Diseases of Adult Butterflies

[Paul Cherubini]

Rev Chuck wrote:

> Apis mellifera is, in general, on the demise anyway.  Blame fungal
> blights and overuse of wide spectrum insecticides. 

According to honey bee expert, Prof. Adrian Wenner, the european honey bee (Apis 
mellifera) is on its way back.  Wild colonies in California are now exhibiting good 
resistance to the Varroa mites that nearly wiped out them out in the recent past.

Captive colonies still have a problem with the mites, however, because bee keepers 
havn't given them the opportunity to develope resistance, via natural selection, to the 
mites. Instead, bee keepers have been effectively controlling the mites with a broad 
spectrum synthetic pyrethroid insecticide/miticide known as fluvalinate. Thus, for the last 
several years we have had an ironic situation where captive colonies of this incredibly 
important insect are dependent on a broad spectrum pesticide for their survival!

Many large scale butterfly breeders have also learned how to use pesticides to efficiently 
raise these insects. Herbicides control unwanted weeds in greenhouses. Fungicides 
prevent fungal problems from developing on host plants. Insecticides and miticides 
control, aphids, thrips, whiteflies and various mites that would otherwise kill the larval 
host plants. Insecticide applied to host plants also help control predatory ants, yellow 
jackets, mantids and lady bugs. Chemical disinfectants and sanitizers are used to treat 
host plants and rearing containers to help control potential bacterial, viral and protozoan 
diseases.

Paul Cherubini, El Dorado, California