Author Topic: varroa mites (Read 21539 times)

Marion · « **on:** April 15, 2015, 11:29:39 am »

I just pulled out the varoa mite chart that was in my hive for 3 days. The chart is 10" by 10". I counted 31 varroa mites. Is this serious enough to treat now or can it wait until fall?

Jen · « **Reply #1 on:** April 15, 2015, 11:42:47 am »

Hi Marion, Randy Oliver says to count the amount of mites on the sticky board, multiply it by 100 and that is how many mites are still in the hive, on the bees, and in the capped brood. My personal method is if I count 10 mites on my sticky board that means I have at least 1,000 mites of destruction in the hive, I Treat! And it holds true every time I treat I get from 1,000 - 2,000 mite kill.

This site scientificbeekeeping.com is a wonderful learning place for beekeepers.

http://scientificbeekeeping.com/fighting-varroa-reconnaissance-mite-sampling/

Perry · « **Reply #2 on:** April 15, 2015, 12:23:35 pm »

That's 10 mites a day over three days, and it's spring time. Treat!

Marion · « **Reply #3 on:** April 15, 2015, 04:10:30 pm »

I will do this tomorrow. I have some MAQS strips. Thank you both for the advice.

pistolpete · « **Reply #4 on:** April 15, 2015, 10:28:22 pm »

Like Perry said, it's Spring time. The same number of mites in the middle of summer would be no cause for alarm. In the spring you wan to re-set your mite count to near zero so they won't get our of control before you pull your honey sometime in August. Mite counts also have to be considered in relation to colony strength. 1000 mites in a colony that's 3 boxes deep and bursting with bees is no big deal. The same number in a weak colony is disastrous.

Jen · « **Reply #5 on:** April 16, 2015, 01:07:42 am »

Hi Marion, I wanted to you to see this. Last Sunday I did my first of three Oxalic Treatments. Before the treatment I counted somewhere around 15 mites on my sticky board, and then cleaned it off prior to my first treatment so I would get a clear idea of how many mites the treatment killed. There is over 1,000 mites on this board since the first treatment. That is 1,000 too many mites for my liking

Each hive is it's own universe so to speak. I did the exact same method of treatment, the same day, on the hive next door to the one above, and got only 100 mite kill. Still that is 100 too many mites sucking fluids out of my bees.

It will be interesting to see how many mites are killed after your treatment

Marion · « **Reply #6 on:** April 16, 2015, 07:26:02 am »

Jen, I'm thinking of purchasing the set up you have for treating. I know you have one of those vaporizers, but what do you use for medication?

Perry how do you treat for varoa mites?

Perry · « **Reply #7 on:** April 16, 2015, 08:40:36 am »

I have gone with the Mite Away Quick Strips the last 3 falls. I also have a Varrox oxalic acid vapourizer to use as a "finisher" in case the formic doesn't do its thing (due to weather/temp).

Oxalic acid really only works during broodless periods (late fall) but if used multiple times it can be effective as well so I understand. From an efficiency point of view that would work for a hobbyist with a few hives, but for me multiple visits is not at all efficient.
I have never treated in the spring simply because of my concern for potential contamination if treatment periods run too close to my adding supers for a flow.

Ray4852 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 16, 2015, 09:01:04 am »

I treated my hives the other day with oxalic acid vapor. I checked my nite drop today. All hives are ok for now. I will treat again in June. I probably will have some mites. I treat again in august and treat one more time before I wrap the hives for the winter.

Marion

look at the date on your formic pads. If there out of date don’t use it. You can harm your queen.

Jen · « **Reply #9 on:** April 16, 2015, 12:59:21 pm »

Oxalic Acid is what you want to buy 99.6 % pure. You can get it at most hardware stores and some say they found it at their pharmacy. I have read to not use Wood Bleach, that it may contain other additives that could harm the bees. I bought mine thru Amazon.com.

This is a picture of Oxalic Acid just for you to see, but it's not the one I bought thru Amazon

http://shop.chemicalstore.com/navigation/detail.asp?id=OX014D

I do three treatments, 3 sundays in a row. That covers the 21 day hatching period of brood. It's real easy, it doesn't faze the bees in any way and there is no concern that it will harm the queen. On top of that Oxalic Acid also treats for tracheal mites, a double bonus.

