A Push-pull Protocol to Reduce Colonization of Bird Nest Boxes by Honey Bees
PREPARAÇÃO DO INSTRUTOR
CONCEITOS
PROTOCOLO DO ALUNO
1. Construction of Swarm Trap Boxes
NOTE: There are two alternate protocols for swarm trap construction included as steps 1.1 and 1.2. There are several additional ways trap boxes could be constructed. The following two methods are presented here because we have tested them in experiments and they have been successful. For either protocol, use 1.3 cm to 2 cm thick non-pressure treated plywood.
- Construction of Swarm Trap Protocol Option 1: Building a Trap Box
- Cut six pieces of plywood 30 cm x 30 cm.
- Attach the four sides of the box together with nails or screws.
- Attach the bottom piece by nails or screws.
- Attach the top piece with screws or staples.
- Do not use nails to secure the top. The top must be removable to get bees out and clean the box.
- Drill a 2.5 cm hole in the middle of one face of the trap box 2.5 cm from the bottom edge.
- Apply primer, sealant, or paint to the outside of the trap box to protect wood from weather.
- Do not apply any paint or sealant to the inside of the trap box. This could be repellant or toxic to the bees.
- Construction of Swarm Trap Box Protocol Option 2: Use of a Standard Deep Hive Body
- Obtain a standard 10 frame deep hive body from a local bee supply store.
- Cut a top and bottom from plywood each measuring 50.8 cm long by 41.3 cm wide.
- Attach the bottom piece by nails or screws.
- Attach the top piece with screws or staples.
- Do not use nails to secure the top. The top must be removable to get bees out and clean the box.
- Drill a 2.5 cm hole in the middle on one side of the trap box 2.5 cm from the bottom edge.
- Apply primer, sealant, or paint to the outside of the trap box to protect wood from weather.
- Do not apply any paint or sealant to the inside of the trap box. This could be repellant or toxic to the bees.
2. Preparation of the Pheromone Lure
- Prepare a mixture of citral and geraniol at a 2:1 ratio.
- Place 1 ml of this mixture into a snap-top 1.5 ml polypropylene microcentrifugation tube.
- Wrap lures in aluminum foil to protect them from light.
Note: The cap of the centrifugation tube is punctured with a push pin when it is placed in the mounted swarm trap.
Note: Lures can be stored in a dark place at RT or for longer storage in a -10 °C freezer.
3. Installation of Swarm Trap Boxes
NOTE: There are two alternate protocols for the installation of swarm trap boxes presented in steps 3.1 and 3.2.
- Installation of Swarm Trap Box Protocol Option 1: Installation on a Post
- Place a 10 cm by 10 cm pressure treated wood fence post into the ground 10 m to 15 m from where the bird nest box is located.
- Construct a hanging board of 1.3 cm thick pressure treated wood measuring 20 cm by 20 cm.
- Align the hanging board in the middle of one side of the trap box, with 10 cm above the top of the box. Secure the board to the box with at least two nails or screws on either side of the board.
- Place the trap box on the post at a height (1.5 m to 3 m) that is safe and easy for removal when the trap box is colonized by bees. Screw the box to the post by attaching the hanging board. Place a screw approximately 5 cm below the top of the hanging board and screw in place.
- Do not use nails because they are difficult to remove.
- Installation of Swarm Trap Box Protocol Option 2: Installation on a Tree
- Drill a 5 mm hole in the upper back corner of each side of the box.
- Thread a wire through the holes.
Note: If using this protocol it will be easier to put the wire through the holes prior to securing the top of the box. - Select a tree approximately 10 m to 15 m away from where the bird nest box is located.
- Do not place trap boxes in the same trees as bird boxes because when someone checks on the status of the bird box, trap boxes colonized by bees may be disturbed causing bees to become defensive.
- Secure the wire around the tree 1.5 m to 3 m off the ground.
Note: To protect the tree, a cambium saver can be used around the wire.- Make sure the box is level and secure so that it does not tip over. The box can be rested on a tree branch for added stability if available.
4. Addition of the Pheromone Lure
- Take a previously prepared lure from section 2 and puncture the top of the tube with a push pin.
- Place the lure inside the trap box on the bottom near the entrance after installation to ensure it does not fall out while installing the box.
5. Treatment of Bird Nest Box with Permethrin
- Select a permethrin product that is labeled for use in poultry or caged birds only.
