On November 4, 2024, DATCP staff attended the Wisconsin Monarch Collaborative (WMC) summit in Wisconsin Dells. The WMC is a partnership aimed at conserving and enhancing monarch butterfly populations and their habitats in Wisconsin. This collaboration involves various stakeholders, including state agencies, non-profit organizations, scientists, and local communities working together to implement strategies that support monarch conservation. The WMC focuses on habitat restoration, public education, and community engagement to promote the planting of milkweed and nectar plants, which are essential for the monarch’s lifecycle. The WMC has six working groups working to achieve common goals: Agriculture, Urban & Greenspace, Energy & Transportation, Communications & Outreach, Research & Monitoring, and Protected Lands. The Mission of MWC is to facilitate conservation and recovery of monarch butterflies and their habitat in Wisconsin. Find more information at the Wisconsin Monarch Collaborative website.
On December 12, 2024, the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service announced a proposed rule to list the monarch butterfly as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act. The announcement came after research showed that eastern monarch populations have declined by 80%, and western monarch populations have declined by 95% since the 1980s, impacted by loss of habitat, pesticides, and climate change. Hopefully, this listing will help boost recovery efforts by WMC and others of this iconic native pollinator.
What can you do to help Monarchs?
1. Create habitat.
By planting native milkweed and nectar plants, we can increase habitat. In Wisconsin, there are 12 native species. Monarchs lay their eggs only on milkweed, which provides food for the monarch caterpillars. The WMC is urging licensed nurseries to offer more species of milkweed to Wisconsin consumers in both seed and plant form.
2. Limit the use of pesticides.
Monarch habitat should have little to no exposure to pesticides.
3. Cut back on mowing.
During May-September, cut back on mowing habitat when monarchs are breeding and laying eggs or when caterpillars are present.
4. Create windbreaks.
Monarchs benefit from wind breaks and sheltered areas when turning from caterpillar to adult.
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 The DATCP Apiary Program is tasked with monitoring honey bees coming into the state as well as those leaving the state to help prevent the spread of unwanted honey bee pests and diseases. Admin. Code § ATCP 21.13(1)(a) states that “No person may ship live honey bees or used beekeeping equipment into this state without first reporting the import shipment to the department in writing.”
The requirements are straightforward: the beekeeper bringing honey bees or used beekeeping equipment into Wisconsin reports their import shipment before the arrival and provides a valid Certificate of Apiary Inspection issued within the last 12 months. Honey bee import reports can be submitted online here, emailed to DATCPapiary@wisconsin.gov or mailed to:
DATCP State Apiarist
PO Box 8911
Madison, WI 53708-8911
If you have submitted an import report in the past, you may notice that this year's form is a bit shorter! We have worked hard to remove redundant questions and make sure that we are collecting accurate information from our beekeepers. When you submit your report, please also email you certificate of apiary inspection (if issued outside Wisconsin) to DATCPapiary@wisconsin.gov.
There is no fee associated with filing honey bee import reports.
 Varroa mite (left) and Tropilaelaps mite (right). Tropi mite body is longer than it is broad, all eight legs are visible from above, hold front two legs like antennae and move with a start/stop motion.
— Tropilaelaps mites are not yet known to be in North America —
Tropilaelaps [Tro-pil-lay-laps) mites are a parasitic mite of growing concern for North American beekeepers. More specially, Tropilaelaps mercedesae, as it has been able to successfully switch its host to parasitize Apis mellifera (the western honey bee) and has expanded its geographical range to colder climates with winter brood breaks, which it was not anticipated to be able to do.
Tropilaelaps (Tropi) are smaller than varroa measuring only about 1/3 as wide but similar in length. Their life cycles are similar as they both feed on developing brood. However, what makes Tropi more destructive is that it uses multiple feeding sites which can create deformities as well as vector viruses. Female Tropi mites do not need nor are they believed to be able to feed on adult bees before reproducing, so their dispersal (used to be called phoretic) phase is no longer than two days with them often immediately infesting a new brood cell. Tropi lay one egg every 24 hours compared to varroa laying every 30 hours, meaning their population growth surpasses that of varroa and often outcompetes varroa.
Some promising research on monitoring and management of Tropi has come to light, but much of our options are still being researched. Detection methods, in order of high to low sensitivity, include sticky boards, brood cell examination (minimum 100 cells), bump test, powdered sugar shake, and alcohol wash. Promising controls include Formic Pro, Thymol based miticides, and brood breaks.
