TooBee...
Field Bee
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2017
- Messages
- 583
- Reaction score
- 2
- Location
- Ireland
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 2+ nucs
Came across this article, after visiting a website promoting Warre Hives, in which it started that under some circumstances a Anti-Varroa Screened Bottom Board could increase Varroa! However upon speed reading the pdf it is in Canada where their swings to low temperatures are much greater than in the UK.
I have pasted the "Recommendations" below and emphasized the part that got my attention.
"Based on the results obtained during the two years of trials, we are convinced that the anti-varroa bottom board is a good means of slowing the progression of the varroa mite population in the colonies ... The anti-varroa bottom board should however be used with a closed bottom in order to not, contrary to the desired result, encourage an accelerated increase in the varroa mite population which would follow a lowering of the hive temperature. This word of caution is very important. The bottom must be closed by means of a movable drawer that permits, at regular intervals, a cleaning of accumulated hive debris. This drawer is also useful for sampling purposes. We also recommend that the distance between the bottom of the sampling drawer and the screen be at least 4 cm (1 5/8”) to prevent the re-entry of the varroa mites into the hive..."
http://www.calgarybeekeepers.com/Bee-Club-Library-2/AV-BOTTOM_BOARD1.pdf
I don't want to start and argument, but I do know that most of us use this system of Varroa control and there is some debate as to whether or not the floor should be closed or not during the Winter; I was not aware Varroa could not climb back into the brood area if it fell 4cm+ below the comb? Just food for thought.
I have pasted the "Recommendations" below and emphasized the part that got my attention.
"Based on the results obtained during the two years of trials, we are convinced that the anti-varroa bottom board is a good means of slowing the progression of the varroa mite population in the colonies ... The anti-varroa bottom board should however be used with a closed bottom in order to not, contrary to the desired result, encourage an accelerated increase in the varroa mite population which would follow a lowering of the hive temperature. This word of caution is very important. The bottom must be closed by means of a movable drawer that permits, at regular intervals, a cleaning of accumulated hive debris. This drawer is also useful for sampling purposes. We also recommend that the distance between the bottom of the sampling drawer and the screen be at least 4 cm (1 5/8”) to prevent the re-entry of the varroa mites into the hive..."
http://www.calgarybeekeepers.com/Bee-Club-Library-2/AV-BOTTOM_BOARD1.pdf
I don't want to start and argument, but I do know that most of us use this system of Varroa control and there is some debate as to whether or not the floor should be closed or not during the Winter; I was not aware Varroa could not climb back into the brood area if it fell 4cm+ below the comb? Just food for thought.