Author Topic: Varroa, Solar Heat Treatment, Hive Temperature  (Read 2146 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Barbarian

  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 503
  • Thanked: 28 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
Varroa, Solar Heat Treatment, Hive Temperature
« on: September 01, 2016, 10:25:40 am »
I have been given some sheets of clear, rigid Perspex.
I have read that on a sunny day, if the roof and inner cover are replaced by a Perspex cover, this can reduce the varroa in a hive.
The Perspex cover is used for 150 minutes. This increases the hive temperature to 40*C. At this temperature the mites fall off the bees (and through a varroa floor).

Has anyone tried this or had feedback ?
" Another Owd Codger "

Offline Wandering Man

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1839
  • Thanked: 175 times
  • Gender: Male
    • Life Lessons from dogs, bees and others
  • Location: Victoria, Texas
Re: Varroa, Solar Heat Treatment, Hive Temperature
« Reply #1 on: September 01, 2016, 11:10:51 am »
I put a plastic cover on a box and call it a solar wax melter. So, this sounds dangerous.

In South Texas a frame of drawn comb will melt in about a half hour inside my box.
Never argue with drunks or crazy people

Offline riverbee

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 8924
  • Thanked: 410 times
  • Gender: Female
  • ***Forum Sponsor***
  • Location: El Paso Twp, Wisconsin
Re: Varroa, Solar Heat Treatment, Hive Temperature
« Reply #2 on: September 01, 2016, 11:14:42 pm »
barbarian, if i may ask........where did you read this?  i would be interested in reading whatever articles.  thanks!

i keep wild things in a box..........™
if you obey the rules, you miss all the fun.....katherine hepburn
Forum Sponsor

Offline neillsayers

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 2173
  • Thanked: 197 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Arkansas Ozarks, U.S.A.
Re: Varroa, Solar Heat Treatment, Hive Temperature
« Reply #3 on: September 01, 2016, 11:31:03 pm »
Thinking one should monitor the temp very carefully to avoid a bee roast.

I read something about this before but can't remember where.
Neill Sayers
Herbhome Bees
USDA Zone 7a

Offline Wandering Man

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1839
  • Thanked: 175 times
  • Gender: Male
    • Life Lessons from dogs, bees and others
  • Location: Victoria, Texas
Re: Varroa, Solar Heat Treatment, Hive Temperature
« Reply #4 on: September 02, 2016, 12:37:53 am »
Seems like this was making the rounds a while back:

http://thermosolarhive.com/en/homepage/

Never argue with drunks or crazy people

Offline LazyBkpr

  • Gold Member
  • Posts: 6842
  • Thanked: 205 times
  • Gender: Male
  • www.outyard.net
    • The Outyard
  • Location: Richland Iowa
Re: Varroa, Solar Heat Treatment, Hive Temperature
« Reply #5 on: September 06, 2016, 07:01:10 pm »
I have, in my perusing and studying read that Heat and Humidity DO make a difference in Varroa mite reproductive cycles and numbers. However, the difference was not enough to mean the survival, or extinction of a hive..

   The bees will STRUGGLE with everything htey have to keep a hive at a specific temperature, it keeps their brood alive, dehydrates their nectar into honey, etc...  If you try to change the environment within, they will work however hard they have to to KEEP you from changing it.. so.. NO, it is my personal opinion that it is not a good idea.
Drinking RUM before noon makes you a PIRATE not an alcoholic!

*Sponsor*

Offline Barbarian

  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 503
  • Thanked: 28 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
Re: Varroa, Solar Heat Treatment, Hive Temperature
« Reply #6 on: September 09, 2016, 05:03:38 am »
I came across this technique on a UK forum.

The link is ..... www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?p=533220

I think that it might be better to try it at a home apiary. The state of the hive could be monitored in the 150 minutes of treatment. A meaningful measure of effect might be to record mite drop for a couple weeks, then try the sheet of Perspex. A comparison of the mite drop could be made.
" Another Owd Codger "