I have screen bottom boards, and slide the sticky board under it, it's there all year long, I check it every couple weeks or so, when I have ten mites on the board I treat

Marion · « **Reply #10 on:** April 16, 2015, 02:13:52 pm »

I went into the hive and moved a couple of frames around so that 2 unworked frames were at the outer edge of both of my deeps. There are about 4 frames of honey in each deep. I noticed that the unworked frame that I had placed next to the brood ball a week ago was about 1/3 worked on one side. I was going to move that frame furthur out but since they like it I left it there. I saw pollen in the hive and more coming in. I did not see any eggs or larva yet. I did not see the queen.

I placed two MAQS strips between the two deeps and took the honey super off until next week. They don't need it yet and I don't want to contaminate it.

RayR852 - Thanks for the heads up. The MAQS strips actually expired last month, but I used them because I have nothing else at this time. Will keep that in mind in the future. I may buy the vaporizer and oxalic acid for my next treatment.

Thanks Jen for the info.

Marion · « **Reply #11 on:** April 16, 2015, 04:39:45 pm »

Jen, Amazon looks like they are getting away from selling the oxalic acid. Ebay has it but I'm worried it might not be the right stuff. It says 99.6% pure and it removes rust etc. Does that sound right?

Jen · « **Reply #12 on:** April 16, 2015, 05:08:17 pm »

I sure hope Amazon will still keep it on with oxalic acid being approved in the US now.

I'm seeing if link works
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=oxalic+acid+for+beekeeping#/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_12?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=oxalic+acid+vaporizer&sprefix=oxalic+acid+%2Caps%2C372&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aoxalic+acid+vaporizer

Okay, it works, as long as it says 99% it fine. You'll only need a 2 pound bag, it doesn't take very much oa for the treatment, like 1/2 tsp maybe.

iddee · « **Reply #13 on:** April 16, 2015, 05:24:48 pm »

The wood bleach I bought at Lowe's lumber says 100% oxalic acid. I don't know why it wouldn't work if 99.6% will.

Marion · « **Reply #14 on:** April 16, 2015, 06:53:42 pm »

When you enter in 99.6% pure those items that show may not be offered again on Amazon. I ordered a 1 lb bag of 99% from the site you provided, Jen. I also orderd a varocleaner Vaporizer from OxaVap. I'll be ready, only wished I had put more thought into it before now. My queen will be held up for a week and i hope she survives the MAQS strips.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #15 on:** April 16, 2015, 07:29:10 pm »

Let us all know how the varocleaner works if you would please?
I have the Varrox Vaporizor and really like it, but it is a bit pricy.. There is some information on using OAV here;
http://www.outyard.net/treatments.html

Randy Oliver has some good info on his site as well. The Oxavap site you probably already know about. If you havent read all the info they have it is some good reading.

Jen · « **Reply #16 on:** April 16, 2015, 08:58:41 pm »

I used MAQS before the OA vap purchase, and everything was just fine. It would be my second choice now

pistolpete · « **Reply #17 on:** April 16, 2015, 10:29:21 pm »

Jen, I would not bee so quick to dismiss Oxalic acid vapour as harmless to the bees. It is in fact fairly toxic at the concentrations required to kill mites. Some eggs and open brood may be killed and the adult bees may also suffer minor tissue damage. Of all the organic acids, Oxalic has the largest gap in toxicity to the mites versus the bees, but it is toxic to both. I would also be willing to bet that mites will become resistant to OA treatments over time. Every time you treat it's the mites with the thickest carapace that will survive. Give it a decade or two and you'll see. Don't get me wrong, I think that oxalic is the best treatment available right now, but it's not a magic bullet.

Jen · « **Reply #18 on:** April 16, 2015, 11:16:33 pm »

Hi Pete ~ Now you just had to go and make it complicated ~ siiiiiiiigh rolling eyes ~

kidding

But thank you for this last sentence:

"Don't get me wrong, I think that oxalic is the best treatment available right now, but it's not a magic bullet"

riverbee · « **Reply #19 on:** April 16, 2015, 11:23:10 pm »

pete's not making it complicated jen, no need to sigh and roll your eyes..........pete is probably right, and it is not a magic bullet. nothing is. that's a fact.

"Jen, I would not bee so quick to dismiss Oxalic acid vapour as harmless to the bees. It is in fact fairly toxic at the concentrations required to kill mites. Some eggs and open brood may be killed and the adult bees may also suffer minor tissue damage. Of all the organic acids, Oxalic has the largest gap in toxicity to the mites versus the bees, but it is toxic to both. I would also be willing to bet that mites will become resistant to OA treatments over time. Every time you threat it's the mites with the thickest carapace that will survive. Give it a decade or two and you'll see. Don't get me wrong, I think that oxalic is the best treatment available right now, but it's not a magic bullet."