No sign of any Varroa!

[BernardBlack]

I regularly put my inspection tray in, to check varroa numbers.

All year I’ve barely noticed any. Maybe 1 or 2. That’s it.

I know the inspection tray is not an exact indication of varroa numbers, but in the last 3-4 weeks, I’ve also done two sugar rolls, and there was none then either.

I’ve not noticed any in drone Brood, on the bees or any indication of any varroa-related disease/virus.

I use Bee Smoker Tobacco mixed in with my smoker fuel, as that’s supposed to help with varroa. Might that be keeping numbers very low?

It’s the only thing I can think of.

It’s getting towards that time of year where the temperature for Apiguard won’t be ideal, but I don’t want to have to treat with it if I really don’t have to.

Any advice?

 

[The Poot in Somerset]

No advice, but that’s really interesting. Not come across bee tobacco, but if it contains nicotine, perhaps it is killing mites?? Nicotine is after all a deadly poison.
I await further posts with interest.

 

[Swarm]

I think Thornes sell it, maybe another supplier but I've seen it in one of the catalogues. I doubt it would be as effective as that though?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Providing you are sampling the right bees that's very interesting.
Not about the tobacco but about the bees possibly coping on their own
Do you have access to OAV to do an accelerated drop?

 

[madasafish]

How old is the colony? Varroa build up takes 1-2 years.

 

[fiat500bee]

How old is the colony? Varroa build up takes 1-2 years.

Please can you say where that information comes from. Although I can see logic to that, I haven't heard it said previously. I haven't seen it suggested anywhere that as a result of this you might initially be able to avoid treatment....quite the opposite.

Given that I have seen on this forum recently that in some beekeepers's treatment regimes there may be a gap in treatment for verroa between mid-winter and the following late summer, for a big proportion of the year they must consider the verroa levels to be manageable. As an extension of that, is it not possible to have a colony such as Bernard's where you can continuously consider the levels to be tolerable whilst reserving judgement for the possible day when you feel you must treat them?

 

[BernardBlack]

Providing you are sampling the right bees that's very interesting.
Not about the tobacco but about the bees possibly coping on their own
Do you have access to OAV to do an accelerated drop?

No, I don’t have a Vapourizer.

I did a dusting of the hive as well a number of weeks back too. Still no mites.

(I’m not sure the bee tobacco is the difference. I only use a pinch each time in with the smoker fuel. But just thought I’d mention it in case it is keeping numbers low)

 

[BernardBlack]

How old is the colony? Varroa build up takes 1-2 years.

Bought the colony in 2017.

 

[Murox]

No, I don’t have a Vapourizer.

I did a dusting of the hive as well a number of weeks back too. Still no mites.

(I’m not sure the bee tobacco is the difference. I only use a pinch each time in with the smoker fuel. But just thought I’d mention it in case it is keeping numbers low)

You really do need to do a sugar roll test or and alcohol wash test to establish levels of varroa. If you can see them on the bees you have probably got a big infestation.

 

[Erichalfbee]

You really do need to do a sugar roll test or and alcohol wash test to establish levels of varroa. If you can see them on the bees you have probably got a big infestation.

He’s done two

 

[Murox]

He’s done two

ooh good - apologies.

 

[Curly green finger's]

No, I don’t have a Vapourizer.

I did a dusting of the hive as well a number of weeks back too. Still no mites.

(I’m not sure the bee tobacco is the difference. I only use a pinch each time in with the smoker fuel. But just thought I’d mention it in case it is keeping numbers low)

I agree, doing a alcohol wash and taking nurse bee's of brood frames would be best.
Or a sugar roll secondary thinking.
Something to think about . lavander has thymol in it, those that use it in there smokers.

 

[joelsoo]

No advice, but that’s really interesting. Not come across bee tobacco, but if it contains nicotine, perhaps it is killing mites?? Nicotine is after all a deadly poison.
I await further posts with interest.

i got some tobacco leaves growing in my allotment, i wonder should i try dry some and add to the smoker if nicotine kills them?

 

[North End Bees]

I look after the bees of an 89yo lady who kept bees for over forty years (can't manage physically anymore but can't bear the prospect of not having bees). She often talks about the old ways of doing things.
Apparently tobacco was used widely to calm the bees (a little puff from a pipe or cigar) and then in the 90s it was thought to help treat varroa. Don't know how effective it was.

 

[Angry_Mob]

I look after the bees of an 89yo lady who kept bees for over forty years (can't manage physically anymore but can't bear the prospect of not having bees). She often talks about the old ways of doing things.
Apparently tobacco was used widely to calm the bees (a little puff from a pipe or cigar) and then in the 90s it was thought to help treat varroa. Don't know how effective it was.

If you watch the old footage of beeks working with skeps you will frequently see the men with pipes blowing the smoke on the bees.
This particular video they seemed to have some specialist smoker which I haven't seen used:

 

[Murox]

My grandfather only ever smoked when doing the bees, the smoke kept them away from his head/face.

 

[mike99]

No advice, but that’s really interesting. Not come across bee tobacco, but if it contains nicotine, perhaps it is killing mites?? Nicotine is after all a deadly poison.
I await further posts with interest.

I did a course last year with a guy from my Association and he uses tobacco in his smoker. seemingly it's the left over stalks from the manufacturing process and has a low burn rate. very popular with pigeon keepers as nesting material seemingly.

 

[mike99]

i got some tobacco leaves growing in my allotment, i wonder should i try dry some and add to the smoker if nicotine kills them?

Really? the only place I have seen them grown is in Alnwick Gardens. They have a poison garden with all sorts in and the last one they show you is the Tobacco plant as it's the biggest plant poison.

 

[Curly green finger's]

Here's a link about the tabacco plant.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...shid=1598620786366[/URL]"]Tobacco - Wikipedia
I seem to be having problems copying and pasting links any ideas?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Really? the only place I have seen them grown is in Alnwick Gardens. They have a poison garden with all sorts in and the last one they show you is the Tobacco plant as it's the biggest plant poison.

Many used to grow it during the war, a fellow club member told me his grandfather (who lived in the cottage next door to Brynmair) grew loads and dried it on an old bedframe in the spare room - you then had to surrender it to the governement who (I assume) gave you extra tobacco ration tickets. He kept on growing it until he died years after the war - I think due to our climate it was pretty strong stuff and everyone stayed clear of the old boy when he smoked it
Neat nicotine is deadly, and has been used as an insecticide since the 1600's (I seem to recall it being the murder weapon in one or more Agatha Chrisrie mystery) Hence 'Neonicotinoids.