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Varroa Mites

  • 27 Feb 2020 9:10 AM
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    Message # 8776547
    Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Please see Dr. Ramesh Sagili's presentation on Varroa from the TVBA 2/25/2020 meeting.

    Has anyone tested for mites this year yet?  I did my first test a couple of weeks ago in one hive and found no mites yet (200 bee sample).  Last fall same colony was high (17 per 300 after returning from Europe) and I gave three successive oxalic acid vapor treatments, plus one on Dec 15.  Queen going gangbusters currently.

    Last modified: 3 Mar 2020 9:11 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
    Moved from General Bee Topics: 8 Feb 2021 11:36 AM
  • 7 Apr 2020 9:20 AM
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    Reply # 8883864 on 8776547
    Anonymous member

    Mark, I tested in early march, my three hives and two I was watching for a friend.  My numbers were 5, 7 and zero mites for my hives and 2 and 2 for my friends hives.  I did a real light treatment on the 5 and 7 hives and did nothing on the others.  I plan to sample again in a few weeks.
  • 7 Apr 2020 10:19 AM
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    Reply # 8883965 on 8776547
    Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Hi Ted - Great that you are on top of things.  May I ask what type of treatment you used?
  • 7 Apr 2020 7:53 PM
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    Reply # 8884962 on 8776547
    Anonymous

    I’ve had my first package installed for a week and will open for inspection tomorrow, 4/08. I read different ideas about prophylactic treatment for new packages. Some say bee wash. Some say just treat. Others say wait to check. I suppose that if I see any tomorrow I will sugar shake them. I would have a hard time taking out 300 bees from a new colony. What do you all think? Bees are flying, bringing in pollen, and drinking lots of 1:1 syrup.
  • 7 Apr 2020 8:58 PM
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    Reply # 8886715 on 8776547
    Anonymous member (Administrator)

    I believe in checking first.  I don't like the idea not having a baseline before doing treatments.  Some people use just 1/3 of a cup for a 200 bee count and alcohol wash.  I suppose you could use 1/3 cup with sugar shake -- just make sure to keep the bees in the powder for the recommended time, or longer, to get all the mites off.  When I did comparisons a while ago, I found that sugar shake and alcohol wash compared well with each other (for mite counts).  But I think alcohol is still probably a little better than sugar shake.
  • 7 Apr 2020 9:09 PM
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    Reply # 8886721 on 8776547
    Anonymous member

    Mark,  i treated with one pad of MAQS for ten days. I wanted to make sure I could catch the maple bloom.

    Last modified: 8 Apr 2020 6:45 AM | Anonymous member
  • 7 Apr 2020 10:52 PM
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    Reply # 8886796 on 8776547
    Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Oh yeah -- the maple bloom!  How is it looking right now?  I was unable to find a spot in your area this year.  Things just didn't work out.
  • 8 Apr 2020 6:47 AM
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    Reply # 8887157 on 8776547
    Anonymous member

    Mark, the maples are in full bloom now.
  • 10 Apr 2020 5:10 AM
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    Reply # 8891465 on 8776547
    Anonymous member

    My highest mite level measured this year has been 2%, and I treated with Api Life Var, then tested afterwards and got 0%.
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