VARROA TREATMENTS: MODE OF ACTION AND RESISTANCE
- Tau-fluvalinate/flumethrin. The synthetic chemicals tau-fluvalinate and flumethrin (Apistan® and Bayvarol®) belong to the family of pyrethroids that includes a large number of insecticides used domestically and in agriculture.
- Amitraz. ...
- Thymol. ...
- Formic acid. ...
- Oxalic acid. ...
- Sugar dusting. ...
- Food-grade mineral oil. ...
- Conclusion. ...
- References
Full Answer
How to get rid of varroa mites naturally?
Feb 07, 2022 · Approved Chemicals – Practical Treatments for Varroa. Apistan (fluvalinate) Apistan (fluvalinate) is an older substance used for mite control in honey bees for years. It is an impregnated strip that kills ... Apivar (amitraz) HopGuard (Potassium salt -hops beta acids)
Is amitraz resistance in Varroa real?
Varroa Treatments. To try to ensure the survival of their colonies, beekeepers will want to minimise the varroa mite load in colonies as winter preparations begin. One way to reduce the spread of viruses is to keep mite numbers at low levels. Many beekeepers use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to achieve this.
How to treat for Varroa mites with apiguard?
Recommended Dosage: Two treatments of one foil pack every two weeks Apiguard is a thymol-based treatment for Varroa mites, which is a component of botanical thyme oil. A full dose of Apiguard consists of one foil pack added to a hive for two weeks, which is then replaced with a second foil pack for an additional two weeks.
What is your way for Varroa mite treatments?
Oct 25, 2016 · Most controversially, natural, backwards beekeepers such as myself do not treat our bees for mites, believing that such treatment interferes with the microbiome of the colony and leads to bees that lack natural resistance to varroa. No-treatment beekeepers don’t even use so-called “natural” treatments such as dusting with powdered sugar or essential oils.
What is the best mite treatment for bees?
Varroa mites can weaken your colony and make your hive susceptible to secondary pests. Oxalic acid is one of the best ways to manage your varroa populations in your hive. Oxalic acid kills 90-99% of the phoretic mites in your beehive. To reach these levels of effectiveness, however, the colony must be broodless.Feb 13, 2020
What month do you treat Varroa mites?
As an example, if beekeepers want to control Varroa mites in their colonies by 31 August when the first Winter bees are emerging as adults in the prairie provinces, then miticide treatments should be applied before 17 August; that is the date when worker larvae are being sealed into their cells that will emerge as ...May 21, 2018
Is it too late to treat for Varroa mites?
If you're wondering if you still can, the answer is yes! Although late summer treatment is the best for protecting your winter bees, a delayed treatment is better than no treatment. Whenever you need to treat for varroa, you have to consider which treatment is the best for the time of year and the status of your hive.
How late can you treat bees for mites?
To raise healthy bees in September and October, your colony needs to be virtually mite-free by the end of August, the very month that the mites-per-bee ratio explodes. So if you are going to treat your hives, August is the month to do it.
How do I protect my bees from varroa mites?
For varroa mite control and prevention, cultural controls include purchasing mite-resistant honey bee stock, providing small cell comb, and providing a brood break.Resistant Stock. ... Small cell comb. ... Brood break. ... Mite trapping. ... Screened bottom board. ... Powdered sugar. ... Soft Chemicals. ... Hard Chemicals.May 23, 2019
How do you treat varroa mites naturally?
The most common, natural approach to treating bees with varroa mites is to dust them with powdered sugar. After the sugar is applied, the bees will immediately start grooming themselves and each other in an effort to remove the sugar from their bodies. In doing this, they knock off the mites.
How long do Apivar strips stay in hive?
Suspend Apivar strips in the brood chamber so bees can walk on both sides of the strips. Leave strips in the hive for a minimum of 42 days, and then remove. DO NOT re-use the strips.
Can you eat honey treated with oxalic acid?
