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Demonstrate knowledge of the varroa mite and its control in the
beekeeping industry
Level
3
Credits
6
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to describe: the history of
varroa mite in New Zealand, and implications for the beekeeping industry; the
life cycle and population growth of the varroa mite; the effects of the varroa
mite on bee colonies; the methods for detection and evaluation of varroa mite
infestations; chemical and biotechnical controls of varroa mite; and the use
and timing of integrated pest management (IPM) for varroa mite control.
Subfield
Agriculture
Domain
Apiculture
Status
Registered
Status date
21 August 2009
Date version published
21 August 2009
Planned review date
31 December 2014
Entry information
Open.
Accreditation
Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA, industry
and teaching professional in the same field from another
provider.
Standard setting body (SSB)
Primary Industry Training Organisation
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference
0052
This AMAP can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Special notes
1
Legislation includes but is not limited to the – Health and Safety in Employment Act
1992, Biosecurity Act 1993, and their subsequent amendments.
2
Reference
Goodwin, Mark and Taylor, Michelle, Control of Varroa – A Guide for New Zealand
Beekeepers (Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and
Forestry, revised edition 2007), available from the National Beekeepers Association
of NZ (Inc) (NBA) website at http://www.nba.org.nz, or email secretary@nba.org.nz.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
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Elements and performance criteria
Element 1
Describe the history of varroa mite in New Zealand, and implications for the beekeeping
industry.
Performance criteria
1.1
The history of varroa mite is described in terms of its relationship to honey bees,
and its introduction into New Zealand.
1.2
The varroa mite is described in terms of the results of no action, steps for
control, and the implications of the use of chemicals in the beekeeping industry.
Element 2
Describe the life cycle and population growth of the varroa mite.
Performance criteria
2.1
The varroa mite is described in terms of its identifying features.
Range
size, colour, shape, movement.
2.2
The varroa mite is described in terms of its activity within the beehive, and
methods of infestation between beehives.
2.3
The varroa mite is described in terms of its life cycle within the beehive.
2.4
Population growth rates of varroa mite are described in terms of the affects on
bee population growth rate, and methods for population growth control.
Range
reproduction process and population growth rate, invasion and
population growth rate, acute versus chronic infestation, control
methods and population growth rates.
Element 3
Describe the effects of the varroa mite on bee colonies.
Performance criteria
3.1
The varroa mite is described in terms of the effects on adult bees.
Range
3.2
haemolymph, viral infection.
The varroa mite is described in terms of the effects on bee larvae or pupae.
Range
evidence is required for at least six effects.
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3.3
The varroa mite is described in terms of the effects on feral and managed bee
colonies.
Range
3.4
effects on – colony production, pollination.
The varroa mite is described in terms of its contribution to the presence of
parasitic mite syndrome.
Element 4
Describe the methods for detection and evaluation of varroa mite infestations.
Performance criteria
4.1
Varroa mite infestations are described in terms of the visual symptoms present
in bees, larvae, and pupae.
4.2
Varroa mite infestations are described in terms of the methods for detection in
beehives, and the advantages, disadvantages, and threshold for each detection
method.
Range
4.3
Methods of detection of varroa mite infestations are compared and evaluated
for a given situation.
Range
4.4
sampling, visual inspection (bees, brood), ether roll; soapy water
or alcohol, sugar shake, mesh bottom boards; chemical detection
– Apistan, Bayvarol, formic acid.
cost, time required, visits needed, sensitivity, reliability.
Sticky boards and mesh bottom boards are described in terms of construction
and use in determining reduction of varroa mite population levels.
Element 5
Describe chemical and biotechnical controls of varroa mite.
Performance criteria
5.1
Synthetic chemicals used for varroa mite control are described in terms of
method of application, effectiveness, and limitations.
Range
fluvalinate (Apistan), flumethrin (Bayvarol), coumaphos (CheckMite+, Perizin), cymiazole (Apitol), bromopropylate (Folbex),
amitraz (Apivar).
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5.2
Organic chemicals used for varroa mite control are described in terms of
application methods, effectiveness, and limitations.
Range
5.3
essential oils – thymol, apiguard, apilife VAR, thymovar, food
grade mineral oil;
organic acids – formic acid, oxalic acid, lactic acid;
vegetable and other oils, icing sugar.
Chemical control of varroa mite is described in terms of residue effects and
ways residue can be minimised.
Range
evidence is required for at least five ways to minimise residue.
5.4
Chemical resistance in varroa mite is described in terms of the reasons for its
occurrence, cross resistance, methods for slowing resistance, and methods for
measuring resistance.
5.5
Biotechnical controls of varroa mite are described in terms of methods,
advantages and disadvantages.
Range
worker brood removal, drone brood trapping, hive splitting, queen
isolation, mesh bottom boards, pollen trap, heat treatment, change
of cell size, eliminating production of drone brood.
Element 6
Describe the use and timing of integrated pest management (IPM) for varroa mite control.
Performance criteria
6.1
IPM is described in terms of economic threshold.
6.2
IPM is described in terms of monitoring.
Range
6.3
IPM is described in terms of the choice of control method for a given situation.
Range
6.4
availability, cost, residues, resistance, toxicity, environmental
concerns.
The timing of a varroa control programme is described in terms of the factors to
be taken into account when deciding when to treat hives for varroa mite.
Range
6.5
acute stage, chronic stage, number of hives to survey.
evidence is required for at least four factors.
Types of treatment programme are described in terms of timing, and
advantages and disadvantages for specified situations.
Range
prophylactic treatment, calendar treatment, treatment based on
monitoring and economic thresholds, IPM.
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6.6
The timing of treatments is described in terms of advantages for varroa mite
control.
Range
reducing residues, changes to management programmes, coordinated treatments, spring treatments, autumn treatments.
Please note
Providers must be accredited by NZQA, or an inter-institutional body with delegated
authority for quality assurance, before they can report credits from assessment against
unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by NZQA before they can register
credits from assessment against unit standards.
Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against unit standards
must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Accreditation requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this
standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The
AMAP also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations
wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for
tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact the Primary Industry Training Organisation standards@primaryito.ac.nz if
you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016