Dates Employed: 09/1991 to 06/1995

Duties: Graduate student in the Ph.D. program for four years, working as a teaching assistant for biology, then a post doc. Developed a sugar/oil patty to control tracheal mites. Dr. Glen Needham. Phone: 614 292 7609.

Dates Employed: 06/1988 to 09/1991

Sales Manager, Bee Supplies

Duties: Manage beekeeping equipment and supply sales, dealers and customer service; write ads, bee literature and equipment instructions; maintain company hives, give tours, and R&D for new equipment. (Supervisor's Name: John Root. Phone: 1-800-BUYROOT.)

Other Bee Related jobs

09/1981-06/1983 Research Assistant. USDA Honey Bee Research Lab. Madison, WI. Assist in research of floral UV patterns for sunflowers; SEM and TEM of flower and honey bee structures; field and work; teach labs and classes, give demonstrations.

1977–1980 Peace Corps Volunteer. Honey Bee Specialist; Philippines. Write teaching handbook, conduct seminars, write articles; field research on Varroa mites, teach entomology at local university, assist in cottage industries.

job-related courses

2001 Master Gardener’s Course, Penn State University, Univ. Park, PA.

2000 Forensic Entomology, K.C. Kim, Penn State.

1995 Summer Program for Acarology, Mites/ticks of medical and veterinary importance, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.

1994 Instrumental Insemination of Honey Bee Queens, Susan Cobey, instructor OSU.

1992 Summer Program for Acarology, Agricultural Mites, OSU.

Grants Awarded

BARD-USDA grant, 1995-1998

California Almond Board, 1997, 2003

California State Beekeepers Association, 1992, 1993, 1997-1999, 2003

Eastern Apiculture Society Research Foundation, 1994 & 1997

Harry S. Mesloh Scholarship Fund, June 1995

National Assn. Strawberry Growers, 1997

North Dakota Beekeepers Assn. 1997-1998

Ohio Fruit Growers Society, 1996 & 1997

Ohio Rural Rehabilitation Program, 1997

Ohio Vegetable Growers Assn. 1996 & 1997

OSU Service Award, Dept. Entomology, 1995

Tri-County (OH) Beekeepers Assn. 1997

Iowa State Beekeepers Assn. 1998

NM State Beekeepers Assn. 1999

Queen (Honey Bee) Breeders Assn. 1999

S.A.F.E. Technologies, 1999

PMAP (co-PI) 2000

Almond Board of California, 2003:

Investigating Volatiles for Possible Varroa Mite Control D. Sammataro  J. Finley, Dr. J. Hooper, Dr. J. Yoder

CA State Beekeepers Assn.

Determining Bee Volatiles that repel Varroa Mites.  D. Sammataro, J. Finley, Dr. J. Hooper, Dr. J. Yoder

SBIR Phase 1:

The Use of Sulfur for the control of Varroa. PIMA Research and USDA (Sammataro and Hooper)

Organizations and Committees

• Entomological Society of America

• Amer. Assn. Professional Apiculturists

• Council of Ohio State Graduate Students rep. 1993-1994

• Monarch Watch participant

• Peer Reviewer for several journals

Publications: Books

Flottum, P.K. & D. Sammataro. 1988. The New Starting Right with Bees. A.I. Root Co., Medina OH.

Sammataro, D. & A. Avitabile. 1998. The Beekeeper’s Handbook. 3rd ed. Cornell University Press, Ithaca: NY

Sammataro, D. 1997. Diptera (Flies). R.A. Morse, ed. Honey Bee Pests, Predators and Diseases  3rd edition. pp 145-160  The A.I. Root Co., Medina OH.

Sammataro, D. 1995. Studies on the control, behavior and molecular markers of the tracheal mite (Acarapis woodi [Rennie]) of honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Ph.D. dissertation. The Ohio State University, Columbus OH.

Videos and Web page

VARROA MITES: Life Cycle, Detection and Control. 1999. Penn State University AV Dept. D. Sammataro, producer/writer. Second place winner at 1999 Apimondia Conference, Vancouver, B.C.

TRACHEAL MITES 1994. Dissecting mites using the tracheal pull method and 1995 Host-seeking behavior of tracheal mites on honey bees. D. Sammataro, producer/writer. R. Smith, Vesta Video Productions, Toledo, OH.

