WHY A SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE?

 The First International conference on Africanized Honey Bees and Bee Mites was held at Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, in March, 1987.  Over one hundred-twenty scholars attended, reflecting enormous world wide concern over the impact that these problems are having on beekeeping and agriculture.  Many important new developments have occurred during the intervening years.  Most notable have been the discovery of varroa in the United States in 1987, the migration of Africanized honey bees into Texas in 1991, and the discovery of the Small Hive beetle in the Southeastern United States in 1998.   The range of Africanized honey bees on the North American Continent continues to expand.  Africanized honey bees directly impact public safety, and, they have had a pronounced effect on the beekeeping and pest control industries in the Southwestern United States.  Varroa mites infest honey bee colonies throughout the United States, most of Mexico and parts of Canada.  By some estimates, varroa ( along with Africanization and tracheal mites) has reduced the number of managed honey bee colonies in the United States by nearly half.  Range expansion in North America by the extremely destructive Small Hive Beetle is still in its infancy.

 Since 1987,  research conducted to mitigate the impact of Africanized honey bees and parasitic mites has bees extensive and diverse.  Techniques for identifying Africanized honey bees have been vastly improved, and much has been learned about how European bee populations become Africanized.  Rescue strategies and medical treatment for victims of mass bee attacks have been refined.  Much has been learned about the developmental biology of varroa.  New chemical control measures for varroa have been identified and are being field tested:  the development of varroa-tolerant honey bee populations is progressing.  The impact of Tracheal mites has been substantially reduced due in large part to an expanding natural population of mite resistant honey bees.  And, chemical control measures for the Small Hive beetle have been identified and implemented.
 Given the advances of the past decade, there remains a critical need for researchers to address numerous vital issues.  Yet to be developed are effective methods for preventing and terminating mass attacks by Africanized honey bees.  Innovative methods for requeening Africanized colonies are needed as existing methods are time consuming and often ineffectual.  Strategies for slowing and even reversing the process of Africanization are needed.  Little is yet known about the role that mite transmitted microbes may play in the Varroasis syndrom.  There is growing concern over the impact that miticides may be having on honey bee colony viability and a concomitant need to reduce reliance on chemical control measures for varroa.  Creativity will be required in the development and adoption of user friendly non-chemical varroa control strategies.  Intercontinental movement of other honey bee pests like the small hive beetle will become increasingly likely and must be anticipated.  Clearly, researchers are challenged to sustain beekeeping and ensure crop pollination in the new millennium.  There is a considerable amount of research being conducted world-wide that relates either directly or indirectly to both Africanized honey bees and mites of bees, however, there is a continuing need for dissemination of scientific information.

 Our objective is to bring together Acarologists and Bee Biologists who are working in basic and applied areas of research that relate to Africanized honey bees, mites parasitizing honey bees, and other aspects of bee biology that relate to sustainment of colony viability.  This international conference will serve four basic needs:

1.  The need for scientific exchange of information relating to the problems of Africanized honey bees and bee mites.

2.  The need for intellectual interaction among bee and mite researchers to stimulate new and innovative research.

3.  The need for continuing collaboration of international bee and mite researchers.

4.  The need to disseminate scientific information to the public.  We plan to publish a scientific proceedings of the meeting.