dickndoris
House Bee
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2011
- Messages
- 282
- Reaction score
- 5
- Location
- York
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 35
As a rule I monitor my inspection boards at least once a week ,when they are in and give them a scrape clean. Over the past few days two hives have shown an alarming drop in mites! 6-12 per 24 hrs as of yesterday. All hives have had a zero drop right through winter. Hive Makers thymol was used in Autumn and oa vaporize if needed around Late Dec.
So advice is sought on what might be the best plan of action from more experienced beeks ?
I have some maqs which im reluctant to use due to the high mortality rate and possible queen killer. She is three and very nice I keep bees the honey is a bi product and yes she is old.....maqs is a quick fix but I feel a little harsh?
I could oa vaporize which from experience has a very low if not almost zero mortality rate. Maybe do two rounds?
Change the frames and one oa vaporize?
Another plan maybe?
They are 14x12 poly hives with supers as brood also one with a wood floor the other poly as in Payxs.
All last year there was a very low mite count and zero on most hives. Only one hive late on was affected with very high mite count. I found this was due to some very dark bees entering and robbing, probabaly ferile. You could see them entering with mites on them! This hive is fine but maybe this has what has happened to these two hives as its happened pretty quick?
Cheers in advance
So advice is sought on what might be the best plan of action from more experienced beeks ?
I have some maqs which im reluctant to use due to the high mortality rate and possible queen killer. She is three and very nice I keep bees the honey is a bi product and yes she is old.....maqs is a quick fix but I feel a little harsh?
I could oa vaporize which from experience has a very low if not almost zero mortality rate. Maybe do two rounds?
Change the frames and one oa vaporize?
Another plan maybe?
They are 14x12 poly hives with supers as brood also one with a wood floor the other poly as in Payxs.
All last year there was a very low mite count and zero on most hives. Only one hive late on was affected with very high mite count. I found this was due to some very dark bees entering and robbing, probabaly ferile. You could see them entering with mites on them! This hive is fine but maybe this has what has happened to these two hives as its happened pretty quick?
Cheers in advance