ANIMAPS Institute of Mathematical Geography, Sandra L. Arlinghaus, William D. Drake, and John D. Nystuen (University of Michigan and Community Systems Foundation) with data and other input from Audra Laug, Kris S. Oswalt, Diana Sammataro; University of Michigan; Community Systems Foundation; Carl Hayden Bee Research Center, (respectively). Animated map of the spread of the varroa mite: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~sarhaus/solstice/sum01/varroa2001.html

Scientific work

Benoit, J. B., J. A. Yoder, D. Sammataro and L. W. Zettler. 2003. Mycoflora and Fungal Vector Capacity of the Parasitic Mite, Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) in Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies. J. Econ. Entomol. In review.

Needham, G.R., U. Gerson & D. Sammataro. 1999. Introduction. In: Mites of the Honey Bee. Webster T.C., K.S. Delaplane, ed. Hamilton, IL: Dadant & Sons.

Ostiguy, N., D. Sammataro. 1999. A Simplified Technique for Counting Varroa Sticky Boards, Apidologie, 31: 707-16.

Robacker, D.C., P.K. Flottum, D. Sammataro & E.H. Erickson, Jr. 1983. Effects of climatic and edaphic factors on soybean flowers and on the subsequent attractiveness of the plants to honey bees. Field Crops Res. 6: 267-78.

Sammataro D, E.H. Erickson, Jr. & M.B. Garment. 1985. Ultrastructure of the sunflower (Helianthus) nectary. J. Apicultural Research 24(3): 150-160.

Sammataro D, G. Degrandi-Hoffman, G.R. Needham & G. Wardell. 1998. Some volatile plant oils as potential control agents for varroa mites (Acari:Varroidae) in honey bee colonies (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Amer. Bee J. 138: 681-685.

Sammataro D, G. Degrandi-Hoffman, N Ostiguy, G. Wardell and J. Finley. 2004. Testing a combination of control strategies to manage varroa mite (Acari: Varroidae) levels in honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colonies. International J. Acarology, 30(1): 71-76.

Sammataro D, J. Finley & S. Camazine. 1999. Shipping conditions of honey bee queens. Amer. Bee J. 139: 713-16.

Sammataro D, M.B. Garment & E.H. Erickson, Jr. 1985. Anatomical features of the sunflower floret. Helia (FAO, Romania):25-31.

Sammataro D, N Ostiguy & M. Frazier. 2002. How to use a PSU/ IPM Varroa board. Amer. Bee J. 142: 363-366.

Sammataro D, S. Cobey, B.H. Smith & G.R. Needham. 1994. Controlling tracheal mites (Acari: Tarsonemidae) in honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) with vegetable oil. J. Econ. Entomol. 57(4): 910-916.

Sammataro D, U. Gerson & G.R. Needham. 2000. Parasitic Mites of Honey Bees: Life History, Implications and Impact. Ann. Rev. Entomol. 45: 517-546.

Sammataro D. & F. D. Guerrero. 2003. A Scientific note on the identification of esterase activity in varroa mites resistant to miticides. Apidologie. In review.

Sammataro D. & G.R. Needham. 1996. Developing an integrated pest management (IPM) scheme for managing parasitic bee mites. Amer. Bee J. 136: 440-443.

Sammataro D. & G.R. Needham. 1996. Host-seeking behaviour of tracheal mites (Acari: Tarsonemidae) on honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Exp. Appl. Acarology, 20: 121-136.

Sammataro D. & G.R. Needham. 1996. How oil affects the behavior of tracheal mites. Amer. Bee J. 136: 511-514.

Sammataro D. 1996. Mechanisms of bee resistance/tolerance to varroa mites. Amer. Bee J. 136: 567-68.

Sammataro D. 1996. Tracheal mites can be suppressed by oil patties. Amer. Bee J. 136: 279-282.

Sammataro D. 1997. Report on parasitic honey bee mites and disease associations. Amer. Bee J. 137: 301-302.

Sammataro D. 2004. Tropilaelaps infestation of honey bees (Troplilaelaps clareae, T. koenigerum). In OIE Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals, 5th ed. Office Internat. Epizoot. Paris, France.

Sammataro, D. and J. Finley. 2004. Observations of the ectoparasitic bee mite Varroa destructor in honey bee (Apis mellifera) cells infected with chalkbrood (Ascosphaera apis). Journal of Apicultural Research, 43 (1): 28-30.

Yoder, J.& D. Sammataro. 2003. Potential to control of Varroa mites (Acari: Varroidae) using chemical ecology. Internat. J. Acarology. 29: 139-143.

