How to identify a tick in a beehive? - briefly
Examine hive frames for tiny, dark, oval parasites attached to adult bees or brood cells. Engorged ticks appear larger, with a swollen abdomen and visible rear legs.
How to identify a tick in a beehive? - in detail
Detecting a tick inside a honey‑bee colony requires careful visual inspection and knowledge of the insect’s distinguishing features. Ticks differ from common hive pests such as Varroa mites by size, shape, and behavior, allowing beekeepers to separate them with confidence.
First, examine the brood frames and honey supers during a calm period of the day. Use a magnifying lens (10×–20×) and a white LED light to improve contrast. Look for the following characteristics:
- Body length of 3–5 mm, noticeably larger than a Varroa mite (≈1 mm).
- Oval or slightly elongated shape with a hard dorsal shield (scutum) that covers most of the back.
- Six legs clearly visible on each side; the legs are longer and thicker than those of mites.
- Dark brown to reddish‑brown coloration, sometimes with a lighter abdomen.
- Presence of a distinct mouthpart (chelicerae) extending forward, unlike the blunt feeding structures of mites.
Second, note the tick’s preferred locations. Adult ticks tend to attach to adult worker bees, especially on the thorax or abdomen, where they can feed on hemolymph. Larval stages may be found crawling on the comb surface or within brood cells. Spotting a tick attached to a bee often reveals a small, raised spot on the bee’s cuticle, sometimes with a faint trail of blood.
Third, employ a systematic sampling method:
- Capture a random sample of 30–50 adult bees from different frames.
- Place each bee in a shallow, illuminated tray.
- Gently brush the bee’s body with a soft camel‑hair brush; any attached tick will detach or be easily observed.
- Transfer any suspicious specimens to a petri dish containing a drop of ethanol for preservation and later microscopic confirmation.
Fourth, differentiate ticks from other arthropods by checking for the presence of a capitulum (the specialized feeding apparatus) and the characteristic scutum. Mites lack these structures and are generally smoother and flatter.
Finally, adopt protective measures while conducting the inspection. Wear a full‑face veil, gloves, and a disposable suit to prevent accidental transfer of parasites between colonies. If ticks are confirmed, isolate the affected hive, remove and destroy contaminated frames, and treat the colony with an acaricide approved for tick control, following label instructions precisely.
By following these steps—visual identification of size and morphology, targeted examination of bee bodies and combs, systematic sampling, and clear differentiation from mites—beekeepers can reliably recognize tick infestations and implement appropriate management actions.