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Author Topic: Waaay too many mites Yikes!  (Read 7121 times)

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Offline Jen

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Waaay too many mites Yikes!
« on: September 09, 2014, 11:03:22 pm »
This is what happens when mama doesn't check the hive in 4 weeks. There is close to 1,000 mites on this sticky board, plus to much evidence of wax moth for my taste, but I just did a thorough inspection yesterday and there is no wax moth on any of the frames, so the bees are healthy enough to combat the wax moth.  Oxalic Acid treatments scheduled on calender for this weekend.






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Offline pistolpete

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Re: Waaay too many mites Yikes!
« Reply #1 on: September 09, 2014, 11:12:11 pm »
It's normal to get a fairly large natural drop this time of year.   The mite population is peaking, while the bee population is shrinking.   In addition, the brood nest is undergoing a very large downsizing.  All this adds up to a lot more phoretic mites (the ones on adult bees).  Phoretic mites are a lot more likely to end up in the basement.   I'm not saying you should not treat, just that your mite load is not unusual.    I get a very large mite drop right around first frost. 
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Offline Perry

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Re: Waaay too many mites Yikes!
« Reply #2 on: September 10, 2014, 06:40:03 am »
Question Jen, have you ever tried formic acid (MAQS)? One treatment and it even kills the mites in capped brood cells.
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Offline CpnObvious

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Re: Waaay too many mites Yikes!
« Reply #3 on: September 10, 2014, 06:58:13 am »
Quote from: Perry on September 10, 2014, 06:40:03 am
Question Jen, have you ever tried formic acid (MAQS)? One treatment and it even kills the mites in capped brood cells.

Perry,
I've used it... but this time of year our inspector, as well as a few others in the area I'm starting to connect with, recommend waiting until the middle of October and use Apivar strips.  MAQS is a great product, but doesn't seem to be recommended this time of year because it can cause the queen to stop laying for even up to 7 days which, this time of year, can be detrimental to the hive.

This is what I've pieced together through a ton of reading and some good, old-fashioned conversation.  You're further North than I am.  What are your thoughts on this?
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Offline Perry

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Re: Waaay too many mites Yikes!
« Reply #4 on: September 10, 2014, 07:16:13 am »
I've used MAQS the last 2 years with good results (28 of 29, and 48 of 51). I have seen some minor disruption in eggs laying with some hives. I check after a week when the formic is spent. I have found eggs, older larvae and capped brood, but an obvious gap in young larvae representing a minor disruption in egg laying. It does not appear to set the hives back any as the queens seem to start egg laying with vigour after that.
Just my observation. I have 1 yard left to do and that is going to happen this morning.
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Offline Jen

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Re: Waaay too many mites Yikes!
« Reply #5 on: September 10, 2014, 12:15:47 pm »
Hi Perry and Cpn  :)  Last year I used MAQS on my one hive. It works just fine, and I don't have any trepidation using it. It saved my hive last year, which was to the point of deformed wing virus. I didn't know that I had a problem until I posted a pic on 'the other forum' and a kind gentleman from Denmark sent me a paniced facebook pm and said to use MAQS immediately if not sooner, then go to Oxalic Acid treatments. I did. I like OA because there is no disruption in the hive what so ever, it's easy to use, and once set up only costs pennies to use....  well okay, maybe dimes  :)
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Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: Waaay too many mites Yikes!
« Reply #6 on: September 15, 2014, 10:06:02 am »
Treating 40 hives for a dollar seems like pennies to me!!!   And then every time you treat again the "cost" falls further..
  I really dislike the disruption and problems caused by most treatments, but that is NOT why I dont use them..  I WOULD use them if I ever needed to.. I am just too CHEAP to pay that kind of money when I do not feel it does not need to be spent..   Ten dollars of OAV will treat 400 Plus hives. It does NOT disrupt the hive in ANY WAY that i have been able to discern.   My three treatments are done, I still have all my queens, and I did not notice any brood taken out. No extra/different bearding after treatment. All is well at this point!  Oh, and two mite counts per apiary I didnt find ANY mites, so I have returned to confidence and comfort in the use of OAV!
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Offline Jen

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Re: Waaay too many mites Yikes!
« Reply #7 on: September 15, 2014, 12:11:27 pm »
Me Too  :)  we did the 3 treatment last spring, no mites all summer long, now there are mites, so I figure a treatement in the spring and a treatment in the fall... and all is well  ;D
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Offline Yankee11

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Re: Waaay too many mites Yikes!
« Reply #8 on: September 22, 2014, 11:41:29 pm »
I started a OA treatment Saturday on a hive with a newly painted entrance. After the vapors started coming out I saw this little round bug coming out of the hives. I believe it was a mite getting the heck outta Dodge.

I laughed, something only a beek would understand I guess.  :D
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Offline Jen

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Re: Waaay too many mites Yikes!
« Reply #9 on: September 23, 2014, 01:14:00 am »
Sounds like a mite to me, but he's still dead. Did you plug up the entrance Yankee?
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