The honey is not at all unsafe to consume. The treatment for varroa mites using oxalic acid is permitted by the EPA with a condition that supers not be in place during the treatment process.Jul 23, 2016
What is the difference between Apivar and apistan?
Apistan works to kill mites by exciting their nervous system to exhaustion. Apivar causes excitation, then paralysis of mites. In both cases, mites fall off the backs of bees and cannot climb back. Apistan and Apivar do not directly kill Varroa mites.
Should I treat for varroa mites in the spring?
Without a doubt your bees need a good dose of Varroa Mite treatment in mid winter as well as in early to mid spring. Although in mid winter you're limited to doing a 'blind' treatment (no count) because it'd be a bad idea to open up the hive, the early to mid spring time period is a little different.
Does anything eat varroa mites?
scimitus is a potential predator of phoretic Varroa mites. This hypothesis is supported by the use of the predatory mite to control hematophagous mites in infested animals [40, 46] and the few anecdotal reports by beekeepers of Varroa population reductions.Dec 7, 2018
How often should you treat for varroa mites?
At least for now, any one interested in keeping bees must have a plan to deal with this external pest of the honey bee. Beekeeping involves hive management and varroa management. When do you need to worry about varroa mites? For most beekeepers, it is a necessity to treat bees for varroa mites several times a year.Dec 9, 2021
Best Varroa Mite Treatment For Beehives
Are you looking for the best varroa mite treatment for bees in your apiary?Something that works perfectly with no harm to the honey bees?Well, we a...
Tips For Choosing A Varroa Mite Treatment
Keeping good records in a notebook or beekeeping log, has helped me keep track of the condition of my colonies. If you have several hives, it is ha...
When Should You Treat For Varroa Mites?
As a mite infestation grows larger, problems become more noticeable. How many mites are too many? It depends. (If you thought I was going to give y...
Mechanical Methods Dealing With Varroa Mites in Bees
Beekeepers use mechanical (non-chemical) methods of mite control. Some of these may help, but they are not enough when used alone.Using screened bo...
Using Approved Chemicals – A Practical Treatment For Varroa
Research has provided us with several chemical treatment options. If you choose to use these synthetic chemicals, it is important to rotate them. U...
Using Essential Oils For Varroa Mite Treatment
Essential oils are used to promote good health in honey bee colonies. Another use of essential oils, is combating varroa mites. You can prepare you...
The Acids – Organic Varroa Mite Treatment For Bees
Mite Away Quick Strips – formic acid (organic acid) works as a fumigant. The biodegradable treatment pads remain in place for 7 days. After 7 days,...
Vaporization of Oxalic Acid
Oxalic Acid Vaporization – This method of using OA is a favorite in Europe where it has been used with good results for years. Here is how it works...
You Choose The Plan For Your Bees
In summary, the beekeeper is in charge of managing the bees. You may choose to do nothing and see if the bees survive.Perhaps, the first varroa mit...
What is the best varroa mite treatment?
One is a synthetic chemical and one is a softer essential oil based treatment. Both are approved for use in beehives. Api Life Var (thymol, eucalyptol oil, menthol, camphor) Api Life VAR is another contender for the best varroa mite treatment. This product features a green spongy pad impregnated with oils.
How do beekeepers deal with mites?
One way beekeepers deal with mites is the use of mechanical (non-chemical) methods. Using screened bottom boards (instead of solid), causes some mites to fall to the ground and perish.
Can varroa mites be killed?
In most varroa mite control plans, the goal is not necessarily a complete kill of every mite – rather a reduction in infestation levels. Ideally, we seek something that works well with no risk of harm to the bees. But even some approved treatments, pose concern about contamination of beeswax or honey.
Can you use oxalic acid for mites?
Used in Europe for years, beekeepers in the United States can now use oxalic acid as a varroa mite treatment. Oxalic acid (Oxalic acid dihydrate-organic acid) is used in two ways for mite control – as a drizzle or as a fumigant.
