Rough geographical survey of Varroa

[aidskywalker]

As all beekeepers battle Varroa, I thought it might be worthwhile getting a rough idea of Varroa "hot spots" in the UK. I have noticed on the forum that many people are experiencing less than anticipated Varroa infestation. Could this be due to the lack of decent Spring time earlier this year?
I am in Manchester UK and have been having a natural drop of one a week. Four days ago I put the first treatment of Apiguard on and after 72 hours had a drop of 26. I know the information would be very limited but I thought it would give users an idea of which towns/counties/cities had high/low infestation counts.

 

[Roola]

HI mate. I wanted to share my Varroa experience on here at the weekend but didnt get time so this seems like a good spot. There was a big debate last week about how pwoplw had seen a low apparent drop rate and therefore should they treat etc... We had not treated at this point and I was weighing up whether to or not, my drop rate was maybe 2 per week (observed). Having gone to our overwintering talk at local association, they discussed treatments and also about how apistan and Bayvarol had been put on the back shelf due to resistance however they did mention that to their knowledge our local area had not really been using it in recent years so it might be effective again. I thought i'd test this and put on both our hives on Saturday. Bear in mind we'd seen low drop rate and seen none on the bees and spotted one case of DWV... Sunday saw an initial drop of around 90 on both hives which

1. Suggests Bayvarol has some effect on Varroa in my locale.
2. The inspection tray method is not very reliable this year! (I firmly believe this is due to ants and earwigs which are in abundance and eating them. We placed vaseline around outside of tray which appears to have kept them out as no black poos).
3. I therefore suggest that people keep this in mind with the run up to winter and when considering whether to treat or not, we were not going to but am now glad I did and i'm sure the bees are too.

So for me aidskywalker, a 24 hour drop of around 90 in London.

 

[Summerslease]

I treated my four hives with Apivar last November and got a large 'kill'. This year I've had nothing on the monitoring inserts. However after reading other threads I treated with Apiguard last week in case I was missing something. I wasn't and have only had two mites drop out. I'm pleased with the Apivar as the initial kill was probably 100% with the couple seen this week being brought in by 'foreign' drones.

 

[itma]

... I thought it might be worthwhile getting a rough idea of Varroa "hot spots" in the UK...

I really don't think it works like that.
Infestation level is much more dependant on (previous) treatment, and proximity to untreated colonies, than on geography.

 

[pargyle]

I really don't think it works like that.
Infestation level is much more dependant on (previous) treatment, and proximity to untreated colonies, than on geography.

Reading all the posts on Varroa this year (and previous years) on this and other fora there appears to be an anomalous situation with Varroa levels this year .. I agree that it's not geographic as there are posts from all over the country detailing low varroa levels (and now that treatments are taking place the low drop/measurement that has been recorded is being confirmed in the kill rate by those people who have treated).

I think a poll would be good but I think the relevant questions should be more geared to:

A) Estimated levels of infestation prior to treatment
B) Treatment applied
C) Kill levels from treatment
D) Previous Treatments applied ... Autumn 2012 & Winter Oxalic or No treatment
E) Type of hive
F) Insulation/Ventilation
G) Location of apiary
H) Age of colony (ie: New or Established)

Clearly, those beekeepers with large numbers of hives (or even several hives) may have to offer combined figures or spend time recording individual hives but ... the results might provide an insight into any obvious trends.

I don't know enough about the mechanics of the existing poll facility on the forum to say whether a poll with so many variables would be possible but it may be worth looking at.

Personally, I think it is probably more to do with the weather this year ... the late start to the year and the lengthy brood break. In addition, with a near 50% colony loss in some areas, over the winter, along with the extended winter, it is possible that the mites did not get the opportunity to move when the colonies failed and a general varroa cull occurred as a result. The excellent weather of the season has provided for strong colonies and these should be more able to resist - if not the mite, certainly the vectored disease.

I'm certainly no expert and this is just my view on a pattern which seems to be developing - no doubt there will be more experienced beekeepers who have a greater insight along shortly.

 

[itma]

I really don't think it works like that.
Infestation level is much more dependant on (previous) treatment, and proximity to untreated colonies, than on geography.

And yes before anyone picks me up on it, YES, geographical ISOLATION can indeed be a relevant factor - as with remote Scottish Islands (and classically, for now, Australia!)

But that wasn't what I (or the OP) was on about.

 

[MuswellMetro]

I really don't think it works like that.
Infestation level is much more dependant on (previous) treatment, and proximity to untreated colonies, than on geography.

yes, i know of a hive supposedly treated last year with apiguard and winter oxaclic and a single tub of apiguard in April and it is less than a mile from one of my apiaries (mine have minimul drop ), The high mite drop hive had a natural drop of 30 per day last month and they only treated this time when our disease officer pointed out the drop had rised to 100!! per day, had sac brood DWV, CBPV and varroasis with four mite per larva

and they still waited another 6 days to treat with apiguard,and bekkepers next to her are compalined about treating early (and will start their apiguard next weekend,first full year after a two day course with Bees and Hive funded by Boris mayor of London)

aaaaaaah

i sometimes wondered if they peeled the foil lid off

 

[Tom Bick]

I dont know how people can get oxalic wrong but I have seen many times hive’s set up wrong during thymol treatments making the thymol practically pointless and a waste of money.

 

[itma]

... I have seen many times hive’s set up wrong during thymol treatments making the thymol practically pointless and a waste of money.

Above the crownboard?

 

[REDWOOD]

A report last year said that Wales had the least varroa cases in the UK, probably because we have hard bee inspectors and if we don't treat they will beat us with a stick, oh and 2 beekeepers were stoned to death in the Carmarthen area and their bodies were never found again, allegedly. So we used to have the fear of god now we have the fear of our bee inspectors

 

[Tom Bick]

Above the crownboard?

Yes that once.

The popular one OMF fully open.

 

[mbc]

Yes that once.

The popular one OMF fully open.

Apiguard is surprisingly effective even with a mesh floor, some of mine dont have an option to close.

 

[Tom Bick]

Apiguard is surprisingly effective even with a mesh floor, some of mine dont have an option to close.

Well mbc you are an experienced beekeeper and know what works for you but for me I would be trying to keep the fumes in the hive for as long as possible.

I may be more strict regarding thymol as I dont follow up with oxalic.

 

[aidskywalker]

I really don't think it works like that.
Infestation level is much more dependant on (previous) treatment, and proximity to untreated colonies, than on geography.

Do we know for sure that geography is/isn't a factor? Could colder parts of the country suffer less than warm parts or coastal areas differ to in land or urban to rural? Has any research actually been done? While I agree with your points, I do believe geography is a factor and would like to see if anyone agrees.

 

[Polyanwood]

On the hives where i have lost the inspection board or it never had one, I find that estate agent board, cut where necessary, is perfect to provide a temporary solid floor.

 

[itma]

Do we know for sure that geography is/isn't a factor? Could colder parts of the country suffer less than warm parts or coastal areas differ to in land or urban to rural? ...

Where, exactly, do varroa breed and spend most of their lifecycle?
How much does the temperature and humidity vary in there with external conditions?

Do the mites survive the winter in rude health where it is really cold, like Canada? How about where the winters are non-existent, like Hawaii?



You are looking in the wrong direction!
Consider instead the bees.
The longer the winter bees have to survive (basically the longer the winter), then the healthier they need to be, going into winter - and so the less resilient those colonies are to varroa and the viruses it vectors.
If you only have a short broodless winter, you can tolerate a higher varroa load - and vice versa.

Varroa needs to be controlled - but the criticality of that control is going to depend somewhat on the climate your bees experience.