Varroa drop after trickling

[Monbees]

I trickled api-bioxal yesterday and went to check the varroa drop today. I'm a beginner and only have three hives of my own plus one (Omelet beehaus), in an adjacent paddock.
There was minimal drop in the three hives, but the beehaus, a colony of about 6 frames, had a drop in the hundreds. I hope these pictures come out the right size. I know I can't trickle again this year, but I guess I should treat in some way in the spring, assuming the colony makes it through winter?

 

[Erichalfbee]

The better solution would be to vape three times if you have access to a vaporiser. Apivar is not temperature dependant so can be used in winter, but it takes longer to work. It needs to be in contact with the bees so you have to put it in the cluster. It’s not ideal though the situation would be better in a well insulated poly hive.
That’s what I would do

 

[Buzzlodge]

Wait a few days.
I trickled three hives a week ago. Two of them had a decent drop on the first day and a larger drop on the second.
The third dropped nothing on those days, but on day 3 it did!

 

[Finman]

The better solution would be to vape three times if you have access to a vaporiser. Apivar is not temperature dependant so can be used in winter, but it takes longer to work. It needs to be in contact with the bees so you have to put it in the cluster. It’s not ideal though the situation would be better in a well insulated poly hive.
That’s what I would do

Trickling is very good.. It works better in warm, when there is no cluster.

Mites drop down during next 2 weeks and longer.

 

[Monbees]

Trickling is very good.. It works better in warm, when there is no cluster.

Mites drop down during next 2 weeks and longer.

I thought it was too warm when l treated as bees flew when l removed the roof, 9°. Should have been 0° - 5°? But no prospect here of cold weather so l did it anyway.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Trickling is very good.. It works better in warm, when there is no cluster.

Mites drop down during next 2 weeks and longer.

He’s already trickled
Repeating is not recommended

 

[drex]

As Finman says, it is better to treat when warmer and bees not clustered so that oxalic gets passed round better. This should be after a couple of weeks of cold weather, so there is not much brood. I would use Apivar or vape as per Dani above.

 

[Monbees]

The better solution would be to vape three times if you have access to a vaporiser. Apivar is not temperature dependant so can be used in winter, but it takes longer to work. It needs to be in contact with the bees so you have to put it in the cluster. It’s not ideal though the situation would be better in a well insulated poly hive.
That’s what I would do

I know that vaping seems to be the current flavour of the month for many beekeepers but l do not have access to a vaporiser. l thought anyway that trickling is just as effective, if done correctly? Nor do l have a spare polyhive to move them to, but surely l shouldn't move them in winter?

 

[Erichalfbee]

I know that vaping seems to be the current flavour of the month for many beekeepers but l do not have access to a vaporiser. l thought anyway that trickling is just as effective, if done correctly? Nor do l have a spare polyhive to move them to, but surely l shouldn't move them in winter?

I’m not suggesting you move them, nor that you HAVE to vape. Simply saying that bees in a poly hive are usually in a looser cluster until it gets very cold. Apivar is giving you a possible alternative to doing nothing.
Have a look at fatshark’s website.
He has a short piece on winter drops and when to treat again. That might help.

https://theapiarist.org/blog/

I’m sure the forum heavyweights will be along shortly to help.
I could put this into the beginner section where it might get more replies.

 

[Amari]

Quote: Have a look at fatshark’s website.
He has a short piece on winter drops and when to treat again. That might help.
https://theapiarist.org/blog/

Thanks for the link - really interesting

 

[The Poot in Somerset]

With that level of varroa load the Winter bees must already be prejudiced?
Given such a situation, without the availability of a vaping solution I would trickle again soon, as the danger inherent of leaving the high varroa load on the bees is greater than the OA

 

[Monbees]

With that level of varroa load the Winter bees must already be prejudiced?
Given such a situation, without the availability of a vaping solution I would trickle again soon, as the danger inherent of leaving the high varroa load on the bees is greater than the OA

So what is the danger of trickling more than once, whereas vaping is supposedly ok 3 or 4 times if not more?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

So what is the danger of trickling more than once,

Compromises the longevity of the queen.
Sublimation doesn't

 

[Erichalfbee]

Compromises the longevity of the queen.
Sublimation doesn't

I suppose OP could always just replace the queen ASAP in spring
Another problem arises whether one more trickle would do it. There will be brood in the frames soon if not already.
How quickly can you simply slot in two Apivar strips ?
A vaporiser is the best bit of kit I ever got

 

[Millet]

Mad eh...

 

[drex]

Compromises the longevity of the queen.
Sublimation doesn't

Trickling also damages open brood.

 

[echidna]

I initially thought I couldn't vapourise because the equipment was too expensive but then I found a basic vapouriser for £18 on Ebay (new). May not be the best but it's allowed multiple treatments this winter after my late summer Apiguard treatment failed and the colony wasn't going broodless but counts were still high (20 per day). Luckily I did already have a battery to run it off. If you have a battery, it might be worth looking into this option.
(I know the packet of Apiboxal says only one sublimation treatment per year, but based on advice here and elsewhere, I went for the repeat treatments to catch mites emerging from previously-sealed brood anyway, as the situation seemed pretty bad.)