What essential oil is good for varroa?
The most popular essential oil for varroa mite control is thymol (from a thyme plant). While thymol treatment can effectively control mites on adult bees, it cannot penetrate the cell cappings, so does not control mites in brood cells.
When to treat varroa mites?
If you are going to treat for varroa mites timing is important. You should not treat when honey supers are on hives – April-July. It is important that mite populations be low before and during the fall brood build up – September – Mid November. Without management, this is when mite levels usually peak.
How to control vararia mites?
Powdered Sugar Dusting to Control Varroa Mites. Sift a pound of powdered sugar using a baking flour sifter. Put the sifted sugar into an empty (and cleaned), baby powder container (alternatively you can improvise your own container). Smoke and open the hive. Avoid dusting any open cells .
How long does it take to treat honey supers?
Treatment should take place 3–4 weeks after all honey supers have been removed. The hive is placed on a solid floor. For a single brood-chamber hive, one strip is cut in half and placed on top of the brood frames. Two strips are used on top of the upper box for a double brood-chamber hive.
How long does Apiguard last?
If there is product left in the tray after 10 days, it is left until day 14 and then replaced. The second tray is left in position for a further 2–4 weeks to complete the treatment. Apiguard works best at temperatures above 15 °C.
Is mite treatment useless?
Once mites are resistant to a particular treatment, that treatment is ineffective and useless. The cost of developing a new veterinary drug is astronomical and the beekeeping sector is very small, compared with, say, the cattle sector.
Is it illegal to use a varroa treatment product in the UK?
Drugs for use on animals, including bees, are regulated by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). In the UK, it is illegal to use a varroa treatment product that the VMD has not authorised. Potential new products have to undergo rigorous testing for efficacy and safety (for both bees and beekeepers).
What is a varroa mite?
Varroa mites (Varroa destructor), are the most influential of all of the pests and diseases of the European honey bee (Apis mellifera) today. Figure 1. The varroa mite, Varroa destructor. Photo by Kate Anton.
Why do varroa mites not reproduce?
Varroa mites do not reproduce within queen cells because of the repellency of royal jelly and the very short post-capping period of queens (7 days). When honey bee brood is present in the colony, the majority of varroa mites are in the capped brood reproducing where they can often escape chemical treatments. Figure 2.
Why are Russian bees slower to reproduce?
Russian bees have a slower varroa mite population increase than other bees, due to an ability to suppress mite reproduction. Russian bees have lower percent brood infestation and fewer multiply-infested cells, and bees inoculated with the mite-vectored deformed wing virus exhibit significantly less viral replication.
What is mite resistant stock?
Resistant Stock. Using mite-resistant bees can limit the reliance on chemicals for varroa mite control. To that end, various bee stocks with mite-resistant traits have been developed. Imports have emphasized European honey bees that have been in contact with varroa mites for a long time.
How long does it take for a Varroa mite to reproduce?
Varroa mites reproduce in cells with developing workers and drones (Figure 2). Drone brood cells are larger and the post-capping stage is longer (15 days for drones versus 11 days for workers), which allows the mite to produce more offspring per cycle.
Do varroa mites reproduce in honey bees?
The life cycle of varroa mites and honey bee drones and workers. Varroa mites reproduce in the capped cells of developing honey bees. Because of the slower development of drones, varroa mites preferentially infest drone cells, which can then be used as a trap. Image by Nick Sloff.
Can Varroa bees remove mites?
Varroa Sensitive Hygiene (VSH) bees can recognize and remove mite-infested pupae. Bees that remove dead brood quickly are hygienic and are thought to be better at removing mites from the hive, as well. Other desirable traits include the recognition by the bees that the mites, themselves, are present and undesirable.
What is the best way to kill vararia mites?
Apistan strips are a chemical method used to kill Varroa mites in honeybee hives. The active ingredient, 10% fluvalinate, works to disrupt the nervous system of the mites but has low toxicity to honeybees.
