Worldwide Beekeeping
Beekeeping => Pests and Diseases => Topic started by: Barbarian on September 01, 2016, 10:25:40 am
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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 ?
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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.
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barbarian, if i may ask........where did you read this? i would be interested in reading whatever articles. thanks!
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Thinking one should monitor the temp very carefully to avoid a bee roast.
I read something about this before but can't remember where.
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Seems like this was making the rounds a while back:
http://thermosolarhive.com/en/homepage/
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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.
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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.