- Follow label instructions for mixing and application
CAUTION: follow any personal protection guidelines on label recommendations. - Spray the inside of the nest box entirely, until the point that the liquid runs off the sides of the box using a 3.7 L hand pump sprayer.
Note: Nest boxes can be treated prior to or after installation.
6. Removal of a Trap Box Occupied by Honey Bees
- Plug the entrance hole with a small towel.
CAUTION: wear proper protective garments to prevent stings from honey bees.- If swarm is to be killed, do so as soon as discovered. If swarm is to be utilized, allow bees to fully colonize trap boxes before attempting to remove them (usually about 2 weeks). If possible, remove occupied trap boxes at night (when all the bees are inside). The trap entrance can be plugged at night and then the box removed the following morning in daylight.
Note: Use a red filtered light when working around bees at night.
- If swarm is to be killed, do so as soon as discovered. If swarm is to be utilized, allow bees to fully colonize trap boxes before attempting to remove them (usually about 2 weeks). If possible, remove occupied trap boxes at night (when all the bees are inside). The trap entrance can be plugged at night and then the box removed the following morning in daylight.
- Unscrew the box from the post or cut the wire holding the box to the tree.
- Move the box to its new location (at least 4 km away) and pull the towel out from the entrance hole.
7. Destruction of Bee Colony in Trap Box
Note: In areas where it is illegal to keep Africanized honey bees, destruction of the colony may be warranted. If so, two protocols are presented here.
- Solarizing the Colony
- Plug the entrance hole with a small towel.
CAUTION: wear proper protective garments to prevent stings from honey bees. - Unscrew the box from the post or cut the wire holding the box to the tree.
- Enclose and seal the trap box completely in a plastic bag and leave in full sun for several days
CAUTION: wear proper protective garments to prevent stings from honey bees. - Clean out the box by removing dead bees and comb.
- Plug the entrance hole with a small towel.
- Use of an Insecticide Spray
- Use an insecticide spray labeled for use to kill bees to spray inside the trap box.
CAUTION: follow label instructions on insecticide and use appropriate personal protection equipment to prevent stings from honey bees. - Plug the entrance and leave the box for 24 hr.
- Clean out the box by removing dead bees and comb.
Note: To reuse the trap box clean the inside with a soapy water solution to remove residual insecticide. Rinse well and allow to dry completely before reinstalling.
- Use an insecticide spray labeled for use to kill bees to spray inside the trap box.
- Use of an insecticide foam
- Fill the entire cavity of the occupied trap with a detergent-based foam. (CAUTION: follow label instructions on insecticide and use appropriate personal protection equipment and wear proper protective garments to prevent stings from honey bees).
Note: The foam can be applied with a commercial pest control foam generator or a compressed air fire extinguisher.
Note: For using a fire extinguisher: Place 3.8 L of water into a 9.5 L fire extinguisher, add 190 ml of foaming agent (or dish washing detergent), seal the extinguisher, and pressurize it to 100-125 pounds/sq. inch (psi). Just prior to use, agitate vigorously, and then apply the foam until the trap is overflowing.
Note: Foam kills the bees within 60 sec by entering the spiracles and blocking the trachea. - Plug the entrance and leave the box for 24 hr.
- Clean out the box by removing dead bees and comb.
Note: To reuse the trap box clean the inside with a soapy water solution to remove residual insecticide. Rinse well and allow to dry completely before reinstalling.
- Fill the entire cavity of the occupied trap with a detergent-based foam. (CAUTION: follow label instructions on insecticide and use appropriate personal protection equipment and wear proper protective garments to prevent stings from honey bees).
A Push-pull Protocol to Reduce Colonization of Bird Nest Boxes by Honey Bees
Learning Objectives
A previous small pilot push-pull study conducted in Brazil showed swarm traps were effective and reduced bee occupation of parrot nest boxes22. To determine if the push-pull method can be effective at a larger scale to reduce colonization of bird nest boxes by AHB, we conducted a field study in sugarcane fields in southern Florida, USA. Sixty Barn Owl nest boxes were installed and each was paired with a swarm trap located 15 m away. Every swarm trap received a pheromone lure. Odd numbered owl boxes were treated with a microencapsulated permethrin spray insecticide every 60 days and even numbered nest boxes were left as untreated controls. Nest boxes and swarm traps were checked weekly for the presence or absence of 1) scout bees and 2) bee colonies.