When to treat variola mites?
Applying a treatment for Varroa mites after the honey harvest in fall is one of the best ways to keep levels of these pests under control during the winter. In most areas, Varroa mite populations tend to increase in hives over the summer months and hit a peak just as honeybee colonies are laying eggs and raising brood for the winter.
What is apiguard for bees?
Apiguard is a thymol-based treatment for Varroa mites, which is a component of botanical thyme oil. A full dose of Apiguard consists of one foil pack added to a hive for two weeks, which is then replaced with a second foil pack for an additional two weeks. In the video, you can see the Dadant Rim Spacer Kit set up that gives the bees plenty of room to access the treatment.
When did varroa first appear?
Originally from Java, varroa first appeared in the United States in 1987. By far the number one topic at any conventional beekeeping conference is the varroa mite. My beekeeping mentor Kirk Anderson likes to quip that the singular obsession with varroa is “like going to dog show where everyone only talks about fleas.”.
Why don't AHB colonies live with varroa?
The reason is simple. AHB colonies live with and don’t succumb to varroa because they were never treated for the problem. My experience is limited to Southern California and I’ve only kept (well mannered) AHBs. But the no-treatment approach is not limited to AHB.
Do bees have varroa?
They still have varroa, but they don’t succumb to it. Most controversially, natural, backwards beekeepers such as myself do not treat our bees for mites, believing that such treatment interferes with the microbiome of the colony and leads to bees that lack natural resistance to varroa.
Does Varroa kill feral colonies?
Varroa eliminate feral European colonies that are then replaced either with AHB [Africanized honeybees] or with European colonies derived from nonresistant commercial colonies. In the end, AHB will spread to their ecological limits, wherever they may be. The future predicted in that article has arrived.
What is the best way to control varroa mites?
Oxalic acid is an organic compound that aids beekeepers in the fight against varroa mites. With the use of a special heating wand, Oxalic Acid Vaporization is one of the best tools for control varroa control. A naturally occurring substance, oxalic acid, is an effort to step away from the use of synthetic chemicals in beehives.
What is the best way to kill mites in beehives?
A naturally occurring substance, oxalic acid, is an effort to step away from the use of synthetic chemicals in beehives. It has shown to be very effective at killing mites when used correctly with no damage to the honey bee colony. When varroa mites arrived in our country, the face of beekeeping changed forever.
How to vaporize oxalic acid?
The most popular method of using oxalic acid is – “ oxalic acid vaporization “. A small amount of Oxalic Acid crystals are placed on a special wand. The wand is inserted into the hive and heated to vaporize the crystals. There are many types of wands available to purchase.
How to use oxalic acid in a hive?
Dribble Method of Using Oxalic Acid. In the dribble method of using oxalic acid, the acid is mixed with warm 1:1 sugar water (equal parts of sugar and water). Then, the mix is sucked up into a syringe applied between the frames in the hive – directly wetting the bees.
Is OA good for bees?
Oxalic Acid (OA) has been used by European Beekeepers for many years. With reports of 90-99% efficacy in killing mites, they found it be a useful tool in the fight with varroa. It was only approved for use in the US in 2015. Products available in stores are labeled for use in beehives. Some beekeepers use generics too.
Does oxylic acid kill phoretic mites?
Oxalic acid treatments only kill phoretic mites. Those are the foundress mites that are riding around on the adult bees. Most of the time, the majority of mites in a hive will be inside the capped brood. Oxalic Acid does not kill mites under the cap.
Can vaporization damage a varroa?
It may also damage varroa mouth parts. With vaporization we are not trying to coat the bees, rather we are injecting the heated vapor into the hive. As the vapor cools, small crystals are left behind on the bees, comb and hive walls. As worker foragers come and go-they will be exposed to the crystals.
Cultural Approaches
Mechanical Approaches
Chemical Approaches
Summary