{"podcast":{"title":"Beekeeping Today Podcast","slug":"beekeeping-today-podcast-512758","podcast_index_feed_id":512758,"rss_url":"https://beekeepingtodaypodcast.libsyn.com/rss2","website_url":"https://www.beekeepingtodaypodcast.com","image_url":"https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/0/4/0/6/0406615616d1cfb2d959afa2a1bf1c87/BTPNewLogowithOutline-3000-20251231-dqbuga5w1y.png","author":"Jeff Ott","episode_count":436,"summary":"The weekly podcast bringing beekeepers the latest news, research, and insights on honey bees. Hosted by Jeff Ott and Dr. Becky Masterman, each episode features conversations with beekeepers, scientists, authors, and industry leaders. Whether you're just starting your first hive or managing hundreds, you'll find practical tips, fresh perspectives, and engaging stories to inspire your beekeeping journey.","last_synced_at":"2026-06-08T22:20:27.932171+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/beekeeping-today-podcast-512758"},"episode":{"title":"Bee Science: Varroa Mites with Dewey Caron (BSD-3)","slug":"bee-science-varroa-mites-with-dewey-caron-bsd-3","published_at":"2026-03-18T10:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/beekeeping-today-podcast-512758/bee-science-varroa-mites-with-dewey-caron-bsd-3","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/beekeeping-today-podcast-512758","url":"https://beekeepingtodaypodcast.com/bsd-3-varroa-mites","audio_url":"https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/traffic.libsyn.com/secure/beekeepingtodaypodcast/BSD-3-Bonus-See-Science-Varroa.mp3?dest-id=2537132","summary":"Varroa mites are the most destructive parasite affecting honey bee colonies worldwide. In this Bee Science Short, Dr. Dewey Caron explains how Varroa destructor reproduces, spreads within colonies, and why understanding the mite's biology is essential for modern beekeeping. Female Varroa mites enter brood cells shortly before they are capped and reproduce alongside the developing bee. Inside the sealed cell, mites feed on the developing bee and produce offspring that emerge with the young adult bee. Because the mite's reproductive cycle is closely tied to brood production, populations can increase rapidly during the active season. Beyond direct feeding damage, Varroa mites also spread viruses that weaken colonies and shorten the lifespan of worker bees. Dewey explains why unchecked mite populations can quickly overwhelm a colony if they are not monitored and managed. For beekeepers, the key is awareness. Regular monitoring allows beekeepers to track mite levels and respond before populations reach damaging levels. Understanding the biology of Varroa helps beekeepers make informed decisions about management strategies and colony health. This episode is part of the Bee Science with Dewey series, where Dr. Caron shares practical explanations of honey bee biology to help beekeepers better understand what is happening inside their colonies. Links and references mentioned in this episode: Lundin, Ola. Et. al. 2021. Integrated pest and pollinator management – expanding the concept. Frontiers Ecol & Environ . https://doi.org/10.1002/fee.2325 Caron, Dewey and review committee. Tools for Varroa Management. Honey Bee Health Coalition https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org/resources/varroa-management/ (you want to get the 9 th edition (available soon) Bruckner, Selina, et.al. 2025. L…","meta_description":"Varroa mites are the most destructive parasite affecting honey bee colonies worldwide. In this Bee Science Short, Dr. Dewey Caron explains how Varroa dest…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1657,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/beekeeping-today-podcast-512758/episodes/bee-science-varroa-mites-with-dewey-caron-bsd-3/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/beekeeping-today-podcast-512758/bee-science-varroa-mites-with-dewey-caron-bsd-3.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}