Yoder, J., D. Sammataro, J.A. Peterson, G.R. Needham & W.A. Bruce. 1999. Water requirements of adult females of the honey bee parasitic mites, Varroa jacobsoni. (Acari: Varroidae) and implications for control. Internat. J. Acarology. 25: 329-335.

Proceedings and Abstracts

Bell, D., S. Gloor, D. Sammataro & S. Camazine. 1999. Biochemical mechanisms of fluvalinate resistance in varroa mites. Amer. Bee J. 138: 308-9.

Finley, J., D. Sammataro & S. Camazine. 1999. Queen shipment: the missing link between producer and consumer. Proc. Apimondia Congress XXXVI, Vancouver, B.C. p. 243.

Finley, J., D. Sammataro & S. Camazine. 1999. Queens in transit: spying on the post office. Am. B. J. 138: 309.

Ostiguy, N., D. Sammataro & S. Camazine. 1999. How to count Varroa jacobsoni without going blind: a sane approach. Amer. Bee J. 138: 313-14.

Sammataro D, J. Finley & S. Camazine. 1999. Multi-state testing of some essential oils for varroa control. Proc. Apimondia Congress XXXVI, Vancouver, B.C. p. 100.

Sammataro D, J. Finley & S. Camazine. 1999. New approaches to varroa mite management. Proc. Apimondia Congress XXXVI, Vancouver, B.C. p. 143.

Sammataro D, N Ostiguy, J. Finley, M. Frazier, G. Degrandi-Hoffman, & G. Wardell. 2002. A novel IPM approach to managing Varroa jacobsoni mite (Acari: Varroidae) levels in honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colonies. Proc. II International Conf. On Africanized Honey Bees and Bee Mites, Tucson AZ. A.I. Root Co. p. 217.

Sammataro D, N. Ostiguy & M. Frazier. 2001. IPM for Honey Bee Mites. Entomological Soc. America National Meeting, San Diego, CA.

Sammataro D, P. Parker, & G.R. Needham. 1997. Using PCR-based RAPDs (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) to determine differences in tracheal mite Acarapis woodi (Rennie) (Acari: Tarsonemidae) populations. Proc. IX Intn'l Congress of Acarology, 1994; Columbus, OH.

Sammataro D, P.K. Flottum & E.H. Erickson. 1984. Factors contributing to honey bee preferences in sunflower varieties. Proc. Sunflower Res. Workshop. Bismark, ND.

Sammataro D, S. Cobey, B.H. Smith & G.R. Needham. 1997. Vegetable-shortening patties control tracheal mites (Acari: Tarsonemidae) in honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae).  Proc. IX International Congress of Acarology, 1994; Columbus, OH.

Sammataro D. & F. D. Guerrero. 2003. The identification of esterase activity in varroa mites resistant to miticides.  Ento. Soc. Annual Meeting, Cincinnati, OH.

Yoder, J. & D. Sammataro. 1999. Water balance studies of Varroa jacobsoni. Proc. Apimondia Congress XXXVI, Vancouver, B.C. p. 105.

Bee Culture Magazine Articles

1979  Sept. Vol. 114, pp. 458-9: Beekeeping in the Philippines.

1986  May pp. 251-253: Landscaping for home and hive; Aug. pp. 422: Landscaping for home and hive, II; Sept. pp. 461-2: Collecting Honey Bee Stamps; Nov. p. 584: Early Winters: Antique Equipment.

1987  Jan. Vol. 115 pp. 42: Bee Flora: The Milkweeds.

1988  March Vol. 116 pp. 139-141: Apiphilately; Dec. pp. 700-1,709, 722: Res. Review.

1989  Jan. Vol. 117 pp. 10-15, 54: May the Forest Be With You; Wax Flowers (20-21); Feb. pp. 108-11: Package Primer (w/ K. Flottum); March pp. 160-163: Package Primer II; April pp. 226-7: Package Primer III; May pp. 297, 303: Raising Waxies; July pp. 406-7: Duct Tales. (w/ K. Flottum); Aug. pp. 477-479: Simply Wax; Sept. pp. 532-3: Making Molded Candles.

1990  Jan. Vol. 118 pp. 20-6: Deserts, Droughts and the Drying of the American West; April pp. 220-22: Ukrainian Easter; Tracking Tracheal Mites (206-8); May pp. 284-6: Long Live the Queen; Aug. p. 493: Stamps in the News; Oct. pp. 596-9: Making Craftwax and Foundation Candles; Nov. pp. 663-5: Honey Candy.

