Varroa level everyone?

[jeff33]

I did a round of OAV in the apiary last week and had 9 dropped on 1 hive within 24h. I am doing the alcohol wash test tomorrow on all the hives to decide how much to treat. Already too cold down my way for a thymol treatment.

 

[Millet]

The great thing about the sugar roll compared to other methods is that it the bees leave the process alive so perhaps ShinySideUp should try it.

Why mess about doing a sugar roll.. i just blast them with Oxalic Acid and the next time i look at the inspection tray lets me know if i have a mite problem or not..

 

[Hivemaker.]

Why mess about doing a sugar roll..

To find out the approx % of mite infestation.

 

[Millet]

I did a round of OAV in the apiary last week and had 9 dropped on 1 hive within 24h. I am doing the alcohol wash test tomorrow on all the hives to decide how much to treat. Already too cold down my way for a thymol treatment.

Why do that.. i just keep gassing them every five days till the mite drop is none existent.. usually around four times per hive but the odd one usually need a few more blasts to clear any stubborn little devils up..

 

[Millet]

To find out the approx % of mite infestation.

I find vaping them gives me that result.. i rather have a badly infested colony or a not so badly infested colony when the inspection tray has been viewed and it only takes 2min 30secs to gas a colony and a further 10 seconds to look at the inspection tray the next day or next week..

 

[jeff33]

Trying to get a % rather than just blasting without really knowing the level of infestation. I know where you are coming from though.

 

[Hivemaker.]

I find vaping them gives me that result.

I don't.

 

[Millet]

I don't.

If you don't gas them you wont...

 

[Hivemaker.]

If you don't gas them you wont...

If I do gas them I won't either.

 

[Millet]

If I do gas them I won't either.

Why though..if i gas mine i check the inspection tray in the next few days which tells me how many mites have dropped from each hive.. some have a lot dropping and some don't... regardless of if it is accurate or not the varroa are getting nailed either way and the vaping will continue till they stop dropping...

 

[Hivemaker.]

Why though.

99.9% of our floors are solid sloping floors, I consider open mesh floors an abomination, only any good to see if a treatment is effective, or not, or to make for other people that like the things.

I am also interested to see which lines cope/deal best with varroa, sugar roll or alcohol wash does the job just fine and no treatment needed.

 

[mbc]

Mun.

standard fam

 

[Erichalfbee]

I did a round of OAV in the apiary last week and had 9 dropped on 1 hive within 24h. I am doing the alcohol wash test tomorrow on all the hives to decide how much to treat. Already too cold down my way for a thymol treatment.

Can you let us know how the results compare?
Your drop suggests a total varroa load of only 50 which is remarkable.

 

[pargyle]

The great thing about the sugar roll compared to other methods is that it the bees leave the process alive so perhaps ShinySideUp should try it.

Precisely, they get a bit miffed when they are covered in the icing sugar but I let them out either onto the top bars or the landing board and their friends are all over them in no time cleaning them up ... doesn't seem to hurt them at all.

 

[jeff33]

Can you let us know how the results compare?
Your drop suggests a total varroa load of only 50 which is remarkable.

I will Erica

 

[Millet]

99.9% of our floors are solid sloping floors, I consider open mesh floors an abomination, only any good to see if a treatment is effective, or not, or to make for other people that like the things.

I am also interested to see which lines cope/deal best with varroa, sugar roll or alcohol wash does the job just fine and no treatment needed.

Got ya .. on the varroa subject ... ...why do you not like the open mesh floors..

 

[The Poot in Somerset]

99.9% of our floors are solid sloping floors, I consider open mesh floors an abomination, only any good to see if a treatment is effective, or not, or to make for other people that like the things.

I am also interested to see which lines cope/deal best with varroa, sugar roll or alcohol wash does the job just fine and no treatment needed.

Odd that about open mesh floors - I've bought two hives from you with omf and was unaware you offered solid floors!

 

[Beefriendly]

why do you not like the open mesh floors..

I kinda like them in summer, but dislike them for winter. Open mesh in winter is the bottom equivalent of crown board propped open with matchsticks. IMHO.
I like the Abello floor inserts which are made of poly (and fragile!!) and when stuck in provide a well insulated full floor.

Queue chorus of been using open mesh for years and bees live....They also lived with matchsticks and raised crown board....But in neither of these cases did they thrive!

 

[Millet]

I kinda like them in summer, but dislike them for winter. Open mesh in winter is the bottom equivalent of crown board propped open with matchsticks. IMHO.
I like the Abello floor inserts which are made of poly (and fragile!!) and when stuck in provide a well insulated full floor.

Queue chorus of been using open mesh for years and bees live....They also lived with matchsticks and raised crown board....But in neither of these cases did they thrive!

You will get no chorus from thee.. however open mesh floors 3/4 closed for winter . be a good little boy and listen..

 

[foghornleghorn]

I kinda like them in summer, but dislike them for winter. Open mesh in winter is the bottom equivalent of crown board propped open with matchsticks. IMHO.
I like the Abello floor inserts which are made of poly (and fragile!!) and when stuck in provide a well insulated full floor.

Queue chorus of been using open mesh for years and bees live....They also lived with matchsticks and raised crown board....But in neither of these cases did they thrive!

A lot depends on the hive stand used. All hives here are either sitting on pallets or 2" off the ground. No noticeable effect of omfs versus solid, but not the same as those big hive stands many run