Boxes and traps were monitored from March 2014 to July 2015. Of the 77 swarms caught, 75 were in swarm traps (Figure 1). Only two owl nest boxes were colonized during this experiment; both were untreated. We allowed bees to remain in trap boxes for a minimum of two weeks before we relocated them 4 km away to an apiary. To reduce the chances of bees absconding (leaving the trap box) we let them stay in the trap box for an additional two weeks before they were transferred to a new hive box. Honey comb and debris was scraped out of the trap box, it was remounted in the experimental site and a new lure was placed inside. Significantly more bees chose swarm traps over untreated owl boxes (X2(df =1) = 29.2, P <0.0001) and treated owl boxes (X2(df=1) = 36.1, P <0.0001) as determined by Pearson's chi-square test with Yates' continuity correction. Several trap boxes were colonized by bees more than once, 12 trap boxes were occupied twice by bees, five boxes were occupied three times and two boxes were occupied four times. For statistical analysis, occupancy per trap box was only counted once. Scents from previous bee colonies in a nest site can attract new colonies23 so likely previously occupied trap boxes were more attractive than unoccupied boxes. Although several treated owl nest boxes were scouted by honey bees, no swarms moved into these boxes. At a nearby control site (containing 30 Barn owl boxes) honey bees colonized 63% of boxes. We found that the use of swarm traps greatly reduced the number of bee colonies occupying owl nest boxes. No treated nest boxes were colonized, suggesting that permethrin is effective at keeping AHB from colonizing nest boxes. However, swarm traps alone were effective, therefore application of permethrin could be used only at critical time periods (i.e., bee swarm season and just prior to birds' breeding season) rather than applying throughout the year.
Figure 1. Number of boxes colonized by honey bees. Number of Africanized honey bee swarms that colonized either trap boxes or untreated barn owl nest boxes over a 17 month time period (March of 2014 to July of 2015) in sugarcane fields of southern Florida. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
List of Materials
| Citral (ACROS Organics) | Fisher Scientific | AC11044-1000 | |
| Geraniol (ACROS Organics) | Fisher Scientific | AC41090-1000 | |
| PermaCap CS | BASF | controlled release permethrin |
Preparação do Laboratório
Introduction of the invasive Africanized honey bee (AHB) into the Neotropics is a serious problem for many cavity nesting birds, specifically parrots. These bees select cavities that are suitable nest sites for birds, resulting in competition. The difficulty of removing bees and their defensive behavior makes a prevention protocol necessary. Here, we describe a push-pull integrated pest management protocol to deter bees from inhabiting bird boxes by applying a bird safe insecticide, permethrin, to repel bees from nest boxes, while simultaneously attracting them to pheromone-baited swarm traps. Shown here is an example experiment using Barn Owl nest boxes. This protocol successfully reduced colonization of Barn Owl nest boxes by Africanized honey bees. This protocol is flexible, allowing adjustments to accommodate a wide range of bird species and habitats. This protocol could benefit conservation efforts where AHB are located.
Introduction of the invasive Africanized honey bee (AHB) into the Neotropics is a serious problem for many cavity nesting birds, specifically parrots. These bees select cavities that are suitable nest sites for birds, resulting in competition. The difficulty of removing bees and their defensive behavior makes a prevention protocol necessary. Here, we describe a push-pull integrated pest management protocol to deter bees from inhabiting bird boxes by applying a bird safe insecticide, permethrin, to repel bees from nest boxes, while simultaneously attracting them to pheromone-baited swarm traps. Shown here is an example experiment using Barn Owl nest boxes. This protocol successfully reduced colonization of Barn Owl nest boxes by Africanized honey bees. This protocol is flexible, allowing adjustments to accommodate a wide range of bird species and habitats. This protocol could benefit conservation efforts where AHB are located.
Procedimento
Introduction of the invasive Africanized honey bee (AHB) into the Neotropics is a serious problem for many cavity nesting birds, specifically parrots. These bees select cavities that are suitable nest sites for birds, resulting in competition. The difficulty of removing bees and their defensive behavior makes a prevention protocol necessary. Here, we describe a push-pull integrated pest management protocol to deter bees from inhabiting bird boxes by applying a bird safe insecticide, permethrin, to repel bees from nest boxes, while simultaneously attracting them to pheromone-baited swarm traps. Shown here is an example experiment using Barn Owl nest boxes. This protocol successfully reduced colonization of Barn Owl nest boxes by Africanized honey bees. This protocol is flexible, allowing adjustments to accommodate a wide range of bird species and habitats. This protocol could benefit conservation efforts where AHB are located.