I am soliciting viewpoints from the users of this forum regarding preferred non-chemical treatments against Varroa. Our experiences are that resistant bees reduce, but sometimes do not eliminate, the need for supplemental management against Varroa. My sense is that there are quite a few of you who are small- to moderate-scale breeders, who really would like to avoid applying any chemicals to your bees. And, if you sell queens, the same likely goes for at least some of your customers.
So what do you folks do, or what would you prefer to do, if you have to reduce Varroa loads without chemicals? Some possible supplemental management practices include screen bottom boards, powdered sugar drops and drone trapping.
Finally, what if you have to resort to chemicals to spot-treat for mites? What materials do you prefer?
My inquiry stems from a possibility of doing some research that will look for useful combinations of VSH-based genetic resistance and other Varroa management approaches. If we pursue the research, we would like to examine those management practices that the users of resistant bees prefer.
Bob Danka
USDA Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics and Physiology Laboratory
Bob,
We use screened bottom boards on all of our 10 frame hives and VSH stock with re-queening.
We haven't found the need for chemical treatment except for some feral bees we rescued. In such cases we quarantined them and used Apigard while they were on the wired in and pieced together original comb. The old original comb was then removed and replaced.
Zelma Boggess
ZZnature LLC
3334 Ripley Road
Ripley, WV 25271
I plan to incorporate one brood break per hive per year, either managed (late spring) or natural occurring during our August dearth, with VSH stock.
Conducting mite counts last year revealed that 16 feral captured colonies that shut down brood rearing hard during our August dearth, which also coincides with 100 + degree weather here, knocked the heck out of their mite population. I was hard pressed to find any mites at all on most in September and October doing 72 hour natural fall drop testing.
Don Semple
Overland Park, KS
Bob,
RidgeTop Apiaries utilizes two brood breaks. One in the spring when the nectar flow begins (as this does not seem to have an effect on production)and the second one in the fall.
When we use any type of treatment it is generally formic acid because it disipates fairly quickly.
RidgeTop
Baxter,Tn
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I have raised open mated queens off VSH breeders for the last three years. I treat once per year with Apiguard or Apilife Var since it was first available in the U.S. (6yrs?). I haven't stopped doing that because I still see enough DWV and mites to justify treating late in the summer.
Late in the year last year, I lost 25 out of my 75 colonies. My Apiguard treatment finished off a number of colonies that were already having numerous other troubles, possibly Parasitic Mite Syndrome, even though the mites did not seem any where near as bad in year's past when I did not have this problem.
Hi Bob,
I have relied on VSH type queens and Oxalic vapor in the fall. I have inconsistent results with this method. This year I am trying formic with the MiteGone pads from Canada. I need something to treat my nucs and they seem like they will work. I'll know better in the '13 spring.
(02-01-2012 03:59 PM)Bob Danka Wrote: [ -> ]I am soliciting viewpoints from the users of this forum regarding preferred non-chemical treatments against Varroa. Our experiences are that resistant bees reduce, but sometimes do not eliminate, the need for supplemental management against Varroa. My sense is that there are quite a few of you who are small- to moderate-scale breeders, who really would like to avoid applying any chemicals to your bees. And, if you sell queens, the same likely goes for at least some of your customers.
So what do you folks do, or what would you prefer to do, if you have to reduce Varroa loads without chemicals? Some possible supplemental management practices include screen bottom boards, powdered sugar drops and drone trapping.
Finally, what if you have to resort to chemicals to spot-treat for mites? What materials do you prefer?
My inquiry stems from a possibility of doing some research that will look for useful combinations of VSH-based genetic resistance and other Varroa management approaches. If we pursue the research, we would like to examine those management practices that the users of resistant bees prefer.
Bob Danka
USDA Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics and Physiology Laboratory
Don and Ridge Top,
You both mention beaking the brood cycle. But for what length of time?
Maybe this is a stupid question, but to me it makes sense to understand what a brood break really means...
How are you breaking the brood cycle?
BTW i have used Formic and Apiguard gel on high mite hives...
(02-16-2012 03:59 PM)Buffalo Bee Farm Wrote: [ -> ]Don and Ridge Top,
How are you breaking the brood cycle?
Either spring splits, splitting 1 into 4, then letting them raise their own queens.
Or my planned method which is to do fall requeening with the dark vsh x feral/carniolan type bees that should shut down on their own during our late July to Early Sept. dearth.
Don
Thanks.
The only way i can get a brood break in most seasons is to remove the queen or make a split and let them make their own... sometimes we get a good enough dearth to stop brood rearing, but typically only a slow down...
Also to me you would want it long enough to have all the brood hatch with no new larva... this is the problem i have with removing them queen... its too long in my book..