Identifying potential Bacillus thuringiensis candidates to control Aethina tumida.

• In Event: Poster Presentation and Judging for: Biomedical; Cell & Molecular Biology; Chemistry & Biochemistry; Marine Science; Systematics & Evolutionary Biology.
  In Poster Session: Cell & Molecular Biology Poster session

Abstract

Honeybees are important due to their role in the pollination of a large amount of crops helping the billion dollar agriculture industry thrive. However, there are several factors that are contributing to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) which is wiping out entire honeybee hives. Some of these factors include: Varroa destructor (varroa mites), Aethina tumida (hive beetles), wax moths and widespread use of neonicotinoids. Hive beetles are pests that invade hives of honeybees and allow their larvae to burrow their way through the combs feeding off the honey and pollen stored by the honeybees; anything that they leave behind is also contaminated through their feces. An infestation of hive beetles can drive out even strong colonies from their hives. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and its toxins have been used on major crops such as corn to control pests from eating and ruining the crop. If this same agent is sprayed on the combs or the bottom of the frames in beehives then maybe these hive beetles can be controlled without the use of dangerous pesticides that can harm the honeybees or contaminate the honey. Some Bt strains are approved for use against wax moths. Traditional methods to find Bt involve looking for it in the environment in which the pest is found. If this is correct, we hypothesize that we will find strains against hive beetles in and around hives or small hive beetle carcasses. We report on our findings to date.

Author

• Gilberto Vento, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley