- Joined
- Jul 23, 2009
- Messages
- 36,109
- Reaction score
- 16,685
- Location
- Ceredigion
- Hive Type
- 14x12
- Number of Hives
- 6
It’s what I dThanks - do you think I could just treat using OA twice a year or should I use Apiguard as the other treatment
It’s what I dThanks - do you think I could just treat using OA twice a year or should I use Apiguard as the other treatment
Not really, but you've done well to get to grips with the problem.Is it always this difficult to kill the little b____rs
What I have noticed is that some colonies - even apiaries - thrive with minimal treatments yet others have regular heavy varroa loads.discover why your existing colonies have such a propensity for collecting varroa mites
I am a new beekeeper - Having purchased a 6 frame 14x12 nuc in May.
Paynes polys, with a super of insulation on top, stands with a skirt and the inspection board 75mm below the open mesh floor. 5mm Polycarbonate crownboards. I share your theory that some colonies seem to fare better with varroa than others and I've measured humidity levels - often it's well up in the mid 80's RH. I also have my apiary in my garden - it's semi-urban and within less than a mile they have varied forage all the year from early spring to the ivy in late october, I don;t think my bees forage in a very wide radius - bees are opportunists so they won't fly farther than they have to. Whilst beebase shows a large number of apiaries within a 5km radius I suspect that my bees do not come into significant contact with other honey bees as a matter of course. I try and maintain a low impact inspection regime - I have a theory that the more you tinker with them unnecssarily they more stressed they are and the more prone to disease of failure they become. I run foundationless frames and as far as possible they overwinter on honey topped up with Invert. I don't get disease of any sort in my hives and I get a honey crop which, this year, has been above average for the other hobbyists I know in the area.Not really, but you've done well to get to grips with the problem.
What I have noticed is that some colonies - even apiaries - thrive with minimal treatments yet others have regular heavy varroa loads.
This was from cumulative casual observation, the best example of which is a small rooftop apiary which has had no treatment for four years. They produce 90-110 lbs a year, several nucs from splits, need triple brood boxes and have a lovely temper; no DWV, no losses, overwintering on double broods.
I assume that queen genetics are favourable (brood break for splits only) and mean to raise queens there next season.
High hive humidity limits varroa reproduction, so poly and top insulation is ideal; what is your hive set-up?
I live in Fleet in Hampshire and purchase Buckfast bees from a bee supplier in AndoverOut of interest, what strain of bee did you purchase?
For the more experienced members, are some strains of bee more susceptible to varroa than others or more down to environmental factors?
Edit: Should have read the whole thread first. Eric half answered my question.
Blimey. Life too precious at my age to waste time counting at all. When they are there in numbers that is enough for me to know what to do. Some say the bees are becoming more tolerant of varroa anyway. Might be able to not treat at all soon?I know I am sad but yes I actually counted every mite every day from every hive and recorded it
I reckon that is enough and that is all I have ever done for at least the last 13 years.Thanks - do you think I could just treat using OA twice a year or should I use Apiguard as the other treatment
I really get concerned about that statement. (there is a similar current parallel issue occurring worldwide right now). They have the capacity to put up with and endure a nasty little creature that slowly eats parts of their anatomy whilst they live right now; even though it weakens them, compromising their ability to fight off a variety of viruses and diseases and will kill them ultimately.Blimey. Life too precious at my age to waste time counting at all. When they are there in numbers that is enough for me to know what to do. Some say the bees are becoming more tolerant of varroa anyway. Might be able to not treat at all soon?
No way to talk about the current mob in charge of the country!a nasty little creature that slowly eats parts of their anatomy whilst they live right now; even though it weakens them, compromising their ability to fight off a variety of viruses and diseases and will kill them ultimately.
Not always.. there's lots of factors that influence varroa infestation and whilst generally I would agree with you - there are exceptions. It's why proper testing for varroa is important and treatment if they need it ... but .... do they' ALWAYS need treatment ?I really get concerned about that statement. (there is a similar current parallel issue occurring worldwide right now). They have the capacity to put up with and endure a nasty little creature that slowly eats parts of their anatomy whilst they live right now; even though it weakens them, compromising their ability to fight off a variety of viruses and diseases and will kill them ultimately.
So, how many head lice on your scalp would be acceptableNot always.. there's lots of factors that influence varroa infestation and whilst generally I would agree with you - there are exceptions. It's why proper testing for varroa is important and treatment if they need it ... but .... do they' ALWAYS need treatment ?![]()
Might that be measured by one’s haematocrit?So, how many head lice on your scalp would be acceptable?
It's irrelevant... you cannot use that age old argument for not treating...its not a like for like comparison. I measure my bees on the basis of their health... they are healthy and have some varroa. I have a fox who lives in my garden ... she probably has fleas and worms... and yet she is well fed ... looks very fit and successfully rsises at least two cubs every year. Some creatures appear able to cope with some levels of parasite... if you continually treated your hair for head lice when you didn't need it ... would that make the treatment less effective when you did and what state would your hair be in after months of prophylactic treatment. I'm not suggesting treatment free is what everyone should do . .. just that checking if they need it and treating accordingly us better. My bees are fine without being treated... what would you do ? Treat them just in case ?So, how many head lice on your scalp would be acceptable?
Name that vendor!
Loads I expect!Are there many bee suppliers in Andover?
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