1991  Jan. Vol. 119  pp. 32-38: Erosion.

1992 July Vol. 120 pp. 393, 396-400:Conducting a honey bee emergency demonstration (now a video).

1993  July Vol. 121  pp. 393-5: Perfect rounds.

1994  Jan. Vol. 122  pp. 30-39: Races. w/PK Flottum

1995 Feb. Vol. 123. pp. 80-81: 9th International Congress of Acarology: A honey bee mite round table. w/ E. Sugden & K. Williams

2002 Sammataro D, N Ostiguy, M. Frazier. How to use a PSU/ IPM Varroa board.

Popular Articles

Sammataro, D. 2002. Honey bees are your swimming pool: not a good mix. August Master Gardner’s Newsletter, Tucson AZ.

Presentations

2004

January. National meetings San Antonio, TX (American Honey Producers) and Jacksonville, FL (American Beekeeping Federation).

2003

January. National meetings in Baton Rouge, LA (American Honey Producers) and Kansas City, (American Beekeeping Federation).

February: Alabama In-Service Training Workshop on Pollination Biology; and AL Beekeepers Assoc. Symposium.

March: Kansas Honey Producers 100^th Anniversary Meeting, keynote speaker

August: IL Beekeeping Short Course.

October: MO State Beekeepers meeting. 

October:  Entomol. Soc. of Am. Meeting, Cincinnati OH. Sammataro, D., J. Finley, and F. D. Guerrero. 2003. Varroa mite (Mesostigmata: Varroidae) resistance to pesticides in honey bee colonies (Hymenoptera: Apidae).

2002 Beekeeping Meetings, Short Courses etc.

May 11. Arivaca Library. How to handle Problem Bees

August 5-9. Eastern Apiculture Society, Ithaca, NY: Short course instructor, workshop and conference presenter. Honey Plants, Mite ID, IPM of Bee Mites.

Nov. 1-2. Oregon State Beekeepers Pest and Disease Workshop.

Dec. Entomology Society of America, National meetings 2002, Invited Speaker at Acarology Conference.

2001 Beekeeping Meetings, Short Courses etc.

Feb 19. Penn. Assoc. for Sustainable Agriculture Penn State University. How to Manage Problems in Honey Bee Colonies.

March 3.Tri-County Beekeepers Assoc. Annual Meeting, Wooster, OH

March 10. Western PA Beekeepers Assn., Beaver Co. PA

March 13. 29th Annual Apiary Inspectors Workshop, Beltsville, MD. All talks on IPM.

August 6-9. Eastern Apiculture Society, Bourne, MA: Short course instructor, conference presenter. IPM of Bee Mites.

August 31. Millbrook Marsh Nature Center. Honey bees: Sweetness and Mites.

Sept. 16. Centre Co. Beekeepers. Demonstration.

Oct. 2. Northeast Agro Forestry/Carbon Conference, Binghamton, NY. Honey from Trees

Oct. 12. Tennessee State Beekeepers Assoc. Nashville (workshop and lecture).

Nov. 10. PA State Beekeepers Assoc. Lewisberg.

Nov. 18. Three B’s and a C Bee Club banquet, Williamsburg, PA.

2000 Beekeeping Meetings, Short Courses etc.

NJ Apiary Inspectors of America, Beltsville, MD

March 11: Beaver Co. Beekeepers; March 23: Centre Co. Beekeepers (PA)

April 10-12: 2nd International Conference on African Bees and Bee Mites; Tucson AZ: Moderator and present IPM 99 work

May 4: Philadelphia Soc. for Promoting Agriculture: Honey Bees, Sweetness and Mites

May 13 Capital Area Bee Beekeeping Short Course

May 18 PA State Bee Inspectors

June 3: NE KS State Beekeepers Annual Meeting, Kansas City

June 17: Carroll Co. Beekeepers, OH

August 31. Millbrook Marsh Nature Center. Important Pollinators.

Oct 11: Centre Co. Beekeepers, PA and Millbrook Marsh Nature Center

Nov. 2 Oregon State Beekeepers Assn. Hood River, OR. IPM of bee mites.

Nov 13 PA State Beekeepers Assn. Lewisburg, PA. State Meeting

OTHER PRESENTATIONS

Apiary Inspectors of America

1994 (all inspectors), 1997 (Ohio inspectors), 1998 & 2001 (PA inspectors).

Beekeeping Meetings, Lectures and Short Courses: State & County

1999 Apimondia 99, Vancouver B.C. International Bee Meeting: Presented two papers— IPM of Bees and Water Balance of Bee Mites; co-authored two other papers; Varroa video presentation (2nd place winner).

