Field trial and prototype optimization of a new agent against the varroa mite, a parasite of honey bees

针对蜜蜂寄生虫瓦螨的新药剂的现场试验和原型优化

• 批准号: 548812-2020
• 负责人: Plettner, Erika
• 金额: $ 9.11万
• 依托单位: Simon Fraser University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Idea to Innovation
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=701044
• 关键词: Field; trial; prototype; optimization; new

The mite Varroa destructor is a noxious parasite of honey bees (Apis mellifera) around the world. In Canada, varroa infestation is the main cause of winter colony losses, which curtail spring pollination of crops and honey production. This causes significant losses in income to beekeepers and presents large colony replacement costs early in the year. The way to minimize winter losses of colonies is to treat them in the fall, when varroa mite populations bloom. Beekeepers have only a limited set of acaricides for this purpose, and some of these products are fading from the market because the mites have developed resistance. We have discovered a new, highly active acaricidal compound, which was successfully tested in two locations in Canada during the fall of 2019. The compound paralyzes mites selectively, causing them to drop from the bees and eventually die. The compound has a fumigant effect, also curtailing mite reproduction inside of brood cells. The compound does not leave detectable residues in the hive and does not harm the bees, unlike some of the currently used (and fading) acaricides. In this grant application we propose to develop a new release device for the active compound we have found and to field test the prototype devices in three locations in Canada. The field test will comprise a negative control (the empty devices), the treatment (with our new acaricide) and a positive control (with a natural acaricide). The latter is essential for the implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) in parallel with the development of our new acaricide. IPM in varroa management consists of rotation of different acaricidal treatments, along with biotechnical control measures that keep mite reproduction low during the spring and summer. IPM strategies prevent or delay onset of resistance, so beekeepers will have varroa management tools for many decades, until mite resistant bees are bred and beyond. Data from the proposed field trials will be essential for the continuation in part of the patent for the new acaricide, which has been filed, and for the future registration of the compound. This, in turn, will ease the creation of a company in Canada that will license the technology.

狄斯瓦螨（Varroa destructor）是世界范围内蜜蜂（Apis mellifera）的有害寄生虫。在加拿大，瓦螨侵扰是冬季蜂群损失的主要原因，这减少了作物和蜂蜜生产的春季授粉。这给养蜂人造成了重大的收入损失，并在年初提出了大量的蜂群更换成本。减少冬季蜂群损失的方法是在秋季瓦螨种群开花时对它们进行治疗。养蜂人只有有限的一套杀螨剂用于这一目的，其中一些产品正在从市场上消失，因为螨已经产生了抗药性。我们发现了一种新的高活性杀螨化合物，于2019年秋季在加拿大的两个地点进行了成功测试。这种化合物选择性地麻痹螨虫，使它们从蜜蜂身上掉下来，最终死亡。该化合物具有熏蒸作用，还可减少螨在卵细胞内的繁殖。该化合物不会在蜂巢中留下可检测的残留物，也不会伤害蜜蜂，不像目前使用的（和褪色的）杀螨剂。在这项资助申请中，我们建议为我们发现的活性化合物开发一种新的释放装置，并在加拿大的三个地点对原型装置进行现场测试。田间试验将包括阴性对照（空器械）、处理（使用我们的新杀螨剂）和阳性对照（使用天然杀螨剂）。后者对于在开发新杀螨剂的同时实施害虫综合治理（IPM）至关重要。瓦螨管理中的IPM包括不同杀螨处理的轮换，沿着生物技术控制措施，使螨的繁殖在春季和夏季保持较低水平。IPM策略可以预防或延迟抗性的发生，因此养蜂人将在几十年内拥有瓦螨管理工具，直到培育出抗螨蜜蜂。从拟议的实地试验中获得的数据对于继续部分已经提交的新杀螨剂专利以及该化合物的未来注册至关重要。反过来，这将有助于在加拿大成立一家公司，授权该技术。