee feeder, see HERE
- ideally a PET lid with frozen pollen, previously collected from the flap
- clean hive with new lining (old lining must be discarded)
Note
– in the absence of a second hive (bumblebee), the original one can be used, cleaned very thoroughly, as you do after the end of the season
– focus especially on corridors, cracks, corners, etc.
– if you do not have a clean lining, part of the original lining can be used after thorough sanitation in a saucepan in a conventional oven at a temperature of 100 – 120°C for at least 40 minutes
Comment
- Instead of alcohol/ether, you can also use boiling water and pour it over the scar. However, this method is quite inhumane, damages the scar, and most importantly, may not be as effective.
- Breeder's tools can be found HERE
Procedure:
- All other operations are performed in a darkened room, under red light , under which Melittobia does not fly!
- Be careful – never keep a new, clean hive and lining in the same room as an infested hive!
- Hermetically seal the hive with the infested nest (entrance, ventilation, roof)
- the hermetically sealed jar into the dark, turn on the red light (headlamp)
- Carefully remove the roof and destroy any Melittobia sitting on it.
- Gradually remove the bumblebees, as you do when checking the nest (into a glass bottle with a funnel)
- Be careful not to let the bumblebees take away pieces of the lining , which may contain Melittobia females.
- the nest lining into a bucket for subsequent disposal.
- You will gradually reach the ceiling of the nest cavity, which you must carefully tear off or cut
- You pick out the remaining bumblebees from inside the nest (a stick that the bumblebees climb on themselves or long tweezers are useful here)
- Remove the old queen (if present), young queens and males first. The queen(s) can successfully hide next to and under the nest.
- Remove all bumblebees , do not leave any in the nest.
- Dispose of the contents of the hive and then clean the hive according to the procedure "Total disposal of an infested nest"
- Release the bumblebees into the wild
A possible alternative – a clean shock with a new lining without waxwork
- Use a clean scare
- Get a new liner
- Create a path in the lining to the entrance hallway/opening and
- Insert the feeder with wort
- Pour the snot into the hive
- Open the airlock for them in the morning
If you put some thoroughly treated original lining , they will smell their nest and at least it will keep them together.
Nest treatment and restart
The goal is to remove the bumblebees from the hive and those parts of the nest where the bumblebee family can continue their work.
Melittobia are effective in destroying bumblebee cocoons, but they ignore the bumblebee larvae before they pupate – they are not digestible for them.
The principle is therefore to select these safe parts and “reuse” them.
If you remove the bumblebees and destroy the rest of the nest, the bumblebees will survive, but they will be voracious. Therefore, it is necessary to transfer at least part of their work (the waxy parts) so that they can smell it.
which parts and how to treat them here.
What you will need:
- means for closing the hive (cork plug, adhesive tape, etc.)
- red flashlight
- a dark and preferably cool room
- strong alcohol/ether
- plastic bag for nest disposal
- trash can
- means for cleaning the hive after intervention
- a larger glass bottle (jar) with a capacity of at least 1 liter (a large 3-5 liter cucumber jar is better)
- a funnel made from the cut neck of a PET bottle, through which bumblebees fall in but cannot fly out
- beekeeping tool (alternatively, you can use long tweezers for roasting meat, or tweezers with rubber on the end, or a spoon, a wooden stick for "china" works well)
- We recommend protective gloves, ideally beekeeping gloves
- mask or respirator over the mouth
- fine scissors (manicure scissors)
- razor blade
- clean bumblebee with new lining
- sugar solution (fructose, regular white table sugar, water in a ratio of 2:1:2) in a PET cap with a ball of cotton wool, or in a bumblebee feeder, see HERE
- ideally a PET lid with frozen pollen, previously collected from the flap
- clean hive with new lining (old lining must be discarded)
Note
– in the absence of a second hive (bumblebee), the original one can be used, cleaned very thoroughly, as you do after the end of the season
– focus especially on corridors, cracks, corners, etc.
– if you do not have a clean lining, part of the original lining can be used after thorough sanitation in a saucepan in a conventional oven at a temperature of 100 – 120°C for at least 40 minutes
Comment
- Instead of alcohol/ether, you can also use boiling water and pour it over the scar. However, this method is quite inhumane, damages the scar, and most importantly, may not be as effective.
- Breeder's tools can be found HERE
Procedure:
- All other operations are performed in a darkened room, under red light , under which Melittobia does not fly!
- Be careful – never keep a new, clean hive and lining in the same room as an infested hive!
- Hermetically seal the hive with the infested nest (entrance, ventilation, roof)
- the hermetically sealed jar into the dark, turn on a red light (headlamp or rear bike light)
- Carefully remove the roof and destroy any Melittobia sitting on it.
- Gradually remove the bumblebees, as you do when checking the nest (into a glass bottle with a funnel)
- Be careful not to remove the bumblebees with pieces of lining , which may contain Melittobia females.
- the nest lining into a bucket for subsequent disposal.
- You will gradually reach the ceiling of the nest cavity, which you must carefully tear off or cut
- We pick out the remaining bumblebees from inside the nest (a stick that the bumblebees themselves climb onto or long tweezers are useful here)
- Remove the old queen (if present), young queens and males first. The queen(s) can successfully hide next to and under the nest.
- Then remove the nest with part of the lining onto a board – a large area with a light surface; here the Melittobia individuals crawling away will be clearly visible
- Remove all the bumblebees , don't leave any in the nest.
- the yellow or brown egg-shaped but closed cocoons from the wax work with a razor blade.
- In the case of the rest of the nest and bumblebees, we proceed in the same way as for total elimination.