Medieval Festival Bee Display on campus; Penn State Bee Short Course, State meetings in: GA, NY, VT, TN, PA, Western CT, York Co. PA

Nov. 19-20: USDA-ARS meeting for bee researchers and stakeholders

1998: MD, SC, OH, MI, CA, CT, NM, NY, PA, VT and GA State Beekeepers

1997: Feb. Ohio Fruit Growers Assn.; March: Michigan State Un. ANR Week; Tri-County BK; Scarlet-Oaks Bee Meeting; April: OH Apiary Inspectors; OH Pickle Growers; June: OH Teachers Assn.; Georgia State BK; MSU Mite Symposium; Aug: Western Apiculture Soc., Tucson; (Oct) MA state BK & Iowa BK; Nov: PA State BK; Dec: Almond Board of California

1996: Feb.10: Archbold Biological Sta., FL for NY Empire State BK; Feb.12: Ohio Fruit Growers Assn.; Mar. 10: Michigan State Un. ANR Week; June 7: Ohio State BK (OSBA) July 19-21: BiOhio OSU, Wooster, OH; July 27: Ohio State BK (OSBA); July 29-31: Eastern Apiculture Society, Harrisonburg, VA.; Sept.19: Farm Science Review, Ohio State University; Oct. 11-13: North Dakota State BK; Oct. 18-20: Michiana BK; Oct. 25-27: Indiana State BK; Nov. 1-3: Arkansas State BK; Nov. 8-10: Empire (New York) State BK; Nov. 11-13: California State BK; Dec. 8: Ent. Soc. America, Louisville, KY.

1991 & 1990, 1994, Urban Geography classes Dr. J. Nystuen, Un. Michigan, Ann Arbor: Importance of Honey Bees in Ag Food Systems.

Eastern Apiculture Society 1989-1999 & 2001-02. Short Course instructor, workshop and conference presenter.

Entomology Society of America, National meetings 1992 & 1993, Organizer of Informal Symposium on Bee Mites. 1993, Invited Speaker at Formal Acarology Conference; 1994, Organizer of Informal Symposium.

Ohio State Fair, 1994 Judge for 4-H show: Exploring our Insect World

Insect Fair, Penn State University 1998 -2001 Helped set up and organize Honey Bee Display; attendance 5,000

ABSTRACT of Dissertation

Title: Studies on the control, behavior, and molecular markers of the tracheal mite (Acarapis woodi (Rennie)) of honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae).

Abstract: The endoparasitic mite, Acarapis woodi (Rennie), a pest of honey bees Apis mellifera L., infests most bee colonies in the United States and has been responsible for 60% of colony losses. Under field conditions, patties made from solid vegetable shortening and white sugar, with or without the addition of an antibiotic, depressed mite populations when applied continuously to bees. Treatment was significant (Site 1, F_2,165=14.95; P<0.001; Site 2, F_2,96=5.541; P<0.001).

To understand why shortening/sugar patties gave bees some protection, mite behavior was videotaped on callow bees (<4 days old), dead bees and bees exposed to an oil patty. Two behaviors were observed and more closely studied. “Habitat-seeking” behavior, when mites seek out a new oviposition site, was disrupted on both dead and oil-treated bees. “Questing” behavior, associated with mite transfer between hosts, increased on dead and oily bees. Both questing (F_2,66 =7.88; P<0.001) and habitat-seeking (F_2,66=21.28, P<0.001) behaviors were significantly different between all three treatments. Oil-treated bees gained protection from habitat-seeking mites because the normal behavior of the mites is interrupted. Questing behavior increased significantly on dead and oily bees, thus exposing the mites for a longer time and increasing the chances of desiccation.

In the decade since its introduction here, the lethal effects of this mite seem to diminish. To determine if this was a change in the lethality of mite populations, infested bees from several states were collected and the mites dissected. RAPDs was used to track possible shifts in genetic markers. Problems of reaction protocols, contamination and clean negative controls were mostly solved by using HPLC water that was not treated to UV light. PCR parameters where annealing temperatures ranged from 38-45C also produced good results. However, because of extremely low mite DNA concentrations, the results were inconclusive.  By testing a dilution series using one bee, it was found that as the concentration of DNA diminished to 0.038ng/ul, more bands in the gel appeared. RAPDs was not a good method of choice; this question still needs to be explored as future techniques are refined.