Our Scientific Contributions To The Bee Community
Morgan (Roth) Horning earned her Master’s and PhD at Virginia Tech researching honey bee health and their major pests, particularly Varroa destructor mites and small hive beetles (Aethina tumida).
Dr. Horning earned her M.S. in Life Sciences at Virginia Tech. She studied acaricide resistance in Varroa destructor mites across Virginia apiaries. This work is crucial because Varroa mites are among the most destructive parasites of honey bees, and resistance to chemical treatments threatens colony survival. She later pursued her Ph.D. in Entomology at Virginia Tech, concentrating on the biology and management of small hive beetles. Her dissertation explored beetle physiology, antennal responses to repellents and attractants, and the role of environmental factors in beetle behavior. Dr. Horning’s research also examined symbiotic fungal relationships in small hive beetles, aiming to uncover novel management strategies that could reduce their impact on bee colonies
Pollinator Health: Control Of Honey Bee Pests And Parasites
Varroa Destructor (Varroa Mites)
Mites are a devastating parasite to the western honey bee and a vector of several honey bee viruses. Mite populations in the hive are commonly controlled with the use of chemical acaricides. Our research has focused on measuring the acaricide resistance in different geographical regions of Virginia along with biochemical mechanisms that are involved in the metabolism of acaricides.
Small Hive Beetles (Aethina tumida)
Small hive beetles are ferocious feeders of honey bee larvae and colony products. An established laboratory colony is used for the development of toxicity bioassays using different xenobiotic exposure routes. Research has also focused on the use of novel acetylcholinesterase inhibitors that display a low level of non-target toxicity to mammals and honey bees. We are also exploring the olfactory system to pull beetles from an apiary and push them towards traps. Finally, we are investigating the relationship between small hive beetles and the fungus, Kodamaea ohmeri.
