Varroa was first identified in 1904 in Java. Since then, it has
spread around the world. It first arrived in the U.S. in
Maryland in 1979, and reached ‘Oahu in 2007 and Hawai‘i Island
in 2008. While mainland beekeepers have learned how to cope with
Varroa over the last three decades, Hawai‘i’s beekeepers have
only gained experience in the past three years! Thus, learning
from beekeepers in other places can be extremely valuable, as
they share what treatment methods have and have not worked. On
the other hand, Hawai‘i’s diverse environment makes it more
challenging to identify effective treatment options, since bees,
pathogens and treatments work differently in different
microclimates. What does not change from place to place, is the
immense impact that bees have on humans and the environment.
When bee populations decline, it affects the broader
agricultural industry because of the crucial pollination
services that bees provide. In Hawai‘i, some of the crops
dependent on honeybees include coffee, macadamia nut