By Scout Nelson
North Dakota State University is expanding efforts to help beekeepers manage one of the biggest threats to honey bee colonies. Rogan Tokach, assistant professor of applied honey bee entomology, has received a $115,000 award from the North Dakota Department of Agriculture for a project focused on Varroa mite management.
The project, titled “Strategies for Varroa mite management in commercial beekeeping operations,” is being conducted with Katie Lee from the University of Minnesota and Meghan Milbrath from Michigan State University. Their work focuses on finding effective ways to reduce the damage caused by Varroa mites, which have been a major cause of honey bee colony losses in the United States since the 1980s.
Varroa mites feed on developing and adult honey bees while also spreading harmful diseases throughout colonies. These combined effects weaken bee populations and can eventually cause colonies to collapse if no management practices are used.
“As Varroa mite pressure increases, colonies continue to weaken from a combination of mite feeding and virus transmission until they eventually ‘crash’ due to high mite infestations,” Tokach said. “Almost all colonies die from Varroa mites within two years if some form of Varroa mite management strategy is not performed.”
One challenge for beekeepers is that mites are becoming resistant to some commonly used synthetic treatments. Tokach said there is no single solution for controlling the pest, making it important to develop several management options.
“The goal is to provide beekeepers with knowledge and understanding of how effective different treatment regimens are to assist them in making informed decisions within their operations,” Tokach said.
Honey bees play a major role in agriculture by pollinating more than 90 crops in the United States and supporting 85% of flowering plants. Their importance is especially significant in North Dakota, which ranks first in the nation for honey production. More than 800,000 bee colonies were brought into the state during the summer of 2025, producing 36 million pounds of honey.
Photo Credit: istock-kerem-hanci
Categories: North Dakota, General