Hop flour treatment

[johnnie1uk]

Hi, has anyone used Hop flour a natural treatment for Varroa? The hops Beta acid kills and repels the varroa mite.

 

[B+.]

Hi, has anyone used Hop flour a natural treatment for Varroa? The hops Beta acid kills and repels the varroa mite.

With the greatest of respect, all these "treatments" can only work (if they do work) on the phoretic stage of the varroa mites life cycle. It won't affect the reproductive stage while they are inside the cell.
This might leave you with the feeling that you've done something good for the colony, but, as soon as the bee emerges, the next generation of mites are released. That is why you see a"bounce back" effect after treating. There is also the possibility of a colony being re-infested from other colonies in the area. Drones, in particular, are notorious drifters and can be found moving from hive to hive.
The only "cure" that means anything in the long run is if the bees develop the ability to control varroa themselves. I doubt this will be 100% effective (at least not in the short term) but it's likely to be more effective than some of the "treatments" out there.

 

[madasafish]

Hop flour is good for killing larvae when it gets into the cells..Rather like sugar dusting..

 

[Finman]

From where did you find that hop flour. I did not find it from Google with Vartia?

 

[johnnie1uk]

I collected the wild hops, dried them and milled them.

 

[johnnie1uk]

Hop flour is good for killing larvae when it gets into the cells..Rather like sugar dusting..

Is this from your own experience?

 

[Finman]

I collected the wild hops, dried them and milled them.

And you have no test that it Works. I did not find any hint that flour could work.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I collected the wild hops, dried them and milled them.

Oxalic is just as “natural” but is safe and proven
Try your flour by all means but I’m with madasafish on this one

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Hi, has anyone used Hop flour a natural treatment for Varroa? The hops Beta acid kills and repels the varroa mite.

I'm a cynic I know but if something sounds,too good to be true it probably is.

 

[madasafish]

Is this from your own experience?

My experience is that dropping ANY foreign body into cells with larvae kills them..or distorts them or affects growth.. Bees clean out cells for a purpose.

But if you want to be a guinea pig and do research on lots of colonies in controlled conditions and prove me wrong.. go right ahead..

 

[Dadnlad]

Better off using it as a mulch round your veg or drying it and using it in your smoker

 

[Repwoc]

Hi, has anyone used Hop flour a natural treatment for Varroa? The hops Beta acid kills and repels the varroa mite.

Hopguard is marketed in other countries and claims the same modus operandi.

Vita withdrew its application for EU marketing approval, essentially saying that the data wasn't conclusive:

https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/veterinary/withdrawn-applications/hopguard-gold

 

[Finman]

Hopguard is marketed in other countries and claims the same modus operandi.

Vita withdrew its application for EU marketing approval, essentially saying that the data wasn't conclusive:

https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/veterinary/withdrawn-applications/hopguard-gold

It is not crushed plant flour.

 

[Repwoc]

It is not crushed plant flour.

That is correct. It is:

"purified semi-solid extract from Humulus lupulus L. containing approximately 48% of beta acids as potassium salts"​

and they claimed that the "beta acids" were responsible for killing the mites, the same as is claimed for the flour.

 

[madasafish]

It is of course unapproved and therefore illegal.

 

[maz0]

With the greatest of respect, all these "treatments" can only work (if they do work) on the phoretic stage of the varroa mites life cycle. It won't affect the reproductive stage while they are inside the cell.
This might leave you with the feeling that you've done something good for the colony, but, as soon as the bee emerges, the next generation of mites are released. That is why you see a"bounce back" effect after treating. There is also the possibility of a colony being re-infested from other colonies in the area. Drones, in particular, are notorious drifters and can be found moving from hive to hive.
The only "cure" that means anything in the long run is if the bees develop the ability to control varroa themselves. I doubt this will be 100% effective (at least not in the short term) but it's likely to be more effective than some of the "treatments" out there.

You should look up the research conducted by David John Evan's of St Andrews University (Professor of Virology, specialising in DWV) . If your not already familiar with it. His teams research shows that appropriately timed specific treatments for varoa vastly increase the chances of a colony surviving winter compared to ones not treated.

Disregarding treatments and proposing that the only answer to the varoa issue is waiting for an evolutionary breakthrough is bonkers, mathematically and logically.

 

[johnnie1uk]

Update --Well, I sprinkled half a teacup of my hop flour over the brood frames of one of my hives, and the mite drop definitely increased, and there are no ill effects on the be colony so far.

 

[Ian123]

If you had dusted them with anything icing sugar or bog standard flower you would likely find an increased drop.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I've got a few botttles of distilled dragon tears surplus to my requirements this year - deadly against Varroa, Verrucca and great for getting stubborn stains out of underwear. PM me if anyone is interested, I will do a good deal for bulk purchase.

 

[B+.]

Disregarding treatments and proposing that the only answer to the varoa issue is waiting for an evolutionary breakthrough is bonkers, mathematically and logically.

I'm not waiting for evolution.
I'm selectively breeding for varroa tolerance (among other traits).