From: "deelusbybeekeeper" <deelusbybeekeeper@excelonline.com>
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 19:00:23 -0700
To: <BiologicalBeekeeping@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Re: Mid-season mite 'treatment'

Hi to all on Biological Beekeeping

Pav wrote the following:

"At the risk of being called namby-pamby by Dee, for possibly undermining her call for all to stand-firm and let the mites cull the weak bee-genes, i'm forwarding
here a method which knocks mites off the adult bees, using nothing nastier than icing
sugar.

Myself, i agree with Dee, that mite-resistant bee-genes are the only long term solution, and i recognise that everytime we prop up a hive with interventionist mite
control we prolong the natural selection of those mite-resistant genes by allowing
the continuation of gene-pool-polluting mite-susceptible genes. However i also believe that most - even on this list - are unwilling to do nothing to save a hive going under with mites, and so i keep an eye out for methods of mite control which are easy and effective without using harsh chemicals."

Reply:

Now Pav would I call you that? :>)

Different preparations, powdered sugar, mineral meal, powdered pollen dust,
flour, etc have been used for a long, long time. (Early 1980's) They have
the effect of pasting the mites together, obstructing their respiration and
stimulating the cleansing instinct of bees.

However if the substance used is too coarse, there may be damage to the
bees, because the cells in combs are built slightly upwards and a lot of
powdered material may be held in them, increasing the risk of contamination.
But, powdered is an excellent choice and eaten by the bees.

Unfortunately it is labor intensive and like you referred Pav, unnatural.
But I understnd a beekeeper not wanting to see his bees die before his eyes,
and doing in his mind, what he has to do for peace of mind until a long term
solution can be found. Then the big question is: Is he willing and can he
make the change over for the betterment of his bees?

But all here keep in mind! If this would have worked starting from the early
1980s forward, there would not be so many lost bees and beekeepers out of
business. This is not a new treatment but one that has been around for at
least 2 decades now.

Even locally here were I live, those that have treated with such are no
longer in business. Also those that tried acids. Those using essential oils
ditto with low colony counts left; and none of these methods are used by
beekeepers still keeping big numbers because the labor intensive treatments
are not cost effective and will not allow one to stay in business earning a
living.

Nothing more to say Pav. I have added my 2-cents worth.

Dee