Worldwide Beekeeping

Beekeeping => Pests and Diseases => Topic started by: Jen on March 08, 2016, 12:02:45 pm

Title: With Les In Mind; Article on Varroa Mites
Post by: Jen on March 08, 2016, 12:02:45 pm: This was on my fb page this morning, thought it would be of note to those of you over in the north east states

http://www.michiganbees.org/2016/why-did-my-honey-bees-die/
Title: Re: With Les In Mind; Article on Varroa Mites
Post by: apisbees on March 08, 2016, 04:19:34 pm: Very good article It confirms what I have been preaching for the last 10 years Treat early. For me it is the middle of August so the bees that are emerging the 1st of September are as free of the mites as possible.
Quote
No records that varroa was under control. Notice that this says ‘varroa was under control’, and not that ‘the colony was treated’. You may have applied a treatment, but it may have been too little, or (more likely) too late. This year was a particularly difficult year for this, because in Michigan we had a really late summer – it stayed warm enough for beekeepers to go into their hives well into October. Many beekeepers took the extra time to put on a varroa treatment, thinking that they were lucky to get one in. While that treatment could help the bees for next season, it was too late for this winter. September and October treatments would have been applied after varroa had gotten to their winter bees. Winter bees are born in the fall, and with their special fat deposits that allow them to live through the winter months, they are the one who carry the colony to the next season. If the winter bees have already been infected with viruses, the damage is done. No amount of treatment or varroa drop would bring the colony back.
Title: Re: With Les In Mind; Article on Varroa Mites
Post by: badgerbeekernube66 on March 08, 2016, 06:01:25 pm: Thanks for the educational read jen.
Title: Re: With Les In Mind; Article on Varroa Mites
Post by: Michelle on March 08, 2016, 06:39:46 pm: Thanks Jen! :P
Title: Re: With Les In Mind; Article on Varroa Mites
Post by: Lburou on March 08, 2016, 11:12:50 pm: Good article. Thanks for sharing it Jen. :)
Title: Re: With Les In Mind; Article on Varroa Mites
Post by: Les on March 09, 2016, 08:41:25 am: Thanks Jen. My hive fit all the criteria. I thought the white crystals were from the sugar patties. Another lesson learned. I am so glad I took pictures of every frames.
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs16.postimg.cc%2F67o8l2rsx%2Fimage.jpg&hash=9b777bf47ffd8a9126449c681ee6be0dd137f066) (http://postimg.cc/image/67o8l2rsx/)
Title: Re: With Les In Mind; Article on Varroa Mites
Post by: apisbees on March 09, 2016, 11:48:44 am: Les the crystals on the bees are ones from sugar. Crystals from mites will be on the side of the cells.
Title: Re: With Les In Mind; Article on Varroa Mites
Post by: Jen on March 09, 2016, 12:07:35 pm: Good pic of the bees Les... Are the bees in pic dead? for learning purposes
Title: Re: With Les In Mind; Article on Varroa Mites
Post by: Les on March 09, 2016, 06:27:34 pm: All dead :sad:
Title: Re: With Les In Mind; Article on Varroa Mites
Post by: riverbee on March 10, 2016, 12:08:13 am: les, what apis said, sugar crystals.

awesome article jen!
Title: Re: With Les In Mind; Article on Varroa Mites
Post by: Bee Commander on March 10, 2016, 09:07:12 am: Cystalized Bee Pee.... Yuck. Great article. Soooo glad I found OAV, its been a life saver (bee saver).