- The cut larvae in the cases and the laying (brown parts) from the nest are thoroughly inspected using bright white daylight in a closed room (also possible outside with the risk of Melittobia escaping) to see if there are any Melittobia individuals on them.
- In the clean/new lining and in the cleaned / new hive , create a hole. We will place the collected brown parts (larvae and laying on them)
- Ideally, you can add a feeder from the cap of a PET bottle with pollen , cover with a lining
- You create a path in the lining to the entrance hallway/opening and insert a feeder with malt
- Dump the bumblebees into the hive and close the roof.
- Leave the nest closed and carry it outside
- It can be expected that the source of infection will be somewhere near the hive, so it is better to place the hive in a new location , or remove/move possible sources of infection from which Melittobia can spread (insect houses, houses for solitary bees) to a distance of over 30 meters from the hive.
- After the nest has calmed down (quietly for a few hours) open the entrance hole and step away from the hive; the bumblebees will gradually find their way out, make an orientation flight and return to normal.
- If the workers return to their original location , catch them with a net and a trap and return them to the hive through the entrance hole.
Yes, it's hard work, but saving a rare species of bumblebee is worth the effort.
In the model image of a rock bumblebee nest, we can see the laying (small brown balls on the cocoons) and the larval cases on the tops of the cocoons , which you can remove from the nest with a razor blade and reuse in a clean hive. Do not remove closed cocoons , they may already be infested.
Image of a nest with selected parts that can be used
Photo: J. Černý 6/2020
Separated "brown parts" from dangerous cocoons
Photo J. Černý 2019
Net for separating bumblebees and Melittobia (see text)
Photo J. Černý 2019
Notice
- The cocoons are very likely infected and there is really no point in trying to save them!
- If some cocoons look healthy or are about to hatch (beautiful yellow, not sunken), you can separate and ideally put them in smaller parts (never put everything together) into glasses or test tubes. Try to let them "run out" at room temperature in a well-sealed space . But then we have to check at least twice a day whether a bumblebee or Melittobia is born.
- open a suspicious cocoon at its top with manicure scissors infected cocoon will contain a milky liquid with Melittobia embryos/larvae/pupae. A healthy cocoon may contain a healthy bumblebee eater.
- In case of a large infestation of the Melittobia nest, there is a risk of transmission of some individuals in the fur of the bumblebees . In such a case, it is better to place the bumblebees for a few hours, for example, in an aquarium or in a box with a grate. The bumblebees will not fall through such a grate, and under which at a depth of at least 3 cm there is a board painted with glue. The bumblebees will shake off the Melittobia by moving and they will then stick to the bottom.
In the picture you can see the new foundation of the nest . Sometimes it takes little to make the bumblebees feel at home and get back to work .
Even this small part of the original bumblebee family bonds it together and gives it a chance to continue.
The base of the nest after the destruction of Melittobia acasta
Photo Jakub Černý (6/2020)
Nest after rescue
There is no risk of re-infestation until the larvae pupate in a new hive . At this point, Melittobia does not have its larval food in the bumblebee nest and does not reproduce there.
for the first week , just add sugar solution so that the bumblebees can restore their wax work (create wax jugs, etc.).
From the second week onwards , it is necessary to check the inside of the nest every 3-4 days . Once the first cocoon has pupated , there is a 10-day period during which new Melittobia individuals cannot be born and checking is not necessary .
After this period, you must check the nest again every 3-4 days. Any cocoons that do not open within 14 days may be a sign of a re- infestation .
What happens if you don't intervene?
A bumblebee keeper should always intervene, even if it means destroying the bumblebee nest.
Melittobia acasta is capable of from a single female in one year .
If there is food nearby, they will spread further. About 200 Melittobia females hatch from one bumblebee cocoon. Each one is capable of destroying another nest. The possibility of spreading is therefore great.
If you let Melittobia fly freely, it will spread more around and we can expect to attack nearby bumblebee nests , insect hotels , or natural colonies of solitary bees. Logically, it will then stay in the area as long as it finds food sources . If Melittobia females find host larvae in which to overwinter, there is a high probability of re -infestation the next year , or possibly the destruction of natural bumblebee nests and solitary bee cavities within a radius of several dozen meters.
It is therefore the breeder's duty to intervene and not participate in the spread of this killer parasite through inaction.
Conclusion
- In nature, the infestation of a bumblebee nest by the wasp Melittobia acasta leads to the destruction of the nest and the spread of this parasite.
- The breeder should intervene and prevent the spread of the parasite.
- However, before taking action, the keeper should make sure that the nest has really been attacked by this wasp and not eliminate the nest based on a false alarm.
- There are ways to give a bumblebee nest a chance at life . Some are very laborious, but possible.
- Each solution option has its own risks and it is a good idea to consider them in advance.
- Please help us spread the word that large insect hotels can harm nature more than help it. In addition to easily spreading diseases, large insect hotels can also be a source of food and a source of huge numbers of the parasitic wasp Melittobia acasta.
Image attachment
Video of the life of Melittobia acasta
WE DO NOT RECOMMEND
Big insect hotel
Photo Internet
WE DO NOT RECOMMEND
Big insect hotel
Photo Internet
Melittobia acasta – Female at the opening to the capped chamber of Osmia Cornuta
Source:www wildbienenstand neuhof de
Melittobia acasta – Female at the nest chamber of the host – www wildbienenstand neuhof de
Melittobia acasta – Female
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Melittobia acasta – Female
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Melittobia acasta – Females on a bumblebee larva
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Melittobia acasta – Female
Photo Photo www wildbienen info
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Photo www wildbienen info
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