Varroa...to treat or not to treat

[BeeJayBee]

I wonder how many of the forums none treater's would admit to losing a colony to varroa when the time came.

I have one colony at an out apiary, it hasn't been treated for varroa for two and a half years.

I must admit to being very surprised that this colony has continued to flourish because received wisdom is that the bees would have died during their first winter, but they didn't. There have never been signs of DWV or any other disorder, and the colony is strong enough to overflow a jumbo langstroth so much so that it has previously overwintered on brood and a half - and seems to be going the same way this year.

I have no idea of the mite load because I haven't counted - I didn't see any point in writing numbers on a piece of paper unless I was going to do something with them.

These bees are within reach of heather and if it ever stops raining they might give a small heather crop, which would be nice because the rest of our bees have produced very little as it's been so dry, and is now very wet.

They'll eventually be given a lump of fondant, the same as the rest, and left to get on with it until the spring.

I'll let you know if they die - but don't hold your breath whilst waiting because the only time that hive will be touched from October to March will be to check for stores and maybe top up fondant.

By the way...my hives are triple brood , I get at least 350 lb per hive and they do it all in a day, aren't I brilliant !!!

Sounds like the sort of thing some people write on a bragging car forum!

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

I have one colony at an out apiary, it hasn't been treated for varroa for two and a half years.



I must admit to being very surprised that this colony has continued to flourish because received wisdom is that the bees would have died during their first winter, but they didn't.



I !

Not true: received wisdom would be about year 3.

 

[Finman]

I have had 47 hives which were not treated. They have been dead at least 2.5 years.
.

 

[B+.]

This was not quite what I was getting at. I was thinking that colonies which have swarmed my not have such a high varroa load due to having a broodless period.

This is true. However, they'd have been marked down for swarming anyway so you probably wouldn't choose to breed from them

 

[Finman]

.
Pargyle says that he counts mite drop daily.

IT is easier to use 2 minutes twice a year killing the mites than count them every day.
But if you feel yourself as a better human, so let it burn so.

But I wonder, what satisfaction you get, when I tell that I have diseases. You must mock every time about that. Of course I know it. sadenfreunde is the most genuine joy, says our proverb...

 

[Thymallus]

Currently three filled supers on one hive... 2 filled supers on another.. 1 on a colony established in May.

Blimey, you started feeding them early this season.

 

[Tremyfro]

If we are to use honey yield as a measurement of health.....then this year mine must be really poorly. So far only about 34lbs from 2 colonies and as far as I can see ATM perhaps another 15lbs...unless they eat that too. Since the weather clearly plays such a big part in whether nectar is available and also whether the bees can actually be out foraging it is just luck if your bees are in a good area sunny warm days.
In fact my bees are healthy...very few varroa...are on double brood with loads of bees and at least 11 frames wall to wall with bias. Poor things can't forage because we have had terrible weather this summer.
I have just put in varroa boards to check the natural drop. Then I must decide what other test to use to more accurately find out the varroa load per colony.

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

.

P Of course I know it. sadenfreunde is the most genuine joy, says our proverb...

Is that the full quote, Finman? Because it's so true, but we don't have the proverb in English. Could you write it in Finnish please?

 

[Finman]

If we are to use honey yield as a measurement of health......

Why you should do that?

Disease is disease and poor wearther are poor weathers.

 

[beeno]

Is that the full quote, Finman? Because it's so true, but we don't have the proverb in English. Could you write it in Finnish please?

Not the answer to the question, but to make it crystal clear. schadenfreude ‎(uncountable)
1.Malicious enjoyment derived from observing someone else's misfortune

 

[beeno]

This is true. However, they'd have been marked down for swarming anyway so you probably wouldn't choose to breed from them

I don't know, it depends to what an extent. Swarming a sign of vigour and healthy queen, supercedure often defective queen needing to be replaced and colony at risk. The bees know best.

 

[Finman]

Is that the full quote, Finman? Because it's so true, but we don't have the proverb in English. Could you write it in Finnish please?

Not the answer to the question, but to make it crystal clear. schadenfreude ‎(uncountable)
1.Malicious enjoyment derived from observing someone else's misfortune

i look it from dictionary, and it is clearly Deutch.

 

[B+.]

I don't know, it depends to what an extent. Swarming a sign of vigour and healthy queen, supercedure often defective queen needing to be replaced and colony at risk. The bees know best.

Not necessarily: supercedure may be the result of an aged queen. The new queen may be inferior because of her mating.
As is often the case, the numbers are useful but you have to delve beneath the numbers to get a better understanding
For example, I had a colony that only dropped 4 mites in the spring natural mite drop test. If I had selected this queen based only on that low mite count I'd have bred from a queen that failed to build up and produce a surplus. She was actually a very disappointing queen even though she was from excellent stock

 

[Erichalfbee]

Then I must decide what other test to use to more accurately find out the varroa load per colony.

Sugar roll....nice and easy and you can put the bees back

 

[Tremyfro]

Sugar roll....nice and easy and you can put the bees back

I was thinking of doing that.....just have to find a good weather day with no wind... to do it...or I will get very sticky!
Howling gales today interspersed with rain and sunshine!

 

[user 6228]

i look it from dictionary, and it is clearly Deutch.

English doesn't borrow from other languages.
English follows other languages down dark alleys, knocks them over, and rummages through their pockets for loose gramma

 

[B+.]

rummages through their pockets for loose gramma

Why would his grandma be in his pocket? ;-)

 

[Finman]

English doesn't borrow from other languages.
English follows other languages down dark alleys, knocks them over, and rummages through their pockets for loose gramma

60% has been borrowed from Latin and French.

 

[enrico]

Why would his grandma be in his pocket? ;-)

And how dare you call her loose!

 

[Swarm]

And how dare you call her loose!

Beat me to it.