 If you think you’ve detected Tropilaelaps mites in your hive:
Collect it! The more samples you collect from the hive, the better. Collect hive debris, pupae, adult bees, brood frame, and comb. Don’t forget to take clear photos and a short video of the suspected mite.
Store it! Put hive materials collected dry in a container with alcohol and store in on the counter. Bee samples collected dry in a container and store in the freezer.
Report it! Contact DATCP's Apiary Program at datcpapiary@wisconsin.gov or (608) 807-6589, the State Plant Regulatory Official, or the State Plant Health Director (Regional USDA).
Tropi look a-alikes. Pollen mite (left), Braula fly (top middle), Tropi mite (bottom middle), Varroa mite (right). Photo by AHPA Bee Unit York. UK Crown Copyright.
OIE Terrestial Manual 2018.
 Northern Giant Hornet, Vespa mandarina, photo by Brittanica.com
In a significant victory against invasive species, the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) have declared the northern giant hornet (NGH / Vespa mandarina) eradicated from the United States as of December 19, 2024, following three years without confirmed sightings. NGH, the world’s largest hornet, is native to Asia. Northen giant hornets pose a serious threat to honey bees, crops, and other pollinators, as they can destroy a hive by decapitating thousands of honey bees in just 90 minutes.
The impressive eradication effort began in September 2019, after an NGH colony that had been introduced was detected and destroyed in British Columbia, Canada. An NGH adult was later detected in Blaine, Washington in December 2019 leading to the detection and destruction of a colony in Washington in 2020; and three additional colonies that were detected and destroyed in Washington in 2021. In the last three years, no additional hornets have been found despite ongoing monitoring efforts. Collaboration between local, state, and federal government agencies; the general public; and community groups were key to successful NGH eradication and offers insights into future invasive species efforts. About half of confirmed sightings initially came from reports from the general public.
WSDA remains vigilant, with plans to continue monitoring and trapping in 2025 as a precautionary measure. Wisconsin beekeepers, farmers, and state officials are breathing a sigh of relief knowing that NGH is less likely to be threatening our honey bees and crop pollination. Learn more about Northern Giant Hornet on our factsheet here: https://datcp.wi.gov/Documents/NothernGiantHornetFactsheet.pdf.
 This past year, our apiary team accomplished a lot! In June, the new Apiary Program Coordinator was hired and began performing colony inspections. Donna Stine retired at the end of the season and is already greatly missed. Patrick Sizemore has been hired on for the winter as a Communications Specialist and is working to update our website and Pollinator Protection Plan.
For the fourteenth year, Wisconsin participated in the USDA APHIS National Honey Bee Survey (NHBS) to examine a subset of colonies for Varroa mites, Tropilaelaps mites, Nosema levels, viral pathogens, and other exotic pests. Samples were also taken to be analyzed for pesticide residues. To date, no Wisconsin samples have ever tested positive for Tropilaelaps spp., Apis mellifera capensis, or Slow Bee Paralysis Virus.
2024 HIGHLIGHTS:
- provided 196 free voluntary inspections
- opened 736 hives for voluntary inspections
- collected 24 samples for the National Honey Bee Survey
- 14 beekeepers samples once during the season
- Five beekeepers samples twice during the season
- issued 52 WI Certificates of Inspection for 29 migratory beekeepers
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34,196 colonies certified for interstate movement
- Mostly going to California and Texas
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45 Wisconsin Honey Bee Import Reports received comprising:
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52,694 bee hives
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10,850 packages
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4,790 nucs
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13,892 queens
- attended five outreach events reaching ~300 attendees
- submitted 26 samples from 10 beekeepers to the National Agricultural Genotyping Center for molecular diagnostic testing, including confirmation of American Foulbrood 0.41% of hives.
- Observed deformed wing virus in 6.85% of hives (4.96% in 2023); chalkbrood in 3.63% of hives (3.90% in 2023); and European Foulbrood in 1.34% of hives (2.66% in 2023).
The primary purpose of our free, voluntary inspections is to look for honey bee pest and disease issues and talk to beekeepers about best management practices. If you would like to request an apiary inspection during the 2025 season, fill out this form here.
Find more information about Wisconsin's Apiary Program and the Wisconsin Pollinator Protection Plan by visiting the DATCP website.
Division of Agricultural Resource Management | Bureau of Plant Industry
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