Finman
Queen Bee
- Joined
- Nov 8, 2008
- Messages
- 27,887
- Reaction score
- 2,024
- Location
- Finland, Helsinki
- Hive Type
- Langstroth
ORGANIC VARROA-TREATMENT IN SEMI- AND PROFESSIONAL BEEKEEPING
http://mesindus.ee/files/organic_varroa-treatment_on_large_scale_2005.pdf
QUESTIONNAIRE 2005 (METHODS AND RESULTS)
Formic acid and oxalic acid
The questionnaires points out that
beekeepers on larger scale are going for
methods that are rapid in use. None of
these beekeepers are using the timeconsuming
methods such as lactic acid
spraying, queen exclusion or heat
treatment.
Also drone brood removal is
very restricted in use (25%). Some of the
beekeepers answers that drone brood
removal is used under certain conditions,
such as single colonies with high number of
mites within the season.
The beekeepers
were also asked about the use of volatile
oils. Presumably none are using this
method since this kind of product is not
well known in Denmark. (Thymol is a volatile oil = essential oil)
The main varroa
treatment is the use of evaporation of
formic acid right after the honey harvest in
August – September and then a late
treatment in October with oxalic acid
trickling, combined with a spring treatment.
Formic acid is used by all beekeepers,
but in different ways. The use of the krämer
board is the most predominant method.
Used by 60,0% of the beekeepers. The use
of free formic acid is also common used.
Several beekeepers remarks that the free
formic acid is used only in nearby apiaries.
The nassenheider evaporator is used by
15,0%.
Oxalic acid is used by all beekeepers
except 2. Spraying of oxalic acid was used
some years ago, but is not used anymore.
Trickling is the dominant method.
Evaporation
of oxalic acid was only used by one
beekeeper. This beekeeper used this
method as the only treatment.
70,0% were producing nucs, to secure
the number of colonies wintering out in the
springtime. Several of the beekeepers
pointed out that the production of nucs
not are because of varroa, but solely to
have a surplus of colonies in the springtime,
in years with heavy winter losses.
Counting the mite downfall is not a big
issue for the large scale beekeepers.
20,7% does never look for natural mite
downfall. They can’t see the necessity.
Their methods and strategy is satisfying.
60% are looking for mite downfall when it
is necessary. But they never count mites.
They look at the debris and make a very
fast monitoring calculation „situation under
control“ or „situation might get out of
control“. Spot test are used. Several are
only looking on sealed drone brood,
opening a few cells.
60,0% claims that they have never seen
damaged colonies or bees. 25,0% claims
that they do have single colonies now and
then, that have damages due to varroa.
65,0% do realise that the organic varroa
treatment is more time consuming
than the use of drugs.
Several of the
beekeepers haven’t answered the
question, since they never have used
drugs, and therefore can’t compare.
Some of the beekeepers even claim that
there is no extra time consumption.
The reason for using the organic
methods is very clear. All (100%) are
doing this to ensure honey as a clean
natural product without any kind of
residues. 50% are doing this due to a
long-term strategy and 45% are doing it
because concerns regarding resistance
to drugs.
75% of the asked beekeepers have
never considered the use of any kind of
drug as a possibility, not now or in the
future. This was underlined very clearly
by the beekeepers in the questionnaire.
10,0 % didn’t know if they might change
strategy.
http://mesindus.ee/files/organic_varroa-treatment_on_large_scale_2005.pdf
QUESTIONNAIRE 2005 (METHODS AND RESULTS)
Formic acid and oxalic acid
The questionnaires points out that
beekeepers on larger scale are going for
methods that are rapid in use. None of
these beekeepers are using the timeconsuming
methods such as lactic acid
spraying, queen exclusion or heat
treatment.
Also drone brood removal is
very restricted in use (25%). Some of the
beekeepers answers that drone brood
removal is used under certain conditions,
such as single colonies with high number of
mites within the season.
The beekeepers
were also asked about the use of volatile
oils. Presumably none are using this
method since this kind of product is not
well known in Denmark. (Thymol is a volatile oil = essential oil)
The main varroa
treatment is the use of evaporation of
formic acid right after the honey harvest in
August – September and then a late
treatment in October with oxalic acid
trickling, combined with a spring treatment.
Formic acid is used by all beekeepers,
but in different ways. The use of the krämer
board is the most predominant method.
Used by 60,0% of the beekeepers. The use
of free formic acid is also common used.
Several beekeepers remarks that the free
formic acid is used only in nearby apiaries.
The nassenheider evaporator is used by
15,0%.
Oxalic acid is used by all beekeepers
except 2. Spraying of oxalic acid was used
some years ago, but is not used anymore.
Trickling is the dominant method.
Evaporation
of oxalic acid was only used by one
beekeeper. This beekeeper used this
method as the only treatment.
70,0% were producing nucs, to secure
the number of colonies wintering out in the
springtime. Several of the beekeepers
pointed out that the production of nucs
not are because of varroa, but solely to
have a surplus of colonies in the springtime,
in years with heavy winter losses.
Counting the mite downfall is not a big
issue for the large scale beekeepers.
20,7% does never look for natural mite
downfall. They can’t see the necessity.
Their methods and strategy is satisfying.
60% are looking for mite downfall when it
is necessary. But they never count mites.
They look at the debris and make a very
fast monitoring calculation „situation under
control“ or „situation might get out of
control“. Spot test are used. Several are
only looking on sealed drone brood,
opening a few cells.
60,0% claims that they have never seen
damaged colonies or bees. 25,0% claims
that they do have single colonies now and
then, that have damages due to varroa.
65,0% do realise that the organic varroa
treatment is more time consuming
than the use of drugs.
Several of the
beekeepers haven’t answered the
question, since they never have used
drugs, and therefore can’t compare.
Some of the beekeepers even claim that
there is no extra time consumption.
The reason for using the organic
methods is very clear. All (100%) are
doing this to ensure honey as a clean
natural product without any kind of
residues. 50% are doing this due to a
long-term strategy and 45% are doing it
because concerns regarding resistance
to drugs.
75% of the asked beekeepers have
never considered the use of any kind of
drug as a possibility, not now or in the
future. This was underlined very clearly
by the beekeepers in the questionnaire.
10,0 % didn’t know if they might change
strategy.
Last edited:
