Search results

Sure - logged in from 2 different devices - given the trolling that goes on I will retain @Bazzer

Never heard of him 😉

No thank you - happy to let the readers decide whether your proposition is true or not.

I have also read that maintenance of a high humidity can lower mite counts although this will also be a function of the hive design

Basically vapour pressure of acetic acid is around 8.4mmHg at 15°C Coverting to atm = 8.4/750 = 0.0112 atm Deep brood box has volume of 50 litre so using PV=nRT , number of moles of acetic acid needed = 0.0112 ×50/0.0821×288= 0.024 moles Mol wt acetic acid = 60 60×0.024 = 1.4 g Using 80%...

The quantities recommended are completely bonkers from a physical chemistry point of view. At a temperature of say 15C only about 2ml of acetic acid are required to reach the saturated vapour pressure in a sealed system

I am not well isolated but because the breeding conditions are typically poor I think my hardy drones tend to win out over incomers. Some early willow out here but 2 weeks before most are in flower. Not enough forage for italians - would probably spend all my time feeding them.

I have only kept them for 50 years so still a lot to learn. My bees are bred for cold, wet and windy winters and summers - would probably not suffer enough to succeed in Finland...

Sure - if you have open mesh floors makes a lot of sense though does require two trips to the apiary

Will not give an exact count but if working with hives that do not have open mesh floor or a varroa board it is a useful tool for monitoring increases and selection for resistance without killing bees - very easy and quick to do

No debate -absolutely true for you if you have been selecting for needing treatment since 1987

Made my own one - can get a CO2 bike tyre inflator and joined two screw top plastic jars together across OMF mesh

So how do you know if you NEED to treat them? This is like a doctor prescribing antibiotics to every patient regardless of whether they have a bacterial or viral infection. Most of my colonies now do not need treating and the percentages increase as I select for those that don't.

What is the typical number of mites per hundred bees for your colonies in spring, summer , autumn?

The legislation is expected to come into law in Scotland on 21st April 2021. The reason it is being done earlier in Scotland is that it needs to be passed before the parliament closes down for the election in May.

My solution would be for Scottish Inspectorate to simply say all colonies will be assumed to have varroa unless certified otherwise. At a stroke no paperwork except for those wanting to provie they are varroa free for trade purposes.

Yes Luis told me exactly a similar scheme is being brought in within England and Wales

See the letter below that was sent out to Beekeeepers in Scotland this evening. Dear Beekeepers, I am writing to you with a quick update on the previously announced changes to The Bee Diseases and Pests Control (Scotland) Order 2007 in order to make Varroa spp reportable in Scotland. The Bee...

Looks fine in that they will go up if forced to - but unless you block the ends they will simply fly round the corners.

Aerated concrete blocks are similar size but much lighter